‘I don’t know why you’re freaking out,’ a 911 dispatcher told a woman minutes before she drowned - The Washington Post

‘I don’t know why you’re freaking out,’ a 911 dispatcher told a woman minutes before she drowned  The Washington Post

Time was running out for Debra Stevens. But the 911 dispatcher didn't seem concerned. “Somebody save me!” Stevens screamed as the water level crept up ...

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New top story on Hacker News: Committed to a Safer Google Play for Families

Committed to a Safer Google Play for Families
5 by WalterSobchak | 0 comments on Hacker News.

Hurricane Dorian is churning towards Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina – Here is where and when it's due to strike

Hurricane Dorian's path is nearing Florida, where it is no longer projected to make landfall, but still cause 'devastating hurricane-force winds.'

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Kashmiris say Indian officers tortured them and shoved mud in their mouths so they couldn't scream. The army denies it ever happened.

A new BBC report details gruesome allegations from civilians living in Kashmiri villages known to be hubs of anti-India militant groups.

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Illinois governor pardons Army vet deported to Mexico

The governor of lllinois said Friday he's erased the drug conviction of an Army veteran who was deported to Mexico in 2018, a step that the man's supporters hope will help him return to the U.S. "I recognize this pardon is not a perfect solution, but it is the most just action to take to allow a U.S. veteran the opportunity to be treated fairly by the country he served," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. Miguel Perez Jr., 41, who was born in Mexico, doesn't have U.S. citizenship but had a green card as a permanent U.S. resident.

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Hurricane Dorian path update shows storm track could turn, potentially impact Carolinas

Hurricane Dorian has gained fearsome new muscle as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm. Latest models show Dorian turning before landfall in Florida meaning possible impact near the NC coast later this week.

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What If Obama Endorses Warren?

Barack Obama thinks about his brand and his legacy a lot, and he dreads what Joe Biden might do to it. This month alone, Biden mistook New Hampshire for Vermont even though the sole reason he was in that part of the country was the first-in-the-nation primary, which is famously not held in Vermont. He said RFK was assassinated in the 1970s. He said he couldn’t remember the name of the British prime minister in the midst of bragging about his foreign-policy chops. And he speculated about what it might have been like if Obama had been assassinated.This last, ghastly gaffe might be too much for Obama to take. Obama believes his brand is cool, technocratic, tightly controlled, a bit wonkish and professorial, inspirational, buttoned-down, Ivy League, definitely forward-looking. Biden is warm, free-wheeling, intellectually ungifted, frank and unguarded to the point of outright sloppiness, so old he served in the Senate alongside segregationist Democrats, and so out of touch he actually touts his friendship with these guys. Obama thought back in 2008 Biden was so old that he would never again run for president, his team strongly discouraged Biden from entering the race in the fall of 2015, and Biden’s jaw-dropping string of verbal blunders indicates a strong possibility of incipient cognitive decline.As Barack Obama surveys the Democratic contenders for 2020, he must be thinking: 1) None of these people has half my political skills but 2) Elizabeth Warren is my kind of gal. Warren is also cool, wonky, and professorial, also a Harvard product. Though she is 70, she looks younger and hasn’t displayed any signs of cognitive decline. Like Obama, she would be labeled a “historic” president. If she reached the Oval Office, he wouldn’t have to cringe every time she opened her mouth. He wouldn’t have to worry that her back-slapping tendencies would allow her to get rolled by Mitch McConnell. He trusts her so much that he let her guide one of his signature achievements, setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.One poll released in late August gave Warren a one-point lead over Biden. Two other polls released in the second half of August show her within three points of Biden. True, most others give him a double-digit lead, and some have her in third place, albeit narrowly, behind Bernie Sanders. Yet she’s close enough that Obama must be wondering if his endorsement could vault her into the lead position.What then? Like everyone else on earth, Obama notices that Biden looks like a much stronger candidate than Warren in a matchup against Trump. Warren might well be Hillary 2.0: She’s off-putting. She’s smug. She’s . . . a she. Polls show Democrats are extremely worried that the American people won’t accept  a woman president. The more she uses words like “My Daddy” and ostentatiously drinks beer, the less relatable she is. It’s hard to imagine the American people are thinking, “Yes, this is the voice I want to listen to every day for the next four years.”So there would be risk involved in backing Warren. But from Obama’s perspective, there’s also risk involved in Biden’s becoming president and embarrassing him every day. Maybe even, in his dotage, Biden might let what’s left of the Obama legacy slip away. If Obama thinks like most Democrats, he probably believes that nonsensical hullabaloo about email servers, not Hillary Clinton’s deficiencies as a candidate or sexism, was what cost her the presidency.Obama proved to be a failure at almost everything except getting Obama elected to office, but he is not a man notable for a modest view of his own skills. He must be thinking his star power could restore black turnout to levels approaching where it was when he was on the ballot. He must be thinking that with a push from him, and a little help from his turnout wizards, Elizabeth Warren could avoid Hillary Clinton’s errors and enter the White House.If Obama were to endorse Warren, the 2020 Democratic primaries would be upended, and Obama would be praised for lighting a path to a genuinely progressive presidency. And if Biden won the nomination anyway, no biggie: Obama could simply campaign for him in the general election and settle for a less-than-ideal Democratic presidency. I’m guessing Obama comes out strong for Warren.

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Statue resembling Trump erected in Melania's home country Slovenia

A large wooden sculpture that strongly resembles Donald Trump was erected this week in Slovenia, home country of Trump's wife Melania, though its designer insists it is meant to represent a "statue of liberty", not the U.S. president. Tom Schlegl's 8-metre (26 foot) statue in the village of Sela, north of the capital Ljubljana, depicts a man with blond hair and an angry expression, wearing a blue suit, white shirt and red tie. "I designed the statue because people have forgotten what the Statue of Liberty stands for.

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Look Closely for Coco Gauff’s Homage to New York Tennis

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Wikipedia article of the day for September 1, 2019

The Wikipedia article of the day for September 1, 2019 is The Mummy Returns.
The Mummy is a 1999 American action horror film written and directed by Stephen Sommers and starring Brendan Fraser (pictured), Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Kevin J. O'Connor, and Arnold Vosloo. In this film, a loose remake of a film of the same name from 1932, adventurers accidentally awaken Imhotep, a high priest from Pharaoh Seti I's reign who has been cursed for eternity. Filming began in Marrakesh, Morocco, in May 1998; the crew had to endure dehydration, sandstorms, and snakes while filming in the Sahara. The visual effects were provided by Industrial Light & Magic, who blended film and computer-generated imagery to create the mummy. The film opened on May 7, 1999, and went on to gross $416 million worldwide. The box-office success led to two sequels, The Mummy Returns (2001) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), as well as an animated series, and a prequel, The Scorpion King. The film also inspired a roller coaster, Revenge of the Mummy, in three Universal Studios Theme Parks.

Intel veterans react to Trump tweet of Iran launch pad photo from briefing - Business Insider

Intel veterans react to Trump tweet of Iran launch pad photo from briefing  Business Insider

President Donald Trump's decision to tweet out a photo of an Iranian launch pad that he got from a classified intelligence briefing this week has astonished ...

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Until Recently, Websites Were Hacking iPhones - Newser

1. Until Recently, Websites Were Hacking iPhones  Newser
2. Why the latest iPhone hack should worry you no matter what phone you use  Android Central
3. Google Claims Malicious Websites Used Hacked Apple iPhones  Breitbart
4. Apple still has work to do on privacy  TechCrunch
5. China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims: sources  TechCrunch
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Chargers give Gordon permission to seek trade - NFL.com

1. Chargers give Gordon permission to seek trade  NFL.com
2. Source -- Chargers allowing Gordon to seek trade  ESPN
3. Four Potential Trade Destinations for Melvin Gordon  The Big Lead
4. Chargers give Melvin Gordon permission to seek a trade  NBCSports.com
5. Report: LeSean McCoy could land with Chargers after release by Bills  Yardbarker
6. View full coverage on Google News

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US police fire pepper spray after pro-Trump 'Straight Pride' parade

US police fired pepper spray Saturday after counter-demonstrators accused them of protecting "Straight Pride" advocates who support President Donald Trump, and refused to let officers re-open a road. The unrest came after the counter-protesters and "Straight Pride" group -- considered homophobic extremists by their opponents -- staged dueling rallies in Boston. Officers fired pepper spray and made several arrests.

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President says decision on whether to order evacuations in Florida will be made on Sunday

Donald Trump has said the decision on whether to evacuate residents of Florida to protect them from Hurricane Dorian, would be made on Sunday after meeting with officials.As he left the White House for the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland, he said members of the federal emergency management agency (FEMA) would be joining him to monitor events.

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Hong Kong activists freed on bail, protest march banned

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and another core member of a pro-democracy group were granted bail after being charged with inciting people to join a protest in June, while authorities denied permission for a major march Saturday as they took what appears to be a harder line on this summer's protests. The organizers of the march on the fifth anniversary of a decision by China against allowing fully democratic elections for the leader of Hong Kong said they were calling it off after an appeals board denied permission. The police commander of Hong Kong island, Kwok Pak Chung, appealed to people to stay away from any unauthorized rallies, warning that those caught could face a five-year jail term.

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Iran goes further in breaching nuclear deal, IAEA report shows

Iran has gone further in breaching its nuclear deal with world powers, increasing its stock of enriched uranium and refining it to a greater purity than allowed, the U.N. atomic agency report said on Friday. The quarterly report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is policing the 2015 deal, confirms Iran is progressively backing out of the deal in retaliation for Washington's withdrawal form the accord and renewal of sanctions that have hit Iranian oil sales. Iran has said it will breach the deal's limits on its nuclear activities one by one, ratcheting up pressure on parties who still hope to save it.

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2020 Vision: 'Gaffe machine' in high gear, Biden's campaign says it doesn't matter

A new poll shows Trump trailing the top Democratic contenders in a hypothetical 2020 general election match-up. The next step for Democrats is a strong debate performance on Sept. 12. Also crucial is a campaign’s follow-through.

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Woman tosses Molotov cocktail into Fla. Citizenship office

A woman tossed a lit Molotov cocktail into the lobby of a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Oakland Park, Florida. No one was reported injured, according to a report of the incident sent to Trump administration officials and viewed by The Associated Press. Law enforcement officials believe the woman intended to cause harm but the incident wasn't related to other ones where Homeland Security agencies were targeted.

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View Photos of the 2020 Ford Explorer ST

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Dorian is forecast to become a Category 3 'major' hurricane. What does this mean?

The latest forecast has Dorian strengthening into a major Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph by Sunday off the U.S. East Coast.

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Wreck of paddle steamer throws light on British support for Confederacy slave states during US Civil War

Britain has long been proud of its historically progressive attitude to slavery, frequently pointing to the fact that this country abolished the trade across its territories as early as 1833. But beneath the waters of Liverpool Bay lies something that should dent our complacency about this country’s role in the ending of human bondage. The wreck of the paddle steamer Leila, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1865, sheds new light on the actions of some British businessmen in supporting the southern slave states of the Confederacy during the US Civil War. Now the wreck - described by historians as “one of the most historically-significant in the north west” - is to be granted protected status on the advice of Historic England. The 19th century paddle steamer was on its maiden voyage from Liverpool to Bermuda loaded with guns and supplies for Confederate forces when it foundered on 14th January 1865 during stormy weather in Liverpool Bay, with the loss of 47 lives. The wreck on the Leila on the seabed in Liverpool Bay Credit: Historic England Leila was secretly built in Liverpool on behalf of the Confederate Government late in the American Civil War of 1861 to 1865 as a purpose-built vessel to run the blockade imposed on the southern states by the Union forces of Abraham Lincoln. She was technically advanced for her day and was designed to evade the northern Union ships enforcing the blockade. Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England said: “The Lelia is one of a small group of British ships involved in British complicity in running guns and munitions to the Confederates. “Though the UK remained officially neutral throughout the American Civil War, the Leila comprises evidence of the British financing of blockade runners that sent munitions and luxuries to Confederate ports in return for cotton and tobacco. As such it is very significant as historical evidence.” Although the British Government’s position on the blockade was officially neutral, opinion in Britain over the issue of the Civil War was split. Many Lancashire cotton workers supported the blockade and the Union’s fight against the slave states, even though it resulted in a downturn in the weaving industry and severe hardship for their families. Such was their support for the abolitionist cause that a statue of Lincoln was erected in their honour in 1919, with a plaque reproducing his letter of 19th January 1863 to the Manchester cotton workers thanking them for their support. Statue of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Square, Manchester, inscribed with his letter of thanks to the city's cotton weavers Credit: Phil Portus / Alamy Stock Photo But there were those in Britain willing to take advantage of the war and help supply the slave states with goods and materials. At the start of the Civil War, the Confederacy lacked the manufacturing capacity to compete with the more industrialised northern states and so relied on importing war supplies, including guns and ammunition, to sustain its war effort. It acquired fast steamships, mainly paddle steamers, from British and other shipbuilders, intended to breach the naval blockade of its main ports imposed by the Union in 1861 in an attempt to strangle the southern war effort.  They hoped a combination of speed and stealth would help them to break the blockade, enabling them to carry cotton and tobacco to Europe and war supplies back to the Confederacy. The Lelia was built in Millers shipyard in Toxteth, Liverpool, where shipbuilders had been experimenting with the early use of steel, which, being lighter than iron, allowed for larger cargo space and greater speed - perfect for blockade runners. The paddle steamer was only identified in 1997 after a bell marked ‘Lelia 1864’ was recovered from close to the wreck beneath Liverpool Bay by a local diver. An infra-red photograph of the wreck of the Leila Credit: Historic England The partially-buried remains of the Leila include one of the paddle wheels, the engine and boiler rooms, less well-preserved cargo areas and a steam winch.  The deck and all structures that were on it have not survived, but as much as 1.9m of its hull remains buried in the seabed, raising the prospect that its cargo of British-manufactured munitions and machinery may have been partially preserved . The Leila is one of three blockade busters to have been discovered in British waters. The other is the paddle steamer Iona II, which sank in 1864 in foggy conditions close to the Isle of Lundy in the Bristol Channel on her first trans-Atlantic voyage. The Iona II’s sister ship Iona I, also a paddle steamer believed to be involved in gun-running, was lost in 1862 in the inner Clyde Estuary, near Greenock, in Scotland. Rebecca Pow, Heritage Minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “Protecting sites like the wreck of the Lelia helps us to preserve an important story about Britain’s role in the American Civil War.  “Although the conflict happened over a hundred years ago, it is right that we ensure the protection of this site so we can learn more about one of the most significant shipwrecks off the coast of North West England and broaden our knowledge about our nation's seafaring history." A print depicting the upsetting of the Liverpool lifeboat during its ill fated attempt to rescue the crew of the Leila Credit: Historic England

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October Democratic presidential primary debate to be held in Ohio, state party says

The debate could stretch into two nights if more candidates meet the polling and fundraising qualifications before Oct. 1.

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The Latest: Dorian strengthens as it eyes Southeast US

Hurricane Dorian is strengthening as it moves toward the U.S. Southeast coast. The National Hurricane Center said Thursday evening that Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas on Thursday and Friday. The Miami-based hurricane center says the storm could grow into a dangerous Category 3 storm by Labor Day as it pushes northwest in the general direction of Florida.

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'Operation Cookout': Enough fentanyl to kill 14 million seized in massive drug bust - Washington Examiner

1. 'Operation Cookout': Enough fentanyl to kill 14 million seized in massive drug bust  Washington Examiner
2. Law enforcement seize enough fentanyl to kill 14 million people  CNN
3. Fentanyl drug bust: Investigators seize enough fentanyl to kill 14 million people  CBS News
4. Feds announce seizure of enough fentanyl to kill 14 million people, 35 arrested  NBC News
5. Feds: Drug ring had enough cheap fentanyl to kill 14 million  Washington Post
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The National Hurricane Center provides an update on Hurricane Dorian (LIVE) | USA TODAY - USA TODAY

1. The National Hurricane Center provides an update on Hurricane Dorian (LIVE) | USA TODAY  USA TODAY
2. Dorian gains fury but might spare Florida a direct hit  WTOP
3. Hurricane Dorian on track to approach Florida as a Category 4 storm on Labor Day  CNN
4. Dorian gains fury but could spare Florida a direct hit  Miami Herald
5. Time-lapse captures Tropical Storm Dorian forming off Florida  Daily Mail
6. View full coverage on Google News

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September is the worst month for stocks — and it’s even gloomier after a downbeat August - MarketWatch

1. September is the worst month for stocks — and it’s even gloomier after a downbeat August  MarketWatch
2. Dow logs second-worst month of the year  CNN
3. The Dow Is Flat Because China Trade Tensions Take a Time Out  Barron's
4. Argentina is Christine Lagarde's latest disaster - next up Europe  Telegraph.co.uk
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Wikipedia article of the day for August 31, 2019

The Wikipedia article of the day for August 31, 2019 is Taxonomy of lemurs.
The history of the taxonomy of lemurs dates back to 1758 when Carl Linnaeus first classified them. Having undergone independent evolution on Madagascar, lemurs have displaced many other types of mammals, and approximately 70 to 100 species and subspecies are recognized today. They include the smallest primates in the world, and once included some of the largest. Currently living lemur species are divided into five families and 15 genera. Since the arrival of humans around 2000 years ago, lemurs have become restricted to 10% of the island, and many face extinction. The recent steep increase in species numbers is due to improved genetic analysis, a push to encourage the protection of isolated lemur populations, and the elevation of existing subspecies to full species status. Concerns over lemur conservation have also affected their taxonomy, since distinct species receive increased conservation attention.

U.S. attorney: Investigation into Veterans Affairs deaths a 'top priority' - AOL

1. U.S. attorney: Investigation into Veterans Affairs deaths a 'top priority'  AOL
2. After 10 suspicious deaths at VA hospital, veterans demand answers. 'It's scary – really scary'  USA TODAY
3. 2 Veterans Were Murdered at a West Virginia VA Hospital, and Investigators Have Person of Interest  PEOPLE.com
4. 'Sickening and troubling': Senators press VA for top-to-bottom probe in suspicious death scandal  USA TODAY
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Armed with iOS 0days, hackers indiscriminately infected iPhones for two years - Ars Technica

Armed with iOS 0days, hackers indiscriminately infected iPhones for two years  Ars Technica

Hackers exploited more than a dozen iOS vulnerabilities—most of them unpatched zerodays—in a two-year campaign that stole photos, emails, log-in ...

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R. Kelly asks judge to be released from solitary in federal lockup in Chicago - CBS News

1. R. Kelly asks judge to be released from solitary in federal lockup in Chicago  CBS News
2. Alleged Child Sex Abuser R. Kelly Cries Over Solitary Confinement  Yahoo Entertainment
3. R. Kelly Reportedly Pleading To Be Released From Solitary Confinement  BET
4. R. Kelly ‘is not in solitary confinement,’ feds say  Chicago Sun-Times
5. R. Kelly Asks Judge to Let Him Out of Solitary Confinement  Yahoo Entertainment
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College football odds, picks, predictions for Week 1: Proven computer model loving Alabama, Fresno State - CBS Sports

1. College football odds, picks, predictions for Week 1: Proven computer model loving Alabama, Fresno State  CBS Sports
2. Watchability rankings -- The most entertaining teams in college football  ESPN
3. Opinion: Why college football needs new blood to break through current playoff blockade  USA TODAY
4. The Triple Option: College football Week 1 best picks and predictions  Covers.com
5. Two new faces will make College Football Playoff  New York Post
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ICE says it will not conduct immigration enforcement operations in affected areas during Hurricane Dorian

A spokesman for the federal agency said in a statement Friday that "we must stand as one community to focus on aiding the victims."

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Appeals court reinstates lawsuit in SC church shooting case

A lawsuit over a faulty background check that allowed a South Carolina man to buy the gun he used to kill nine people in a racist attack at a Charleston church was reinstated Friday by a federal appeals court. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a ruling from a lower court judge who threw out the claims brought by relatives of people killed by Dylann Roof in the 2015 massacre, and by survivors. The FBI has acknowledged that Roof's drug possession arrest in Columbia, South Carolina, weeks before the shooting at AME Emanuel Church should have prevented him from buying a gun.

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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has dropped out. Here are the 3 big winners.

Insider has been tracking how many candidates' fans like other candidates. Gillibrand's exit could help Sen. Elizabeth Warren consolidate support.

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Why the Resignation of a Key Scottish Leader Is a Sign the U.K. Could Break Apart Over Brexit

The leader of the Conservative Party in Scotland has quit her post one day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved to suspend Parliament ahead of Brexit.

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155 migrants force entry into Spain's Ceuta enclave

A group of 155 migrants forced their way into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Friday, Spanish authorities said. "They are all from sub-Saharan Africa, the majority from Guinea," a spokesman for the central government's office in Ceuta told AFP.

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Hurricane Dorian gains strength as Florida braces for potential ‘monster’ storm

Landfall anticipated early Tuesday on state’s east coast with maximum sustained winds of 140mphRich DiGiulio removes an awning from the Mulligans Beach House Bar & Grill in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, 30 August 2019, in Vero Beach, Florida. Photograph: Lynne Sladky/APResidents of Florida braced for what could be a historically damaging storm on Friday as Hurricane Dorian lingered in the western Atlantic, building strength in advance of its anticipated landfall early on Tuesday on the state’s east coast.The storm strengthened into a category 3 hurricane on Friday afternoon, amid fears it could prove to be the most powerful hurricane to hit Florida’s east coast in nearly 30 years. Forecasters warned that Dorian could wallop the state with “extremely dangerous” 140mph (225 kph) winds.“It could be an absolute monster,” Donald Trump said in a video address, pledging federal support for local disaster relief efforts.Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, declared a state of emergency for every county in the state and warned of a potential “multi-day” event, but stopped short of declaring any emergency evacuations.Emergency preparations were under way up and down the Atlantic coast, from Jacksonville in the north to Miami and the Florida Keys, as well as in Orlando and inland areas.Ominously, on Friday morning the storm had developed a distinct eye and slowed its westward progress, meaning it could spend more time over land – and do more damage.Meteorologists said Dorian could make landfall in Florida on Tuesday as a category 4 hurricane.“If it makes landfall as a category 3 or 4 hurricane, that’s a big deal,” the University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy told the Associated Press. “A lot of people are going to be affected. A lot of insurance claims.”Hurricane Dorian gains strength as it tracks towards the Florida coast, on 30 August. Photograph: NOAA GOES-East/Handout/Getty ImagesDeSantis acknowledged fuel shortages across the state as residents formed long lines at petrol stations, supermarkets and hardware stores. Officials advised residents to stockpile canned food, water and other supplies and to refill essential prescriptions.Coastal residents were amassing sandbags against potential flooding and tacking plywood over windows and doors. Officials directed residents in the hurricane’s path to check their preparedness plan against advice on the state’s storm emergency website and to be on guard against price gouging and fraud.DeSantis announced that highway patrol cars would escort fuel trucks to expedite distribution.“We’re doing all we can on the fuel,” he said.Earlier predictions of an arrival of the storm early on the Labor Day holiday, Monday, were revised in anticipation of an early Tuesday arrival. Storm surge could be made worse by extreme tides associated with the new moon, which fell on Friday.A hurricane watch was in effect for the north-western Bahamas, with a risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding were anticipated in all affected areas.While it was unclear where on the Florida coastline Dorian would make landfall, Trump compared the storm to the 1992 Hurricane Andrew, which likewise tore into Florida along the Atlantic coast, killing 65 and tallying $27bn in damage.“It does seem almost certain that it’s hitting dead center, and that’s not good,” Trump said. “Somebody said bigger, or at least as big as Andrew.”Trump is traveling to Camp David in Maryland, where he will monitor the storm after he canceled his planned trip to Poland this weekend.Forecasters have put Trump’s luxury resort of Mar-a-Lago in the crosshairs of the storm. Late Friday, the National Hurricane Center’s projected track showed Dorian hitting near Fort Pierce, some 70 miles north of the so-called “winter White House”, then running along the coastline as it moved north. However forecasters cautioned that the storm’s track was still highly uncertain and even a small deviation could put Dorian offshore or well inland.The major models of the storm showed it most likely deflecting up the Atlantic coast after making landfall but the risk remained, DeSantis said, that the storm could cross Florida and move into the Gulf of Mexico, to potentially grow in strength once again over relatively warm and shallow waters.“Obviously a storm that cuts across the state, crosses the Gulf and then slams the Panhandle is a bad, bad thing for us,” DeSantis said.“Not every path of the storm has the same probability but you’ve got to be prepared for that. It’s too soon to tell.”Dorian’s approach has played havoc with people’s Labor Day weekend plans. Major airlines began allowing travelers to change their reservations without a fee. The big cruise lines began rerouting their ships. Disney World and the other resorts in Orlando found themselves in the storm’s projected path.Jessica Armesto and her one-year-old daughter, Mila, had planned to have breakfast with Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy at Disney World. Instead, Armesto decided to take shelter at her mother’s hurricane-resistant house in Miami with its kitchen full of nonperishable foods.“It felt like it was better to be safe than sorry, so we canceled our plans,” she said.

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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey apologizes for appearing in racist sketch while in college in 1960s

In a 1960s radio interview, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's then-fiancee said Ivey wore blackface in a college sketch. Ivey apologized in a statement Thursday.

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Veterans say the Trump administration's confusing new rule may be 'targeting' immigrants who serve in war zones

The new policy applies to Green Card holders who serve in uniform. "Why are we targeting people who want to serve?" a leading veterans advocate said.

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Omar tweets she received death threat targeting her at the Minnesota State Fair

"I hate that we live in a world where you have to be protected from fellow humans," said Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota.

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Brigitte Macron speaks out against sexism amid G7 Amazon fire funding row with Brazilian president

France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, hit back on Thursday at mockery of her age and appearance on Jair Bolsonaro’s Facebook page amid a war of words between the Brazilian president and her husband that has left £18m in emergency funding for the Amazon in limbo. Her comments came as Mr Bolsonaro, accused by critics of allowing tens of thousands of fires to rage unchecked in the Amazon rainforest, announced a two-month ban on fires deliberately started by farmers. Critics have accused the Brazilian president of allowing farmers to start fires in order to clear forest for crops or grazing. Mrs Macron, 65, did not mention Mr Bolsonaro by name, but implied that the 64-year-old president was out of tune with contemporary attitudes to women.  Mrs Macron thanked the thousands of Brazilians who had offered apologies on social media for their president’s approval of a post deriding her for being nearly 25 years older than her husband, Emmanuel Macron, the French president. The post implied that Michelle Bolsonaro, the 37-year-old wife of Mr Bolsonaro, 64, was better looking than the French first lady. Mrs Macron said: “Times are changing. There are those who are on the train of change, women are there with you, like you, you’ve almost all understood, gentlemen. Not everyone, some are still on the platform and I’m sure they will soon get on the train.” A fireman works to extinguish a fire at a forest near Porto Velho, Brazil, 28 August 2019 Credit: REX Her comments won sustained applause as she inaugurated a newly refurbished museum devoted to the Battle of Agincourt at a ceremony with the British ambassador, Edward Llewellyn, at the site of the 1415 English victory over the French in northern France. “It’s not just for me, it’s for all women,” Mrs Macron said. “Things are changing and everyone must realise it.” The diplomatic clash between the French and Brazilian presidents came as Mr Macron tried to lead international efforts to help Brazil put out the fires, which he sees as a global problem because the world’s largest rainforest produces 20 per cent of its oxygen. Mr Bolsonaro, whose critics have labelled him “Captain Chainsaw” because of what they say is his disregard for the environment, rejected £18 million in aid from the G7 announced at a summit hosted by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, in the coastal resort of Biarritz at the weekend. But he has accepted a separate £10m offer of assistance from the United Kingdom. State governors and agribusiness leaders from the Amazon region have implored Mr Bolsonaro to accept financial aid from the G7, fearing that continued tensions could harm Brazil’s exports. Mr Bolsonaro has now outlawed all uses of fire in the region except for farming in indigenous communities, but he stressed that the ban was only temporary. “The people there set these fires, it's a tradition,” he said. Data from Brazil's Institute of Space Research has shown the increase in fires this year is linked to a rise in deforestation, with illegal land grabbers clearing areas of virgin forest in order to sell to agribusiness firms. Under domestic and international pressure, the government is expected to launch a series of environment-related measures next week including curbs on deforestation and gold panning. Local media have warned of a new Amazon gold rush stemming from relaxed oversight and poverty. On Wednesday, Donald Trump lent his support to Mr Bolsonaro. “I have gotten to know [Mr Bolsonaro] very well during our dealings with Brazil”, Mr Trump tweeted. “He is working very hard on the Amazon fires and in all respects doing a great job for the people of Brazil.” Mr Bolsonaro thanked him, saying that the “fake news campaign built against [Brazilian] sovereignty will not work.”

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View Photos of the 2020 Volvo XC60 Polestar

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Wave of child sex abuse lawsuits threatens Boy Scouts

The Boy Scouts of America is facing a threat from a growing wave of lawsuits over decades-old allegations of sexual abuse. The Scouts have been sued in multiple states in recent months by purported abuse victims, including plaintiffs taking advantage of new state laws or court decisions that are now allowing suits previously barred because of the age of the allegations. A lawyer representing 150 people who say they were abused as Boy Scouts is planning a suit in New Jersey when the state's new civil statute of limitations law takes effect Dec. 1.

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Israel Is Escalating Its Shadow War With Iran. Here's What to Know

Israel-attributed attacks on targets in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq highlight the risks of a wider confrontation

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We need Unions for All. It's a bold agenda for helping everyone get ahead in our economy.

We need serious plans to empower all workers to form unions, no matter what job they do. 'Unions for All' is our litmus test for 2020 candidates.

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Detained writer urges Australia to help free him from China

A Chinese Australian writer detained in Beijing on suspicion of espionage since January has urged Australia to maintain diplomatic pressure for his release. "I implore the prime minister to help me go home as soon as possible," Yang, 54, said in the statement provided to The Associated Press by Feng Chongyi, an academic who was detained in China for two weeks in 2017 while researching human rights lawyers. Yang was taken into custody upon arriving in southern China's Guangzhou from New York on Jan. 19 with his wife, Yuan Xiaoliang, and his 14-year-old stepdaughter.

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U.S. driver Jessi Combs killed in bid to break land-speed record

Race car driver Jessi Combs, host of the television series "All Girls Garage," was killed in a high-speed crash while trying to set a new land-speed record, her family said on Wednesday. Combs, 39, was attempting to become the fastest woman on Earth when she was killed while racing on Tuesday on the Alvord Desert, a dry lake bed in southeastern Oregon, the family said in a statement.

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Here's Who Has Qualified for the September Democratic Presidential Primary Debate — And Who Hasn't

Who made it? Who came close? Here's what to know about the third Democratic presidential primary debate.

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The Latest: Queen approves request to suspend Parliament

Ireland's foreign minister says it's too late to renegotiate Britain's departure deal from the European Union. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney on Wednesday reiterated Ireland's opposition to the EU renegotiating the Brexit agreement approved by former U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May. Coveney said there wouldn't be enough time before Britain's Oct. 31 departure deadline "even if we wanted to" reopen the negotiations.

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General Electric wins partial dismissal of shareholder lawsuit - Reuters

General Electric wins partial dismissal of shareholder lawsuit  Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge in Manhattan on Thursday partially dismissed a lawsuit by investors in General Electric Co that accused the company of ...

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Russian police take down malware gang who infected 800,000+ Android smartphones - ZDNet

Russian police take down malware gang who infected 800,000+ Android smartphones  ZDNet

TipTop malware gang was making between $1500 and $10500 in daily profits.

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Wikipedia article of the day for August 30, 2019

The Wikipedia article of the day for August 30, 2019 is Tropical Storm Faxai (2007).
Tropical Storm Faxai was a short-lived tropical storm that had minor effects on land. The twentieth named storm of the 2007 Pacific typhoon season, Faxai originated from a tropical depression over the open waters of the western Pacific Ocean in late October. The storm quickly strengthened, becoming a severe tropical storm on October 26 as it rapidly traveled towards the northeast. It became extratropical the following day as it brushed Japan. Although Faxai never made landfall, outer bands associated with the storm produced torrential rains, amounting to 458 mm (18.0 in) on Miyake-jima. A Japan Airlines flight to Narita Airport encountered severe turbulence during the afternoon of October 27; one person sustained serious injuries, five others received minor injuries, and the plane was damaged. One person was killed near Tokyo as the storm passed by, and three others were injured. The storm's remnants dissipated on October 28.

Gov. Kay Ivey apologizes for racist skit from time at Auburn - AL.com

Gov. Kay Ivey apologizes for racist skit from time at Auburn  AL.com

Gov. Kay Ivey is contacting state legislators, and apologizing for her role in a racist student skit from her time as an Auburn student. Ivey was president of her ...

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Yemen: Southern separatists regain control of Aden - Al Jazeera English

1. Yemen: Southern separatists regain control of Aden  Al Jazeera English
2. Yemen official says airstrikes killed at least 30 troops near Aden  New York Post
3. Yemen's separatists vow revenge for government assault on Aden  Reuters
4. Hadi urges Saudi intervention to stop UAE support for separatists  Aljazeera.com
5. Saudi-backed government in Yemen accuses UAE of attacking its forces  CNN
6. View full coverage on Google News

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Hope for US-China trade talks pushes up Dow over 350 points as stocks march higher - USA TODAY

Hope for US-China trade talks pushes up Dow over 350 points as stocks march higher  USA TODAY

While stocks broadly rose Thursday, one big loser was Best Buy, which was the biggest decliner in the S&P 500.

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Apple is allowing independent repair shops to officially service iPhones - 9to5Mac

1. Apple is allowing independent repair shops to officially service iPhones  9to5Mac
2. Apple expected to unveil new iPhones at September 10 event  CNN
3. New renders give us the first look at the upcoming iPad Pro 2019  MSPoweruser
4. Apple will launch iPhone 11 on Sept. 10 in Cupertino  CNET
5. Apple reverses stance on iPhone repairs and will supply parts to independent shops for the first time  CNBC
6. View full coverage on Google News

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Roman Polanski attacks 'absurd' abuse accusations on eve of Venice premiere - The Guardian

Roman Polanski attacks 'absurd' abuse accusations on eve of Venice premiere  The Guardian

Director portrayed as persecuted victim of 'neo-feminist McCarthyism' in interview for latest film An Officer and a Spy.

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All 53 NBA players on 2019 FIBA World Cup rosters, ranked - SB Nation

1. All 53 NBA players on 2019 FIBA World Cup rosters, ranked  SB Nation
2. 2019 FIBA World Cup Preview: The US, the competition and the stakes  NBA.com
3. World Cup preview: Canada will have to fight for survival in 'group of death'  The Athletic
4. FIBA World Cup Preview -- Breaking down all 32 teams  ESPN Philippines
5. Team USA basketball roster: From Harrison Barnes to Derrick White, meet your 2019 U.S. FIBA World Cup team  CBS Sports
6. View full coverage on Google News

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How Undocumented Students Can Access Financial Aid for College

One of the first roadblocks undocumented immigrant youths living in the U.S. might face because of their status is learning they are ineligible for federal financial aid like student loans and the Pell Grant, used to pay for college. When Damian, an undocumented immigrant who preferred to only give his first name, decided he wanted to study beyond high school, he relied on private scholarships and paid out of pocket to cover the remaining tuition bills at a local community college. Achieving a community college education required sacrifices, like working 12-hour weekend shifts instead of spending time with friends and eating at McDonald's on a daily basis.

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Former Pence aide Nick Ayers removes self from Georgia Senate consideration

In 2017, Ayers considered entering the Georgia gubernatorial contest but ultimately chose not to run

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Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line have changed routes for their cruise ships to avoid Hurricane Dorian (RCL, DIS)

Royal Caribbean has closed its Perfect Day at CocoCay island and Disney Cruise Line is re-routing its Disney Fantasy ship to avoid Hurricane Dorian.

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Hong Kong Police Ban Mass Weekend Protest March, Citing Safety

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong police said they banned a Saturday protest by the organizer of previous historic mass marches, citing public safety concerns, a move that could anger demonstrators ahead of a planned 13th straight weekend of pro-democracy rallies.Police said approving the Civil Human Rights Front’s march was too risky as some people might use it to “carry out large scale destruction and disrupt public order,” Kwok Pak-chung, the force’s regional commander for Hong Kong Island, said at a Thursday briefing. The South China Morning Post first reported the ban.“Based on our intelligence, we believe certain protesters will commit acts of violence during the gathering,” Kwok said. “There’s a high chance that certain violent protesters will hijack this event.” He added that officials “have made a decision that we didn’t like to make.”Bonnie Leung, CHRF’s vice-convener, told Bloomberg News earlier in the day that the group was planning to appeal. Some previous rallies have been approved at the last minute after negotiations with police.The ban could trigger further outcry as the rally was planned for the fifth anniversary of China’s introduction of an electoral reform package that would have restricted democratic freedoms and was later rejected by Hong Kong. It could also fuel turnout at a two-day general strike called to begin Monday if the government doesn’t concede to protesters’ major demands by Saturday, the SCMP said.Timeline: How Months of Protests Have Unfolded in Hong KongThe march had been planned to start at centrally located Chater Garden and continue on to China’s liaison office in the city, where Hong Kong’s police and Beijing have drawn their sharpest line after a previous demonstration saw protesters deface the national emblem. Hong Kong’s former leader Leung Chun-ying is promoting a website offering crowd-funded cash bounties to identify protesters who have perpetrated vandalism, including HK$1 million ($127,000) for the person who splashed black paint on the emblem.The CHRF has organized three record-breaking peaceful marches over weeks of protests, including the June 9 rally against legislation easing extraditions to China that sparked what’s morphed into a broader movement against Beijing’s tightening grip over the city. The group said each march brought more than 1 million people onto the streets, while police estimates are lower, in the hundreds of thousands.Its latest march would come after a weekend that began with the formation of a peaceful human chain across the city and culminated two days later with police firing a weapon and using water cannons for the first time. Police said 86 people were arrested over the weekend for alleged offenses including unlawful assembly, possession of weapons and assaulting officers.CHRF convener Jimmy Sham said separately Thursday that he had been attacked by two armed masked men inside a restaurant in the city’s Kowloon, but that he hadn’t been hurt because his friend shielded him. Sham said he would head to the police station in Tsim Sha Tsui to give a statement.(Updates throughout with police confirmation.)To contact the reporters on this story: Sheryl Tian Tong Lee in Hong Kong at slee1905@bloomberg.net;Fion Li in Hong Kong at fli59@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Scott at bscott66@bloomberg.net, Karen Leigh, Jon HerskovitzFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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Disaster feared if 'ticking time bomb' Yemen tanker explodes

An abandoned oil tanker anchored off war-torn Yemen that is degrading along with its cargo could explode and cause an environmental disaster, experts said Wednesday as UN inspectors prepared to visit. The ship "Safer", used as a floating storage platform, is laden with some 1.1 million barrels of crude oil and has been stranded with no maintenance since early 2015, leaving it to deteriorate and potentially allowing explosive gases to build up. United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that a technical assessment team was waiting in nearby Djibouti preparing to board the Safer for a first-hand evaluation.

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The Latest: Power company secures 13,000 workers for Dorian

Florida's largest power company says it has secured about 13,000 employees and additional personnel to work to restore powerlines and equipment damaged by Hurricane Dorian. Florida Power and Light also said Thursday that it is working with utilities nationwide to send additional crews and equipment ahead of the landfall. FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy says they're taking Hurricane Dorian seriously and have activated an emergency response plan in anticipation of its impact.

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The art of a bad deal: A negotiations expert breaks down the everyday lessons we can learn from Trump's messy trade war with China

Negotiations expert Maurice Schweitzer, of the Wharton School, broke down what went wrong during the Trump-China trade war.

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Secret Service, police in standoff with barricaded suspect in Fairfield

BARRICADED SUSPECT: The Secret Service along with police are in the middle of a standoff in Fairfield.

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Joe Biden warned about ‘welfare mothers driving luxury cars’ in a 1988 column

Former VP Joe Biden's half-century of public life has drawn extensive attention to his record on race and civil rights in the 2020 Democratic primary.

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Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro: Dems Plotting to ‘Replace American Citizens With Illegals’

MIKE THEILERNearly a month after an accused shooter reportedly said he deliberately targeted “Mexicans” while killing more than 20 people in El Paso, Fox News personalities are still echoing the same talking points from the gunman’s racist manifesto, in which he complained about a “Hispanic invasion” of America.Appearing on Fox Nation’s The Todd Starnes Show on Thursday, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro was asked by Starnes—who recently likened migrants to a “rampaging horde” of Nazis—if Democrats and liberals hate President Donald Trump and his supporters.Pirro, who is currently promoting a book that Trump has already endorsed, took the opportunity to push a version of the “Great Replacement theory”—the same racist lie that was cited by the El Paso gunman and other recent domestic terrorist attackers.“They hate Donald Trump—he’s the one they want to get rid of,” she said, in a segment first spotted by Media Matters. “Their plot to remake America is to bring in the illegals, change the way the voting occurs in this country, give them licenses. They get to vote—maybe once, maybe twice, maybe three times.”After decrying same-day voter registration and grousing about voter rolls not being purged, Pirro—who was suspended by Fox earlier this year for questioning Ilhan Omar’s loyalty to America—went right back to the far-right well.“Think about it,” Pirro exclaimed. “It is a plot to remake America—to replace American citizens with illegals who will vote for the Democrats.”Pirro’s comments come just days after the National Association of Hispanic Journalists cut ties with Fox News over the network’s use of “invasion” rhetoric to describe immigration, with the NAHJ saying Starnes’ remark about immigrants was the final straw.In the wake of the El Paso slayings, Fox News has been the focus of widespread criticism for the extreme anti-immigrant rhetoric of many of its opinion hosts. Tucker Carlson, for instance, has seen a further erosion of his advertiser base after he called white supremacy a “hoax” just days after the shooting.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma reportedly offering opioid settlement up to $12B

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is reportedly offering a settlement worth up to $12 billion to resolve claims over its role in the opioid crisis.

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Backcountry Offers Our Favorite Outdoor Gear For Half Off During Labor Day

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Here are all the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who will be on stage for the September 12 primary debate

The next round of debates had much more strict criteria for candidates looking to secure a spot on stage. As a result, the field is thinning out fast.

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Mnuchin Says China Trade Meeting Will Happen But Won't Say When

(Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said U.S. trade officials expect Chinese negotiators to visit Washington, but wouldn’t say whether a previously planned September meeting would take place.“We continue to have conversations. We’re planning for them to come,” Mnuchin said Wednesday in an interview, declining to say whether the September encounter would happen.Tensions between the two nations reached a fresh peak last Friday when China threatened retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. and President Donald Trump responded with a plan to ratchet up duties on Chinese products further and ordered American companies to look for alternatives to the country. The remarks prompted U.S. stocks to suffer one of their worst losses of the year.By Monday, Trump had softened his tone, saying the two nations had had phone conversations and that China was eager to strike a deal.Compounding the battle over tariffs, the two nations are engaged in a dispute over the value of their currencies. Mnuchin said Wednesday that he’s been in contact with China’s top central banker, the International Monetary Fund and other counterparts in Beijing over what the U.S. has deemed manipulation of the yuan.“We’ve had conversations with the IMF and directly with our counterparts in China, including the governor of the PBOC,” since the U.S. formally labeled China a currency manipulator on Aug. 5, Mnuchin said, referring to Yi Gang, who heads the People’s Bank of China.China’s currency broke the 7 per dollar level earlier this month for the first time since 2008, unleashing tumult across global markets. The U.S.’s manipulator announcement followed a declaration by PBOC’s Yi that his nation wouldn’t use the yuan as a tool to deal with trade disputes.The designation of China as a currency manipulator was seen as largely symbolic since the potential penalties are less punitive than steps Trump has already taken against China.“We will have a separate dialog and discussion on currency as part of the trade discussion but separate from the trade discussion,” Mnuchin said.To contact the reporter on this story: Saleha Mohsin in Washington at smohsin2@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Joshua Gallu, John HarneyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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