| Spurred by gun violence, Amy O'Rourke will make solo campaign trail debut Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:00 AM PDT  Amy O'Rourke, wife of presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, will step out on the campaign trail solo after previously avoiding the spotlight.
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| Hurricane Dorian: ‘Extremely dangerous’ storm kills five in Bahamas as Donald Trump plays golf Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:38 AM PDT  Five people have been killed by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, the nation's prime minister has revealed, as Donald Trump spent part of the day playing golf.As the Category 4 storm pummelled the Bahamas with 233kph (145mph) winds, triggering huge damage and massive flooding, Hubert Minnis said at least five people had been killed and that more than 20 had been injured.
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| A Rift Reportedly Opens Between Hong Kong Prosecutors and Police as Protests Continue Unabated Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:47 AM PDT  The head of the Hong Kong Court Prosecutors Association accuses police of lying, government funded broadcaster says
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| Cancer overtakes heart disease as biggest rich-world killer Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:04 AM PDT  Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in wealthy countries and could become the world's biggest killer within just a few decades if current trends persist, researchers said on Tuesday. Publishing the findings of two large studies in The Lancet medical journal, the scientists said they showed evidence of a new global "epidemiologic transition" between different types of chronic disease. While cardiovascular disease remains, for now, the leading cause of mortality worldwide among middle-aged adults - accounting for 40% of all deaths - that is no longer the case in high-income countries, where cancer now kills twice as many people as heart disease, the findings showed.
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| Renewing or applying for airport fast pass Global Entry? Brace for lengthy delays Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:53 PM PDT ![Renewing or applying for airport fast pass Global Entry? Brace for lengthy delays]( "Renewing or applying for airport fast pass Global Entry? Brace for lengthy delays") The Global Entry trusted traveler program has been plagued by lengthy application delays. Some travelers report over 100 days to renew.
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| Venezuela's Guaido in FARC pledge to Bogota Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:57 AM PDT  Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday offered to help neighboring Colombia track down dissident FARC rebels after Bogota accused President Nicolas Maduro of giving them a safe haven. "We are going to collaborate with the Colombian government on intelligence activities, and the detection of these groups that are operating irregularly," Guaido told reporters in Caracas. Colombia's right-wing President Ivan Duque has pledged to hunt down dissident FARC leaders who last week formally rejected a 2016 peace deal and announced a return to arms.
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| Former Navy SEAL enters Yale as a 52-year-old freshman Posted: 03 Sep 2019 03:33 AM PDT  Former Navy SEAL James Hatch says heading to class as a freshman at Yale University is just about as nerve-wracking as preparing for the uncertainty of combat. At 52 years old, Hatch does not fit the profile of the traditional Yale freshman.
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| Duke of Sussex says private jet use essential for his family's safety Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:58 AM PDT  The Duke of Sussex has defended his use of private jets, saying the "unique circumstances" of his family's safety made it sometimes essential and promising to "balance out the impact that I have". The Duke, who spoke as he launched an eco-tourism initiative in Amsterdam, insisted he would never choose to fly privately if there were other options and admitted "we can all do better" when it comes to sustainable travel. Saying "99 per cent" of his flights were commercial, he told an audience he had always offset his carbon footprint but noted that, when it comes to the "alarming" threats to the planet, "no-one is perfect" in their actions. The Duke flew commercially to Amsterdam to launch Travalyst, a new collaboration between companies Booking.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor and VISA to find solutions to the threats facing the planet as a result of the growing tourism industry. Asked directly about his own travel choices as he hosted a Q&A;, the Duke said: "I came here [to Amsterdam] on commercial. "I spend 99 per cent of my life travelling the world by commercial. "Occasionally there needs to be an opportunity based on unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe. "It's genuinely as simple as that. But as I said in my speech, it is about balance. The Duke of Sussex arriving in Amsterdam Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA "If I have to do that - and it's not a decision I would want to take but if I have to do that - then I will ensure, as I have done previously and will continue to ensure that I do, is to balance out the impact that I have. "I've always offset my CO2. In my mind it's the right thing to do. We need to make it cool. It can't just be a ticking-the-box exercise. "Somehow we need to connect people to where this money is actually going and the moment you have that connection, feel you have a bigger connection in life and you can actually see the difference that you're making, then I think that's acceptable." Earlier in the Q&A;, the Duke had raised the issue himself by asking the panel: "Is the solution to sustainable aviation not encouraging people to fly less often?" Jane Sun, CEO of Ctrip, replied that the solution lies in "investing in technology" to improve fuel efficiency and make plane travel time shorter and less environmentally damaging. In a speech, the Duke outlined his hopes that the public will soon be able to select "sustainable" travel options as a default, allowing developing countries to benefit directly from tourism and halt the destruction caused by too many visitors. Prince Harry hosts a Q&A; in Amsterdam Credit: Getty The result of two years of private meetings, the Travalyst collaboration will announce the results of its research and the tangible projects inspired by it over the coming months. The launch, at the A'dam Tower, comes just weeks after the Duke faced accusations of hypocrisy for a string of overseas trips by private jets this summer which appeared to be in contrast to his public words on the environment. One trip allegedly saw him fly to Sicily to deliver a barefoot speech about the environment to billionaires and celebrities at Google Camp, and he also took holidays to Ibiza and Nice with his wife and son. While other members of the Royal Family also fly by private charter, the Sussexes travel plans became a worldwide talking point after celebrities including Sir Elton John cited threats to their safety. In the same month, the Cambridges were photographed flying with members of the public from Norfolk to Scotland with their three small children on budget airline FlyBe. The Duke said: "Sometimes the scale of the conservation crisis feels overwhelming and that individual actions can't make a difference. "I've certainly felt that – but I've learned that we cannot dismiss the idea of trying to do something, just because we can't do everything. "We can all do better. And while no one is perfect, we are all responsible for our own individual impact; the question is what we do to balance it out." Prince Harry launches Travalyst Credit: PA The Duke, who believes the wider benefits of travel outweigh calls from the green lobby to cut down on flying altogether, now hopes companies can find a way to make eco-friendly option the default for members of the public at all price points. Opening his remarks by conceding he is "not an expert", he said his own travel as a working royal had "given me a unique perspective on the issues the world faces, and an opportunity to meet a diverse range of communities— to hear them describe their problems as well as their ideas for solutions". Saying he had been particularly struck by one small boy in the Caribbean who told him: "Because of your country, my country's coral reef is dying", he said: "These human-caused challenges often need a giant system shift to make a significant enough impact. "And that is what this partnership is here to try and do. But just because it is such a massive undertaking, doesn't mean we can't all play our part." Prince Harry speaks to travel industry experts in Amsterdam Credit: Getty Of his hopes for encouraging change, he said people are now "speaking up" in the hopes of making their own travel more sustainable but can be left overwhelmed by the scale of the problem. "They want to see the world, but they also want to know that with all the good that they take home - souvenirs, memories, photos- that they leave just as much good behind," he said. "They want a paradigm shift and I believe one is coming. I believe we can—and we must—find new ways to minimise the dangers and maximise the opportunities of tourism. "More and more people will travel, and we can't stop that, nor would we want to, because it truly opens our minds and broadens our horizons. "We seek to appreciate what is different… and to find what connects us. "Travel expands our understanding of the world, it breaks down barriers and preconceptions, it also offers us an escape. "It can also deepen our sense of obligation to this borrowed place we call home." The Duke's speech echoes much of what his father, the Prince of Wales, has warned of for years, referencing the "alarming" lack of "symbiosis or connection" between community, the environment and its visiting tourists. In particular, he said, he hopes to find a way for developing communities to benefit from the tourist industries they serve. A spokesman said Travalyst had offset the environmental costs for the event, including flights for all attendees.
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| Revealed: How a secret Dutch mole aided the U.S.-Israeli Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:00 AM PDT  For years, an enduring mystery has surrounded the Stuxnet virus attack that targeted Iran's nuclear program: How did the U.S. and Israel get their malware onto computer systems at the highly secured uranium-enrichment plant?
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| Tropical Storm Fernand forms in Gulf as it moves toward Mexico Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:04 AM PDT  The low spinning in the Gulf near Mexico has intensified into a tropical storm. It is expected to move into Mexico Wednesday evening.
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| Full U.S. pullout from Afghanistan could ignite 'total civil war': ex-U.S. envoys Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:16 AM PDT  Nine former U.S. ambassadors on Tuesday warned that Afghanistan could collapse in a "total civil war" if President Donald Trump withdraws all U.S. forces before the Kabul government and the Taliban conclude a peace settlement. The nine, including five former ambassadors to Kabul, a former special envoy to Afghanistan and a former deputy secretary of State, issued their warning a day after U.S. chief negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad announced a draft accord with the Taliban for an initial drawdown of nearly 5,000 U.S. troops.
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| 7 fatally shot, 34 wounded in Chicago during Labor Day weekend gun violence Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:11 PM PDT  Gun violence over the Labor Day weekend has left seven people dead and another 34 wounded in Chicago.
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| Hurricane Dorian has killed at least 5 people in the Bahamas, including an 8-year-old boy who reportedly drowned Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:10 AM PDT  Hurricane Dorian pummeled the Bahamas this weekend, destroying houses and creating a storm surge of up to 23 feet.
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| South Korean reporters grill minister nominee for 11 hours Posted: 03 Sep 2019 03:31 AM PDT  South Korean reporters have grilled President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister for 11 hours over suspected ethical lapses surrounding his family that have triggered an intense political row and cut into Moon's popularity ratings. At a news conference that continued until the early hours of Tuesday, Cho Kuk, a law professor and Moon's former secretary for civil affairs, denied allegations that his daughter received special treatment in her admissions to a top university in Seoul and a medical school in Busan. Cho's news conference at the National Assembly in Seoul was abruptly arranged after his parliamentary confirmation hearing set for Monday and Tuesday fell through amid political bickering between ruling and opposition parties.
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| Iran oil tanker at centre of diplomatic row with UK 'goes dark' off Syria after being released by Gibraltar Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:48 AM PDT  The tanker at the centre of a diplomatic row between Iran and Britain "went dark" yesterday night off the coast of Syria, where it is suspected she may be delivering a controversial cargo of Iranian crude oil. The Adrian Darya 1, formally named Grace 1, would be doing so in breach of an agreement made to secure its release and threatens to become a major political embarrassment for the UK. The vessel was detained by British Royal Marine commandos off Gibraltar on July 4 as it was believed to be en route to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. Two weeks later, Iran in retaliation seized British-flagged Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz leading into the Gulf. Gibraltar released the Adrian Darya on August 15 after receiving formal written assurances from Tehran that the ship would not discharge its 2.1 million barrels of oil in Syria. The Stena has not been released. An aerial view shows a speedboat of Iran's Revolutionary Guard moving around the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which was seized in the Strait of Hormuz Credit: AP Iran changed the Grace 1's name and sold the oil, though it did not disclose the buyer. Since then it has been sailing around the Mediterranean with its load, continually changing its destination port. The US Treasury Department blacklisted the tanker on Friday, citing intelligence it was planning to deliver its crude to Syria. US Coast Guardsmen with Maritime Security Response Team East, Advanced Interdiction Team Detachment 1, during a training exercise in the Gulf Credit: Reuters Washington warned any state against assisting the ship, saying it would consider that support for a terrorist organisation, namely, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, prompting Greece to deny the Adrian permission to dock. According to TankerTrackers.com, which uses satellite tracking to record shipping movements, the vessel sent its last signal giving its position in international waters heading north towards Syria at 5.53pm local time on Monday. "It's now safe to assume she's in Syria's territorial waters," TankerTrackers.com tweeted. It is now thought to be sitting off the coast of Tartus awaiting a ship-to-ship transfer via one of a handful of Iranian-linked tankers in the region, also currently with no Automatic Identification System signals active. It is not against international law for a ship to turn her AIS off, but it is often done to try to get around sanctions. Lloyd's List Intelligence suggested two possible smaller vessels that may be involved in any transfer. Silvia 1, an Iran-flagged tanker, turned off its transponder on August 29 having entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. While Stark I, a 159,681 dwt, Iran-flagged crude tanker, took a similar route, also dropping off communication late on August 30. "The fact that Adrian Darya 1 is currently skirting the Syrian coast with its AIS offline, awaiting what the US intelligence services expect to be an imminent ship-to-ship transfer, which will ultimately see its cargo end up in Syria, is politically embarrassing for almost everyone except Iran," said Richard Meade, managing editor of Lloyd's List Intelligence. View of the Iranian oil tanker, formerly named Grace 1, anchored off Gibraltar Credit: REX The oil delivery could undermine European efforts to broker US-Iran talks. The UK, which has been pulled in opposing directions by European and American allies, has been trying to keep a diplomatic track with Tehran despite rising tensions. President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the nuclear deal with Tehran last year, leaving EU signatories scrambling to keep it alive. An Iranian government spokesman said on Tuesday it will "take a strong step" away from its 2015 nuclear accord if Europe cannot offer the country new terms by a deadline at the end of this week, as top Iranian diplomats travelled to France and Russia for last-minute talks. Should the Adrian offload as expected, it will raise questions as to whether the Islamic republic is acting in good faith.
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| Huawei Accuses U.S. of Harassing Workers, Attacking Network Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:40 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world embroiled in trade wars. Sign up here. Huawei Technologies Co. lashed out at the U.S. government Tuesday, accusing Washington of orchestrating a campaign to intimidate its employees and launching cyber-attacks to infiltrate its internal network.China's largest technology company claimed the American government had instructed law enforcement agencies to threaten and attempt to manipulate its employees. Huawei also accused the U.S. of launching attacks against its networks, the company said in a statement without saying how it obtained that information.The accusations ratchet up tensions between Huawei and the Trump administration, which has accused the networking giant of aiding Beijing in espionage and labeled it a national security risk. Washington has blacklisted the Chinese company, curbing the sales of the technology Huawei needs to make phones and telecommunications equipment."It has been using every tool at its disposal – including both judicial and administrative powers, as well as a host of other unscrupulous means – to disrupt the normal business operations of Huawei and its partners," the company said. Other measures included "instructing law enforcement to threaten, menace, coerce, entice, and incite both current and former Huawei employees to turn against the company and work for them."Representatives for the U.S. National Security Council didn't immediately respond to requests for comment outside of normal hours.Read more: Huawei Founder Sees 'Live or Die Moment' From U.S. UncertaintyHuawei has become a focal point for U.S.-Chinese tensions, regarded by some as a bargaining chip in sensitive trade negotiations. The company is grappling with an existential threat after Washington blocked it from purchasing American technology, cutting off vital supplies from Qualcomm Inc. chipsets to Google's Android operating software. The U.S. has also urged countries and companies to reject Huawei technology in their next generation of wireless networks, telling allies it could put their citizens' data at risk of espionage.Those efforts squeezed a company that had been on the cusp of dominating fifth-generation networking, the technology that will underpin future modern economies. Billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei warned in an internal memo in August his company faced a "live or die moment."The smartphone maker's statement came in response to an Aug. 30 Wall Street Journal report, which cited unidentified sources as saying the Justice Department was investigating the alleged theft of patents by Huawei. The company again denied it had ever stolen technology, then launched into a litany of accusations against the Trump administration itself. Among the claims it listed: that the U.S. was detaining shipments, denying visas, sending federal agents to employees' homes and even impersonating Huawei staff to entrap legitimate workers."We strongly condemn the malign, concerted effort by the U.S. government to discredit Huawei and curb its leadership position in the industry," the company said. "No company becomes a global leader in their field through theft."(Updates with details in Huawei's statement from the second paragraph)\--With assistance from Justin Sink.To contact the reporter on this story: Edwin Chan in Hong Kong at echan273@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net, Colum MurphyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Grand Bahama waterlogged in Hurricane Dorian before and after satellite photos Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:24 PM PDT  Next-generation satellite technology capable of penetrating cloud cover shows widespread flooding from slow-moving Hurricane Dorian.
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| North Carolina court strikes down state legislative map as unconstitutional gerrymander Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:51 PM PDT ![North Carolina court strikes down state legislative map as unconstitutional gerrymander]( "North Carolina court strikes down state legislative map as unconstitutional gerrymander") A three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court said the state Senate and state House district lines discriminated against Democratic voters in violation of the state constitution's free elections, equal protection and free speech clauses. The decision is a victory for election reform advocates considering legal challenges to partisan gerrymandering in state courts despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year blocking such cases in federal courts. State Senate Leader Phil Berger, a Republican, criticized the case as an attempt to "game" the redistricting process but signaled lawmakers would not appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.
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| ‘We are one’: Community vows to heal as police investigate motive for West Texas shootings Posted: 02 Sep 2019 04:57 PM PDT  The West Texas rampage left seven people dead and 25 people injured, including a 17-month-old girl who suffered major facial injuries but survived.
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| Mexican official denies vigilante movement has reignited Posted: 02 Sep 2019 06:57 PM PDT  State and local officials in western Mexico disputed Monday whether the old vigilante "self-defense" movement has re-awakened, or whether recent confrontations are just turf battles between gangs. The 2013-2014 vigilante movement took control of large swaths of western Michoacan state, purportedly to expel the old Knights Templar drug cartel. Over the weekend, vigilantes in the town of Tepalcatepec said they had fought off a massive attack by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and posted videos showing hundreds of purported vigilante fighters and shot-up pickup trucks surrounded by bodies.
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| California: shock and grief after at least 25 killed in boat fire off Santa Cruz Island Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:23 PM PDT  * Nine people still missing after fire broke out on diving tour boat * Police say DNA testing required to identify some of the victimsA memorial at Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor. Diving experts said this kind of fire appeared to be unprecedented. Photograph: Ringo Chiu/Zuma/Rex/ShutterstockA boat fire off Santa Cruz Island that left 25 people dead and nine missing sent shockwaves throughout the diving community and across California. Residents and divers said a tragedy of such scale seemed unimaginable.The diving tour boat erupted in flames along the coast of Santa Barbara at around 3.15am on Monday and ultimately sank. Five crew members escaped and were rescued but 33 passengers and another crew member were found dead or were still missing, with little hope of good news."I'm speechless. We are all thinking that could've been us," said Ralph Clevenger, a Santa Barbara photographer and diver who has taken photos for Truth Aquatics, the local company that owns the 75ft boat."I was trying to recall in the world an event of this scale in the industry. I can't think of anything. The death toll is just unheard of. This is a complete shock."Law enforcement officials released minimal information, saying those killed came from across California and that DNA testing would likely be needed to identify some of the bodies.Nyx Cangemi, a US coast guard official, told the Guardian late on Monday authorities had recovered 20 bodies and five had been seen inside the boat but were not immediately reachable.The US Coast Guard on Tuesday suspended the search, after seven missions with helicopter crews over roughly 24 hours failed to detect signs of any additional people.It is presumed that the nine remaining people have also died, Capt Monica Rochester told reporters.Authorities said it was likely the passengers had all been asleep, in tight quarters below deck, when the disaster struck and that it appeared they became trapped by the fire. "This is probably the worst-case scenario," said the Santa Barbara county sheriff, Bill Brown.Of the 20 bodies that have been recovered and removed from the scene, there were 11 female victims and nine male victims, he said.One of the crew members who survived was the captain, the sheriff said. The victims included a 17-year-old and people in their 60s, and many were from the Santa Cruz and San Jose area in northern California, he said.Thirty families have been in contact with the sheriff's office, while relatives of four others have not yet connected with investigators.Family members identified one of the missing as Kristy Finstad, a 41-year-old marine biologist who was leading the three-day Labor Day weekend diving expedition on the boat, the Conception."She's so enthusiastic, and she shared that, and I always learned something from her," said Cathy Corbett, a longtime diver who has been on numerous Truth Aquatics trips led by Finstad. Corbett recalled meeting her for the first time about four years ago: "She had this smiley face and bright eyes … it was one of the best dive weekends I've ever had. It's just such a huge, profound loss in our diving community."Finstad was dedicated to teaching participants about science, she added: "Kristy took it to a whole different level."A couple who helped rescue survivors told reporters the crew members who escaped were injured and distraught. One talked about celebrating a 17-year-old girl's birthday hours before the fire.Pacific Collegiate School, a high school in Santa Cruz, said there were "students and parents" on board, but it has not said how many and has not released further details."This is such a small community, and I have relatives who dive," said Orlando Aldana, a 42-year-old Santa Barbara resident who feared he might have known some of the victims. As the search went on and the body count rose, he said he was relieved that he had not received any news about friends or family.But the number of casualties and the way they died was tough to process, said Aldana, who came to the Santa Barbara harbor with 34 candles."If the boat went up in flames, you'd think they would jump in the water," he said. "They must have been trapped. They couldn't get to the exit."At a makeshift memorial, Pedro Lopez, a pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Barbara, dropped off a bouquet of flowers. He said the deaths had been terrifying to many different communities."It's affecting all of southern California, and certainly the community of people who use the boats," said Lopez, a fisherman. "It hits close to home. A lot of people are worried."Next time he went out in a similar vessel, he said, he would think about the layout of a boat and how he would escape if he had to."I've never heard of anything like this happening," he said.Diving experts and participants in similar expeditions emphasized that this kind of fire appeared to be unprecedented.Clevenger, who had been on the Conception and knows Truth Aquatics' captains and its owner, Glen Fritzler, said crew members were well-trained professionals, some of the best in the business."They were incredibly serious about safety," he said. "The owner works on the boat personally and his crews are trained so well and very impressive. That's what makes this even more tragic."Investigators did not immediately share information about what might have caused the fire, but they said the boat was in compliance with all regulations and had received annual inspections.Gary Pilecki, a California diver whose scuba club has worked with Truth Aquatics for years, said he never had any doubts about safety."That's why we keep coming back every year," he said. "They have an excellent safety record."Pilecki said divers did not typically worry about fires and were more concerned with the potential for currents to sweep them out to sea, decompression sickness while diving and shipwrecks."Fires are the last thing on my mind on those boats," he said. "We have no idea how this could have happened."Corbett, a diver with 30 years experience who went on a Truth Aquatics trip earlier this year and was scheduled for another expedition this fall, said she thought of the company as the "pinnacle" of safety in the industry and said the crew operated as a "very well-oiled machine"."This was a catastrophic, extremely rare accident," she said, adding: "Divers have this common love of adventure, knowing it comes with some risk … This hits so very close to home for all of us."
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| 'Bring on Brexit' says French mayor in row over Royal Marines veteran who left rowing machine up Mont Blanc Posted: 03 Sep 2019 06:54 AM PDT  ARoyal Marines veteran who attempted to climb Mont Blanc with a rowing machine on his back for charity was forced to abandon the device less than 1,500 feet from the summit, prompting a row with the local French mayor. Matthew Paul Disney attempted to scale Western Europe's highest mountain, which stands at 4,809m (15,780ft) but had to turn back on Saturday morning at 4,362m due to bad weather. The charity stunt was in aid of raising funds for Rock 2 Recovery and RMA - The Royal Marines Charity. The fitness enthusiast and global adventurer from Lancashire, left the 26-kilogramme, 2.5-metre long unbalanced Concept2 rowing machine in an emergency hut near the top. Mr Disney, 36, said he was very disappointed not to have completed the ascent with the machine, saying the the main reason was poor visibility due to bad weather. He did, however, go on to reach the top without it. Shortly after descending, he said on Facebook he intended to go back up between September 12 and 30 to retrieve the rowing machine, reach the summit and return with the equipment. However, his unfinished bid prompted a furious response from Jean-Marc Peillex, mayor of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, which encompasses the French side of Europe's highest Alp. Matthew Paul Disney had intended to retrieve the rowing machine he left near the top of Mont Blanc but the mayor banned him Credit: Telegraph In an angry Facebook missive to Mr Disney, he wrote: "Can't wait for Brexit that you stay on your island [sic]." "I have received no apologies and even if it is for charity, it's an aberration, even more so for a soldier of her Majesty. Shameful", he later told The Daily Telegraph. The mayor said he had banned Mr Disney from going back up Mont Blanc to recover the rowing machine and would be sending a bill of €1,800 (£1,640) plus VAT to the British Embassy in Paris for the costs of his men bringing it down. Mr Disney said the mayor's Brexit comments were "very unprofessional, undiplomatic and could be seen as a mild form of racism". Jean-Marc Peillex, mayor of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, sent an angry message to RM Disney welcoming Brexit "I wouldn't litter anywhere let alone a mountain. This is my 13th country's highest mountain with a rowing machine and 21st without a rowing machine, so I have a lot of love and passion for mountains. I would never dream of littering or making a mockery of a mountain," he told the Telegraph. Earlier this summer, Mr Disney successfully climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon and the distance in-between with the Concept2 Rowing Machine on his back. Mr Disney posted a photo showing the rower neatly stored inside the hut. "As you can see in the photo, it is not litter, it is not on the top of the mountain. It is not taking up vital space," he said. Safety hut near the top of Mont Blanc where Royal Marines vet Matthew Paul Disney stored his rowing machine Credit: Telegraph He said could "understand the mayor's concern because there are a lot of foolish people". But he said, he had his climb rubber-stamped by gendarmes after showing them his "experience, skillset, my fitness level and my intention to raise awareness for two military charities, good causes for active and veterans on the brink of suicide." He questioned the decision by the gendarmes to bar him going back up to get the rowing machine as "they had allowed me to go up with it" beforehand after he showed them his plans. Mr Peillex responded: "He's not in his own home and he doesn't decide." This was just one of a string of cases of "disrespect" for the mountain, the mayor said, adding that a German climber forced his dog to the top at night this weekend after being ordered not to by police. The dog came back down alive but with "bloodied paws". The outspoken official has written to Emmanuel Macron, the French president, calling for him to pass new a new law next year to "punish all the loonies who break the rules" on the overcrowded peak, often leaving rubbish along the way. Earlier this year, two Swiss mountaineers landed a small plane less than 400 metres from the top of the famed mountain before heading for the summit with police in pursuit. The two climbers were equipped with ropes and crampons and had already started climbing towards the summit when they were intercepted by police and asked to turn back. Already threatened by global warming, such people were turning Mont Blanc into an "amusement park" where people expect to see "sea lions juggling with balls and pretty fireworks", the mayor warned. Local authorities tightened rules on ascending the "normal route" to the summit without booking at a refuge earlier this year saying overcrowding was increasing the risk of mortality.
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| The Electoral College isn't set in stone. Texas, Wisconsin could be next to switch sides. Posted: 03 Sep 2019 05:42 AM PDT  Even the safest Republican and Democratic states can change. We've seen dramatic reversals from California to West Virginia over the past 30 years.
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| Ford Recalls Pickup Trucks and SUVs for Seat Problem Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:56 AM PDT  Ford is recalling 483,325 vehicles in the U.S., 58,712 in Canada, and 8,149 in Mexico because the mechanism that controls how the front driver and/or passenger seatbacks recline may have been imp...
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| View Photos of 2020 BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:15 AM PDT |
| Be on your guard, Hong Kong activists tell Merkel before China trip Posted: 03 Sep 2019 03:41 PM PDT  Days before Angela Merkel leaves for a tricky visit to Beijing, prominent Hong Kong activists have written to the German Chancellor calling her to be guided by her memories of life in dictatorial East Germany in her dealings with Beijing. In an open letter to Merkel published in Wednesday's Bild newspaper, activists including Joshua Wong, head of the Demosisto pro-democracy movement, said Germany should be on its guard in business dealings with China. Hong Kong has been convulsed by months of unrest since its government announced attempts to make it easier to extradite suspects to China, a move seen as a prelude to bringing the pluralistic autonomous region more in line with the mainland.
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| The Latest: Dorian weakens to Category 3 hurricane Posted: 02 Sep 2019 11:20 PM PDT  Dorian has weakened to a Category 3 hurricane but continues to batter the Bahamas as it remains almost at a standstill. At 2:00 a.m. EDT Tuesday, the ferocious storm's center was about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Freeport Grand Bahama Island. The hurricane is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of West Palm Beach, Florida.
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| Student loans: Betsy DeVos rule change means college students must fight for loan forgiveness Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:11 AM PDT  DeVos thought it was too easy under Obama for students to get loan forgiveness if a college closed or if their degree didn't prepare them for a job.
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| Syrian pound at record low on black market: report Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:32 AM PDT  The value of the Syrian pound against the dollar has fallen sharply to its lowest rate in history, an economic publication said Tuesday. On the black market on Tuesday, the pound was trading at 650 against the dollar (715 to the euro). It's "the lowest in history", Jihad Yazigi, the editor-in-chief of the Syria Report economic publication, told AFP.
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| Five dead as mobs burn down shops in 'anti-foreigner' riots in Johannesburg Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:46 AM PDT  The death toll from sweeping anti-immigrant riots in Johannesburg suburbs rose to five on Tuesday as police attempted to restore order with rubber bullets. Large sections of Africa's largest and wealthiest city were deserted as tens of thousands of workers, commuters and school children stayed home to avoid violence directed at 'foreigners' from other parts of Africa. Rocks, bricks and rubber bullets lay strewn across the empty streets of Alexandra after mobs plundered the township overnight, burning and looting shops in their path. Police presence remained heavy last night after officers fired rubber bullets to disperse the last of the crowds. Many shops owned by 'foreigners' were looted on a second night of urban rioting where hundreds of people marched through the streets on Monday in an unusually large expression of anti-foreigner sentiment. A group of Zulu men residing at the Jeppe Hostel shout and wave stick during a speech given by the Police Minister General Bheki Cele in JeppesTown Credit: GUILLEM SARTORIO/AFP Such violence breaks out sporadically in South Africa where many locals blame immigrants for high unemployment, particularly in manual labour. "They beat up everyone they could see, they didn't check to see who owned the shops, whether it was a foreigner or a South African shop," said a Zimbabwe carpenter who asked not to be named. Another migrant, reluctant to say where he came from, who lives in shabby Malvern suburb close to the city centre, said: "The people are going for Nigerians as they do drugs." At least five people died, according to authorities, and about 100 were arrested since the word went around last weekend that there would be a purge on migrants this week. At least two South Africans were killed on Tuesday in a small town south of Johannesburg. A foreign national, believed to be a Somalian shopkeeper, was arrested with an unlicensed gun, according to sources close to the South African police. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday condemned the wave of xenophobic violence. Attacks on businesses run by "foreign nationals is something totally unacceptable, something that we cannot allow to happen in South Africa," Ramaphosa said in a video address diffused on Twitter. "I want it to stop immediately," said Ramaphosa, adding that there was "no justification" for the violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa said he went to the "hostels" to speak to people about the attacks. The word hostels implies to many South Africans that the people he spoke to were Zulus - who still live in impoverished ghettoes formed during South Africa's mining boom. "This violence is now mutating and taking different forms that represent themselves in a way that we do not want to see in South Africa, where communities seem to be attacking one another. We want this to stop immediately," he said. While most illegal foreigners are from African countries, such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Burundi, there is a steady flow of illegal nationals from Pakistan who mostly enter the country from Mozambique. South African truckers also started a nation-wide strike on Sunday to protest against the employment of foreign drivers. They staged road blockades and torched foreign-driven vehicles in various parts of the country on Monday. Police say about 200 long-haul drivers were injured or killed on the 350 mile highway between Johannesburg and port city Durban last year, while more than 2000 trucks were attacked. Bishop Paul Verryn, who allowed thousands of Zimbabwe refugees to live for more than five years in Johannesburg's Central Methodist Church, said he was approached by a group of foreign long-haul truck drivers last Saturday: "Somehow they knew violence was coming and came to tell me of their fears."
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| Parliament Debates Plan to Block No-Deal Split: Brexit Update Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:25 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Follow @Brexit, sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, and tell us your Brexit story. Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his House of Commons majority as he faces a showdown with members of his Conservative Party that will determine the U.K.'s exit from the European Union and the length of his premiership.Johnson has vowed to leave the bloc on Oct. 31, but his political enemies are fighting to stop him from doing so without a divorce deal. Tonight is the first of a series of key votes in Parliament.Key Developments:MP Phillip Lee quit Tory party and joined Liberal Democrats, removing Johnson's majorityPound recovered losses after defection, having fallen below $1.20 for first time since 2017 earlierJohnson's ultimatum: back down or snap election on Oct. 14Vote in Commons expected around 10 p.m. in London on proposal for MPs to take control of parliamentary businessRees-Mogg Pits Parliament Against People (8 p.m.)Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg gave a lengthy defense of the government's position. He portrayed the ruling Conservatives as being on the side of the 17.4 million voters who opted to leave the EU in 2016.Rees-Mogg accused Oliver Letwin -- the Tory former cabinet minister who sponsored Tuesday's debate, of "stunning arrogance" for his assertion that the U.K.'s "sovereign Parliament of this country clearly deserves an opportunity to be able to decide whether it will accept a policy of no-deal exit."Some 40 minutes after he first stood up, Rees-Mogg wound up concluding that Parliament is setting "itself against the people.""Sovereignty comes from the people to Parliament," he said. "It does not come to Parliament out of a void. If Parliament tries to challenge the people, this stretches the elastic of our constitution near to breaking point."Tory Letwin Calls Johnson Strategy 'Irresponsible' (7:05 p.m.)Former Conservative cabinet minister Oliver Letwin said Boris Johnson's strategy on Brexit is "irresponsible," as he outlined four reasons why MPs should vote to seize control of the order paper in order to pass legislation to stave off a no-deal departure from the European Union.They are:The government hasn't produced a "viable" proposal for an alternative Brexit deal, making the likelihood "slight" he'll secure a revised offer from the EUThis is the last week Parliament can block a no-deal Brexit, because if it waits until Oct. 14 following Johnson's planned suspension, there won't be time to pass legislation and see it play out through any legal challenges from the governmentWithout a new deal or a court order for Johnson to delay Brexit, he'll lead the country into a no-deal BrexitThe government's "intentional willingness to lead the country into a no-deal exit is a threat to our country"Speaker Bercow Grants Emergency Brexit Debate (6:40 p.m.)As expected, Commons Speaker John Bercow said the emergency debate on whether to give rank and file lawmakers control of Parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday will go ahead. It will last for up to three hours if it starts before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, with a vote expected around 10 p.m. This is the first stage in MPs' attempts to delay Brexit and stop a no-deal split.All Tories Who Don't Back Govt to Be Expelled (5.30 p.m.)Johnson's spokesman told reporters that every Conservative MP who doesn't vote with the government tonight -- even those who abstain -- will be expelled from the party. Asked if the same rule would apply next month if the prime minister does get a deal, and some Tory Brexiteers rebel because they would prefer a no-deal split from the EU, the spokesman was less clear.Asked the same question in Parliament, Johnson offered this answer: "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," an old expression meaning they would be treated the same. That suggests that even without an election, the number of Conservative MPs could shrink considerably before Nov. 1.Gove Says No-Deal Plans Are for Worst-Case (5:10 p.m.)Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, who is in charge of no-deal Brexit planning, said the government's preparations are designed to mitigate risks, meet "significant challenges" and ensure the U.K. is ready for the eventuality.Addressing the House of Commons, he said that the planning -- under the codename "operation yellowhammer" represents preparations for a "reasonable worst-case scenario" and doesn't represent a "base case" or a "prediction."A leaked Operation Yellowhammer document last month suggested Britain faces shortages of fuel, food and medicine as well as job losses and disruption at its ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit.Lee Predicts More Tory MPs Will Defect (4:40 p.m.)Phillip Lee, whose defection to the Liberal Democrats cost Johnson his working majority, cited bullying from Johnson's advisers as one of his reasons for quitting. But he said the "straw that broke the camel's back" was Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg's dismissive treatment of a doctor concerned about patient mortality after a no-deal Brexit during a radio phone-in on Monday."I don't expect to be the last person to make this decision," Lee, a doctor himself, told Sky News. "I haven't left my party. My party has left me."Johnson Pledges to Obey Law (4:35 p.m.)Boris Johnson said the government "will of course uphold the constitution and obey the law." He was answering a question from Labour lawmaker Angela Eagle, who asked "if a bill passes which makes it illegal to leave without a deal, will he and his government abide by the rule of law?"Moments later, Joanna Cherry of the Scottish National Party asked for Johnson's word that he would respect legislation passed by the House of Commons and court decisions in England and Scotland. He replied by referring her to the answer he gave Eagle.How Much Does Lee's Defection Matter? (4.30 p.m.)Does it matter that Johnson no longer has a majority? Conservative whips must have been counting Phillip Lee as a lost cause for months, and the government was already unable to pass anything controversial.But losing an MP adds to the sense of chaos around the government this week. All political parties are coalitions of different factions, and Lee isn't likely to be the last departure this week.With Johnson promising to expel any Tory who votes against him tonight, he seems on course to lose from the party not only two former Conservative chancellors of the exchequer but Winston Churchill's grandson, Nicholas Soames.It's a clear sign that Johnson's honeymoon is over. He is, like Theresa May before him, hamstrung by Parliament.Hammond Asks Johnson to Publish Plans (4.15 p.m.)Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond asked Johnson to publish his alternative Brexit proposals before tonight's vote, to reassure Tory MPs that he has a plan.Johnson replied that he'd told Hammond privately this morning that there was no point in publishing plans as long as there was a danger of the government's negotiating stance being undermined by Parliament."As long as this house is proposing motions such as the ones tonight and tomorrow, I am afraid we have no chance of getting progress from our EU friends," Johnson told the House of Commons. "We are working flat out to secure it, but the measures, if passed tonight, are making the prospects of success less likely."Johnson Accuses Rebels of Adding to Delay (4:05 p.m.)Johnson accused Corbyn -- and Tory rebels -- of holding up Brexit and weakening the hand of U.K. negotiators by seeking to block a no-deal Brexit.Corbyn is "an agent of further delay, further confusion, further uncertainty for business in this country," Johnson said. "What this bill would mean is that unless we agree to the terms" of the EU "they'd be able to keep us in as long as they want and on their terms."Pound Recovers After Johnson Loses Majority (4 p.m.)The pound reversed earlier losses to reach the day's high as the U.K. Government lost its majority in Parliament. This is seen as reducing the chances of a no-deal Brexit by giving Johnson less room to maneuver.Show Us No-Deal Analysis, Corbyn Demands (3:50 p.m.)Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked Johnson to publish the government's analysis of its no-deal Brexit preparations."It's becoming increasingly clear that this government only has one objective - no-deal," he told the House of Commons, accusing Johnson's administration of "cowardice" and said no-deal puts the U.K. "at the mercy of Donald Trump" for a trade deal.Johnson to Speak With EU, Ireland About Border (3:45 p.m.)Johnson told the House of Commons that "there is a solution" to the Irish border conundrum and that he'll be raising possible ways through the impasse with the EU "shortly" and with his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Monday."There are practical arrangements that we can find which avoid anyone putting infrastructure on the Irish border," Johnson said. "These have been well worked out and involve measures such as trusted trader schemes, transit provisions, frontier zones, reduced bureaucracy for small and local traders and many others."The premier said he recognizes that agri-foods are "increasingly managed on a common basis across the island of Ireland." He said he's prepared to find a way forward that recognize that reality "provided it clearly enjoys the consent of all parties and institutions with an interest.""It is simply wrong to say that we are not making progress," he said. "There is a lot to do in the coming days but things are moving."The Math of Johnson's Majority (3:40 p.m.)Lee's defection means there are now 310 Conservatives, along with 10 members of the Democratic Unionist Party, who support the government: 320 MPs.Arrayed against them are 322 MPs from other parties. But two Labour MPs and one Tory serve as deputy speakers, and don't vote. That leaves 319 voting MPs supporting the government, and 320 MPs on the opposite benches.But it doesn't mean Johnson's government falls. There are 20 independent MPs, many of them uncomfortable with the idea of a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn. So though they oppose Johnson, they may well not act on it.Johnson Loses Majority After Lee Defects (3:35 p.m.)Johnson suffered another blow as Phillip Lee, an anti-Brexit Conservative, defected to the Liberal Democrats. Even with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, Johnson no longer has a Parliamentary majority.Signs Some Rebels Are Willing To Be Won Over (3:15 p.m.)Johnson has been holding meetings with potential rebels and there are signs that some are looking for reasons to back the government.One said privately that if the prime minister is willing to assure them that he is genuinely seeking a Brexit deal, then he would believe him.Another said there are still moves the government could make to win back support including publishing more detail about its no-deal plans and negotiating strategy, alongside letting MPs sit in October.May Says 'Wait and See' on Voting Intentions (3 p.m.)If former Prime Minister Theresa May is amused at her successor Boris Johnson's efforts to bring rebels round to his cause -- given that he previously voted against her deal with Brussels -- she isn't saying it publicly. Looking cheerful and relaxed after a summer walking holiday in Switzerland, she told Bloomberg she wouldn't comment on whether she might rebel in the vote later."I'm not telling anyone how I'm voting," she said. "Wait and see."Johnson's Outreach Falls Short With Rebels (2:55 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson's overtures to potential Tory rebels aren't working with all of them. Former minister Margot James said she's minded to vote against the government "because the chances of no deal are too great."Another former minister, Alistair Burt, told Bloomberg he was in the meeting between Johnson and about 15 other MPs this morning. While he described it as "constructive" -- Johnson gave them a lot of time and both sides were able to set out their positions -- he said some of the differences are irreconcilable and he will vote for the proposal to take control of Parliament on Tuesday night, and then for the bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit on Wednesday.Sturgeon: Election Seems Inevitable (2:50 p.m.)Meanwhile in Edinburgh, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reiterated her resistance to Johnson's suspension of parliament and a no-deal Brexit. An election now seems inevitable, she said, and her Scottish National Party will campaign against leaving the European Union and for another vote on breaking away from the rest of the U.K."The SNP's opposition to Brexit and a right to choose independence will be at the very heart of that contest," Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament, before setting out her semi-autonomous government's package of policies for boosting the economy and improving transportation and education.The SNP is the third-largest party in Westminster, with 35 parliamentarians. Should Johnson end up triggering an election, the nationalists will be gunning for the dozen seats they lost in 2017 to the Conservatives when some voters recoiled from supporting another independence referendum to see how Brexit panned out. The face of that Tory campaign in Scotland, Ruth Davidson, quit last week as leader of the party north of the border.EU Says U.K. Has Made No New Proposals (2:45 p.m.)In Brussels, Brexit diplomats from the EU's 27 remaining governments have been meeting for the first time since the summer break to discuss the latest developments.They were told by the European Commission's negotiating team that the U.K. hasn't made any new proposals to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, according to officials at the meeting. The British government insists that the so-called backstop fallback solution in the current deal must be removed.The Commission believes the U.K. wants to solve the border issue using so-called maximum facilitation, which would see technology and trusted trader systems remove the need for customs checks. But the EU has said there's no evidence that this would be ready in time.Prime Minister Boris Johnson's chief negotiator, David Frost, is due back in Brussels on Wednesday and the Commission reiterated that it's still open to proposals from the U.K.Pence Urges EU to Negotiate 'in Good Faith' (2:40 p.m.)On a visit to Dublin, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urged Ireland and the EU to negotiate "in good faith" with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson."The United States will look to play whatever helpful role we can play," he said, adding that the U.S. will be open to a trade deal with the U.K. after it exits the EU.Standing alongside Pence, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland must stand its ground on the backstop amid a "real risk" of a return to a hard border, and asked Pence to relay that message to Washington.Corbyn Says Stopping No-Deal Comes First (1:20 p.m.)Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party, refused to say if he would order his party to vote for a general election if Johnson proposes one to Parliament."The priority is to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU on Oct. 31," Corbyn said in a pooled TV interview when asked about an election. "Let's see what happens after this legislation goes through."Corbyn said he "fully expects" legislation to block a no-deal Brexit to be passed by Parliament this week. "I expect and hope that every Labour MP will support that legislation," he said.Rebel Tories Unconvinced After Johnson Meeting (1 p.m.)The group of Tories seeking to block a no-deal Brexit were unconvinced by Johnson's arguments after meeting with him in Downing Street this morning (see 12 p.m.), according to a person familiar with the group.The meeting was "professional" but Johnson didn't explain sufficiently how he still has enough time to get a deal before 31 Oct., especially since parliament will be suspended for five weeks, the person said. The prime minister didn't explain why the government hasn't yet given the EU a concrete alternative to the backstop, the person said.The group also challenged Johnson's argument that their plan to take control of the order paper is undermining his negotiations with the EU, saying he hasn't convinced them that any real negotiation is taking place. They reiterated that many of the rebels had voted for Theresa May's deal three times so are not trying to stop Brexit or hand power to Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party, the person said.Johnson Called Parliament a 'Rigmarole' (12:50 p.m.)A key legal test of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament got underway in Edinburgh, revealing a handwritten note from the prime minister in which he called the legislature a "rigmarole." An attorney for a group of lawmakers seeking to halt the suspension said the prime minister's move shows a "breathtaking" contempt for the U.K.'s constitution.Johnson's spokesman, James Slack, told reporters Tuesday the quotes in the court document were selective and didn't contradict the prime minister's position: that proroguing Parliament is necessary to supercharge his domestic political agenda, and not about Brexit.Read more: Johnson Called Parliament a 'Rigmarole' in Handwritten NoteJavid May Be Denied His Moment in the Sun (12:15 p.m.)Sajid Javid may once again be denied his first big speech as chancellor of the exchequer on Wednesday as a result of Brexit maneuvers in Parliament.The announcement of a spending round, due to take place Wednesday afternoon, could be reduced to a Written Ministerial Statement, depending on how events play out in the House of Commons, a U.K. Official said.If MPs succeed in taking control of the order paper, there's a chance they could not make time for government businesses. However, in previous cases, they have done so, according to the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.Last week, Javid canceled his first big speech, due to take place in Birmingham, and instead said he would be announcing the spending round this week.Johnson Had 'Cordial' Meeting With Rebels: Official (12 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson told rebel Tories their efforts to force the government to delay Brexit would damage the U.K.'s negotiating position with the European Union, according to a U.K. official, who described the meeting as "cordial."The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the proposed legislation to delay Brexit is referred to on private Downing Street documents as the "surrender bill." The official acknowledged that some Tory rebels would not change their position despite Johnson's attempts to persuade them.In the meeting, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond disputed the government's position that a new Brexit deal could be legislated in Parliament in 17 days after it was agreed with the EU, arguing the process would take eight weeks, the official said.Johnson's Office Denies Election Could Move (11:45 a.m.)Boris Johnson's official spokesman, James Slack, said any general election called by the government couldn't be put off until after Oct. 14, and that once Parliament has been dissolved, it'll be 25 days until the vote -- denying Labour claims that once he won Parliamentary approval for an election he could delay it until after Brexit on Oct. 31.Johnson's officials have privately briefed any election would be on Oct. 14. But publicly the prime minister has only said he doesn't want an election."The prime minister does not want to have an election. If MPs take that decision to destroy his negotiation position then -- if any election did take place -- it would be before the European Council, which takes place on Oct. 17 and 18," Slack told reporters.He also said talks with the EU are serious after the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the U.K. premier's top adviser, Dominic Cummings, referred to them as a "sham," citing two unidentified sources. Comments from EU leaders show they are serious, Slack said.Application Made for Emergency Debate (11:40 a.m.)The application for an emergency debate on preventing a no-deal Brexit has been formally submitted, the House of Commons said in a posting on Twitter. "The Speaker will consider it later today," it said.The signatures on the application include former Tory ministers Oliver Letwin, Philip Hammond and David Gauke, senior Labour politicians including Yvette Cooper and Hilary Benn, the SNP's Stephen Gethins and Liberal Democrat Tom Brake.EU Stays Quiet on State of Talks (11:30 a.m.)The European Commission's spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva, refused to say whether there has been any progress on substance in the Brexit negotiations. She reiterated the EU is waiting for "concrete proposals compatible with the withdrawal agreement" from the U.K, declining to say whether anything resembling such a proposal has come from the U.K side.Andreeva told reporters the fact the two sides are talking, which wasn't the case before the Group of Seven meetings, signaled progress "on process," while refusing to answer questions about substance. The EU's executive arm is due to unveil an updated set of contingency instructions to companies on Wednesday, with a no-deal Brexit "a concrete possibility" she said.Officials representing the EU's 27 member states are being briefed by the European Commission on Tuesday morning in Brussels about the state of play in talks and preparations for the U.K. leaving the bloc without a deal. The meeting is behind closed doors and diplomats aren't even allowed to take laptops or mobile phones in the room.Johnson Meets Rebel Tories (10:30 a.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson is holding a meeting with rebel Tories in Downing Street ahead of Tuesday evening's expected debate and vote on a proposal for members of Parliament to take control of the agenda, enabling them to pass legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit.The meeting comes as a second Conservative MP, after former Cabinet minister Justine Greening, announced their decision to step down ahead of any election. Keith Simpson, who represents the district of Broadland said on Twitter: "Decided that months ago but now feel like the first officer to man the lifeboats on the Titanic!"Attendees at the meeting with Johnson include former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and other ex-ministers including David Gauke, Alistair Burt, Caroline Nokes and Margot James, who all signed an August 12 letter asking Johnson to commit to reaching an agreement with the EU.Hammond: 'We Will Have the Numbers' (Earlier)Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond confirmed he will vote with other Conservative Party rebels to try to seize control of parliamentary business with the aim of passing legislation to force a Brexit Delay."I think we will have the numbers," Hammond told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday. "Many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so," he said, referring to the government's threat to withdraw the party whip from any MPs who rebelled.Hammond also said he wouldn't vote for a general election until legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit had passed. "My view has been that Prime Minister Johnson has always intended there will be an election, despite what he says."Raab: Government Will Not Delay Brexit (Earlier)Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab made clear the government will not delay Brexit again because it "would send the EU all the wrong signals." He told BBC Radio on Tuesday there was a "lot of positivity" from the bloc's negotiators."We want to get out of this rut," Raab said. Asked whether the government would accept legislation to block a no-deal Brexit if it passed, he replied: "We will always behave lawfully, but we have been very clear that we will not extend beyond the October deadline.""Our intention is to get Brexit delivered before any election," he said, but added the government "will have to think again" if it is blocked.Earlier:U.K. Election Looms as Johnson Raises Stakes of Brexit FightCarney Has Last Chance to Send No-Deal Brexit Message to PublicPound Drops to 2017 Level on Johnson Election Threat: Chart\--With assistance from Nikos Chrysoloras, Alex Morales, Justin Sink, Ian Wishart, Jessica Shankleman and Charlotte Ryan.To contact the reporters on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net;Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net;Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs, Thomas PennyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Amazon crisis: Warring tribes unite against Bolsonaro plans to devastate Brazil’s rainforests for cash Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:04 AM PDT  Indigenous communities living in Amazon's Xingu river basin are reportedly putting aside long-running ethnic conflicts to unite against Jair Bolsonaro's administration.Representatives of 14 indigenous groups and four riverside reserves in the basin met in the Kubenkokre village last week.
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| Mike Pence can't be 'anti-gay' because he was at a lunch with the Irish prime minister's boyfriend, White House spokesman says Posted: 03 Sep 2019 06:58 AM PDT  Mike Pence was at a lunch with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Dr. Michael Barrett in Dublin as part of the US vice president's visit to Ireland.
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| A rap legend ripped Kamala’s marriage to a white man. Then she won him over. Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:56 PM PDT  The California senator has a ways to go to win over African American voters. This is the story of how she converted one prominent voice.
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| Trump's new Mexico envoy stirs hornet's nest with Frida Kahlo jab Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:12 AM PDT  The new U.S. ambassador to Mexico has taken aim at Mexican icon Frida Kahlo for her support of Marxism, stirring up a fierce social media debate with a tweet asking if the painter had not been aware of atrocities committed in the name of that ideology. Few Mexicans have enjoyed greater global recognition than Kahlo, who spent long periods bedridden after a traffic accident in her youth, attained international fame following her death in 1954 and became a feminist symbol in the 1970s. U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in last month, must navigate a volatile bilateral relationship.
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| Floridians hope Dorian's economic impact will be temporary Posted: 03 Sep 2019 03:40 PM PDT  Hurricane Dorian is losing strength as it churns closer to the Florida coast, and that's bringing some cautious relief to the state's big tourism industry. Parts of the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida, closed early on Tuesday. Airports in Orlando, Palm Beach and several smaller cities remained closed, and most flights in Fort Lauderdale were scrubbed too.
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| Scorned in China, the Hong Kong singer who chose politics over career Posted: 02 Sep 2019 02:22 AM PDT  Denise Ho has been pulled from concerts, her records are banned in China and she has been smeared as "poison", but the Cantopop star says standing with the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement outshines all the damage to her career. From actor Jackie Chan to billionaire magnate Li Ka-shing, most famous Hong Kongers have chosen silence or made cryptic middle-ground calls for peace, as Beijing scours the landscape for critics. As a Hong Konger, it's my responsibility to stand up and stand with (the protesters).
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| View Photos of Aston Martin Vanquish 25 by Callum Posted: 02 Sep 2019 08:30 AM PDT |
| 'Bigger picture, it's climate change': Great Lakes flood ravages homes and roads Posted: 02 Sep 2019 11:00 PM PDT  Depths of lakes that hold about 90% of US's freshwater spiking to record levels, from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages 'There's no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact,' said Richard B Rood, a University of Michigan professor. Photograph: Colter Peterson/APThis summer, as rain relentlessly poured down on the Great Lakes region, Detroit declared a rare state of emergency. The swollen Detroit River had spilled into the low-lying Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood – an event not seen near this scale since 1986.Volunteers sandbagged the area as the city's overwhelmed sewer system spilled raw sewage into the river, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Across the channel from Jefferson Chalmers, water damaged the historic boathouse on Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park that remains partly shut down because of flooding.Meanwhile, in Duluth, Minnesota, the city is rebuilding after a powerful storm over Lake Superior damaged a popular pedestrian path, eroded acres of lakefront property and ravaged infrastructure along the shore.About 800 miles to the east, floods hit Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie in two of the last three years, while Lake Michigan's historically high waters inundated parts of Chicago throughout the spring and summer months.The havoc wreaked on communities bordering the Great Lakes is a result of their water level steadily rising over the last five years and spiking to record levels this spring and summer. In 2019, the lakes' depths ranged from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages, according to data from the US army corps of engineers. In June, water in the Lakes St Clair, Ontario, Superior and Erie set records for monthly mean levels, while Lake Michigan-Huron rose to 1in from its recorded peak.That is leading to widespread damage in coastal cities, eroded shorelines and beaches and many other issues. The record levels come just five years after the lakes experienced historically low levels in 2014, and climate scientists say it is clear what's fueling the drastic swing: the Earth's rising temperatures."Bigger picture, it's climate change," said Richard B Rood, a professor in the University of Michigan's department of climate and space sciences and engineering. "There's no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact."Rood said the Great Lakes basin, which holds 90% of the nation's freshwater, can expect similar shifts in the coming decades as world temperatures increase.Climate scientists say a confluence of climate crisis-related issues resulted in this year's levels. Warmer air over the Gulf of Mexico caused more evaporation, and that moisture pushed into the region during the spring and summer. Higher temperatures give the atmosphere more capacity to hold evaporated water, Rood said, which is why storms are dumping more rain than 50 years ago."When you're in wet periods, you start to get persistent, basin-wide extreme precipitation," he said.The numbers back that up. By May, Cleveland, Ohio on Lake Erie's shore saw more rainy days than any year since 1953. Muskegon, on Lake Michigan's shore, experienced 7.45in more rainfall than average throughout the first eight months, while Sault Ste Marie on Lake Superior tallied about 9in more than average for the same period. Buffalo saw 34% more rain than typical.The moisture rained down on ground and lakes already more saturated than usual because a January polar vortex brought frigid temperatures that prevented wintertime evaporation crucial to keeping water levels in check. Meanwhile, a heavy snow pack melted. pushing up levels even further."We're seeing all these things that have an effect on the water cycle converge, which is why we're having these enormous water volumes," Rood said.Though the region finally dried out a bit in August and water levels are slightly receding, the Great Lakes' fall storm season is fast approaching. Fall is a time of high winds and the agency's six-month forecast predicts levels will remain very high, thus there's a strong likelihood for even more damage this year.Coastal communities need to give the storms and fluctuating lake levels stronger consideration when building near the shoreline, said Richard Norton, an urban and regional planning professor at the University of Michigan. There's still an inclination to build as close to the water as possible, which was especially a problem as levels began dropping in the early 2000s."People want to build in the most beautiful, fragile and dangerous places, and that's challenging because of the way the lakes go up and down over time in a weird way … and it's not a good idea," Norton said.The changes have an impact on the lakes' ecosystems and natural environment, but it's a mixed bag. While erosion is an issue, the basin is resilient and has withstood similar variability in the past, said Mark Breederland, an extension director with the environmental agency Michigan Sea Grant.He said extreme fluctuations can benefit the coastal wetlands and some species, while other species, such as the endangered piping plover, face new threats. Meanwhile, the impact of continued climate change on the Great Lakes' ecosystem is still unknown, Breederland said.However, there is more certainty with water levels. Long-term, as temperature increases continue, the region will see levels "bouncing from low extreme to high extremes", Rood said, though the lakes will eventually start to disappear if temperatures aren't brought under control."If we don't mitigate our emissions … and the temperature gets to a certain level, then it does become evaporation dominant," he said.• This article was corrected on 3 September 2019 to situate Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie rather than Lake Ontario.
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| Chris Hayes and Progressives’ Lack of Respect for the Constitution Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:38 PM PDT  Last week, conservatives in the Twitterverse had a good chuckle at the expense of MSNBC host Chris Hayes for something he said about the Electoral College on his show."The weirdest thing about the Electoral College," he offered, "is the fact that if it wasn't specifically in the Constitution for the presidency, it would be unconstitutional."This is one of those things that sound a lot better in your head than they do coming out of your mouth! We've all been guilty of saying something similarly dumb, and most of us have probably been subjected to some good-natured ribbing over it. Hayes didn't appreciate the ribbing, though, and took to Twitter a few days later to blast the entire conservative movement:> These days, conservatism is a movement deeply paranoid and pessimistic about its own appeal, increasingly retreating behind counter-majoritarian institutions: the senate, the courts, the electoral college.> > -- Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 1, 2019> And so they are increasingly focused, as a matter of tactical and tribal fidelity, on ways to uphold minority rule. It's a sad place for a movement to be.> > -- Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 1, 2019I certainly agree that the Republican party needs to focus on broadening its appeal. But here's the catch: Hayes's armchair psychoanalysis notwithstanding, he is just plain wrong about the Constitution. And by that I do not mean that his breezy, clever-sounding point is actually a tautological non-sequitur. I mean that his underlying reasoning is false.Here's his full original assertion:> The weirdest thing about the Electoral College is the fact that if it wasn't specifically in the Constitution for the presidency, it would be unconstitutional. Here's what I mean by that. Starting in the 1960s, the Supreme Court started developing a jurisprudence of one person, one vote. The idea is that each individual vote has to carry roughly the same amount of weight as each other individual vote, which is a pretty intuitive concept, but is not a reality. There are all sorts of crazy representational systems that were created that would not give one person one vote, and that would disenfranchise certain minorities.If Hayes hadn't been so glib, he might have said that the Electoral College runs contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. But, as I said, that is not true, either.The Supreme Court's one-man-one-vote rule applies to state legislative elections and the House of Representatives, which makes sense in the constitutional scheme. The House of Representatives is the national institution of representation in our government. But our system is not wholly national. Here's James Madison in Federalist No. 39:> The House of Representatives will derive its powers from the people of America; and the people will be represented in the same proportion, and on the same principle, as they are in the legislature of a particular State. So far the government is NATIONAL, not FEDERAL. The Senate, on the other hand, will derive its powers from the States, as political and coequal societies; and these will be represented on the principle of equality in the Senate, as they now are in the existing Congress. So far the government is FEDERAL, not NATIONAL. The executive power will be derived from a very compound source. The immediate election of the President is to be made by the States in their political characters. The votes allotted to them are in a compound ratio, which considers them partly as distinct and coequal societies, partly as unequal members of the same society.For these reasons, as well as others, Madison concludes, "The proposed Constitution . . . is, in strictness, neither a national nor a federal Constitution, but a composition of both."So, Hayes is right in a very narrow sense: Neither the Senate nor the Electoral College would make any sense in a strictly national government where the states no longer had any sovereign function. At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, this is what Madison wanted, more or less: to strip the states of their power in national affairs. But it just could not pass muster, and the Convention embraced the compromise pushed by small-state delegates: a compound republic embracing both national and federal modes.This is really Civics 101, and I'm not at all sure how many pundits on the left fully understand it. I rarely if ever see prominent progressives seriously engage with The Federalist Papers or Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention. Sometimes I wonder if they even know to look in those places for explanations of our constitutional structure. I get the impression that they think the whole design is a product of simple-minded men who lacked their sophisticated views on government. Yet when you read through the original debates about the Constitution, it becomes clear that the Founders often thought through these issues more carefully than contemporary intellectuals.Why are they so intent on attacking the Constitution in this case, anyway? There are, after all, other ways to ameliorate the problem of divergence between the popular vote and the Electoral College. Each state's apportionment is the sum of its House and Senate delegates. The size of the House of Representatives is not fixed at 435. That number could be expanded, which would be completely consistent with the Constitution — probably more so, as the founding generation was skeptical that large districts could actually be representative. An expanded House would alleviate the frustrations of the large states, and it might also mitigate the problem of money in politics.Moreover, why are states given a pass for allocating electors on a winner-take-all basis? Again, it is not required under the Constitution, and in the early days of the republic electors were often allocated on a proportional basis. If the 2016 election had been conducted on that basis, Hillary Clinton's Electoral College haul would have gone from 227 to about 255 — not enough for her to win the required absolute majority under a 538-vote Electoral College, but perhaps enough to win such a majority of the larger electoral-vote total created by an expanded House.I do not like it when the Constitution is attacked in this way, but not because the Constitution is perfect. It is far from perfect. Nobody understood that better than Madison, who was at first deeply frustrated by the finished product. Yet when he started to see the criticisms of it, he noticed that they were scattershot, parochial, and sometimes even contradictory. He realized that the choice facing the country was not between the Constitution and some other alternative, but between the Constitution and chaos leading toward disunion.I think the same holds true today. We should respect the Constitution if for no other reason than that it may be the last thing still holding us together. Such respect does not necessitate that we blindly accept the institutions it bequeathed us as they are. But we should thoroughly understand it before we criticize it, because it deserves better than facile straw-man attacks — especially when, as in the case of the Electoral College, there are alternative remedies that could be pursued within its framework.
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| Customer pulls gun on Popeyes employees over chicken sandwiches, police say Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:24 AM PDT  Police in Houston say a man pulled a gun on employees at a Popeyes restaurant after they ran out of their popular chicken sandwiches.
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| Greece proposes Parthenon marbles swap, says still wants their permanent return Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:34 AM PDT ![Greece proposes Parthenon marbles swap, says still wants their permanent return]( "Greece proposes Parthenon marbles swap, says still wants their permanent return") Greece confirmed on Tuesday its readiness to loan treasures to the British Museum in return for being able to temporarily exhibit the Parthenon marbles but also said the proposal did not alter its long-standing demand for their permanent return. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Britain's Observer newspaper on Sunday he was willing to lend important artefacts to London that "have never left Greece" in return for putting the marbles on display in Athens in 2021, when the country marks 200 years since the start of its War of Independence. Athens has repeatedly called for the permanent return of the 2,500-year-old sculptures that Britain's Lord Elgin removed from the Acropolis temple during a period when Greece was under Ottoman Turkish rule.
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