| Hurricane Dorian edges 'dangerously close' to Florida after battering Bahamas Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:48 AM PDT  * Five dead as island nation suffers 'historic tragedy' * Follow the latest live updates on Hurricane DorianRain brought on by Hurricane Dorian continues to pour in Freeport, Bahamas, on Tuesday. Photograph: Tim Aylen/APHurricane Dorian was edging "dangerously close" to the US mainland on Tuesday, after its catastrophic two-day stall over the Bahamas destroyed thousands of homes and left at least five people dead.Despite weakening to a category 2 storm with sustained winds of 110mph, Dorian remained powerful, experts warned, with the potential to deliver "life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds" from central Florida to the Carolinas.The storm's slow north-westerly crawl towards Florida finally began on Tuesday morning after a relentless 48-hour battering of the Abaco islands and Grand Bahama, causing massive destruction that the Bahamas prime minister, Hubert Minnis, said was an "historic tragedy"."The Bahamas is presently at war and being attacked by Hurricane Dorian," he told the Nassau Guardian. "And yet it has no weapon at its disposal to defend itself during such an assault by this enemy."Rescue workers, including some from the US coast guard, worked to lift stranded residents from the roofs of flooded homes. More than 20 people were airlifted to safety in New Providence island, some with serious injuries.Large areas of Grand Bahama, including the popular tourist resort of Freeport, remained under water."The reality of it all is, unfortunately, we will see more deaths. I can't see any way out of it," Marvin Dames, the Bahamas minister of national security, told reporters. He added that several of the confirmed dead were children.Millions in Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina evacuated inland as Dorian, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane of modern times, began to menace the American mainland.The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said in its 11am advisory winds had dropped to almost half the speed of the 200mph gusts that pounded Abaco island at landfall on Sunday.But the size of the storm was increasing, senior hurricane specialist Dan Brown reported, with hurricane-force winds stretching 60 miles from its core and tropical storm-force winds up to 175mph.While Dorian's center is no longer predicted to make a Florida landfall, according to the NHC, the storm is still expected to deliver a powerful blow."The increasing size of Dorian's windfield along with any deviation to the left of the forecast track will bring hurricane-force winds onshore along portions of the Florida east coast," Brown said.Dorian's projected path saw it hugging the Florida coastline for the next 24 to 36 hours, close to the Florida-Georgia border by Wednesday evening and grazing the Carolinas through Thursday and Friday.The storm has been difficult to predict because of constant atmospheric changes in the Atlantic and Caribbean which left Dorian parked over Grand Bahama for so long."Somebody once told me a hurricane is like an elephant on roller-skates," severe weather expert Jim Lushine, a retired NHC forecaster, told the Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper. "It doesn't make a very sharp turn. It has to slow down tremendously before it can turn."In Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday the scene was eerily quiet, 36 hours ahead of the expected arrival of tropical storm force winds. The city, with a group of other Georgian coastal counties, was placed under an evacuation order on Monday by Governor Brian Kemp.Matthew Aylen wades through waist deep water as he is rescued during Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Bahamas, on Tuesday. Photograph: Tim Aylen/APThe latest National Weather Service rainfall forecast indicated that the flash flood threat would increase into Wednesday along the Florida peninsula, then spread up the south-eastern and mid-Atlantic coast.In Miami, which has a large Bahamian community, volunteers and aid agencies were beginning to assemble relief supplies to send to the islands once the storm moved on.In a tweet using the hashtag bahamasstrong, Senator Marco Rubio said the government was ready to provide aid and assistance.As many as 13,000 homes in the Bahamas may have been destroyed or severely damaged, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said."It looks like they're boats on top of the water," said Rosa Knowles-Bain, 61, a resident who fled two days ago to an emergency shelter.At the White House, staff members reviewed hurricane planning with state and local officials. Donald Trump was being briefed hourly, the White House spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said.After cancelling a visit to Poland to stay in the US and "monitor" the storm, Trump played golf at his course in Virginia on Saturday and Sunday, before receiving hurricane briefings.Nine counties in Florida issued mandatory evacuations. They included parts of Duval county, home to Jacksonville, one of the two biggest cities in the state, and some areas in Palm Beach county, home to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.Orlando international airport, one of the largest in Florida, ceased commercial operations at 2am on Tuesday because of the storm, it said in a statement. The airport in Fort Lauderdale planned to resume operations later on Tuesday, officials said.More than 2,300 flights were cancelled in the US as well as to and from the country. Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando was planning to close at 3pm on Tuesday. * The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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| Guatemala arrests ex-1st lady, presidential runner-up Torres Posted: 02 Sep 2019 03:20 PM PDT  Former Guatemalan first lady and presidential runner-up Sandra Torres was arrested Monday on charges of campaign finance violations, the latest high-profile political figure to face allegations of malfeasance even as a U.N. anti-graft commission is set to shut down. Investigators searched Torres' Guatemala City home in the morning and transported her to court, handcuffed, with her face obscured by a scarf, a hood and dark glasses. Prosecutors said she is accused of unregistered electoral financing and illicit association related to the 2015 election and the National Unity of Hope party, of which she was both candidate and general secretary.
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| A vegan woman sued her neighbors for barbecuing in their backyard: 'It's deliberate' Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:07 AM PDT  Cilla Carden took her case to Australian supreme court, citing her neighbors' barbecuing, smoking and children playing basketball.
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| Lithuania says Chinese diplomats interfered at pro-Hong Kong protest Posted: 02 Sep 2019 07:07 AM PDT ![Lithuania says Chinese diplomats interfered at pro-Hong Kong protest]( "Lithuania says Chinese diplomats interfered at pro-Hong Kong protest") Lithuania said on Monday it had lodged an official protest to the Chinese embassy after some of its diplomats became involved in disruptions at a pro-Hong Kong demonstration in the capital Vilnius last month. Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Chinese diplomats acted "in violation of public order" at the Aug. 23 event, which was organised to show solidarity with anti-Beijing protesters in Hong Kong. A police spokesman told Reuters that two Chinese citizens were detained and fined 15 euros ($17) each after people waving Chinese flags agitated at the protest.
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| Revealed: How a secret Dutch mole aided the U.S.-Israeli Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:00 AM PDT  For years, an enduring mystery has surrounded the Stuxnet virus attack that targeted Iran's nuclear program: How did the U.S. and Israel get their malware onto computer systems at the highly secured uranium-enrichment plant?
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| Afghan killer sparks far-right criticism in France Posted: 01 Sep 2019 10:04 AM PDT  Jacquet said the knifeman had been first registered in France in 2009 as a minor, but travelled to Germany, Norway, Britain and Italy before returning to France in 2016 where he was granted temporary residency rights. France has been the victim of a string of Islamist-inspired terror attacks since 2015 that have cost hundreds of lives.
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| Kevin Hart Could Require Back Surgery After Malibu Horror Crash, But Docs Are Optimistic Posted: 02 Sep 2019 05:20 AM PDT  Instagram / KevinHart4realComedian Kevin Hart is being assessed to see if he will require back surgery following his dramatic crash in the Malibu hills in the early hours of Sunday morning. Hart, miraculously, walked away from the crash, and was able to go back home before checking himself into an L.A.-area hospital, where he is now under observation. The other two passengers in the car appear to have also had lucky escapes, despite being trapped in the vehicle for some time: Hart's friend Jared Black (who was driving) and personal trainer Rebecca Broxterman are both expected to make full recoveries.Hart could, however, need surgery for major back injuries he suffered in the crash, which saw his vintage Plymouth Barracuda veer off a Mulholland Highway canyon, crashing to the ground ten feet below. Pictures showed the roof of the car completely sheared off. Doctors are optimistic that Hart will make a full recovery as he has not suffered "a spinal cord injury," The Blast reports, adding that he is "able to walk and move his extremities."Hart was a passenger in the vintage muscle car, which he bought in July to mark his 40th birthday, when it went off the road and rolled down an embankment.California Highway Patrol officers said the driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision, which happened at around around 12:45 a.m. Sunday.The car was turning when the driver "immediately lost control of the vehicle, and the Plymouth left the road and rolled over down the northern embankment," TMZ said, quoting cops.Just hours before the crash, Hart had posted a video on Instagram of himself sitting in the car. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get 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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| Hong Kong students join boycott after weekend of violence Posted: 02 Sep 2019 10:36 AM PDT ![Hong Kong students join boycott after weekend of violence]( "Hong Kong students join boycott after weekend of violence")
They wore masks over their mouths, but the voice of Hong Kong students was loud and clear on Monday (September 2). Thousands of them chose to boycott school and university for the day, in the latest anti-government protest here that some fear could one day be made illegal. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST AGNES CHOW, SAYING: "If we stop fighting, Hong Kong will be ended and one country two system might properly be ended, and our rights, our basic political right of getting involved in social movement of opposing the government will probably be ended also." This was a peaceful protest against the now-suspended extradition bill - an altogether different kind from the violent scenes over the weekend and many times before. They want greater democracy for the former British colony, which returned to China 22 years ago under a "one country, two systems" formula. That system guarantees wide-ranging autonomy, including the right to protest and an independent judiciary. But children and students here, much like their elders, fear those freedoms are being slowly eroded by Communist Party rulers in Beijing - a charge China denies. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STUDENT, MICHAEL CHAN, SAYING: "We don't want our children to live under a society that is really unfair, injustice. And I think this is the minimum that we can do," An audio recording has revealed Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam admitting she caused "unforgivable havoc" by igniting the political crisis engulfing the city right now - and would quit if she had a choice. The proposed law - which would have paved the way for suspected criminals to face trial in mainland China - may have been shelved. But it seems people here - both young and old - are not yet convinced that China has given up trying to gain greater control of their lives.
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| Trump administration U-turns on decision to deport migrants with life-threatening health issues Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:39 AM PDT  The Trump administration announced on Monday it would reconsider its controversial decision to force immigrants facing life-threatening health crises to return to their home countries, an abrupt move last month that generated public outrage and was roundly condemned by the medical establishment.On 7 August, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, without public notice, eliminated a "deferred action" program that had allowed immigrants to avoid deportation while they or their relatives were undergoing lifesaving medical treatment.
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| Some Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Norwegian Cruise ship passengers are stuck at sea as Hurricane Dorian creeps dangerously close to Florida (RCL, CCL) Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:25 AM PDT  Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line have extended the itineraries for some ships as Hurricane Dorian nears Florida.
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| Gunman in Texas shooting previously failed background check: Here's what we know Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:31 AM PDT  Police have not released information on how the gunman in the Texas shooting in Odessa on Saturday obtained the firearm he used.
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| Weak factory data, trade frictions pull Wall Street lower Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:46 AM PDT  The Institute for Supply Management said its index of national factory activity decreased to 49.1, compared with a reading of 51.1 estimated by analysts polled by Reuters. "A contraction in the manufacturing sector, which we haven't seen for a very long time, is important because it has a tendency to be a leading indicator for the rest of the economy including the services sector," said Randy Frederick, vice president of trading and derivatives for Charles Schwab in Austin. U.S. stocks opened lower as the lack of progress on negotiations between Washington and Beijing amid a new round of tariffs kicking in over the weekend weighed on sentiment.
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| See Photos of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S Posted: 02 Sep 2019 04:59 AM PDT ![See Photos of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S]( "See Photos of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S")
Mercedes-AMG's newest four-door takes after its two-door GT sibling, delivering scorching performance and speed with its twin-turbo V-8 and racy chassis. From Car and Driver
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| Nigeria’s Buhari to Send Envoy to South Africa Over Violence Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:30 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari sent a special envoy to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa following reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in Johannesburg.Buhari also summoned the South African High Commissioner to seek assurances of the safety of Nigerians, his special adviser, Femi Adesina, said in an emailed statement Tuesday.South Africa has been hit by an outbreak of attacks on migrants from other African countries as the nation prepared to host a meeting of political and business leaders from across the continent this week. That's due to be attended by Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who also condemned the violence.Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa Leave Migrants Living in Fear"It is sad and very unfortunate that the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians living in South Africa are once again being destroyed with such wantonness carelessness and recklessness," he tweeted.The attacks also come ahead of a planned state visit by Buhari to the country next month.(Updates with Osinbajo comment in fourth paragraph)To contact the reporter on this story: Elisha Bala-Gbogbo in Abuja at ebalagbogbo@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Osae-Brown at aosaebrown2@bloomberg.net, John Bowker, Dulue MbachuFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Trump rips into actress Debra Messing after the 'Will & Grace' star praised signs trashing the president Posted: 01 Sep 2019 11:01 AM PDT  President Trump took a swipe at Hollywood actress Debra Messing after the "Will & Grace" star praised an Alabama church sign that read "A black vote for Trump is mental illness."
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| Hurricane Dorian is slowly inching from the Bahamas to the US, leaving devastation in its wake Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:19 AM PDT  Hurricane Dorian was still pummeling the Bahamas as a Category 3 storm early Tuesday, and its effects could reach Florida by Tuesday evening.
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| Iranian forces have been harassing this British warship almost daily in the Persian Gulf Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:54 AM PDT  The Royal Navy frigate has reportedly had 115 run-ins with Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf since the start of July, and it's not backing down.
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| South Korean reporters grill minister nominee for 11 hours Posted: 03 Sep 2019 03:31 AM PDT  South Korean reporters have grilled President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister for 11 hours over suspected ethical lapses surrounding his family that have triggered an intense political row and cut into Moon's popularity ratings. At a news conference that continued until the early hours of Tuesday, Cho Kuk, a law professor and Moon's former secretary for civil affairs, denied allegations that his daughter received special treatment in her admissions to a top university in Seoul and a medical school in Busan. Cho's news conference at the National Assembly in Seoul was abruptly arranged after his parliamentary confirmation hearing set for Monday and Tuesday fell through amid political bickering between ruling and opposition parties.
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| Odessa shooting: Texas lawmaker's defiant defense of gun rights sparks sharp debate Posted: 01 Sep 2019 10:17 AM PDT ![Odessa shooting: Texas lawmaker's defiant defense of gun rights sparks sharp debate]( "Odessa shooting: Texas lawmaker's defiant defense of gun rights sparks sharp debate") State Rep. Matt Schaefer of the Texas House Freedom Caucus, says Texans need to turn to God, not gun control measures.
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| Hong Kong students boycott classes as China warns 'end is coming' Posted: 01 Sep 2019 05:19 PM PDT  Thousands of black-clad students rallied in central Hong Kong Monday at the start of a two-week university boycott, piling pressure on the city's leaders to resolve months of increasingly violent anti-government protests that show no sign of easing. Students have been the backbone of opposition to government plans to allow extraditions to China, a movement that has morphed into wider protests against the Beijing-backed territory's unelected leadership. Hundreds have been arrested in violent clashes with police, and an increasingly shrill Beijing has labelled protesters "terrorists", with an editorial by China's state news agency Sunday warning "the end is coming".
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| UK PM Johnson loses majority in parliament after lawmaker defects to Liberal Democrats Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:37 AM PDT ![UK PM Johnson loses majority in parliament after lawmaker defects to Liberal Democrats]( "UK PM Johnson loses majority in parliament after lawmaker defects to Liberal Democrats") British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his working majority in parliament on Tuesday when one of his Conservative lawmakers defected to the pro-European Union Liberal Democrats. Phillip Lee crossed the floor of the House of Commons just as Johnson began giving a statement on last month's G7 summit.
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| Frantic mayday calls reveal passengers were trapped during deadly California boat fire Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:23 AM PDT  911 calls released in the deadly boat fire off the coast of Southern California reveal passengers were below deck with no escape hatch.
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| Joe Manchin skips run for governor Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:08 AM PDT  The decision is likely to be a relief to Senate Democrats, who would ultimately struggle to hold on to the West Virginia seat.
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| Hurricane Dorian thrashes Bahamas and kills at least five as it barrels towards US Posted: 03 Sep 2019 05:44 AM PDT  Hurricane Dorian lost some of its punch but grew in size on Tuesday, picking up speed and forecast to come "dangerously close" to Florida's coast after pounding Grand Bahama Island for about a day, killing at least five people One of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record had hovered over the Bahamas on Tuesday killing at least five people and levelling houses. The storm is expected to approach dangerously close to the southeastern coast of the US, according to forecasters, who have warned it could inflict damage from Florida to Virginia and beyond. On Tuesday the hurricane weakened to a Category 2 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale early on Tuesday, with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center moved the storm's "cone of uncertainty" slightly eastward on Monday, but they stressed a minor change could see Dorian head back to the mainland. The storm battered the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, which have a combined population of about 70,000 and are no more than 40 feet (12 meters) above sea level at their highest points. The Grand Bahama airport was under 6 feet (2 meters) of water. Homes underwater in the Bahamas Desperate callers trying to find loved ones left messages with local radio stations as the country's health minister said medical teams would be sent to the Abaco islands by the afternoon. Twenty-one people were reported to have been airlifted to the capital by the US Coast Guard. Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, said the Abaco Islands, which on Sunday received the full brunt of Dorian, had been seriously damaged and that police had confirmed the deaths of five people. "Our focus right now is search, rescue and recovery," Mr Minnis told reporters at a news conference. "I ask for your prayers for those in affected areas and for our first responders." As many as 13,000 homes may have been severely damaged, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, with extensive flooding and contaminated wells. A woman seeks cover from wind, blowing sand and rain whipped up by Hurricane Dorian on Cocoa Beach, Florida. Officials said it was too early to make a complete assessment of the damage because high winds and rain made it difficult to reach many of the smaller islands in the Bahamas. At 10am on Tuesday, the hurricane remained stationary, the NHC said, whipping the Caribbean island with torrential rains and winds of 120 mph (195 kmh), with higher gusts. The storm is forecast to resume moving northwest overnight. "Although gradual weakening is forecast, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days," the NHC said in an earlier bulletin. Hurricane Dorian batters Bahamas and threatens US coastline from Florida to the Carolinas, in pictures Fear gripped residents of Freeport, as winds tore off shutters and water began entering homes, Yasmin Rigby told the Associated Press by text message from Grand Bahama Island's main city. "People who thought they were safe are now calling for help," Ms Rigby said. "My best friend's husband is stuck in the roof of their house with seven feet (two meters) water below." Video posted on the website of the Bahamian newspaper Tribune 242 showed water up to the roofs of wooden houses in what appeared to be a coastal town. Capsized boats floated in muddy brown water dotted with wooden boards, tree branches and other debris. The US Coast Guard deployed helicopters to Abaco, while three humanitarian experts from Britain were also deployed to assist efforts, the Department for International Development said. The British Royal Navy auxiliary ship RFA Mounts Bay, capable of carrying specialist water rescue vehicles and includes a helicopter, had been pre-positioned in the region to offer support. Flattened homes in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas Residents of Grand Bahama were being told to stay inside their hurricane shelters as in Freeport, the main town, winds tore off shutters and water began coming into homes. "People who thought they were safe are now calling for help," said Yasmin Rigby, from the island. "My best friend's husband is stuck in the roof of their house with seven feet of water below." Video posted on the website of the Bahamian newspaper Tribune 242 showed water up to the roofs of wooden houses in what appeared to be a coastal town as capsized boats floated with other debris. The NHC forecast an 18 to 23 foot storm surge above tide levels in parts of Grand Bahama, accompanied by large and destructive waves. The storm looked on track to head towards the US coast by Monday evening. Florida, Georgia and South Carolina ordered hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate, beginning at noon on Monday. Authorities block a road in Jensen Beach, Florida Credit: ADAM DELGIUDICE/AFP Meanwhile, airports were closed in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Palm Beach, and almost 1,000 flights were cancelled. President Donald Trump met with his emergency management chiefs on Sunday and declared "this looks monstrous." "We expect that much of the eastern seaboard will be ultimately impacted and some of it very, very severely," he said. Florida issued evacuation orders in parts of Palm Beach, home of Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, and Martin Counties and South Carolina followed suit with orders down the state's coast. Georgia separately gave mandatory orders to evacuate six coastal counties, and the entire city of Savannah. Both orders took effect on Monday at noon. Dorian was tied with Gilbert (1988), Wilma (2005) and the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, based on maximum sustained winds. Hurricane Allen in 1980 was the most powerful, with 190 mph winds, the NHC said. Although Dorian is expected to weaken gradually, forecasters said it likely would remain a powerful hurricane for the next couple of days.
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| Criminal justice reform turns to list of problem officers Posted: 01 Sep 2019 01:52 PM PDT  During the 22 years he spent in prison after being convicted of killing a Boston police detective, Sean Ellis believed there was something suspicious about the officers who led the murder investigation. It would take years of digging and scores of public information requests from his attorneys to uncover evidence that several officers investigating the 1993 murder case were involved in criminal activity — information that wasn't shared with the defense. Defense attorneys have long run up against a brick wall when trying to discover whether an officer has credibility issues that could set their client free.
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| Arrests jump in China's Xinjiang amid crackdown Posted: 02 Sep 2019 03:18 AM PDT  The number of people arrested and imprisoned in China's Xinjiang skyrocketed in 2017, according to official data, as Beijing tightens its grip on the troubled region with surveillance and mass detentions. One in five arrests made in China in 2017 took place in Xinjiang, although the region is home to just two percent of the country's population, data from the local prosecutor's office showed. Beijing has come under international criticism over its policies in Xinjiang, where as many as one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are being held in internment camps, according to human rights groups.
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| Greece proposes Parthenon marbles swap, says still wants their permanent return Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:34 AM PDT ![Greece proposes Parthenon marbles swap, says still wants their permanent return]( "Greece proposes Parthenon marbles swap, says still wants their permanent return") Greece confirmed on Tuesday its readiness to loan treasures to the British Museum in return for being able to temporarily exhibit the Parthenon marbles but also said the proposal did not alter its long-standing demand for their permanent return. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Britain's Observer newspaper on Sunday he was willing to lend important artefacts to London that "have never left Greece" in return for putting the marbles on display in Athens in 2021, when the country marks 200 years since the start of its War of Independence. Athens has repeatedly called for the permanent return of the 2,500-year-old sculptures that Britain's Lord Elgin removed from the Acropolis temple during a period when Greece was under Ottoman Turkish rule.
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| Student loans: Betsy DeVos rule change means college students must fight for loan forgiveness Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:11 AM PDT  DeVos thought it was too easy under Obama for students to get loan forgiveness if a college closed or if their degree didn't prepare them for a job.
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| Trump wants the national parks to generate revenue; critics see creeping privatization Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:15 AM PDT  The Interior Department believes the national parks are in a state of disrepair and need a $12 million investment. But opponents say that figure is exaggerated to frighten the public into accepting corporate giveaways.
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| Hurricane Dorian has killed at least 5 people in the Bahamas, including an 8-year-old boy who reportedly drowned Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:10 AM PDT  Hurricane Dorian pummeled the Bahamas this weekend, destroying houses and creating a storm surge of up to 23 feet.
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| Hurricane Dorian downgraded to Category 4 as powerful storm's winds decrease slightly Posted: 02 Sep 2019 08:45 AM PDT  National Hurricane Center updates Hurricane Dorian position and forecasted path.
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| Why Kamala Harris Hasn’t Caught Fire in the Democratic 2020 Race Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:00 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Kamala Harris entered the presidential race with impressive credentials -- a popular black woman with an inspiring story who hailed from a large Democratic state and drew accolades for her fiery questioning of President Donald Trump's nominees.Yet despite a shot of adrenaline after confronting front-runner Joe Biden in the first debate, she has failed to catch fire with Democratic voters who are torn between a nostalgic fondness for Biden and a revolutionary desire for Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.Harris's attempt to replicate her feat in the second debate backfired among Democrats who say she went too negative on Biden. The Californian also suffers from a perception that she lacks a deep ideological well to guide her policy ideas, in contrast to her three main rivals who are better-defined. And her past as a prosecutor has earned her supporters and detractors.Harris and Senator Cory Booker "really went after Vice President Biden -- it rebounded to their detriment that they went after Biden so much. Because it also looked like they were not just going after Biden, but they were going after the Obama legacy," said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which is neutral in the primaries.Weingarten said many Democrats left the June debate thinking, "Kamala seems really feisty and let's look at her." But in the July debate they were turned off by Harris and other aggressors because "it looked like they were burning the house down, as opposed to building on what Democrats believe in."Harris surged from about 7% to 15% in averages of Democratic polls immediately after the first debate in late June, putting her in second or third place in the crowded field. But it was a sugar high — she's back to the 7% she had when summer began.For Harris, the danger is that she's another Marco Rubio. The Florida senator, too, had a potentially history-making candidacy during the Republican nomination battle in 2016 and was hailed by the party establishment as presidential timber, before he failed to translate that on the ground."Our focus is on winning the primary, not an off-year August news cycle, which is why we've spent the summer building the grassroots organizing foundation that will propel Kamala to victory in this race," Harris spokesman Ian Sams said in an email. "These races are marathons, not sprints, and Kamala is a long-distance runner."'Too Flippy-Floppy'In late July, Harris backed off her previous support for replacing private insurance with a national government plan and released a proposal that preserves the option for private plans, positioning herself ideologically between Sanders and Biden on one of the most contentious issues in the race.But rather than placating both wings, the move drew fire from all sides — the Sanders campaign accused her of going soft, Biden charged her with "double talk," and voters were left wondering what she stands for."Too flippy-floppy. I just don't like her," said Debby Fisher of Richmond, California — near Harris's hometown of Oakland — who plans to support Sanders.Suzanne Cowan of San Francisco said she soured on Harris after her change on health care."That's not my kind of candidate. Either you know what issues you support and you have the courage to stand up for them or you don't," she said. "For me she's 'I'll be in favor of whatever is trending' — and that doesn't cut it."'Her Brilliance, Her Passion'Patrick Kollar of Roy, Washington, who recently attended a Warren rally in Seattle, said he's unsure how to define Harris ideologically."That's a problem," he said. "I follow politics pretty closely and I don't know what she's about."Harris has set herself apart on culturally salient issues like immigration and gun control with far-reaching legislative proposals and executive actions to tackle two high priorities for Democratic voters. At the same time, she has downplayed ideological labels and branded herself as the "3 a.m. agenda" candidate who's focused on problems that keep Americans up at night."I lost my son to gun violence," said Lynette McElhaney of Oakland, adding that she was drawn to Harris's aggressive positions on gun control. "And critically important, she sent her staff to stand with me when my son was killed in Los Angeles."She said she supports Harris for "her mind, her brilliance, her passion, her heart."McElhaney was among the Harris volunteers who lined the halls at the Democratic National Committee summer meeting in San Francisco. They had donned "Kamala Harris for the people" T-shirts and campaign gear and chanted slogans for their candidate.Harris's past as a prosecutor — seven years as San Francisco district attorney and six years as California attorney general — is a mixed bag. Some Democrats say it's the reason she was so effective when questioning William Barr and Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's nominees for attorney general and the Supreme Court. Others say she fought too hard to achieve and sustain convictions in dubious circumstances.Rubio Redux?In some ways, Harris risks falling into the same trap that ensnared Rubio in 2016 — eloquent on the stump, adept at raising money, acceptable across the party spectrum but not loved by enough voters."Harris is trying to run in a lane very similar to what Rubio tried to do in 2016," said Alex Conant, the communications director for Rubio's presidential campaign. "They're both new faces, running as next-generation candidates against candidates that in many ways represent the past. They came into the campaign with ideological credentials but a message that would play well in the general.""It's a good strategy for coming in second," he quipped. "If you're acceptable to everyone you're not necessarily loved by anyone."Conant said the key for Harris is to pick an early state to win. Rubio split his efforts about equally in the first four states and landed several top-three finishes, but failed to win any of them."At some point you need to win somewhere," Conant said. "You need to be people's first choice."To contact the reporter on this story: Sahil Kapur in Washington at skapur39@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Wendy Benjaminson at wbenjaminson@bloomberg.net, John HarneyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| 'Bigger picture, it's climate change': Great Lakes flood ravages homes and roads Posted: 02 Sep 2019 11:00 PM PDT  Depths of lakes that hold about 90% of US's freshwater spiking to record levels, from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages 'There's no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact,' said Richard B Rood, a University of Michigan professor. Photograph: Colter Peterson/APThis summer, as rain relentlessly poured down on the Great Lakes region, Detroit declared a rare state of emergency. The swollen Detroit River had spilled into the low-lying Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood – an event not seen near this scale since 1986.Volunteers sandbagged the area as the city's overwhelmed sewer system spilled raw sewage into the river, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Across the channel from Jefferson Chalmers, water damaged the historic boathouse on Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park that remains partly shut down because of flooding.Meanwhile, in Duluth, Minnesota, the city is rebuilding after a powerful storm over Lake Superior damaged a popular pedestrian path, eroded acres of lakefront property and ravaged infrastructure along the shore.About 800 miles to the east, floods hit Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie in two of the last three years, while Lake Michigan's historically high waters inundated parts of Chicago throughout the spring and summer months.The havoc wreaked on communities bordering the Great Lakes is a result of their water level steadily rising over the last five years and spiking to record levels this spring and summer. In 2019, the lakes' depths ranged from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages, according to data from the US army corps of engineers. In June, water in the Lakes St Clair, Ontario, Superior and Erie set records for monthly mean levels, while Lake Michigan-Huron rose to 1in from its recorded peak.That is leading to widespread damage in coastal cities, eroded shorelines and beaches and many other issues. The record levels come just five years after the lakes experienced historically low levels in 2014, and climate scientists say it is clear what's fueling the drastic swing: the Earth's rising temperatures."Bigger picture, it's climate change," said Richard B Rood, a professor in the University of Michigan's department of climate and space sciences and engineering. "There's no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact."Rood said the Great Lakes basin, which holds 90% of the nation's freshwater, can expect similar shifts in the coming decades as world temperatures increase.Climate scientists say a confluence of climate crisis-related issues resulted in this year's levels. Warmer air over the Gulf of Mexico caused more evaporation, and that moisture pushed into the region during the spring and summer. Higher temperatures give the atmosphere more capacity to hold evaporated water, Rood said, which is why storms are dumping more rain than 50 years ago."When you're in wet periods, you start to get persistent, basin-wide extreme precipitation," he said.The numbers back that up. By May, Cleveland, Ohio on Lake Erie's shore saw more rainy days than any year since 1953. Muskegon, on Lake Michigan's shore, experienced 7.45in more rainfall than average throughout the first eight months, while Sault Ste Marie on Lake Superior tallied about 9in more than average for the same period. Buffalo saw 34% more rain than typical.The moisture rained down on ground and lakes already more saturated than usual because a January polar vortex brought frigid temperatures that prevented wintertime evaporation crucial to keeping water levels in check. Meanwhile, a heavy snow pack melted. pushing up levels even further."We're seeing all these things that have an effect on the water cycle converge, which is why we're having these enormous water volumes," Rood said.Though the region finally dried out a bit in August and water levels are slightly receding, the Great Lakes' fall storm season is fast approaching. Fall is a time of high winds and the agency's six-month forecast predicts levels will remain very high, thus there's a strong likelihood for even more damage this year.Coastal communities need to give the storms and fluctuating lake levels stronger consideration when building near the shoreline, said Richard Norton, an urban and regional planning professor at the University of Michigan. There's still an inclination to build as close to the water as possible, which was especially a problem as levels began dropping in the early 2000s."People want to build in the most beautiful, fragile and dangerous places, and that's challenging because of the way the lakes go up and down over time in a weird way … and it's not a good idea," Norton said.The changes have an impact on the lakes' ecosystems and natural environment, but it's a mixed bag. While erosion is an issue, the basin is resilient and has withstood similar variability in the past, said Mark Breederland, an extension director with the environmental agency Michigan Sea Grant.He said extreme fluctuations can benefit the coastal wetlands and some species, while other species, such as the endangered piping plover, face new threats. Meanwhile, the impact of continued climate change on the Great Lakes' ecosystem is still unknown, Breederland said.However, there is more certainty with water levels. Long-term, as temperature increases continue, the region will see levels "bouncing from low extreme to high extremes", Rood said, though the lakes will eventually start to disappear if temperatures aren't brought under control."If we don't mitigate our emissions … and the temperature gets to a certain level, then it does become evaporation dominant," he said.• This article was corrected on 3 September 2019 to situate Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie rather than Lake Ontario.
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| Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen rebel-run prison kill over 100 Posted: 02 Sep 2019 01:35 PM PDT  Yemeni medics said on Monday they pulled dozens of bodies from the rubble of a Houthi rebel-run detention center that was hit a day earlier by Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, killing over 100 people and wounding dozens. The attack was one of the deadliest in more than four years of war in Yemen that have claimed tens of thousands of lives, thrust millions to the brink of famine and spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The Saudi-led coalition, which has fought the Iran-backed Houthis since 2015, has faced international criticism for airstrikes that have hit schools, hospitals and wedding parties, killing thousands of civilians.
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| S.African truckers arrested for anti-foreigner protests Posted: 02 Sep 2019 06:05 AM PDT  South African police on Monday arrested several people following road blockades and violence by truckers protesting against the employment of foreign drivers. Police spokesman for the southeastern province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Jay Naicker said in a statement that at least 20 individuals had been arrested "in connection with incidents related to protests within the trucking industry". Eleven trucks on Sunday blocked the road to Richards Bay Harbour, one of the deepest natural harbours in Africa, KZN police said.
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| View Photos of the 2019 Audi Q3 Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:59 AM PDT |
| Trump insists meteorologists are wrong and he is right to say Hurricane Dorian could have hit Alabama Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:55 AM PDT  Donald Trump has insisted he is right - and meteorologists are wrong - over his repeated claim Hurricane Dorian could strike parts of Alabama.Forecasters, including the government's own National Weather Service, were forced to correct the US president after he warned in a tweet on Sunday morning that Alabama would "most likely" be hit by the record-breaking tropical storm, which is currently devastating the Bahamas.
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| Radioactive pontoons involved in military test explosion wash ashore near Russian village Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:11 AM PDT  Two pontoons involved in a mysterious military test explosion in northern Russia last month have been left unguarded on the shore near a village despite high radiation readings, according to a video. Radiation levels spiked in the Arkhangelsk region and at least five employees of state nuclear concern Rosatom were killed when a "liquid-fuel reactive propulsion system" exploded during testing near the village of Nyonoksa on August 8. Rosatom said the blast occurred during work on "isotope power sources" for the engine, which commentators have speculated was for either the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile or a space rocket. The authorities have claimed the accident posed no risk to residents' health, even though doctors at a regional hospital said they were unwittingly exposed to radiation when treating patients from the site. Caesium-137 was later found in the body of one of the doctors. Satellite imagery revealed that two floating platforms were swept to the shore of the Dvina Bay in the days after the accident. Locals posted a photograph of the platforms, one of which was severely damaged, on social media, warning others to stay away with the caption "this is what death looks like". On Monday, the Belomorkanal news site uploaded a YouTube video of men taking radiation readings near the platforms on a beach near the mouth of the Verkhovka river. Experts have said approaching the two pontoons located 2.5 miles from the Nyonoksa train station could be fatal Credit: YouTube Their dosemeter showed 154 microroentgens an hour on a red fishing line about 500 feet from the platforms and 186 microroentgens an hour on a hauling cable. Both readings are well above the normal levels of 20 to 40 microroentgens an hour. "No idiots have been found to take the radiation levels on the pontoons themselves without proper protection," the video said. According to locals, radiation levels in Nyonoksa itself are normal, and a dosemeter in an earlier video showed only five to six microroentgens per her, albeit at a further distance from the pontoons. A dosemeter shows 154 microroentgens an hour near a red fishing line Credit: YouTube But the platforms are located only two-and-a-half miles from the Nyonoksa railway station and are being lapped by the waves of the Dvina Bay, which has been closed to all vessels for a month. No guards, fencing or warning signs are visible in the Belomorkanal video besides a red t-shirt stretched across two sticks. Experts have said while the radiation levels may be safe in the village of 500, approaching the pontoons could be very harmful or even deadly. In another video uploaded to social media, a captain who heads the missile testing base outside of Nyonoksa said told residents earlier this month there had been an explosion "underneath a pontoon" and warned them to "not go near objects washed up onshore in the past few days". Residents of Nyonoksa take part in a folk festival last year Credit: Sergei Yakovlev/AP At the same time, he ate berries locals brought him to prove that they were in no danger, one resident told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The news site published an investigation last week arguing that specialists may have been trying to lift from the bottom a cruise missile that crashed in the bay last year.
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| Johnson Loses Majority Ahead of No-Deal Showdown: Brexit Update Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:47 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Follow @Brexit, sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, and tell us your Brexit story. Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his majority in the House of Commons as he faces a showdown with members of his Conservative Party that will determine the U.K.'s exit from the European Union and the length of his premiership.Johnson has vowed to leave the bloc on Oct. 31, but his political enemies are fighting to stop him from doing so without a divorce deal. Tonight is the first of a series of key votes in Parliament.Key Developments:Tory MP Phillip Lee quits party and joins Liberal Democrats, removing Johnson's majorityPound rebounded after it fell below $1.20 for first time since 2017Johnson's ultimatum: back down or snap election on Oct. 14Vote in Commons expected around 9 p.m. in London on proposal for MPs to take control of parliamentary businessNo-Deal Brexit minister Michael Gove takes questions in ParliamentJohnson met Tory rebels in Downing Street; his office acknowledged some remain unswayedAll Tories Who Don't Back Govt to Be Expelled (5.30 p.m.)Johnson's spokesman told reporters that every Conservative MP who doesn't vote with the government tonight -- even those who abstain -- will be expelled from the party. Asked if the same rule would apply next month if the prime minister does get a deal, and some Tory Brexiteers rebel because they would prefer a no-deal split from the EU, the spokesman was less clear.Asked the same question in Parliament, Johnson offered this answer: "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," an old expression meaning they would be treated the same. That suggests that even without an election, the number of Conservative MPs could shrink considerably before Nov. 1.Gove Says No-Deal Plans Are for Worst-Case (5:10 p.m.)Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, who is in charge of no-deal Brexit planning, said the government's preparations are designed to mitigate risks, meet "significant challenges" and ensure the U.K. is ready for the eventuality.Addressing the House of Commons, he said that the planning -- under the codename "operation yellowhammer" represents preparations for a "reasonable worst-case scenario" and doesn't represent a "base case" or a "prediction."A leaked Operation Yellowhammer document last month suggested Britain faces shortages of fuel, food and medicine as well as job losses and disruption at its ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit.Lee Predicts More Tory MPs Will Defect (4:40 p.m.)Phillip Lee, whose defection to the Liberal Democrats cost Johnson his working majority, cited bullying from Johnson's advisers as one of his reasons for quitting. But he said the "straw that broke the camel's back" was Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg's dismissive treatment of a doctor concerned about patient mortality after a no-deal Brexit during a radio phone-in on Monday."I don't expect to be the last person to make this decision," Lee, a doctor himself, told Sky News. "I haven't left my party. My party has left me."Johnson Pledges to Obey Law (4:35 p.m.)Boris Johnson said the government "will of course uphold the constitution and obey the law." He was answering a question from Labour lawmaker Angela Eagle, who asked "if a bill passes which makes it illegal to leave without a deal, will he and his government abide by the rule of law?"Moments later, Joanna Cherry of the Scottish National Party asked for Johnson's word that he would respect legislation passed by the House of Commons and court decisions in England and Scotland. He replied by referring her to the answer he gave Eagle.How Much Does Lee's Defection Matter? (4.30 p.m.)Does it matter that Johnson no longer has a majority? Conservative whips must have been counting Phillip Lee as a lost cause for months, and the government was already unable to pass anything controversial.But losing an MP adds to the sense of chaos around the government this week. All political parties are coalitions of different factions, and Lee isn't likely to be the last departure this week.With Johnson promising to expel any Tory who votes against him tonight, he seems on course to lose from the party not only two former Conservative chancellors of the exchequer but Winston Churchill's grandson, Nicholas Soames.It's a clear sign that Johnson's honeymoon is over. He is, like Theresa May before him, hamstrung by Parliament.Hammond Asks Johnson to Publish Plans (4.15 p.m.)Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond asked Johnson to publish his alternative Brexit proposals before tonight's vote, to reassure Tory MPs that he has a plan.Johnson replied that he'd told Hammond privately this morning that there was no point in publishing plans as long as there was a danger of the government's negotiating stance being undermined by Parliament."As long as this house is proposing motions such as the ones tonight and tomorrow, I am afraid we have no chance of getting progress from our EU friends," Johnson told the House of Commons. "We are working flat out to secure it, but the measures, if passed tonight, are making the prospects of success less likely."Johnson Accuses Rebels of Adding to Delay (4:05 p.m.)Johnson accused Corbyn -- and Tory rebels -- of holding up Brexit and weakening the hand of U.K. negotiators by seeking to block a no-deal Brexit.Corbyn is "an agent of further delay, further confusion, further uncertainty for business in this country," Johnson said. "What this bill would mean is that unless we agree to the terms" of the EU "they'd be able to keep us in as long as they want and on their terms."Pound Recovers After Johnson Loses Majority (4 p.m.)The pound reversed earlier losses to reach the day's high as the U.K. Government lost its majority in Parliament. This is seen as reducing the chances of a no-deal Brexit by giving Johnson less room to maneuver.Show Us No-Deal Analysis, Corbyn Demands (3:50 p.m.)Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked Johnson to publish the government's analysis of its no-deal Brexit preparations."It's becoming increasingly clear that this government only has one objective - no-deal," he told the House of Commons, accusing Johnson's administration of "cowardice" and said no-deal puts the U.K. "at the mercy of Donald Trump" for a trade deal.Johnson to Speak With EU, Ireland About Border (3:45 p.m.)Johnson told the House of Commons that "there is a solution" to the Irish border conundrum and that he'll be raising possible ways through the impasse with the EU "shortly" and with his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Monday."There are practical arrangements that we can find which avoid anyone putting infrastructure on the Irish border," Johnson said. "These have been well worked out and involve measures such as trusted trader schemes, transit provisions, frontier zones, reduced bureaucracy for small and local traders and many others."The premier said he recognizes that agri-foods are "increasingly managed on a common basis across the island of Ireland." He said he's prepared to find a way forward that recognize that reality "provided it clearly enjoys the consent of all parties and institutions with an interest.""It is simply wrong to say that we are not making progress," he said. "There is a lot to do in the coming days but things are moving."The Math of Johnson's Majority (3:40 p.m.)Lee's defection means there are now 310 Conservatives, along with 10 members of the Democratic Unionist Party, who support the government: 320 MPs.Arrayed against them are 322 MPs from other parties. But two Labour MPs and one Tory serve as deputy speakers, and don't vote. That leaves 319 voting MPs supporting the government, and 320 MPs on the opposite benches.But it doesn't mean Johnson's government falls. There are 20 independent MPs, many of them uncomfortable with the idea of a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn. So though they oppose Johnson, they may well not act on it.Johnson Loses Majority After Lee Defects (3:35 p.m.)Johnson suffered another blow as Phillip Lee, an anti-Brexit Conservative, defected to the Liberal Democrats. Even with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, Johnson no longer has a Parliamentary majority.Signs Some Rebels Are Willing To Be Won Over (3:15 p.m.)Johnson has been holding meetings with potential rebels and there are signs that some are looking for reasons to back the government.One said privately that if the prime minister is willing to assure them that he is genuinely seeking a Brexit deal, then he would believe him.Another said there are still moves the government could make to win back support including publishing more detail about its no-deal plans and negotiating strategy, alongside letting MPs sit in October.May Says 'Wait and See' on Voting Intentions (3 p.m.)If former Prime Minister Theresa May is amused at her successor Boris Johnson's efforts to bring rebels round to his cause -- given that he previously voted against her deal with Brussels -- she isn't saying it publicly. Looking cheerful and relaxed after a summer walking holiday in Switzerland, she told Bloomberg she wouldn't comment on whether she might rebel in the vote later."I'm not telling anyone how I'm voting," she said. "Wait and see."Johnson's Outreach Falls Short With Rebels (2:55 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson's overtures to potential Tory rebels aren't working with all of them. Former minister Margot James said she's minded to vote against the government "because the chances of no deal are too great."Another former minister, Alistair Burt, told Bloomberg he was in the meeting between Johnson and about 15 other MPs this morning. While he described it as "constructive" -- Johnson gave them a lot of time and both sides were able to set out their positions -- he said some of the differences are irreconcilable and he will vote for the proposal to take control of Parliament on Tuesday night, and then for the bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit on Wednesday.Sturgeon: Election Seems Inevitable (2:50 p.m.)Meanwhile in Edinburgh, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reiterated her resistance to Johnson's suspension of parliament and a no-deal Brexit. An election now seems inevitable, she said, and her Scottish National Party will campaign against leaving the European Union and for another vote on breaking away from the rest of the U.K."The SNP's opposition to Brexit and a right to choose independence will be at the very heart of that contest," Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament, before setting out her semi-autonomous government's package of policies for boosting the economy and improving transportation and education.The SNP is the third-largest party in Westminster, with 35 parliamentarians. Should Johnson end up triggering an election, the nationalists will be gunning for the dozen seats they lost in 2017 to the Conservatives when some voters recoiled from supporting another independence referendum to see how Brexit panned out. The face of that Tory campaign in Scotland, Ruth Davidson, quit last week as leader of the party north of the border.EU Says U.K. Has Made No New Proposals (2:45 p.m.)In Brussels, Brexit diplomats from the EU's 27 remaining governments have been meeting for the first time since the summer break to discuss the latest developments.They were told by the European Commission's negotiating team that the U.K. hasn't made any new proposals to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, according to officials at the meeting. The British government insists that the so-called backstop fallback solution in the current deal must be removed.The Commission believes the U.K. wants to solve the border issue using so-called maximum facilitation, which would see technology and trusted trader systems remove the need for customs checks. But the EU has said there's no evidence that this would be ready in time.Prime Minister Boris Johnson's chief negotiator, David Frost, is due back in Brussels on Wednesday and the Commission reiterated that it's still open to proposals from the U.K.Pence Urges EU to Negotiate 'in Good Faith' (2:40 p.m.)On a visit to Dublin, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urged Ireland and the EU to negotiate "in good faith" with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson."The United States will look to play whatever helpful role we can play," he said, adding that the U.S. will be open to a trade deal with the U.K. after it exits the EU.Standing alongside Pence, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland must stand its ground on the backstop amid a "real risk" of a return to a hard border, and asked Pence to relay that message to Washington.Corbyn Says Stopping No-Deal Comes First (1:20 p.m.)Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party, refused to say if he would order his party to vote for a general election if Johnson proposes one to Parliament."The priority is to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU on Oct. 31," Corbyn said in a pooled TV interview when asked about an election. "Let's see what happens after this legislation goes through."Corbyn said he "fully expects" legislation to block a no-deal Brexit to be passed by Parliament this week. "I expect and hope that every Labour MP will support that legislation," he said.Rebel Tories Unconvinced After Johnson Meeting (1 p.m.)The group of Tories seeking to block a no-deal Brexit were unconvinced by Johnson's arguments after meeting with him in Downing Street this morning (see 12 p.m.), according to a person familiar with the group.The meeting was "professional" but Johnson didn't explain sufficiently how he still has enough time to get a deal before 31 Oct., especially since parliament will be suspended for five weeks, the person said. The prime minister didn't explain why the government hasn't yet given the EU a concrete alternative to the backstop, the person said.The group also challenged Johnson's argument that their plan to take control of the order paper is undermining his negotiations with the EU, saying he hasn't convinced them that any real negotiation is taking place. They reiterated that many of the rebels had voted for Theresa May's deal three times so are not trying to stop Brexit or hand power to Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party, the person said.Johnson Called Parliament a 'Rigmarole' (12:50 p.m.)A key legal test of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament got underway in Edinburgh, revealing a handwritten note from the prime minister in which he called the legislature a "rigmarole." An attorney for a group of lawmakers seeking to halt the suspension said the prime minister's move shows a "breathtaking" contempt for the U.K.'s constitution.Johnson's spokesman, James Slack, told reporters Tuesday the quotes in the court document were selective and didn't contradict the prime minister's position: that proroguing Parliament is necessary to supercharge his domestic political agenda, and not about Brexit.Read more: Johnson Called Parliament a 'Rigmarole' in Handwritten NoteJavid May Be Denied His Moment in the Sun (12:15 p.m.)Sajid Javid may once again be denied his first big speech as chancellor of the exchequer on Wednesday as a result of Brexit maneuvers in Parliament.The announcement of a spending round, due to take place Wednesday afternoon, could be reduced to a Written Ministerial Statement, depending on how events play out in the House of Commons, a U.K. Official said.If MPs succeed in taking control of the order paper, there's a chance they could not make time for government businesses. However, in previous cases, they have done so, according to the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.Last week, Javid canceled his first big speech, due to take place in Birmingham, and instead said he would be announcing the spending round this week.Johnson Had 'Cordial' Meeting With Rebels: Official (12 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson told rebel Tories their efforts to force the government to delay Brexit would damage the U.K.'s negotiating position with the European Union, according to a U.K. official, who described the meeting as "cordial."The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the proposed legislation to delay Brexit is referred to on private Downing Street documents as the "surrender bill." The official acknowledged that some Tory rebels would not change their position despite Johnson's attempts to persuade them.In the meeting, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond disputed the government's position that a new Brexit deal could be legislated in Parliament in 17 days after it was agreed with the EU, arguing the process would take eight weeks, the official said.Johnson's Office Denies Election Could Move (11:45 a.m.)Boris Johnson's official spokesman, James Slack, said any general election called by the government couldn't be put off until after Oct. 14, and that once Parliament has been dissolved, it'll be 25 days until the vote -- denying Labour claims that once he won Parliamentary approval for an election he could delay it until after Brexit on Oct. 31.Johnson's officials have privately briefed any election would be on Oct. 14. But publicly the prime minister has only said he doesn't want an election."The prime minister does not want to have an election. If MPs take that decision to destroy his negotiation position then -- if any election did take place -- it would be before the European Council, which takes place on Oct. 17 and 18," Slack told reporters.He also said talks with the EU are serious after the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the U.K. premier's top adviser, Dominic Cummings, referred to them as a "sham," citing two unidentified sources. Comments from EU leaders show they are serious, Slack said.Application Made for Emergency Debate (11:40 a.m.)The application for an emergency debate on preventing a no-deal Brexit has been formally submitted, the House of Commons said in a posting on Twitter. "The Speaker will consider it later today," it said.The signatures on the application include former Tory ministers Oliver Letwin, Philip Hammond and David Gauke, senior Labour politicians including Yvette Cooper and Hilary Benn, the SNP's Stephen Gethins and Liberal Democrat Tom Brake.EU Stays Quiet on State of Talks (11:30 a.m.)The European Commission's spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva, refused to say whether there has been any progress on substance in the Brexit negotiations. She reiterated the EU is waiting for "concrete proposals compatible with the withdrawal agreement" from the U.K, declining to say whether anything resembling such a proposal has come from the U.K side.Andreeva told reporters the fact the two sides are talking, which wasn't the case before the Group of Seven meetings, signaled progress "on process," while refusing to answer questions about substance. The EU's executive arm is due to unveil an updated set of contingency instructions to companies on Wednesday, with a no-deal Brexit "a concrete possibility" she said.Officials representing the EU's 27 member states are being briefed by the European Commission on Tuesday morning in Brussels about the state of play in talks and preparations for the U.K. leaving the bloc without a deal. The meeting is behind closed doors and diplomats aren't even allowed to take laptops or mobile phones in the room.Johnson Meets Rebel Tories (10:30 a.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson is holding a meeting with rebel Tories in Downing Street ahead of Tuesday evening's expected debate and vote on a proposal for members of Parliament to take control of the agenda, enabling them to pass legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit.The meeting comes as a second Conservative MP, after former Cabinet minister Justine Greening, announced their decision to step down ahead of any election. Keith Simpson, who represents the district of Broadland said on Twitter: "Decided that months ago but now feel like the first officer to man the lifeboats on the Titanic!"Attendees at the meeting with Johnson include former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and other ex-ministers including David Gauke, Alistair Burt, Caroline Nokes and Margot James, who all signed an August 12 letter asking Johnson to commit to reaching an agreement with the EU.Hammond: 'We Will Have the Numbers' (Earlier)Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond confirmed he will vote with other Conservative Party rebels to try to seize control of parliamentary business with the aim of passing legislation to force a Brexit Delay."I think we will have the numbers," Hammond told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday. "Many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so," he said, referring to the government's threat to withdraw the party whip from any MPs who rebelled.Hammond also said he wouldn't vote for a general election until legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit had passed. "My view has been that Prime Minister Johnson has always intended there will be an election, despite what he says."Raab: Government Will Not Delay Brexit (Earlier)Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab made clear the government will not delay Brexit again because it "would send the EU all the wrong signals." He told BBC Radio on Tuesday there was a "lot of positivity" from the bloc's negotiators."We want to get out of this rut," Raab said. Asked whether the government would accept legislation to block a no-deal Brexit if it passed, he replied: "We will always behave lawfully, but we have been very clear that we will not extend beyond the October deadline.""Our intention is to get Brexit delivered before any election," he said, but added the government "will have to think again" if it is blocked.Earlier:U.K. Election Looms as Johnson Raises Stakes of Brexit FightCarney Has Last Chance to Send No-Deal Brexit Message to PublicPound Drops to 2017 Level on Johnson Election Threat: Chart\--With assistance from Nikos Chrysoloras, Alex Morales, Justin Sink, Ian Wishart, Jessica Shankleman and Charlotte Ryan.To contact the reporters on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net;Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net;Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs, Thomas PennyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Mexican official denies vigilante movement has reignited Posted: 02 Sep 2019 06:57 PM PDT  State and local officials in western Mexico disputed Monday whether the old vigilante "self-defense" movement has re-awakened, or whether recent confrontations are just turf battles between gangs. The 2013-2014 vigilante movement took control of large swaths of western Michoacan state, purportedly to expel the old Knights Templar drug cartel. Over the weekend, vigilantes in the town of Tepalcatepec said they had fought off a massive attack by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and posted videos showing hundreds of purported vigilante fighters and shot-up pickup trucks surrounded by bodies.
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