Debate Current Events and Questions

After intense pressure from politicians, US Postmaster General Louis Joy announced he would delay changes to the US Postal Service until..

After the election in November

About what nation did President Trump say "I don't want to talk to [them] right now"?

China

Current council president of UN

Indonesia

President Trump announced plans to pardon Susan B. Anthony who championed the right for women to vote. For what crime was she convicted?

Voting

Judges block Trump order to exclude undocumented immigrants from census

A three-judge federal court panel on Thursday blocked a memorandum signed by President Trump seeking to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count for the purpose of reapportioning seats in the House of Representatives. The judges, based in New York, said Trump's order would violate the statute governing congressional apportionment, which says congressional seats must be allotted based on everyone living in the United States. The ruling came hours after another federal judge ordered the Trump administration to hand over documents connected to the government's abrupt decision to end the 2020 census count a month earlier than the Census Bureau previously planned.

FDA chief says he might okay COVID-19 vaccine before human trials end

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn told the Financial Times in an interview published Sunday that he is willing to issue an emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine prior to the conclusion of human trials. Hahn said this could be done because "the benefit outweighs the risk in a public health emergency." Still, he said he would not give in to President Trump or other politicians who have asserted there will be a vaccine available before the end of the year. "This is going to be a science, medicine, data decision," Hahn told the Financial Times. "This is not going to be a political decision." Several public health experts warn it is unethical to fast-track a vaccine outside of normal testing procedures.

Facebook to refuse new political ads in week before election

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday announced that the social network will reject new political ads in the week before the November presidential election. Zuckerberg said the policy change was among several the company would implement ahead of the vote. The changes will include placing labels on posts from candidates prematurely declaring victory, removing posts claiming that people will contract COVID-19 if they vote, and informing users that there will be "nothing illegitimate" if a result is not clear on election night, because of an increased number of mail-in ballots being cast due to the pandemic. Zuckerberg said Facebook would take these steps to "reduce the chances of violence and unrest" across the country.

Bayern Munich wins 6th European soccer title

German soccer club Bayern Munich won their sixth European title Sunday after defeating French club Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions League final. The lone goal came in the 60th minute on a header from Kingsley Coman. Bayern, which also won the Bundesliga this year and did not lose any of their previous 11 Champions League matches, is now tied with English Premier side Liverpool for the third-most European championships behind Real Madrid and A.C. Milan. The match took place at the 65,000-seat Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, which was closed to fans because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hurricane Laura leaves 6 dead as it heads inland

Hurricane Laura killed at least six people in Louisiana on Thursday. "It looks like 1,000 tornadoes went through here," said Brett Geymann, who rode out the storm with three family members in Moss Bluff, near Lake Charles, Louisiana. "It's just destruction everywhere." Laura hit near the Louisiana-Texas state line as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with top sustained winds of 150 miles per hour. It weakened to a tropical depression as it pushed inland into Arkansas with still dangerous winds and rains ahead of a forecast curve east through Kentucky and Tennessee, the National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters also warned of the possibility of tornadoes in Louisiana, Arkansas, and western Mississippi.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta resigned on Tuesday hours after mutinous soldiers arrested him and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé, accusing them of economic failures and a security crisis amid ethnic tensions. They were the leaders of which West African nation?

Mali

The S&P 500, a collection of stocks, hit a record high and has increased in value by more than 50% since March 23. Which of the following companies is NOT included in the S&P?

Microsoft

UAE leader issues decree formally ending economic boycott against Israel

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and leader of the United Arab Emirates, issued a decree Saturday formally ending the federation's economic boycott against Israel. The order comes on the heels of the U.S.-brokered deal opening up relations between the UAE and Israel earlier this month. Israelis and Israeli firms can now do business in the UAE, and the decree also allows for the purchase and trade of Israeli goods. As was the case when the deal was originally announced, some Palestinians criticized the order for undermining the efforts of the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement which targets Israel. Historically, UAE law stated the recognition of Israel would only occur if Palestine became an independent state.

Report: Michigan will pay $600 million to Flint water crisis victims

This week, the state of Michigan is expected to announce that it will pay $600 million to victims of the Flint water crisis, The New York Times reported Wednesday, citing two people with knowledge of the matter. In 2014, the city of Flint switched its water supply from Lake Huron to the polluted Flint River, and residents were exposed to lead-contaminated water for nearly two years. Tens of thousands of residents are expected to be eligible to receive funds, the Times reports, with most of the settlement money going to children. The settlement is still subject to approval by a federal judge

TikTok CEO steps down, citing new 'political environment'

TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer announced early Thursday that he had resigned just three months after taking the job, because the "political environment has sharply changed." President Trump says the popular short-video app, owned by China's ByteDance, is a security risk, and he has ordered a ban on the social media company unless its U.S. operations are sold to an American company. ByteDance is suing the Trump administration over the executive order, but also talking to Microsoft about a potential sale. "I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for," Mayer said. TikTok will be led on an interim basis by U.S. General Manager Vanessa Pappas.

Pelosi says White House's $1.3 trillion coronavirus relief suggestion not enough

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Friday said President Trump is willing to sign a $1.3 trillion coronavirus relief bill, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement that the figure was not enough to meet Americans' needs and repeated her call for a $2.2 trillion bill. In Pelosi's statement, the speaker argued Republicans are not meeting the Democrats' desired numbers for coronavirus testing and contact tracing. Pelosi also said the GOP is in "disarray," citing reports that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is targeting a $500 billion plan. The House in May passed a $3.4 trillion relief bill, but the Republican-led Senate did not take it up.

PSG, Bayern Munich face off in Champions League final

French soccer club Paris Saint-German will take on German club Bayern Munich on Sunday in the Champions League final. The competition began over a year ago in June 2019 and, like most professional sports across the world, went on hiatus for a time during the coronavirus pandemic. No fans will be allowed in the 65,000-seat Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, due to health and safety measures. Bayern, considered one of the world's most talented teams, is after its sixth European championship, while PSG, led by stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, chases its first ever Champions League crown. The match will take place at 3 p.m. ET on CBS Sports.

Eight Congressional Representatives (Republicans and 3 Democrats) have lost their primary to be re-elected. That is the most since..

1974

Court rules Florida ex-felons can't vote without paying off fines

A federal circuit court ruled Friday that Floridians with felony convictions are only allowed to vote if they have paid off all fees and fines associated with their conviction. Nearly two years ago, Floridians voted to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions who'd been released from prison and weren't convicted of murder or sexual assault. But the 11th Circuit court ruled 6-4 in favor of a policy pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) saying the amendment only applied to former felons who have paid restitution, fees, and fines. Opponents argued the "pay-to-vote" requirement violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, as well as the 24th Amendment's bar on implementing poll taxes. Hundreds of thousands of Floridians are estimated to have outstanding fees. The state doesn't have to tell people how much money they need to pay to vote, the court ruled.

Adviser reportedly pushes White House to adopt herd immunity strategy

A top health adviser to President Trump, Scott Atlas, has pushed the White House to adopt a controversial "herd immunity" strategy toward fighting the coronavirus pandemic, alarming public officials. The approach, which has been used by Sweden, involves protecting people in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, while letting the virus spread to others at lower risk, resulting in "herd immunity" to the virus. Atlas, who is a neuroradiologist and not an infectious disease expert, reportedly meets with Trump nearly every day. Public health experts warn that using the herd immunity approach could result in 2.13 million deaths in the United States before 65 percent of the population is infected and the country reaches herd immunity.

881,000 filed new jobless claims last week, lowest since March

About 881,000 Americans filed new applications for jobless benefits last week, fewer than any other week since the coronavirus crisis hit the United States in March, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists had forecast 950,000 new claims. The figure was down from 1.2 million the previous week, although the drop was largely due to a change in how the government makes seasonal adjustments to employment figures. Economists surveyed by Reuters expected the August jobs report being released Friday to show that U.S. employers added 1.4 million jobs last month, with some gains stemming from hiring for the 2020 Census. Employment would remain about 11.5 million below its level before the start of the coronavirus crisis. Many of the new hires have been people returning from furloughs.

Biden has a 6-point lead over Trump among active-duty troops in poll

Active-duty military members favor Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to President Trump 43 to 37 percent, a poll from Military Times and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University has found. That's a major shift from where Trump stood in 2016, when he had a 41-21 lead over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump's overall support among those active-duty troops has fallen as well, with just 38 percent having a favorable view of him, per the poll. That matches his lowest approval ever recorded among active-duty troops, which was found in late 2019. Nearly half of those respondents — 49.9 percent — viewed Trump unfavorably, and 42 percent said they "strongly disapprove" of Trump's time in office.

Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies at 43

Actor Chadwick Boseman has died at 43 after a battle with colon cancer. The Black Panther star died at home in Los Angeles on Friday, his publicist confirmed to The Associated Press. Boseman starred as T'Challa in Marvel's superhero blockbuster Black Panther, and he rose to fame after portraying Jackie Robinson in 42. He also played James Brown and Thurgood Marshall. In 2016, Boseman was diagnosed with cancer, and he filmed numerous movies "during and between" surgeries and chemotherapy, his family said. "A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much," Boseman's family said. "...It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."

Afghan, Taliban representatives start direct talks

Afghan government negotiators met Sunday with Taliban representatives to start direct talks toward ending their conflict after two decades. The Trump administration brokered the meetings as part of an effort to withdraw the last troops from what has become the longest war ever for the United States. The agreement to hold direct discussions marked a diplomatic breakthrough but the talks are expected to take months. The Afghan government is calling for an early ceasefire. The Taliban want to establish an Islamic system in the country. "It is important that both sides continue the negotiations patiently until a peaceful solution is found," Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the government delegation, said Sunday in a press conference in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Russian opposition leader hospitalized after alleged poisoning

Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, was rushed to the hospital Thursday and placed on a ventilator after he became suddenly ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia. Kira Yarmysh, the press secretary for Navalny's anti-corruption organization, tweeted that he apparently drank poisoned tea. Navalny, 44, has frequently been jailed by Russian state prosecutors. He once had a mysterious allergic reaction to food in a Russian jail last year and a green astringent substance thrown at his eyes and face in 2017. Critics of Putin have been poisoned in recent years, fallen to their deaths from balconies, and been assassinated in European cities. Navalny had been in Siberia campaigning for opposition candidates in upcoming local elections.

Breonna Taylor's boyfriend sues police over raid that killed her

Breonna Taylor's boyfriend, Kenny Walker, has filed a lawsuit against Louisville police, accusing them of misconduct in the no-knock raid and shooting that killed Taylor in her apartment. Walker's attorney said that evidence indicated that police officers, not his client, fired the shot that wounded a Louisville police sergeant. "We know police are firing wildly from various angles," attorney Steve Romines told The Louisville Courier Journal. Walker, licensed to carry a concealed firearm, said he thought robbers were breaking in and fired a warning shot. One of the officers involved has since been dismissed, accused of firing indiscriminately into the apartment, and two others have been reassigned to administrative duty. The warrant involved a drug suspect who didn't live at Taylor's residence.

Lightning strikes spark new fires in California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Wednesday that there were 367 wildfires burning in the state, many apparently started by some of the nearly 11,000 dry lightning strikes that have hit Northern and Central California since Sunday. The first fatality in the fires occurred on Wednesday when a helicopter fighting a blaze crashed, killing the pilot. The Hennessy fire is one of the biggest. It started in Napa County on Monday and has spread to two other counties, Solano and Yolo. It has destroyed 50 buildings, damaged another 50 structures, and forced thousands to evacuate. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that so far this year, more than 300,000 acres have burned in the state, compared to 270,000 acres in all of 2019.

New coronavirus cases rise in 22 states

Confirmations of new coronavirus cases are rising in 22 of the 50 U.S. states, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing the news agency's analysis of public health data. The news came as Americans gather for the Labor Day holiday weekend that traditionally marks the end of summer, and public health authorities warned that holiday crowds raised the risk of new infections. Most of the states reporting rising infections are in thinly populated parts of the Midwest and South. South Dakota showed the largest increase on a percentage basis, with 3,700 new cases over the past two weeks, a 126 percent increase compared to the previous two weeks. Some of the new cases were linked to the massive annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, which attracted hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists in August. Nationwide, the increases were offset by falling new infections in the heavily populated states of California, Florida, and Texas.

Biden calls for charges against officers who shot Blake, Taylor

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Wednesday that the white Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer who shot Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man, in the back seven times "needs to be charged." Biden also called for charges over the police killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman shot in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment during a raid. Biden also called for arresting anyone committing violence during protests. He made his comments the day after President Trump visited Kenosha, focusing on supporting police and businesses affected by violence. Biden plans to visit Kenosha on Thursday. He vowed to help try to "heal" the city, and accused Trump of "throwing gasoline on the fire" of racial tensions. Trump has falsely accused Biden of championing violent protesters and pushing to "defund the police."

U.S. Open: Thiem beats Zverev for 1st Grand Slam singles title

Dominic Thiem beat Alexander Zverev in Sunday's U.S. Open final, giving the Austrian tennis player his first Grand Slam title. Thiem was the second seed and is ranked third in the world. Going into the competition, the 27-year-old had lost three consecutive Grand Slam finals. He won on Sunday in five sets, 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6 (8-6). Thiem was the first player to take a Grand Slam title after being down by two sets since Argentine Gaston Gaudio at the 2004 French Open. The last person to accomplish such a comeback in the U.S. national championship was American Pancho Gonzales, in 1949. Thiem and Zverev, 23, are longtime friends. "I wish we could have two winners today, we both deserve it," Thiem told Zverev after the match

Dozens still missing in Oregon as improved weather provides some aid to firefighters

Dozens of fires are still raging across the three West Coast states, burning millions of acres, as crews search for survivors in Oregon, where "mass fatality" incidents are feared. At least 26 people have been killed in California, Oregon, and Washington in the blazes, which Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) has called a "once-in-a-generation event," since early August. Dozens of people are still missing. Firefighters did make some progress in containing the fires Saturday, aided by calmer winds and cooler, moister conditions, although smoke and ash continue to darken the sky, creating some of the world's worst air-quality levels. President Trump on Monday will visit California, where he'll meet with federal and state officials to discuss the fires.

Fed to keep interest rates near zero until 2023

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced in a Wednesday press conference that the central bank probably would keep interest rates near zero until at least 2023. Rates will remain at this historic low level "until the economy is far along in its recovery," Powell said — although he added that Congress should take some action to make sure that happens. "Overall activity remains well below its level before the pandemic, and the path ahead remains highly uncertain," Powell noted. Until the economy reaches the Federal Reserve Board's "assessments of maximum employment" and inflation hits 2 percent, interest rates will remain low, Powell said. "More fiscal support is likely to be needed," he said, alluding to the fact that Congress still hasn't replaced its stimulus bill that expired at the end of July.

Fed minutes show support for more coronavirus relief

Federal Reserve officials expect the U.S. economy to need more support to recover from the coronavirus crisis, according to minutes from the central bank's July 28-29 policy meeting released Wednesday. Some Fed leaders said they thought "additional accommodation could be required" to stimulate the economy as the pandemic disrupts supply chains, forces layoffs, and drags down many businesses. One change under discussion that could provide certainty was offering details on how long the Fed expects to keep interest rates near zero, after dropping them in March and increasing the central bank's asset holdings from $3 trillion to $7 trillion. U.S. stock index futures fell early Thursday as investors digested the Fed expression of uncertainty, but pared the losses after China announced that U.S.-China trade talks would resume within days.

FDA chief fires new chief spokesperson over plasma debacle

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn ousted two communications experts, including chief spokesperson Emily Miller on Friday, following a messaging debacle over the use of plasma to treat COVID-19. Miller was hired by the White House just 11 days prior. She was reportedly responsible for a press release announcing the FDA's emergency authorization of convalescent plasma as a COVID-19 treatment, packaging it as "another achievement in administration's fight against pandemic." Hahn admitted Tuesday he actually oversold the plasma treatment's effectiveness. The White House quickly touted a "major therapeutic breakthrough," and President Trump promised plasma would "save thousands and thousands of lives." The treatment has not yet been shown to be widely effective. The other spokesperson, Wayne Pines, recommended Hahn "correct the record." Officials denied Pines' termination was related to the plasma incident.

3. Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock dies at 81

Former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lou Brock, a Hall of Famer and legendary base stealer, died Sunday. He was 81. Brock started out with the Chicago Cubs but went to St. Louis in a 1964 trade. He hit .348 and scored 81 runs in just 103 games that season, helping St. Louis win the National League pennant and the World Series. The next year he started a 12-season stretch in which he averaged 65 steals and 99 runs a year, leading the Cardinals to another World Series win in 1967 with a second straight appearance in the Fall Classic in 1968. Brock hit .439 in the back-to-back Series. In 1974, he stole 118 bases, breaking Maury Wills' single-season record. Brock broke Ty Cobb's all-time stolen base record in 1977, and held the career record at 938 until Ricky Henderson surpassed him in 1991. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

Germany suggests it could rethink joint pipeline if Russia doesn't support Navalny investigation

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas suggested Sunday that if Moscow does not support Berlin's investigation into the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Germany could be forced "to change our position regarding the Nord Stream 2" pipeline, a structure being built under the Black Sea that would deliver Russian gas directly to Germany, bypassing Ukraine. It wasn't a direct threat, and Maas acknowledged halting construction would also harm German companies, but it did show a willingness on behalf of Berlin to pressure the Kremlin through targeted sanctions. Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab on Sunday said Russia "has a very serious set of questions to answer" about the poisoning. Navalny is a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin, and German authorities have said tests showed he was poisoned last month, but the Kremlin has denied allegations that it was state-sponsored.

Microsoft: Russian hackers targeting 200 groups involved in election

Hackers from Russia, China, and Iran are trying to influence the 2020 presidential election, Microsoft announced Thursday. Microsoft said it "detected cyberattacks targeting people and organizations," including "unsuccessful attacks" on people associated with the campaigns of both President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Russian hackers reportedly responsible for attacks on the 2016 Democratic presidential campaign have targeted "more than 200 organizations," including political campaigns and parties, and their tactics have "evolved." Microsoft also said Chinese hackers have attacked "high-profile individuals associated with the election," and Iranian hackers have attacked personal accounts of people associated with Trump's campaign. Microsoft said the activity "makes clear that foreign activity groups have stepped up their efforts" to interfere.

Pelosi calls for investigating report of hysterectomies on immigrants

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said the Trump administration should investigate a whistleblower complaint alleging that mass hysterectomies were being performed on immigrant women in a federal detention center in Georgia. The whistleblower also said authorities at the center refused to test symptomatic detainees for coronavirus infection, and failed to provide sufficient protective equipment to staff. "If true, the appalling conditions described in the whistleblower complaint ... are a staggering abuse of human rights," Pelosi said in a prepared statement. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), whose district includes the detention center, said the Homeland Security Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement "have assured us that they take all allegations seriously" and are investigating the claims.

Coronavirus vaccine developers to jointly pledge adherence to safety

In a draft of a joint statement, several major drug makers, including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna, pledged not to seek government approval for their COVID-19 vaccines — many of which are already in large clinical trials — until they have been proven safe and effective, The Wall Street Journal reports. The statement is still being finalized, but could reportedly be made public as soon as next week. The Journal notes the pledge is "an unusual joint move among rivals," which comes amid concerns that the companies and the U.S. government may be rushing to approve a vaccine. "We believe this pledge will help ensure public confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines that may ultimately be approved and adherence to the rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which they are evaluated," the draft statement says.

Harris predicts scientists, health experts won't have last word on vaccine efficacy

In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash that's set to air Sunday, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, was asked if she would receive a coronavirus vaccine approved before the November election. Harris responded by saying she "would not trust Donald Trump and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he's talking about." The senator added that she doesn't think scientists and public health experts will have the last word on a vaccine's efficacy. "If past is prologue than they will not, they'll be muzzled, they'll be suppressed, they will be sidelined," she said. "Because [Trump's] looking at an election coming up in less than 60 days and he's grasping to get whatever he can to pretend he has been a leader on this issue when he is not."

India accuses China of violating border peace agreement

India on Monday accused China of making "provocative military movements" on the two nuclear powers' disputed border in violation of a recent peace agreement. At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with Chinese forces in June before the two countries reached a peace agreement. China denied doing anything to upset the status quo, saying its border troops had "always strictly observed the Line of Actual Control and have never crossed the line." Delhi said its soldiers "pre-empted" Chinese advances on Aug. 29 and "undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions." Analysts said the public nature of the announcement suggested that the peace had been broken.

Which Senate Committee released its final report on allegations about..

Intelligence

'Golden State Killer' sentenced to life in prison

Joseph James DeAngelo, the former police officer known as the Golden State Killer, on Friday was sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to a series of murders and rapes in California during the 1970s and 1980s. He was arrested in 2018 thanks to the use of "innovative DNA technology." Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton described DeAngelo as a "man whose horrific unspeakable crimes devastated the lives of so many people, lives that will never be the same, lives forever changed, moments, hours of terror that can never be erased or forgotten." He spoke in the courtroom on Friday and said he is "truly sorry to everyone I've hurt." DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders and more than 50 rapes.

Liberty University plans investigation of Falwell's tenure

Liberty University on Monday announced an investigation into the tenure of Jerry Falwell Jr., the former president of the evangelical Christian school who was ousted last week over a sex scandal. Liberty's board said the independent investigation would look into a broad range of issues, including financial, real estate, and legal matters. The board said in a statement that it was committed to looking into "all facets" of the school's operations to find out "the consequences that have flowed from a lack of spiritual stewardship by our former president." Calls for an inquiry mounted after Falwell agreed last week to step down from the leadership position he had held since 2007.

Louisville reaches $12 million settlement with Breonna Taylor's family

Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer announced Tuesday that his city had agreed to pay $12 million to the family of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was fatally shot six months ago by police who were carrying out a late-night, no-knock raid. Taylor's boyfriend, who was legally armed, thought criminals were breaking in and fired a shot, and the officers responded with a heavy barrage of gunfire, hitting Taylor five times and killing her. The settlement, the largest for police misconduct in the city's history, will not affect the ongoing investigation into the case. Taylor's mother has called for the officers to be charged. "We see this settlement as the bare minimum you can do for a grieving mother," the social justice organization Until Freedom said.

Djokovic disqualified in U.S. Open

Novak Djokovic, the world's top-ranked men's tennis player, was disqualified in the U.S. Open on Sunday after smacking a ball in frustration and hitting a line judge. The lineswoman crumpled in pain and Djokovic rushed to her side. He immediately apologized and said he had not meant to hit her, but officials said the rule requiring his disqualification was clear. "Players have been defaulted for less," said Darren Cahill, a veteran coach who was covering the match for ESPN. "I think the tournament made the right decision." The incident occurred after Djokovic lost his serve to fall behind 5-6 in the first set of a fourth-round match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.

1 dead, 7 injured in U.K. stabbings as police hunt suspect

One man was killed and five people were injured after a series of stabbings in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the early hours of Sunday morning. A lot of uncertainty remains, but police said they are still hunting a single suspect. Authorities also said the stabbings do not appear to be terrorism or gang related, adding that there were no links between the victims. But they did declare a "major incident," which describes any situation involving serious harm or a security risk to the public and means special arrangements are in place for all emergency services to work together.

Two named storms head toward Louisiana coast

Parts of Louisiana's Gulf Coast braced early Monday for back-to-back hits from a tropical storm and a hurricane this week. Tropical Storm Marco, which strengthened into a hurricane before being downgraded again overnight, is expected to make landfall in Louisiana west of New Orleans on Monday with top sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, just below hurricane strength. It is expected to leave the state and continue into Texas on Tuesday. Tropical Storm Laura, which could strengthen into a hurricane, is forecast to hit next, on Wednesday. National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Schott said Laura strengthen into a powerful Category 3 storm with up to 10 feet of storm surge. Schott has said it was "unprecedented" for two hurricanes to hit within miles of each other over 48 hours.

Trump blames West Coast fires on forest mismanagement

President Trump said during a visit to wildfire-ravaged California on Monday that he blamed West Coast blazes on failed forest management, dismissing the scientific consensus that climate change is making the region's fire seasons increasingly intense. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, pushed back. "We obviously feel very strongly that the hots are getting hotter, the dries are getting dryer," he said. "Climate change is real and that is exacerbating this." State Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot told Trump that ignoring the science will make it impossible to "succeed together protecting Californians." Trump replied: "It will start getting cooler, just you watch." Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Trump was a "climate arsonist" who has "no interest in meeting this moment."

Players call attention to racial injustice in NFL Sunday openers

Professional football teams met for the NFL's first full slate of Sunday games in their season, with players kneeling and making other gestures to call attention to racial injustice. Some players stayed off the field during the national anthem and the playing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the Black national anthem. In Atlanta, players wore armbands honoring the late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), and dropped to one knee and watched the opening kickoff go through the end zone. In Minnesota, the Vikings hosted the family of George Floyd, the unarmed Black man whose death in police custody in May touched off months of protests around the nation. Everywhere except Jacksonville, Florida, the games were played in empty stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic.

7 Rochester police officers suspended after video shows hooded Black man who died

Rochester, New York, Mayor Lovely Warren on Thursday suspended seven police officers over the suffocation death of a naked, handcuffed Black man, Daniel Prude. Body-camera video showed Prude with a white "spit hood" over his head, placed there to protect officers from bodily fluids. Prude, who had traveled from Chicago to visit his brother, died several days later in a hospital. Prude's family on Wednesday released the March body-camera video footage, which showed one officer with his hands on Prude's head and another with a knee on Prude's back. "You're trying to kill me!" he cried, pinned to the ground. Prude was mentally ill. His brother, Joe Prude, said he called police that night "to get help. Not for my brother to get lynched."

Rochester police leaders resign after protests over Daniel Prude's death

Rochester, New York, Police Chief La'Ron Singletary and the top two members of his command staff resigned on Tuesday as the department faced ongoing backlash over the death of an unarmed Black man, Daniel Prude, after he was restrained in a "spit hood" by officers in March. Prude died of asphyxiation and his death was ruled a homicide. Outrage over Prude's death exploded in recent days after body-cam video of the incident was released, and some critics accused the department's leadership of trying to cover up what happened. Singletary, 40, said he was retiring. In his resignation letter he said that "the mischaracterization and the politicization" of his actions after Prude's death do not reflect "what I stand for."

Scientific American backs Biden in first endorsement in 175 years

Scientific American on Thursday endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president, the first time the magazine has taken sides in a presidential election in its 175-year history. "The evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people — because he rejects evidence and science," the publication's editors wrote. "The most devastating example is his dishonest and inept response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cost more than 190,000 Americans their lives by the middle of September." The magazine's editors also said that Trump had "attacked environmental protections, medical care, and the researchers and public science agencies that help this country prepare for its greatest challenges."

Markey survives Kennedy's Democratic Senate primary challenge

Sen. Edward Markey won his Democratic primary on Tuesday, beating challenger Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III. Markey, 74, won about 54 percent of the vote against the 39-year-old grandson of Robert F. Kennedy in the first election loss for the Kennedy family political dynasty ever in Massachusetts. Markey embraced the Green New Deal and brought together a coalition of younger and more liberal Democrats, showing the strength of the progressive left in the state. "Tonight's victory is a tribute to those young people," he said, promising that "the age of incrementalism is over." Kennedy had hoped to attract young voters and hesitated to trade on his legacy, which some allies believed was a mistake. He conceded, thanking his supporters and calling Markey a "good man."

Kamala Harris accepts historic Democratic vice-presidential nomination

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president on the third night of the party's virtual convention on Wednesday, becoming the first Black and South Asian woman ever nominated to a major presidential party ticket. Harris said the United States is at an "inflection point" as President Trump creates "constant chaos" and division. "The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. We can do better and deserve so much more. We must elect a president who will bring something different ... and do the important work." Harris urged voters to get behind the party's presidential candidate, Joe Biden, saying he shares a "vision of our nation as a beloved community — where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love."

South Dakota investigates fatal accident involving attorney general

South Dakota authorities are investigating the death of a man apparently struck Saturday by a car driven by state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, who had reported that he hit what he thought was a deer while driving home from a Republican Party dinner. Ravnsborg, 44, said in a statement that he was "shocked and filled with sorrow" and "fully cooperating with the investigation." He sent his "deepest sympathy and condolences to the family" of the victim, identified as Joe Boever, 55. Boever reportedly was walking along the highway to his abandoned truck. Ravnsborg's office oversees the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, so Gov. Kristi Noem announced that her office was supervising the case. Boever's cousin said his "worst fear is that they're trying to get ducks in a row to absolve the attorney general of any wrongdoing."

Stephen Bannon arrested, please not guilty on fraud charges

Stephen Bannon, President Trump's former chief strategist, was arrested and charged with fraud on Thursday. Prosecutors in New York accused Bannon and three other suspects of participating in a "scheme" to defraud people who donated to a "We Build the Wall" effort to raise money for the construction of barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon, Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato, and Timothy Shea were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The online crowdfunding campaign raised more than $25 million, all of which was supposed to be spent on the wall. But prosecutors said Bannon received more than $1 million of it through a nonprofit he controlled, used a "substantial portion" himself, and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage. Bannon entered a not guilty plea and was released on bond.

Celtics knock out defending champion Raptors, advance to Eastern Conference finals

The Boston Celtics defeated the defending champion Toronto Raptors 92-87 in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals in the Orlando bubble Friday night. After a hard-fought, back-and-forth series, Boston outlasted Toronto in the fourth quarter of the decisive game behind a 29-point performance from young star Jayson Tatum and clutch defensive plays from Marcus Smart. The Celtics move on to play the Miami Heat, who are fresh off an impressive upset over the East's top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, with a spot in the Finals on the line. Both Western Conference semifinals are still ongoing — the Denver Nuggets staved off elimination against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, setting up a sixth game, while the Los Angeles Lakers will look to close out the Houston Rockets in Game 5 on Saturday night.

CDC tells states to prepare to give health workers coronavirus vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly has told state public health officials to be ready to administer a coronavirus vaccine to health-care workers and others facing high infection risk as soon as late October. The CDC guidance provided the latest indication that the government is speeding up its push for a vaccine to fight the pandemic, which has killed more than 184,000 people in the U.S. President Trump said last week in his speech at the Republican National Convention that a vaccine might be ready before the end of 2020. The nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has said a vaccine could be made available to some groups before clinical trials are completed, provided early results are overwhelmingly encouraging.

U.S. bars imports from China region over suspected forced labor

The Trump administration on Monday banned imports of cotton apparel, computer parts, and other products from companies and suppliers suspected of using forced and imprisoned laborers in China's Xinjiang region. "The scourge of forced labor practices used in China is an unconscionable assault on innocent people and a threat to American producers," said Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Under the orders, stemming from two years of investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials put holds on shipments from four commercial entities, a training center, and an industrial park. U.S. officials have condemned China in recent years for abuses against the region's mostly Muslim Uighur minority population. A representative of China's embassy repeated the Chinese government's past assertions that companies in the region follow international labor laws.

U.S. COVID-19 death toll could rise to 410,000 by January, model projects

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation this week forecast that by Jan. 1, the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. will rise to 410,451. That would be about 225,000 more COVID-19 deaths. The IHME says it expects the daily COVID-19 death rate in the U.S. to rise to nearly 3,000 a day in December, citing "seasonality and declining vigilance of the public." The researchers pointed to face masks as a key way to lower the death toll, but noted mask use has declined in recent weeks. Additionally, the IHME says that if a "herd immunity strategy" were pursued, and "no further government intervention is taken from now to January," the COVID-19 death toll could increase to 620,000.

U.S.-brokered deal between Balkan rivals seen as diplomatic victory for Israel

The White House on Friday brokered an agreement normalizing economic relations between Serbia and Kosovo two decades after the two sides fought a war, but the negotiations were heavily tied to Israel, as well. In the deal, Serbia became the first European country to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem, while the Muslim-majority Kosovo will recognize Israel. In exchange, Israel will recognize Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008, but is still seeking to further legitimize its statehood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Kosovo will also open its embassy in Jerusalem, making it the first Muslim-majority country to do so. The move is viewed as the latest effort by the Trump administration to bolster Israel's international ties. Recently, the White House helped Israel and the United Arab Emirates normalize relations.

WTO finds some U.S. tariffs against China violated trade rules

The World Trade Organization on Tuesday ruled that some of the United States' tariffs on Chinese goods broke international trade rules. The WTO backed China in a complaint it filed in 2018 accusing the Trump administration of violating WTO rules by singling out China with tariffs that were stiffer than those imposed on other countries. The WTO allows limited reasons that can justify tariffs hitting just one country, and the WTO said the U.S. tariffs didn't qualify. President Trump's top trade adviser, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, said the WTO was showing once again that it is "completely inadequate to stop China's harmful technology practices." China's Ministry of Commerce said the WTO ruling was "fair and objective," and the U.S. should comply.

Western fires death toll reaches at least 23

The death toll from West Coast wildfires rose to at least 23 on Thursday as dozens of blazes continued to spread in California, Oregon, and Washington state. The August Complex fire burning in northern California became the largest fire in state history, covering 471,185 acres in the Mendocino National Forest. The fire continues to rage largely uncontained, and the state's third and fourth largest fires are burning, too. As of Thursday, the August Complex — 37 fires that merged — was 24 percent contained. California's fires have killed at least 19 people and destroyed 3,900 structures. Oregon is battling its most intense fires on record as well. Authorities told 500,000 people, or 10 percent of the state population, to evacuate their homes.

'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' protesters march on Washington

Thousands of demonstrators gathered for the "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" March in Washington, D.C., on Friday, planned months ago to coincide with the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The headline speakers included Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, and there were speeches from the families of Jacob Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and Eric Garner. "Like those who marched before us, we are standing up," said Sharpton, against police, lawmakers, and "the people and systems that have kept us down for years." People in the U.S. are "finally acknowledging that Black Lives Matter," said King, but "police brutality and misconduct is still occurring, it is beyond time for immediate action.

200,000 evacuated from San Francisco area as Calfornia wildfires continue

Three huge wildfires raged through dry parts of Northern California on Sunday as firefighters from crews across the West, backed up by military aircraft and National Guard troops, rushed to dig fire breaks in preparation for a powerful weather system with high winds that could fan the flames. The storm system also is expected to bring more of the lightning that ignited fires and other blazes around the state. Authorities on Sunday announced the discovery of the body of a 70-year-old man, the first fatality in the CZU Lightning Complex fire in the Santa Cruz mountains south of San Francisco. The death brought the statewide death toll over the past week to seven. More than 200,000 people were told to evacuate homes in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.

GOP senators skeptical about coronavirus relief bill's chances

Top Republican senators expressed doubt on Wednesday that they could pass a new, bipartisan coronavirus relief package before the November election. Talks with Democrats have broken down. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was "optimistic" that his fellow Republicans would get behind a reduced $500 billion COVID-19 relief proposal in a Thursday test vote, but Democrats, who are calling for a much larger package, have said they would block the GOP plan as inadequate. "Unless something really broke through, it's not going to happen," said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Barring a breakthrough, senators are expected to pass legislation to avoid a federal shutdown and return home to campaign.

United drops ticket-change fees in bid for passengers

United Airlines announced Sunday that it was permanently eliminating a $200 fee for changing tickets for domestic travel, a move expected to put pressure on other carriers to drop the fees too. "When we hear from customers about where we can improve, getting rid of fees is often the top request," United CEO Scott Kirby said in a video posted Sunday. Airlines are doing everything they can to attract passengers as the travel industry faces a devastating loss of business due to the coronavirus pandemic. United said it would drop the fees for standard and premium tickets. United also is extending a waiver on change fees for international travel and "basic economy" through Dec. 31.

United Airlines announces what could be its biggest pilot furlough ever

United Airlines announced Thursday that it would have to cut 2,850 pilot jobs this year unless it gets further government aid to help it through the decimation of the travel industry by the coronavirus pandemic. The cuts would amount to a 21 percent reduction in United's pilot positions, and would be the biggest pilot furlough in the airline's history. Airlines have requested another $25 billion from the federal government to help them pay employees through March. The first tranche of aid barred the companies from cutting jobs until Oct. 1, but talks on further payments have stalled as Congress failed to reach an agreement on another round of coronavirus relief.

Russian aircraft dangerously intercept U.S. B-52 over Black Sea

United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa said two Russian aircraft intercepted a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber over the Black Sea on Friday in an "unsafe, unprofessional" manner. The Russian planes reportedly crossed within 100 feet of the bomber's nose multiple times and restricted the American aircraft's ability to maneuver, causing turbulence. Air Force Gen. Jeff Harrigan said the planes were in international airspace so "we expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent accidents," but "actions like these increase the potential for midair collisions." The incident took place on the same day that U.S. B-52s flew over 30 NATO countries to demonstrate solidarity between alliance members.

Deadly protest erupts in Colombia over police killing

Violent demonstrations in Bogota, Colombia, continued into a second day Thursday over the death of a man police officers shocked with a stun gun for more than two minutes after they stopped him for allegedly violating coronavirus social distancing rules by drinking publicly after 9 p.m. A video showed the man, Javier Ordonez, pinned down by officers as he said, "Please, no more." At least nine people have died in the violence sparked by Ordonez's death, and 175 have been injured, the Bogota health department said. Protesters have set cars and police stations on fire, releasing frustrations that have built over months of pandemic-related lockdowns. Colombia's conservative president, Iván Duque Márquez, condemned the killings but defended security forces as "heroic."

White House reportedly eyeing VA Secretary Wilkie as next defense secretary

White House officials are in talks with Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie about stepping in as defense secretary should President Trump fire existing Defense Secretary Mark Esper, NBC News reports. Esper recently broke with Trump on a handful of issues including renaming military bases that are named for Confederate leaders and invoking the Insurrection Act to send federal troops to cities experiencing protests. Now, tensions are especially high between Trump and Esper, NBC News reports, as the president faces backlash for allegedly calling U.S. veterans "losers" and "suckers." Officials told NBC News "there are no plans to replace Secretary Esper." Last month, when asked about the issue, Trump said: "I consider firing everybody. At some point, at some point, that's what happens.

West Coast wildfires rage on, killing 6

Wildfires continued to sweep through the Pacific Northwest and California on Wednesday, killing at least six people. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) said fires in her state destroyed hundreds of homes. "This could be the greatest loss of human life and property due to wildfire in our state's history," Brown said. Fires wiped out one small town and trapped some firefighters and civilians. In Washington state, one child died in the Cold Springs fire, the largest in the state. Numerous fires continued to burn in California, where more acres have burned this year than in any other fire season on record. In Butte County, where 85 people died last year in the state's deadliest fire on record, the remains of three people were found Wednesday.

Zoom shares skyrocket as revenue soars

Zoom shares jumped by 40.8 percent on Tuesday after the videoconferencing company reported explosive second quarter growth. Businesses, schools, and individuals have rushed to use Zoom for online work and play during the coronavirus. As a result, the company reported that its revenue quadrupled in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, reaching $663.5 million. Tuesday's stock surge lifted Zoom's market value to $129 billion, surpassing that of long-established companies such as Citigroup, Boeing, and Starbucks. After the big second quarter, Zoom raised its revenue projection for its current fiscal year to $2.4 billion from $1.8 billion in June.

New Zealand court sentences Christchurch mosque killer to life in prison

A New Zealand court on Thursday sentenced far-right terrorist Brenton Tarrant to life in prison for killing 51 people at two Christchurch mosques last year. Tarrant, an Australian, rigged his triggers to make his guns fire faster to increase the death count, and he used a strobe light to disorient worshippers in the mosques. After the attacks, he told police he wished he had killed more. He was the first person ever to be sentenced to life behind bars with no chance of release, New Zealand's most severe punishment. "If he still has any human feeling, he will die in guilt and remorse," said Al Noor mosque imam Gamal Fouda. Tarrant killed 44 people at Al Noor.

Appeals court clears Trump administration to end refugees' protected status

A U.S. appeals court on Monday ruled that the Trump administration could resume its plan to phase out so-called Temporary Protected Status for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Sudan. A lower court had blocked the Trump administration decision, which would remove protected status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The appeals court ruling also is expected to affect people from Honduras and Nepal who have filed another lawsuit that was suspended last year pending the resolution of the broader case. Judge Consuelo Callahan, who was appointed by Republican former President George W. Bush, wrote in a 54-page opinion that the executive branch's policy was not subject to judicial review and should not have been blocked. An American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California attorney said the plaintiffs would seek a review by the full appeals court.

Judge rules Florida school re-opening order unconstitutional.

A circuit court judge ruled on Monday that Florida is violating the Constitution by requiring its public schools to open for in-person instruction, because doing so "arbitrarily disregards safety" and deprives school boards of the right to decide when to reopen classrooms based on local conditions. The ruling marked a victory for the American Federation of Teachers and an affiliate, the Florida Education Association, which sued Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran over the order last month. It was the first such challenge in the nation. If a district "chooses safety" by delaying bringing students back to campus, Judge Charles W. Dodson of the Leon County Circuit Court wrote, "it risks losing state funding, even though every student is being taught."

Saudi court releases final verdicts in Khashoggi murder

A court in Saudi Arabia on Monday issued final verdicts in the killing of the dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi, sentencing five of the eight defendants to 20 years in prison, two to 17 years, and one to 10 years. Saudi authorities did not release the names of the people convicted. Khashoggi's siblings and one of his sons said months ago that they had forgiven his killers. Their statements effectively took the death penalty off the table for the defendants. The men were convicted in December of playing roles in killing and dismembering Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Five were initially sentenced to death. Khashoggi had fled his home country during the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and had criticized him in columns he wrote for The Washington Post.

Appeals court denies DOJ push to end Flynn case

A federal appeals court on Monday rejected the request by the Justice Department and Michael Flynn, President Trump's former national security adviser, to drop the case against him for lying under oath to the FBI about his communications with Russia's ambassador before Trump's inauguration. Flynn twice pleaded guilty, but Attorney General William Barr this year moved to stop pursuing the case. The appeals court's 8-2 decision restores the power of the original judge, Emmet Sullivan, to determine whether to keep the politically charged case alive. Sullivan had asked an independent lawyer to argue against dismissing the case. Previously, a three-judge panel from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals had sided with Flynn, 2-1.

Appeals court delays prosecutors' access to Trump tax records

A federal appeals court on Tuesday temporarily blocked Manhattan prosecutors from obtaining President Trump's tax returns, the latest in a series of delays Trump has won. The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., a Democrat, subpoenaed eight years of Trump's returns and other financial records a year ago as part of a criminal investigation into Trump and his business. The court said it was temporarily blocking the grand jury subpoena while it considers arguments by Trump's lawyers that the request was politically motivated and "wildly overbroad." Trump has aggressively fought efforts by prosecutors and Congress to force him to hand over his tax returns. The latest ruling means that even if prosecutors ultimately succeed in getting access to the records they won't receive them for at least another month.

Judge suspends new asylum policies, saying DHS leader likely not legitimate

A federal judge in Maryland has ruled that Chad Wolf is likely unlawfully serving as acting Homeland Security secretary, so new asylum restrictions he enacted exceeded his authority and the law. Judge Paula Xinis, in a 69-page ruling issued Friday, temporarily barred the Trump administration from enforcing the two asylum rules, which limit asylum seekers' ability to legally seek work, while courts consider a lawsuit challenging them. The federal Government Accountability Office found last month that Wolf and his deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, were appointed in violation of the Vacancies Reform Act. President Trump tweeted last week that he would appoint Wolf to the job permanently, but the nomination is unlikely to be confirmed before the November election.

Judge blocks Postal Service from sending vote-by-mail postcard in Colorado

A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked the U.S. Postal Service from sending people in Colorado a postcard about voting by mail that the state's top election official said was misleading. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, argued that the mailer had inaccuracies, including a line that said voters must request a mail-in ballot at least 15 days before the election. "For states like Colorado where we send ballots to all voters, the information is not just confusing, it's WRONG," Griswold tweeted on Friday. The Postal Service said it designed the mailer so it would be general, not state-specific, because it intended to send it to every residential and post office box address in the country.

Whistleblower: DHS leaders told officials to downplay Russian meddling

A former Homeland Security intelligence official, Brian Murphy, said in a whistleblower complaint released Wednesday that two top political appointees in the department told career officials to modify intelligence assessments to suit President Trump's agenda. Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf allegedly said to stop providing assessments on Russia's efforts to interfere in U.S. elections, and instead focus on the threat of political interference by China and Iran. Murphy said Wolf told him the instructions came from National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien. Murphy also said career officials were told to downplay white supremacist activity. The White House and the Homeland Security Department denied the allegations. White House spokesperson Sarah Matthews said O'Brien had "never sought to dictate the intelligence community's focus on threats to the integrity of our elections." She called Murphy's claims "false and defamatory."

Protests continue in Portland, Hong Kong, Belarus, Israel

A myriad of protests continued or are set to continue this weekend both in the United States and across the world. In Portland, Oregon, demonstrations against police brutality continued for the 100th consecutive day. Portland police declared a riot Saturday night after protesters hurled Molotov cocktails in the street, sparking a fire. In Hong Kong, demonstrators returned to the street Sunday to protest the city's Beijing-imposed national security law and the government's decision to delay Legislative Council elections for a year. At least 90 people were arrested. Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis on Saturday again gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence, calling for his resignation over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and corruption charges. And, in Belarus on Sunday, despite a show of force from authorities, protesters set out to pressure President Alexander Lukashenko to step down after his disputed re-election.

Marvel, Avengers, and Black Panther co-stars pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman

ABC aired a hastily prepared special honoring Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman on Sunday, just two days after the 43-year-old actor's family announced his death from colon cancer. Before the remembrance, the network played Black Panther commercial-free. A day earlier, the tweet from Boseman's account announcing his death and celebrating his life broke the record for most-liked tweet of all time. Along with ABC, Marvel Studios released a tribute to Boseman of its own. Marvel's video featured behind-the-scene footage and praise for Boseman from his Black Panther and Avenger co-stars. Forest Whitaker remembered the change Boseman said he felt when he was crowned King T'Challa and the Black Panther. Robert Downey Jr. called Black Panther the crown jewel of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Boseman had kept his cancer a closely held secret.

Democrats to continue programming to counter RNC

After the Democratic National Convention culminated with Joe Biden accepting the Democratic presidential nomination, the party has concluded the 4-day affair. But Democrats still have more videos on the ready, and plan to launch them next week as aggressive counter-programming to the Republican National Convention. Biden's campaign and top party officials plan to highlight what they view as the biggest failures of the Trump administration. "The party is attempting to cast everything about Trump as chaotic and disruptive," writes The Washington Post. Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez said "whereas our themes, our unity, and our speakers exude optimism and hope," the RNC "will be marked by chaos, chaos, chaos." The RNC begins on Monday night, when President Trump will be formally nominated for re-election.

Amazon gets FAA approval for its drones to deliver packages

Amazon has received federal approval to use its fleet of Prime Air drones to deliver packages to customers, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday. The approval gives the online retail giant broad privileges to "safely and efficiently" use small drones to carry packages "beyond the visual line of sight" of operators. Now that it has the FAA certification, Amazon will start testing customer deliveries. Amazon said it isn't ready to widely deploy the drones, but the certification "is an important step forward for Prime Air" allowing the company to continue refining the technology, which it started testing in 2013 with a goal of shortening delivery times for many items to 30 minutes or less.

U.S. marks 9/11 anniversary in ceremonies altered by pandemic

Americans are marking the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks with gatherings at New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Family members will be on hand as they have been every year to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died, but the ceremonies this year will be altered, with fewer people due to precautions to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Bells will toll in New York City as in previous years, but instead of a rotation of people reading the names of those who died, a recorded list will be broadcast over loudspeakers. There will be no platform at Ground Zero for speeches from dignitaries, but Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, and Vice President Mike Pence are expected to make appearances.

Norwegian lawmaker nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

An anti-immigrant Norwegian lawmaker, Christian Tybring-Gjedde, said Wednesday he had nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role brokering a peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The two countries agreed last month to normalize relations. They are planning a Sept. 15 signing at the White House that Tybring-Gjedde said "opens up for possible peace in the Middle East." Tybring-Gjedde and another Norwegian lawmaker nominated Trump in 2018 for his effort to foster reconciliation between North and South Korea. Any lawmaker in a national legislature has the right to make a Peace Prize nomination. Former President Barack Obama won the award in 2009 just months into his first term for seeking "peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons," the Norwegian committee said.

Uber, Lyft to continue California service after reprieve

An appeals court on Thursday gave Uber and Lyft a last-minute reprieve from a California law requiring them to reclassify their drivers in the state as employees entitled to benefits. The ride-hailing services had said they would have to shut down in the state at the end of the day on Thursday if the rule was allowed to take effect as scheduled on Friday, forcing them to stop classifying their drivers as independent contractors. "While we won't have to suspend operations tonight, we do need to continue fighting for independence plus benefits for drivers," said Lyft spokesperson Julie Wood in a statement. The companies are hoping to buy enough time to push through a referendum exempting them from the requirement, but the appeals court ordered them to submit plans to comply within 30 days.

1 million more Americans filed jobless claims last week

Another 1 million people filed initial applications for unemployment benefits last week. The data marked a slight drop from the 1.1 million who applied in the previous week, but it was the 22nd time in 23 weeks that jobless claims reached or exceeded 1 million. A total of 58 million Americans have now sought new unemployment since the coronavirus crisis hit in March. The latest figure showed that layoffs were continuing as a summertime spike slowed the economic recovery that began when businesses started reopening in May after the initial lockdowns aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. "With September rent due soon and food insecurity already at elevated levels, the worst is yet to come if Congress and the president can't turn their attention to pandemic relief," said Andrew Stettner, senior fellow at The Century Foundation.

Thousands of women march in antigovernment protests in Belarus

Antigovernment protests continued this weekend in Belarus, as demonstrators call for President Alexander Lukashenko to resign. About 10,000 women marched through Minsk, the capital, on Saturday, with riot police violently detaining dozens of the marchers, many of whom carried portraits of Maria Kolesnikova, a leader of the opposition Coordination Council who was jailed this week after police unsuccessfully tried to force her from the country. Lukashenko, who has ruled for 26 years, has refused to meet with the Coordination Council, which seeks a new presidential election following accusations that the last one was fraudulent. Tens of thousands of people reportedly took to the streets in Minsk again on Sunday, and police have said around 250 protesters have been arrested.

China reportedly prefers a TikTok shutdown in the U.S. to a forced sale

As President Trump's deadline approaches on a sale of TikTok's U.S. operations, Reuters reports China would rather the app shut down in America than be forced to sell. ByteDance, the social platform's Chinese parent company, has reportedly been in talks with Microsoft and Oracle, but is reportedly likely to miss Trump's Sept. 20 deadline for a sale. Beijing "opposes a forced sale of TikTok's U.S. operations," says Reuters, because Chinese officials feel a "forced sale would make both ByteDance and China appear weak in the face of pressure from Washington." Trump has said TikTok will be banned in the United States due to national security concerns unless ByteDance sells the app's U.S. operations to an American company. He said he would not extend the deadline.

AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine trials resume in U.K.

AstraZeneca announced Saturday that it received confirmation from the United Kingdom's Medicines Health Regulatory Authority that it was safe to resume clinical trials for the company's coronavirus vaccine in the U.K. after they were paused over safety concerns earlier this week. The statuses of trials elsewhere remain unclear, CNBC reports. The vaccine candidate, which was developed in partnership between AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, is considered one of the world's most promising, but phase three of its trials was temporarily halted after a woman in the U.K. reportedly displayed neurological symptoms consistent with a spinal inflammatory disorder called transverse myelitis after receiving the vaccine. AstraZeneca isn't authorized to provide further medical information so the company statement didn't explicitly say whether the woman's illness was found to be unrelated to the vaccine.

AstraZeneca pauses COVID-19 vaccine trial after volunteer falls ill

AstraZeneca announced Tuesday that it suspended a late-stage trial of its potential coronavirus vaccine to review safety data after a participant in the United Kingdom experienced a suspected serious adverse reaction. The patient is expected to recover. A company spokesperson said the temporary halt was "a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials." The pharmaceutical company said in a statement that during large trials, "illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully" while trying to "minimize any potential impact on the trial timelines." AstraZeneca is testing the vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, in the U.K., the United States, Brazil, and South Africa. It is considered a leading vaccine candidate, and is one of three now in Phase 3 trials in the U.S.

Trump blasts protesters, Harris in New Hampshire rally speech

At a campaign rally in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Friday night, President Trump gave a speech in which he called protesters demonstrating against police brutality "thugs" and "anarchists" who are just "looking for trouble" and "don't even know who George Floyd is." Trump said that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was attacked by protesters Friday near the White House and claimed Paul and his wife would be "in very bad shape, or dead" if not for the police presence in the area. During the speech, the president also targeted the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). Trump said he wants "to see the first woman president also," but "I don't want to see a woman president get into that position the way she'd do it, and she's not competent."

Rescue efforts continue for campers trapped by California fire

At least 63 of the more than 150 people trapped by a massive, fast-spreading fire near the Mammoth Pool Reservoir about 50 miles south of Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra National Forest, have been rescued by military helicopter. Two of the people airlifted were reportedly severely injured, 10 were moderately injured, and 51 had minor or no injuries. Aircraft are reportedly continuing rescue operations. Remaining campers were reportedly unharmed as of Saturday and have been told to shelter in place until fire crews are able to gain access to the site and "make that escape route nice and safe for them." The Creek Fire began Saturday morning and, by evening, had grown to an estimated 36,000 acres.

First direct peace talks between Afghan government, Taliban begin

At long last, the first direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban began Saturday in Doha, Qatar. The actual face-to-face negotiations to end the nation's nearly two-decades old conflict will start Monday, but during Saturday's opening ceremony, Abdullah Abdullah, the chair of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, said "if we give hands to each other and honestly work for peace, the current ongoing misery in the country will end." Taliban Deputy Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar also made brief remarks, reiterating the Taliban's demand for an "independent, developed" Afghanistan with an "Islamic system" of government "where all its citizens see themselves reflected." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the start of the talks a "truly momentous occasion" and told the Afghan sides "the choice of your future political system is, of course, yours to make."

Barr says 'Operation Legend' has yielded 1,485 arrests

Attorney General William Barr announced Wednesday that 1,485 people had been arrested in Operation Legend, an initiative in which the Trump administration sent more than 1,000 federal law enforcement officers to assist local law enforcement agencies in nine cities with rising crime rates. The program launched last month at a politically charged White House event. President Trump said he was targeting areas "all run by liberal Democrats," fueling suspicions the initiative was linked to the dispatching of federal agents to clamp down on sometimes violent demonstrations in Portland, Oregon. The criticism faded as the operation expanded and federal agents collaborated with police. About 217 people have been charged with federal crimes, most of them drug- or gun-related. Barr said more than 90 defendants were "suspected killers."

Report: Barr suggested charging violent protesters with sedition

Attorney General William Barr last week urged federal prosecutors to consider filing sedition charges against people accused of violence at protests against racial injustice, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the conference call. Some of the people on the call reportedly were alarmed by the unusual suggestion of charging rioters with insurrection. Barr also reportedly asked the Justice Department's civil rights division whether Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan could be criminally charged for letting people establish a police-free protest zone in the city this summer, although DOJ said Barr didn't order anyone to explore the idea. Durkan, a Democrat President Trump has criticized, called the suggestion of criminal charges "chilling" and an abuse of power.

Barr: U.S. won't seek death penalty for ISIS 'Beatles'

Attorney General William Barr said Wednesday that the United States will drop its push for the death penalty for two British Islamic State members tied to the killings of Western hostages, provided the U.K. turns over evidence needed for their prosecution. The suspects, Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, are members of an ISIS execution squad nicknamed the "Beatles" because its members are English speakers. The group has been blamed for the murders of U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig. Barr sent a letter to Priti Patel, Britain's interior minister, this week saying that if the U.K. doesn't provide the evidence by Oct. 15 the men will be transferred from U.S. military detention in an unidentified overseas location to the Iraq justice system.

Authentic wins fan-less Kentucky Derby

Authentic won the 146th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The iconic race was initially scheduled for its traditional date, the first Saturday in May, but was postponed until September because of the coronavirus pandemic, which also meant there were no fans in the stands, the first time the race was run without spectators in its long history. Authentic's victory was considered an upset — the favorite, Tiz the Law, won the Belmont Stakes in June, but it was Authentic who pulled away in the final stretch this time. Tiz the Law finished second, so there will be no Triple Crown winner this year. Authentic was trained by Bob Baffert, who has now trained six horses that won the Kentucky Derby, tying the all-time record. The last remaining Triple Crown race, the Preakness Stakes, will take place in Baltimore on Oct. 3.

Illinois teen charged with killing 2 at Wisconsin protest

Authorities arrested a white Illinois teen identified as Kyle Rittenhouse on Wednesday and charged him with first-degree intentional homicide after he allegedly fatally shot two people and wounded another during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the police shooting of an unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, who was left partially paralyzed. Rittenhouse, 17, apparently considered himself a militia member protecting lives and property during the protests, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, citing videos, interviews, and social media posts. Police identified the officer who shot Blake as Rusten Sheskey, and said that there was a knife in Blake's car, but no gun.

Bahrain and Israel agree to establish diplomatic relations

Bahrain agreed to establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel on Friday, President Trump announced. A joint statement between the two countries and the U.S. said "This is a historic breakthrough to further peace in the Middle East." Last month, the United Arab Emirates also normalized ties with Israel, and Israel agreed to temporarily suspend its plans to annex West Bank territory. "I am very hopeful that there will be more [peace agreements] to follow," said Trump. Bahrain and Israel will open embassies and exchange ambassadors for the first time. "Like most other Arab states," writes The Washington Post, "Bahrain had until now officially considered Israel to be an illegitimate usurper of Palestinian land and rights."

Bloomberg to spend at least $100 million to help Biden in Florida

Billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to spend at least $100 million campaigning for the Democratic Presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, in Florida, The Washington Post reports. Bloomberg's advisers refused to give a specific amount of money, but said the plan was "nine figures." Most of the money will go to television and digital ads in English and Spanish. Kevin Stacey, a Bloomberg adviser, said the investment in Florida should free the Biden campaign and other Democratic groups to allocate their resources to other swing states, especially Pennsylvania. Bloomberg also reportedly wants to encourage early voting in Florida, so that a potential Biden victory in the state could be called soon after polls close on Nov. 3.

Hedge fund billionaire reaches deal to buy Mets

Billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen on Monday announced that he would buy the New York Mets in a deal estimated to value the baseball team at nearly $2.5 billion. "I am excited to have reached an agreement with the Wilpon and Katz families to purchase the New York Mets," Cohen said. Cohen reportedly will own 95 percent of the franchise, although he still must get approval from at least 23 of the other 29 Major League Baseball team owners. Owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon have controlled the Mets since 2002, and the team said late last year that they were open to selling a majority stake. The Mets were founded in 1962 and have won two World Series titles, the last one in 1986. The financial resources of a new billionaire owner were expected to strengthen the team's chances of becoming contenders again.

Oracle beats out Microsoft in TikTok bidding

ByteDance on Sunday rejected an offer from Microsoft and accepted a bid from Oracle Corp. to take over U.S. operations of the Chinese company's short-video app TikTok. The deal reportedly will not be an outright sale. Instead, Oracle will become TikTok's "trusted tech partner" in the U.S. President Trump, citing concerns that the Chinese government could access user data, has threatened to shut down TikTok unless ByteDance sells its U.S. business to an American company by Sept. 15. The deal with Oracle still must receive approval from the White House and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. TikTok has about 100 million monthly users in the U.S., up from 11 million in early 2018.

ByteDance says it will abide by amended China export rule

ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, said Sunday it would "strictly abide" by China's amended rules on exporting technology, which could complicate the company's expected sale of TikTok operations in the United States and other English-speaking countries. Under updates to China's export laws announced Friday, ByteDance will need Chinese government approval to sell U.S. operations of the popular short-video app. Beijing added artificial intelligence interface technologies, including those that analyze data to make personalized content recommendations, to its list of export-control products published on the Ministry of Commerce's website late Friday. The ministry said the permits for overseas technology transfers are necessary to "safeguard national economic security." President Trump has ordered a ban on TikTok, citing security concerns, unless its U.S. operations are sold to an American company.

Report: Coronavirus cases among children rose by 21 percent this month

COVID-19 cases among children rose by 21 percent between Aug. 6 and Aug. 20, according to an updated joint report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association. More than 70,000 new child coronavirus cases were reported across the country over the period, bringing the total number of children who have been infected with the coronavirus during the pandemic to more than 440,000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously said the number of COVID-19 cases in children was "steadily increasing" from March through July and that children "likely have the same or higher viral loads in their nasopharynx compared with adults" and "can spread the virus effectively." "Severe illness" from COVID-19 remains "rare" among children, the report said.

California faces heat wave, complicating fight against wildfires

California is bracing for another blast of extreme heat starting Friday that could make work harder for firefighters after they made progress toward containing the second- and third-largest wildfires in the state's history. Much of California, Arizona, and Nevada are under extreme heat watches and warnings expected to last through Sunday. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles warned that the conditions could cause deadly heat illness and increase the likelihood of large wildfires. Temperatures are forecast to come near or exceed the hottest ever recorded for these dates, with widespread highs up to 115 degrees. "These extreme max[imum] temps combined with lows in the mid 70s to lower 80s will make Sunday one of the most hazardous in recent memory," the Weather Service said.

California wildfires set record for acres burned

California wildfires have burned nearly 2.1 million acres so far in 2020, surpassing the record for the most land scorched in the state in a single year, CAL Fire Capt. Richard Cordova said Sunday. "This is crazy," Cordova said. "We haven't even got into the October and November fire season, and we've broken the all-time record." The news came as a record-setting heat wave created new challenges for exhausted firefighters who had finally started making headway containing some of the biggest blazes. At least 224 people who had been trapped at Mammoth Pool Reservoir, a popular recreation site, were evacuated by helicopter on Sunday. The Creek Fire had blocked the only road out. About 20 of the rescued people had injuries such as broken bones and burns. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency in five counties. Environmentalists say climate change will make such heat waves more common.

CDC director says masks could be better COVID defense than vaccine

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield told a Senate subcommittee on Wednesday that face coverings are "the most powerful public health tool" the U.S. has to fight the coronavirus pandemic. "We have clear scientific evidence they work, and they are our best defense," Redfield said. "I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine," noting that a coronavirus vaccine might only be 70 percent effective. President Trump said Redfield must have been confused, insisting that "the mask is not as important as the vaccine." Trump said he had spoken to Redfield and told him he was "mistaken." Redfield later tweeted: "I 100% believe in the importance of vaccines."

CDC leader clarifies new COVID-19 testing guidance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield on Thursday clarified the agency's controversial new coronavirus testing guidance, saying that people who have contact with confirmed or probable COVID-19 patients could be tested. The CDC on Monday called for limiting testing to those who show symptoms or are deemed by doctors or public health officials to be high-risk. Redfield said in his clarification that people don't need to have symptoms to be tested. "Everyone who needs a COVID-19 test, can get a test," Redfield said. "Everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test; the key is to engage the needed public health community in the decision with the appropriate follow-up action."

China reportedly stops renewals of U.S. journalist credentials

China has halted press-credential renewals for foreign journalists working for some U.S. news outlets, The New York Times reported Sunday, citing six people with knowledge of the situation. The news organizations affected include CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and Getty Images. Beijing implied that it could start expelling journalists next if the Trump administration further restricts Chinese media employees working in the United States. The moves escalated tensions between the world's two biggest economies that have included clashes over trade, technology, diplomatic missions, and other matters. So far, at least five journalists in four organizations have been told their credentials, typically good for a year, would not be renewed. One said the Foreign Ministry said his case hinged on whether the U.S. renews the visas of Chinese journalists.

Tenet scores biggest U.S. film opening since pandemic hit

Christopher Nolan's Tenet brought in $20 million in domestic ticket sales over the weekend as it had the highest grossing opening weekend of any film in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic forced cinemas across the country to close. The spy thriller has made nearly $150 million worldwide following up on last week's surprisingly strong foreign debut, adding $78.3 million in foreign markets over the weekend, including $30 million in China. Tenet would have been expected to make $35 million to $55 million in its domestic debut pre-COVID, which would have put it in the neighborhood of other Nolan films such as Interstellar and Inception. The weekend's take was limited by a cap on attendance at 50 percent capacity. Also, only about 65 percent of U.S. theaters have reopened.

Longtime NBA veteran Clifford Robinson dies at 53

Clifford Robinson, an 18-year NBA veteran, has died, the University of Connecticut men's basketball program confirmed Saturday. He was 53. The cause of death was not immediately known, but Robinson had dealt with health issues in recent years, suffering a stroke in 2017 and having a tumor removed from his jaw in 2018. Robinson starred at UConn and helped bring them to prominence in the days before they became a basketball powerhouse. The Huskies won the National Invitation Tournament in 1988 with Robinson. UConn retired Robinson's jersey in 2007. In the NBA, Robinson spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers (who drafted him in 1989), Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and the then-New Jersey Nets. Robinson won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 1993 and was an All Star in 1994.

Coronavirus cases and complications rise among children

Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 have increased faster among children and teens than among the general population, according to data compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics from May 21 to Aug. 20. Data collection varied among the states, with some separating young babies and teens while others lumped them together, but the general rise in exposure and complications from COVID-19 was similar across the country. In May, 5 percent of the nation's cases were children; in August the figure rose to 9 percent, and the number suffering serious complications has risen, too, said Dr. Sean O'Leary, vice chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on infectious diseases. "Yes, it's less severe in children than adults, but it's not completely benign," O'Leary said.

Biden calls for investigation of Wisconsin shooting that sparked protests

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Monday called for "an immediate, full, and transparent investigation" into the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who was shot by police officers on Sunday. Blake is in serious condition at a Milwaukee hospital. Cellphone video captured by a witness shows two officers with their guns drawn following Blake as he walks to an SUV, and when he opens the driver's side door, shots are fired. Hundreds of protesters gathered on Sunday night to condemn the shooting and the Kenosha Police Department. Video showed police spraying tear gas at the protesters, and soon after Kenosha County declared an emergency curfew.

Biden condemns violence and accuses Trump of 'recklessly' fanning it

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Sunday reacted to the clashes that took place Saturday night in Portland between anti-police brutality protesters and supporters of President Trump, calling the violence "unacceptable" and accusing Trump of "fanning the flames of hate and division in our society" and "recklessly encouraging violence." One person was shot and killed during the melee; police have not shared any details on the victim or suspect. In a statement, Biden said, "I condemn this violence unequivocally. I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right. And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same." As of Sunday evening, Trump has yet to speak out against the violence, but did post several tweets insulting Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.

Biden appeals for Latino support in Florida

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Tuesday made his first visit to Florida of the general election campaign, focusing on appeals for support from the swing state's veterans and Latino voters. Biden said he included a Hispanic Heritage Month stop in Kissimmee, near Orlando, to "talk about how I am going to work like the devil to make sure I turn every Latino and Hispanic vote." His running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, visited Miami, where Democrats have warned President Trump is gaining ground among Hispanic voters, especially among conservative Cuban Americans alarmed by Trump's portrayal of Biden as figurehead for radicals pushing socialist policies. But Biden noted that Florida's Latino voters are diverse. He said his support is higher than Trump's, "but they've got to go higher."

Biden raised far more than Trump in August

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden outraised President Trump by more than $154 million last month, eroding Trump's once massive edge. Biden and the Democratic National Committee brought in $364.5 million in August, while Trump and the GOP collected just $210 million. Republican officials said they had spent heavily and early to build a grassroots network to get voters to the polls. "Both campaigns are raising massive amounts of money, but have very different priorities about how to spend it," Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement. Biden's side has bombarded the airwaves with ads in a bid to overshadow the Trump campaign as it briefly suspended TV advertising last month in key states while attention focused on the two parties' nominating conventions.

Biden says no new taxes for anyone making under $400,000

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said on Sunday he believes everyone must pay "their fair share" of taxes, and if elected, he will "raise taxes for anybody making over $400,000." During an interview with ABC News, Biden said there will be "no new taxes" for those earning under $400,000 or "90 percent of the businesses out there that are mom and pop businesses, that employ less than 50 people." Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the government must assist those small businesses with "the ability to reopen," he said. "We have to provide more help for them, not less help." When pressed by World News Tonight anchor David Muir about raising taxes on some people, Biden said it's smart to "tax businesses that are in fact making excessive amounts of money and paying no taxes."

Biden passionately condemns Trump's reported comments about troops

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden strongly rebuked President Trump on Friday and called for him to apologize for "disgusting" remarks he allegedly made about U.S. troops. Referring to reports that Trump described U.S. troops killed in battle as "losers" and "suckers," Biden called the reported comments "deplorable." Biden's late son, Beau Biden, served in Iraq. "When my son volunteered and joined the United States military as the attorney general and went to Iraq for a year, won the bronze star and other commendations, he wasn't a sucker," Biden said. "The service men and women he served with, particularly those who did not come home, were not losers." He added, "I'm always cautioned not to lose my temper. This may be as close as I've come in this campaign."

Biden visits with Jacob Blake's family in Kenosha

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Thursday, where he met with the family of Jacob Blake, the unarmed Black man who was shot by police and left partially paralyzed. Biden told the family "we need to value all our differences as we come together in America's great melting pot," the family's lawyer, Ben Crump, said. Biden addressed the civil unrest that broke out after the shooting, promising a police reform commission, and saying President Trump has been "legitimizing a dark side of human nature" instead of addressing the "underlying racism" that divides the country. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh criticized Biden for failing to offer "any denunciation of antifa or any other left-wing agitators who have rioted in American cities."

Harris, Biden counter Trump's message on GOP convention's final night

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) slammed President Trump's coronavirus response on Thursday, the final night of the Republican National Convention. Trump "froze" at the beginning of the pandemic, Harris said, and he has shown a "reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people." Harris also took aim at the GOP convention, which has featured speeches from numerous Trump relatives, including first lady Melania Trump and the president's four adult children. She said the event's main purpose was to "soothe Donald Trump's ego, to make him feel good," but the truth, she added, is that Trump has failed to protect "the health and the safety and the well-being of the American people." Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tried to counter Trump's acceptance speech, airing a new campaign spotlighting the multiple crises facing America under Trump.

Dueling protesters clash, ignore police warning in Portlands

Demonstrators faced off in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, with the two sides — one aligned with a "Back the Blue" rally and the other a Black Lives Matter counter-demonstration — reportedly largely ignoring police warnings. The competing protests reportedly drew hundreds of people to a plaza near a federal court house that has been the site of a series of demonstrations. A volley of fire from paintball guns reportedly prompted a nearby officer to threaten the crowd with arrests, and a member of the Proud Boys, a far-right hate group, reportedly pulled a pistol on the Black Lives Matter demonstrators (he did not fire), but the city police never attempted to move in on the protesters. Ultimately, Department of Homeland Security officers deemed the gatherings unlawful and moved through the plaza, forcing the crowd to disperse.

Austrian law extends citizenship to descendants of Jewish refugees

Descendants from Jewish refugees expelled from Austria under Nazi rule can apply for Austrian citizenship under a new law that goes into effect Tuesday. About 120,000 Jews living in Austria fled persecution after Nazi Germany annexed its neighbor in 1938 with many going to the United States and the United Kingdom. Many of the refugees became naturalized citizens in their new countries, but post-war Austria banned dual citizenship, meaning those who left were considered foreigners in their homeland. Eventually, in 1993, former refugees were able to reclaim their Austrian citizenship, but descendants were left out, preventing the country from restoring its pre-war Jewish community, which numbered 200,000. Hannah Lessing, secretary general of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism, applauded the law, but said "it can never truly make amends for the Holocaust."

Diana Rigg, The Avengers and Game of Thrones star, dies at 82

Diana Rigg, the actress known for her roles in movies and TV shows like The Avengers, Game of Thrones, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service, has died at 82. Rigg's death was confirmed by her daughter on Thursday, who said she "died peacefully" at home with her family. Rigg rose to fame after starring as Emma Peel in the classic British series The Avengers beginning in 1965. "Rigg's character became an icon for the growing feminist movement," BBC writes. In 1969, she starred in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service as "Bond girl" Tracy di Vicenzo, and in the 2010s, she played Olenna Tyrell on Game of Thrones. She also won the Tony for Best Actress in a Play in 1994 for her role in Medea.

CDC says eating at restaurants is most likely way to be exposed to coronavirus

Dining out is one of the most likely ways you can contract COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Friday report. Coronavirus-positive patients in a study were twice as likely to have gone to a bar or restaurant in the last two weeks than those who were negative, suggesting those locations drastically increased their chances of getting coronavirus. When looking at just people who had no close contact with someone who had coronavirus, eating at a restaurant tripled their chances of infection, and going to an indoor bar quadrupled it. That's because "masks cannot be effectively worn while eating and drinking," while the rest of the activities on the list — shopping, using public transportation, and others — "do not preclude mask use," the CDC said.

Russian opposition leader out of medically induced coma

Doctors in Berlin said Monday that they had pulled Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny out of a medically induced coma. Navalny's doctors said he was responsive as he continued treatment for his poisoning with a military-grade nerve agent, although his long-term prognosis was not yet clear. "It remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning," the doctors said in a statement. Navalny was flown to Germany on Aug. 22 after briefly being treated in Russia after he fell in on a flight from Siberia to Moscow. German Army specialists said he had been poisoned with a substance in the Novichok family of toxins developed by the Soviet Union. Similar nerve agents were used to poison another Kremlin opponent, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who was poisoned in the United Kingdom along with his daughter in March 2018.

Fires burn on, making air quality unhealthy in Western cities

Dozens of wildfires fueled by critically dry conditions are continuing to burn in California, Oregon, and Washington, sending haze across the United States. The fires have now scorched more than five million acres and forced tens of thousands of evacuations. Heavy smoke is hanging over major cities like Portland and Sacramento, and the air quality is unhealthy in most areas. In Los Angeles County, firefighters are battling flames within 500 feet of the 116-year-old Mt. Wilson Observatory. The Bobcat fire has been burning in the Angeles National Forest since Sept. 6, and grew to more than 40,000 acres after crossing containment lines overnight. Mt. Wilson Observatory was founded by George Ellery Hale in 1904, and has been visited by everyone from Albert Einstein to Stephen Hawking.

Fauci rejects herd immunity strategy considered by White House

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday pushed back against the idea the U.S. should pursue herd immunity against COVID-19. After neuroradiologist Scott Atlas, a top medical adviser to President Trump with no background in epidemiology, reportedly suggested the Trump administration should embrace the controversial theory of herd immunity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts pointed out the drawbacks. Some research has suggested reaching herd immunity would require allowing millions of infections and thousands more deaths, though other data points to a lower threshold. Either way, "we're not there yet," Fauci said. "That's not a fundamental strategy that we're using. The fundamental strategy ... is to try to prevent as many infections as you possibly can" by identifying a case, isolating the person who has it, and contact tracing.

Fauci warns U.S. must 'hunker down' for challenging fall and winter

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned that Americans will need to "hunker down" for a difficult fall and winter amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter because it's not going to be easy," Fauci said on a panel with Harvard Medical School doctors. He went on to observe that "every time" restrictions are lifted during the coronavirus crisis, "we get a blip," adding, "it's whack-a-mole." The United States is reporting an average of around 36,000 new COVID-19 cases a day. Previously, when the number of daily cases was around 50,000 or more, Fauci stressed the need to get this down to 10,000 by September.

Facebook shuts down Russian effort to 'divide' Democrats

Facebook said Tuesday it removed a network of accounts affiliated with an independent news website called Peace Data that was aimed at left-wing voters and run by people formerly associated with the Internet Research Agency, the Russian troll group that tried to influence the 2016 election. The case confirms that "Russian actors are trying to target the 2020 elections and public debate in the U.S., and they're trying to be creative about it," Facebook Head of Cybersecurity Policy Nathaniel Gleicher told NBC News. Gleicher said this more "subtle" Russian influence campaign didn't get "a lot of attention" before Facebook discovered it, making it largely ineffective. A lead investigator said it appeared intended "to divide Democratic voters, the same way the IRA tried in 2016."

Only Native American on federal death row executed

Federal authorities on Wednesday executed Lezmond Mitchell, the only Native American on federal death row, for the murders of 63-year-old Alyce Slim and her 9-year-old granddaughter, Tiffany Lee. Mitchell and his accomplice stabbed Slim 33 times after she gave them a ride in October 2001, and they later slit the child's throat. Mitchell confessed and led police to the bodies. The lethal injection was the fourth federal execution this summer after a 17-year freeze. Mitchell's case marked the only time in modern history the federal government has pushed the death penalty over the objection of a tribe for a crime on tribal land. The Navajo Nation objected to Mitchell's execution, but Tiffany Lee's father said in a statement read by his lawyer that Mitchell's execution had provided justice for his daughter after a 19-year wait.

Mets Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver dies at 75

Former New York Mets superstar pitcher Tom Seaver, often referred to as "The Franchise," has died of complications from Lyme disease, dementia, and COVID-19. He was 75. "We are heartbroken to share that our beloved husband and father has passed away," his wife, Nancy Seaver, and daughters Sarah and Anne said Wednesday in a statement to the Baseball Hall of Fame. "We send our love out to his fans, as we mourn his loss with you." Seaver dropped out of public life in March 2019 after he was diagnosed with dementia. He established himself as the greatest Met in the eyes of fans by compiling a record of 311 wins and 3,640 career strikeouts. He won three Cy Young Awards, and helped lead the "Miracle Mets" to a championship in 1969.

West Coast fires continue to rage, with 'mass fatality incident' expected in Oregon

Fires are continuing to rage along the West Coast, with dozens of blazes spreading in California, Oregon, and Washington. Oregon Emergency Management officials said Friday they are preparing for a "mass fatality incident" in the state once the damage can be surveyed. Dozens of Oregonians have been reported missing due to the fires, and about 10 percent of the state's residents have been told to evacuate their homes. In northern California, the August Complex fire is the largest fire in state history, and thousands of homes are threatened by the flames. As smoke fills the air across the region, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco have the worst air quality of all major cities in the world as of Friday. In some positive news, though, weather conditions are improving and authorities expect cooler air and moisture to aid firefighters in the coming days.

Brennan questioned for 8 hours as 'witness' in Durham investigation

Former CIA Director John Brennan on Friday sat for an interview with John Durham at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, that lasted for eight hours. Durham, who was selected by Attorney General William Barr to lead the criminal investigation of the origins of the 2016 probe into possible links between the Trump campaign and Russian election interference, reportedly told Brennan he was neither a subject nor a target of the review, but a "witness." Brennan served in the Obama administration and was one of the officials who signed off on an intelligence assessment that determined Moscow did interfere in the election with the goal of helping Trump defeat his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Brennan's involvement in the initial investigation and his criticism of Trump has angered the president, Politico notes.

Obama says in convention speech that democracy is on the line

Former President Barack Obama and other Democratic convention speakers on Wednesday said democracy is on the line in the November election. Obama said President Trump "hasn't grown into the job, because he can't," and that the consequences of Trump's failure "are severe. One hundred seventy thousand Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone." Obama urged voters to back Democratic candidate Joe Biden, stressing his character and experience as vice president. Other speakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), praised Biden's plans on childcare, climate change, and other issues. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton warned against dismissing Trump as many did in 2016. "For four years, people have said to me, 'I didn't realize how dangerous he was,'" Clinton said. "Well, this can't be another woulda, coulda, shoulda election."

Biden plans to resume in-person campaigning across the country

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, is set to resume in-person campaigning in the next few days for the first sustained period since the coronavirus pandemic struck, The Washington Post reports. Fresh off the Democratic National Convention, Biden is reportedly set to leave the Mid-Atlantic region where he's been based during the pandemic and strike out across the country. Michigan appears to be central to the campaign's plans — per the Post, Biden is planning a visit to Macomb County, a suburban Detroit jurisdiction that helped swing the state toward President Trump in 2016. Biden's running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), on Friday called Michigan "the main event in this fight." Biden still holds a lead over Trump, but a Morning Consult survey released Saturday saw the margin shrink from a 10-point lead to a 6-point advantage.

California firefighters hospitalized after wildfire engulfs station

Fourteen firefighters were overrun by flames Tuesday as they tried to protect a fire station in Los Padres National Forest on California's central coast. Three of the fighters were flown to a hospital in Fresno to be treated for smoke inhalation and burns. One was in critical condition. The fire has burned for two weeks but doubled in size overnight as high winds and dry conditions fueled a record wildfire season. Military helicopters had to rescue more than 150 people trapped in a burning forest. About 40 wildfires are burning in California, with others reported in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Montana. A fast-moving wildfire caused "catastrophic damage" in the town of Blue River, east of Eugene, Oregon, and the county's administrator warned that "we should expect loss of life from this fire."

Lori Loughlin sentenced to 2 months in prison for college admissions scam

Full House star Lori Loughlin on Friday was sentenced to two months in prison after she pleaded guilty to charges stemming from what prosecutors said was the largest college admissions scam in Department of Justice history. Her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months in prison. Loughlin and Giannulli were charged for allegedly paying $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters into college as recruits to the University of Southern California's crew team. They initially pleaded not guilty, but changed course in May. Loughlin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud as part of a plea deal that included two months in prison, two years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $150,000 fine.

Germany says Soviet-era nerve agent used to poison Navalny

Germany's government said Wednesday that it had determined that Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group of toxins. Navalny fell ill during a flight from Siberia to Moscow last month. He was initially treated in Russia, then transferred to Berlin. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said toxicology tests at a German military laboratory provided "unequivocal evidence of a chemical nerve agent." Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said the crime "raises very serious questions that only the Russian government can and must answer." Novichok is a Soviet-era military toxin that was used against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in a 2018 attack in England. Russian officials said they were waiting for more information from Germany.

Global coronavirus cases top 25 million

Global coronavirus cases have surpassed 25 million, data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows. There have been more than 843,000 fatalities. The United States has the highest number of infections and deaths, and California became the first state to pass 700,000 cases, although its infection rate is declining sharply. India — the world's second most populous nation — now has the fastest-growing epidemic and on Sunday registered 78,761 new cases, a single day record for the country that pushed its overall tally to 3.5 million infections. The increase can at least in part be contributed to a surge in testing. More than 76 percent of India's COVID-19 patients have recovered, and its fatality count has been far lower than the U.S. and Brazil, but deaths are still mounting.

Pelosi promises new stimulus package before November election

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that the House would remain in session as long as it takes for lawmakers to deliver a new coronavirus relief package before the November election. Democrats have rejected a "skinny" $600 billion relief bill proposed by Senate Republicans, but Pelosi has signaled willingness to settle for less than the $2.4 trillion Democrats were offering as a compromise after initially proposing more. The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled a package that would cost about $1.5 trillion to break a month-long impasse in talks between the White House and leading Democrats. The plan was attacked by both conservatives and liberals, but the group's Democratic co-chair, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), said it was just a framework to "get the negotiators back to the table."

'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Laura hits Louisiana

Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwestern Louisiana on Thursday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm with top sustained winds near 150 miles per hour. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warned it could hit some coastal areas with "unsurvivable" storm surge of 20 feet around the Louisiana-Texas state line. The storm gained strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico as it approached land, and its rains started flooding some parts of the Louisiana coast on Wednesday afternoon when the storm was still hundreds of miles offshore. More than 585,000 people were under a mandatory evacuation order, the largest evacuation of the COVID-19 era. Earlier this week, the storm killed 20 people in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic.

Hurricane Sally causes historic flooding in Alabama, Florida

Hurricane Sally caused what the National Hurricane Center described as "historic and catastrophic flooding" in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday, threatening to drench some areas with 35 inches of rain. Sally pushed slowly ashore at 3 miles per hour in the morning with top sustained winds of 105 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane. The storm sank boats, peeled roofs off houses, and knocked out power to more than 540,000 homes and businesses. Sally ripped loose a construction crane on a barge, sending it bashing into the new Three Mile Bridge over Pensacola Bay, destroying a section of the year-old span. Sally quickly weakened and was downgraded to a tropical storm by the afternoon. At least 377 people were rescued from flooded areas, including a family of four found in a tree. Sally moved northeast heading into Georgia and toward the Carolinas.

Hurricane Sally threatens historic flooding near Alabama-Florida line

Hurricane Sally strengthened overnight and shifted eastward as it approached the Gulf Coast early Wednesday, threatening the Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi coasts with potentially "extreme life-threatening flash flooding," a National Hurricane Center forecaster said. Sally's top sustained winds jumped from 85 miles per hour late Tuesday to 105 mph on Wednesday, making it a Category 2 storm. Slow-moving Sally could dump up to 30 inches of rain in some areas and hit parts of the Gulf Coast with storm surge as high as seven feet. The National Hurricane Center's latest advisory said the storm was nearing landfall around the Alabama-Florida border, where hurricane conditions were reported hours earlier.

Sally strengthens into hurricane as it nears Gulf Coast

Hurricane Sally, upgraded from a tropical storm on Monday, strengthened as it barreled through the Gulf of Mexico toward the central Gulf Coast. Sally's top sustained winds reached 100 miles per hour on Monday before weakening to 90 mph overnight. The slow-moving storm is expected to make landfall late Tuesday in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or the tip of the Florida Panhandle. Forecasters warned the storm could drop up to 24 inches of rain over parts of the region over the next few days, with a potentially life-threatening storm surge of up to 11 feet in some areas. Sally is approaching as Louisiana is still recovering from Hurricane Laura at the peak of the 2020 hurricane season. There are now five active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic region for only the second time on record.

White House memo instructs federal agencies to nix racial sensitivity trainings

In a letter sent to executive branch agencies Friday, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said President Trump has directed him to "ensure that federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund" racial sensitivity training sessions, which he described as "divisive" and "un-American." The OMB is instructing agencies to identify all contracts "related to any training on 'critical race theory,' 'white privilege,' or any other training or propaganda effort that teaches or suggests" the United States is "an inherently racist or evil country" or that "any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil." Once those contracts are identified, the letter says, the agencies should work within the confines of the law to cancel them. The letter comes after months of protests against racial injustice in the U.S.

India passes Brazil as country with second most coronavirus cases

India on Monday surpassed Brazil as the country with the most coronavirus cases after the United States. India's Health Ministry reported 90,802 new cases in the last 24 hours, lifting the country's total to 4.2 million, second only to the America's more than 6 million. India also reported 1,016 new deaths. India's death toll now stands at 71,642, the third highest in the world. India has posted the world's biggest daily increases in confirmed cases for nearly a month. Despite the spreading of the virus, the Indian government has started relaxing restrictions designed to prevent infections as it tries to revive its economy. The Delhi Metro resumed operations Monday after five months, although only asymptomatic people were allowed on trains and masks, temperature checks, and social distancing were required.

India reports nearly 100,000 new coronavirus cases after another record-breaking day

India on Saturday reported a record rise in new coronavirus infections for the second consecutive day after registering 97,570 new cases. The world's second most populous country now has 4.65 million confirmed cases, which is second behind the United States' 6.4 million infections. Although the U.S. still leads in raw totals, India's epidemic is now the fastest-growing in the world. Meanwhile, the U.S. over the past week saw an average of 35,028 new COVID-19 cases per day, a 17-point decrease from the average two weeks earlier. In England, coronavirus cases are doubling every seven to eight days, The Guardian reports, an indication the virus' resurgence is accelerating in the country.

Coronavirus cases spike in Midwest

Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota reported their biggest single-day increases in coronavirus infections on Thursday. The spike in the Midwest came as the total number of COVID-19 deaths nationwide rose above 180,000. Nationally, new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are declining, but officials across the country are bracing for another surge in cases as schools reopen. Infections in South Dakota have been rising since a massive annual motorcycle rally held in Sturgis from Aug. 7 to Aug. 16. The South Dakota health department said at least 40 cases had been traced to the event. The U.S. has the most confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, although on a per capita basis it ranks 12th in deaths and 10th in cases.

Iran executes wrestler despite suspicions of coerced confession

Iranian state news media on Saturday reported the state execution of Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old wrestler, at a prison in the southern city of Shiraz. Afkari was accused of fatally stabbing a water supply company employee during a 2018 antigovernment protest in Shiraz, and his case received international attention. Iran broadcast his confession last week, but The New York Times reports Afkari can be heard on an audio tape smuggled from prison saying that he had been tortured until he falsely confessed. The televised segment resembled many other suspected coerced confessions aired over the last several years in Iran, The Associated Press reports. President Trump, whose administration has clashed with the Iranian government, had previously called on Tehran to spare Afkari's life.

Israel signs diplomatic pacts with UAE, Bahrain

Israel on Tuesday signed diplomatic pacts normalizing relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain at a White House ceremony. President Trump, portraying himself as a peacemaker, declared the agreements to be historic. "After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East," Trump said. The deal came after Israel's relations with the two Arab nations had already begun to thaw as they focused on their common enemy, Iran. Palestinians slammed the agreements as betrayals by fellow Arabs. The foreign ministers of the UAE and Bahrain noted that Israel had agreed to suspend plans to annex West Bank settlements, and said the agreements to exchange diplomats and cooperate on education, trade, security, and other issues would be helpful toward creating a Palestinian state.

Mall operators Simon and Brookfield to acquire J.C. Penney stores

J.C. Penney reached a deal to sell its retail business to Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners, averting a liquidation. The two mall owners will pay $300 million in cash and assume $500 million in debt, lawyers for the department store chain said in a bankruptcy court hearing on Wednesday. With the sale, which values J.C. Penney at $1.75 billion, the retailer is "in a position to do exactly what we set out to do at the very beginning of these cases and that is to preserve 70,000 jobs, a tenant for landlords, a vendor partner, and a company that has been around for more than a century," lawyer Joshua Sussberg said. J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy protection in May, the biggest retailer to do so in the coronavirus crisis

Jacob Blake shares video message from hospital bed

Jacob Blake delivered a video message to the public from his hospital bed Saturday night as he recovers from injuries he sustained after he was shot seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down. In the video, which was posted to twitter by Blake's attorney Ben Crump, Blake said he has staples in his stomach and back and is in constant pain, noting it hurts to breathe, sleep, eat, and move side to side. "You do not want to have to deal with this," he said, noting that his case exemplifies how people's lives can be drastically altered in an instant. He went on to urge people to "change your lives out there" and "stick together, make some money, make everything easier for our people."

Japan's parliament elects Yoshihide Suga prime minister

Japan's parliament on Wednesday elected Yoshihide Suga as the country's new prime minister. Suga replaces Shinzo Abe, who unexpectedly announced his resignation last month, citing health problems. Suga easily won the vote in Japan's lower house, a result that was expected after his selection as the majority conservative Liberal Democratic Party's leader. Suga is expected to continue the policies of Abe, a close ally. Abe held his last cabinet meeting earlier Wednesday and said he was proud of what he accomplished in his record-long nearly eight years in power. Suga has served for years in the government's No. 2 spot, as chief cabinet secretary. He takes over as Japan struggles with the coronavirus pandemic, which has triggered Japan's worst economic downturn on record.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announces resignation due to illness

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation due to ill health on Friday, four days after becoming the country's longest-serving prime minister. During an eight-year tenure, Abe oversaw Japan's recovery from a nuclear disaster triggered by a devastating earthquake and tsunami. With no successor in his ruling Liberal Party, he's expected to stay on until the party picks one and parliament approves. Abe, 65, has stepped down for health concerns before, in 2007, less than a year into his first term. When he was elected again in 2012, he said he was managing his ulcerative colitis with new medications, but he said Friday he had suffered a relapse. Two hospital visits this month fueled speculation that his health had taken a turn for the worse.

Jerry Falwell Jr. reportedly resigns from Liberty University

Jerry Falwell Jr. told The Wall Street Journal late Monday that he had resigned as president of Liberty University, capping a confusing day in which he reportedly agreed to step down then changed his mind after the media reported that he was leaving. The turmoil came after a business partner of Falwell, one of the most influential figures in the American Christian conservative movement, came forward claiming he had a years-long relationship with Falwell's wife, Becki, in which he had sex with her as the evangelical leader looked on. Falwell denied any involvement in the affair, which apparently started when the couple met the man, Giancarlo Granda, in 2012 when he was 20 and working as a pool attendant at a Miami Beach hotel.

Biden accepts Democratic presidential nomination

Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night, ending the party's virtual convention with a promise to unite Americans to "overcome this season of darkness." "The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long — too much anger, too much fear, too much division," Biden said. "Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst." Biden said he would not "put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise: Voting." And he promised to confront a "perfect storm" of challenges, including an economic crisis, climate change, a national call for racial justice, and a pandemic he said President Trump has failed to address.

Former U.K. prime ministers publish joint letter criticizing government's plan to breach Brexit deal

John Major, a former Conservative U.K. prime minister, and his former adversary and eventual successor, Labour's Tony Blair, joined forces Sunday, publishing a letter in the Sunday Times criticizing the "shocking" announcement from the British government last week that it plans to pass legislation that would break international law by breaching parts of the Withdrawal Treaty it signed in January when the country formally left the European Union. Meanwhile, the U.K.'s Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, also a member of the Conservative Party, warned he could resign if the law is "broken in a way I find unacceptable." Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the controversial legislation is necessary to clarify the Northern Ireland protocol element of the Brexit deal and protect free trade between the four nations of the U.K.

Kellyanne Conway announces she's leaving the White House

Kellyanne Conway, a senior adviser to President Trump, announced Sunday that she is leaving the White House. Conway is one of Trump's longest serving aides. She served as his third campaign manager, and the first woman to manage a successful bid for the presidency. She reportedly told Trump late Sunday that she was leaving at the end of the month. Conway said serving in the Trump administration had been "heady" and "humbling," but she was stepping down to focus on her four children. "It will be less drama, more mama," she tweeted. Her husband, conservative lawyer George Conway, has been an outspoken critic of Trump. He plans to step back from his role on the Lincoln Project, a group of Republicans dedicated to defeating Trump.

Kool & the Gang co-founder Ronald Bell dies at 68

Kool & the Gang co-founder Ronald "Khalis" Bell died Wednesday at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands, his publicist said. He was 68. The cause of death was not released. Bell formed the group with his brother, Robert "Kool" Bell, in the 1960s, and the ensemble scored a string of hits in the 1970s and '80s, including "Celebration," "Jungle Boogie," and "Ladies' Night," all written or co-written by Bell. A self-taught musician, he played saxophone, sang, and produced the band. Between 1970 and 2013, Kool & the Gang released 23 studio albums, moving from jazz roots to funk and soul in the '70s and, with the addition of vocalist James "J.T." Taylor in 1979, chart-topping pop. The group won two Grammys and sold 70 million albums.

Alleged Kenosha shooter's extradition hearing delayed

Kyle Rittenhouse did not appear for his extradition hearing Friday after requesting his presence be waived as he hires a legal team, leading his hearing to be delayed for 30 days. The 17-year-old is charged with killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26; and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Tuesday night. Rittenhouse is from and was arrested in Illinois, so he will have to be extradited to Wisconsin to face charges of intentional homicide and reckless homicide, among other counts. Investigators say they identified Rittenhouse on a video holding a long gun and shooting at protesters. Protests have gone on since Kenosha police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, on Sunday, and turned violent when armed militias came downtown.

Researchers say Sturgis rally was COVID-19 'superspreader event'

Last month's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota was a coronavirus "superspreader event" linked to more than 266,000 cases, according to a study released Tuesday by the IZA Institute of Labor Economics. The researchers estimated the public health costs of the infections at $12.2 billion, based on an average of $46,000 spent on every COVID-19 patient. The rally brought more than 460,000 people into the area from Aug. 7 to Aug. 16. Most of them reportedly did not wear masks or practice social distancing to avoid spreading the virus. The researchers used smartphone pings and foot-traffic numbers at local bars, restaurants, clubs, stores, hotels, and campgrounds to track crowds. The rally combined "many of the 'worst-case scenarios' for superspreading" simultaneously: It went on for days, packed people together, brought many visitors from out of town, and had low compliance with safety measures including wearing masks, the researchers said.

Officers kill man suspected in fatal Portland shooting

Law enforcement officers on Thursday fatally shot self-described antifa supporter Michael Forest Reinoehl, the suspect in the fatal weekend shooting of Aaron Danielson, one of the Trump supporters who clashed with anti-racism protesters in Portland. Officers were trying to take Reinoehl, 48, into custody in Lacey, Washington. He reportedly ran when officers fired shots, pulling a gun and firing back. Portland police had issued an arrest warrant for Reinoehl earlier in the day. Reinoehl appeared to confess to the shooting in an interview with Vice News published Thursday. The self-described antifa supporter told Vice that he shot Danielson in self-defense, thinking he and a "friend of color" were about to be stabbed. "I had no choice," he said.

Hope for coronavirus relief deal dim as lawmakers return to Washington

Lawmakers begin returning to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for a short session before the November election, with dim prospects for a deal on a new coronavirus relief package. Senators reconvene Tuesday, followed by House members next week. Talks between Democrats and the White House stalled last month, and Democrats and Republicans remain far apart on how much to spend in the package. House Democrats initially proposed a $3 trillion-plus package, while Senate Republicans' proposal would have cost around $1 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has since said Democrats would accept a $2.2 trillion package. President Trump said Sunday that Democrats "don't want to make a deal because they think that if the country does as badly as possible ... that's good for the Democrats." Trump said he was "taking the high road" be refusing to meet with Democrats.

Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson Jr. dies at 78

Legendary basketball coach John Thompson Jr. has died at 78. Thompson's death was confirmed by his family on Monday, who in a statement said, "Our father was an inspiration to many and devoted his life to developing young people not simply on, but most importantly, off the basketball court." His cause of death was not disclosed. Thompson served as coach at Georgetown University for nearly three decades after playing for the Boston Celtics for two seasons, and he became the first Black basketball head coach to win the NCAA National Championship in 1984. In 1999, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He retired with a 596-239 record. "For us, his greatest legacy remains as a father, grandfather, uncle, and friend," Thompson's family said.

Libyan government announces ceasefire

Libya's United Nations-backed government announced a nationwide ceasefire Friday. Rebel leader Gen. Khalifa Haftar did not comment on the truce directly, but Aguila Saleh, the speaker of the pro-Haftar Libyan parliament, called on the warring factions to support it in the hopes of preventing foreign military intervention. The ceasefire, though tenuous, has raised hopes for peace amid the nine-year conflict. The U.N., European Union, and Egypt all welcomed the declaration, and experts believe the ceasefire has a good chance of sticking, despite previous failed attempts. The optimism stems from the fact that there's a "military stalemate" since Turkish intervention gave the government "enough power" to stave off an offensive from Haftar.

Influential opposition leader disappears in Belarus

Maria Kolesnikova, a key opposition leader in Belarus, reportedly has disappeared in Minsk after another weekend of mass protests demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko, who claimed re-election in a vote critics say was fraudulent. Kolesnikova was last seen being forced into a vehicle by plainclothes men, independent Belarusian news outlet Tut.By reported. Kolesnikova's press representative, Gleb German, told ABC News that Kolesnikova's associates had "no contact" with her on Monday, and her team did not know where she was. Two other leaders of the opposition's Coordination Council, Anton Ronenkov and Ivan Kravstov, also were missing. The country's Ministry of Internal Affairs said it had no knowledge of the alleged disappearances. Ukrainian media reported that Kolesnikova was taken to the Ukrainian border, where she refused to leave and tore up her passport to avoid being deported.

Mississippi prosecutors drop charges against Curtis Flowers

Mississippi prosecutors on Friday dropped their case against Curtis Flowers, a Black man from Mississippi who had been tried an unprecedented six separate times for a 1996 murder. Flowers has spent 23 years in prison, many of them on death row. Flowers, whose case vaulted into the public consciousness through the American Public Media podcast In the Dark, was released from prison on bail last year after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed his latest conviction. Now, there will be no seventh trial. "Today, I am finally free from the injustice that left me locked in a box for nearly 23 years," Flowers said in a statement released by his attorneys. The prosecution has received criticism over the years, largely stemming from allegations of racial discrimination in jury selection.

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine shows promise among elderly

Moderna said Wednesday that its potential COVID-19 vaccine induced promising immune responses in older adults during an early-stage clinical trial. The biotech firm tested its experimental vaccine on 10 adults between 56 and 70, and 10 aged 71 and older. The older patients produced neutralizing antibodies believed necessary to build immunity at similar rates as the younger patients. The news offered hope for protecting older people who have been identified as vulnerable to severe complications from COVID-19. Moderna is among the leading firms racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine. Its candidate, mRNA-1273, is undergoing late-stage human trials to judge its safety and effectiveness.

California seeks reinforcements to help battle growing wildfires

More than 500 wildfires, many of them sparked by lightning storms, are burning across California. Most of those are small and remote, but two clusters of blazes in the San Francisco Bay Area and another in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties have caused extensive damage, destroying hundreds of homes and killing six people. The two Bay Area clusters became the second and third largest wildfires in recent state history, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has urged residents to "heed evacuation orders." By Friday, Cal Fire, the state's fire agency, had called out 96 percent of available engines, while Newsom has sought reinforcements, including from other countries like Canada and Australia. Firefighters and aircraft from 10 other states began arriving in California on Friday to help crews battle the blazes.

2 dozen former GOP lawmakers endorse Biden

More than two dozen former Republican lawmakers on Monday endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president. The announcement by the "Republicans for Biden" group came on the day the GOP opened its national convention and formally nominated President Trump and Vice President Pence for re-election. The group backing Biden included former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona and former Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. Biden, who served in the Senate before his eight years as Barack Obama's vice president, has touted his support from Republicans as a key part of the broad coalition he is trying to build during the campaign. "There are a lot of former Republican members of Congress who are unhappy with the direction of the party," said Dent, who announced his support for Biden last week. He added: "They are concerned about this party becoming so Trumpian, frankly, driven by the power of one man."

Record heat fuels severe fire threat in California, Oregon

Much of the West continued to face a severe fire threat on Tuesday as record-breaking heat fueled fires that already have burned more than two million acres in California, the most ever burned in a single wildfire season in the state. The fires still burning include the second-, third-, and fourth-largest fires on record in California. The explosive Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest, first detected Friday about 290 miles north of Los Angeles, had scorched more than 78,000 acres by Monday afternoon. The most extreme fire danger was forecast for northwest Oregon, where very strong winds, low humidity, and unusually dry land surface created "a volatile environment supportive of rapidly spreading fires exhibiting extreme behavior," according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center.

NBA playoffs to resume Saturday

NBA officials announced Friday that playoff games will resume Saturday. Numerous games were postponed this week as players boycotted in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The decision to continue the season was made "with the understanding" that the league will enact several commitments. The NBA and its players have agreed to establish a social justice coalition that will be "focused on a broad range of issues" including increased access to voting and police and criminal justice reform. Teams will work with city officials to convert arena facilities into voting locations or voter registration sites for the 2020 election. The NBA will also work to include ads during games "dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement" in elections. The Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic will restart the postseason at 3:30 p.m. ET.

NBA players back resuming playoffs after boycott to protest police killing

NBA players met Thursday and voted in favor of resuming the professional basketball playoffs, ESPN reported. A day earlier, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott their Wednesday game, the fifth in their series against the Orlando Magic, to protest the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer. The two other Wednesday games were later postponed, and other professional sports leagues promptly joined the boycott. No final decision or date for resuming the playoffs has been set, as talks continue among players, coaches, and team owners. The turmoil came four years to the day after former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first chose to kneel during the national anthem before his team's games to protest racial injustice.

Osaka captures 2nd U.S. Open title

Naomi Osaka came back to defeat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday in the women's U.S. Open final, which was played in front of a mostly-empty Arthur Ashe stadium in Queens, New York. The win marks Osaka's second U.S. Open crown, and it was the third Grand Slam overall for the 22-year-old star. For the first time since 1994, the woman who lost the first set of the U.S. Open final won the next two sets to claim the victory. Before the match, Osaka stepped onto the court wearing a mask with Tamir Rice's name on it — throughout the tournament she wore several different masks bearing the names of Black victims of violence. Both Osaka and her coach said her off-court activism has helped her energy and mindset during matches, The Associated Press reports.

Biden picks up endorsements from nearly 100 Republicans, independents

Nearly 100 Republican and independent leaders, including former 2020 GOP presidential hopeful Bill Weld, endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president on Thursday. Republican former governors of Michigan and New Jersey, Rick Snyder and Christine Todd Whitman, also are among GOP leaders rejecting President Trump, who is running for a second term. "Biden is a decent man, he's a steady man," said Whitman, who is heading the group, "Republicans and Independents for Biden." "Trump is trying to paint the world of Joe Biden as horrific — but that's Trump's America now." She said Trump had betrayed conservative values. Snyder described Trump as a "bully," and said Biden would "bring back civility." The latest endorsements boosted an effort by the Biden campaign to highlight the former vice president's bipartisan support.

New York AG to set up grand jury in Daniel Prude case

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Saturday that she would set up a grand jury to consider evidence in the death of Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man who suffocated in Rochester, New York, after police officers placed a hood over his head and pinned him to the ground during an arrest in March. Prude's family has accused officials of trying to cover up the death, and protests have erupted in Rochester since the case garnered public's attention last week. The county medical examiner determined the death a homicide caused by asphyxiation in a prone position, but police treated the death as a drug overdose for months, pointing to PCP found in Prude's system. Now, James says, her office, which became aware of Prude's death in April, "will immediately move to empanel a grand jury as part of our exhaustive investigation into this matter."

New York City delays in-person classes to avoid teachers' strike

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) on Tuesday announced a deal to avoid a potential teachers' strike that will delay the start of in-person classes by 10 days in the nation's largest school district. Classes now will start Sept. 21, allowing more time "for our educators and staff to get ready under these unprecedented circumstances," de Blasio said. The United Federation of Teachers had threatened the first teachers' strike in the city in a half century as educators warned they would not be ready to open safely on Sept. 10, as previously planned. There now will be a "three-day transitional period" starting Sept. 16, during which remote instruction will begin. When classes resume in person, New York City schools will use a blended learning plan with students alternating days at school.

1 person shot and killed amid clashing Portland protests

One person was shot and killed in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday evening. The shooting occurred amid dueling protests — a large caravan of President Trump supporters and Black Lives Matters demonstrators clashed in the city — although it's unclear if the incident was directly linked to the fighting. The Portland Police Bureau said officers responded quickly to the victim after getting word of gunshots shortly before 9 p.m., but the man, who police said was shot in the chest, did not survive. The police have not released any information about a possible shooter, but The Associated Press reports the victim appeared to be a white man wearing a hat with the insignia of Patriot Prayer, a far-right group that has a history of fighting with protesters. Images and video purportedly depicting the shooting have been posted online, and homicide detectives are looking for more evidence.

Oregon sends state police to help curb Portland violence

Oregon authorities dispatched state police on Monday to help calm violent clashes between protesters demanding racial justice and armed right-wing groups that have countered them. Gov. Kate Brown (D) blamed the violence on a right-wing group called Patriot Prayer, one of whose supporters was fatally shot over the weekend. "I will not allow Patriot Prayer and armed white supremacists to bring more bloodshed to our streets," she said. Protests have continued nightly in Portland since George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for several minutes. President Trump blamed the turmoil on Portland's Democratic mayor. "If this joke of a mayor doesn't clean it up, we will go in and do it for them!" Trump tweeted Monday.

Former Green Beret charged with providing U.S. military secrets to Russian agents

Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, a former Army Green Beret living in Virginia, has been charged with providing U.S. military secrets to Russian intelligence agents, the Justice Department announced Friday. The info Debbins allegedly handed over concerned his unit's activities in former Soviet republics. Prosecutors, in an indictment after Debbins' arrest, said he told the Russian agents with whom he met on multiple occasions between 1996 and 2011 that he considered himself a "son of Russia" and believed the U.S. "was too dominant in the world." The indictment also alleges Debbins was motivated in part by bitterness over his Army career and a desire to establish business contacts in Russia.

Duterte pardons U.S. Marine who killed transgender woman in Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday issued a pardon for a U.S. Marine convicted for the 2014 killing of Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman. The pardon came unexpectedly as a court was considering the appeal of a decision to release the Marine, Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, before the end of his sentence. Duterte's decision effectively rendered the appeal moot, angering human rights and LGBTQ activists. Pemberton met Laude in a bar as Marines were in the country for joint military exercises. After she was found dead in a motel room, Pemberton, then 19, reportedly admitted to choking the 26-year-old Laude after discovering she was transgender. He claimed he was acting in self-defense, but police investigators called the killing a hate crime. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison but had been ordered release four years early for good behavior.

Postmaster general says USPS can handle universal mail-in voting

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Friday after he vowed to suspend USPS operational changes until the November election is over. He said "there have been no changes in any policies in regards to election mail for the 2020 election," and insisted USPS "is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation's election mail securely and on time." While he said he didn't know about the removal of mail sorting infrastructure until there was public outcry, he said he would not replace equipment that has been removed since he took office. The House, meanwhile, will convene Saturday to vote on Democratic legislation that would prevent the functional changes, reverse the already-enacted moves, and provide $25 billion for the agency. The bill is expected to pass along party lines, but is considered dead on arrival in the Senate.

Trump, Biden clash over protests, violence

President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Monday continued to trade criticism over violent clashes surrounding protests against racial injustice in Portland, Oregon, and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Biden said in a speech that Trump is a "toxic presence." He condemned looting and arson, saying they were crimes, not protests. Trump accused Biden of refusing to repudiate leftist protesters, although Biden had said the day before that he condemned violence, "whether on the left or the right." Trump also defended Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old Trump supporter accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding another in Kenosha. Trump, who is visiting Kenosha on Tuesday despite local officials' request that he stay away, said Rittenhouse fired while "trying to get away" from protesters. "He probably would've been killed," Trump said.

Trump exchanges criticism with Portland's mayor

President Trump and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) on Sunday traded harsh criticism of each other over violent clashes between anti-racism protesters and conservative counterprotesters, a day after the fatal shooting of a member of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer. Trump called Wheeler a "fool" and blamed him for letting unrest spread in his city. Wheeler said Trump was the one fanning the flames at a time when he should be promoting peace. "That's classic Trump," Wheeler said at a news conference. "Mr. President, how can you think that a comment like that, if you're watching this, is in any way helpful?" He added: "Let's work together. Wouldn't that be a message?" Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson identified the dead man as Aaron "Jay" Danielson, but officials have not yet confirmed the news.

Trump, Pence formally nominated as GOP convention kicks off

President Trump and Vice President Pence were officially nominated for re-election on Monday as the Republican National Convention kicked off. Trump made a surprise appearance at the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the crowd chanted "Four more years." Trump responded: "If you want to really drive them crazy, you say 12 more years." The night's speakers framed the election as a choice between prosperity under Trump and chaos under his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) countered the Democrats' call to fight racism. Haley said the United States is "a work in progress" but "not a racist country." Donald Trump Jr. defended his father's response to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 177,000 Americans, and accused Biden of being part of the "radical left wing."

Trump, Biden condemn shooting of L.A. County deputies

President Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, on Sunday condemned the shooting of two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, both of whom remained in critical condition a day after they were ambushed in their patrol vehicle in Compton. The attacker was still at large. Trump tweeted that if the deputies die the attacker should face the death penalty. "Animals that must be hit hard!" he wrote. Biden said he and his wife, Jill, were keeping the officers and their families in their prayers. He called the attack "cold-blooded" and "unconscionable" and said the attacker "must be brought to justice." Police and elected leaders urged people in Los Angeles to unite in condemnation of the attack. Anti-police demonstrators gathered outside the hospital where the deputies were being treated.

FDA authorizes emergency use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19

President Trump and the Food and Drug Administration announced Sunday that the FDA has issued an emergency authorization for the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19. Trump called the decision "truly historic," saying that the treatment has been shown to reduce mortality by 35 percent. FDA documents did not immediately make it clear where he got that figure. The treatment, derived from recovered patients' blood, already has been given to 70,000 patients. Many scientists and physicians say it could offer benefits but is no breakthrough, as the evidence available so far on its effectiveness has not been conclusive. An FDA staffer who reviewed the data on the treatment said it "may be effective" but "well-controlled randomized trials" have yet to prove it works.

Trump demands U.N. revive Iran sanctions

President Trump announced Wednesday that he would call for reviving all United Nations sanctions against Iran. The demand follows the Trump administration's failure to extend an arms embargo against Iran, and it set up a clash over policy toward Tehran. "Two years ago I withdrew the United States from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, which was a product of the Obama-Biden foreign policy failure," Trump said, adding that the U.S. paid a great deal of money "for absolutely nothing and a short-term deal." Trump said if he wins re-election, "Iran will come to us and they are going to be asking for a deal so quickly because they are doing very poorly." Trump said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will present the demand to the U.N. in New York on Thursday.

Multiple outlets confirm Trump called dead, captured U.S. troops 'losers'

President Trump denied reporting from The Atlantic that said he repeatedly called U.S. military personnel captured or killed in battle "losers" and "suckers," but multiple outlets corroborated the report on Friday, including Fox News. The Associated Press and The Washington Post confirmed the comments, saying Trump begged out of a trip to pay respects to U.S. World War I dead at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery outside Paris because "it's filled with losers" and "suckers." Fox News' Jennifer Griffin reports that while planning a July 4th military parade, Trump was opposed to including "wounded guys," saying, "that's not a good look" and "Americans don't like that." White House Press Secretary Kaleigh McEnany claimed the reporting had been "debunked," saying it was "based on four cowardly anonymous sources, who probably do not even exist."

Trump closes GOP convention with speech deriding Biden as extremist

President Trump formally accepted the Republican Party's nomination on the final night of the GOP's national convention on Thursday. In a live address from the White House, Trump defended his record and harshly criticized Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Trump said he has "spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden has inflicted over the last 47 years." He accused Biden of having "the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee," painting Democrats as far-left extremists who would defund police and stoke violence and chaos in the nation's cities. "Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten our citizens," Trump said.

Trump denies report he referred to fallen soldiers as 'losers'

President Trump has privately said on several occasions that U.S. military personnel captured or killed in battle are "losers" and "suckers," The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg reported Thursday, citing several people with first-hand knowledge of Trump's comments. Trump called the reports, corroborated by The Associated Press and The Washington Post, "totally false." In one anecdote confirmed by at least five people, Trump begged out of a trip to pay respects to U.S. World War I dead at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery outside Paris because "it's filled with losers" and "suckers." On a 2017 Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery with John Kelly, then homeland security secretary, Trump reportedly turned to Kelly at the grave of his son, Lt. Robert Kelly, and said: "I don't get it. What was in it for them?" Trump also reportedly called the late Sen. John McCain "a f---ing loser."

Poll: Trump catches up with Biden in Florida

President Trump has pulled even with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the crucial swing state of Florida, an NBC News/Marist poll released Tuesday found. Biden previously had a 13-point lead in Florida but it evaporated largely due to a shift of support from Latino voters in Trump's favor. Biden and Trump are tied at 48 percent each among likely Florida voters. The state's Latino voters overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016, 62-35 percent. A majority of Latino respondents now say they're voting for Trump over Biden, 50-46 percent. A poll from the Miami Herald and Bendixen & Amandi International showed Biden and Trump splitting Hispanic voters 47-46 percent

Trump holds 1st indoor rally in nearly 3 months

President Trump held his first entirely indoor rally in nearly three months on Sunday in Henderson, Nevada. Trump renewed his attacks against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, criticizing the former vice president's voting record and mental state, and accusing him of waging a "dangerous war on the police." Democratic Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak tweeted that Trump's "reckless and selfish" decision to hold an indoor rally violating the state's ban on gatherings of more than 50 people was "putting countless lives in danger here in Nevada." Biden's campaign said "if Donald Trump cared at all about curbing this virus and protecting the safety of his supporters, he wouldn't hold events like this, but Trump doesn't and he won't.

Trump says Stars and Stripes won't lose funding

President Trump on Friday said that funding for Stars and Stripes, the United States military newspaper, would not be cut. Under Defense Department budget plans, the paper would cease both print and online publication by Sept. 30, but Trump will seemingly reverse that. Stars and Stripes "will continue to be a wonderful source of information to our great military," Trump tweeted. A senior administration official confirmed to The New York Times that Trump decided to back Stars and Stripes after aides showed him news reports blaming him for shuttering the publication. The president's announcement comes after multiple reports that he insulted American service members who were killed in the country's wars. Trump has denied those reports.

Trump claims 'deep state' operatives are slowing FDA's coronavirus treatment development

President Trump on Friday tweeted that "the deep state, or whoever, over at the" Food and Drug Administration is "making it very difficult for drug companies" to enroll people in coronavirus vaccine and therapy trials. "Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after Nov. 3," he added, suggesting that the agency's operatives were attempting to halt a life-saving, pandemic-altering coronavirus treatment to keep him from winning re-election. There is no evidence to back up the claim and the FDA, drug companies, and researchers are, on the contrary, working at an unprecedented pace to deliver something that will curb the spread of the coronavirus. As Politico notes, the FDA is not in charge of who enrolls in drug company trials.

Trump says Pentagon leaders not 'in love' with him

President Trump on Monday accused U.S. military leaders of pushing wars to increase profits for the defense industry. "I'm not saying the military's in love with me," Trump said at a White House news conference. "The soldiers are, the top people in the Pentagon probably aren't because they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy." The attack came after news reports that Trump had described fallen service members as "losers" and "suckers," which Trump denies. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump's Democratic opponent in the November election, told union members on Monday that referring to U.S. soldiers in those terms was "downright un-American."

Trump open to investigation of DeJoy fundraising allegations

President Trump on Monday said he was open to an investigation of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's past fundraising for political campaigns, following reports that he pressured former employees to donate to Republican candidates and later had them reimbursed. "Sure, sure, let the investigations go," Trump said in a Labor Day news conference at the White House. The Washington Post reported that when DeJoy was CEO of New Breed Logistics, he and aides urged employees to make campaign contributions, then reimbursed them with bonuses, which would violate campaign finance laws. Monty Hagler, a DeJoy spokesman, said DeJoy did not think any employees had felt that they were being strongarmed into making donations, and believed that "he has always followed campaign fundraising laws and regulations."

Trump visits Texas, Louisiana in hurricane aftermath

President Trump on Saturday visited parts of Louisiana and Texas that were hardest hit by Hurricane Laura, which killed at least 14 people and caused as much as $12 billion in damage this week. Air Force One landed in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where the president toured neighborhoods affected by the storm and spoke with first responders, local leaders, and officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Department of Homeland Security agencies. Trump said he knew Louisiana would have "no problem" rebuilding and the federal government will "supply what we have to supply." He then departed for Orange, Texas, which also felt the wrath of the storm, though Trump began a round table discussion with White House officials, members of Congress, and local public officials by noting the destruction wasn't as bad as in Louisiana.

Trump says downplaying coronavirus threat showed 'calm,' 'strength'

President Trump on Thursday pushed back at Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward's revelation that Trump admitted to downplaying the pandemic threat in February, arguing that Woodward would have come forward with the news sooner if he thought Trump was endangering public safety. Woodward taped Trump in February and March for his forthcoming book, Rage. Trump said in the on-the-record interviews that he knew the coronavirus was "deadly stuff," but he minimized the threat to prevent a panic. "We had to show calm," Trump said, adding that he displayed "strength as a leader." The offensive came as Trump faced a backlash, with his Democratic rival in the November election, Joe Biden, leading the charge. "He waved a white flag!" Biden said. "He walked away. He didn't do a damn thing."

Trump says he would spend personal funds on re-election effort

President Trump on Tuesday said he would contribute "whatever it takes" from his personal fortune to finance his re-election campaign. Trump denied that his campaign was facing a financial squeeze after spending more than $800 million of the $1.1 billion it raised in collaboration with the Republican National Committee from 2019 through July. "If I have to, I would," Trump said about possibly contributing to his own campaign. "But we're doing very well." Trump loaned $43.5 million to his campaign during the 2016 primary season. Trump's challenger, Joe Biden, and the Democratic National Committee raised a record $365 million last month, far surpassing Trump's $165 million record July total and the $193 million former President Barack Obama raised in September 2008.

Trump praises followers of QAnon conspiracy theory

President Trump on Wednesday praised followers of the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory, which centers on a false narrative that Trump is leading a secret fight against a criminal band of pedophiles and satanic worshippers. "Is that supposed to be a bad thing?" Trump said. "If I can help save the world from problems, I'm willing to do it." QAnon followers have committed acts of violence, and the FBI classified QAnon as a domestic terrorism threat. But Trump described the conspiracy theory's followers as patriots upset over unrest in cities run by Democrats. "I've heard these are people that love our country," Trump said during a White House coronavirus news conference. "So I don't know really anything about it other than they do supposedly like me."

Trump releases another shortlist of potential Supreme Court nominees

President Trump on Wednesday released a list of 20 more people he would consider nominating to the Supreme Court. The list includes three well-known conservative senators: Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Hawley said he wasn't interested; Cotton and Cruz said it was an honor to be considered. The list also includes more traditional potential nominees, including Carlos Muniz of the Florida Supreme Court and Bridget Bade of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The 20 names add to Trump's previous list of 25 judges. Trump reportedly considers his two high court appointments − Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh − among his greatest successes, and sees his commitment to nominating more conservatives, given the chance, to be critical in his re-election bid.

Trump urges North Carolinians to test system by illegally voting twice

President Trump on Wednesday said during a trip to North Carolina, a battleground state, that people should vote by mail and then cast another ballot in person, to test safeguards against double voting. "If their system's as good as they say it is, then obviously they won't be able to vote," said Trump, who has claimed without evidence that widespread mail-in voting will result in extensive fraud. It is illegal to intentionally vote twice. Attorney General William Barr echoed Trump's claim, telling CNN that mail-in voting "is very open to fraud," and people advocating expanded mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic "are playing with fire." Barr also said that racism isn't "as common as people suggest" in protests against police shootings of unarmed Black men and women.

Trump urges Republicans to go bigger with coronavirus relief

President Trump on Wednesday urged Republicans to support a larger coronavirus relief package as White House negotiators seek a deal with Democrats. "Go for the higher numbers," Trump tweeted to his fellow Republicans. The GOP-controlled Senate last week tried and failed to pass a "skinny" stimulus bill with just over $500 billion in spending. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, one of the two leading White House negotiators, said he was more optimistic than he has been for two months that a deal would be possible. A day earlier, the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus released a proposal for about $1.5 trillion in aid to businesses, families, health workers, and others. Leading Democrats rejected the proposal and called for at least $2.2 trillion in spending

Trump orders cutting funding to cities run by Democrats

President Trump ordered federal agencies in a memo released Wednesday to find ways to slash funding to Democrat-run cities roiled by protests against systemic racism in policing, including Portland, Seattle, Washington, and New York. "Anarchy has recently beset some of our states and cities," Trump wrote to the Office of Management and Budget, and Attorney General William Barr. "My administration will not allow federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones." The memo came as Trump focuses his re-election campaign on violence coinciding with mostly peaceful anti-racism protests. A spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York tweeted that the memo was "a racist campaign stunt out of the Oval Office to attack millions of people of color."

Trump pledges loyalty to workers, Biden gets union endorsements

President Trump pledged his "undying loyalty to the American worker" during a Labor Day news conference on Monday. Trump used the occasion to take a jab at his rival in the November presidential election, saying that Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), would "destroy the country and would destroy this economy." Biden, vowing to be the strongest labor president ever, was in Pennsylvania for an AFL-CIO virtual town hall with union President Richard Trumka. He picked up three endorsements from organized labor on the holiday. Harris started a Labor Day visit to the critical swing state of Wisconsin by meeting with the family of Jacob Blake, the unarmed Black man who was left partially paralyzed when he was shot in the back by a white police officer.

Trump says he wanted to 'play down' deadliness of coronavirus

President Trump privately acknowledged in February that he knew the coronavirus pandemic posed a serious public health threat, even as he publicly said it was no worse than a seasonal flu and would soon disappear, according to a new book by Washington Post associated editor Bob Woodward. "You just breathe the air and that's how it's passed," Trump said in a Feb. 7 call, according to Woodward. "It's also more deadly than even your strenuous flu ... This is deadly stuff." Woodward wrote that Trump made the remark 10 days after being told by National Security Adviser Robert C. O'Brien in a briefing that the pandemic would "be the biggest national security threat you face in your presidency." Trump told Woodward he knew the danger but "wanted to always play it down" to avoid creating a panic.

Trump bashes Biden at Nevada rally

President Trump traveled to Nevada for a campaign rally in Douglas County on Saturday as he sets his sights on winning over the state he narrowly lost in 2016. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll showed Trump trailing his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, in the Silver State, but the race is considered a close one, and Nevada remains one of Trump's best chances at flipping a Hillary Clinton-won state in 2020. At the rally, Trump warned he was ready to "be really vicious" during the campaign's stretch run, and he gave the audience a taste during his speech. Trump called Biden a "pathetic person" who "doesn't know he's alive." He also accused Nevada's Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak of trying to "rig the election" because the Trump campaign had to move the rally out of Reno because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Trump visits Kenosha, calling violence 'domestic terror'

President Trump visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, praising police and calling outbursts of violence and arson in the city "domestic terror." Trump did not address the police shooting of an unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, that touched off angry protests last week, and he accused "far-left politicians" of unfairly pushing the "destructive message" that police are racist. Trump, who has declined to condemn a 17-year-old Trump supporter charged with fatally shooting two people, visited Kenosha over the objections of local leaders who feared he would fan tensions. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Trump had "failed to protect America," and was using the chaos to energize his supporters. "Violence isn't a problem in Donald Trump's eyes," Biden said. "It's a political strategy."

Trump blasted by older sister in secret recording

President Trump's sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, can be heard sharply criticizing her brother in a conversation secretly recorded by her niece, Mary Trump. The audio was obtained by The Washington Post. Barry said Trump "has no principles" and "only wants to appeal to his base," while specifically lamenting the Trump administration's actions at the U.S.-Mexico border. The recording also appears to confirm that Barry was the source of one of the most publicized moments from Mary Trump's recently published tell-all book about her uncle. Barry, who described her brother as a "brat" as a child, claimed the president, after beginning his college education at Fordham University, "got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams."

Report: Kushner to visit Gulf states in hopes of normalizing Israeli relations

President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner — along with White House envoy Avi Berkowitz, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, and the State Department's Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook — is expected to travel to the Middle East in September, with stops planned in Israel and several Gulf states, Axios reports. The goal of the trip is to scope out the early days of the U.S.-brokered deal that normalized relations between Israel and the UAE. But Kushner will also reportedly attempt to encourage other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, to strike similar agreements with Israel.

Hong Kong activists urge boycott of universal coronavirus testing plan

Pro-democracy activists, including a health care workers union, in Hong Kong on Sunday called for a boycott of the city's universal coronavirus testing plan. The opposition is primarily concerned by the fact that medical staff from mainland China are supposed to assist with carrying out the plan at a time when many Hong Kong residents believe Beijing is stripping away their freedoms, especially after the passing of a controversial national security law and the postponement of September's legislative elections. The union, the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance, said universal testing was not an efficient use of resources, arguing focused testing is the better play for Hong Kong at this point during the pandemic. The union's leader Winnie Yu said it's "clear to see the government has one and only goal," which is "to use the pandemic to achieve their own political aims."

Protests break out in Wisconsin after police shoot Black man

Protests erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday night after police officers shot a Black man. A video of the incident was posted online, showing officers appearing to shoot the man, identified as Jacob Blake, several times in the back at close range as his children watched. He was hospitalized in serious condition. Witnesses told the Kenosha News that Blake tried to break up an argument between two women, and police officers responding to a reported domestic incident tried to tase him. Gov. Tony Evers (D) said that "while we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that [Blake] is not the first Black man or person to have been shot" or killed by police.

GOP to start convention with Trump planning unusually active role

Republicans start their national convention on Monday, with President Trump planning to assume an unusually active role by speaking every night. Trump plans to respond to criticism leveled at him by Democrats last week in their convention, when speaker after speaker called him divisive, incompetent, and a failed leader during the coronavirus crisis. The full schedule for the convention has been kept secret, but the lineup of speakers includes Mark and Patricia McCloskey (the Missouri couple who pointed guns at Black protesters passing their house in June), and Nicholas Sandmann, a Kentucky teenager who sued news outlets over their coverage of his staredown with a Native American protester in Washington last year. Several of the president's children also will make appearances, as will first lady Melania Trump.

Pence says Trump is the law and order choice

Republicans stepped up their warnings of lawlessness on the third night of their national convention on Wednesday. Vice President Mike Pence, the evening's headline speaker, said President Trump projected leadership abroad and law and order at home, accusing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden of ignoring the "violence and chaos engulfing cities across this country" during last week's Democratic convention. "You won't be safe in Joe Biden's America," Pence said as unrest continued for a fourth night in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the shooting of an unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer. The speakers framed the unrest as looting and violence without focusing on protesters' calls for racial justice. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) accused Biden, a moderate Democrat, of being a supporter of "far-left socialist policies."

Hong Kong confirms first documented case of COVID-19 reinfection

Researchers in Hong Kong on Monday confirmed that a 33-year-old recovered coronavirus patient had been infected again. The man first contracted the virus in March, then tested positive again four and a half months later, apparently while traveling in Spain. The case was seen as an indication that the immunity recovered patients have against COVID-19 fades quicker than public health officials had hoped. Medical experts had suspected recovered patients could get sick again, but this was the first confirmed case of reinfection. The man had mild symptoms the first time and none the second. The research will have consequences for the coronavirus vaccines under development around the world.

Researchers confirm 1st case of coronavirus reinfection in the U.S.

Researchers in Nevada on Friday confirmed a COVID-19 reinfection in the U.S., and found the patient experienced more severe symptoms when contracting the virus again. The first U.S.-confirmed reinfection comes after anecdotal evidence of second infections, and after researchers in Hong Kong confirmed a reinfection for the first time earlier this week. A 25-year-old Reno, Nevada, man tested positive for COVID-19 in April and showed mild symptoms. He tested positive again in May, with more severe symptoms. Researchers confirmed it was a separate infection because the second virus had a different genetic strain. The discovery has implications for coronavirus vaccine development — promising vaccines have so far produced COVID-19 antibodies in human trials, but these cases of reinfection suggest antibodies gained from catching COVID-19 don't necessarily guarantee long-term immunity. Scientists said more studies are needed to fully understand the possibility of reinfection.

Russian opposition leader transferred to Germany after suspected poisoning

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny arrived in Berlin on Saturday morning, a day after his spokesperson said he was not permitted to be transferred from the Russian state-run hospital where he was being treated after falling ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on Thursday. Navalny remains in a coma and is reportedly in critical condition, despite previous reports indicating he was stable during the flight and upon arrival. After touching down, he was taken to a Berlin hospital where he underwent a comprehensive medical examination. Doctors reportedly would not comment on his illness or treatment until those were completed, although his supporters believe he was poisoned at the behest of the Kremlin. The Russian hospital where Navalny was previously treated said there was no sign of poisoning, but toxicology experts have expressed doubts it could have been ruled out so quickly.

German hopsital says Russian opposition leaders was poisoning

Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned, Charité Hospital in Berlin said Monday after Navalny was transferred there from a Russian hospital. The German hospital said it could not be determined immediately what substance had poisoned Navalny, but it appeared to be a nerve inhibitor. Navalny began moaning in pain and lost consciousness during a flight from Siberia to Moscow, and his spokeswoman promptly said he was the latest in a series of prominent figures to be poisoned by Russian agents. Doctors in Germany said "there is no acute danger to his life," although Navalny remained in a medically induced coma and "longer-term effects, especially to the nervous system," were possible.

Russian voters test Putin's power in local elections

Russians cast their ballots in dozens of local elections Saturday, with nearly 160,000 candidates vying for seats in local parliaments and governors being elected in several regions. The voting has been overshadowed by the recent, non-fatal poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose team alleges the attempt was carried out on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Before he fell ill last month, Navalny had been encouraging Russians to vote against Putin's ruling party, United Russia, in the local elections in the hopes of loosening its grip across the country, and his camp believes the campaign could be why he was targeted. The local elections are reportedly seen as a dry run for next year's national parliamentary elections, although early results from the Far East show Kremlin-backed candidates winning easily.

Democrats block Senate Republicans' 'skinny' coronavirus relief bill

Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked Republicans' "skinny" coronavirus relief bill, keeping the proposed stimulus package from meeting the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster and advance. The bill's failure made it highly unlikely Congress would approve more aid before the November election. Senate Democrats said the $650 million package wasn't close to being enough. House Democrats originally wanted $3 trillion but have said they would accept $2.4 trillion. Republicans said the limited relief targeted the needs most lawmakers agreed about. All present Democrats and Republican Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted no, and the vote fell short 52-47. "It's a sort of a dead end street, and very unfortunate," said Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan). "But it is what it is.

McConnell says vote coming on scaled-down coronavirus relief plan

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he planned to force a vote on a narrowly targeted coronavirus relief package over objections from Democrats, who are seeking a much larger package. McConnell said Republicans were introducing a plan "focused on some of the very most urgent health-care, education, and economic issues." He said a floor vote could come as soon as this week. But Republicans lack the votes to overcome a filibuster by Democrats. The GOP bill is expected to have a price tag of at least $500 billion, down from the $1 trillion proposal Republicans released in July and far below the $3 trillion-plus package House Democrats backed before saying they would be willing to settle for $2.2 trillion. Talks between Democrats and the White House remain stalled.

Senators reach rare bipartisan agreement on reducing greenhouse gas

Senators on Thursday agreed on a proposal to phase out planet-warming chemicals commonly used in air conditioners and refrigeration. The measure will be offered as an amendment to a bipartisan energy bill. Key Senate Republicans joined Democrats to move the proposal forward in a rare split with the Trump administration encouraged by both American companies and environmentalists. "This agreement protects both American consumers and American businesses," said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Environment and Public Works Committee chair. "We can have clean air without damaging our economy." It wasn't immediately clear whether the bill would pass with time for President Trump to sign it before Congress adjourns in January.

73 Republican former security officials back Biden

Seventy-three former Republican national security officials released a letter endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and calling President Trump unfit for the White House. The Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden group includes ex-CIA and FBI chiefs and senior defense and intelligence veterans who served under presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Trump himself. "Trump has demonstrated that he lacks the character and competence to lead this nation and has engaged in corrupt behavior that renders him unfit to serve as president," the group planned to say in a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal on Friday. The members of the group also accuse Trump of "spreading misinformation" and "undermining public health experts" trying to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Takuma Sato holds off Scott Dixon to win Indianapolis 500

Takuma Sato won the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, holding off five-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the stands were empty due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dixon said after the race that he had expected officials to throw a red flag to pause the race after a violent crash by Spencer Pigot left a debris field on the track as Pigot received medical attention there with just a few laps remaining. But IndyCar never threw the flag and Sato finished with Dixon close behind after leading for 111 of the 200 laps. It was Sato's second Indianapolis 500 victory, after he became the first Japanese winner of the race in 2017. It would have been the second win for Dixon, too.

Belarus protesters defy army warning

Tens of thousands of Belarusians defied a warning from the military and demonstrated in the streets of Minsk on Sunday, demanding that the country's longtime President Alexander Lukashenko step down after winning re-election in a disputed vote. Lukashenko called the protesters "rats," and was shown in state media footage wearing body armor and carrying a rifle. Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition candidate who fled to Lithuania after the vote, has claimed she received 60 to 70 percent of the vote. She said over the weekend that Belarusians must "struggle for their rights." "We are a majority and we will not step away," she said. "We are not afraid of them anymore."

Belarus crowds swarm in Minsk as protests against Lukashenko continue

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sunday, continuing calls for the country's longtime authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko to resign. The protests began when election officials said Lukashenko had won re-election in a landslide, with opposition arguing the Aug. 9 vote was rigged, citing local precincts that showed Lukashenko's opponent winning. On Sunday, protesters were blocked by barriers and riot police from entering Independence Square, so they marched down one of the city's main avenues chanting "Freedom!" and "Resign!" Police arrested about 125 people and detained more than 200 more, a human rights group said. Lukashenko received a call Sunday from Russian President Vladimir Putin wishing him a happy birthday.

Tesla's stock sees biggest one-day drop ever

Tesla shares plunged by 21 percent on Tuesday in the biggest one-day loss ever for the stock. Tesla shares soared recently ahead of the electric-car company's recent 5-to-1 share split, with its market value surpassing that of some leading rival automakers, including Toyota and Volkswagen. But Tesla's fortunes reversed after the committee that adds companies to the S&P 500 index passed over Tesla on Friday, picking up e-commerce site Etsy and automatic test equipment maker Teradyne instead. Many investors expected Tesla to make the cut this quarter after reporting its fourth straight profitable quarter in July. The stock dropped by 7 percent in after-hours trading on Friday after the news broke, and U.S. markets were closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

Tour de France threatened as COVID-19 red alert issued for departure point

The 2020 Tour de France was in danger of unraveling two days ahead of its start, scheduled for Saturday, after the Alpes-Maritimes region where the opening stages are to be held was placed under a COVID-19 red alert. The concerns about the race escalated late Thursday when the Lotto-Soudal team announced that two members of its support staff had tested "non-negative" for the coronavirus, and been sent home from Nice, France. "Safety remains priority number one," the team said in a statement. Tour director Christian Prudhomme dismissed worries about the fate of the race early this year, saying, "Only world wars have stopped the Tour de France." France's education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, said the Tour would go ahead to show "we can continue to live."

Trump administration reportedly pressured CDC to change COVID-19 testing guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released controversial new guidelines on COVID-19 testing after being pressured to do so by top Trump administration officials, The New York Times reported Wednesday, citing two federal health officials. The CDC this week said that those exposed to COVID-19 but who don't have symptoms do not "necessarily need a test," unless a health-care provider or official recommends it, or they're at risk. The Times reported this change "came as a directive" from "higher-ups at the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services," and CNN quoted an official as saying the new guidelines are "coming from the top down." Experts warned that not testing asymptomatic people would make contact tracing impossible. New York and California don't plan to follow the new guidelines.

HHS coronavirus communications chief takes leave of absence after rant

The Department of Health and Human Services' communications chief, Michael Caputo, will be taking a two-month leave of absence after accusing government scientists of "sedition" in a Facebook rant. HHS on Wednesday announced that Caputo, the department's assistant secretary for public affairs, would be taking 60 days to "focus on his health and the well-being of his family." Caputo on Sunday promoted false conspiracy theories on Facebook Live, baselessly accusing government scientists of "sedition" and accusing them of belonging to a "resistance unit" of scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is plotting "how they're going to attack Donald Trump next." He reportedly apologized to his staff on Tuesday for bringing negative attention to the department.

Report: DHS withheld warning of Russian disinformation on Biden's mental health

The Department of Homeland Security withheld publication of a July intelligence bulletin warning of a Russian effort to push "allegations about the poor mental health" of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The draft bulletin was submitted to the department's legislative and public affairs office and was not intended for the public, but it was supposed to be sent to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. But an hour after it was submitted, DHS Chief of Staff John Gountanis asked officials to "hold on sending this one out" until discussing it with acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, according to an email obtained by ABC News. The report was never distributed, even though analysts had "high confidence" in the assessment. House Democrats vowed to investigate.

HHS official apologizes for inflammatory Facebook outburst

The Health and Human Services Department's top spokesperson, Michael Caputo, apologized on Tuesday to Secretary Alex Azar and his staff for a Facebook rant in which he accused scientists fighting the coronavirus pandemic of "sedition" and warned of looming attacks by left-wing "hit squads." Caputo reportedly said he regretted embarrassing Azar and HHS. Caputo, a close ally of President Trump, blamed his behavior on the toll of health problems and what he said had been death threats against his family. Caputo also admitted that he had never read any of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports produced on COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even though his team repeatedly tried to revise, delay, or scrap them. Caputo is considering taking medical leave, Politico reported, citing three people with knowledge of the situation

House passes $25 billion USPS bill

The House on Saturday passed legislation that would provide $25 billion to the United States Postal Service, while also banning any operational changes to the agency like the removal of mail-sorting machines and collection boxes and reversing already-enacted measures. The 257-150 vote was mostly along party lines with Democrats, who fear the Trump administration is deliberately trying to slow mail delivery ahead of the November election amid a push for universal mail-in voting because of the coronavirus pandemic, supporting the bill. Republicans, on the other hand, accused their colleagues of manufacturing "baseless conspiracy theories," although some GOP members did cross the aisle. It's unlikely the bill will pass the Republican-controlled Senate, however, and Senate Majority Leader Mitchell McConnell wasted little time expressing opposition to the legislation, tweeting his disapproval just minutes after the vote.

Israel to impose 2nd nationwide lockdown

The Israeli government on Sunday announced it will impose a nationwide, three-week lockdown starting Friday, the eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, to combat rising coronavirus infection numbers. The decision comes before a string of national holidays over the next month, which prompted fears of mass gatherings. The lockdown means people can only venture 500 meters from their homes, and non-essential businesses, including gyms and restaurants, as well as most schools, will close, making Israel the first country to reimpose such severe restrictions on a national scale after implementing a lockdown earlier in the pandemic. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has faced fierce criticism for re-opening the economy too quickly this spring during the initial phase of the pandemic, said the country's hospitals "raised a red flag" that the health-care system could be overwhelmed if infections continue to rise.

Report: DOJ secretly curbed investigation into Trump's Russia ties

The Justice Department in 2017 secretly curtailed an investigation of President Trump's personal and business ties with Russia, which the FBI had started in the days following Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, The New York Times reports. Some career FBI counterintelligence investigators reportedly worried Trump's decades-long Russia ties posed a national security threat. Then-acting FBI director Andrew McCabe had approved the investigation, and believed Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed to investigate Russia's election meddling and any links to the Trump campaign, would follow up. Mueller's team secured three dozen indictments and convictions of Trump advisers and confirmed Moscow's effort to help Trump win. But then-deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, "curtailed the investigation without telling the bureau, all but ensuring it would go nowhere," the Times reports.

New jobless claims rose above 1 million again last week

The Labor Department reported on Thursday that 1.1 million Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, reversing a decline from the previous week, which saw the figure drop below 1 million for the first time since the coronavirus crisis hit in March. The rise from 971,000 new jobless claims the week before surprised economists, who had forecast on average about 923,000 claims last week. The new report indicated that 28.5 million Americans still are receiving some form of government unemployment assistance. Analysts said the new numbers served as a warning sign that layoffs remain high as many states still face high rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths.

DOJ launches criminal investigation over Bolton's book

The Justice Department is investigating whether former National Security Adviser John Bolton's recent book criminally disclosed classified information, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing three people familiar with the matter. A grand jury has issued a subpoena to Simon & Schuster, the publisher of The Room Where It Happened, for communications records. Bolton published his book in June despite the Trump administration's attempts to prevent its release. A judge said the book could come out, but Bolton had exposed himself "to civil (and potentially criminal) liability" and "likely jeopardized national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations." Bolton has said the book doesn't contain classified information. Trump has accused Bolton of revealing secrets and filling the book with "made up stories."

DOJ moves to defend Trump in E. Jean Carroll defamation suit

The Justice Department on Tuesday moved to take over President Trump's defense in a defamation suit filed by author E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of raping her in a Manhattan department store dressing room during the 1990s. Carroll sued Trump last year after he called her a liar and claimed they had never met. In court papers, Justice Department lawyers said that they should be able to replace Trump's private attorneys because he made his comments about Carroll while in office. Carroll's attorney called the motion a "shocking" attempt to use the powers of the presidency in a private legal matter. Last month, a New York judge ruled that Carroll could go forward with her suit, but the motion effectively shields Trump from any potentially harmful disclosures before the November election.

DOJ reportedly poised to launch antitrust case against Google

The Justice Department plans to launch an antitrust case against Google-parent Alphabet within weeks, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing five people briefed on internal DOJ discussions. Most of the roughly 40 career lawyers working on the complaint reportedly said they needed more time to put together a strong case against such a powerful technology company, but Attorney General William Barr decided on filing it quickly, telling the lawyers to wrap up their preparations by late September. Barr, a former telecom industry executive, has requested frequent updates and shown intense interest in the department's investigation of Google, one of several tech giants that President Trump has accused of bias against him.

Barr says DOJ will push to restore death penalty for Tsarnaev

The Justice Department plants to get the death penalty reinstated for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for his role in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Attorney General William Barr told The Associated Press on Thursday. A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit court threw out Tsarnaev's death sentence in July, saying the judge in his 2015 trial did not adequately question potential jurors about their exposure to information on the case. The court ordered a trial on whether Tsarnaev should be executed for the attack, which killed three people and wounded more than 260. Barr vowed to take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. "We will do whatever's necessary," Barr said. "We will take it up to the Supreme Court and we will continue to pursue the death penalty."

Report: DOJ watchdog investigates Roger Stone sentencing

The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General has launched an investigation into the decision to reduce the sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, a longtime friend of President Trump, NBC News reported Monday, citing two sources familiar with the matter. Stone last year was convicted of lying to investigators and witness tampering. Prosecutors were planning to recommend he serve seven to nine years in prison, but were told in February to seek a lighter sentence. Attorney General William Barr later intervened, overriding prosecutors and asking for a lighter sentence. All four prosecutors on the case subsequently quit, and one told Congress he was told to recommend a lighter sentence because of Stone's personal relationship with Trump. Stone got 40 months, but Trump commuted his sentence in July.

Chiefs to ban fans from wearing headdresses to home games

The Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday said that after speaking with "a group of local leaders from diverse American Indian backgrounds and experiences," the team has decided to prohibit fans from donning headdresses or Native American-themed face paint at Arrowhead Stadium home games. The organization is also reviewing the "Arrowhead Chop" action that is performed by fans. "We are grateful for the meaningful conversations we have had with all of these American Indian leaders," the Chiefs said in a statement. "It is important that we continue the dialogue on these significant topics, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future." In July, the Washington Redskins retired its name, after years of complaints that the moniker was offensive to Native Americans.

Kenosha police union releases account of Jacob Blake shooting

The Kenosha Professional Police Association, the union representing police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, released what they called "the actual and undisputed" account of the events that preceded the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot by officers multiple times on Sunday, CNN and NPR report. The account says Blake had a knife and "forcefully fought" the officers trying to arrest him, putting one in a headlock. The statement also said the officers failed to subdue Blake after twice shooting tasers at him. Blake's uncle, Justin Blake, said the union's version was "garbage" and his nephew didn't have a weapon, while legal defense called the statement "overblown." Raysean White, a witness who recorded a brief video of the incident, said Blake did not pose a threat and that officers put Blake in a headlock while one "punched him in the ribs."

884,000 file new unemployment claims, more than expected

The Labor Department on Thursday reported that 884,000 people filed initial applications for unemployment insurance last week, more than the 850,000 that economists surveyed by Dow Jones had expected. The total was unchanged from the previous week, although without adjusting for seasonal factors there was an increase of 20,140. The numbers signaled a possible slowdown in improvement in the labor market seen over the summer as many businesses reopened after spring coronavirus lockdowns. The pandemic triggered unprecedented job losses when it hit the U.S. Non-farm payrolls declined by 22 million at the start of the crisis, although half of those jobs have been recovered.

Bucks boycott over police shooting spreads through sports world

The Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their playoff series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man, by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. "We're tired of the killings and the injustice," Bucks guard George Hill said. The Magic quickly joined in the boycott, as did the teams set to play in the other two playoff games scheduled for Wednesday. Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers players reportedly called for canceling the remainder of the NBA season, throwing the rest of the playoffs in doubt. Several Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, later announced they would also not be playing Wednesday night, as did the entire slate of scheduled WNBA teams.

Lakers, Bucks advance after NBA playoffs restart

The NBA playoffs returned Saturday after players went on strike this week in an effort to initiate change following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The Milwaukee Bucks, who represent Blake's home state of Wisconsin and were the first team that refused to take the court, defeated the Orlando Magic to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they'll take on the Miami Heat. The Los Angeles Lakers, one of two teams that initially voted to not continue the season, clinched their series against the Portland Trail Blazers behind dominant performances from their stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers await the winner of the series between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Houston took a 3-2 lead after routing the Thunder on Saturday. The postseason will continue with another 3-game slate Sunday.

ODNI will no longer brief Congress in-person on election security issues

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence informed the House and Senate intelligence committees that it will no longer conduct in-person briefing sessions regarding election security issues, letters the Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe sent to lawmakers this week show. The letters reportedly indicate leaks from Congress are the reason behind the switch. Instead of verbal briefings, the ODNI will provide the congressional panels with written updates on the matter, a senior Trump administration official told CNN. In a joint statement House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called it a "shocking abdication" of the ODNI's responsibilities, and "a betrayal of the public's right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy." Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) criticized the alleged leakers, but urged Ratcliffe to continue fully briefing Congress.

Ex-Pentagon official accused of sexually harassing two women

The Pentagon Inspector General released a report Wednesday accusing John James, the former civilian head of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency, of sexually harassing two women in his office. The Defense Department's internal watchdog said one woman was subjected to unwanted attention, and James allegedly took a photo of her buttocks as she walked away from him. James allegedly twice massaged the other woman behind closed doors, and she eventually left the agency because of his actions. James, who retired earlier this year, said he was trying to "mentor" the women. He blamed the allegations on a disgruntled employee passed over for a promotion. "There's a modicum of truth in the interactions, but no intent for sexual harassment, or favors," he told investigators.

S&P 500, Nasdaq hit record highs on optimism about virus treatment

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite hit the latest in a series of records on Monday as optimism about COVID-19 treatment boosted investor sentiment. The S&P 500 gained 1 percent, closing above 3,400 for the first time, and the Nasdaq, fueled by Big Tech's ongoing tear, rose by 0.6 percent to close at an all-time high after retreating slightly from an intraday record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the only one of the three main U.S. indexes that has yet to fully erase its losses from a coronavirus-induced March nosedive, jumped by 1.4 percent to close at 28,308. Futures for all three of the indexes rose early Tuesday, suggesting the rally could continue.

U.S. calls for restoring U.N. sanctions against Iran

The Trump administration on Thursday submitted a letter to the United Nations Security Council accusing Iran of failing to comply with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, and calling for restoring U.N. sanctions against Tehran, including an arms embargo. President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal two years ago, and all of the remaining parties to the agreement − Germany, France, Britain, Russia, and China − promptly rejected the U.S. move, which Russia and China called "illegitimate." Just last week, the Security Council rejected a U.S. bid to extend an arms embargo due to expire in October. "It is an enormous mistake not to extend this arms embargo. It's nuts!" Pompeo told reporters at the U.N.

U.S. refuses to join 170 countries in producing coronavirus vaccine

The Trump administration said Tuesday that it would not join the more than 170 countries considering participating in the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility, or Covax, aiming to quickly develop a coronavirus vaccine and distribute it to the most vulnerable populations. The Trump administration's decision to stay out was partly due to the World Health Organization's leadership in the effort. The U.S. has withdrawn from and criticized the WHO, accusing it of contributing to the coronavirus' spread. White House spokesperson Judd Deere said the U.S. would work with other countries in its vaccine development efforts, "but we will not be constrained by multilateral organizations influenced by the corrupt World Health Organization and China." The White House is confident the U.S. will win the global race to produce a vaccine.

CDC halts evictions to prevent coronavirus spread

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday issued an order blocking evictions of renters from their homes. The policy was intended to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. It covers all of the 43 million residential renters, provided they meet income eligibility requirements. It applies to individuals expecting to make under $99,000 this year, or joint income tax filers making $198,000 or less. The order remains in effect through the end of the year. To take advantage of the protection, renters must file sworn declarations asserting that they would be left homeless if evicted, or forced into a "shared living setting" because they have no other housing option. They also must attest to having made a good faith effort to obtain any government rent or other housing assistance they might qualify for.

Unemployment rate declines to 8.4 percent in August

The U.S. unemployment rate declined to 8.4 percent in August as the economy added 1.4 million jobs, the Labor Department said on Friday. The unemployment rate was down from 10.2 percent in July, and this was the first time it has been below 10 percent since the coronavirus crisis began in the United States. Economists were anticipating the unemployment rate would decline to 9.8 percent. Hiring, however, has slowed after the economy previously added 1.7 million jobs in July and 4.8 million jobs in June. About 238,000 of the jobs added in August were temporary Census workers. Of the 22 million jobs lost in the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic, about half have been recovered.

At least 5 dead as California wildfires continue

The death toll from wildfires raging across California has risen to at least five after a flurry of lightning strikes ignited new fires in the northern part of the state. Tens of thousands of people had to evacuate their homes and go to shelters despite the risk of coronavirus infections after California recorded 600,000 confirmed cases. "Not only are we dealing with COVID, but with also the heat and now the fires," said Cheryl Jarvis, who evacuated to a community center in Vacaville but refused to go inside, sleeping in her Toyota Prius instead. Statewide, there have been more than 360 fires, with 22 major blazes still burning. "We are experiencing fires, the likes of which we haven't seen in many, many years," Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said.

West Coast fire death toll rises to 35

The death toll in the West Coast wildfires rose to at least 35 people on Sunday, with dozens more still missing in Oregon. The fires have burned 4.6 million acres across several states, destroying thousands of homes and other buildings, and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. Most of the devastation has occurred in Oregon, Washington state, and California, where firefighters are battling three of the five biggest wildfires in state history. Fires also have broken out in Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Across the West, 94 major blazes are still burning. Heavy smoke is threatening air quality not just in remote areas where the fires are concentrated, but also in major cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.

Administration releases plan to make coronavirus vaccine free to all

The federal government on Wednesday unveiled a plan to make a COVID-19 vaccine free to all Americans, provided one of the drugs being developed proves safe and effective. In a report and "playbook" submitted to Congress, federal health agencies and the Defense Department outlined plans to gradually start a vaccination campaign in January or even late 2020, although the CDC says a vaccine might not be widely available until mid-2021. "Our goal in Operation Warp Speed is that 24 hours after" a vaccine receives emergency authorization or full approval, it will be sent to administration sites, said Paul Ostrowski, who is handling the logistics. The rushed campaign faces some public skepticism. Only roughly half of Americans said in a May Associated Press-NORC poll that they would get vaccinated.

NFL gets ready for first slate of Sunday games

The first full slate of NFL games kicks off Sunday, as the league begins play amid the coronavirus pandemic. The season officially began Thursday night when the Kansas City Chiefs launched their Super Bowl title defense with a 34-20 win over the Houston Texans, but the rest of the league will get going Sunday. Week 1 features quite a few rivalry games, including a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson will be back under center for the Baltimore Ravens, who are hosting the Cleveland Browns. The main draw of the day, though, will take place at 4:25 p.m. E.T. on Fox when the New Orleans Saints take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will be led by quarterback Tom Brady as he dons a new uniform after two decades with the New England Patriots.

Global coronavirus deaths near 800,000

The global death toll from COVID-19 is approaching 800,000, while the number of confirmed infections across the world nears 23 million, data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows. The United States accounts for more than 175,000 of those deaths and more than 5.6 million of the cases. Elsewhere, India, which has the third-highest number of infections after the United States and Brazil, is about to surpass 3 million confirmed cases after recording a single-day increase of more than 69,000 infections. Countries that had previously slowed the spread of the virus like Spain, France, and South Korea have continued to see upticks. The latter is reinstating restrictions across the country after reporting more than 300 new cases for two consecutive days.

Global coronavirus deaths top 800,000

The global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 800,000 on Saturday, data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows, while the number of confirmed cases across the world shot past 23 million. The United States has recorded the highest number of fatalities and infections of any country, while Brazil is second in both categories. India on Saturday became the third country to pass 3 million cases. Elsewhere, The Washington Post notes, Lebanon has experienced an alarming rise in new infections, compounding the country's financial, economic, and political crises. Since a devastating explosion rocked Beirut's port in early August, killing at least 180 people, the number of coronavirus cases has nearly doubled in Lebanon, forcing the government to order a partial lockdown.

More than 500,000 U.S. children have tested positive for COVID-19

The number of children who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States reportedly has surpassed half a million. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association says the number of child cases of COVID-19 has risen to 513,415 following a 16 percent increase from August 20 through Sept. 3. The report says that 103 children have died due to COVID-19. COVID-19 cases among children represent almost 10 percent of the cases in the United States. While severe illness from COVID-19 among children is less common, it's unclear whether there are long-term effects from the virus. These numbers come as many students across the country begin their school year.

U.S. COVID-19 cases top 6 million

The number of coronavirus cases in the United States surpassed 6 million Sunday as infections spiked in parts of the Midwest. Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota all saw record one-day increases in new cases, while Montana and Idaho have seen record COVID-19 hospitalizations. Iowa's hotspots include the counties where the University of Iowa and Iowa State University are located. Both schools are offering at least some in-person classes. The United States has seen the most deaths of any country in the world from the coronavirus, at nearly 183,000. The U.S. ranks 11th in deaths per capita, behind countries that include Sweden, Brazil, Italy, Chile, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Peru.

California fires expected to grow as new storm system approaches

The second and third largest fires in California history — both of which are located in the San Francisco Bay area — are expected to grow in the coming days as a new thunderstorm will mover over the state, likely bringing with it dry lightning and strong winds, The Los Angeles Times reports. The National Weather Service has issued red-flag warnings across Northern and Central California, but the fires have already destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Saturday that the White House has approved the state's request for a presidential major disaster declaration to bolster the response to the blazes. Since July, about 1.2 million acres in California have burned, which the Times notes is an "astonishing" figure for so early in the fire season.

Los Angeles County records its highest temperature on record

The temperature in Woodland Hills, California, reached 121 degrees on Sunday, the highest ever recorded in Los Angeles County. The new record was two degrees above the previous high set in 2006. The National Weather Service said the area could get even hotter as a dangerous heat wave continues in California, Nevada, and Arizona, and records could be broken in other parts of the region. San Luis Obispo recorded a temperature of 120 degrees at the Cal Poly weather station, shattering the previous record of 115 degrees, which was set during a 2017 heat wave. "This is unmatched, just unprecedented, unreal," said John Lindsey, a meteorologist with Pacific Gas and Electric.

TikTok challenges Trump ban, saying it poses no threat

TikTok on Monday filed a legal challenge against President Trump's executive order banning the Chinese-owned video app starting in mid-September. Trump cited national security concerns, and he called for TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations within 45 days or he would ban it in the United States using international emergency economic powers. TikTok says the order is "not rooted in bona fide national security concerns," according to an excerpt of the court document the company revealed in a blog post. TikTok is in talks to sell its operations in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries to Microsoft, Twitter, or another U.S. company. TikTok said it had 91.9 million monthly active users in June, up from 26.7 million in February 2019.

Tiktok to challenge Trump's executive order

TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, reportedly plans to sue the Trump administration as early as this week in response to President Trump's executive order that gave Americans 45 days to stop doing business with Tiktok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The order effectively sets a deadline for ByteDance, which the White House fears is harboring U.S. user data that it could hand over to Beijing, to sell the app to an American company. A TikTok spokesperson told CNBC the suit was launched to ensure "that our company and users are treated fairly." Microsoft and Oracle are both in talks with ByteDance about a potential sale, and the challenge to Trump's order reportedly will not affect those discussions.

Mnuchin says he and Pelosi have agreed on averting shutdown

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday reaffirmed that he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would hammer out a short-term spending bill to prevent a federal-government shutdown on Oct. 1. "The speaker and I have agreed we don't want to see a government shutdown," Mnuchin said on Fox News Sunday. Mnuchin said the two sides expected to pass a "continuing resolution" that would keep government agencies funded into December, preventing a shutdown before the November election. If Congress fails to act, agencies' funding will run out at midnight Sept. 30. Pushing debate on the final spending bill would let lawmakers return to work after the election and pass a longer-term law for the 2021 fiscal year in a lame-duck session before the new Congress convenes in January.

Mnuchin tells lawmakers coronavirus relief deal still possible

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told a House subcommittee on Tuesday that the White House and lawmakers should be able to reach a "bipartisan agreement" to provide a new round of spending to ease the burdens individuals, businesses, and local governments are shouldering in the coronavirus crisis. "We will continue to work with the Senate and House on a bipartisan basis for a phase four relief package," Mnuchin testified to the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. Mnuchin said he hoped the package would include money for schools and child care, as well as vaccines. Talks on the new stimulus stalled in early August, with Democrats pressing for $2.4 trillion, while Senate Republicans approved $1 trillion. Democrats reportedly have offered to lower their goal to $2.2 trillion.

Tropical storms Marco, Laura expected to strengthen into hurricanes as they near Gulf of Mexico

Tropical Storm Marco was nearing hurricane strength Sunday morning as it continued toward the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to make landfall on the Louisiana coast by Monday, and a hurricane watch has been issued for the New Orleans metro area. The Mississippi and Alabama coasts are also under tropical storm and hurricane watches. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura, which on Sunday was located about 40 miles northeast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after knocking out utilities in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, is headed on a path similar to Marco's. The two storms could potentially converge, which would mark the first time two hurricanes have appeared in the Gulf of Mexico simultaneously since at least 1900.

Tropical Storm Sally expected to hit Louisiana as hurricane

Tropical Storm Sally churned through the Gulf of Mexico early Monday with top sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, threatening to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane before hitting New Orleans or nearby areas in southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday. The storm comes just two weeks after Hurricane Laura hit the state's southwestern coast. Forecasters expected Sally to start hitting the Gulf Coast on Monday with heavy rains, powerful winds, and potentially life-threatening storm surge. Hurricane Paulette in the Atlantic began hitting Bermuda with heavy rains late Sunday. That storm has top sustained winds of 80 miles per hour. Forecasters said it could hit Bermuda with up to six inches of rain and "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions."

Twitter, Facebook flag Trump's call for people to vote by mail and in person

Twitter and Facebook on Thursday flagged morning tweets by President Trump repeating his call for Americans to vote twice, by mail and in person, to test anti-fraud measures in their states' election systems. Twitter said the remarks "violated the Twitter Rules about civic and election integrity." Facebook said it would not let people share a video of Trump making the remarks a day earlier in North Carolina, saying the call for illegally voting twice "violates our policies prohibiting voter fraud." White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a Thursday briefing that Trump "does not condone unlawful voting." Another White House spokesman said the media was taking Trump's remarks out of context, and that he was not actually urging people to vote twice when he said they should vote by mail, then go vote in person to see whether poll workers would let them.

Australian journalists leave China after diplomatic standoff

Two Australian journalists left China after being questioned by police and seeking refuge in Australian diplomatic missions in Beijing and Shanghai. Chinese officials reportedly told the reporters — Australian Broadcasting Corporation Beijing correspondent Bill Birtles and Australian Financial Review Shanghai correspondent Mike Smith — that they were "persons of interest in an investigation" into Cheng Lei, an Australian anchor for state broadcaster CGTN who was detained by police in China last week. Beijing has not announced charges against Cheng, but Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said she is "suspected of engaging in criminal activities endangering China's national security." Australia now is without journalists in China for the first time in nearly five decades.

2 L.A. County deputies shot while sitting in patrol car

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies — a 31-year-old female and a 24-year-old male — were shot Saturday night while sitting in their patrol vehicle in Compton, the department tweeted. Both deputies were left in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds and underwent surgery at a hospital in Lynwood. "They are both still fighting for their lives," the department said in a tweet. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Capt. Kent Wegener said during a briefing that the shooting took place at 7 p.m. local time. Wegener said the suspect approached the vehicle from behind, walked along the passenger side of the car, and shot multiple times, hitting both deputies. A video released by LASD appears to show the incident, which ended with the suspect running away. The search for the shooter, for whom investigators only have a "very generic description," is still ongoing.

Mulan and Tenet to test future of pandemic debuts this weekend

Two major movies that were repeatedly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic have both made their debuts in the United States on a key weekend for the entertainment industry. Tenet, the first major blockbuster film to be released during the pandemic, debuted in the U.S. on Thursday in the 75 percent of movie theaters that have reopened, though it's unclear how willing American audiences will be to return. Mulan, meanwhile, debuted on Disney+ on Friday for $30 after Disney skipped a U.S. theatrical release due to the pandemic. Experts have their eye on how each film performs, which could determine whether movies scheduled for the coming months are either released into theaters, released at home, or delayed into 2021.

2 polls show Biden with solid but narrowing lead over Trump

Two reputable national polls released Wednesday suggest different trajectories for the presidential race, but agree on where it stands at the end of both main political conventions and at the start of the final sprint to Nov. 3. A poll from Grinnell College and Selzer & Co. shows Democrat Joe Biden with an 8-percentage-point national lead over President Trump, 49 percent to 41 percent — an improvement from Biden's 4-point lead in March. A Suffolk University/USA Today poll shows Biden up by 7 points, 50 percent to 43 percent, which is much narrower than his 12-point advantage in June. Biden holds a wide lead among moderates, independents, and suburban women, while Trump leads among white men without college degrees.

Typhoon Haishen hits South Korea, Japan

Typhoon Haishen hit South Korea's east coast on Monday a day after battering Japan's southern islands, where four people went missing when a mudslide hit the office of a construction firm. The storm, with top sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, knocked out power to more than 17,500 households on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, where it made landfall in the city of Ulsan. Haishen uprooted trees and caused landslides on Geoje Island, and left at least one person injured when a car overturned in high winds. Two nuclear reactors in the city of Gyeongju, about 235 miles southeast of Seoul, were shut down and train service was suspended.

Japan braces for forceful typhoon

Typhoon Haishen neared Japan's mainland Sunday, weakening somewhat as it shifted further west out to sea, but it reportedly remains a forceful storm, bringing with it heavy rain, storm surges, and triple-digit winds. Record rainfall is expected, and landslides and flooding remain threats. The typhoon was headed toward Japan's Kyushu region Sunday evening, and authorities have issued evacuation advisories for more than 7 million residents. After Japan, Haishen is expected to make landfall in South Korea on Monday, prompting the country to raise its typhoon warning to the highest level. The region just days ago experienced one of its strongest typhoons in years, when the storm Maysak hit.

Judge rejects Trump bid to block tax returns from New York prosecutors

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero dismissed a lawsuit filed by President Trump in a bid to block the release of his financial records to New York prosecutors and a grand jury. Trump's lawyers said a subpoena from Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance seeking Trump's tax records and other documents was too broad, but Marrero rejected that argument. "The court finds that the president has not sufficiently pled that the subpoena is overbroad or was issued in bad faith on this basis," the judge wrote in the ruling. Vance demanded the documents as part of an investigation into hush money payments made to two women who allege they had affairs with Trump, which he denies. The Supreme Court ruled last month that Trump is not immune from criminal subpoenas, as his legal team has claimed. Trump's lawyers are appealing the Thursday ruling.

Judge strikes down Pennsylvania governor's coronavirus restrictions

U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV on Monday struck down pandemic restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, ruling that they were overreaching, arbitrary, and unconstitutional. Courts upheld the Wolf administration's initial lockdown that aimed to curb infections early in the coronavirus crisis. Wolf lifted most of those, but during the renewed surge in cases over the summer Wolf's administration imposed new restrictions on bars, restaurants, and large outdoor gatherings. Stickman, who was appointed by President Trump, said he recognized that Wolf's actions "were undertaken with the good intention of addressing a public health emergency, but even in an emergency, the authority of government is not unfettered."

Postmaster tells lawmakers cost-cutting will resume after election

U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy told lawmakers on Monday that cost-cutting changes blamed for delivery delays would not cause mail-in ballots to go uncounted in November, when up to half of voters are expected to vote by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic. DeJoy has halted the changes until after the election, but he said during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the slowdown that he would resume some of the measures after the election. DeJoy defended his leadership, saying that he would resume a push to improve on-time deliveries that he halted after facing a backlash from critics who saw the slowdown as an extension of President Trump's attacks on mail-in voting. Democrats released Postal Service documents showing an 8 percent slowdown in first-class mail.

Federal debt to exceed size of economy for 1st time since WWII

U.S. government debt will exceed the size of the economy in the 2021 federal fiscal year for the first time since World War II, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. The federal debt hit 98 percent of the nation's gross domestic product in the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, due to the government's massive coronavirus relief spending. The borrowing surge has not panicked investors, who have continued to buy U.S. Treasury assets as a safe alternative to volatile stocks during the pandemic. "We thought we had a full 10 years before reaching this unfortunate milestone, but the virus wiped out a decade of fiscal space in just a few months," said Michael Peterson, head of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a nonpartisan organization focused on the country's long-term fiscal challenges.

Wisconsin's governor asks Trump not to visit as protests continue

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) on Sunday urged President Trump to "reconsider" his plan to visit the city of Kenosha as protests continue over the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer. Evers told Trump in a letter that he was concerned Trump's presence, coming a week after two people were fatally shot during a protest, "will only hinder our healing" and "delay our work to overcome division and move forward together." The White House said Trump planned to visit Kenosha on Tuesday as scheduled, despite the governor's plea. Wisconsin's lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes also said Trump should not come, claiming Republicans "centered an entire convention around creating more animosity and creating more division around what's going on in Kenosha."

Several boats sink during Trump parade, no injuries reported

everal boats sank on Lake Travis near Austin, Texas, on Saturday, authorities said. The vessels were out on the lake for an event billed as a "Trump Boat Parade" in which boaters displayed their support for President Trump. The Travis County Sheriff's Office confirmed they responded to "multiple distress calls" on the lake, adding that "a few boats have sunk." There were no injuries or medical emergencies. Audio recordings suggest "very rough" conditions preceded the incident and at least three boats sunk in the span of 30 minutes. The sheriff's office said it remains unclear how many boats went under, how many were towed, and how many people needed rescuing because other boaters on the lake helped out before first responders arrived.

Harris predicts scientists, health experts won't have last word on vaccine efficacy

n an interview with CNN's Dana Bash that's set to air Sunday, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, was asked if she would receive a coronavirus vaccine approved before the November election. Harris responded by saying she "would not trust Donald Trump and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he's talking about." The senator added that she doesn't think scientists and public health experts will have the last word on a vaccine's efficacy. "If past is prologue than they will not, they'll be muzzled, they'll be suppressed, they will be sidelined," she said. "Because [Trump's] looking at an election coming up in less than 60 days and he's grasping to get whatever he can to pretend he has been a leader on this issue when he is not."

Fauci rejects herd immunity strategy considered by White House

r. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday pushed back against the idea the U.S. should pursue herd immunity against COVID-19. After neuroradiologist Scott Atlas, a top medical adviser to President Trump with no background in epidemiology, reportedly suggested the Trump administration should embrace the controversial theory of herd immunity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts pointed out the drawbacks. Some research has suggested reaching herd immunity would require allowing millions of infections and thousands more deaths, though other data points to a lower threshold. Either way, "we're not there yet," Fauci said. "That's not a fundamental strategy that we're using. The fundamental strategy ... is to try to prevent as many infections as you possibly can" by identifying a case, isolating the person who has it, and contact tracing.