Trump to host Netanyahu, UAE prince within weeksDonald Trump says he plans to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the White House after the two countries announced they are establishing full diplomatic relations. (Aug. 13)AP

A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged Thursday in connection with the slaying of a Kansas City, Missouri ,child whose case became the namesake of a controversial Trump administration violent crime crackdown that now extends across the country. "Great work by detectives getting justice for his family," the Kansas City Police Department announced in a tweet. "The arrest and state charges resulted from cooperation among Kansas City police officers, the FBI, and U.S. Since last month, Barr has dispatched dozens of officers to Kansas City, Chicago, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee. Operation Legend officers are being largely dispatched from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S.

For the second time as a Palm Beach County voter, President Donald Trump has requested a vote-by-mail ballot ahead of Florida's primary election on Tuesday. And the president who has just spent the past few weeks excoriating mail-in voting has less than a week to cast it. Now it must travel to Washington, D.C., where the president and first lady can vote and then return before 7 p.m. Tuesday, when all mail-in ballots must be submitted. In tweets, he lamented without evidence rampant fraud with mail-in ballots and even suggested the November election be delayed over coronavirus concerns. Postal Service, which he linked Thursday to his dislike of mail-in voting.

“If they make a deal, the Postal Service is taken care of, the money they need for the mail-in ballots would be taken care of — if we agree to it. More than three-quarters of voters will be able to cast their ballots by mail this year. Mr. Trump has assailed the money-losing Postal Service in recent months, at the same time warning that voting by mail will lead to fraud, lost or stolen ballots and long delays in determining a winner. Mr. DeJoy has kept tens of millions of dollars invested in XPO Logistics, a Postal Service contractor for which he was a board member, first reported by CNN on Wednesday. Amazon, a frequent subject of Mr. Trump’s attacks, is a major competitor to the Postal Service in package delivery.

The potential for conflict between Biden and Harris advisers was resolved in another way, at least for now: Mr. Biden and his advisers made plain to Ms. Harris that they expected to have the same understanding with respect to staff hiring that Mr. Biden had followed with former President Barack Obama. During the campaign and, if they win, during a Biden-Harris administration, Ms. Harris’s staff hiring would be approved by Mr. Biden. But selecting Ms. Harris for the vice presidency did not mean selecting her full political entourage for jobs in the campaign or government. That rule would apply, Ms. Harris was told, even to her sister, Maya Harris, a former Hillary Clinton adviser who is Kamala Harris’s closest confidante. Revealing her own pragmatic core, Ms. Harris readily agreed to those terms.

The Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, was also stripped of something by this deal, which may force him to the negotiating table. You will find a lot of support from Trump, the Europeans and the Arabs for that position. Israel still has to deal with you, because your people in the West Bank are not going to just disappear, no matter what happens with the U.A.E. has kept up a delicate balance between Iran and Israel, not looking to provoke Iran, and dealing with Israel covertly. is taking the helm of the first, and it is leaving Iran to be the leader of the second.

Campaign watch: Biden-Harris Is a StinkerAny presidential running mate “should first and foremost ‘do no harm,’ ” Republican consultant Bradley A. Blakeman observes at FoxNews.com, yet Joe Biden’s pick, Kamala Harris, “will harm both” Biden’s election odds and “his chances of successfully governing” if elected. “She has zero foreign-policy experience and no economic gravitas,” for one thing, and she won’t help Biden “win in battleground states,” coming from deep-blue California. NASA wants “all of space to be politically correct.”Political scientist: ‘Break Our Windows’ PolicingThough a few “big city Democrats” are “fed up” with rioters’ “mayhem” and “want police to stop it,” most, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, ­“favor drastic concessions to the protesters, ­beginning with sharp reductions in police budgets,” University of Chicago professor Charles Lipson laments at RealClearPolitics. Colleges have made “bogus claims” about “science” to justify their decision when the fact is that young athletes are “nearly ­totally immune” to the virus’ worst effects. “Politics drives this dreadful decision-making”: Left-wing university officials “aggressively embrace a position of paranoia,” in contrast to President Trump, who wants young people to “return to normal routines” when it comes to “school, extracurriculars and sports.” That’s why pulling the sport of football will, in turn, affect the game of politics: Many gridiron-loving Midwesterners will know that “dishonest and conflicted political actors” have “robbed” them of our “national sport.”— Compiled by Karl Salzmann & Adam Brodsky

The police have been scorned, demonized, despised and depleted by the woke crowd calling the shots in New York City. New Yorkers must band ­together and fight the madness, like the good citizens of the city of Chicago. They’re mad as hell about the politician-endorsed chaos infesting the streets, and they’re refusing to sit back quietly and take it. Y’all come out when it’s got something to do with the f - - king police,” he shouted, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It was nice to see the red beret-wearing Guardian Angels patrolling the Upper West Side, like a vision out of an earlier, grittier, nastier New York.

New York officials think they can just make up facts to rebut criticism, yet hard evidence keeps proving them wrong. Take The Post’s story citing a photographer who saw cops remain in the car while a teen was beaten. The NYPD denied the story, tweeting that cops “were met by a large crowd that hurled projectiles” and had to retreat. Cuomo and health czar Howard Zucker that “only” 6,400 New York nursing-home residents died of COVID-19. : If you’re going to fib, at least make sure there’s no evidence to prove you wrong.

President Trump just brokered the most important Middle East deal in years: a peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The announcement was made Thursday by Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. That key concession would never have been possible unless Trump and Bibi had moved toward annexation in the first place. How ironic: President Barack Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize even though he emboldened nuke-seeking terror state Iran and left the Middle East in shambles. Trump isn’t progressive enough for Oslo’s Nobel elitists, but with this deal alone, he’s done more for peace in the Middle East than anything Obama ever did.

In a normal year, less prominent figures have the chance speak at the convention during the day. If 2020 was a normal year, and Ocasio-Cortez was not asked to speak, even during the day, Lawless said, she might wonder about the motives of the Democratic Party. But this year’s convention is far shorter than usual, limited to just two hours every night. Making time even tighter, she said, the Democratic presidential field was especially large this year. Many of those candidates will be given the opportunity to speak, so they can urge their base to support the nominee.

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday confirmed to the The Post he intends to give his Republican National Convention speech from the White House lawn, defying critics who said the location was inappropriate. “I’ll probably be giving my speech at the White House because it is a great place. Team Trump floated a number of locations, including the Great Battlefield of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania or the East Wing of the White House. The idea of the president delivering his convention speech from the executive residence roiled his critics, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who said it was wrong. The Republican convention will run from August 24-27 while Democrats will hold their convention from August 17-20.

President Trump polled his aides on Thursday about whether he should let anti-surveillance whistleblower and leaker Edward Snowden return to the US from Russia without going to prison, saying he was open to it. “There are a lot of people that think that he is not being treated fairly. Trump commented on Snowden for the first time as president after accusing former President Barack Obama of spying on his 2016 campaign. Before taking office, Trump tweeted at least 45 times denouncing Snowden as a traitor and calling for his execution. In a 2013 tweet, Trump wrote: “Snowden is a spy who should be executed-but if it and he could reveal Obama’s records, I might become a major fan.”

Their efforts, though, left the region as divided as ever and Palestinians more aggrieved and isolated than before. ADADBahrain and Egypt, two of the UAE’s closest regional allies, praised the agreement. ADThe Trump administration, which first announced the opening between the UAE and Israel, hailed the agreement as a historic peace initiative. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said in a statement that he was “gratified” by the announcement. “We are offering normalization — not in return for a peace agreement with Palestinians in accordance with international law — but for nothing,” he said.

Trump says he will not reverse recent Postal Service policy changes ahead of electionPresident Trump said during an Aug. 13 briefing that he would not direct the Postmaster General to reverse some of the policy changes at the U.S. Postal Service, citing the funding it would take to facilitate mail-in voting.

“This is an urgent matter that requires immediate compliance,” Maloney wrote in a letter Wednesday to Steven Dillingham, the Census Bureau’s director. His letter says officials would address concerns from members of Congress during regular briefings. “So, you’ve got twin monsters here.”Earlier this month, the Census Bureau reversed course on plans to extend the data collection because of disruptions caused by the pandemic. But only the House extended the deadline, and the bureau announced this month that it would cease canvassing households on Sept. 30. On July 21, Trump then directed the Census Bureau to exclude undocumented residents when calculating congressional apportionment.

— President Trump, congratulating QAnon supporter Greene, who has made racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic statements. Unequal treatment, unequal schools, unequal wealth and now, as brought tragically home by the pandemic, unequal health. ADADBut there is another truth at work this summer: America has started the work on repairing her imperfections. In 1984, when Ferraro was selected, two women held seats in the U.S. Senate (both were Republican), 22 women were members of the House of Representatives. That did not make his selection of Harris any less groundbreaking: She is the daughter of immigrants, and the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent on a major-party national ticket.

Kushner said the UAE-Israel pact was an “icebreaker” that he hoped would be followed by similar moves by other Arab countries. Iran and Turkey, each seeking the role of Muslim champion, will doubtless accuse the Emiratis of betraying the Palestinian cause. Although Thursday’s announcement is a political boost for Trump, it could also facilitate Israeli and Emirati cooperation with a Democratic administration, if Joe Biden should win in November. Thursday’s telephone diplomacy was described by a senior State Department official who heard the call. “This is a turning point for peace,” Netanyahu said.

Simply put, Black women are no longer a “first” in politics — they are a force. The breadth of that field is a remarkable indicator of how quickly Black women have advanced in politics. In the blogosphere and elsewhere, Black women pushed back against the expectation that they fit into a politics dissected between men and women, Black and White. In 2016, 94 percent of Black women voted for Hillary Clinton, while White women split between Clinton and Donald Trump. In just over half a century of vying for political power, Black women have moved beyond firsts.

Donna Brazile, Former Chairwoman of the DNC & Fox News Contributor spoke with Fox News Radio's Guy Benson about Joe Biden's VP Pick Kamala Harris. Brazile called the selection a "Wise Choice" and that she is someone,"who understands the issues. I think she's going to help him close the deal with those voters who are still undecided. Help expand the map, perhaps help with the Senate candidates who in some of these tough battleground states. I think it's a great choice and I'm excited about the prospects of helping them when this fall."

Ari Fleischer, Former WH Press Secretary & Fox News Contributor spoke with Fox News Radio's Guy Benson about Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris as his running mate. Fleischer said,"My conclusion on this ticket is that Joe Biden is weak and Kamala Harris is fake. I am just struck by how somebody who on a debate stage called Joe Biden, basically a segregationist, talked to such human terms, personal terms about how badly wounded she was for it to come out the next day, that she had the same position on busing as Joe Biden. And she's fake on so many of the issues and what she's taking stance." Listen To The Full Interview Below:

Martha MacCallum, Host of The Story 7pm ET on the Fox News Channel spoke with Fox News Radio's Guy Benson as she previewed this year's Convention coverage. But in this business and in life in general, we all know that things can change. So we're taking it day by day. And Sunday night, we're gonna kind of spend an hour with all of our viewers, kind of orienting everybody towards what's to come. And I think a lot of Americans are going to begin to focus, as they always do during the conventions.

BIDEN WILL RAISE TAXES, 'CRATER' STOCK MARKET AND ECONOMY: KUDLOW"This will be a self-sustaining economic recovery with very big numbers in Q3 and Q4," he said. Kudlow added that by imposing higher taxes, Biden and running mate Kamala Harris may end up hurting America's ability to recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus. "What I make of that is higher taxes," Kudlow answered. "It's very clear the other team is going to raise taxes. "They're going to raise corporate tax, they're going to raise the individual tax.

National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow confirmed Thursday that the economy is improving ahead of the November election, but veteran pollster Frank Luntz told “Your World with Neil Cavuto” that the recovery might be "too little, too late" for President Trump to remain in office after January 2021. The economy back in March, before COVID, was the strongest economy this country has ever seen in modern times," Luntz told host Neil Cavuto. "And that economy was strong enough to propel Donald Trump to reelection ... Everything that you would want in the economy to get somebody reelected was perfect.”During the pandemic, unemployment rates -- which Luntz described as the biggest economic concern for Americans -- have skyrocketed. KUDLOW PREDICTS 'SELF-SUSTAINING' RECOVERY FOR US“We have been asking Americans, what is the single most important factor for you to decide whether the economy is working or not?” he said. That is important to about 15, maybe 20% of the population.

Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, received a wave of criticism on Thursday after he attempted to downplay a peace accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. "This agreement enshrines what has been the emerging status quo in the region for a long time (including the total exclusion of Palestinians)," Rhodes tweeted. TRUMP ANNOUNCES 'HISTORIC PEACE AGREEMENT' BETWEEN ISRAEL, UAERhodes is perhaps best known for his advocacy of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew the United States in May 2018. Many Twitter users suggested Rhodes was bitter about the Trump administration achieving even a partial Middle East peace agreement, something which eluded the Obama administration. In Gaza, Hamas called the deal a “stabbing in the back of our people.”The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The mayor of a small town in Virginia is being urged to resign following a Facebook post in which he claimed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden "just announced Aunt Jemima" as his running mate. Luray Mayor Barry Presgraves made the comment last weekend and has since faced a bitter backlash from the Luray Town Council as well as other residents who characterized his post as racist. Presgraves has since taken down his post and on Monday apologized at a town council meeting. Luray Council Member Leah Pence believes his apology isn't enough and has sent Presgraves a letter asking him to step down. When pressed on whether he would resign, Presgraves responded with a hearty "hell no."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that coronavirus relief talks would be back on the table only when Republicans agreed to a $2 trillion relief package. When asked in her weekly news conference when she would would begin again on relief negotiations, Pelosi replied: “I don’t know, when they come with $2 trillion. The White House rejected Pelosi’s offer to decrease her package by $1 trillion if Republicans would come up $1 trillion. “The House doesn’t have the votes to go south of $2 trillion, the Senate Democrats can’t go south of $2 trillion, so that’s what compromise is all about,” Sen. “Because there are 20 Republicans who don’t want to vote anything that doesn’t mean the whole thing should shift in their direction.

Brian Kemp dropped his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council on Thursday after suing the mayor over mask mandates and other coronavirus protections re-instated in July. “I sued the City of Atlanta to immediately stop the shuttering of local businesses and protect local workers from economic instability,” Kemp said. Bottoms, a Democrat, told CNN in an interview last month that she believed the lawsuit was a “personal retaliation” because he "did not sue the city of Atlanta. “Unfortunately, the Mayor has made it clear that she will not agree to a settlement that safeguards the rights of private property owners in Georgia,” Kemp said Thursday. Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is located in Fulton County and has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in the state, with more than 21,000 confirmed cases – 3,400 of which have occurred in the last two weeks.

Hillary Clinton praised Kamala Harris as the newly announced vice presidential pick and urged her supporters to have "her back." "I'm thrilled to welcome @KamalaHarris to a historic Democratic ticket," Clinton tweeted Tuesday. Four years ago, Clinton made history as the first woman to win a major party's nomination for president. Harris will also break new ground as the first Black woman to be a vice-presidential pick for a major party. DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED AS BIDEN VP DECISION LOOMS

Barack and Michelle Obama and Hillary and Bill Clinton are reportedly set to speak at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), along with a number of other high-profile Democrats. Additionally, a source with knowledge of the planning for the Democratic National Convention confirmed to Fox News that former Republican Gov. Given the time constraints –­ two hours of programming each night Aug. 17 - Aug. 20 –­ the Biden campaign will be forced to make cuts. Last month the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced their gathering would be conducted mostly online, with delegates and Democratic members of Congress taking part in the convention virtually rather than in-person. Trump has since floated the idea of delivering his Republican National Convention nomination acceptance speech from the White House to cut down on costs, an idea some have suggested would violate the Hatch Act.

Hillary Clinton's days as a public servant may not be behind her. “I’m ready to help in any way I can," Clinton responded, "because I think this will be a moment where every American -- I don’t care what party you are, I don’t care what age, race, gender, I don’t care -- every American should want to fix our country... “I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you to be our president,” Clinton said. "She's already proven herself to be an incredible public servant and leader. Clinton is set to speak at next week's DNC convention along with her husband former President Bill Clinton.

Joe Biden would rather have federal officers enforce his proposed nationwide mask mandate than have them work to quell the violence ravaging several U.S. cities, Ben Shapiro observed Thursday. Shapiro, who hosts "The Ben Shapiro Show" podcast, accused Democrats of the supposed double standard on Twitter, responding to a @Breaking911 alert that read "Joe Biden & Kamala Harris call for nationwide face mask mandate." BIDEN CALLS FOR MANDATE REQUIRING ALL AMERICAS TO WEAR MASKS"Are the same people complaining when federal law enforcement is sent to stop destruction of federal property now proposing we send the feds to yell at you about masks?" "Let’s institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately and we will save lives. The mask mandate was showcased in a TV commercial that the Biden campaign quickly turned around on Thursday.

A Kansas prosecutor has announced charges in the killing of 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, whose death led to the establishment of the Department of Justice's Operation Legend. Taliferro was killed by gunfire while sleeping on the floor of a unit in the Citadel Apartments in Kansas City on June 29, the Kansas City Star reported. Taliferro's death was part of a surge of violent crime this summer, Attorney General Bill Barr said in a statement. Kansas City police officers worked with the FBI and U.S. Operation Legend has been credited with numerous arrests.

"This is an opportunity to bring law and order and justice back to America." The lawmaker said that people who live in autonomous protest zones "cry" for the idea of justice, freedom, security and safety. That they wouldn't work with the federal government to bring security and safety back to their own streets." Operation Legend will deploy hundreds of federal agents -- from the FBI, U.S. It's a responsibility that we bring safety back to America," he said.

51:10One hundred days to the election: What to expect as the 2020 race enters its most critical period

Fleetcor Technologies: "There have been some people saying some negative things about Fleetcor, saying that it doesn't have the growth that it used to. The stock getting a nice run today," but "consider me shaky on Fleetcor." Tupperware Brands: "That stock was so mispriced. Take out $4, they'll never be able to take away your gain, and then let it run." Eventbrite: "At this point, you're betting on a vaccine ...

When Cawthorn won his primary, he said that the President called him shortly after his victory to congratulate him. And Cawthorn pushed back against his Democratic opponent's assertions, accusing Davis in a statement to CNN of promoting "conspiracy theories" and of "bigotry." Davis is also alleging that the Instagram post is just one of many "dog whistles" he believes Cawthorn is sending. Adding to the attention Cawthorn faces over the social media post, there are now new questions about his educational claims. Asked if he was notified by the Naval Academy that he did not get in, Cawthorn replied that he was.

Some Republicans voters in Arizona say they are dissatisfied with the way President Trump has handled the response to coronavirus pandemic and are organizing to defeat him in 2020. CNN's Miguel Marquez reports.

AMES, Iowa — Internet connection has been one of the main topics of discussion among school districts. For some Iowa families, the issue with internet access has less to do with the price tag and more so the area code. Greg Artz lives no more than a mile outside of the city of Ames and has never had broadband internet connection for the ten years he’s lived there. “Getting an education, people get left behind if they don’t have access to broadband,” Artz said. “We’re in one of the best states for education, we’re in the best school district for education.

The nationwide protests over racial injustice are sparking concerns about inequality in school curriculums. Experts urge scrutiny of U.S. history textbooks, which often include racist descriptions or omissions of Black history.

Mueller did not find evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia, but he did detail extensive contacts between the campaign and Russian operatives. Cohen worked closely with Trump for years before turning against him, most publicly in testimony to Congress last year prior to Trump’s impeachment. It’s unfortunate that the media is exploiting this sad and desperate man to attack President Trump,” Morgenstern said. Trump has called Cohen “a rat,” and a liar, and Cohen said he faced repeated death threats from Trump supporters. A federal judge last month ruled Cohen had been subjected to retaliation for planning to publish his book, and ordered him released again.

Top NewsTrump holds up virus aid to block election fundingPosted[NFA] President Donald Trump on Thursday said his team was rejecting Democrats' bid to include funds for the U.S. Postal Service and shore up election infrastructure in a new coronavirus relief bill, as he vowed to block money to facilitate mail-in voting. Colette Luke has the latest.

Top NewsBiden says all governors should mandate masksPosted[NFA] Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden on Thursday called on all U.S. governors to mandate mask wearing to slow the spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 165,000 people in the United States. This report produced by Chris Dignam.

Mueller did not find evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia, but he did detail extensive contacts between the campaign and Russian operatives. Cohen worked closely with Trump for years before turning against him, most publicly in testimony to Congress last year prior to Trump’s impeachment. It’s unfortunate that the media is exploiting this sad and desperate man to attack President Trump,” Morgenstern said. Trump has called Cohen “a rat,” and a liar, and Cohen said he faced repeated death threats from Trump supporters. A federal judge last month ruled Cohen had been subjected to retaliation for planning to publish his book, and ordered him released again.

Pompeo did not say which military leader spoke with the Russian military about the program, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pompeo's comments mark the first time a senior member of the administration has publicly acknowledged discussing the bounties with the Russian government. By contrast, Trump said in a recent interview with Axios that he never confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter. The White House claimed that Trump was briefed on the intelligence, but the president has dismissed the reports as a "Russian hoax." The top U.S. general in the Middle East told reporters that he's skeptical over the intelligence that bounties had been paid.

Pompeo did not say which military leader spoke with the Russian military about the program, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pompeo's comments mark the first time a senior member of the administration has publicly acknowledged discussing the bounties with the Russian government. By contrast, Trump said in a recent interview with Axios that he never confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter. The White House claimed that Trump was briefed on the intelligence, but the president has dismissed the reports as a "Russian hoax." The top U.S. general in the Middle East told reporters that he's skeptical over the intelligence that bounties had been paid.

President Donald Trump said Thursday he may give his Republican National Convention acceptance speech from the White House after all, despite ongoing criticism about his plans to use the executive residence for a partisan purpose. The president told the New York Post he would likely give his speech from the White House lawn when he officially accepts the Republican nomination on Aug. 27. “I’ll probably be giving my speech at the White House because it is a great place,” he told the newspaper. “I’ll probably do mine live from the White House,” the president told Fox News at the time. White House employees, however, are bound by the terms of the act and could be implicated depending on their involvement.

Trump in turn used the briefing to counter strike, focusing keenly on his Democratic rivals as opposed to touting his administration's response. When reporters at Trump's briefing asked White House staff if the president's opening statement was in compliance with the Hatch Act, White House spokesperson Judd Deere said: "The President’s prepared remarks are composed in compliance with the Hatch Act." The Hatch Act prohibits executive branch employees from partaking in political activities in their official capacities. Trump and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel have argued that the act does not apply to the president, allowing him to use the White House for partisan means. "Americans must unite together and they must put politics aside and have to really unite for a common good," he said.

President Donald Trump admitted to blocking Postal Service funding in order to compromise voting by mail. Joy says efforts like these are ‘a twisted and broad effort by Trump and his team to suppress the vote by any means necessary."

At a time when talks are stalled over relief for millions of Americans, Trump is formally blocking 25-billion in emergency funding for the postal service, making it harder to vote. The President’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow adding the White House sees “voting rights” as a “liberal left” idea to be negotiated over. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber breaks down how this all will effect the upcoming election.

ADVERTISEMENT“I can tell you that in those conversations with those physicians and those nurses, they said: ‘We have the PPE,’” Zucker said. We make sure that it’s available.’”But health department spokesperson Jill Montag said in a statement on Thursday that state health officials had indeed heard reports from nurses demanding more or better protective gear. And New York is now requiring hospitals — who are offering elective surgeries again — to have a 90-day supply of protective gear on hand, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for local supply chains so New York doesn’t have to rely on out-of-state sources again. Kane called for stronger infection protocols for treating COVID-19 as an airborne disease, a move toward reusable protective gear and more coordinated distribution of protective gear to hospitals and others in need.

In an upcoming book, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former attorney, alleges that Trump worked with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election. Cohen claims that Trump lied when he told the American public he had no dealings in Russia, because Cohen personally oversaw Trump’s efforts to secure a major real estate deal in Moscow during the campaign. I also knew that the Mueller investigation was not a witch-hunt,” Cohen wrote, although he did not provide specifics about the alleged collusion in the excerpt. In the excerpt released Thursday, Cohen claimed he knew Trump better than even his wife or children because he was tasked to cover up the president's infidelities and various misdeeds. Cohen wrote that he is convinced Trump "will never leave office peacefully."

The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates pulled off the rarest of feats on Thursday: a diplomatic win-win-win in the Middle East. With this grim landscape as a backdrop, the announcement of Thursday’s deal holds the potential of breathing life into the peace process. The new agreement is rooted in the national interests of both the UAE and Israel, but its implications go far beyond that. recognition of its existence and the perks that entails, such as embassies, trade, travel and cooperation on security, water and more — from just two Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan. This could further weaken the Palestinians’ diplomatic hand.

(AP) — A former Meridian Police officer is facing charges of extortion, federal prosecutors said Thursday. Royric “Roy” Benamon, 27, was indicted on two counts of extortion under color of official right, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst said in a news release. According to the indictment unsealed Thursday, Benamon allegedly pulled over two drivers in Lauderdale County on two separate occasions in April and accepted cash from them in lieu of issuing them a ticket. ADVERTISEMENTBenamon was arrested Wednesday without incident and appeared for arraignment Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson in Jackson. If convicted, he faces up to a $250,000 fine per count and 20 years in prison.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis police officer who was fired for decorating a Christmas tree with racist items has been reinstated through arbitration, a process that makes it difficult to fire officers and has been cited as an obstacle to police reform. ADVERTISEMENTPolice spokesman John Elder confirmed that Bohnsack is back with the department, but said another officer who was fired over the incident, Brandy Steberg, is not. Mayor Jacob Frey called it racist and despicable, and called for the officers’ dismissal. Frey renewed his calls Thursday for changes to an arbitration system that reverses roughly half of police terminations in the state. Chief Arradondo’s decision to terminate or discipline should not be overturned in cases like this,” the mayor tweeted.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday gave credence to a false and racist conspiracy about Kamala Harris’ eligibility to be president, fueling an online misinformation campaign that parallels the one he used to power his rise into politics. Speaking from the White House, Trump told reporters he had “heard” rumors that Harris, a Black woman and U.S.-born citizen whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. He was a high-profile force behind the so-called “birther movement” — the lie that questioned whether President Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president, was eligible to serve. Trump comments about Harris on Thursday landed in a blizzard of other untrue, racist or sexist claims unleashed across social media and conservative websites after Biden picked Harris, the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman on a major party ticket. The misinformation campaign is built on falsehoods that have circulating less noticeably for months, propelled by Trump and his supporters.

FILE - In this July 10, 2020, file photo, Derrick Henninger works at Velveteen Rabbit, a cocktail bar in the Las Vegas Arts District, on the last night before they will have to close in Las Vegas. Judge Kerry Earley in Las Vegas made no immediate ruling Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 after arguments about whether she should force Gov. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)FILE - In this July 10, 2020, file photo, Derrick Henninger works at Velveteen Rabbit, a cocktail bar in the Las Vegas Arts District, on the last night before they will have to close in Las Vegas. A Nevada judge says she wants proof she would have the authority to order the governor to rescind a coronavirus pandemic directive and let Las Vegas-area bars and taverns reopen. Judge Kerry Earley in Las Vegas made no immediate ruling Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 after arguments about whether she should force Gov.

In this April 9, 2013, photo, Chief Justice Bernette Johnson of the Louisiana Supreme Court speaks in Baton Rouge, La., to a joint session of the Legislature. An October 2020 parole hearing has been set for a Black man sentenced to life in prison after stealing hedge clippers in a 1997 burglary, a sentence Louisiana's Supreme Court upheld despite Johnson's insistence that the punishment was excessive and rooted in racist law. (Arthur D. Lauck/The Advocate via AP)In this April 9, 2013, photo, Chief Justice Bernette Johnson of the Louisiana Supreme Court speaks in Baton Rouge, La., to a joint session of the Legislature. The Supreme Court voted 5-1 to let the ruling stand, with five white male justices voting in favor and Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, the court’s only Black member, voting against. In 2000, the state appellate court rejected multiple arguments Bryant made, some involving legal procedures and one argument that the sentence was excessive.

From “Pence for Vice President,” an Aug. 11 New York Sun editorial:Vice President Biden has chosen the junior senator from California, Kamala Harris, to be his running mate. That makes a ticket where the vice presidential candidate seems, at least to us, to be of a more presidential personality than the elder statesman from Delaware.

Governor Drops Lawsuit Against Atlanta Mayor Over Masks, But Fight May Not Be OverEnlarge this image toggle caption John Bazemore/AP John Bazemore/APGov. Brain Kemp is taking a new approach in his battle over face masks with Atlanta's mayor. On Thursday Kemp announced the attorney general's office has withdrawn a lawsuit he filed against Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Atlanta city council, when she moved to reinstate more restrictive COVID-19-related safeguards. ... [And] following her refusal in mediation to further negotiate a compromise, the Attorney General's Office has filed to withdraw our pending lawsuit," the governor said. She has also questioned why she was singled out by Kemp in the lawsuit when other city leaders issued similar directives.

Trump And His Campaign Amplify Birther Conspiracy Against Kamala HarrisEnlarge this image toggle caption Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesPresident Trump stoked a controversial theory being promoted by supporters — and his campaign — that Sen. Kamala Harris is not eligible for the vice presidency. Trump was responding to a question and was referencing a Newsweek opinion piece by Law Professor John Eastman inaccurately calling into question Harris' eligibility. I would have assumed that the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president." Experts say anyone born in the United States is an American citizen, which makes them eligible for the presidency. The 14th amendment reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

Kamala Harris is a sitting U.S. senator who was vetted during the primaries, the daughter of immigrants and the first black woman and Indian-American on a major-party ticket. She thus satisfies the basic requirements of a vice-presidential choice: First do no harm, and second pick up what you can. She went national early and quickly, like Barack Obama, who’d also been in the Senate less than two years when he began running for president. She is a woman of the left who entered the law not as a defense attorney but as a prosecutor. Her glamour, and her consciousness of it, were vivid enough to be spoofed by Maya Rudolph on “Saturday Night Live.”

President, after three and a half years do you regret at all, all the lying you’ve done to the American people?” ”That was the question asked by HuffPost White House correspondent S.V. Dáte on Thursday at President Donald Trump’s daily coronavirus news briefing. Trump appeared to not completely hear the question. “All the what?” he said.

“We want people to vote so when they vote it means one vote. Trump currently trails in national opinion polls and has repeatedly attacked mail-in voting this year, claiming that expanding such voting would lead to large-scale fraud in the election. Trump’s challenges to USPS funding have fueled allegations that he is trying to hamstring the service ahead of the presidential election where mail-in voting is likely to be crucial. Later in the briefing, Trump declined to denounce claims that Harris doesn’t meet constitutional requirements to serve as Biden’s running mate. “I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president,” he said in a response to reporter’s question.

The candidates are starting to talk taxes. But what they’re saying is more campaigning than policy. Biden offers specifics that won’t come to pass, and Trump hasn’t released a plan. Most of the differences lie in whether to keep the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or dump it.

Former Vice President Joe Biden would be America's second Catholic president if he were elected in November. Thus, he is a Catholic.”This isn’t the first time Biden’s Catholic bona fides have been challenged by a Catholic cleric. Rozell noted that in 2004 Catholic voters preferred Methodist George W. Bush to their fellow Catholic Kerry. He added that “this is not 1960,” when Catholic voters rallied around John F. Kennedy. What about a cultural affinity between a Catholic politician and Catholic voters?

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that he warned Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov against placing bounties on the heads of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, assuring him there would be “an enormous price to pay.”“If the Russians are offering money to kill Americans, or for that matter other Westerns as well, there will be an enormous price to pay. That’s what I shared with foreign minister Lavrov,” Pompeo said during an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The Times reported that some bounties as high as $100,000 were paid for each U.S. or allied troop killed. Trump has said he was not briefed on the intelligence because there was not a consensus about its reliability within the intelligence community. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been entrenched in negotiations with the Taliban and the Afghan government over a peace agreement that involves the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region.

Rep. J.C. Watts (R) Oklahoma joins Yahoo Finance to discuss the 2020 election, Sen. Kamala Harris, and how both parties are struggling to get the Black vote.

An independent group of investigators from the U.S. Army will be probing the rise of serious crimes at Fort Hood, Texas, involving the military base's soldiers. At least nine service members have been found dead at Fort Hood, and in more than half of those cases, foul play has not been ruled out. "They are the highest and most cases for sexual assault and harassment and murders for our entire formation, U.S. Story continuesWhile searching for Guillen, investigators found the remains of fellow Fort Hood solider Gregory Wendel Morales near the base. "It's quite alarming to see what's happening at Fort Hood," said veteran Melissa Bryant, who was once stationed at the base.

Donald Trump got a bit of an unexpected question from a reporter at his press conference, who asked him if he regretted “all the lying you have done to the American people.”The reporter was S.V. Date, White House correspondent for HuffPost, who also was serving as the print pool reporter on Thursday. President, do you regret all of the lying you have done for the American people?”“All the what?” Trump responded. “And who is that?” Trump asked. After Trump’s remark, Meghan McCain tweeted about what her father, John McCain, experienced when he ran for president.

President Trump answered a question Wednesday from OAN Network about the reputed website antifa.com. Take a look at any place you want to take a look at, and they're all over the place. We had to save-- they wanted to knock down a courthouse, a $500 million courthouse. And they're doing damage, and we're recommending to the governor that they call in national security, call in the National Guard. We sent just defensive measures to protect and save that courthouse from being burned down or knocked down.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) has resisted the idea of tying government funding to coronavirus relief, arguing that it is too long to wait. The White House and Senate Republicans have countered with a $1.1-trillion plan, and rejected Democrats’ offer to compromise at around $2 trillion. White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Democrats want to include too many items on their “liberal, left wish lists,” such as measures to provide money for mail-in voting this fall. Since then, the White House has taken a firmer hand, including leaving the talks last week when they concluded Democrats weren’t willing to compromise. McConnell has largely sat on the sidelines, content to have the White House negotiate the GOP position.

Lukashenko responded with a tough crackdown on demonstrations, deriding the opposition as “sheep” manipulated by foreign masters. Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek dismissed Lukashenko’s claim, saying his country has not organized any protests. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Lukashenko Friday to mend the rift, and quickly congratulated him Monday on winning the vote. The Belarusian leader also received congratulations from Chinese President Xi Jinping and heads of several ex-Soviet nations. Analysts warn that even though Lukashenko can easily suppress the opposition protests, he will face mounting challenges ahead.

China showed its determination to defy such pressure on Monday by arresting leading independent media tycoon Jimmy Lai and raiding the publisher’s headquarters. BEIJING — China on Monday announced unspecified sanctions against 11 US politicians and heads of organizations promoting democratic causes, including Republican Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas, who had already been singled out by Beijing. AdvertisementThe number of Americans named by the foreign ministry exactly equals the number of Hong Kong and Chinese officials placed on a sanctions list by the United States last week over the crackdown. Cotton said he was sanctioned for defending the victims of Communist Party rule, including Hong Kong students fighting for democracy. AdvertisementThe move came in response to months of sometimes violent antigovernment protests last year that Beijing said were encouraged by foreign forces in a bid to overthrow Chinese rule over the former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems’’ framework meant to last until 2047.

The state of emergency allows the army to impose curfews, ban assemblies, and impose censorship on media organizations and publications if it deems them threatening to national security, and also extends the ability of officials to try civilians in military courts. A two-week emergency was first declared by the Cabinet in an emergency session with President Michel Aoun the day of the explosion, but the Parliament’s approval makes the measure official and has raised concerns about enabling a crackdown on protesters and those critical of the government. BEIRUT — In its first session since a devastating explosion rocked Beirut last week, Lebanon’s Parliament approved a state of emergency that extends sweeping powers to the army in the city, a situation that rights groups have said could pose a threat to freedoms. Officials had known for years that highly explosive materials were being kept at the site, which is the country’s main port. The government had already implemented a “state of general mobilization” in March to allow it to impose restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, including curfews, and some legal groups have questioned why an additional state of emergency was imposed.

The EU ‘‘acknowledges the US decision not to exacerbate the ongoing aircraft dispute by increasing tariffs on European products,’’ according to a European Commission post on Twitter. Advertisement‘‘I welcome the decision not to impose tariffs on gin and blended whisky, and to remove tariffs on shortbread. The EU, meanwhile, is waiting for a WTO decision to come as early as September that may allow for retaliation against the United States. Hogan last month stepped up a call for the United States to negotiate a settlement to the transatlantic dispute. So far, Washington has rejected at least three offers from Brussels for a settlement because the EU and United States ‘‘don’t have the same number,’’ he said.

In a decision that overturned a 2019 ruling by a Texas-based federal judge, a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans said “only the Supreme Court may revise its precedent.”NEW ORLEANS — A federal appeals court in New Orleans upheld the constitutionality of the all-male military draft system Thursday, citing a 1981 US Supreme Court decision. AdvertisementThursday’s unanimous ruling from the three-judge panel acknowledged that “the factual underpinning of the controlling Supreme Court decision has changed. However, the judges noted, “that does not grant a court of appeals license to disregard or overrule that precedent.”Plaintiffs in the case could seek a rehearing before the full 17-judge appeals court or go to the Supreme Court. Earlier this year — after the arguments before the Fifth Circuit — a federal commission recommended including women in the military draft system. AdvertisementThe 2019 district court decision declaring the male-only draft unconstitutional had been appealed by the Selective Service System, the federal agency that administers the draft.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Iranian navy boarded and briefly seized a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the United States, the American military said Thursday. The Iranian navy also handles all operations in the Gulf of Oman on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of all oil traded passes. “We call on Iran to articulate to the international community the legal basis for its actions,” the group said in a statement. In July, a US-sought oil tanker was “hijacked” off the coast of the United Arab Emirates after allegedly smuggling Iranian crude oil. The vessel later ended up back in Iranian waters, suggesting Iran itself seized the vessel.

Is her South Asian identity being overlooked? The initial headlines announcing Kamala Harris’s candidacy for vice president heralded her selection as the first Black woman on a major party’s presidential ticket. Advertisement“First black AND Asian American woman . Another Twitter user, who said she is a Black woman with a Black and South Asian son, replied, “Yes!! “Maya Harris’s tweet [calling Kamala Harris Black] really is the reality of what it’s like to be multiracial and Black in the United States.

Mueller did not find evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia, but he did detail extensive contacts between the campaign and Russian operatives. Cohen worked closely with Trump for years before turning against him, most publicly in testimony to Congress last year prior to Trump’s impeachment. Cohen said he knows where Trump’s metaphorical “skeletons” are buried because he buried them. Trump has called Cohen “a rat,” and a liar, and Cohen said he faced repeated death threats from Trump supporters. A federal judge last month ruled Cohen had been subjected to retaliation for planning to publish his book, and ordered him released again.

An OPT permit essentially expands F-1 education visas for foreign college and university students so they can work while in school or after graduating. The Ombudsman’s report says 200,162 OPT holders were employed in the U.S. in 2018, more than one-fifth of all foreign students. About a third of foreign students that year came from China, with India next at about a fifth. The OPT program grew 400% between 2008 and 2018, Pew Research has reported. Last year, Arizona Republican Congressman Paul Gosar, supported by immigration hardliners including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, introduced a “Fairness for High-Skilled Americans” bill — which has not progressed — to kill the OPT program.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on mail-in ballots for general electionGov. Doug Ducey addresses Arizona's success with mail-in ballots and what to expect for the November general election. Arizona Governor's Office

The Clark County School Board will meet Thursday at 5 p.m. for the last time before schools virtually welcome students back on Aug. 24. Clark County School District Administrative Center is seen in Las Vegas, Saturday, March 14, 2020. (Chitose Suzuki / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @chitosephotoThe Clark County School Board will meet Thursday at 5 p.m. for the last time before schools virtually welcome students back on Aug. 24. — Another $1.8 million toward Kajeet internet hot spots to provide WiFi services to qualifying families. In an addendum to the agenda, the school district indicated it wanted to discuss creation of a reimbursement program for Cox internet services.

A North Las Vegas man accused of punching a Black man because of his race has been found competent to stand trial, records show. Clark County Detention Center (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphotoA North Las Vegas man accused of punching a Black man because of his race has been found competent to stand trial, records show. Richmond Collins Jr., 31, was arrested in November after he told police that he punched a Black man at a Walmart because of his race, according to a recently released North Las Vegas Police Department arrest report. In May, his case was sent to District Court for a competency hearing, court records show. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 25 in North Las Vegas Justice Court.

Watch the Chicago Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet and Laura Washington’s conversation about the upcoming 2020 Democratic and Republican conventions. Our newsmaker guests are Trump Campaign Advisor and former Trump 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski; Illinois for Trump campaign co-chair Rep. Darin LaHood; member of the Illinois Democratic Party State Central Committee Rep. Robin Kelly and Biden delegate and Distinguished Fellow Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a visiting professor at Stanford University Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Ertharin Cousin.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fiery, two-vehicle crash that left three people dead in central Las Vegas that also involved the rescue of a child from a burning vehicle. A vehicle fire on I-15 North near the Martin Luther King Boulevard in Las Vegas, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Las Vegas Fire Department)Firefighters put out a vehicle fire involved in a fatal crash on northbound Interstate 15 near the exit to Martin Luther King Boulevard in Las Vegas, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Nevada Highway Patrol)The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle crash that left three people dead in central Las Vegas and involved the rescue of a child from a burning vehicle. The crash occurred at 11:16 a.m. Thursday on the ramp connecting northbound Interstate 15 to northbound U.S. Highway 95, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

He used the same voting procedure for the March presidential primary — having a representative pick up and return ballots — opting not to use in-person early voting, even though he spent a weekend at Mar-a-Lago while early voting was taking place, and there was an early voting center at the library across the street from the golf club where he spent part of both days that weekend.

Sure, we all have stories about delayed letters and surly clerks. But most of us also have stories about carriers who’ve gone above and beyond, like so many did in the Chicago area Monday and Tuesday, dodging windstorm damage to complete their appointed rounds. And polls routinely rank the USPS as the most popular federal agency — a Pew Research Center survey released in April showed it with a 91% favorability rating.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled out, both sides played the blame game Thursday rather than make any serious moves to try to break their stalemate. Official Washington is emptying, national politics is consuming the airwaves and the chasm between the warring sides appears too great for now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressed the case for funding for the U.S. “Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gave a damn,” Pelosi said when asked if she should accept a smaller COVID-19 rescue package rather than endure weeks of possible gridlock. All of the chief combatants have exited Washington after a several-day display of staying put as to not get blamed for abandoning the talks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday gave credence to a false and racist conspiracy about Kamala Harris’ eligibility to be president, fueling an online misinformation campaign that parallels the one he used to power his rise into politics. Speaking from the White House, Trump told reporters he had “heard” rumors that Harris, a Black woman and U.S.-born citizen whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors “very serious.”The conspiracy is false. “Full stop, end of story, period, exclamation point,” said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School. “Let’s just be honest about what it is: It’s just a racist trope we trot out when we have a candidate of color whose parents were not citizens.”

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council started voting Thursday evening on a U.S. resolution that would indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, a measure that faces strong opposition from Russia and China and is almost certain to be defeated. The results of the email voting because of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to be announced on Friday evening, and it is likely the resolution will not get the minimum nine “yes” votes in the 15-member Security Council for Russia and China to use their vetoes. Ambassador Kelly Craft urged European nations that support the nuclear deal with Iran to put in writing their ideas to extend the expiring arms embargo on the Islamic Republic, indicating that the the United States may be willing to compromise on its demand for an indefinite extension. Craft said in an interview with The Associated Press that the United States was “keeping the space open” for talks with the United Kingdom, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China. The five veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council still support the 2015 agreement with Iran aimed at preventing the country from acquiring nuclear weapons, which U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018.

MIAMI (AP) — The Trump administration has seized the cargo of four tankers it was targeting for transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela, U.S. officials said Thursday, as it steps up its campaign of maximum pressure against the two heavily sanctioned allies. At the time, sanctions experts thought it would be impossible to enforce the U.S. court order in international waters. A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that no military force was used in the seizures and that the ships weren't physically confiscated. Rather, U.S. officials threatened ship owners, insurers and captains with sanction to force them to hand over their cargo, which now becomes U.S. property, the official said. It is not clear where the vessels or their cargoes currently are.

Congressional hopeful Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse is trying to turn the allegations of impropriety against him around on his opponent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, accusing the Western Massachusetts congressman of covertly orchestrating the story — which Neal insists he didn’t do. UMass Amherst is looking into allegations from three college groups, most prominently the UMass-Amherst College Democrats, who claimed the mayor’s actions “made young college students uncomfortable” as he made advances toward them at the organizations’ events and on social media. Neal’s campaign also said it condemns any attacks against Morse, who’s openly gay, that are homophobic. “I’ve been very clear about not apologizing for his being young for being single for being openly gay,” Morse said. Asked whether — his sexuality aside — if having relationships with college students shows poor judgment, the mayor just said, “Every interaction I’ve had has been consensual, between adults, and I’ll let people come to their own conclusions.”

Oklahoma County officials voted Thursday to give $42 million to the trust overseeing the overcrowded jail to fight COVID-19. We are so subject to lawsuits right now with this large number of people in the jail. "And we can't even COVID test enough. We don't have the funding to COVID test to bring the defendants over here for court, so we stack up even more because their court cases keep getting extended, extended. The county is going to have to pay for this one way or another."

The Ministry of Defence has been accused of using the RAF as a “quick fix” to the migrant crisis, as new research revealed the majority of the British public backed the Royal Navy being stationed in the English Channel. Of the 1,600 people surveyed earlier this week, during a period that has seen a record number of migrant crossings, three quarters said they felt that illegal entry to the UK via the channel was a serious issue. More than 900 asylum seekers have arrived since Tuesday last week, with more having made the crossing yesterday, for the 10th day in a row. A spokesman for YouGov said: “While RAF search and rescue surveillance aircraft are already in the air, the Royal Navy has yet to deploy vessels to the English Channel. “Whether it does or not, it is clear that the majority of the British public would support the continued use of both branches of the military to secure the border.”

Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen has vowed to reveal the private secrets of the US president’s past life in a new tell-all book which he wrote from prison. Cohen was Mr Trump’s fixer and confidant for more than a decade but flipped on Mr Trump during the Russian election meddling investigation and was ultimately jailed for lying to Congress. On Thursday, Cohen announced the imminent release of a new memoir, titled Disloyal, and published the 3,700-word foreword that teased explosive revelations to come. “The President of the United States wanted me dead. Or, let me say it the way Donald Trump would: He wouldn’t mind if I was dead,” Cohen writes at one point.

President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has said that if a future administration under Joe Biden tried to prosecute Donald Trump, the country would become a “banana republic.”During an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday, Mr Giuliani was asked "how damaging would it be for a Biden administration to criminally prosecute a former president?" Daily coronavirus briefing No hype, just the advice and analysis you need Enter your email address Continue Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists. “It's no surprise,” Mr Biden said. “Whining is what Donald Trump does best more than any president in American history. Is anyone surprised Donald Trump has a problem with a strong woman?”Sen Harris broadly condemned Mr Trump and his administration but didn't address his specific remarks about her.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlinesThe Independent contacted Mr Trump’s campaign for comment. Mr Cohen’s claims largely repeat similar accusations he has made in the past — which were denied by Mr Trump — with slight alterations. During his testimony to Congress in February 2019, Mr Cohen called Mr Trump a “cheat”, and claimed he knew ahead of time about WikiLeaks’ release of emails in 2016 that damaged his opponent Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Mr Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after admitting to arranging payments to women who claimed to have had affairs with Mr Trump. In the foreword for the book, Mr Cohen also repeated claims about Mr Trump pursuing real estate deals in Moscow during the election campaign.

Donald Trump has refused to refute his campaign’s discredited theory that Kamala Harris is not eligible to serve as vice president because her parents were not US citizens when she was born in the country. The senator, recently unveiled as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden‘s running mate, was born in California and is a US citizen. He also asked whether she’s not eligible to run because she was not born in the US, which is false. He didn’t acknowledge that Mr Obama was born in the US until 2016, months before his election. I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption There were 130 threats against Justin Trudeau from January to July this yearThe number of threats against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has risen compared to the same period last year, Canadian police have warned. Figures from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) show there were 130 threats against Mr Trudeau and ministers from January to July. In July, an armed suspect was arrested for breaching the entrance of the estate where Mr Trudeau lives. Footage posted on social media showed a man shouting insults and expletives about Ms McKenna and Mr Trudeau at one of Ms McKenna's staff members. Expressing her support for Ms MacLeod, Ms McKenna called for "better measures" to prevent threats and abuse against officials.

At the top of Thursday's briefing, Trump attacked Biden for politicizing the pandemic, ignoring science and forcing Americans into their basements. 'Joe Biden wants to fling open American borders allowing the pandemic to infiltrate every U.S. community based on his policies. 'That is what real leadership looks like, we just witnessed real leadership,' Kamala Harris said taking the podium and praising Joe Biden. It's about your responsibilities as Americans,' Biden went on. The Associated Press reported in May that Trump feared wearing a mask would 'send the wrong message.'

He added: “But if we don’t do that, as I said last April, this could be the worst fall, from a public health perspective, that we’ve ever had.”“We’re kind of in a war,” Dr. Robert Redfield told WebMD in an interview Wednesday. The U.S. is at risk of experiencing the worst fall health season that its ever had if more people don’t follow coronavirus prevention measures, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned this week. He stressed the need for the public to get the flu vaccine. Russia on Tuesday announced that it created the world’s first coronavirus vaccine that’s ready for use, though it has not completed clinical trials. “I hope that the Russians have actually definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective,” Fauci added.

pick that big business can backJoe Biden has selected Senator Kamala Harris of California as his vice-presidential running mate. On Monday, we wrote about how Mr. Biden was gaining traction among crucial donors in Big Finance and Big Tech. Wall Street is happy about the signal it sends. Ms. Harris was the moderate choice among more left-leaning candidates who may have taken a tougher line on finance firms. Ms. Harris got her start in the Bay Area, and has been a fixture in fund-raising circles there for decades.

Israel, UAE agree to normalize ties in what Trump calls 'historic' agreement Trump said he expects more countries to "follow the United Arab Emirates' lead." "Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalize their diplomatic relations," Trump said, surrounded by aides in the Oval Office. "The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship," the crown prince added. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called an emergency meeting to discuss the announcement, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Asked if he supported Israel annexing Palestinian land, Trump said "we're talking to Israel about that right now," without elaborating.

The Judicial Council of California voted 19-1 on Thursday to lift its moratorium on most evictions and foreclosures. "The duty of the judicial branch is to resolve disputes under the law and not to legislate." California lawmakers have thus far been unable to reach a deal on a legislative moratorium. California's Assembly and Senate have both taken up legislation for a state-wide eviction moratorium but, as the Associated Press noted, the bills clash on how to compensate landlords. Should that happen, as many as 365,000 households could be at risk of eviction, LAist reported, citing research by UCLA's Luskin Institute.

America’s 5G Moment of TruthBy Olive Morris — August 12, 2020The future of technological and economic innovation will be redefined by 5G. How Does 5G Technology Work? For the most effective 5G coverage, providers are utilizing all three bands:Low-band (sub-1GHz) spectrum —Spectrum is a finite resource, and low-band spectrum’s bandwidth is almost entirely depleted by LTE. This would make the 5G value chain larger than today’s entire mobile value chain, or the revenue that mobile technology facilitates across all sectors. Though the extent of China’s domestic 5G network is opaque, Chinese telecom companies claim to have the largest 5G consumer network in the world.

"Israel agreed not to annex parts of the West Bank. It is off the table now," Trump said during a White House briefing. This comes in contrast to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's earlier remarks that annexation is "still on the table," and that it is a pledge the prime minister said he is "committed to." "For years, Israel has been portrayed as an enemy…now more countries will join us in this circle of peace," the prime minister said. He added that annexation is "still on the table," and that it is a promise Netanyahu said he is "committed to."

Senior Israeli officials reportedly said Thursday that they are in advanced talks with Bahrain about normalizing ties with the Gulf state, hours after the historic announcement on Israel’s establishment of ties with the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain is expected to be the next country to establish official ties with Israel, a senior official told the Kan public broadcaster. A senior American official told Palestinian media that Bahrain and Oman are expected to normalize ties with Israel in the near future, the report also said. Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner said later Thursday that more Arab countries may soon announce normalized ties with Israel. Kushner said the administration had been in talks with other Arab states to normalize ties with Israel, too.

Postal Service, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and recently been mired in controversy with its new leadership. Trump's comments follow repeated unfounded claims that mail-in ballots will lead to widespread voter fraud. Postal Service is 2020 election sabotage amid COVID-19. "If the (coronavirus]) bill isn't gonna get done, that's gonna mean the Post Office isn't gonna get funded ... so, I don't know how you could possibly use these ballots, these mail-in ballots," Trump said. Professor Rubio said the massiveness of mail-in voting that could occur this year, and the changes within the USPS may impact that.

Dozens of felony charges have been approved in connection with widespread looting in downtown Chicago earlier this week, county prosecutors said Thursday evening. The Chicago Police Department sought felony charges in 43 cases, and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved 42 of them, according to the office. In the one case where the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to file felony charges, the CPD detectives concurred with not charging a felony, the office said. "I am committed to keeping our communities safe and continuing to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to demand accountability and seek justice for the people of Cook County." Chicago police arrested and charged Latrell Allen of Englewood with attempted murder after they say he shot at officers.

Trump attacks Biden on call for mask mandatePresident Donald Trump is going after his political rival over a call for a nationwide mask mandate. (Aug. 13)AP

President Trump accused Joe Biden of politicizing the coronavirus pandemic at a White House briefing Thursday after the presumptive Democratic nominee called for a nationwide mask mandate. “He does not identify what authority the president has to issue such a mandate or how federal law enforcement could enforce it,” Trump said. Trump said that his administration has taken a different approach, delegating mask-wearing policies to state governments, while encouraging Americans to mask up. “Do the right thing.”Trump added that Biden wants to “fling open” American borders amid the pandemic, and accused him of putting “left-wing politics” ahead of scientific evidence. “Joe Biden wants to fling open American borders, allowing the pandemic to infiltrate every US community based on his policies,” Trump said.

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday compared Sen. Kamala Harris to his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton — brutally describing her as a shallow opportunist who stands for nothing during an interview with The Post in the Oval Office. The president also tore apart Harris’ polarizing criminal justice record, accusing Joe Biden’s new running mate of being “extremely bad to the black community.”“She’s a bad version of Hillary. She’s a person that will say whatever is necessary and in the end in gets her in trouble,” Trump said. Trump himself recalled a now-infamous debate stage exchange last July where Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ripped Harris’ criminal justice record as the California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney. “She’s been extremely bad to the black community, extremely bad to the black community,” he continued.

President Trump said during an exclusive Oval Office interview on Thursday that his campaign is “putting New York in play” against Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Trump told The Post that he believes a spike in violent crime and high taxes can help him win his home state in an upset against Biden and running mate Kamala Harris. “For instance, we think we’re going to win New Mexico, we think we’re going to win Minnesota. You look at New York 11, New York 19, there’s quite a few opportunities in upstate as well,” Jack said. Trump acknowledged winning New York was an uphill battle, but cited a surge in crime and an increase in taxes.

More than 125 former employees of Legal Aid have called on the leadership to reinstate the four attorneys. AD“We were all just appalled,” said Emily Harris, a former Legal Aid staff attorney who worked for three years at an office that serves Prince George’s and Howard counties. Wilhelm H. Joseph, the executive director of Maryland Legal Aid, and Gustava E. Taler, the chief operating officer, did not return calls seeking comment. The chief attorneys wanted to have leeway in how their offices operated. The attorney said Joseph sent a memo to staffers on July 24 indicating that the four attorneys were no longer employed with Legal Aid and thanking them for their work.

The first rumination about a Joe Biden/Kamala Harris ticket began weeks after they both entered the presidential race. Harris beat Biden to the arena, but Biden surged in polls after announcing his campaign. And just days after the Trump campaign hammered Biden for a racially insensitive comment about diversity in the Black community, some around the campaign have stumbled with bigoted attacks on Harris. AD“He is solid as a rock,” President Trump said of Pence on Tuesday, when asked about Harris. “But if they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting.”The Biden campaign quickly unwrapped its political gift.

The pair questioned whether he was fit for the seat because he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charitable organization. Buescher responded that his involvement in the group consisted mostly of charitable work and community events at his local Catholic parish. McGuire told Breitbart Harris “has built a career out of opposing the work and values of Catholics." The Supreme Court later upheld the exemption but did not address whether the mandate itself is a violation of religious freedom. “It is equally disappointing to see Joe Biden tout his Catholic faith while picking as his running mate someone who has made her anti-Catholic bona fides clear.”

The left's attack on allegedly "sexist coverage" of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., exposes the blatant "hypocrisy" of the mainstream media, who took no issue with unflattering coverage and offensive descriptions of female GOP candidates in the past, Ari Fleischer said Thursday. "Look at their hypocrisy in the way they are saying any Republican who criticizes Kamala Harris is guilty of sexism," the former White House press secretary told "The Daily Briefing." Here is what The New York Times' Maureen Dowd said about Elizabeth Dole back then. "Where was The New York Times and the mainstream media beating up Maureen Dowd ... for the way she described Elizabeth Dole?" "I’m increasingly coming to the conclusion," Fleischer concluded, "that the political press corps are in the tank."

Austin, Texas became the latest city to defund the police Thursday when the city council unanimously approved a $150 million cut to its police deparment budget -- about 34% of its current total -- and reinvest the funds in other services, The Texas Tribune reported. Austin Mayor Steve Adler said Thursday during the meeting with City Council that this was not about disrespecting the police department. The New York City Council approved in June a $1 billion cut for the NYPD’s spending as part of its $88.19 billion citywide budget for 2021. CBS Los Angeles reported July 1 that the Los Angeles City Council approved a $150 million budget cut to the LAPD as part of its $10.5 billion citywide budget. A majority of the city council voiced support for replacing its police department with a new agency with a “public health-oriented approach” to public safety.

Yale University illegally discriminates against Asian American and White applicants during the admissions process, the Department of Justice said Thursday following an investigation. The DOJ informed Yale in a letter from Civil Rights Division official Eric Drieband that it reached the conclusion after a two-year investigation triggered by a complaint from Asian American groups. "Yale’s race discrimination imposes undue and unlawful penalties on racially-disfavored applicants, including in particular Asian American and White applicants." "The likelihood of admission for Asian American and White applicants who have similar academic credentials is significantly lower than for African American and Hispanic applicants to Yale College. For the great majority of applicants, Asian American and White applicants have only one-tenth to one-fourth of the likelihood of admission as African American applicants with comparable academic credentials."

The latest Fox News survey shows a reversal in what voters seek from leaders in Washington. The 23-point increase in wanting a hand comes from across the political spectrum, including independents (+15 points), Democrats (+17), and Republicans (+31). Currently, a majority of Democrats (71 percent) would tell the government to “lend me a hand.” Views split among independents (47 percent lend a hand vs. 46 percent leave me alone) and Republicans (45-48 percent). When it comes to Congressional action to lend a hand, voters favor passing additional unemployment benefits for those who lost their job due to the coronavirus by a 66-27 percent margin. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for all registered voters.

EXCLUSIVE: The theme of the upcoming 2020 GOP convention will be “Honoring the Great American Story” and will highlight America’s “greatness, opportunity and President Donald Trump’s bold leadership,” Fox News has learned. The Trump campaign on Thursday afternoon had back to back phone calls with Republican members of Congress, previewing the themes for the 2020 Republican National Convention, a source familiar with the calls told Fox News. The discussions come as the convention details remain in flux, and as the campaign and the Republican National Committee continue to adjust their plans amid the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the RNC last month said “a few hundred delegates” will be in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, Aug. 24 for convention business, which will include the formal nomination of the president. The Democratic National Convention, which was pushed back a month and is scheduled to start on Aug. 17, is still being held in Milwaukee.

The agreement normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, partially brokered by the Trump administration, marks a "tectonic shift in the way the Middle East operates," "Special Report" anchor Bret Baier said Thursday. "The fact that Israel is fully normalizing relations with the United Arab Emirates -- this is only the third Arab country in the Middle East to do this," Baier told "Bill Hemmer Reports" host John Roberts, "and this wasn’t thought that it was going to come to pass." TRUMP ANNOUNCES 'HISTORIC PEACE AGREEMENT' BETWEEN ISRAEL, UAEEgypt was the first Arab nation to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979. Baier noted both the Israeli and U.S. governments have claimed Thursday's agreement will lead to more interest from Arab nations in making similar deals. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe anchor added that the deal is a "big foreign policy win" for Trump, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it the "greatest advance toward peace in the Arab world in decades."

President Donald Trump on Thursday rejected former Vice President Joe Biden's call for a national mask mandate to combat the coronavirus, accusing the Democratic candidate for president of politicizing the outbreak and of shunning science in combating the pandemic. Trump, who resisted calls to wear masks for months, now endorses the idea, although he favors allowing governors to decide on whether to require them at the state level. "We have urged Americans to wear masks. "Maybe they're great and maybe they're just good, maybe they're not so good. "We'll defeat this virus, but not by hiding in our basements, he's got to come out of his basement.

"I was concerned for the safety of everyone in that building and everyone in the county because precautions that the CDC and guidelines that the CDC has been telling us for months now, weren't being followed," Watters told CNN, after her photo drew national attention. Perhaps the fact that the President hasn't personally suffered thus far has played a part in this. As Trump has continued to hold rallies in defiance of social distancing advice, and ridiculed mask-wearers -- including his presidential opponent Joe Biden -- an opposition to social distancing has become synonymous not only with Covid-skepticism, but with partisan politics. Trump's example has also been followed by other leaders -- and applied whatever sphere of public life most suits them. Looking from across the pond, the politicization of the pandemic in the US appears to have added an extra dimension to the animosity over social distancing among the population.

(CNN) Manhattan prosecutors in Cuba Gooding Jr.'s groping case said in court Thursday that more women have come forward with accusations of unwanted touching by the Oscar-winning actor, bringing the total number of women to come forward to 30. He was flanked by his attorney Peter Toumbekis, who argued in court Thursday to be able to question people seen in a video around the time Gooding allegedly abused women. One of those incidents allegedly involves a waitress at a club who says Gooding forcibly touched her in September 2018. Toumbekis argued that he should be able to cross-examine accusers about past statements they've made publicly. He also argued to be able to question the victim about her proclivity for threesomes over monogamous relationships.

Through its Peace House and surrounding campus, the organization helps provide anything the community wants and needs to improve their lives -- from fresh food and employment assistance to afterschool and wellness programs. "We know that we are in a community that is very vulnerable ... and that they would be extremely hard-hit," Carroll said. When George Floyd happened, it was, again, look, Black America is telling us it's painful. And since then I've seen just really, really abusive use of power. And this is being done to a community that doesn't get the voice to actually say, "I am being hurt."

(CNN) 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Thursday that if President Donald Trump loses the presidential election this fall, she believes he won't go "silently into the night." I have every reason to believe that Trump is not going to go, you know, silently into the night if he loses. He's going to try to confuse us, he's going to try to bring all kinds of lawsuits, he's got his crony Attorney General (William) Barr ready to do whatever is necessary," Clinton said at The 19th Represents Summit. Earlier on Thursday, Trump said he opposes much-needed funding for the US Postal Service because he doesn't want to see it used for mail-in voting this November. In an evening news conference, he said would not veto a bill that contains the funding, but continued to claim without evidence that mail-in voting would lead to widespread fraud.

The White House has had a history of plumbing woes, mostly based on age and wear and tear. The White House did not respond to CNN's request for comment. A comprehensive modern update to White House plumbing didn't occur until the massive renovation overseen by Harry S. Truman, from 1948-1952. "People are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once," said the President at a White House event last December. And with those showerheads, even Trump might feel better about the efforts he puts in to achieve what he calls his "beautiful" hair.

The former vice president and the current President are two entirely different human beings! Just 19% of Trump voters say they are voting for the incumbent because he's not Biden. If this race is about Trump, Biden wins. Biden's campaign knows that voters will be faced with a choice between two men on November 3. And if that happens, Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States.

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - At least three people died during protests in Ivory Coast on Thursday, police said, as small groups burned makeshift road blocks in protests against President Alassane Ouattara’s decision to stand for a third term. Policemen detain a demonstrator during a protest against president Alassane Ouattara's decision to stand for a third term, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, August 13, 2020. REUTERS/Luc GnagoThe West African nation has seen a number of scattered protests since Ouattara announced last week he would run in the Oct. 31 election, with the opposition accusing him of violating term limits. The executive director of Ouattara’s party, Adama Bictogo, defended Ouattara’s decision to run again, saying: “For us the debate is closed.”Ouattara’s opponents have accused the police of using excess force to break up demonstrations this week. Ivory Coast law limits presidential terms to two, but Ouattara says a new constitution adopted in 2016 acted as a reset button, allowing him to run again.

The White House released a 4-page set of guidelines for schools, teachers, and students to reopen, which the President of the American Federation of Teachers called "almost comical in their lack of detail and rigor"

Tim Miller, Republican strategist and writer-at-large for the Bulwark, talks to Chuck Todd about reticence among Republicans to stand up against conspiracy theorists.

"This damning acknowledgment totally exposes that Ron Johnson's disgraceful conduct is the definition of malfeasance," said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates. Graham is pursuing allegations of abuses by the FBI in its investigation into the Trump campaign's 2016 contacts with Russia. Trump has repeatedly encouraged investigations into former President Barack Obama, claiming without evidence that Obama committed grave crimes against Trump’s incoming administration. Trump dubbed the alleged scandal “Obamagate” but has offered no details to support allegations that Obama committed any wrongdoing. "The very transparent goal of their own disinformation campaign and feigned concern is to attack our character in order to marginalize the eventual findings of our investigation," Johnson wrote.

The Fox News poll was conducted from Aug. 9-12 and over half of the interviews were completed after Biden selected Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his vice presidential pick. The poll finds 44 percent of voters view Harris favorably while 40 percent view her unfavorably. Vice President Mike Pence, on the other hand, is viewed favorably by 41 percent of voters and unfavorably by 51 percent. More voters trust Trump to handle Biden on the economy by a margin of four percentage points. The race has tightened since June, when Fox News found Biden had a 12-point advantage over Trump, 50 percent to 38 percent.

During a press conference at the White House President Trump criticized Joe Biden's call for a mask mandate.

Donald Trump says he will block funding for the U.S. Postal Service because Democrats want to expand mail-in voting during the pandemic

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attacks negotiators from the White House and Republicans in Congress, calling them "the hoax," not the coronavirus.

Jared Kushner explains why he met with Kanye West as Republican operatives try to get Kanye on the ballot.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) says "you can rely on the mail up to a certain point" despite President Trump's attacks

(AP) — Michigan will mail postcards telling 4.4 million registered voters that they can vote from home in November’s presidential election, and it will spend $2 million to reimburse local governments that provide pre-paid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Thursday. She said the moves, which come amid the coronavirus pandemic, are needed to make sure voters and election workers can stay safe. She pointed to the record number of absentee ballots that were cast in last week’s primary , which also had record turnout. The state will allocate $5.5 million in federal funding to local jurisdictions not only for postage on ballot return envelopes but also to redesign envelopes to the standards of the U.S. Any voter can cast an absentee ballot without needing an excuse following the approval of a ballot initiative in 2018.

A coalition of voting rights groups in Arizona have banded together with a lofty goal of getting one million people to vote this November. A coalition of voting rights groups in Arizona have banded together with a lofty goal of getting one million people to vote this November. (AP Photo/Matt York)PHOENIX (AP) — A coalition of voting rights groups in Arizona has banded together with the lofty goal of getting one million people to vote against President Donald Trump this November. Latinos account for nearly a quarter of registered voters in Arizona, but have had lower-than-expected turnout in past presidential elections. U.S. Census data shows that 47% of eligible Hispanic voters in Arizona cast a ballot in 2016, compared to nearly 63% of eligible white voters.

The five veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council still support the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran which U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018. The U.S. initially circulated a resolution to the 15-member council to indefinitely extend the arms embargo which was seven pages long and had 35 paragraphs. Asked about reports the Europeans have talked about a six-month extension of the arms embargo, she replied: “They mentioned six months. ADVERTISEMENTThe foreign ministers of Russia and China, in separate letters to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council last month, were sharply critical of the U.S. effort to indefinitely extend the arms embargo. Craft said council members face a choice between “sponsoring terrorism” or promoting international peace and security.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden joined by his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., replaces his face mask after speaking at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden joined by his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., replaces his face mask after speaking at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday attacked Joe Biden for calling on governors to mandate that all Americans wear masks for the next three months, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of politicizing an issue Trump himself has used for political gain in recent months. On Thursday, he said it’s patriotic for Americans to wear masks, but added, “maybe they’re great, and maybe they’re just good. Step up, do the right thing.”The back-and-forth marked a new line of attack from Trump, who is trailing Biden significantly in most nationwide and swing-state surveys.

“We’ll be paying into Social Security through the general fund.”ADVERTISEMENTBut aides to the president on Thursday sought to walk back Trump’s comments. In comments Wednesday to reporters, Trump said at least four times that he would end the payroll tax. The 12.4% payroll tax split between employers and workers funds Social Security. ADVERTISEMENTIt is highly unlikely that economic growth would be enough to offset the loss of the payroll tax. Payroll tax cuts are among the least effective ways to promote growth during a recession, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody Analytics.

DOJ: Yale Discriminates Against Asian American and White Applicants In AdmissionsEnlarge this image toggle caption Beth Harpaz/AP Beth Harpaz/APThe Department of Justice accused Yale University of violating federal civil rights law by illegally discriminating against Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions process. Those are the findings of a two-year investigation conducted in response to a complaint by a coalition of Asian American groups. It went on to say that "for the great majority of applicants," Asian American and white prospective students have one-tenth to one-fourth of the likelihood of admission as African American applicants with comparable academic credentials. The Justice Department is demanding that Yale agree not to use race or national origin in its upcoming 2020-2021 admissions cycle. Disclaimer: Rachel Treisman is a graduate of Yale University.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The only Native American on federal death row lost a bid Thursday to push back his execution date. Mitchell's attorneys sought a delay from the U.S. District Court in Arizona where he was sentenced in the 2001 slayings of a 63-year-old fellow Navajo tribal member and her 9-year-old granddaughter. “The court therefore concludes that the government's planned method of execution is not inconsistent with the salient provisions of Arizona law,” Campbell wrote. That court granted him a reprieve from execution last year as he sought to interview jurors in his case about potential racial bias. The Navajo Nation said no to executing Lezmond Mitchell, despite the grisly nature of the killings.

Photo credit: Jim Bennett - Getty ImagesFrom Harper's BAZAARAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez virtually reunited with her second-grade teacher, whom she called Ms. Jacobs, via Twitter. Tweeting in reference to the 60-second time slot for her remarks at the Democratic National Convention next week, AOC quoted a poem by civil rights leader Benjamin Mays: "I only have a minute. Only a tiny little minute,But eternity is in it.”- Dr. Benjamin E. Mays(and recited by Elijah Cummings) ? https://t.co/ul9CE7NriV— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 12, 2020Then, a user tweeted their encouraging response to her. Thank you for teaching me, encouraging my growth, and believing in me as a child ?— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 12, 2020Ms. Jacobs's Twitter bio reads, "Veteran elementary teacher. "We shouldn't have had to fight for our students' lives," Sarah Chambers, a special education teacher, told Business Insider.

California Senator Kamala Harris has been announced as Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick. Here is what you need to know about her.

The Iranian Navy briefly seized an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. Video TranscriptALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS: An Iran-operated navy helicopter boarded and then briefly seized a Liberian-flagged oil tanker yesterday near the Strait of Hormuz. IEA out with a report saying that demand for oil this year worse than expected. And they're saying that yes, 500,000 barrels per day, that is the demand cut estimate. So maybe some of the tensions in the Gulf right now are contributing to the oil increase here.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday sought to clarify President Trump’s promise to “terminate” the payroll tax if he is reelected, saying instead he meant he wanted “permanent forgiveness” of the temporary payroll tax deferral. And it works out very nicely.” Trump explained the tax cut would spur economic growth, which would contribute to the general fund. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SAYS PERMANENT PAYROLL TAX CUT NOT ON THE TABLE, DESPITE TRUMP COMMENTS"The payroll tax deferral will be forgiven," Kudlow said outside the White House on Thursday. The payroll tax is used to fund Social Security and Medicare. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has denounced the president’s payroll tax cut as a “reckless war on Social Security.” However, in 2011, roles were reversed: President Barack Obama urged Republicans to pass a payroll tax cut.

President Trump accused presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden of attempting “to politicize a pandemic” following his call Thursday for a nationwide mask mandate to slow the spread of coronavirus. During an evening press briefing, Trump told Biden to "stop playing politics with the virus." At the event, Biden called for a nationwide mask mandate, pushing governors to require masks in all states for at least the next three months. Biden cited estimates saying a mask mandate would save at least 40,000 lives over the three-month period. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP”Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus,” Biden said.

The Fremont Unified School District has decided to form a 25-member task force to help it decide whether to stop allowing cops to patrol its campuses. On Thursday morning, a bit before 1 a.m., the board voted 4-1, with Trustee Larry Sweeney dissenting, to form the task force. Sweeney said he felt the task force should have more parents and fewer district employees. “One of the big concerns here is about how the SRO program disproportionately impacts certain racial groups. We need to have that representation on this committee somehow,” Jones said; other board members agreed.

On Thursday, O’Rourke said Lynn did not order others to take off their masks, but rather, “on very few occasions, Judge Lynn requested that counsel or another party lower their mask while addressing the court when they were inaudible and either the judge or the court reporter could not decipher what was being said.”

A group of state legislators — some of whom have called for beleaguered House Speaker Mike Madigan to resign — on Thursday urged their Democratic colleagues to pass ethics reforms that would include limiting how long lawmakers could serve in leadership positions. State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said the group believes they could get “broad bipartisan support” for the reform efforts. The group has shared its proposal with the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform, which was slated to release a report in March. Madigan has not been charged with any crime, has denied any wrongdoing and said he has no plans to resign. “This is way bigger than Speaker Madigan,” Edly-Allen said.

Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worries could cost him the election. “If we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money,” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo. He’s pairing the tough Postal Service stance in congressional negotiations with an increasingly robust mail-in -voting legal fight in states that could decide the election. That followed legal maneuvers in battleground Pennsylvania, where the campaign hopes to force changes to how the state collects and counts mail-in ballots. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year.

Postal Service. Postal Service and election security ahead of the November election. “They want $25 billion — billion — for the post office,” he said, adding that, without it, the Postal Service won’t be equipped to handle the influx of mail-in ballots. Dems seek $10B for USPSDemocrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. Postal Service to hinder Americans from voting.

They say the plans are not tied to House Speaker Michael Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving official in that capacity. Less than a month ago, federal prosecutors accused Commonwealth Edison of a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments to Madigan allies in exchange for favorable action in the state Capitol. ComEd agreed to pay a $200 million fine and Madigan, who was described in that agreement as “Public Official A,” has not been charged with wrongdoing.

After taking office in 2018, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran ordered the reassessment to be completed for the 2020-21 tax year. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, issued an executive order that gives Nassau assessment officials some room to breathe. The deadline for homeowners to file assessment challenges had been April 30. She said it would not hamper the ability of her office to produce tax bills. In March, a county report estimated that tax bills for more than 205,000 homeowners in Nassau — about 53% — were would rise in October'20 and January'21 under Curran's reassessment.

In body camera footage released Thursday depicting the moments after Tuesday's officer-involved shooting, plainclothes officers can be seen bent over an injured Andre Thomas, pleading with him to stay awake. Andre Thomas, 37, was followed after officers said they saw him making a drug sale in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Police officer John Brown admitted to firing the shot during a struggle at the gas station. In that footage, released Thursday along with surveillance footage, Thomas can be heard moaning in pain after the bullet was shot into his lower back. The video shows crime scene tape going up around the gas station as more police vehicles arrive on the scene.

In 2018, only 17% of Democratic voters anticipated voting difficulties and 83% predicted it would be easy. Despite concerns about voting, Americans believe this election is the most important in the two decades that the Pew Research has conducted surveys. In a sign of the high stakes for Democrats, the poll found Biden supporters would be far more "angry" if their candidate loses. Sixty-one percent of Biden supporters said they would be "angry" if their candidate loses, compared with 37% of Trump supporters who said they would be "angry" if Trump loses. Thirty-seven percent of Biden supporters said they would be "disappointed" if Biden lost while 59% of Trump supporters said they would be "disappointed."

CHICAGO (AP) — Longtime state Sen. Terry Link was charged in federal court Thursday with filing a false tax return, the latest Illinois lawmaker to face public corruption charges. The charge comes after several other state lawmakers were charged as a result of the federal government's ongoing criminal investigations into public corruption. Among them was state Rep. Luis Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, who pleaded not guilty to bribery allegations. He's accused of paying a bribe to an unnamed state senator in exchange for support of a gambling bill that would have benefited a lobbying client. In announcing the charge last October, federal prosecutors revealed that the unnamed state senator had been cooperating with them since 2016.

(AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday attacked Joe Biden for calling on governors to mandate that all Americans wear masks for the next three months, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of politicizing an issue Trump himself has used for political gain in recent months. Trump claimed Biden has been wrong about the coronavirus pandemic at every turn, “ignoring the scientific evidence and putting left-wing politics before facts and evidence." Trump went on to falsely say that Biden was advocating for the president to use executive power to institute a nationwide mask mandate and that Biden was in favor of “locking all Americans in their basements for months on end.”“To Joe, I would say stop playing politics with the virus," Trump said at the White House press briefing. Biden did not call for an executive order, but did at an earlier campaign event call for the institution of "a mask mandate nationwide, starting immediately.” Biden clarified, however, that it should be left up to the governors to make mask-wearing mandatory. He said nothing about keeping Americans indoors, but has argued that economic reopenings in states have been rushed and without proper guidance from the federal government to keep Americans safe.

“If we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money,” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo. He’s pairing the tough Postal Service stance in congressional negotiations with an increasingly robust mail-in -voting legal fight in states that could decide the election. That followed legal maneuvers in battleground Pennsylvania, where the campaign hopes to force changes to how the state collects and counts mail-in ballots. ADVERTISEMENTSkip................................................................Democrats have pushed for a total of $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on the COVID-19 response bill. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year.

Presidential candidate Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective mask mandate, citing health experts' predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from coronavirus over the next three months. "Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus," Biden said. He urges Americans to wear masks but has opposed the idea of a national requirement and declined to wear one for months. Read on for more developments today, along with helpful information and data on the worldwide health crisis. Virus tests sports programs as schools prepare to reopenVirus by the numbers: These charts show you how, where the virus spreads

The Biden campaign didn’t participate at all in the Arizona Police Association decision or that of the National Association of Police Officers, which also endorsed Trump, Winsky said. Trump spoke to the national organization, a national group of police unions, which subsequently endorsed him for president. “I think what turned the tide there is that they didn’t participate whatsoever,” Winsky said of the Biden campaign. Of course, police unions traditionally support conservative politicians, perhaps more so during this period of protest and controversy over police behavior. Essentially, folks, they’re letting the inmates run the asylum.”Of course, the president the unions are endorsing, who is attempting to win re-election as a law-and-order candidate, has been accused regularly and credibly of engaging in lawlessness himself.

The Council action in May 2019 followed an unsuccessful attempt by city officials to convince state lawmakers to strip powers from the office. City leaders at the time pointed to problems with revenue collection that exacerbated the city's foundering finances. Consultants Petersburg hired at the time to help supported the change; authorities charged the then-treasurer, Kevin Brown, with embezzlement. Parham and council members Charlie Cuthbert, Howard Myers and Darin Hill voted in favor of the ordinance. Vice Mayor John Hart and council members Treska Wilson-Smith and Annette Smith-Lee voted against it.

Presidential candidate Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective mask mandate, citing health experts' predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from coronavirus over the next three months. "Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus," Biden said. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said at a press briefing that his administration was sending 125 million reusable masks to school districts across the nation. He urges Americans to wear masks but has opposed the idea of a national requirement and declined to wear one for months. Read on for more developments today, along with helpful information and data on the worldwide health crisis.

Virginia would have to spend $45 million a week for its share of enhanced unemployment benefits under an executive order President Donald Trump signed last weekend, but the state could draw on other federal aid to cover its part of enhanced payment to people who lost work in the economic crisis. The executive order, issued after a breakdown in talks between Republicans and Democrats over a new COVID-19 relief package, requires participating states to pay 25% of the $400 weekly benefit, or $100 a week, for each eligible unemployment beneficiary. The state could use federal aid received under the CARES Act to cover its share, but that would diminish the amount of money the state has to pay for other critical needs related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The state also could use the first $100 of regular state unemployment insurance, but that would reduce the additional benefit to $300 a week. Ralph Northam.

Theo Hamilton, the president of the union that represents TARC drivers, said during Thursday's rally that the CARES funding is not being used to help protect workers. McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot who is looking to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November, said that McConnell lacks "basic respect" for essential workers, like TARC bus drivers. Leadership from several other unions, including the United Auto Workers 862 that represents local Ford workers and the Kentucky AFL-CIO, also attended the rally on Thursday. Bus drivers carried a variety of signs, ranging from "we don't feel safe" to "big risk, no reward." During the rally, several bus drivers took turns speaking through the megaphone.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)The United States Postal Service has possibly never been more important, or more embattled. Two days later, he said he wasn't sure the postal service had "enough time" to handle an influx of election mail. The delays at the postal service have led to widespread concerns that critical election mail will arrive late, disenfranchising voters. The postal service has traditionally treated election mail with priority, even if it's not sent first class. But USPS General Counsel Thomas Marshall implied in letters to election officials that marketing mail delivery standards would be enforced for election mail.

"If you carjack in Jefferson County, we are going to take you federal," Coleman said in a press conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office. Downtown Louisville is in the midst of a civil disturbance, which plays a role, Coleman said. "Well, there's a new color you see in downtown Louisville — it's brown. It's the color of the boards that are over just about every pane of glass in downtown Louisville. This new task force will take pressure off of LMPD, Coleman said, by getting other agencies involved.

Former Vice President Joe Biden reacted to President Donald Trump’s admission that he’s denying funding to the U.S. They just can’t have it.”Several hours later, the Biden campaign held a brief photo op Thursday afternoon in advance of a coronavirus briefing by public health experts to Biden and running mate Senator Kamala Harris. “President Trump today said that he opposes funding for the Postal Service, tying it to mail-in voting. “Pure Trump,” Biden said, as a staffer tried to hustle reporters from the room. “He doesn’t want an election,” Biden added, before the press left so he and Harris could be briefed.

MICHAEL Cohen has claimed President Donald Trump witnessed “golden showers in a sex club in Vegas” and accused him of "cheating" in the election - with help from Russia. In the book, written from Otisville Federal Prison, Cohen also admits he “ripped off” Trump’s business partners on his behalf. “Trump had colluded with the Russians, but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors,” Cohen said. Cohen also alleged that he “personally ran” a deal between Trump’s business interests and Russia. “He attempted to insinuate himself into the world of President Vladimir Putin and his coterie of corrupt billionaire oligarchs,” Cohen said.

At the rally, where about 90 percent of the few dozen attendees wore masks, the business owners shared experiences of closing, or being on the brink, due to the pandemic. Catheren Murray, San Nicolas’ mother-in-law, told the crowd that she has permanently closed Busy Bee Preschool and Day Care Center, which her mother founded in 1981. AdvertisementRobert and Victoria Bradley said their business, Ramona Family Naturals Market, was thriving. At the behest of his attorney, San Nicolas clarified at the end of the event that Campa-Najjar’s presence and comments did not amount to an endorsement. San Nicolas has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the group.

Not the billionaire celebrity savior of the country or lying lunatic, not the tabloid tycoon or self-anointed Chosen One, not the avatar @realdonaldtrump of Twitter fame, but the real real Donald Trump—the man very, very, very few people know. If that sounds overly dramatic, consider the powers Trump possessed and imagine how you might feel if he threatened you personally. Trump’s theory of life, business and politics revolved around threats and the prospect of destruction—financial, electoral, personal, physical—as a weapon. I knew how he worked because I had frequently been the one screaming threats on his behalf as Trump’s fixer and designated thug. For weeks, walking the streets of Manhattan, I was convinced that someone was going to ram me with their car.

Turkey is granting citizenship to senior operatives of a Hamas terrorist cell, the Telegraph has learned, raising fears that the Palestinian group will have greater freedom to plot attacks on Israeli citizens around the world. Turkish identity papers seen by the Telegraph show that at least one of 12 senior Hamas members, who are using the country as a base of operations, has received Turkish citizenship and an 11-digit identity number. According to a senior source, seven of the 12 operatives have received Turkish citizenship, as well as passports, while the other five are in the process of receiving them. However, Turkey insists the group is a legitimate political movement which has been democratically elected in Gaza. A senior source in the region claimed of the operatives: "These are not foot soldiers but the most senior Hamas operatives outside of Gaza.

"Every single American should be wearing a mask when they're outside for the next three months at a minimum," Mr Biden said. "Wearing a mask is going to get our kids back to school sooner and safer." Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlinesThe call came after Mr Biden and Ms Harris were briefed by health officials from several US health agencies. Mr Biden called on mask sceptics to consider their responsibility to others. Daily coronavirus briefing No hype, just the advice and analysis you need Enter your email address Continue Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists.

Yale University is illegally "discriminating" against Asian American and white applications, according to a Justice Department investigation. Department officials said on Thursday that Yale "racially balances its classes" and uses race as a determining factor throughout the admissions process. Yale denied the allegations, saying in a statement that the allegations were "meritless" and "hasty", according to the Associated Press. The Department of Justice found that, for the great majority of applicants: Asian Americans and whites have only one-tenth to one-fourth of the likelihood of admission as African American applicants with comparable academic credentials. The department said Yale must agree to comply with the act as a condition of receiving millions in federal funding.

President Donald Trump says he has heard Democratic running mate Kamala Harris "doesn't qualify" to serve as US vice-president, amplifying a fringe legal theory critics decry as racist. Ms Harris was born to a Jamaican father and Indian mother in Oakland, California, on 20 October 1964. But a constitutional law professor has questioned her eligibility. For years, Mr Trump promoted a false "birther" theory that President Barack Obama was not born in the US.

The president of Lithuania wants to help mediate a dialogue between the Belarusian regime and the opposition.

Joe Biden's campaign announced Thursday that it brought in $34.2 million in donor dollars since unveiling Sen. Kamala Harris as the vice presidential pick. Joe Biden's (left) campaign has brought in $34.2 million since announcing that Sen. Kamala Harris (right) would be his running mate on the Democratic ticketA man holds a homemade Biden-Harris sign outside Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' event Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware. A little after 4 p.m. Tuesday the Biden campaign announced Harris as his running mate via a text message to the former vice president's supporters. In the days leading up to the announcement of Harris, Biden was suspected to have narrowed the field down to Harris, California Rep. Karen Bass and former U.N. Amb. He welcomed Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff to the campaign as 'honorary Bidens' and spoke endearingly about his new running mate's friendship with his late son Beau.

President Donald Trump on Thursday hinted he could fire FBI director Christopher Wray over his claim the nation's top cop and his agency is covering up their role in the Russia probe. President Trump has repeatedly argued that then President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden ordered the investigation as the two were in the White House when it started. Horowitz report found that the decision the FBI made to investigate the campaign had not motivated by political bias. Durham, meanwhile, is completing a separate report into how the FBI's Russia investigation developed at the direction of Barr. It was eventually taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whose investigation cleared the Trump campaign of any collusion but came to no conclusion as to whether President Trump tried to hamper the special counsel's probe.

This week on the podcast:— The leaders of Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow on Thursday in a bid to de-escalate fighting in Syria which has brought the two countries to the brink of direct military confrontation. Financial Times Bureau Chief Henry Foy joins us in the studio to discuss what is at stake for both countries. The episode was recorded and edited at CM Records Studio in central Moscow. Read More:Russia’s Syria gamble under pressure as Turkey attacks in IdlibHawks say Sanders will be weak on Russia. But Putin should fear a President Bernie

????????? ?????: solo picketThese days in Russia lots of folks are feeling ?????????? ?????????? (discontent, literally “mood to protest”). In the world of protests, ????? refers to any kind of event, and is usually called ????? ???????? (protest, literally a protest action). Like ?????, ???????????? can refer to just about anything: marching, holding up signs, gathering signatures, giving speeches, or just generally gathering together, milling about and shouting. At the ?????? you might join ?????????? ???? (a protest march), also called ??????? (march, walk, procession). The strangest form of protest is ????????? ????? (one-person picket, solo picketing, single-person protest), which is when one person stands with a sign of protest.

????????????? ???????????: nationwide voteThis week in Russia has been all about the Big Vote: the 7-day nationwide vote on amendments to the Constitution that ended on July 1. The question read: ?? ????????? ????????? ? ??????????? ?????????? ?????????? Or even: ?? ????????? ????????? ??????????? (something like: Do you approve of the Constitutional changes?) So the better construction, both grammatically and politically, would have been: ?? ????????? ?????????, ???????? ? ??????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ? ??????????? (amendments to the Constitution) using the accusative case was dismissed by grammarians as ??????????? ??????? (a colloquial version).

QAnon Congressional Candidate Is Also a 9/11 TrutherBECAUSE OF COURSE“The so-called plane that crashed into the Pentagon. It’s odd there’s never any evidence shown for a plane in the Pentagon,” Greene said in a video from Nov. 2018.

The big picture: Black women especially, but also Black men, Hispanics and Democrats and independents across the board say they are more likely to vote for Biden with Harris on the ticket, according to a new Axios-SurveyMonkey poll. White men, white non-college-grads and 65+ voters are the least impressed with her addition to the ticket, the survey finds. This suggests those voters are relieved that Biden chose Harris rather than some of the other women Biden had considered. But Harris also is the least known, with 27% of respondents saying they don't yet know enough about her to form an opinion. Among just Democrats, her net favorable rating (+65) is about the same as Biden's (+67)White respondents overall said Harris makes them slightly less likely to vote for Biden (-7), but that includes Republican and independent voters who prefer Trump to Biden anyhow.

ADWashington is the latest example of cities where CBP deployed surveillance aircraft in the skies in recent months to monitor demonstrations. ADThe agency asked CBP to share live video feeds from the plane so the Secret Service could track protesters’ movements near the White House and around the city. “In support of its protective mission, the U.S. Secret Service routinely requests interagency support from federal partners through formal ‘request for assistance’ letters,” Milhoan said in a statement. In 2014, an injured Iraq War combat veteran was able to jump over the White House fence, get past multiple officers and run inside the White House. As the Secret Service began planning for the following weekend, officials reached out to CBP, the newly obtained records show.

Trump quickly called on a different reporter for another question. President Donald Trump quickly moved past a reporter's question on whether he regretted lying throughout his first term in office at a press conference on Thursday. After Dáte clarified that he was referring to the lies Trump has told, the president quickly looked for a different reporter to call upon. In June 2020 alone, Trump made 721 false claims, according to The Post's roundup. In the past 14 months, he's made an average of 23 false claims a day, the newspaper reported.

Michael Cohen is moving forward with his tell-all memoir about President Donald Trump, weeks after a judge ruled that his being sent back to prison was a retaliatory act over the book. In the foreword, Cohen describes Trump as a "mob boss" who "wouldn’t mind if I was dead." According to Cohen, his history with Trump gives him unique insight into how the president thinks. Rather, Cohen writes Trump did collude with Russia, "but not in the sophisticated ways imaged by his detractors." Cohen was sent back to prison in Otisville, N.Y. after he refused the conditions of his home confinement.

Michael Cohen published a first look at his book about Donald Trump on Thursday, revealing several bombshell claims, including that he witnessed a 'golden showers' incident. In the first part of his book, which was published to DisloyalTheBook.com on Thursday afternoon, Cohen claimed that Trump has 'no real friends.' How Trump works: Trump’s theory of life, business and politics revolved around threats and the prospect of destruction—financial, electoral, personal, physical—as a weapon. Cohen says: 'Trump had colluded with the Russians, but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors. 'Favorable ruling yesterday by the Court as I am close to completion of my book…' Cohen wrote of Trump's niece Mary Trump being able to publish her critical book about her uncle.

This week, the Court of Appeal has granted ClientEarth permission to appeal the judgment, and will now proceed to hear the environmental lawyers’ claim that the Secretary of State’s decision was unlawful. The Government’s own energy forecasts show that the UK does not need a major roll out of new large-scale gas generation capacity given existing capacity. This was the first time the planning authority had made such a recommendation on climate grounds. “It is therefore vital that the policies and laws central to this case allow decision makers to refuse planning approval for projects because of their climate impact. We strongly believe that they do so and look forward to arguing our case in the Court of Appeal.”This AuthorMarianne Brooker is The Ecologist's content editor.

Moderate Republicans fretted over its potential to hurt their party’s image, while more conservative lawmakers carefully sought to harness its grass-roots energy. That is a description of the Tea Party movement, which emerged in 2009 from the right-wing fringes and proceeded to become a major, enduring force in American conservatism. But it could just as easily be a description of QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory that has emerged as a possible inheritor to the Tea Party’s mantle as the most potent grass-roots force in right-wing politics. Ms. Greene has publicly supported QAnon, appearing on QAnon shows and espousing the movement’s unfounded belief that President Trump is on the verge of breaking up a shadowy cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles. Other QAnon-affiliated candidates have won primaries at the federal and state level, though few in districts as conservative as Ms. Greene’s.

An important element of the deal for the UAE is the expectation that its citizens would be able to visit the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal “full, formal peace” with “one of the strongest countries in the world.”“Together we can bring a wonderful future. Trump put sovereignty into his peace plan because I asked for it,” Netanyahu said. “But in the first place I said again and again that we would only implement sovereignty in coordination with the US. The administration felt that the opportunity for Israel to normalize ties with the UAE was a “better choice.”“In the long term, this will solidify security,” one American official said. Annexation would be a bloody blow to the course of peace, which is why I oppose it now and would oppose it as president.”

Demonstrators -- mostly indigenous people and peasants -- had set up 142 roadblocks throughout all nine of Bolivia's departments after the vote was delayed twice. Originally due to take place in May, the election was pushed back to September and then October 18 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Protesters, however, suspected the government was delaying the elections to prevent Luis Arce, who represents Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, from becoming president. Javier Issa, internal affairs deputy minister said there was already "a reduction in roadblocks since the law was passed." And the government accuses Morales and Arce of being behind the roadblocks.

The case of a purported 114-year-old Brooklyn woman who’d been collecting benefits for 43 years raised eyebrows among officials in the anti-fraud government’s Social Security Administration. Records from the Social Security Administration show that the agency started sending monthly retirement benefits in her name in 1977. Her file was last updated in July 1989 with a new address for the monthly checks, a Klamath Falls address that came back to a frontier Parcel & Fax Service. “His aunt’s Social Security checks were often bundled in deposits with other checks made payable to Doumar,” the affidavit said. Investigators from the Social Security Office of the Inspector General’s Seattle field division and the U.S.

“It will be an occasion to remember all those who have died at the hands of white supremacists like the Proud Boys,” Dannison said. Another local event, a counter protest against the Proud Boys, is set up for 2 p.m. the same day and place. Argo advised anyone who decides to go downtown in the area of the possible Proud Boys presence to be careful. He referenced a flier that states the Proud Boys will be rallying against Antifa and Black Lives Matter. The social media posts calling Proud Boys to Kalamazoo have gained attention, spurring posts from others bringing friends to counter protest the Proud Boys, or protecting the community from the group.

Nigeria has faced years and decades of challenges from terrorists; the most rugged of them is the Boko Haram Islamic Military Group. After hearing this news, some of the Boko Haram members saw it as an opportunity to be forgiven for the grave atrocities committed and an opportunity to reunite as peaceful members with their families. He also said that he has had a chat with some of the repentant Boko Haram members many times, and they have clearly identified the governor. “They told us that one of the northern governors is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria . I have this from the highest authority, some of the commanders of Boko Haram.”

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods of Florida has banned his deputies from wearing a face mask to work despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The new order was enacted on Tuesday and it also prohibits any visitors to the sheriff’s office from wearing a face covering. Since the beginning of this pandemic the operation of this office has not changed and no wearing of masks has been put in place." Woods also told his officers that should anyone confront them for not wearing a mask, to send them his away. The order also comes as the Ocala City Council attempts to pass an emergency ordinance requiring people to wear masks inside businesses.

Unable to postpone the election he seems poised to lose, Donald Trump has been working to derail the mail-in voting many Americans will rely on to safely cast ballots this fall in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The effort is astonishingly corrupt and anti-democratic, but it’s also pretty much all he’s got going for him in his uphill reelection campaign. The coronavirus crisis continues to roil the nation, and his attempts to play it down have been embarrassingly unconvincing. “It’s going to be going away,” Trump told Bartiromo Thursday. Meanwhile, he’s struggling to find a compelling argument against Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s running mate, and has instead resorted to ugly racist and misogynistic attacks.

In the less than 72 hours since Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate, Fox News has unloaded on the California senator. (Trump later called Harris a “mad woman” when phoning into Fox Business on Thursday). Elsewhere on the network, others argued the opposite: that Harris was only chosen because she is a Black woman. She checks all the boxes for the left, so I think she’s going to be a net plus for him.” Another Fox News guest, Leo Terrell, deployed the same line. “Kamala Harris was selected for two reasons: because she’s a woman and because of her race,” he said.

When Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his history-making running mate, Donald Trump wasted no time in drafting a response, labelling the senator “phony and nasty.” Given the president’s rhetorical flourishes, Trumpworld’s response to Harris was always going to be toxic. But it reached a new tenor just the second day after her candidacy was announced, with Trump campaign legal advisor Jenna Ellis floating the conspiracy theory that Harris was not born in the United States. “It’s an open question, and one I think Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible,” she told ABC News. (It is not an open question; Harris was born in Oakland, California.) More even than Trump, though, the conversation around Harris will be shaped by how the media analyzes criticism directed at her.

We hate to break this to his ardent supporters, but:Kanye West is not actually running for President. He, quite literally, has no path to 270 electoral votes and, just as a matter of fact, cannot amass the number of votes needed to defeat Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Instead, at this point, it seems impossible to deny that Kanye is running purely to take away votes from Biden and make sure that his good pal, Trump, is re-elected. According to a new article in Forbes, West talks on a near-daily basis to Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and an official White House advisor. This has prompted speculation that the artist is trying to siphon Black votes from Biden to assist Trump.

While some of the world’s greatest minds are constantly plagued by self-doubt, there is at least one person who spends each day ensconced in masturbatory kudos: President Donald J. Trump. Very poor morning TV ratings for MSDNC’s Morning Joe, headed by a complete Psycho named Joe Scarborough and his ditzy airhead wife, Mika, and also @CNN, headed by complete unknowns. Congratulations to @foxandfriends on dominating the mornings (thank you President Trump!). By now, the president thanking himself in the third person has become a fairly common occurrence. Whatever the reason, Trump does tend to slip some self-gratitude into a significant number of his tweets.

A study of boards in the U.S. reveals the barriers blocking Black directors and suggests a way forward. Although newly-appointed directors are increasingly diverse, 37% of S&P 500 firms did not have any Black board members in 2019 and Black directors comprised just 4.1% of Russell 3000 board members that same year. Over half of Black directors were known to a fellow board member prior to being appointed (as compared to 35% of white directors), and Black directors were somewhat more likely than white directors to have been recruited by an executive search firm, suggesting that these firms can assist boards in expanding the scope of new director searches. Black directors in our sample were also less likely to be board committee chairs than white directors. Reflecting national trends in political party affiliation, Black directors who responded to our survey were more likely to identify as Democrats, while white directors were more likely to identify as Republicans (approximately one quarter of both Black and white directors identified as independents).

Facebook revealed the next step in its initiative to help 4 million people in the U.S. register to vote prior to November’s presidential election with the rollout of its Voting Information Center Thursday on Facebook and Instagram. Facebook said it will continue to work closely with state election officials through November in order to ensure that its Voting Information Center remains updated with the latest election information in each state. The social network said it will use the Voting Information Center and the U.S. This new product connects everyone on Facebook and Instagram to accurate and easy-to-find information about voting wherever they live, helping empower them to hold their elected officials accountable. It is based on lessons from our Coronavirus (Covid-19) Information Center, which has been providing accurate and authoritative information from health authorities about the pandemic since March.

Google and its YouTube video site outlined steps they are taking to protect the upcoming presidential election in the U.S.Two features were added to Google Search. Searching for how to register to vote will bring up information about voter registration in the user’s state, including deadlines, options and a way to check their status. Our platforms have empowered people and organizations from across the political spectrum, giving them a voice and new ways to reach their audiences. In the coming weeks, when YouTube users search for information about presidential or federal candidates, they will see an information panel with facts including their party affiliation, office and official YouTube channel. YouTube vice president of government affairs and public policy Leslie Miller wrote in a blog post, “At YouTube, we strive to be a place where a broad range of voices can be heard.

It's a dramatic spike in fears about voting from the 2018 midterm election when only 15% of voters said they anticipated difficulties. But a majority of Biden supporters, 58%, said they prefer to vote by mail in the presidential election. In a sign of the high stakes for Democrats, the poll found Biden supporters would be far more "angry" if their candidate loses. Sixty-one percent of Biden supporters said they would be "angry" if their candidate loses, compared with 37% of Trump supporters who said they would be "angry" if Trump loses. Thirty-seven percent of Biden supporters said they would be "disappointed" if Biden lost while 59% of Trump supporters said they would be "disappointed."

Former employees say that at times he treated deputies’ application process as “Live PD” casting calls rather than assessing their temperament for sound law enforcement. The 40-year-old Black man died while begging for his life as “Live PD” cameras rolled. The two were friends from the nearby Bastrop County sheriff’s department, and one would become Chody’s newest star. A separate grand jury in Williamson County is trying to determine if “Live PD” footage of the encounter was illegally destroyed. Klier said he is concerned that Chody’s hiring practices are another example of how the lights of “Live PD” have overshadowed good policing.

President Emmanuel Macron ordered French forces to the Eastern Mediterranean to provide military assistance to Greece, raising the stakes in France’s growing regional confrontation against an increasingly assertive Turkey. France’s latest move in the region follows Mr. Macron’s trip last week to Beirut in the wake of an explosion that devastated the city. In the newest tensions, France is again squaring off against Turkey—a fellow North Atlantic Treaty Organization member and supposed ally—as it is also doing in Syria and Libya. Mr. Macron’s decision, announced late Wednesday in Greek-language tweets, injects France into a maritime dispute over potential gas and oil fields in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece responded by scrambling its own navy.

Joe Biden’s top staffers have been courting lobbyists to donate money to the Democratic National Committee — despite his campaign’s assurance that they will not accept donations from K Street, a report said Thursday. Just this month, the Biden campaign has sent staffers — including Biden campaign Chairman Steve Ricchetti — to participate in at least four Zoom fundraisers that were hosted by noted Democratic lobbyists and benefitted the DNC, Politico reported. Because Biden’s campaign won’t accept money from lobbyists, K Street staffers say donating to the DNC is the next best way to get their checks close to party leaders. The special interest fundraisers are a stark contrast to the Democratic Party under Barack Obama, who barred lobbyists from donating to the DNC when he was elected president in 2008. The moratorium was lifted in 2016 — and ahead of the election in November, the DNC has stepped up its fundraising on K Street, Politico reported, citing three unnamed lobbyists.

Brash sports blog owner Dave Portnoy lost a small fortune on the controversial stock that landed him into a bitter spat with a short-seller this week, he told The Post in an exclusive interview. He told The Post that he bought nearly $2 million in Remark shares ahead of the Las Vegas-based tech firm’s May 28 earnings report. “I want to strangle the life out of this company,” Portnoy said on June 3. “Portnoy is like every other narcissistic CEO we have ever busted,” David told The Post in a statement. “He basically is trying to move stock prices to make a profit,” Portnoy told The Post.

Yes, Trump supporters are more fervent in their support — but they’re no more likely to say they will certainly stick with Trump. Only a fifth of Trump supporters say that it’s Biden driving their support for the president. If Biden wins, three-quarters of Biden supporters say they’ll feel relieved as opposed to excited. Only a bit over a third of Trump supporters say they’d be angry. Six-in-10 Biden supporters say they’d be angry.

Shannon Bream, host of FOX News @ Night on the FOX News Channel returns with a new "Livin' the Bream" podcast. This week, Shannon sits down with Madeleine Westerhout, former Personal Secretary to President Trump and former Director of Oval Office Operations. Madeleine discusses her new book, Off The Record: My Dream Job at the White House, How I Lost It, and What I Learned. Madeleine explains the lapse of judgement that cost her the job at the White House, the journey she had to take in forgiving herself, and how working for President Trump changed her perception of him as a leader. Follow Shannon on Twitter: @ShannonBream

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden slammed President Trump on Thursday after the president announced he opposed funding for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in the latest economic stimulus package. “But if they don't get those two items, that means you can't have universal mail-in voting because they're not equipped to have it," he added. The majority of the country, including 34 states and 120 million voters are allowed to request mail-in voting ballots. Postal Service.

Graham’s comments come amid several congressional probes into the origins of the Russia investigation, and as Durham conducts a similar investigation. Earlier this week, Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., subpoenaed the FBI and Wray for documents related to his panel's Russia probe. “Bill Barr can go down as the greatest attorney general in the history of our country, or he can go down as an average guy," Trump said. The president said the probe will lead investigators to the top of the former Democratic adminsistraion. Last month, Graham said he “absolutely” will call former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to testify before his panel as part of its ongoing investigation into the origins of the Russia probe.

Presumptive Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris does not appear to have “any core convictions,” former House Oversight Committee Chair Trey Gowdy told “Outnumbered Overtime” Thursday. “The American people will allow you to change your mind,” Gowdy told host Harris Faulkner. But Harris, six months ago, she thought she would make a better president than Joe Biden." KAMALA HARRIS’ FLIP-FLOPS BACK UNDER A MICROSCOPE AFTER VP SELECTION“It just instructs this notion that she doesn’t have any core convictions aside from her personal ambition," Gowdy said. "Six months ago, she believed [Kavanaugh accuser] Dr. Christine Blasey Ford before she ever opened her mouth.

Polling on the 2020 presidential race is even more off-base than it was in 2016, Lara Trump, President Trump's daughter-in-law and campaign adviser, told "Bill Hemmer Reports" Thursday. The current RealClearPolitics polling average shows presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden leading Trump in the battleground state of Pennsylvania by 6.4%. Nationally, the RealClearPolitics polling average has Biden leading Trump by 7.5%"It is not even called the silent majority anymore ... it's called the silenced majority," Lara Trump told host John Roberts. As you in remember 2016, the polls were very, very inaccurate when it came to President Trump," she added. Both Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., are "empty vessels" for a far-left agenda, Lara Trump argued.

Trump rejects Biden's call for national mask mandate, yet urges Americans to wear themPresident Donald Trump rejected former Vice President Joe Biden's call for a national mask mandate during a press briefing at the White House on Thursday.

President Donald Trump holds a press briefing on Thursday as his rival, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, calls for a nationwide mask mandate in order to combat the raging coronavirus pandemic. "Every single American should be wearing a mask when they're outside for the next three months at a minimum," Biden said at a press appearance in Wilmington, Delaware. "Every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing, the estimates by the experts are that it will save over 40,000 lives in the next three months. Meanwhile, the latest coronavirus relief bill remains stalled in Congress. Over the weekend Trump signed four executive orders that extend unemployment benefits, provide a payroll tax holiday, defer student loan payments through 2020 and extend federal eviction protections.

Yale University's undergraduate admissions process "illegally discriminates" against White and Asian students, the Department of Justice said Thursday. Karen Peart, a spokeswoman for the university, said in a statement to CNBC that the Justice Department made its conclusions before Yale had provided enough information to show that its practices "absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent." The DOJ's probe of Yale found that Asian American and White students are one-tenth to one-fourth as likely to be admitted to the New Haven, Connecticut, university as Black students with comparable academic resumes, the press release said. The DOJ added: "Yale rejects scores of Asian American and White applicants each year based on their race, whom it otherwise would admit." The Justice Department also accuses Yale of racially balancing its classes.

Washington (CNN) The Pentagon is forming a new task force to investigate UFOs that have been observed by US military aircraft, according to two defense officials. Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist will help oversee the task force, which is expected to be officially unveiled in the next few days, according to the officials. Previous efforts to look into what the Pentagon dubs unidentified aerial phenomena were led by the US Navy as many of the documented encounters involved their aircraft. Members of Congress and Pentagon officials have long expressed concerns about the appearance of the unidentified aircraft that have flown over US military bases, posing a risk to military jets. The Senate Intelligence Committee voted in June to have the Pentagon and intelligence community provide a public analysis of the encounters, following the official Pentagon release of three short videos showing US aircraft encountering these phenomena.

(CNN) Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday that he will speak at the Democratic National Convention next week, in an announcement that was met with anger by some party operatives and activists. A Democratic official said that Bloomberg will speak on Thursday, the final night of the convention, when former Vice President Joe Biden will deliver his speech accepting the party's presidential nomination. "This November, America has the opportunity to turn the page on the last four years & invest in our future," Bloomberg tweeted. Bloomberg jumped into the Democratic presidential primary long after much of the field, arguing that he did so to stop the rise of more liberal candidates like Sens. But that money led to Bloomberg winning just one contest -- the primary in America Samoa -- and the billionaire dropped out in March.

FILE PHOTO: Professor Angela Davis speaks at a rally calling on Congress to censure President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 30, 2019. “We can’t forget that she did not oppose the death penalty and we can’t forget some of the real problems that are associated with her career as a prosecutor,” said Davis, referring to Harris’ role as California’s attorney general. “But... it’s a feminist approach to be able to work with those contradictions. “I think it makes the ticket a lot more palatable, that’s for sure,” Davis said. Davis, a Black American, was a social activist in the 1960s who was sacked from her post as a philosophy professor at UCLA for being a Communist.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday accused Yale University of illegally discriminating against Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions process in violation of U.S. civil rights law. FILE PHOTO: Students walk on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, October 7, 2009. The Justice Department made its findings before allowing Yale to provide requested documents, Yale said. The Justice Department has previously filed legal briefs in support of a lawsuit, brought by affirmative action opponents, accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asian Americans. U.S. conservatives have said that in helping Black and Latino applicants, affirmative action can hurt white people and Asian Americans.

CAIRO (Reuters) - Essam el-Erian, a senior leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, died in prison in Cairo on Thursday after suffering a heart attack, prison sources, a lawyer and local media said. FILE PHOTO: Deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party Essam El-Erian waves with the Rabaa sign, symbolizing the support of the Muslim Brotherhood, during his trial with other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood on charges of spying and terrorism at a court in the police academy on the outskirts of Cairo, November 18, 2014. He had been detained in Cairo’s Tora prison along with other senior Brotherhood figures, and had been tried and sentenced in multiple cases linked to the turmoil that followed Egypt’s 2011 uprising. Erian had been moved to a prison hospital after suffering a heart attack and died during treatment, two prison sources said. “We were informed of his death by prison authorities ... they told us the death was natural,” said Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud, a Brotherhood lawyer.

A Yale spokesperson said DOJ reached its determination before allowing the university to provide all information it had requested. “Had the Department fully received and fairly weighed this information, it would have concluded that Yale’s practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent,” university spokesperson Karen Peart said in a statement. “We are proud of Yale’s admissions practices, and we will not change them on the basis of such a meritless, hasty accusation." Key context: The initial investigation, by both the departments of Justice and Education, stems from a 2016 complaint the Asian American Coalition for Education filed against Yale, Brown and Dartmouth. What's next: The affirmative action case is widely considered to be the Supreme Court’s next opening to potentially ban the policy.

Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris called on Thursday for every governor to mandate mask-wearing in public for at least the next three months, citing studies that say it would save more than 40,000 lives and speed the nation’s economic recovery. “Wearing a mask will give the life of a clerk in your local store or your letter carrier, your child's teacher, it will increase their prospects of not contracting the virus,” Biden said. “Even though it's uncomfortable, and we're not used to it, wearing a mask is going to get our kids back to school sooner and safer. Every American wearing a mask outdoors is going to get our businesses back and to full strength.”AdvertisementThe presumptive Democratic nominee set up a health advisory board several months ago and has been getting regular briefings, but this was the first time Harris joined him. Those briefing Biden and Harris including former FDA commissioner David Kessler, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and former HHS assistant secretary Nicole Lurie.

But it’s Wuco’s time hosting “The Frank Wuco Show” from 2011 to 2013 that has gotten most of the attention. Earlier in his career, Wuco also worked as an adviser to parts of the military about how Islamic terrorists thought. As part of that, he created a jihadist alter-ego named “Fuad Wasul,” an identity he used to dress up in Islamic garb. From September 2017 to April 2019, she was deputy director of congressional and public affairs at the Farm Credit Administration. Members of CEO Pack’s senior leadership team have never even met the people who are lodging attacks against them.

* Pandemic: "Officials across the United States reported at least 1,470 deaths on Wednesday, the highest single-day total yet in August, according to a New York Times database, and a reflection of the continued toll of the early-summer case surge in Sun Belt states." * Belarus: "On Thursday, thousands of women, many dressed in white and carrying flowers, turned out in the streets across Belarus for a second day of protests. They're reacting to a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations triggered by a weekend election widely viewed as fraudulent." * This sounds quite a bit like what Trump asked for: "The U.S. is cutting back on coronavirus testing. Nationally, the number of tests performed each day is about 17% lower than it was at the end of July, and testing is also declining in hard-hit states."

The Justice Department on Thursday accused Yale University of illegally discriminating against Asian American and white students in admissions, a major escalation of the administration's attacks on affirmative action. After receiving complaints from Asian American students, the Justice Department two years ago launched an investigation of Yale's admissions process. The investigation concluded that Asian American and white applicants are only one-tenth to one-fourth as likely to be admitted as African American applications with comparable academic records. This site is protected by recaptcha"Yale’s race discrimination imposes undue and unlawful penalties on racially-disfavored applicants, including in particular Asian American and White applicants," Dreiband said in his letter. By contrast, the Justice Department said in its letter Thursday, Yale considers an applicant's race at several steps in the admissions process.

Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield, speaks during a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Education, in Washington on July 8, 2020. Trump on Wednesday said he would furnish 125 million reusable masks to school districts, while continuing to push for in-person classes after previously threatening to slash federal funding for those districts that fail to reopen. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak"We got to open up," Trump said during a White House briefing. "We got to open up our schools and open up our businesses. Redfield, however, remains hopeful that potential vaccines that have shown promise in early trials will become available by the late fall or early winter.

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Two law enforcement agencies in Utah are looking to dispose of more than 300 guns accumulating in evidence storage that either went unclaimed or are no longer needed in criminal investigations. The Ogden Police Department and Weber Morgan Narcotics Strike Force have asked the Ogden City Council to approve requests to send the firearms to the state Bureau of Forensics, which would destroy them, the Standard-Examiner reported. The proposal would help the department save money and “will keep our evidence room from being overpacked,” Sube said. The strike force plans to sell most of the guns in its possession with financial oversight from the city, Deputy Weber County Attorney Matt Wilson said. Under state law, law enforcement agencies are able to conduct such transactions, but all proceeds must go to a public use.

Hs defense attorney argued in a court filing Thursday, Aug 13, 2020 for a more lenient punishment of 15 months in prison. (Riley County Police Department via AP,File) FILE - This undated photo provided by the Riley County (Kansas) Police Department shows Jarrett Smith. Smith, an Army infantry soldier described by prosecutors as a Satanist who hoped to overthrow the U.S. government pleaded guilty in February to distributing information through social media about building a bomb and making napalm. Hs defense attorney argued in a court filing Thursday, Aug 13, 2020 for a more lenient punishment of 15 months in prison. An affidavit contends Smith told an FBI agent before his arrest that his goal was to create “chaos.”

State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, speaks during an Indiana Black Legislative Caucus news conference, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, outside the Statehouse in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Davies)State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, speaks during an Indiana Black Legislative Caucus news conference, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, outside the Statehouse in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Davies)INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus called Thursday for state lawmakers to increase accountability and transparency for the state’s police officers. Caucus members released a wide-ranging package of criminal justice reform proposals that they plan to push for during next year’s legislative session. Eric Holcomb to address justice reform in Indiana with a list of “immediate action items” that includes putting bans on chokeholds, racial profiling and no-knock warrants.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even before last week’s intelligence assessment on foreign election interference, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson was facing criticism from Democrats that his investigation of presidential candidate Joe Biden and Ukraine was politically motivated and advancing Russian interests. Johnson suggested he was not willing to unequivocally trust the assessment without seeing the underlying intelligence. Evanina said Russia disapproved of Biden because of his role in shaping Obama administration policies supporting Ukraine and opposing Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Johnson, meanwhile, announced this week a subpoena for the FBI for documents in its investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has for months scrutinized the Russia investigation.

Brian Kemp on Thursday said he’s dropping a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta in a dispute over the city’s requirement to wear masks in public and other restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Atlanta Journal-Constitution via APHe has sought to block local governments from issuing orders requiring that masks be worn, but several cities, including Atlanta, have done it anyway. She later said those statements were recommendations, not legal orders, and that Kemp did not understand what she was doing. “In the absence of state leadership on this issue, local governments have stepped in to protect their citizens,” the city’s filing said. Read on:Biden says a three-month national mask mandate would save more than 40,000 lives

Trump also claimed anew — falsely — that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and predicted without providing evidence that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. Key Words: Trump blasts Democratic demands for postal-service money, saying mail-in voting would be ‘fraudulent’Biden, responding during a meeting in Delaware on the coronavirus, told reporters the comments were, “Pure Trump. That figure, which would include money to help with election mail, is down from a $25 billion plan in a House-passed coronavirus measure. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year. Postal Service to hinder Americans from voting.

"Stop playing politics with the virus," Trump said. Biden wants to "mandate to law-abiding citizens to order over 300 million American citizens to wear a mask... Trump referred to a further call by Biden to increase social-distancing measures and enforce lockdowns as "unscientific" and regressive." Trump also suggested that Biden's proposal for mask-wearing isn't one that a U.S. president can unilaterally institute or enforce. He said instead of a broad rule he has "urged Americans to wear a mask and we have emphasized that this is a patriotic thing to do."

President Donald Trump’s campaign sent out an eyebrow-raising email on Wednesday attacking Sen. Kamala Harris, who was just selected by Democrat Joe Biden to be his 2020 running mate. The subject line was “Kamala is HORRIBLE” and calls her “the meanest, most horrible, most disrespectful,” among other things. Latest Trump email on Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/64WQaBusqJ — Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) August 13, 2020“I cannot believe Joe Biden would pick her as his running mate,” the message continued. It opens: "Kamala Harris is the meanest, most horrible, most disgraceful, MOST LIBERAL of anyone in the U.S. Senate..." Good to see the campaign is off to such a civil start! All the history you have to work with and you come up with Sleepy Joe and this desperate email.

Kamala Harris’s unsparing questioning of Brett Kavanaugh when the then D.C. And now that Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee for vice president, Trump has repeatedly attacked her approach to the Kavanaugh hearings. “She was extraordinarily nasty to Kavanaugh — Judge Kavanaugh then, now Justice Kavanaugh,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday during a briefing at the White House, not long after Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, announced Harris as his running mate. She was the angriest of the group, and they were all angry.”Sen. Kamala Harris during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh responds to a question from Harris as he testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

WASHINGTON — Kamala Harris didn't wait long to test out her new role as lead attacker for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. As part of a series of callbacks to his two-term tenure as President Barack Obama's vice president, he consolidated their "hope and change" promise into a one-word explanation of how the Biden-Harris campaign defines America: "possibilities." The balance Harris must strike — and one supporters say she's capable of finding — is hammering Trump while helping Biden with two tasks key to his electoral prospects: mobilizing Black voters and persuading suburban women of all backgrounds to pick him over Trump. Tavia Galonski, a Democratic state representative in Ohio, said Harris connects well with suburban voters, particularly women who identify with her. Harris acknowledged the protests in a passage in her speech that served the dual purpose of commending coalition politics and slamming Trump.

Joe Biden and his new running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), held their first joint appearance Wednesday at a Delaware high school, Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. He found Biden's line that "whining is what Donald Trump does best" a bit unfair. Oddly, "one person Trump thinks Harris was particularly 'nasty' to is her new running mate." "I mean of all people, Donald Trump should totally understand how you can be with a woman who's publicly humiliated you." The Late Late Show's James Corden showed Harris slamming Trump at her joint event with Biden.

In the weeks since President Donald Trump put schools at the center of his push to jump-start the economy, hundreds of districts have reversed course on plans to reopen classrooms. Indeed, as the president has pushed for schools to reopen, key constituencies — parents and educators — have largely moved in the other direction. A recent Washington Post poll found that parents disapprove of Trump’s handling of school reopening by a two-thirds majority. But even conservatives who said they agreed with the president’s focus on reopening schools say he has been a poor spokesman for the cause. Swieciki has filed for a medical exemption that he hopes will allow him to work from home if the city’s schools reopen for in-person instruction in September.

As a confirmed stimulus deal has lagged behind the expected deadline, President Trump has said he believes the delay comes from the Democratic Party pushing for funding for mail-in voting, and has vowed to block funding for it. Yahoo Finance’s Jess Smith and Rick Newman join The Final Round to discuss the details.

Former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell on Thursday said that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris wanted to make Washington D.C. the “capital of the world” when it comes to how U.S. money is spent abroad. Continue Reading Below“The clear fact is that the Biden/Harris team want Washington to be the capital of the world and Donald Trump wants Washington to be the capital of the United States and fight for the American people,” Grenell, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, said on “Cavuto: Coast to Coast.”BIDEN TWEETS THAT OBAMA WH LEFT TRUMP 'PLAYBOOK' ON PANDEMICS, GRENELL RESPONDSGrenell was drawing a contrast between the Trump administration’s “America First” approach to international issues and the more internationalist approach carried out by the Obama administration and that he believes will continue under a potential Biden administration. He said that that applies not only to relations, but also how taxpayer money is spent. “We should be clear we will always help but we will always have strings,” he said. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE“Germany is the largest economy in Europe, it has a surplus, maybe we shouldnt be footing the bill for the Germans when they're not paying their bill at NATO,” he said.

The hub is Facebook’s latest push to expand access to voting information ahead of the 2020 election. Election Day is Nov. 3, but mail-in voting and early voting will be possible for weeks sooner. Trump routinely condemns voting by mail, falsely labeling it as corrupt, in a relentless attempt to politicize the method. “It really was not a political decision, to be honest,” said Emily Dalton Smith, the head of social impact at Facebook. It just came from the principle of what is right for our community.”Trump frequently uses his Facebook page, where he has 28.7 million followers, to falsely attack voting by mail.

When he took the job a month ago, manager Bill Stepien stated, “our goal is clear — to win each day we have left until election day. If you look back on it, there wasn’t a single day that President Trump “won” over his Democratic opponent Joe Biden all summer. Even if a Trump supporter wanted to argue that Trump won on some marginal weekend day, there is no evidence that it has changed the polls. This wrong track number has been above 70 percent in the Monmouth poll of adults nationwide all summer. In fact, if there was a credible vaccine released before Election Day, Trump’s reelection chances could turn around in an instant.

The agreement makes the UAE the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to have full diplomatic ties with Israel. But the UAE, like most of the Arab world, long rejected diplomatic ties with Israel in the absence of a peace deal establishing a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in 1967. Israel and the UAE are among Trump’s few close international allies, and Thursday’s deal may have been seen as an election gift. He’s going to be in the history books.”Lee reported from Bled, Slovenia, and Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, Elana Schor and Aamer Madhani in Washington, and Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.

CLICK HERE if you’re having trouble viewing media on a mobile device. Our news organization’s editorial board’s take: Selecting the Bay Area native breaks racial barriers and adds a tough debater and social justice advocate to the party’s 2020 ticket. Russia clears coronavirus vaccine; Putin says his daughter got itRussian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday announced that the country had cleared a coronavirus vaccine and said that one of his daughters had already been inoculated with the new treatment. Scientists there and abroad expressed skepticism over the rushed treatment, which the country is touting before so-called Phase 3 trials that last for months and involve thousands of people. … The SEC, ACC and Big 12 are, at least for the moment, planning to move forward along the daunting road to the regular season.”For more political cartoons, CLICK HERE.

The gathering was hosted by Marked by COVID, an organization founded by Kristin Urquiza in honor of her father, an Arizona resident who died from complications of the disease on June 30. Doug Ducey for reopening the state too quickly, and invited the governor to her father’s funeral to hear her concerns directly. Each of the heart-shaped, helium balloons carried by Elaine Salazar signified someone who had suffered or died from the coronavirus. She and other House Democrats have asked Ducey to open a special legislative session to debate further public health policies. Too many people in Arizona have lost their lives, she said.

MADISON - Two days after a state lawmaker lost his bid for reelection, the Legislature released details of his sexual harassment of a Capitol staffer after withholding the records for months. Lawmakers also have the power to hire and fire human resources staff in charge of investigating claims of sexual harassment and assault. That fear could keep staff from reporting sexual harassment involving their bosses or make victims and human resources staff worry about losing their jobs, experts say. And in 2012, taxpayers shelled out $75,000 to resolve a sexual harassment and racial discrimination claim made by an aide to then-state Sen. and now City of Milwaukee Treasurer Spencer Coggs. She said the current process to deal with sexual harassment doesn't have many options for accountability measures.

The judge deciding a legal challenge by Clark County bar owners seeking to reverse Gov. Steve Sisolak’s order closing their businesses to fight the spread of COVID-19 promised a quick ruling Thursday after a 90-minute hearing. Steve Sisolak announced that bars would be reverting to Phase One restrictions. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphotoThe judge deciding a legal challenge by Clark County bar owners seeking to reverse Gov. Steve Sisolak’s order closing their businesses to fight the spread of COVID-19 promised a quick ruling Thursday after a 90-minute hearing.

Council members voted last week to use $2 million of CARES Act money to expand a City Hall lobby. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)Henderson is using $2 million of coronavirus relief money to pay for an expansion of a City Hall entrance. The vote added $2 million to an existing $14 million project to renovate the plaza and street in front of City Hall. Henderson is spending twice as much money on the lobby expansion as it currently is on a grant program for businesses. “This space will be used as the main entry for City Hall and for certain ceremonial occasions,” the contract states.

President Donald Trump attends a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Washington. Trump also falsely stated that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and made the unfounded claim that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. Postal Service and election security ahead of the November election. “They want $25 billion — billion — for the post office,” he said, adding that, without it, the Postal Service won’t be equipped to handle the influx of mail-in ballots. Dems seek $10B for USPSDemocrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill.

Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worries could cost him the election. “If we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money,” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo. He’s pairing the tough Postal Service stance in congressional negotiations with an increasingly robust mail-in -voting legal fight in states that could decide the election. That followed legal maneuvers in battleground Pennsylvania, where the campaign hopes to force changes to how the state collects and counts mail-in ballots. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year.

CHICAGO — Two words summed up Tamani Jayasinghe's exuberance for the first Indian American and Black woman to run for vice president: "Kamala Aunty." That title of respect that goes beyond family in Asian circles immediately came to mind when Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate. The Asian American experience is one that is complicated and nuanced and robust," said Jayasinghe, who works in financial communications in New York. Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, often focuses on her identity as a Black woman. The first Indian American congresswoman, she said Asians also celebrated Harris as a Black woman.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The only Native American on federal death row lost a bid Thursday to push back his execution date. Unless Lezmond Mitchell gets relief from another court or is granted clemency, he will be put to death on Aug. 26 at the federal prison in Indiana where he's being held. Mitchell's attorneys sought a delay from the U.S. District Court in Arizona where he was sentenced in the 2001 slayings of a 63-year-old fellow Navajo tribal member and her 9-year-old granddaughter. They argued the execution must be performed under Arizona law. Judge David Campbell said the attorneys didn't identify any procedures in Arizona statutes or criminal rules that conflict with the federal protocol when it comes to how Mitchell, who is 38, would die.

The new series of Crime and Punishment (Channel 4) opened with an episode that felt wearily familiar. This has to change, everyone agrees, and then it doesn’t change, and the conversation moves on. The deputy chief constable of Hampshire Constabulary, Sara Glen, is in no doubt where the blame lies. In order to illustrate this, the programme focused on two cases (in which the women waived their right to anonymity). The case went to court and he was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years.

Mr Cohen also makes reference to "golden showers in a sex club in Vegas," without specifically stating that the Mr Trump took part in such acts, and "catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trump's clandestine lovers." "Apart from his wife and children, I knew Trump better than anyone else did," Mr Cohen writes in the foreword to the book 'Disloyal,' which was teased online on Thursday. While the book itself has not yet been released, the foreword contains several damning allegations against the president. Mr Cohen claims that his former boss "had colluded with the Russians, but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors." Mr Cohen also references sex acts in the release but does not say whether Mr Trump took part.

Hillary Clinton shut down Donald Trump's latest rant about her with a two-word tweet that has since gone viral. The President bashed Secretary Clinton - his rival during the 2016 election - during a Fox News interview on Tuesday. Mr Trump once again brought up Ms Clinton during a rambling response to a question about Joe Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, which also veered into an attack on the media and Russian collusion. Ms Wilkie wrote: "Missing from Trump’s response to a softball question on @KamalaHarris’ past remarks: any mention of Kamala Harris. Among the thousands of responses, one Twitter user asked: “did Trump forget he’s running against Biden again?”“Are you going to throw Kamala a housewarming party?

The U.S. Justice Department seized $2million from more than 300 cryptocurrency accounts linked to overseas terror organizations, it announced Thursday. The department said three Middle East terrorist groups used cryptocurrencies and social media to finance their operations and raise funds for their terror campaigns. As well as seizing the $2million-worth of cryptocurrency and the 300 cryptocurrency accounts, US authorities also took over four websites and four Facebook pages linked with the fundraising activities. The Trump administration said the groups used the accounts to solicit donations for their causes. The seized funds are now expected to be turned over to a fund for victims of terrorist attacks.

But funding to maintain the stockpile, which included 50 million N95 masks, was cut off in 2011 under Gov. Pictured: A University of Washington truck transfers 50,000 N95 masks, as well as helmets, to treat patients in MarchMedical masks soared from 5 cents to 55 cents and N95 masks went from $1.95 to $5.90. However funding to maintain the stockpile, which included 50 million N95 masks, was cut off in 2011 under Gov. Medical masks soared from 5 cents to 55 cents and N95 masks went from $1.95 to $5.90. However while a typical hospital requires 5,000-6,600 N95 masks per year, this pandemic has seen the demand soar to 17 times that.

There were plenty of surprises in store for the 50,000 revelers who flocked to Fisherman's Wharf to see flamboyant California Democrat Willie Brown sworn in as San Francisco's first black mayor. Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris dated San Francisco's first black mayor Wilile Brown in the 1990s, while he was still married but separated from his wife. For all their differences, however, the ex-couple maintained an enduring bond: 'Willie and Blanche Brown have never divorced. 'Columnist Herb Caen all but predicted two days after the election that Brown would wed Kamala Harris, his constant companion throughout the campaign. 'I refuse to design my campaign around criticizing Willie Brown,' she told SF Weekly.

Darity, however, argues that reparations for slavery are not only feasible, but necessary. The median figures more typically represent the average household, while the average number is heavily skewed by the ultra-wealthy. For instance, the median white household net worth is $171,000, while the average white household net worth, skewed by billionaires, is $929,800. That allocation should serve as the baseline for black reparations in the twenty-first century,' he writes. The idea of reparations for slavery remains politically unpopular - though Darity argues that prior programs of reparations have been accomplished despite being opposed by the majority of voters.

Michael Cohen published a first look at his book about Donald Trump on Thursday, revealing several bombshell claims, including that he witnessed a 'golden showers' incident. In the peek at his memoir 'Disloyal,' Cohen reveals the 'mob boss' mentality of the president in his foreword, which he titled 'THE REAL REAL DONALD TRUMP.' In the first part of his book, which was published to DisloyalTheBook.com on Thursday afternoon, Cohen claimed that Trump has 'no real friends.' Cohen says: 'Trump had colluded with the Russians, but not in the sophisticated ways imagined by his detractors. 'Favorable ruling yesterday by the Court as I am close to completion of my book…' Cohen wrote of Trump's niece Mary Trump being able to publish her critical book about her uncle.

Trump "should be a frontrunner for the Nobel Peace Prize," the advisor, Robert O'Brien, told reporters. "It will take some time in this environment but it wouldn't surprise me that the president is eventually nominated." But success in the notoriously intractable Middle East with the first Israeli-Arab peace deal in a quarter century is a good way to answer critics. In this case, even Biden got on board, saying the UAE and Israel made "a historic step to bridge the deep divides of the Middle East." Also, as to be expected in the Middle East, the big announcement obscures more complex questions.

US President Donald Trump's original plan in January had given the green light for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank territory and Jewish settlements there that are considered illegal under international law. For now, annexation appears to be on ice -- the US, Israeli and UAE leaders said they had agreed "Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty" over Palestinian West Bank areas. Israel seized control of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, in the Six-Day War of 1967 and has occupied it ever since. The day after Trump's announcement, protests flared in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli security forces in the West Bank. Apart from the US, no country had publicly backed the annexation plans.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (pictured July 2020) has won three consecutive landslides since 2010, partly due to election rule changes he oversawAdvertising Read moreBudapest (AFP)Hungary's six largest opposition parties pledged Thursday to form an unprecedented wide-ranging alliance to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the next general election in 2022. Opposition parties accuse the nationalist Orban of steering Hungary toward authoritarianism and away from mainstream democratic and European Union values. Orban has won three consecutive landslides since 2010, partly due to election rule changes he oversaw. But with around half of the electorate voting for opposition parties Orban would be vulnerable to a unified front. If the alliance won in 2022 the parties pledged to govern together "in the interests of Hungary on the basis of an agreed programme and principles," said the statement.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- President Donald Trump's re-election campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters' absentee ballot applications. The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other GOP groups filed the lawsuits against elections officials in Linn and Johnson counties. At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in. The GOP lawsuits argue that the auditors are violating a state directive by prepopulating the forms and that any ballots cast in response to the mailings may be subject to legal challenge. By RYAN J. FOLEY

Biden called on governors of all 50 states to "institute a mask mandate nationwide, starting immediately" as a way to halt the virus's spread and save tens of thousands of lives. Be a patriot," Biden, with his newly named running mate Kamala Harris nearby and wearing a face covering, told reporters near his home in Delaware. The panel included former surgeon general Vivek Murthy, who has been an advisor to Biden throughout the coronavirus crisis. Biden and Harris then entered a session on the pandemic's impact on businesses and employment in the world's largest economy. Democrats widely accuse Trump of mishandling the US response to a pandemic that has claimed more than 166,000 lives nationwide.

The United States Postal Service is deactivating mail-sorting machines at processing centers across the US. At least 19 sorting machines, which can process 35,000 pieces of mail per hour, have been dismantled and removed in recent weeks, postal workers told Motherboard. At least 19 mail-sorting machines, which can process up to 35,000 pieces of mail per hour, have been removed without any explanation, postal workers told Motherboard. On Thursday, Trump told Fox Business that he would withhold funding from the USPS to harm mail-in voting. Postal workers told Motherboard that while it wasn't unusual for mail-sorting machines to be deactivated or moved among facilities, the timing coincided with Trump's push to destabilize the USPS before the election.

Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worries could cost him the election. He’s pairing the tough Postal Service stance in congressional negotiations with an increasingly robust mail-in -voting legal fight in states that could decide the election. That followed legal maneuvers in battleground Pennsylvania, where the campaign hopes to force changes to how the state collects and counts mail-in ballots. That figure, which would include money to help with election mail, is down from a $25 billion plan in a House-passed coronavirus measure. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year.

Fines for refusing to wear a face mask are to increase to up to £3,200, Boris Johnson has said, as he announced England's lockdown measures will be further eased from Saturday. Organisers of illegal raves face £10,000 penalties under tougher new enforcement measures outlined alongside the latest loosening of the UK's coronavirus restrictions. Presently, those who refuse to wear a face covering where it is required face a £100 fine, which can be reduced to £50 if it is paid within 14 days. Inside Politics newsletter The latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox Enter your email address Continue Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists. In England, face coverings are mandatory on public transport and in shops and museums, with some exemptions for children or on medical grounds.

Washington: Democratic presumptive nominee Joe Biden has called for a nationwide mandate that would force Americans to wear masks outdoors in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. As the global pandemic continues to ravage the US, Biden on Thursday said that every American “should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum”, and that such a mandate should be enforced by state governors. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden. Credit:APThe call is a slight shift to Biden’s previous policy - which pushed for a national federal mandate rather than one imposed by the state - but still sits in stark contrast to President Donald Trump, who regularly refuses to wear a mask and has consistently said it should be up to states to decide on the rules. “Every governor should mandate mandatory mask-wearing,” Biden said, speaking alongside his new running mate Kamala Harris after the pair attended a coronavirus briefing with health experts.

The Greek-Turkish standoff over hydrocarbon exploration rights near the Greek border in the Eastern Mediterranean has been brewing for some time. Undeterred by Greece’s claim over the area, Turkey sent the Oruç Reis out this week to conduct seismic surveillance in its quest for energy resources, complete with a naval escort. The Eastern Mediterranean has seen a hotbed of activity lately, with Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt finding hydrocarbon resources there. Last year, Turkey struck a deal with Libya on Libya’s maritime boundary that allows Turkey to claim rights to an area that Greece says belongs to it. In exchange for this, Turkey offered military support to Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord—once again embroiling oil and gas resources into the scuffle.

He has promised to hold Ethiopia's first free and fair elections in 2021, which would be a milestone for Africa's second-most-populous nation. Asked to comment on the arrests, the government signalled that order was its immediate priority. Mass arrests were common under the previous administration which used security forces to crush dissent. When anti-government protests propelled Abiy to power, he sped up the release of tens of thousands of political prisoners. But now activists like Fisseha Tekle, Amnesty International's Ethiopia analyst, fear Abiy's government is resorting to the arbitrary mass arrests of his predecessor.

Moscow (CNN) Russian officials in Moscow tell CNN they have offered "unprecedented cooperation" with Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the US multi-agency body set up to accelerate access to effective Covid-19 vaccines and treatments. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the new Russian vaccine. Other US officials told CNN the Russian vaccine is considered so half-baked in the United States that it hadn't even piqued US interest in a serious way before the rollout. "There's no way in hell the US tries this (Russian vaccine) on monkeys, let alone people," one US government public health official said. Russia says US firms interestedRussian officials tell CNN that Russia is open to sharing information about the vaccine and that it would allow US pharmaceutical companies to produce the Russian vaccine on American soil.

McKown initially reported he had confronted a group of Black youths outside his summer home in the Adirondacks. McKown initially reported he had confronted a group of Black youths outside his summer home in the Adirondacks. McKown later called police and acknowledged the story was a lie, the Times Union reported. As their questioning continued, McKown allegedly asked the troopers why they were trying to “jam him up,” the Times Union reported. Sprague told the AP via email that she had made a “formal written request” for the investigation file before the outcry.

Facebook announced on Thursday a new online resource for voters that's intended to facilitate voting by mail and limit the spread of election-related disinformation ahead of the November presidential election. The company's new Voting Information Center, to be launched on Facebook and Instagram, is intended as a "one-stop-shop," according to Facebook, where Americans can register to vote, check voting information, and sign up as poll workers. Facebook previously announced a goal of registering more than four million new voters ahead of Election Day. After the election, Oxford University researchers estimated that 126 million Facebook users and 20 million Instagram users were reached by such content. "We want to make sure people have access to the latest, authoritative information about preliminary results on and after election night."

Volenec wanted to hear a town-hall discussion led by Sonny Perdue, Donald Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture, to learn how the Administration planned to address the economic crisis gripping Wisconsin’s family dairy farmers. I’m basically paying myself living expenses now.”Five years ago, the price of milk fell precipitously, accelerating the long unravelling of rural Wisconsin. “Dairy farmers are working on their fifth year of low milk prices. Many banks have stopped loaning them money.” Wisconsin has seven thousand dairy farms, roughly half the number that it had a decade ago. “Trump can’t win a second term unless he racks up enormous margins in rural Wisconsin.”For Volenec, Trump’s appeal vanished almost immediately.

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In a blistering takedown of Joe Biden’s running mate, Donald Trump on Thursday accused Senator Kamala Harris of maliciously speaking in complete sentences. Blasting her penchant for hewing to the rules of grammar, Trump said, “A lot of people are saying, mean, nasty, disrespectful. To a new level, like you wouldn’t believe.”“Sad,” he said. “Sick and sad.”Trump also was contemptuous of Biden, noting, “Sleepy Joe—something’s going on.”“Quite frankly,” he added. In his most withering criticism, Trump suggested that Harris’s stubborn insistence on making subjects agree with verbs was an insult to every American voter.

Jotaka Eaddy, a political strategist and former adviser to the N.A.A.C.P., organized a collective of Black women around the hashtag #winwithblackwomen. “Black women represent sixteen million voters in this election,” she told me. There hasn’t been for forty years a pathway to Democratic victory without the work of Black women. She’s the first Black woman and first Asian woman to be on a major-party ticket. As a Black Presidential candidate, Harris didn’t have space to talk about her evolution on race and criminal justice.

Harris and Beau "spoke on the phone practically every day" when they were the attorney generals of California and DelawareKamala Harris took a moment during her first appearance with running mate Joe Biden to pay tribute to the presidential candidate's late son, Beau Biden. Harris, 55, was friends with Beau when they were both attorneys general in California and Delaware, respectively. "And let me tell you about Beau Biden," she continued. Image zoom From left: Beau Biden and Kamala Harris Kamala Harris/TwitterThe former vice president and his wife, Former Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden, have had Beau on their mind throughout 2020. Beau had survived the 1972 car accident that killed his mother — Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter — and the couple's 1-year-old daughter, Naomi.

According to the California secretary of state's website, Trump donated $6,000 to Harris' campaign for California attorney general, prior to her becoming a senator. Ivanka Trump, who serves as one of her father's senior advisers, also funded Harris' campaign, donating $2,000 in 2014. Harris served terms as California's attorney general before she was elected to Congress in 2016. Image zoom Sen. Kamala Harris Alexander Drago-Pool/GettyThe Trumps' campaign contributions were first reported last year while Harris was a contender in the Democratic presidential primary. Later Tuesday, he told reporters that, during the Democratic primary campaign, Harris had been "disrespectful" and "nasty" to Biden.

The president has a history of tagging his adversaries with derogatory and sometimes racist nicknamesBiden Team Asked Vice Presidential Finalists What They Thought Their Trump Nickname Would BeThe Democratic Party's 2020 ticket is all but finalized — save for the ceremony — after former Vice President Joe Biden named Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate on Tuesday. Among the lengthy and, at times, arduous interview procedures was a question specifically tailored to the 2020 election, the Post reported: "What do you think Donald Trump’s nickname for you would be?" Image zoom From left: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Wednesday after he named her his running mate OLIVIER DOULIERY/Getty ImagesTrump, 74, criticized Harris immediately after she was announced as Biden's pick on Tuesday. In Harris' first speech since joining the Biden ticket, she said Wednesday that of all potential epithets she prefers "vice president." "The co-chairs described her as having an impressive balance of the presence to take on President Trump and knowledge of the issues," the Post reported.

US Senate ok's water projects bill, directs emergency aid to Flint, Mich., and drought relief for California - The Hill

Officials say blizzard-like conditions and fading light could make it challenging for investigators to go through site of deadly Port Colborne, Ontario, house fire - CP 24

Trump pick to run Voice of America, other U.S. global media is carrying out 'purge': DemocratAdded: 13.08.2020 21:10 | 11 views | 0 commentsRep. Eliot Engel accused the administration of trying to turn the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which runs the Voice of America, into a Trump mouthpiece.

The sexist and racist attacks on Kamala Harris have begun. They feel too familiar. Added: 13.08.2020 20:50 | 11 views | 0 commentsFrom a birther screed to critiques of her racial identity and performance of gender, the presumptive vice president nominee faces a rocky road.

Added: 29.07.2020 14:09 | 12 views | 0 commentsTrump's reelection campaign and campaign committee are accused of hiding nearly $170 million in spending to vendors and Trump relations by funneling money through firms led by Brad Parscale and campaign officials.

Author Robert Draper on what led the U.S. to war in IraqAdded: 29.07.2020 12:02 | 12 views | 0 commentsOn "Intelligence Matters," Mike Morell and Draper discuss the key players, events and decisions that led to the George W. Bush administration's invasion of Iraq more than 15 years ago.

Most view kneeling during anthem as acceptable form of protestAdded: 29.07.2020 12:00 | 14 views | 0 commentsViews on this are divided by political party and race.

Barr and Judiciary Committee clash in contentious hearingAdded: 29.07.2020 11:37 | 13 views | 0 commentsSource: en.wikipedia.orgIn his opening statement, Barr told the committee that "what I'm trying to do is restore the rule of law." More in feeds.cbsnews.com »

Added: 29.07.2020 15:40 | 13 views | 0 commentsAs U.S. COVID-19 deaths near 150,000, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss President Trump's controversial comments on hydroxychloroquine, which has been deemed not effective by medical professionals, and his retweeting of a video that contains mixed messaging on masks.

Sen. Chuck Schumer on what it will take to get a new stimulus packageAdded: 29.07.2020 15:29 | 13 views | 0 commentsDemocratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the GOP proposal for a new stimulus package and what it will take to make a deal.

Added: 29.07.2020 15:29 | 13 views | 0 commentsSenate Republicans on Monday proposed a coronavirus relief plan that would significantly reduce the $600 weekly jobless benefit for Americans, a move that Democrats oppose. Meanwhile, President Trump's national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, became the highest-ranking administration official to test positive for COVID-19. Paula Reid reports.

Added: 29.07.2020 15:10 | 12 views | 0 commentsPresumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he's close to choosing a running mate. The former vice president said the decision will come next week. Ed O'Keefe reports from the campaign trail.

Added: 29.07.2020 16:29 | 13 views | 0 commentsActivists following in the footsteps of the late Congressman John Lewis are keeping up the fight for Black voters' rights. With less than 100 days to go until the presidential election, LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, joined CBSN's "Countdown to the Vote" special with more.

Added: 29.07.2020 16:29 | 13 views | 0 commentsPresident Trump's national security adviser Robert O’Brien is in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus. This comes as Mr. Trump touts progress in the race for a vaccine during a trip to battleground state North Carolina. Ben Tracy reports.

Donald Trump claims 2020 election results may not be known for 'years'Added: 13.08.2020 17:22 | 6 views | 0 commentsDonald Trump has claimed that the 2020 presidential election results may not be known for "years", a week after he called for a delay to the 2020 election.

Added: 18.06.2020 19:02 | 11 views | 0 commentsHundreds of people who lost jobs during the coronavirus crisis but have been unable to get their unemployment insurance checks converged at the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort early Wednesday to seek in-person help.

Turkey claims to take action after ship attack threat 'got their answer today'Added: 13.08.2020 22:18 | 7 views | 0 commentsTURKEY'S President Tayyip Erdogan vowed opposition will pay a "high price" if they interfere with Turkish ships searching for oil in disputed Mediterranean waters.

Former White House aide Bolton says Trump not 'fit' to be presidentAdded: 18.06.2020 19:47 | 4 views | 0 commentsFormer top White House aide John Bolton delivered a damning indictment of his former boss, saying Donald Trump's behavior in office and dealings with foreign leaders showed he was unfit to be president of the United States.

Lara Trump argues polls 'even more inaccurate now' than in 2016, says 'silent majority' is 'silenced majority'Added: 13.08.2020 22:03 | 8 views | 0 commentsPolling on the 2020 presidential race is even more off-base than it was in 2016, Lara Trump, President Trump's daughter-in-law and campaign adviser, told "Bill Hemmer Reports" Thursday.

Added: 13.08.2020 19:39 | 13 views | 0 commentsWith 80 days left before the presidential election, a new and dangerous rhetoric has emerged from some corners of the Resistance. A number of President Trump's most implacable critics are fantasizing about deploying the U.S. military to remove him from the White House on Jan. 20, 2021, based on...

Biden calls for nationwide mask mandateAdded: 13.08.2020 21:36 | 9 views | 0 commentsSource: www.usatoday.comJoe Biden is calling for a nationwide mask mandate, citing predictions that it could save 40,000 lives over the next three months. "Every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing," Biden said alongside running mate Sen. Kamala Harris. (Aug. 13) More in rssfeeds.usatoday.com » Tags: Money

“If you've already removed a quarter million,” she said, “you would think it wouldn't be another quarter.” Then she got a surprise. When Michael Brickner—then the state director of All Voting Is Local-Ohio, an ACLU-affiliated voter group—first heard about the secretary of state's list, he was stunned. Encourage every voter in the state to check their own status on the state's voter registration website, to make sure they weren't removed in error? She'd decided that she would demonstrate how to go about checking one's voter status. She had the state's voter site mirrored from her computer and projected onto a screen.

The Covid-19 pandemic, and millions of people desperate for scarce protective equipment like masks and Tyvek suits, has presented a bonanza for scammers. Now, according to the US Department of Justice, it seems that even ISIS has gotten in on the game. Amid the jihadist fundraising efforts the DoJ has nixed, however, one stands out as particularly brazen: court documents detail how an ISIS agent allegedly ran a scam website for Covid-19 personal protective equipment, or PPE, known as FaceMaskCenter.com. ISIS's participation in the Covid-19 PPE scam industry is just part of a wave of fraud that has flooded the internet since the Covid-19 pandemic began, says Mark Turner, chief executive of DarkOwl, a security firm that's tracked Covid-19 scams online for months. FaceMaskCenter.com claimed to offer FDA-approved N95 face masks, as well as a wide range of other PPE, including Tyvek suits, gloves, goggles, and thermometers.

New York's Attorney General regularly takes on the scariest, most intimidating bad guys like it's her job—because, you know, it is her job. In a statement, the NRA called the lawsuit a "premeditated attack...on Second Amendment freedoms." The NRA has been registered as a not-for-profit charitable organization in the state of New York, and for decades, has gone unchecked. It's unfortunate, but in that time, they have diverted millions upon millions of dollars from their charitable mission. The NRA failed to adhere and comply with the law, it failed to honor its purpose and its mission, while executives looted the not-for-profit of millions upon millions of dollars.

But Trump’s North Korea peace drive, like the Wicked Witch of the East from the Wizard of Oz, is not merely dead, but “really most sincerely dead.” We are only a few days past the two-year anniversary of the first Trump-Kim meeting, though it feels like a lifetime ago. Remember that the Trump administration allegedly had plans to manage or prevent each one? Longtime Korea-watcher Scott Snyder points out that while the U.S. may have moved on, North Korea decidedly has not. For decades, North Korea has resorted to taking very aggressive, targeted actions to re-focus the attention of Washington and the world on its capabilities and demands. With Trump facing a difficult reelection fight and various domestic crises, his administration is in no position to carefully negotiate a deal with North Korea.

Then Harris gave a rousing speech (although there didn’t seem to be any physical audience members, for obvious reasons), a worthy introduction to her vice-presidential candidacy. If the speech is any indication, Harris will serve as the charismatic, well-spoken, level-headed counterpart to Biden, whose campaign has been marred by occasional gaffes. Here are the highlights of Harris’s speech (you can read the full transcript here). In particular, she emphasized his catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and the economic devastation that’s come in its wake. And let me just tell you about Beau Biden.

Photo: Fox NewsVice-President Mike Pence reacted last night to the idea that he will eventually have to face off with Kamala Harris in upcoming vice-presidential election debates. With characteristic charm during an appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show, Pence exuded the confidence and swagger of a former Men’s Warehouse mannequin when asked about Biden tapping Harris, whose career has been marked by a string of notable debate performances and passionate congressional hearing appearances. “I think she is a skilled debater,” Pence said, his red, red tie reflecting off his white, white head, mouth set and eyebrows raised in a grim approximation of a smile. “It’s on, Sean,” Pence reiterated, dragging out the rhyme in a kind of dirge. “I can’t wait to get back out there.”

The uncertainty in our current 2020 forecast, conversely, stems mostly from the fact that there’s still a long way to go until the election. Take what happens if we lie to our model and tell it that the election is going to be held today. But I’d summarize the uncertainty factor about November by borrowing Donald Rumsfeld’s famous distinction between known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns. electoral votes, for example. Again, it’s a known unknown but probably not a game-changer.

Here’s is everything we know about the process, as reported by the Washington Post, the Associated Press, USA Today, NBC News, and Politico. Eleven women made it to the final roundA total of 11 politicians made it to the final round of the selection process, with Biden doing a one-on-one interview with each candidate. The Biden campaign reportedly prepped announcement strategies for each candidate, including logos. After the attorneys had scoured each candidate’s background, Biden consulted with his wife, Jill Biden, and sister, Valerie Biden Owens. According to USA Today, Biden called the California senator on Zoom around 2:45 p.m., while the decision was made public at 4:14 p.m.“You ready to go to work?” Biden asked Harris.

Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty ImagesIf you are wondering why coronavirus stimulus talks between congressional Democrats and the White House are no longer getting much coverage, it’s because there really isn’t anything to cover. They are, to be sure, under a lot of pressure from a reported 20 Senate Republicans who don’t want any stimulus legislation at all. The November election is ultimately the deadline for a stimulus deal, particularly for Trump and Republicans who are fighting an uphill battle against what’s looking like another Democratic wave. And Americans expecting a second $1,200 stimulus check — one of the few items on which the two parties are not at all far apart — could grow very impatient. We’ll see how long Republicans continue to call Democratic proposals “ridiculous.”

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesThe United Arab Emirates established full diplomatic ties with Israel Thursday, becoming the first Gulf Arab nation to normalize relations with Jerusalem. Since its founding in 1971, the UAE had withheld recognition from Israel due to its occupation of Palestinian territories. But in 2020, the Emirati leadership has more use for warm relations with Israel than they do for the Palestinian cause. The UAE and Israel are both wealthy nations with a shared interest in countering Iranian regional influence. Note: Israel did not commit to abandoning its claims of sovereignty over the Palestinian lands that the Trump administration unilaterally awarded it.

Postal Service because Democrats are seeking to expand mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic, making explicit the reason he has declined to approve $25 billion in emergency funding for the cash-strapped agency. He added: “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting, because they’re not equipped.”Here’s the video:Trump this morning why he won’t fund US Postal Service. Slow mail service could serve the president’s purposes in two ways. Second, even if mail ballots aren’t actually invalidated, the later they are received, the longer it will take to count them. Postal Service — who, by spectacular coincidence, just happens to be a top Trump fundraiser.

It's a dramatic spike in fears about voting from the 2018 midterm election when only 15% of voters said they anticipated difficulties. Sixty percent of Democrats said they believe voting will be difficult in November, compared with 40% who said it would be easy. In a sign of the high stakes for Democrats, the poll found Biden supporters would be far more "angry" if their candidate loses. Sixty-one percent of Biden supporters said they would be "angry" if their candidate loses, compared with 37% of Trump supporters who said they would be "angry" if Trump loses. Thirty-seven percent of Biden supporters said they would be "disappointed" if Biden lost while 59% of Trump supporters said they would be "disappointed."

Florida voting rights advocates, operatives from both parties, elections analysts and the state’s supervisors of elections consider it a non-issue. Voting rights groups and the state of Florida settled a lawsuit last month over concerns that "structural racism" existed in the voting system. Another poll, conducted by the University of Florida in late July, suggests the partisan divide on mail voting may be growing. The president's continued criticism of voting by mail is harmful and is an attempt to suppress voting, he said. Gruters, the Florida GOP chair, said the Democratic Party's emphasis on voting by mail can't match the enthusiasm Florida GOP voters have for Trump.

Biden calls for nationwide mask mandateJoe Biden is calling for a nationwide mask mandate, citing predictions that it could save 40,000 lives over the next three months. “Every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing," Biden said alongside running mate Sen. Kamala Harris. (Aug. 13)AP

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan deal for a new coronavirus stimulus package appeared hopelessly out of reach on Thursday, with congressional Democrats blaming Republicans, Republicans blaming Democrats and President Donald Trump suggesting the talks are doomed. “I want you to see how vast our differences are,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a news conference Thursday. After weeks of talks, the negotiations have only seemed to worsen despite the expiration of a number of vital programs. Some vulnerable House Democrats already are pushing back by publicly slamming both sides' leaders. Paycheck Protection Program expired:The future of the small business rescue plan is in limbo as stimulus talks stall

New York thwarted more than $1 billion in unemployment fraud during the coronavirus pandemic — as it paid out nearly $40 billion in benefits, the Cuomo administration said Thursday. The state Department of Labor said it identified and stopped more than 42,200 fraudulent unemployment benefit claims since COVID-19 hit the Empire State in March. In the last five months, the agency has referred more unemployment fraud cases to federal prosecutors than it did in the last 10 years combined, the DOL said. Currently, there are around 4,500 workers still employed to handle the crush as 3.4 million New Yorkers are still receiving unemployment benefits. State Sen. Tom O’Mara (R-Elmira) said “90 percent” of the work his staff does involves handling unemployment inquiries.

An Arizona woman sued to fight New York’s 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers from hot-spot coronavirus states — arguing that it unfairly stopped her from helping friends move house and going sightseeing with her pals. Cynthia Page filed an emergency suit in the Northern District of New York in July following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s June 24 executive order requiring visitors on a travel advisory list to isolate after coming into the Empire State. “Under the plain terms of the Executive Order, individuals from restricted states remain free to enter New York,” the ruling says. There are now 33 states — along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands — on the advisory list.

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday called for an immediate nationwide mask mandate for the next three months, providing few specifics but saying the measure could save 40,000 people. Biden’s remarks Thursday seem to go farther than his previous comments about mask wearing. Earlier this summer, he said that if elected, he would make wearing a mask in public compulsory. I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing that mask. Anyone to reopen would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks,” Biden, who typically wears a mask during public appearances, said in June.

Michael Bloomberg — who spent nearly $1 billion in a failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination — said he will be speaking at the Democratic National Convention next week, according to a report. The former three-term New York City Mayor announced his upcoming appearance in an email to supporters Thursday saying he plans to explain “why we have the best candidates to meet today’s challenges and get big things done,” according to a report by the Daily Beast. Bloomberg, 78 — who is the founder of financial media company Bloomberg LP, is one of the richest men in the world with an estimated worth of $65 billion — made a surprise run for the primary spot only appearing on the ballot for the first time on March 3. The former Republican and gun-control advocate withdrew from the race when it became clear it was dead in the water after Super Tuesday with his only win coming from American Samoa, a small US territory in the South Pacific. After, Bloomberg gave the DNC $18 million and endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for President.

Trump’s efforts to undercut Biden and to amplify a message aimed beyond encouraging his own base haven’t had noticeable effect. And since he said earlier this year that he sees mail-in voting as beneficial to Democrats, it’s not hard to figure out the play here. Trump’s opposition to mail-in voting is usually not explicitly predicated on impeding Democrats but, instead, on the false claim that expanded mail-in voting will lead to rampant voter fraud. Now, he’s reportedly settled on two possible locations for the speech: the White House or the national park at Gettysburg, Pa. Part of Trump’s efforts to undercut Biden included a focus on lawlessness in some cities that occasionally spun out of racial-justice protests.

With talks on a new coronavirus relief bill essentially dead, the Senate on Thursday adjourned through Labor Day. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said senators would be called back to vote in the event of a breakthrough on the matter. McConnell and Pelosi engaged in another round of finger-pointing Thursday about who was to blame for the inaction. “Republicans have been waiting and trying to pass bipartisan relief literally for weeks,” McConnell said on the floor before adjourning the chamber. Asked when she might next talk to Mnuchin, Pelosi replied, “I don’t know.

Despite positive coverage of the Biden-Harris rollout from the mainstream media, the Democratic candidates are now facing backlash for not taking questions from the press. ABC'S GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS SAYS KAMALA HARRIS IS FROM 'MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, MODERATE WING' OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY"I get Biden + Harris not taking questions on the day of their debut, but today they also left without taking questions. "Biden & Harris need to face questions -- tough questions -- from the media. Even CNN anchor Brianna Keilar called out Biden and Harris for not taking questions from the press. WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST PANNED FOR CALLING KAMALA HARRIS A 'SMALL-C CONSERVATIVE'"We keep pressing the Biden campaign.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday accused President Trump of being “afraid of the American people” in his pushback against funding for universal mail-in ballots as part of a new round of economic stimulus. "They want $3.5 billion for something that's fraudulent ... for the mail-in votes, universal mail-in ballots. Trump added: "But if they don't get those two items, then they can't have mail-in ballots." Trump has long railed against the practice, saying it will lead to widespread fraud, a claim that Democrats have dismissed. They argue that mail-in voting is necessary due to the risk of the spread of coronavirus.

Senate adjourns till after Labor Day with no stimulus agreement in sightCNBC's Eamon Javers reports that Republicans and Democrats are not close to a stimulus deal, so the Senate will be adjourning until after Labor Day.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday addressed the historic deal between his country and the United Arab Emirates, calling it "the greatest advancement towards peace between Israel and the Arab world in the last 26 years." Egypt signed a peace agreement in 1979, while Jordan signed one in 1994. After decades of Israel seen as an enemy, today many many countries see Israel as a strategic ally for stability advancement and for peace." CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APPThursday's deal was finalized during a call between Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed. Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates," Trump tweeted.

Before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were on the same presidential ticket, they were battling to win the Democratic primary and, in some instances, things got heated. HARRIS CRITICIZES BIDEN'S STANCE ON BUSING AT FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DEBATEIn what became her most memorable debate moment, Harris challenged Biden's opposition to federally mandated busing when he was in the Senate, telling him she benefited from the program to integrate schools. HARRIS BLASTS BIDEN FOR HYDE AMENDMENT FLIP-FLOPHarris called Biden's past support for the Hyde Amendment "unacceptable" at a Democratic primary debate, citing her role as a former prosecutor who tried rape and child molestation cases. Harris pressed him, asking why it took him so long to change his position on the Hyde Amendment. Harris was pressed on this and said it was right for Biden to apologize

College students told a Campus Reform correspondent they approved of President Trump's recent executive actions deferring student loan payments and payroll tax collection -- believing that such moves were being touted by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. One student told Neret that deferring student loan payments "sounds like a good idea," while another called it "amazing." WHAT'S IN TRUMP'S FOUR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF EXECUTIVE ORDERS? Responses varied after Neret revealed the deferrals were ordered by Trump as part of a series of coronavirus relief executive actions last weekend. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"I'm really not all about President Trump, but the part of funding schools to giving us money while in this crisis ... it did help," she added.

The top official at the National Institute of Health on Thursday said that Russia's coronavirus vaccine skipped "fundamental parts" of the approval process, saying some people have coined it "Russian roulette." Some have called this Russian roulette," Dr. Francis Collins, director of the NIH, said during a conference call with reporters. Scientists and health officials across the globe have questioned the safety and efficacy of Russia's vaccine, which President Vladimir Putin claimed "works quite effectively." Putin said that Russian health authorities approved what would be the first coronavirus vaccine and said that one of his daughters has already taken it. The World Health Organization said it's in contact with Russian regulatory authorities to conduct a rigorous review of the country's vaccine before recommending it to other nations for procurement.

(CNN) A new poll from Pew Research Center finds that 49% of registered voters expect voting in the November elections to be difficult, a vast increase from the midterm elections two years ago as President Donald Trump attacks mail-in voting. The poll was conducted while Trump was criticizing mail-in voting but before he said on Thursday that he opposes funding for the US Postal Service because he doesn't want to see it used for mail-in voting in November. Trump's attacks on mail-in voting and USPS are being slammed as an attempt to manipulate the system for political gain, as he could benefit from voter suppression among communities who vote by mail. It shows 50% of voters expect voting in November to be easy. Significantly more voters who plan to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden in November expect voting to be difficult (60%) than those who plan to support Trump (35%).

Washington (CNN) The 2020 Democratic primary was riddled with progressive hand-wringing about whether Kamala Harris is some sort of double-dealing "cop" based on her career as a prosecutor and California's attorney general. Throughout the primary, Harris' knotty record in law enforcement -- in particular, her time, from 2011 to 2017, as California's attorney general -- was under fierce scrutiny. But the fact that many Black voters appear to be backing Harris anyway reveals just how layered this important voting bloc's attachment to the senator is. For some Black voters, support for Harris stems, in no small part, from the unquestionable significance of the moment -- from delight in the history being made. Representational value didn't do much for her during the primary, but that doesn't mean that it isn't impactful.

Small businesses eager for another round of relief will have to wait. The current legislative outlook is bleak, far different than the four other relief packages already approved by Congress, totaling roughly $3 trillion. In the Senate, McConnell would have to take the procedural steps necessary to take the bill up and cut off debate once it passed the House. And all that means the soonest Congress would act almost certainly would be early to mid September -- and only after the White House and Democrats reached a consensus. "So we can't wait until September 30; I know, some have said this," Pelosi told reporters.

Israeli also said it would suspend annexing areas of the occupied West Bank as it had been planning to do. “After 49 years,” Trump added, “Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalize their diplomatic relations. Two of the Republican president’s primary Middle East endeavors have sputtered in the past year. Echoing comments by Trump, Kushner told reporters in a conference call that other countries in the region may now come forward to strike a similar deal with Israel. “Israel was thinking about applying Israeli sovereignty and Israeli law to different areas of the West Bank.

(Reuters) - Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is among those who appeared at a briefing on the economy for U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, his campaign disclosed on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks during a panel discussion at the American Economic Association/Allied Social Science Association (ASSA) 2019 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., January 4, 2019. Harris joined the regular briefings that Biden takes on both the public health and economic consequences of the coronavirus crisis. Yellen, an academic who had specialized in labor economics, was appointed the first woman Fed chair by Democratic President Barack Obama. It is unclear what Yellen is telling Biden in private, and Biden declined to say when asked by a reporter.

Top NewsBiden: 'Be a patriot', wear a maskPostedAfter being briefed on the coronavirus pandemic by health experts, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday said if Americans wear masks when they're outside for the next three months, over 40,000 lives could be saved.

Israeli also said it would suspend annexing areas of the occupied West Bank as it had been planning to do. “After 49 years,” Trump added, “Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalize their diplomatic relations. Two of the Republican president’s primary Middle East endeavors have sputtered in the past year. Echoing comments by Trump, Kushner told reporters in a conference call that other countries in the region may now come forward to strike a similar deal with Israel. “Israel was thinking about applying Israeli sovereignty and Israeli law to different areas of the West Bank.

Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate because she’s popular with suburban women and has shown “she can take on Donald Trump and Mike Pence,” among other things, according to internal Biden campaign talking points obtained by HuffPost. The documents were distributed to delegates this week ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which is set to begin on Monday. They outline how to promote Harris, how to describe her relationship with Biden and hint at why he chose her as his running mate. Another talking point details how she was a “tough questioner” in Judiciary Committee hearings, likely referring to her widely publicized takedown of Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Trump and right-wing media have wasted no time attacking Harris since Biden announced her as his pick to be his vice president on Tuesday.

(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion in all for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. That figure, which would include money to help with election mail, is down from a $25 billion plan in a House-passed coronavirus measure. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year.

Joe Biden on Thursday called on governors across the U.S. to issue mask-wearing mandates to stem the spread of COVID-19. The event with Harris was their second public appearance together this week after Biden announced on Tuesday that he had chosen his running mate. This site is protected by recaptchaThough Biden has previously called for nationwide mask-wearing mandates, that he would use his second ever event with Harris to reiterate the message underscores the role the pandemic is likely to pay in his campaign. He said his team of medical experts had advised him that nationwide mask mandates could save "over 40,000 lives" over the next three months. Prior to their remarks, Biden and Harris were briefed privately on the pandemic by a group of public health experts and doctors.

Yesterday, in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Pompeo publicly confirmed last week's reporting. Soon after, the American president added that the bounty controversy is "all a made up Fake News Media Hoax started to slander me [and] the Republican Party." Two weeks ago, Trump went on to concede he "never" broached the subject with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in part because the intelligence about the bounties -- intel he suggested last month didn't exist -- "never reached my desk." The questions for Trump are simple: "What's the real reason you didn't bring this up with Putin?" and "Why does your own team disagree with your assessment about the controversy being 'made up' and a 'hoax'"?

“I’m just wondering how a decision by the Supreme Court could be deemed by a federal agency to have no basis in law. Pezzi, referring to the ruling by the title of the lead case brought by the University of California Regents, emphasized that — Edlow’s statement notwithstanding — the government is committed to abiding by the court’s decision. “Obviously, the Regents decision is the law. The government is complying with the Regents decision and will continue to comply with the Regents decision,” the DOJ lawyer said. “The attorney general should advise his client Mr. Wolf that it is not [a] benefit to anyone to have a federal agency take issue with a decision of the Supreme Court,” the judge declared.

WASHINGTON — The man appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. global media agency suspended seven senior managers at the organization late Wednesday in a move that a senior House Democrat called a bid to "purge" government-funded media outlets. Pack has said previously that he intended to uphold the principles of editorial independence at the Voice of America and the other international broadcasters overseen by his agency. Pack replaced the boards mostly with political appointees of the Trump administration, and named himself as chairman. One of the concerns raised by lawmakers centers on the legal status of dozens of foreign nationals working as journalists at VOA. Last week, the Office of Personnel Management said it had stripped USAGM of its authority to conduct and adjudicate background investigations for its employees.

Tony Evers said Thursday that he expects President Donald Trump and his entourage to wear masks indoors and social distance when Trump visits Oshkosh for a rally next week. Evers, a Democrat, issued a statewide mask mandate in July to combat rising coronavirus infections. The governor told reporters during a teleconference on Thursday that he expects Trump and others to wear masks Monday when they’re inside buildings and stay 6 feet apart. Evers is scheduled to speak Wednesday at the convention. He said everyone will wear masks and social distance, but he didn’t think an audience would be physically present except for reporters.

Jaquenette Ferguson from Oxon Hill, Md., gestures as she gets her picture taken beside a portrait of the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., near the East Front Steps of the U.S. the Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Washington. Seven candidates qualified Friday for the Sept. 29 election, but declining to run is replacement Democratic nominee Nikema Williams, a state senator and chair of the state Democratic Party. They both said they’re holding their fire for the Nov. 3 general election, which will decide a full two-year term. Lewis was the youngest and last survivor of the Big Six civil rights activists, led by the late Martin Luther King Jr. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic and Lewis rarely faced any serious challenge in his 17 terms.

FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2019, file photo former Fed Chair Janet Yellen speaks with FOX Business Network guest anchor Jon Hilsenrath in the Fox Washington bureau in Washington. Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was among a team of advisers who briefed Joe Biden on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, about the economic fallout from the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2019, file photo former Fed Chair Janet Yellen speaks with FOX Business Network guest anchor Jon Hilsenrath in the Fox Washington bureau in Washington. Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was among a team of advisers who briefed Joe Biden on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, about the economic fallout from the coronavirus. (AP) — Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was among a team of advisers who briefed Joe Biden on Thursday about the economic fallout from the coronavirus.

Supreme Court Allows Rhode Island To Make Voting By Mail Easier Amid PandemicEnlarge this image toggle caption Steven Senne/AP Steven Senne/APAn agreement that makes it easier for Rhode Island residents to vote by mail during the pandemic will remain in place after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an effort by Republicans to block it. The two-witness or notary requirement was challenged last month by a federal lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, Common Cause of Rhode Island, and the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island, along with three voters with significant medical vulnerabilities, whose health could be jeopardized if they catch the coronavirus. The ACLU hailed the Supreme Court order as "a victory for basic principles of democracy." "We fear that this decision will create more, not less confusion this election year," the Rhode Island GOP said in a statement. Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, a Democrat, welcomed the Supreme Court's order and said the state would begin sending out requested mail ballots for the Sept. 8 primary, starting Thursday.

Joe Biden: For The Next 3 Months, All Americans Should Wear A Mask When OutsideEnlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesJoe Biden is calling for everyone in the United States to wear a mask, well into the fall. "Every single American should be wearing a mask when they're outside for the next three months, at a minimum," Biden said in remarks in Wilmington, Del., Thursday afternoon. Unlike President Trump, who took months to wear a mask publicly, Biden has long been consistently wearing a mask himself, and encouraging others to do so. In remarks at a June event in Wilmington, Biden also said there should be better guidance from the administration around mask-wearing. Far more Democrats, nonwhites and elderly people say they wear masks every time they leave the house.

Department Of Justice Seizes Bitcoin, Websites From Terror GroupsEnlarge this image toggle caption Department of Justice Department of JusticeThe Justice Department has seized millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrency from terrorist organizations, according to court documents that were unsealed Thursday, in what the government called its "largest-ever seizure of cryptocurrency in the terrorism context." The Trump administration also said it seized several websites tied to an ISIS scheme to sell fraudulent face masks to the public during this pandemic. The government seized the websites involved, and says it is investigating whether the fraud resulted in any funds being sent to support terror efforts; the websites may also have been used for money laundering, the administration suggests. But, the Justice Department wrote in the newly unsealed court documents, "it is possible to determine the identity of an individual involved in a [bitcoin] transaction through several different tools that are available to law enforcement." Software that looks for "clusters" of transactions could then identify other bitcoin possessed by the same individual, according to the filing.

The Justice Department said it determined that Yale University has discriminated against Asian-American and white applicants, issuing its findings nearly two years after opening an investigation into the school’s admissions practices. The department said Thursday that it found Yale discriminates based on race and national origin, and that race was the “determinative factor” in hundreds of admissions decisions each year. It said for the majority of applicants, Asian-American and white students have one-tenth to one-fourth the likelihood of being admitted as African-American applicants with comparable academic credentials. “Yale rejects scores of Asian American and white applicants each year based on their race, whom it otherwise would admit,” the Justice Department said. Yale spokeswoman Karen Peart said the school has cooperated with the investigation and is “dismayed that the DOJ has made its determination before allowing Yale to provide all the information the Department has requested thus far.”Write to Melissa Korn at melissa.korn@wsj.com

The claim: President Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump donated money to past Kamala Harris campaigns. Another claim asserts President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka, while private citizens, donated to Kamala Harris' past attorney general campaigns. Story continuesFact check: Kamala Harris quote about 'vengeance' is fake, created by satire websiteIn this Oct. 2, 2019, file photo, then -Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listens during a gun safety forum in Las Vegas. President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump donated to Kamala Harris' campaigns for California attorney general , which she instead donated to a nonprofit. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Donald Trump did donate to Kamala Harris' past campaigns

It is not clear when the oil spill happened, but locals first noticed it on 2 AugustVenezuela's National Assembly, the only institution which is not controlled by the government, has demanded information on a oil spill which has caused a large slick to be washed up on the shores of Falcón state. Environmentalists warn that if the oil slick continues to spread, it could damage Falcón's wetlands. Venezuela's minister for eco-socialism, Josué Lorca, said 90% of the spilled oil had already been cleared up with the help of 1,200 volunteers. But environmentalists say one clean-up is normally not enough to remove an oil spill on a beach as more oil is likely to be washed onto the shore with coming tides. Brazilian officials suspected a Greek-flagged tanker carrying heavy crude oil from Venezuela to Malaysia was the source for that spill.

The slogan “Defund the police” has been shouted during protests over the May 25 death of George Floyd. Some language experts argue that the ambiguity of “Defund the police” makes it useless. Perhaps, though, the slogan serves its purpose. “Defund the police” serves as a quick, catchy way into a larger, more complex story. Its very ambiguity opens a door to nuanced discussions, which can be rare in politics.

Congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene wins a Republican primary in Georgia. Greene is a supporter of the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory who's been criticized for racist comments. (Aug. 12)Video Transcript[APPLAUSE]MARJORIE GREENE: And let me just say this about Nancy Pelosi. MARJORIE GREENE: Oh, yeah, I do have a message for her. MARJORIE GREENE: I just want to say to Nancy Pelosi, she's a hypocrite, she's an anti-American, and we're going to kick that [BLEEP] out of Congress.

The Trump administration said the groups used the accounts to solicit donations for their causes, including through a bogus scam that officials say purported to sell protective gear for the coronavirus pandemic. Officials described it as the largest-ever seizure of digital currency funds related to terrorism. The seized funds are expected to be turned over to a fund for victims of terrorist attacks. Law enforcement officials ultimately seized more than 150 cryptocurrency accounts that they say laundered funds to accounts operated by the al-Qassam Brigades. The department also identified a scheme that officials say was orchestrated by an IS associate who manages certain hacking operations for the group.

— South Dakota officials said Wednesday they plan to build a security fence budgeted for $400,000 around the official governor’s residence to protect Gov. Noem’s office did not give specifics on any threats, but her spokeswoman Maggie Seidel said her security team recommended the fence. “But it only takes one, and per the Governor’s security team, putting up a fence around the residence is critical at this time. Noem, who is the first female governor of South Dakota, has gained a significant national following. The design for the project at the governor’s residence calls for 8-foot (2.4-meter) fencing made of powder-coated steel.

Federal law enforcement officials said Thursday that they had conducted the “largest-ever seizure of cryptocurrency” connected to terrorism. The forfeiture complaints involve the Al-Qassam Brigades, better known as the military wing of Hamas, in addition to al-Qaeda and ISIS. As law enforcement agencies, particularly the IRS, have shown for years, such accounts can be tracked and linked to particular suspects. A second campaign involved a Syria-based group that explicitly sought to accept Bitcoin donations to fund terrorists in the region. “IRS Criminal Investigations’ ability to trace funds used by terrorist groups to their source and dismantle these radical group’s communication and financial networks directly prevents them from wreaking havoc throughout the world,” said Don Fort, the head of the IRS Criminal Investigation, said in a news release.

WASHINGTON – Federal authorities seized millions of dollars in cryptocurrency as part of an operation that dismantled online campaigns to raise funds for major foreign terrorist groups, the Justice Department announced Thursday. Investigators worked with covert sources who were communicating with the terrorist groups and provided federal authorities with information on the cryptocurrency accounts, Sherwin said. The Justice Department said al-Qaeda used charities to seek cryptocurrency donations to buy weapons for Syrian terrorists. Investigators were able to track 150 cryptocurrency accounts that laundered funds to and from the terrorist group's accounts. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DOJ: Cryptocurrency seized in terrorist financing investigation

Former Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has chosen California Senator Kamala Harris as his vice presidential running mate. Ed O'Keefe has the latest.

Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective-mask mandate, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from the coronavirus over the next three months. ”Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus,” Biden said. “It’s about preventing other people from getting sick.”The Democratic presidential candidate also responded to those who pushed back against such mandates. Step up, do the right thing.”Advertisement“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum — every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing,” Biden said. He has said Americans should wear masks but has opposed the idea of a national requirement, and declined to wear one for months.

Gavin Newsom vowed to protect Californians against hazards and pollutants from oil and gas production. Newsom’s initiatives to ensure oil and gas regulations protect public health, safety, and environmental protection. “Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are on track to announce soon our next set of meetings to gather input from scientific and public health experts. AdvertisementHertzberg angered activists by singling out a lobbyist who testified in favor of the bill, Katie Valenzuela of California Environmental Justice Alliance. The labor organizations not only represent oil and refinery workers, but also truck drivers and other union members who support the oil and gas industry.

Attorney General Maura Healey, one of the state’s leading progressive stars, said Thursday she is backing Jesse Mermell in the congested Fourth Congressional District primary, just hours after Healey’s former adviser dropped from the race. “This was about Jesse and her support for Jesse,” the aide said. Healey, who doesn’t live in the Fourth District, has waded into competitive Democratic primaries before, endorsing Representative Ayanna Pressley in her 2018 challenge to then-incumbent Congressman Michael Capuano. “I’ve worked alongside Jesse for a long time,” Healey said in a statement. A rebranded super PAC that was once heavily funded by those labor groups also waded into the race Thursday, disclosing nearly $25,000 in spending on mailers backing Mermell’s candidacy.

”Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus,” Biden said. (AP) — Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective mask mandate, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from coronavirus over the next three months. Step up, do the right thing.”“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum — every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing," Biden declared. He urges Americans to wear masks but has opposed the idea of a national requirement and declined to wear one for months. Biden and running mate California Sen. Kamala Harris spoke briefly Thursday in the same Wilmington hotel ballroom where they held a virtual fundraiser after appearing together as running mates for the first time Wednesday.

Nearly half of Americans have taken or plan to take a vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent survey. Most travelers, according to the study, which polled 2,027 Americans from July 8-10, have changed plans because of the pandemic in some form or another. Only 27% have followed through on travel plans since March thus far, but another 20% of respondents said they had reservations on the books. Twenty-seven percent of travelers said the pandemic brought extra stress to their vacation, while one in five said they weren’t able to fully relax. Another recent survey found more Americans were inclined to take daylong or overnight road trips than other forms of travel during the pandemic.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fiery, fatal two-vehicle crash in central Las Vegas that also involved the rescue of a child from a burning vehicle. (Las Vegas Fire Department)Firefighters put out a vehicle fire involved in a fatal crash on northbound Interstate 15 near the exit to Martin Luther King Boulevard in Las Vegas, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Las Vegas Fire Department)The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fiery, fatal two-vehicle crash in central Las Vegas that also involved the rescue of a child from a burning vehicle. The 11:16 a.m. crash occurred on the ramp connecting northbound Interstate 15 to northbound U.S. Highway 95, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. This is the second fatal crash on the ramp in days, with a pedestrian fatally struck on the ramp late Sunday.

Wauwatosa Police Department squad cars also met protesters at several intersections, blocking their path on at least two occasions. In one instance, around 100 protesters walked in between two squad cars to continue protesting. And in another, squad cars dispersed after about five minutes, to let protesters continue on. Following the protest at Mensah's home, squad cars were parked outside of his house on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Anderson is one of the three people that Mensah shot and killed while in the line of duty.

The National Bureau of Economic Research found 68% on UI were making more with unemployment with the federal supplement. A central part of the stalemate between the White House and Democrats in Congress over a new coronavirus relief bill is what to do about enhanced federal unemployment benefits. In contrast, most states base unemployment benefits on a percentage of previous earnings, rather than a fixed amount, the study noted. Moreover, a June 2020 analysis by the Chicago Federal Reserve says those who receive unemployment benefits are more likely to look for another job more intensively than those who have used up their unemployment benefits. Indeed, researchers found in this analysis once unemployed individuals exhaust their benefits, their search effort decreases.

— Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective mask mandate, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from coronavirus over the next three months. ”Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus,” Biden said. “It’s about preventing other people from getting sick.”The Democratic presidential candidate also responded to those who push back against such mandates. Step up, do the right thing.”“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum — every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing,” Biden declared. He urges Americans to wear masks but has opposed the idea of a national requirement and declined to wear one for months.

Illinois state Sen. Terry Link has been charged in federal court with filing a false tax return in 2016 and appears likely to plead guilty, court records show. It has been nearly a year since a source identified Link, 73, as the unnamed state senator who cooperated with federal authorities against another state lawmaker, then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo. First elected to the state senate in 1996, Link, 73, publicly and vehemently denied last fall that he was the unnamed senator. Arroyo has pleaded not guilty in his own corruption case, though the machinations of it also signal an eventual guilty plea. Prosecutors first charged Arroyo with bribery in a criminal complaint in October, revealing the unnamed state senator had been cooperating with them off and on since 2016.

Link, 73, a Democrat who has served in the senate since 1997 and rose to assistant majority leader, could not immediately be reached for comment. He is one of four state senators who serves on the Legislative Ethics Commission.

Scholars estimate that thanks to the Union Army and then the 15th Amendment, 90 percent of southern Black men cast ballots. Langston's experience showed the problems that southern Black voters faced then. Southern Black women gained the right to vote only after southern Black men, in effect, had lost it. But a significant few succeeded in casting votes, including nine Black women who worked at the university that Langston had led. Future generations of Southern Black women, laboring in the shadow of better-known Black men, did the same.

But prosecutors said they're already several weeks into an independent probe of the July 10 fatal shooting. Craig said Littleton continued firing his pistol as he fell to the ground, and that officers followed their training by stopping the threat. The chief also called the coalition's efforts "yet another attempt at putting out the false narrative that this wasn't a justified shooting." But assistant prosecutor Maria Miller said in an email: "The (Public Corruption Unit) is currently investigating the police involved shooting of Hakim Littleton. On the video released by the coalition, the narrator questions whether officers needed to continue shooting Littleton after an officer appeared to kick the gun from his hand.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Justice Department investigation has found Yale University is illegally discriminating against Asian American and white applicants, in violation of federal civil rights law, officials said Thursday. Yale denied the allegation, calling it “meritless” and “hasty.”The findings detailed in a letter to the college’s attorneys Thursday mark the latest action by the Trump administration aimed at rooting out discrimination in the college application process, following complaints from students about the application process at some Ivy League colleges. The Justice Department had previously filed court papers siding with Asian American groups who had levied similar allegations against Harvard University. The two-year investigation concluded that Yale “rejects scores of Asian American and white applicants each year based on their race, whom it otherwise would admit,” the Justice Department said. The investigation stemmed from a 2016 complaint against Yale, Brown and Dartmouth.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday said he’s dropping a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta in a dispute over the city’s requirement to wear masks in public and other restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Kemp had sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council to block them from implementing restrictions at the local level, even as case counts and hospitalizations in the state soared. The Republican governor argued that local governments can't impose measures that are more or less restrictive than those in his statewide executive orders, which have strongly urged people to wear masks but not required them. He has sought to block local governments from issuing orders requiring that masks be worn, but several cities, including Atlanta, have done it anyway.

The vice president’s visit comes three days after one of the most powerful weather events in Iowa history Monday. Damage EstimatesDamage was still being calculated, but about 10 million of the state’s 23 million acres of corn and soybean crops were affected, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Trump and Pence will need to rally every vote in Iowa, even as it struggles with multiple disasters. Trump has reserved more than $6 million in campaign ads in Iowa in the general election. The president won Iowa by nine points in 2016 but now leads by just two points in a Monmouth University Poll published last week.

The Senate left Washington, D.C., on Thursday until September — the latest sign that a deal on a fifth coronavirus relief package is, at least, weeks away. But with talks stalemated, senators argue there is little reason for them to keep holding daily, roughly 1 1/2-hour sessions. “Basically, not much new movement,” said Sen. Roy Blunt Roy Dean BluntDavis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump Skepticism grows over Friday deadline for coronavirus deal GOP expects Senate to be in session next week without coronavirus deal MORE (R-Mo.) ADVERTISEMENTVulnerable incumbents in both parties have sent warning signals this week to leadership that they need to cut a deal. “And, you know, I think he's done what he can do with the Senate GOP.

Boris Johnson will stamp major schemes in Scotland that are paid for directly by the UK Government with a Union flag from next year, The Telegraph can reveal. The flag will replace the European Union symbol, which has been used to denote when a bridge or road has been directly funded by Brussels. The Union flag will be used to highlight when UK central Government money has been spent in Scotland. "They never got upset about seeing a European Union flag sitting alongside the Saltire – it is the only the Union Jack that upsets them," he said. He said: "It would probably be counterproductive because there is no point trying to force the union flag down people's throats in the hope that they would like it.

The president has not held back in his own attacks on Ms Harris since her selection as Mr Biden's running mate. Mr Trump also tried to drive a wedge between Ms Harris and Mr Biden on Twitter. Mr Trump wrote. During a Fox Business interview, the president attacked Ms Harris for her questioning of current Supreme Court Justice Bret Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings. In response to Mr Trump's attacks, Mr Biden called for his supporters to rally around Ms Harris.

On Thursday night, Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, intervened, saying: "We have to minimise the amount of extra unfairness created. Standardising grades, with a right of appeal, is an important part of the jigsaw. One Tory MP told The Telegraph: "Clearly, they are getting the guillotine ready-made [for Mr Williamson]. A former minister said: "He's clearly seen the chaos in Scotland and is trying to move to prevent that scenario. However, allies of Mr Williamson said on Thursday night that he had the support of Boris Johnson, hitting out at rival MPs' briefings.

One prominent member of that team has been Ms Harris’ younger sister, Maya Harris, who has been dubbed “Bobby Kennedy” – referencing the late politician’s relationship with brother John F Kennedy before becoming a political force himself. At the age of 29, she took over Lincoln Law School and became one of the nation’s youngest law school deans ever. Decades of the younger Ms Harris’ career was spent advocating for criminal justice reform and educational equity for all. Although in the public eye with the assistance of her politically prominent sister, there are aspects of the younger Ms Harris’ life that she has kept relatively private. So incredibly proud of you, sis,” the younger Ms Harris wrote following the vice president announcement.

The plan would suspend Israel's annexation of occupied West Bank territories to instead focus on "expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world". UAE officials have argued that its support for the agreement has largely hinged on preventing Israeli annexation and threats to a two-state solution. "It maintains the viability of a two-state solution as endorsed by the Arab League and international community," he added. Palestinian officials have denounced the move and the normalisation of diplomatic ties with Israel. On Thursday, he said that the "UAE's offer to publicly recognise the state of Israel is a welcome, brave and badly needed act of statesmanship."

Video: Ecuador's former president Abdalá Bucaram is arrested in bed over over 'murder of prison inmate jailed for selling thousands of Covid-19 tests to his son'Authorities detain ex-president of Ecuador Abdalá Bucaram Ortiz in an organized crime probe. Police can be seen storming his house.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a member of the far-right group the Proud Boys from Washington state known for brawling with left-wing activists for allegedly violating the terms of his probation. Wanted: Right-wing extremist Tusitala Toese, 24, had a warrant issued for his arrest on Friday for allegedly violating the terms of his probation. In January, Toese pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a June 2018 incident that left Portland protester Ted Ledwith with 'stitches and a concussion.' Prosecutors dismissed a felony assault charge as part of Toese’s plea deal. According to court records, the violations started in mid-June when the probation officer started getting emails and calls saying that Toese had assaulted a man near Seattle's CHAZ, or CHOP, area.

Joe Biden announced Thursday that he believed Americans should be wearing masks outside their homes until after the November presidential election to blunt the death toll of the coronavirus. 'Every single American should be wearing a mask when they're outside for the next three months, at a minimum,' Biden said during brief remarks in Wilmington, Delaware. 'Again when I occasionally get confronted with a person in public about wearing a mask I say, "Look, this is America, be a patriot. President Donald Trump has politicized mask-wearing over the past four months as COVID-19 continues to spread and kill Americans. The Associated Press reported in May that Trump feared wearing a mask would 'send the wrong message.'

Tensions between Paris and Ankara increased with the latest French announcement linked to an escalating row in the eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Greece over gas reserves. Turkey accompanied the Oruc Reis with several navy ships while its helicopters patrolled the surrounding skies. Erdogan appeared to suggest that the Oruc Reis had come under attack and that Ankara had responded accordingly. "We told them, don't you dare attack our Oruc Reis. You will pay a heavy price if you attack our Oruc Reis, we said.

Abdala, who claims to be the victim of government persecution, will be under "police surveillance 24 hours a day," the public prosecutor said. The pair, arrested as part of the corruption investigation, claimed to have sold thousands of coronavirus tests to the ex-president's son. One ATM employee was arrested alongside Bucaram and three others are being investigated. Bucaram and the others implicated in the corruption scandal faces charges of "unjustified private enrichment, fraud, fraudulent use of a public document, tax evasion ... crimes against life," said the public prosecutor. Following that, the populist Bucaram spent two decades in exile in Panama.

UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan becomes the first Gulf leader to reach a deal with Israel to normalise ties. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the first Gulf leader to strike a deal normalising relations with Israel, has long been seen as a strongman who has driven the UAE's rise to diplomatic prominence. Named crown prince of Abu Dhabi in November 2004, Sheikh Mohamed is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahayan -- the revered founder of the UAE. Described by diplomats as Abu Dhabi's strongman, Sheikh Mohamed has forged links in world capitals, particularly in the West. An avid football fan, MBZ is president of the local club in the oasis of Al-Ain, his father's hometown and the second largest city in Abu Dhabi.

He also charges that mail-in ballots lead to rampant fraud, although no evidence supports that. By choking off fresh funding, Trump appeared intent on sabotaging the process and making his warnings a self-fulfilling prophesy. They want $25 billion, billion, for the Post Office. AdvertisementTrump has claimed, perplexingly, that “absentee” voting is fine while mail-in voting is not, even though they are the same thing. “So, therefore, they don’t have the money to do the universal mail-in voting.

MORE, who was appointed by Attorney General William Barr to review the origins of the Russia probe. Graham's statement comes as Wray has come under criticism from several GOP lawmakers, including top Trump allies, in recent months. We have an election coming up," Trump said. Johnson subpoenaed the FBI for documents, under broad authorization he got from Republicans on the Homeland Security panel in June, saying he had "run out of patience." Graham sent a letter to Wray this week about a 2018 briefing involving a controversial research dossier from 2016 compiled on then-candidate Donald Trump that the FBI provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee, which Graham is not a member of.

"I hope they're not going to be politically correct," Mr Trump said. I wish he was more forthcoming," Mr Trump said, claiming that someone in his administration or an outside adviser hand-picked Mr Wray. Mr Trump's morning accusations were his latest attempt to revive his "Obamagate" conspiracy theory. Mr Biden and other senior Obama administration officials have denied any wrongdoing. "We are in a battle for the soul of this nation," the presumptive Democratic nominee tweeted a couple hours after Mr Trump's interview.

Trump also tweeted a lengthy joint statement between the US, UAE and Israel, calling the agreement to "full normalization of relations" between Israel and the UAE a "historic diplomatic breakthrough." Asked whether it was right to characterize the UAE agreement as stopping annexation, Netanyahu said: "We received a request to wait temporarily from President Trump. But officials from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) rejected the agreement to establish bilateral relations between the UAE and Israel on Thursday, a message echoed by Palestinian militant group Hamas. Last week when an interagency delegation traveled to the UAE, a peace agreement with Israel was not discussed, the officials ?said. World reactsEgyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi welcomed the UAE and Israel agreement towards establishing bilateral relations on Thursday.

Several of Germany's 16 states are considering banding together to defy the federal government's plan to block them from bringing in refugees from the chronically overcrowded camps in Greece. Read more: From Greece to Germany — How do you give refugee children a new home? Other states, including the most populous, North Rhine-Westphalia, have also said they would be prepared to take in refugees from the camps. Berlin's Interior Minister Andreas Geisel this week called for a conference where state interior ministers can speak to Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer to resolve the issue. The Mediterranean countries where the refugees arrive, such as Italy, Greece and Malta, want a fixed migrant distribution system among all EU countries.

Not only will Little James be forced to “transition” into a girl named “Luna,” but his lucky father gets to pay $5K per month for the privilege! Younger and his ex-wife Dr. Georgulas, a say in medical, psychological, and psychiatric decisions for James and Jude. Now, Georgulas – who supports subjecting James to a gender “transition” – will be in charge of those decisions. According to the “Save James” Facebook page, “a special evidentiary hearing is scheduled for September,” to review the current orders. Please pray for James and his family, that this demented and sickening order may eventually be overturned in September.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel are to establish diplomatic ties in a deal halting the planned annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians. It also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the US view as the main threat in the region. The Hamas militant group, which wants to destroy Israel, accused the UAE of stabbing the Palestinians in the back. Yes - it's true that for some time, quietly in the background the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel have warmed their relations. Well - for decades the price Arabs have asked from Israel for the normalisation of relations has been a Palestinian State.

All three of those states had sued the Trump administration over the public charge rule. Get Breaking News Delivered to Your InboxWednesday's order is a temporary victory for the Trump administration and its public charge policy, the most sweeping restriction on legal immigration in recent years. The high court denied their request but left open the possibility for the states to pursue relief in lower courts. Daniels also halted in July the State Department version of the public charge rule, which applies to people abroad applying for immigrant visas. The rules require officers to determine if prospective immigrants are likely to become a "public charge" by analyzing their wealth, age, educational skills, English language proficiency, health and other factors.

Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Mayor Eric Garcetti, alleging they have shown an unconstitutional favoritism in the enforcement of coronavirus regulations to the detriment of houses of worship. "When many went to the streets to engage in political protests against racism and police brutality, these protesters refused to comply with the pandemic restrictions." Representatives for Newsom and Garcetti did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Grace Community Church decided that it would no longer sit by and watch its congregants and their children suffer from an absence of religious worship and instruction, the suit states. Los Angeles sent a letter to Grace Community Church ordering it to obey the restrictions, but the church will not comply, the suit states.

File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License PhotoAug. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of Rhode Island's decision to allow residents to vote by mail without witnesses observing them. The Republican Party of Rhode Island said it was disappointed in the Supreme Court's ruling, which upheld lower courts' decisions that sided with the state's change. In Alabama, a state law requiring witnesses for mail ballots is constitutional, but in another, Rhode Island, it is unconstitutional," the party said. "Whether a state election law violates the U.S. Constitution now depends on the whims of your state's election officials. We will mail out the requested mail ballots for our September 8 primary starting today," Gorbea said.

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a Republican National Committee challenge to Rhode Island's move to waive a requirement that two witnesses or a notary validate a voter's signature on mailed-in ballots. Common Cause Rhode Island, the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and others sued to extend the rule change. Rhode Island is set to mail absentee ballots this week for its September primary. The RNC pointed to a case in Alabama where the Supreme Court blocked a lower court ruling that sided with voters who had sued against a similar witness requirement. In that case, the state defended the requirement, but in Rhode Island, state officials backed the change, the Supreme Court noted in its order denying the Republican request.

WASHINGTON – White House adviser Jared Kushner said Thursday he spoke recently with rapper Kanye West – but not about any plan to have West run for president in order to help father-in-law Donald Trump win re-election. Democrats have also cited local news reports that Republican operatives have helped West's aides put together ballot petitions in Wisconsin, Colorado and other states. More:Kanye West announces he's running for president in 2020; Mark Cuban, Elon Musk tweet supportMore:Kanye West calls out President Trump in new rap; Trump brushes off rapper's run in interviewTrump and members of his re-election team have denied collusion with West and his makeshift presidential campaign. Kushner and West have described each other as friends, and worked together on criminal justice issues. West, who announced his candidacy by tweet on July 4, has said both supportive and not-so-supportive things about Trump over the years.

IOWA CITY, Iowa –President Donald Trump's campaign and several national Republican political committees are suing auditors in two Iowa counties who they accuse of having gone "rogue" in issuing absentee ballot request forms ahead of November's election. The suit asks the courts to invalidate these absentee ballot requests, requiring voters to resubmit before an Oct. 24 deadline in order to receive their absentee ballot. This summer, state Republicans have gone as far as to add additional oversight over fellow Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate's emergency election powers to make sure absentee request forms meet the party's expectations. The lawsuit specifically relates to what kind of information can be included on absentee ballot request forms sent to active registered voters. On July 1, the council rejected a push from the Legislature's Democrats to have ballot request forms mailed out to registered voters.

“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum," Biden said. Some 34 states have mandatory mask orders, according to AARP, an advocacy group for older Americans. But mask orders have become political lightning rods across the country. In Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and a dozen other local jurisdictions ordered people to wear masks in public places. In Florida, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told his employees they will not wear masks at work and visitors can’t wear masks in his offices.

Virus aid stalemate holds, no new relief in sightWith Washington talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled, both sides are playing the blame game Thursday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Republicans for not giving "a damn." (Aug. 13)AP

WILMINGTON — Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris will deliver their convention speeches at the Chase Center in Wilmington next week, the Biden campaign said Thursday. In the days leading up to the Democratic National Convention, there has been speculation about where the former vice president will deliver the biggest speech of his political career. Harris, 55, is the first Black and South Asian American woman to be on a major party's ticket for vice president. She was among a handful of Black women being considered for vice president. More:When Kamala Harris faced political heat, Joe Biden's son Beau had her backHarris has had ties to the Biden family for years.

Biden calls for U.S. mask mandatePresumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Aug. 13 called for governors to enforce a mask mandate for three months to prevent the spread of covid-19.

When California granted women suffrage in 1911, she was denied the right to vote based on her citizenship status. Batlan sees the Cable Act and women gaining the right to vote as directly linked. The Cable Act didn’t automatically grant citizenship back to the women who had lost it. ADADThere was a patchwork effort to fully repatriate women who lost their citizenship in the years after the Cable Act. ADADThere might have been thousands or tens of thousands of women affected by the Expatriation Act, but there is no official count of who lost citizenship.

But what about White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner speaking with West? And, given the expense of running campaigns, it seems likely if not guaranteed that West running for office — and expending much more than $2,800 — would violate that law. ADAD“Any expenditure made by Kanye West in cooperation, consultation or concert with — or at the request or suggestion of — Kushner, an agent of the Trump campaign, would be considered an in-kind contribution from the Kanye West campaign to the Trump campaign,” Ryan said. But if anything is done tied to what Kushner or the Trump campaign asked, that’s when this ventures into troubled waters. ADAD“The law doesn’t regulate or restrict or prohibit the non-spending of money or the discouragement of spending money,” Ryan said.

Former democrat congressman Harold Ford Jr. joined Brian Kilmeade to discuss the impact of Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris as his running mate. When asked about some of Harris's harsh criticisms of Biden during the primary, Ford says this is what happens when you go up against someone in a primary and pointed to George H.W. Bush becoming Ronald Reagan's vice president after calling Reagan's supply side economic policy "voodoo economics". Ford also disagreed with the assessment Joe Biden has moved to the left, saying that Biden is not a flaming liberal out of the mainstream and he will not be pushed to the far left if he is elected president.

NEW AIR FORCE STEALTH BOMBER ARRIVES IN JUST '2 YEARS'“We would talk to them 10 to 20 times a day. A special service unit tasked with information warfare operations, the 16th Air Force, has been fundamental to the process of learning and leveraging key dynamics regarding Russian behavior. Information warfare, a combat dimension fast gaining more attention in today’s information age, can involve propaganda, deception, misinformation and various kinds of manipulation. Information warfare is at times intended to disguise actual intentions and feed “distorted” information to an adversary. Both of these efforts are grounded in the concept of information warfare networking across an entire force of platforms and nodes.

A prominent pastor in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit Wednesday against California over Gov. Gavin Newsom's second coronavirus lockdown order, including banning singing in houses of worship. Pastor John MacArthur told "Fox News @ Night" earlier this month that he began holding indoor services in the form of "peaceful protest" at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles County, despite being warned he could face fines or arrest. "We feel like we are the most essential reality in the world," MacArthur told host Shannon Bream. [Los Angeles] Mayor [Eric] Garcetti is not the head of the church."

Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the top government officials leading the U.S. response to COVID-19, says he "seriously doubts" Russia's claim about having developed a safe and effective vaccine for the disease. "I hope that the Russians have actually definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective. I seriously doubt that they’ve done that," Fauci said during a National Geographic panel moderated by ABC's Deborah Roberts. "Having a vaccine... and proving that a vaccine is safe and effective are two different things," said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The vaccine, Fauci said, would be a very helpful "additional tool" to fighting the worldwide pandemic, which has infected over 5 million people in the U.S. and killed over 166,000 others in the past six months.

Trump on Thursday said he had a call with Israel and the UAE. The president told reporters Israel and the UAE will “begin cooperation across the board,” along with exchanging embassies and ambassadors. The president said he expected other countries to follow the UAE’s lead on this effort to cooperate with Israel going forward. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said from the Oval Office Thursday. Israel and the UAE also said they will continue their efforts to “achieve a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

“You can't get more liberal than Kamala Harris,” former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told “Outnumbered Overtime,” reacting to some media outlets describing presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate as moderate. Huckabee, a Fox News contributor, called the characterization of Harris as a moderate “ridiculous.”“It's interesting, the progressives don't think she's progressive enough, but she’s the most progressive liberal member in the entire U.S. Senate,” Huckabee said. Somebody with an official communist card?” he asked, acknowledging that he was being “half-facetious.”“But you can't get more liberal than Kamala Harris,” he continued. However, members of the mainstream media continue to downplay her progressive record and describe her as a moderate.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., dismissed the idea that President Trump's coronavirus response was hindered due to Congress pushing impeachment. She was asked specifically about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who said the government's attention was "diverted" because of impeachment. “It came up while we were tied down in the impeachment trial. And I think it diverted the attention of the government because everything every day was all about impeachment,” he said. MCCONNELL SAYS TRUMP IMPEACHMENT TRIAL 'DIVERTED THE ATTENTION' OF THE GOVERNMENT AS CORONAVIRUS ENTERED THE USHarris added on Wednesday that Trump wasn't acting as a president should during pandemics.

Postal Service and mail-in voting efforts. "But if they don't get those two items that means you can't have universal mail-in voting, because they're not equipped to have it." "If we don't make a deal, that means they don't get the money, that means they can't have universal mail-in voting. Trump's remarks to Fox Business expanded on his prior claims that mail-in voting is impossible if he doesn't approve the funding. Therefore, they can't do the universal mail-in vote," Trump said Wednesday during a White House press briefing.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden puts his mask back on after delivering remarks following a coronavirus briefing with health experts at the Hotel DuPont on August 13, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. WASHINGTON – Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, called for a nationwide mask mandate on Thursday, drawing a sharp contrast with President Donald Trump, who rarely wears a mask himself and opposes such mandates. "Every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing, the estimates by the experts are that it will save over 40,000 lives in the next three months. "What real leadership looks like is Joe Biden, willing to speak up, sometimes telling us the stuff that we don't necessarily want to hear, but we need to know," said Harris. "And the need for this mandatory mask wearing will also be about what Joe has articulated, and what a Biden/Harris administration will do."

On Friday, at the tail end of the news organization's inaugural summit, Markle will be interviewing Emily Ramshaw, the co-founder and CEO of the 19th*. "I nearly fell out of my chair," Ramshaw said, when one of Markle's representatives reached out. Speaking with Brian Stelter on the "Reliable Sources" podcast, Ramshaw said the P.R. firm that's working with Markle "asked if she could interview me as part of our summit. Where's the way that women or women of color or other underserved groups are disproportionately affected?

Coronavirus Has Now Killed More Americans Than Vietnam WarEnlarge this image toggle caption John Nacion/NurPhoto via Getty Images John Nacion/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIn not even three months since the first known U.S. deaths from COVID-19, more lives have now been lost to the coronavirus pandemic on U.S. soil than the 58,220 Americans who died over nearly two decades in Vietnam. Early Tuesday evening ET, the U.S. death toll reached 58,365, according to Johns Hopkins University. While the number of lives lost in the U.S. during the pandemic and the U.S. death toll in that war are roughly the same now, the death rate from the coronavirus in America is considerably higher. During 1968, the deadliest year for the U.S. in Vietnam, the death toll of 16,899 occurred at about half the pandemic's rate — 8.5 troops were killed for every 100,000 U.S. residents. The highest daily toll for Americans fighting in the Vietnam War was on Jan. 31, 1968, when 246 U.S. personnel were killed during the Tet Offensive.

New York (CNN) Michael Cohen released the cover of his upcoming book, kick-starting the publicity campaign for his tell-all book promising graphic and unflattering details from his years working as President Donald Trump's personal attorney and fixer. Cohen tweeted "coming soon" along with a copy of the book cover Thursday. The true story of the former personal attorney to President Donald J. Trump's attorneys sent Cohen a cease-and-desist letter earlier this year to block the publication of the book. Last week Cohen informed the judge overseeing his release that an unnamed political action committee has offered him employment to provide consulting services and media appearances.

(CNN) A federal judge in Pennsylvania told the Trump campaign and the Republican Party that they must produce evidence they have of vote-by-mail fraud in the state by Friday. The judge's order, in a high-profile case about vote-by-mail in the battleground state, essentially forces the Trump campaign to try to back up President Donald Trump's false claims about massive voter fraud in postal voting. The Trump campaign and Republicans had refused to do so. But with Thursday's court order, they must answer questions from the Democratic groups and turn over records of communications -- or say they have none. The Trump campaign has until Friday to respond, the judge said.

(CNN) Election officials in Ohio are urging face masks at the polls in November's upcoming presidential election, but they are not making them a requirement. Everyone will have access to the polling locations, but all voters should of course wear a mask as well." Many states have been forced to grapple with questions about public safety and health as voters go to the polls during the coronavirus pandemic. Ohio was one of the states that struggled with handling a springtime primary election during the initial onset of the pandemic. The state postponed its March primary after the state's health director declared a public health emergency and allowed Gov.

(CNN) Democratic congressional lawmakers on Thursday announced that they are introducing a bill which seeks to provide protections for young voters. New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas is the lead sponsor of the Protect the Youth Vote Act of 2020, a piece of voting rights legislation meant to prevent age discrimination in voting. Across the country, young voters face a number of barriers at the state level, including strict same-day voter registration and voter ID laws. According to the ACLU, six in 10 college students come from out of state to attend school in New Hampshire. In 2018, according to the institute, college students made up 6.9% of the state's voting population.

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden on Thursday called on all U.S. governors to mandate mask wearing to slow the spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 165,000 people in the United States. “Every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing.”He said that early delays in calling for masks led to unnecessary deaths. Public health officials agree that wearing masks in public slows the spread of the respiratory disease that has infected more than 5.2 million Americans. After introducing Harris’ personal story on Wednesday in their first joint appearance since picking his running mate, Biden quickly moved to talking about the urgency of the moment. Biden’s campaign said they collected $34.2 million on Tuesday and Wednesday after announcing Harris as the running mate, a record pace of fundraising.

FILE PHOTO: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks as Congressman John Lewis lies in state in the Georgia Capitol Rotunda during "Honoring the Life and Legacy of Congressman John Robert Lewis" ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia July 29, 2020. Picture taken July 29, 2020. ATLANTA (Reuters) - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced on Thursday that he plans to drop the mask ordinance lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the city, possibly ending a months-long feud over an order for people to wear masks to stop the spread of COVID-19. Kemp had sued Bottoms and the city of Atlanta to stop enforcement of a local mask mandate aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. The governor argued that the city lacks the authority to override his order encouraging but not requiring face coverings.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will nominate Robert Benedict Bowes to serve as a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, according to a White House statement issued on Thursday. The nomination of Bowes, a current Trump administration appointee at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate before he can replace current commissioner Brian D. Quintenz for a five-year term.

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden on Thursday called on all U.S. governors to mandate mask wearing to slow the spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 165,000 people in the United States. “Every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing.”He said that early delays in calling for masks led to unnecessary deaths. After introducing Harris’ personal story on Wednesday in their first joint appearance since picking his running mate, Biden quickly moved to talking about the urgency of the moment. Biden’s campaign said they collected $34.2 million on Tuesday and Wednesday after announcing Harris as the running mate, a record pace of fundraising. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaIn her debut appearance as Biden’s running mate on Wednesday, Harris delivered a rebuke of Trump’s leadership and highlighted the historic significance of her new role.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House adviser Jared Kushner on Thursday confirmed that he had met recently with entertainer Kanye West, who is seeking to get his name on ballots for the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election. West posted a tweet late Tuesday night saying they discussed a book on empowering Black Americans. Biden served as vice president under President Barack Obama, the country’s first Black president. Harris is the first Black woman and the first Indian American to be part of a major-party presidential ticket. A West run for office could be seen as a maneuver to siphon some Black supporters away from Biden in the general election.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton on Thursday said she hopes Senator Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee, and women running for political office in the future will receive “less sexist” media coverage than she did in 2016. Clinton, a Democrat, lost in the electoral college to U.S. President Donald Trump in 2016 despite receiving more votes than him nationwide. Clinton said she had talked with Harris and Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee who this week named Harris as his running mate, about their campaign. Clinton sidestepped a question from a reporter about whether she would serve in a Biden administration if he defeats Trump. “If you are asked to serve you should certainly consider that but let’s not go there until we actually win,” Clinton said.

West appeared to confirm that the meeting took place in a tweet posted Tuesday, writing that he and Kushner discussed the book “PowerNomics: The National Plan to Empower Black America” by Claud Anderson. West announced on Twitter last month that he was running for president and told Forbes in an interview that he was no longer a Trump supporter. In another interview with Forbes last week, West did not deny that his candidacy was intended to serve as a spoiler to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign. West’s quixotic White House bid has drawn scrutiny in recent weeks amid efforts by some Trump supporters and Republican operatives to help him organize and get on the ballot in battleground states. Kushner, too, has become mired in controversy among critics who argue his potential boosting of West’s campaign to benefit Trump could constitute an illegal act.

However, the ruling Thursday suggested a majority of the Supreme Court may defer to state officials regarding changes, even if they depart from state law. The Rhode Island requirements were waived via a consent decree in litigation voting-rights groups brought to nullify the ballot-witness rules during the pandemic. “Here the state election officials support the challenged decree, and no state official has expressed opposition. Many of the voting rights advocates who pressed Rhode Island to drop the requirement hailed the Supreme Court’s latest ruling. “Democracy was upheld by today’s decision.”An RNC spokesperson said the court's ruling "ignores election laws that have been on the books for decades."

In Milwaukee, Barrett has also had to talk to anxious residents in his city about the differences between Operation Legend and what happened in Portland. The new agents assigned to a city under Operation Legend “can plug right in to the work that’s being done,” he says. The Operation Legend agents are sliding into “existing infrastructure of FBI, DEA, and ATF that’s already been on the ground here probably 60-plus years, maybe longer,” she says. That’s why Lucas thinks the President’s messaging about Operation Legend and his muddling of the law enforcement operation with federal agents’ crackdowns on protests in Portland and Washington, D.C. is the ultimate point. “It’s about cities and cities being out of control and Trump’s going to have something that helps, whether it helps or not.

Former Vice President Joe Biden gave remarks after a briefing on the coronavirus outbreak and called for a nationwide mask wearing mandate to slow the spread. He urged Americans to "be a patriot, protect your fellow citizens" as the pandemic continues.

Parents who are suing the governor of California to allow schools to open for in-person learning said Thursday that their children are suffering academically and psychologically. The state serves 6.7 million students and many of the states 1,000 school districts are set to start back up in mid-to-late August. She said she wasn't worried about a similar situation in California schools if "proper precautions are taken." The week Newsom announced his plan to mostly delay opening schools for in-person learning, California reported its second-highest one-day total in infection rates and deaths since the start of the pandemic. “The virus will be with us for a year or more, and school districts must provide meaningful instruction in the midst of this pandemic.

Arizona Indigenous cold cases to be probed by new task forcePHOENIX (AP) — U.S. officials are opening an office in Arizona aimed at investigating cold cases involving Indigenous people who have been killed or are missing. The task force is part of an effort to address unsolved cases of violence against Native Americans, particularly women and girls. The institute also said in 2015 that more than one in three Native women had experienced violence. Other offices to investigate unsolved cases with Indigenous victims will be established in Alaska and Tennessee. The Arizona office will take on 239 cold cases, according to Tara Katuk Sweeney, the U.S.

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. sits in court during a hearing in his sexual misconduct case, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in New York. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. sits in court during a hearing in his sexual misconduct case, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in New York. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)NEW YORK (AP) — Sporting a “Black Lives Matter” face mask, Cuba Gooding Jr. showed up at a New York City court on Thursday to hear lawyers argue over what restrictions to place on testimony at his sexual misconduct trial. Gooding had been scheduled to go on trial in April, but it was put off as infections surged in New York. “This case is going to be tried in one day,” Gooding lawyer Mark Heller said outside court.

The deal between the city of Las Cruces and a lawyer for the family of Antonio Valenzuela was part of the relatives’ push to reform Las Cruces police following their wrongful death lawsuit in the case. The Washington Post has reported that between 2015 and last April, Las Cruces, where nearly 60% of residents are Hispanic, recorded the highest per capita rate of police killings in the nation. ADVERTISEMENTUnder the agreement, Las Cruces police agreed to ban all chokeholds and fire any officer who violates the new policy. “We are confident that we have made it cost-prohibitive for the Las Cruces Police Department to continue wrongfully killing its citizens.” Sam Bregman, the family’s attorney, said. The death of Valenzuela generated protests in Las Cruces, 46 miles (74 kilometers) north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

UAE, Israel Move To Normalize Relations As Israel Halts Planned West Bank AnnexationsEnlarge this image toggle caption Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images Doug Mills/Pool/Getty ImagesUpdated at 3:20 p.m. Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations that currently have normal diplomatic relations with Israel. The UAE has had informal contact with Israel for some time, and relations have been improving. The new deal is a significant shift in relations between the UAE and Israel. Earlier this summer, while still committed to its plans for annexation, Israel announced a groundbreaking partnership with the UAE on the fight against the coronavirus.

Breonna Taylor's Mother Urges Criminal Charges: 'Every Day Is Still March The 13th'Enlarge this image toggle caption Taylor Family Taylor FamilyBreonna Taylor's mother says she hopes investigators will "come out with the right answer" about her daughter's death as Taylor's family renews their call for criminal charges against the Louisville police officers who shot and killed Taylor five months ago. "One hundred and fifty days," Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, said Thursday at a news conference in front of Louisville City Hall. Officers entered Taylor's home in the early morning as she and her boyfriend were sleeping. The state attorney general's office released few details about Wednesday's meeting, but it reiterated that the investigation into Taylor's death is still active. In June, the Louisville Metro Council unanimously voted to ban no-knock warrants, such as the one used by officers entering Taylor's home.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp dropped a lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and other city officials over a mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions. Mr. Kemp said in a statement Thursday that discussions with Ms. Bottoms to settle their differences had reached an impasse and that he had asked the state’s attorney general to withdraw the suit.

Joe Biden on Thursday called for a national mask mandate to limit the spread of COVID-19, stepping up his rhetoric on the issue after criticizing President Donald Trump’s stance earlier this summer. “Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum,” the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said in a brief appearance before reporters in Wilmington, Del.

Fox News host Jeanine Pirro on Wednesday night claimed that “something” will happen to former Vice President Joe Biden between now and Election Day and that he would not be on the Democratic ticket as a result. Pirro was asked about a poll from right-wing outlet Rasmussen that found more than half believe Biden would not finish his first term if elected. Bret Baier said he respected Pirro’s “fiery passion” but said that Tuesday marked the final Democratic primary and Biden has won the nomination. It’s Biden-Harris, and he’s going to be the nominee as of next week.”Pirro tried to walk back her comments. She didn’t detail the “something” that would happen to Biden but tried to blame the Democratic Party for it in advance.

President Trump turned again to racist attacks on Joe Biden’s housing policy Wednesday, with an appeal to “the suburban housewife” that sounds a jarringly out-of-touch note in 2020. “The ‘suburban housewife” will be voting for me,” wrote Trump on Twitter. “They want safety & are thrilled that I ended the long running program where low income housing would invade their neighborhood. Biden would reinstall it, in a bigger form, with [Sen. Cory] Booker in charge!”Last month Trump announced he was repealing the Obama-era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, which was intended to fight housing discrimination by strengthening implementation of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Partially due to an uptick in immigrants, a Pew Research study in 2018 found that a third of suburban dwellers were nonwhite.

“Now, you have a, sort of a mad woman, I call her, because she was so angry and so — such hatred with Justice Kavanaugh,” Trump said. They’re all radical left, angry people, and they’re angry because I beat them.”On Tuesday, Trump described Harris’s treatment of Kavanaugh as “nasty.”“She was extraordinarily nasty,” he said. And I won’t forget that soon.”President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Kamala Harris. “AOC was a poor student,” Trump said. “Congratulations to @foxandfriends on dominating the mornings (thank you President Trump!

The agreement makes the UAE the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to have full diplomatic ties with Israel. But the UAE, like most of the Arab world, long rejected diplomatic ties with Israel in the absence of a peace deal establishing a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in 1967. Israel and the UAE are among Trump’s few close international allies, and Thursday’s deal may have been seen as an election gift. He’s going to be in the history books.”___Lee reported from Bled, Slovenia, and Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, Elana Schor and Aamer Madhani in Washington, and Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he was willing to move forward with COVID-19 aid in some areas, but not on election funding, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Thursday. "Speaker Pelosi has been fundamentally unserious in these negotiations in engaging in blatant partisanship," McEnany told reporters. "One thing she said recently is that she needs $3.5 billion with a 'B' for election funding. That is a fundamentally unserious ask for this reason. They said states have been given over $1.2 billion in election assistance grants since fiscal year 2018."

The Trump administration said the groups used the accounts to solicit donations for their causes, including through a bogus scam that officials say purported to sell protective gear for the coronavirus pandemic. Officials described it as the largest-ever seizure of digital currency funds related to terrorism. The seized funds are expected to be turned over to a fund for victims of terrorist attacks. Law enforcement officials ultimately seized more than 150 cryptocurrency accounts that they say laundered funds to accounts operated by the al-Qassam Brigades. The department also identified a scheme that officials say was orchestrated by an IS associate who manages certain hacking operations for the group.

By Deb Riechan and Anthony Izaguirre | Associated PressWASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. “They want $25 billion — billion — for the post office,” he said, adding that, without it, the Postal Service won’t be equipped to handle the influx of mail-in ballots. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. Postal Service to hinder Americans from voting.

By Jeff Mason and Steve Holland | ReutersWASHINGTON – White House adviser Jared Kushner on Thursday confirmed that he had met recently with entertainer Kanye West, who is seeking to get his name on ballots for the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election. Asked whether he had discussed the campaign with West, Kushner told reporters at the White House: “We had a general discussion, more about policy.”Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and an influential political adviser to the president, said he and West had known each other for some time and met when they both were in Colorado. West posted a tweet late Tuesday night saying they discussed a book on empowering Black Americans. Biden served as vice president under President Barack Obama, the country’s first Black president. A West run for office could be seen as a maneuver to siphon some Black supporters away from Biden in the general election.

Former Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff filed a civil suit against Tempe on Tuesday claiming the city breached a non-disparagement clause in his retirement agreement, preventing him from landing a job with the Tempe Union High School District. The former chief had filed a notice of claim with the city earlier this year seeking $1 million. Ryff's suit also takes issue with comments a Tempe councilman made about him. “The City of Tempe is confident in our position and we look forward to being vindicated in court," Tempe spokeswoman Nikki Ripley said. According to the suit, Baca then spoke with Tempe Police Chief Sylvia Moir, who allegedly said her staff would be "uncomfortable" working with Ryff.

Despite an appeals court's ruling ordering his timely release, Navajo County is keeping a man with preexisting conditions which put him at risk for COVID-19 in jail for violating probation on a 14-year-old marijuana possession. In comparison, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has released regular information about COVID-19 since late July, when it began testing all county jail detainees and staff. As of Tuesday, 7,000 tests were administered to Maricopa County detainees and 1,530 detainees had tested positive so far. The rate of cases per 100,000 people is highest in Yuma County, followed by Santa Cruz County, Navajo and Apache counties. Wilson was jailed in Navajo County in July 2019 for a probation violation on a 2003 marijuana possession felony.

“If a caller indicates that they’re calling because they’re feeling lonely and isolated, then our delegates usually talk with them and make them aware of services that are available,” Jones said. “If the call is more acute and the individual is expressing ideas of harming themselves or others, the delegate would keep them engaged and dispatch the mobile team. If they have a firearm and express they’re having thoughts of shooting themselves, the work would also engage the police.”

Tony Evers has about $300 million more in federal aid he can use to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout. The federal aid provides Evers with a rare opportunity to spend large sums without the permission of Republicans who control the Legislature. Evers gave counties $95 million, municipalities $95 million and tribes $10 million for their own response efforts. Evers made $50 million available to farmers to help cover their losses, of which $41.6 million was claimed. In addition, $103 million went to Milwaukee, $62 million to Milwaukee County and $95 million to Dane County.

Tony Evers has a message for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their visits to Wisconsin next week: Bring a mask. The Trump campaign also plans a "Women for Trump" event in Wisconsin ahead of the convention, which Democrats scaled back because of the coronavirus pandemic. "If President Trump and Vice President Prence and the women for Trump and whoever else from the Republican side is coming to Wisconsin next week, they have to wear masks if they're in buildings," Evers said. The Marquette University Law School this week released a poll that found 69% of Wisconsin voters support mask requirements, but Republicans who control the Legislature have said they may eliminate Evers' mask order. "We have a president saying we should wear masks.

Of nearly 1,000 complaints filed against Chicago Police officers since the death of George Floyd, roughly 170 had enough supporting evidence to warrant full-blown investigations by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, COPA’s chief administrator said Thursday. … Right now, our efforts are primarily focused on doing the investigations and making sure that we can bring resolution … as quickly as possible. “We have approximately 170 protest-related investigations between the George Floyd period right through today. He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder for shooting at the pursuing officers before they shot him. But, she said: “We do our investigations without influence, guidance, direction from the mayor’s office.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash in central Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Fire Department)Firefighters put out a vehicle fire involved in a fatal crash on northbound Interstate 15 near the exit to Martin Luther King Boulevard in Las Vegas, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_VerduzcoThe Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 15 at the exit to Martin Luther King Boulevard in Las Vegas, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Las Vegas Fire Department)The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fiery, fatal two-vehicle crash in central Las Vegas. The 11:16 a.m. crash occurred on the ramp connecting northbound Interstate 15 to U.S. Highway 95 northbound, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Plaintiffs in the case could seek a rehearing before the full 17-judge appeals court or go to the Supreme Court. Harry Crouch, president of the National Coalition for Men, said organization leaders will discuss their next move with attorneys. “All I can tell you is we will be moving the case forward,” he said.

The heavily redacted documents include a complaint from a staffer who said Rep. Staush Gruszynski tried to coax her into having sex with him last year. The documents show a staffer said she and her friends met Gruszynski at the Malt House, a bar in Madison, on Oct. 30. He said that he had been drinking heavily that night and he didn’t remember meeting the aide at the Malt House. He said he pieced together the evening using bar receipts and an Uber app, which showed he got a ride to the Malt House. The staffer tried to put him off, responding with a laughing emoticon and asking him if he needed a ride before finally suggesting they meet at the Malt House.

Biden and running mate California Sen. Kamala Harris spoke briefly Thursday in the same Wilmington hotel ballroom where they held a virtual fundraiser after appearing together as running mates for the first time Wednesday. They were briefed by public health and economic experts on the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused the deaths of more than 166,000 Americans and plunged the global economy into the worst economic recession since World War II.

— Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective mask mandate, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from coronavirus over the next three months. ”Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus,” Biden said. “It’s about preventing other people from getting sick.”The Democratic presidential candidate also responded to those who push back against such mandates. Step up, do the right thing.”“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum — every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing," Biden declared. He urges Americans to wear masks but has opposed the idea of a national requirement and declined to wear one for months.

The letter comes amid growing concerns among Democrats in Congress over reported changes at the Postal Service causing a slowdown in mail delivery nationwide. A spokesman for the Postal Service did not respond to a request for comment. The Postal Service has “been very gracious with us” and has even offered to pick up those items in person, if needed, Buffa said. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, has said DeJoy has refused to provide "real" answers about service delays and changes that could undermine the Postal Service. “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”Peters responded on Twitter, saying, "The Postal Service shouldn’t be political or partisan.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday left in place an agreement that allows Rhode Island residents to vote by mail through November's general election without getting signatures from two witnesses or a notary. State officials had agreed to suspend the witness requirement because of the coronavirus pandemic. They have said that fulfilling the requirement, which has been in place since at least 1978, results in close contact between voters and others, which could expose people to the virus. The high court rejected an effort by the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Rhode Island to put the agreement on hold, noting that “no state official has expressed opposition.”Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch would have granted the Republicans’ request.

The nomination of Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for vice president is more than a political landmark. As the first Black and Asian woman to be nominated by a major party as a national candidate, she has made history. Harris has often spoken of the late Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress who, in 1972, became the first Black major-party candidate to run for president. “I stand, as so many of us do, on her shoulders,” Harris told The Grio. “Because she understood that you just march to that podium, and you claim that podium as yours, you don’t ask anybody permission.

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday called for a nationwide mask mandate to help fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. TRUMP SAYS HE'S 'A BELIEVER IN MASKS,' BUT STOPS SHORT OF NATIONAL MANDATE IN CORONAVIRUS FIGHT"Let’s institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately and we will save lives. And pointing to the nation's death toll from the coronavirus, Biden said that "a lot of people are dying. President Trump has not called for a nationwide mandate. According to the poll, 40% of Americans approved of the job the president’s doing combating the coronavirus pandemic, with 57% giving him a thumbs down.

Michelle Obama says she is suffering from 'low-grade depression' Read more“It was like somebody put a furnace in my core and turned it on high,” she remembered. And I thought, ‘Well this is crazy, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t do this.’“What a woman’s body is taking her through is important information. In the podcast, Obama also ponders the question: “Do you know a woman who’s happy with herself?”Malone can’t cite one off the top of her head. Obama said: “Women of a certain age, we lose our value in society, unlike men, who gain value the older they get. I’ve heard a lot of women my age … they feel less seen in a public place … no longer do heads turn.

Joe Biden’s Democratic presidential campaign raised $26m in the 24-hour period after he announced that Kamala Harris, the California senator, will be his running mate, a huge boost in funding for the ticket. The amount was seen as a sign of strength and momentum behind Biden’s campaign brought on by Harris’ arrival. During a virtual grassroots fundraiser, Biden said that 150,000 donors were first-time contributors. Harris is known as a successful fundraiser, and already helped raise millions of dollars for the Biden campaign before she was named as his running mate. Biden will formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night.

The president predicted that Ms Ocasio-Cortez will challenge - and defeat - Senator Chuck Schumer for his seat in the US Senate. And I think she'll win," Mr Trump said. Mr Schumer is the Senate minority leader and a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Mr Schumer is currently serving his fourth six-year term in the Senate after being re-elected in 2016. Daily coronavirus briefing No hype, just the advice and analysis you need Enter your email address Continue Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists.

Fox News host Jeanine Pirro suggested Wednesday night that "something" was going to happen to presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden that would keep him from appearing on the ballot come November. "For some reason, I just have this feeling that Joe Biden isn't going to be on the ticket," Ms Pirro said. Dana Perino, former White House press secretary, can be heard sighing "oh man" as Ms Pirro concludes her theory. "We certainly don't hope that anything happens to Vice President Joe Biden anytime soon," he said. It's Biden-Harris, and he's going to be the nominee as of next week."

White House adviser and Donald Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner confirmed a recent meeting with rapper Kanye West, but he said they had a “general conversation” about “policy” rather than the rapper’s presidential bid. Mr West once showed up in the Oval Office and delivered a confusing diatribe while wearing a “Make America Great Again” ballcap. Mr Trump sat statue-like behind the Resolute Desk while Mr West went on and on. Mr Trump trails Mr Biden in almost every swing state expected to decide the election. The race also is neck-and-neck in places that have been GOP strongholds for years, and which Mr Trump won in 2016.

The president of Lithuania said his embattled counterpart in Belarus is no longer the legitimate leader and time is running out for him to agree to dialogue with his opponents. "I think we cannot call Mr Lukashenko legitimate because there were no free, democratic elections in Belarus," said the Lithuanian leader, speaking on Thursday at the presidential palace in the capital Vilnius. "First of all the Belarusian authorities should understand that there are no other possibilities to bring the situation into order," Mr Nauseda said. Concerned about the safety of protesters in Belarus, Lithuania is offering a safe haven to those who want to escape. Belarus opposition leader flees to LithuaniaSvetlana Tikhanovskaya, 37, a mother and former English teacher, is seen by many in her home country as their rightful president.

Jared Kushner confirmed Thursday that he has spoken with rapper Kanye West several times, along with other members of the billionaire long-shot presidential campaign. 'Kanye's been a friend of mine for — I've known him for about 10 years,' the president's senior adviser said during a White House press briefing. Kushner refused to say if he had discussed the presidential campaign in general, but said they 'had a general discussion more about policy.' West has qualified to be on the presidential ballot in several states but has missed the filing deadline in others. Last week, President Trump denied any involvement in the effort by West to get on the ballot in presidential battleground states.

White House advisor Jared Kushner says more Arab countries may strike deals soon with IsraelAdvertising Read moreWashington (AFP)White House advisor Jared Kushner predicted a "very good chance" of Israel and another Arab country announcing a peace deal within the next three months after Thursday's announcement of normalization between Israel and the UAE. Kushner dismissed reports of a chilly reception by Palestinians, calling it "a fairly predictable response that we've seen time and time again." Trump's national security advisor Robert O'Brien likewise predicted further thaws between Israel and Arab countries. O'Brien also poured lavish praise on his boss, saying Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump "should be a frontrunner for the Nobel Peace Prize."

Sen. Kamala Harris joined Joe Biden on Thursday for a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic led by four doctors and one of Biden’s senior advisors — marking the new Democratic ticket's first official day of work. The big picture: Biden said that he and Harris will get these briefings — “on the state of coronavirus here and around the world” — four times a week, and noted that they usually last between an hour and an hour and a half. Trump recently restarted his own daily coronavirus briefings, which typically feature the president as the messenger rather than his coronavirus task force or Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious-diseases expert. Now, Biden and Harris are putting their team of doctors and medical health experts front and center — even though they met with them virtually. What they're saying: I’m looking forward to it,” Harris said, according to reporters at the event.

By Daniel Trotta(Reuters) - The U.S. Conference of Mayors took direct aim at powerful police unions on Thursday, calling the collective bargaining agreements they negotiate an obstacle to police reform and the regaining of public trust. Cities have ceded too much authority to police unions in the disciplining of bad cops, the report said. "We're at the inflection point, and unions need to be part of the solution," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, chair of the conference's working group on police reform and racial justice, told a news conference. Police unions typically wield more power than other public-sector unions, often gaining support from both pro-labor Democrats and pro-police Republicans. They have proven effective at forcing mayors to temper calls for reform and unifying behind officers accused of misconduct.

Washington (CNN) White House senior adviser Jared Kushner confirmed on Thursday that he had a "friendly discussion" about policy with Kanye West in Colorado, saying the conversation wasn't necessarily focused on the rapper's presidential campaign. West's meeting with Kushner was first reported by The New York Times earlier this week. When asked if he discussed West's presidential campaign during the meeting, Kushner said: "We had a general discussion more about policy." Forbes reported that West had recently been telling associates he'd spoken with Kushner "almost daily." And we both happened to be in Colorado and so we got together and had a great discussion about a lot of things," Kushner said.

About two dozen U.S. Border Patrol officers pushed through a crowd late Wednesday in Bend and took two men from a bus that had been surrounded by angry protesters for nearly 12 hours. Initially, an armed ICE officer in a flak vest would not comment on the actions as he hid his badge. But city of Bend spokesperson Anne Aurand confirmed the presence of the federal officers. Bend’s new police chief, Mike Krantz, said Bend police knew immigration officers would be in the city. “Today we received a call from a federal agent that community members were blocking a bus with two subjects in custody of federal agents.”Bend police responded to the scene.

A Virginia mayor is facing calls for his resignation over a Facebook post in which he said that Joe Biden "just announced Aunt Jemima" as his running mate. Luray Mayor Barry Presgraves posted the comment last weekend on his Facebook page. The comment was condemned by members of the Luray Town Council and other residents before he took it down that same weekend. Barry Presgraves, mayor of Luray, Va. Town of Luray"I want to make this very clear to everyone with absolutely no qualifications," Presgraves said. Veney told Presgraves she was not there to tear him down or speak ill of him but that she had to stand for what is right.

Washington (CNN) Georgia's Republican governor is withdrawing a lawsuit he filed against Atlanta's Democratic mayor and City Council in an effort to block restrictions the city put in place to fight the coronavirus, including a citywide mask mandate. "In light of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' concession regarding the city's Phase One roll-back plan and following her refusal in mediation to further negotiate a compromise, the Attorney General's Office has filed to withdraw our pending lawsuit," Gov. "I sued the City of Atlanta to immediately stop the shuttering of local businesses and protect local workers from economic instability. Kemp's decision to renege on the lawsuit represents a dramatic twist in his battle with Bottoms over her response to the pandemic. Last month, the mayor told CNN that she believed the lawsuit was "personal retaliation" because the governor "did not sue the city of Atlanta.

(CNN) Israel says it will ?"suspend?" plans to annex the West Bank, as part of a new peace deal with the United Arab Emirates. Trump also tweeted a lengthy joint statement between the US, UAE and Israel, calling the agreement to "full normalization of relations" between Israel and the UAE a "historic diplomatic breakthrough." The UAE and Israel plan to exchange embassies and ambassadors, according to the statement. It will be the third Arab country to open relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan. "This deal is a significant step towards building a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous Middle East," Trump said Thursday.

The Senate left Washington, D.C., on Thursday until September — the latest sign that a deal on a fifth coronavirus relief package is, at least, weeks away. Democrats in the House approved a relief package over $3 trillion, and offered to come down to $2 trillion. “Basically, not much new movement,” said Sen. Roy Blunt Roy Dean BluntDavis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump Skepticism grows over Friday deadline for coronavirus deal GOP expects Senate to be in session next week without coronavirus deal MORE (R-Mo.) ADVERTISEMENTVulnerable incumbents in both parties have sent warning signals this week to leadership that they need to cut a deal. “And, you know, I think he's done what he can do with the Senate GOP.

The United States military said Iranian forces boarded a civilian vessel in international waters in the Gulf. The US Central Command released a grainy black-and-white video on Twitter showing a helicopter near a large ship. "Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian Sea King helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the Wila," the US Central Command said. Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian "Sea King" helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the 'Wila.' In July 2019, Iran briefly seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf after Britain seized the Iranian tanker Grace 1, accused of violating sanctions on Syria.

Kemp sued the city of Atlanta over its face-mask requirement just after President Donald Trump arrived in the city without wearing a mask, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Friday. Kemp sued the city of Atlanta over its face-mask requirement just after President Donald Trump arrived in the city without wearing a mask, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Friday. Kemp had sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council. ADVERTISEMENTIn a series of executive orders, Kemp has strongly urged people to wear masks but declined to require them. “In the absence of state leadership on this issue, local governments have stepped in to protect their citizens,” the city’s filing said.

In Memory of David Bensman, 1949–2020 In Memory of David Bensman, 1949–2020 We remember longtime Dissent editorial board member David Bensman. David’s father, the sociologist Joseph Bensman, once said to me that the best work gets done by bringing different disciplines together. Deborah Meier, another member of Dissent’s editorial board and a personal friend of David’s, founded CPE in 1974. He came regularly to editorial board meetings. Luther Carpenter is a member of Dissent’s editorial board.

Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at a campaign rally at the Seattle Center Armory in Seattle, Washington, February 22, 2020. Postal Service's internal ethics watchdog investigate what she suggested was "corruption" in the purchase of Amazon stock options by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy after his appointment to that job. "But his purchase of @Amazon stock options after his appointment is inexcusable," she added. "The @OIGUSPS must investigate this corruption," Warren wrote, using the Twitter address of the Postal Service's Office of Inspector General. Postal Service, was selected as Postmaster General in May by the USPS's board of governors.

But for Pales­tini­ans and their allies, Biden’s plan to return Amer­i­ca to the Oba­ma era is a fright­en­ing prospect. The Biden cam­paign has also pledged to block UN efforts to hold Israel account­able. The Biden cam­paign has dis­patched Blinken as an emis­sary to explain Biden’s Israel posi­tions. The result was ugly: The plat­form did not men­tion the words ?“Israeli occu­pa­tion” and endorsed the Oba­ma administration’s mil­i­tary aid agree­ment with Israel. But while the Biden cam­paign isn’t giv­ing Pales­tin­ian rights activists a rea­son to cheer, their out­look isn’t all grim.

When the novel coronavirus first arrived in the United States, it spurred on remarkable messaging discipline among America’s political class. “With all due respect for Medicare for All, you have a single-payer system in Italy,” the former vice president said. New infections are still surging in the United States while countries with national health care programs have long since gotten a handle on the virus. Polls Show Surging Support for Medicare For All Outside of Europe, countries with national health care programs have also outperformed the United States. The United States currently leads the world in active COVID-19 cases with more than 5 million — despite the fact that other nations are conducting more tests.

The Lebanese econ­o­my crashed into the equiv­a­lent of a brick wall some­time in the last few months of 2019. In the mean­time, the Trump admin­is­tra­tion had been busy build­ing a ?“Great Wall” of sanc­tions around Lebanon, even as the coun­try as a whole was drown­ing in a moun­tain of debt. Bil­lions more came from exports, tourism, inter­na­tion­al aid and loans, and Arab — par­tic­u­lar­ly Syr­i­an — cap­i­tal deposit­ed in Lebanese banks. In 2016, due to a vari­ety of rea­sons, the flow of hard cur­ren­cy start­ed to dry up at a fright­en­ing pace, prompt­ing the cen­tral bank’s ?“finan­cial engi­neer­ing” mea­sures. Iran and Syr­ia, with their rel­a­tive­ly closed and large­ly state-run economies, are bet­ter able to cope with sanc­tions than a lais­sez-faire coun­try like Lebanon that is inte­gral­ly tied to West­ern capital.

Was Donald Trump’s January 3 drone assassination of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani the first step in turning the simmering cold war between the United States and Iran into a hot war in the weeks before an American presidential election? For many in Iran, the drone assassination of Soleimani—and the campaign of sabotage that followed—has amounted to a virtual declaration of war. In its aftermath, Iran largely held its fire, its only response being a limited, telegraphed strike at a pair of American military bases in Iraq. Like voters in the United States, they know that the Trump administration is probably going to be voted out of office in three months. (In June, Trump tweeted Iran: “Don’t wait until after the U.S. Election to make the Big deal!

Now that Joe Biden has announced that he’s tapped Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, we know the full lineup of speakers for the Democratic National Convention next week. Fully nine of the speakers were contenders for the Democratic nomination this cycle or actual former presidents and presidential nominees. The Democrats could have opted to make a different policy case—which is to say, any policy case at all—at this convention. But, aside from Lance Bottoms, none of the DNC speakers have been all that close to what’s happening on the ground. This is a slate of Democratic convention speakers that Jonathan Chait and S.E.

—The Editors1R ichmond, V a.—I have been living on and off in Richmond for the past few years, and like most people here, I avoided Monument Avenue. All of these men fought and died for the right to enslave and dehumanize Black men and women. These symbols of racist violence and white supremacy have loomed over the people of Richmond, the majority of whom are Black, for over 130 years. At the base of the monument, Emily built a shrine of candles, flowers, photos, and words telling the story of her slain daughter. (Katie Orlinsky)For now, Marcus Davis Peters Circle on Monument Avenue serves as the hub for all this organizing.

Former Vice President Joe Biden made a historic announcement Tuesday when he named California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate in the 2020 presidential election. She also has a strong legacy of championing environmental justice throughout her career. “Congratulations to Senator Kamala Harris, a true environmental champion!” LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said in a statement. Harris has a lifetime LCV environmental voting score of 91 percent, better than Biden’s 83 percent, InsideClimate News noted. Environmental justiceWhen Harris served as San Francisco district attorney, she created the office’s first environmental justice unit in 2005, InsideClimate News reported.

Defeating Covid-19, addressing the economic depression, and defending and expanding disability rights and their enforcement, make the 2020 elections a critical battlefield. Camp Jened – a little paradiseThe inspiring Netflix documentary, “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution,” captures a critical story in winning the ADA. The disabled community realizes the need for a comprehensive civil rights law that guarantees disability rights. But it was the Civil Rights movement that inspired the modern-day disability rights movement and breakthroughs that followed, as it inspired movements for women’s, Latino, and Native American equality, and environmental justice. The disability rights movement drew from the Supreme Court’s Brown v Board ruling that ended separate and unequal education.

With his Ramos opinion, Alito continues to build a distinctive profile as a jurist: He has emerged as the Court’s foremost defender of white racial innocence. But Alito’s Ramos dissent also fits into a broader pattern. Though Roberts joined Alito’s opinion in Ramos, he did not join Alito’s Ricci concurrence. Alito’s racial views have fundamentally reshaped American voting rights lawYet, while Alito’s jurisprudence of white racial innocence is distinct, Alito’s views on race still overlap a great deal with his fellow Republican justices. But then there is Alito’s opinion in Ricci v. DeStefano.

For Keynes that would have been bewildering — that’s just not the way that he looked at the world. What do you think Keynes looking at the situation would tell the next president? So that’s something that I think Keynes would be talking about. My read of Keynes is that this is an incredibly potent time for the mobilization of national economic resources tied to a public purpose. I’m curious how you think Keynes would parse that distinction.

Russia has been telegraphing the vaccine announcement, with Putin framing it as a major achievement at home and abroad. “We have the Chinese vaccine, the American vaccine, the British vaccine, now the Russian vaccine — and it’s not supposed to work that way,” Hotez said. According to Science News, Russia’s vaccine includes a dose and then a booster shot. It’s also not clear if Russia’s vaccine will be affordable, or what access will look like — will it be equitably distributed, or widely available? The more likely that everyone can have confidence that Russia’s vaccine actually works is a good thing — including, very much so, for Russia.

Appearing on Fox Business Thursday morning, Trump elaborated on his objection to these two line items: He doesn’t want universal mail-in voting to be possible. His campaign even sued the state of Nevada in an attempt to invalidate that state’s law providing for voting by mail. The state of Oregon, for example, has provided more than 100 million mail-in ballots to voters since 2000 but has only documented about 12 cases of fraud. Several polls have shown that Trump voters are likely to cast their ballot in person, while Biden voters are much more likely to vote by mail. Mail delivery has slowed significantly in recent months, and many Democrats have accused the Trump administration of intentionally sabotaging the post office.

And their two biggest supporters, Dr. Jill Biden and Douglas Emhoff, have already started bonding on social media. On Tuesday, after Biden announced that Harris was his choice for VP, Biden's wife, Jill, and Harris' husband, Douglas, made their friendship social media official. Jill tweeted "Hey @DouglasEmhoff. https://t.co/4I46ksbCY6 — Douglas Emhoff (@douglasemhoff) August 13, 2020Even their pal Chasten Buttigieg, husband of former 2020 candidate, Pete Buttigieg, is a huge fan of the new virtual friendship. UPDATE: Aug. 13, 2020, 12:54 p.m. EDT Updated to include an additional tweet from Douglas Emhoff.

Read: Benjamin Netanyahu is no longer Israel’s indispensable leaderWhat went wrong was a combination of arrogance and carelessness—the Israeli tendency to squander victories. Netanyahu’s main concern is preventing his trial, by passing a law that would exempt a sitting prime minister from criminal charges. But in joining the coalition, he violated his promise to voters never to sit in government with Netanyahu. Having effectively destroyed Blue and White, Netanyahu, the great devourer of Israeli politics, can move to elections, knowing he faces no real opposition, except on the streets outside his home. Twice before in Israel’s history, protest movements helped bring down prime ministers: Golda Meir in 1974 and Menachem Begin in 1983.

“Both have personality cults around them,” Sumantra Bose, the author of Secular States, Religious Politics, told me. At the formal reopening, when Erdo?an led the first Friday prayers, he declared that “the yearning of our people … has been accomplished.”Modi framed the groundbreaking of the Ayodhya temple through a similar historical lens. “These sorts of events have a powerful symbolism,” said Bose, who watched the Ayodhya ceremony from his home in Kolkata. “It’s a way of signaling the nature of the state that these two gentlemen preside over.”Such transitions don’t take place overnight. Under Erdo?an, “the identity of the majority of Turkey’s population has effectively supplanted the previous secular definition of national identity,” Bose said.

"Is Facebook now the arbiter of truth?” The campaign raised $21,637. But journalists and researchers at the dozens of organizations that make up Facebook’s fact-checking operation say the company is often just that. “Mark likes to say how Facebook should not be ‘the arbiter of truth,’” one person wrote in an internal Facebook employee group. "I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn't be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online," he told Fox News in May. And the lack of transparency around the internal decision-making process for removing misinformation strikes only makes things worse.

That didn’t work as planned, so why not let our diplomatic GPS reroute us through Abu Dhabi instead? The UAE has not hated Israel the way other Arab states have. The story was published in an Abu Dhabi newspaper, and I worried that the evidence of my trip to Israel would complicate my reentry into the UAE. Last year, I attended a papal mass in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in the modern history of the Gulf. But by making peace with Israel (and at some cost to itself), the UAE is forcing any U.S. president to consider the consequences of criticism or threats of ouster.

But the Trump campaign bus tours are just starting up. Kadia Goba / BuzzFeed News Trump supporters in the parking lot of the Upper Salford Volunteer Fire Company ahead of the Women for Trump bus tour launch in Salfordville, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 10. Have a good day.” Matlock’s only point of contention was the Trump campaign sign vandalism she’s experienced in her hometown about an hour away. Cars along Old Skippack Road showed their support for either Trump supporters or the protesters by honking or giving a thumbs down. Kadia Goba / BuzzFeed News Protesters outside the Women for Trump bus tour launch in Salfordville, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 10.

Michelle Obama knows it takes a lot of strength to deal with menstrual issues — and she wants men to learn that as well. While speaking with her friend, D.C.-based OB-GYN Dr. Sharon Malone, Michelle Obama joked that men could never handle menstrual cramps in a conversation about women's health issues on the August 12 episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast. "How many men, do you think, could deal with the severest form of cramps," Obama wondered, before describing them as feeling like "a knife being stabbed, and turned and then released. "And you got to do that, and you got to get up and keep going," Obama said, emphasizing her point with a snap. And it's like, no, this is just how we live," Obama recalled.

Kamala Harris polls higher than Joe Biden among women, RepublicansJoe Biden’s newly-announced running mate, Kamala Harris, has the approval of 87 percent of Democrats as the potential VP.

Biden, Harris ticket faces attack from Herman Cain’s Twitter account, despite deathDespite Herman Cain’s recent death from coronavirus, the Republican’s twitter account shared a new attack on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Wearing a blue suit and a black mask, Cuba Gooding Jr. appeared in court in New York Thursday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his trial on groping charges. Gooding, 52, appeared for an in-person pretrial hearing before Judge Curtis Farber, who wore a mask and sat behind a Plexiglas shield. Once inside, reporters saw him slip off one side of his mask, briefly showing the words "Black Lives Matter" on the inside. Later, as he was leaving the courthouse, Gooding took off the mask and showed the inside to onlookers. Last month, during an online hearing, Farber ordered the Oscar-winning actor to appear in person for the next hearing, seeking to get the case back on track after pandemic-related delays.

They want $3.5 billion for the mail-in votes, OK. Universal mail-in ballots. Postal Service and mail-in voting. Trump alleged that she “probably lost, but they said, ‘Mail-in ballots — it’s all mixed up.’” Election officials in New York last week declared Maloney the winner. Trump has spent months bashing mail-in voting, though he did change his tune on the topic this month when it comes to the swing state of Florida. Related:‘The Postal Service is a joke’: Trump threatens to block loan if agency doesn’t raise pricesHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Trump following his remarks.

“It would be an honor to be considered,” said Mr. Padilla, an MIT graduate who is a longtime friend and was an early endorser of Mr. Newsom. I’ll keep all my options open.”“First let’s elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Mr. Becerra, the state attorney general, said on Thursday. “After that, there will be lots of great candidates for Gov. Newsom to consider.”For California, the pick has far-reaching implications. With Ms. Harris in the VP role the state would not have to play defense.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a request from Republicans to block a trial judge’s ruling making it easier for voters in Rhode Island to cast absentee ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. The judge’s ruling suspended a requirement that voters using mailed ballots fill them out in the presence of two witnesses or a notary. The Supreme Court’s unsigned order included an explanation, which is unusual when its acts on emergency applications. The case differed from similar ones in which state officials had opposed changes to state laws ordered by federal judges, the order said. Last month, dividing 5 to 4, the court issued an order in a case from Alabama that rejected a trial judge’s ruling suspending the witness requirement.

Democrats in California have already begun pouncing on Sen. Kamala Harris’ Senate seat — less than two days after she was tapped as Joe Biden’s running mate, according to the state’s governor. Gavin Newsom is being pitched by numerous people who want to fill Harris’ (D-Calif.) vacated Senate seat if she and Biden clinch the presidency in November, he admitted Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at a press conference, the California governor made the admission after being asked if he had been approached by anyone suggesting themselves as a replacement. Harris would keep her Senate seat if she and Biden lost the election in November; Newsom has no ability to appoint someone to the seat without a vacancy. While he did not specify which of his fellow California Democrats had begun vying for Harris’ seat, some prominent names have already started to emerge.

Breonna Taylor’s mother said Thursday that she is patiently hoping for justice after Kentucky’s Attorney General assured her he was still investigating her EMT daughter’s death during a police raid. Tamika Palmer met with the state’s top prosecutor, Daniel Cameron, for the first time Wednesday. The AG told the family he did not want to rush the investigation because “he wants to have the right answer,” Palmer told reporters in a press conference on the steps of Louisville city hall on Thursday. “At this point it’s bigger than Breonna, it’s bigger than just black lives. Despite the meeting, attorneys for Taylor’s family said they still did not have much cooperation from authorities — including the names of all the officers at the botched raid as well as ballistics reports.

Live updates: Get the latest on the electionPresumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has chosen Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) as his running mate. In their first joint appearance, Biden and Harris forcefully prosecuted their case against President Trump and attempted to showcase a much different vision for the country. Trump and his allies struggled to find a focused attack on Harris. More Americans can vote by mail in November than before the pandemic; find out which states have changed rules. Sign up for The Trailer and get insights and news from across the country in your inbox three days a week.

The mayor of Seattle is facing a legal battle to get her kicked out of office over her role in the city’s violent protests — and is fighting it through the state’s highest court, according to reports. Even if the Supreme Court allows the recall to proceed, it would be a long, difficult process, the Seattle Times noted. Durkan’s spokesperson, Kelsey Nyland, told the paper the mayor was focused on her job during the appeal process. “In the midst of unprecedented challenges for the city, Mayor Durkan has consistently acted to protect the public health and safety of residents during the pandemic, economic devastation, and demonstrations for justice,” Nyland said. Seattle’s police chief, Carmen Best, announced her retirement this week, in response to the Seattle City Council’s moves to cut funding from the Police Department.

ADThe official government figures by Public Health England were a grim highlight for months at daily news conferences at 10 Downing Street by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his top ministers and scientific advisers. ADAs it turns out here, if a person once tested positive for the coronavirus and died even months later, that death would be counted by Public Health England (PHE) as a covid-19 death — until Wednesday. ADADThis was in stark contrast, they noted, to the more reassuring recovery in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where there were many days with no covid-19 deaths. Taken to its logical extreme, by the official Public Health England definition, “no one with COVID in England is allowed to ever recover from their illness,” the researchers said. ADThere is a dizzying number of ways that covid-19 deaths are tallied by officials.

Conventions upended: How to cover a virtual conventionThe Post's Paul Farhi analyzes upended media plans and how to cover a political convention when no one is convening.

The 14th Amendment states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Legal scholars have widely interpreted that to mean that anyone born on U.S. soil automatically becomes a natural-born citizen. “It’s an open question, and one I think Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible,” Ellis said in an email. “Just like Biden should also answer questions about his mental competency.”Ellis also rejected the notion that questioning Harris’s citizenship is racist. “People asked the same question of Ted Cruz (a white male) in 2016. Andrew Bates, a Biden campaign spokesman, condemned Ellis’s decision to promote the conspiracy theory surrounding Harris’s eligibility in a statement Thursday.

They assume the public knows Trump’s real estate company was sued in the 1970s for alleged housing discrimination. He told a Fox Business news interviewer on Thursday: “She was so angry, such hatred with Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh. This is a moment for education, insight and accountability in which the media must play their part. Do not, of course, merely ask men. He needs to be held to account for that, just as his racist and sexist rhetoric must be decoded and contextualized for news consumers.

Trump’s understudy is Wanda Vázquez Garced, the unelected governor of Puerto Rico now running for her pro-statehood party’s gubernatorial nomination. Her opponent, Pedro Pierluisi, was considered the slight favorite to win and the primary was supposed to be his comeback. ADADThe official story was that Puerto Rico’s elections commission was still prepping ballots on Sunday morning. The biggest scandal in Puerto Rico’s electoral politics keeps getting bigger, and Vázquez just wants to play the victim. Who knew a craven politician from a U.S. territory was going to offer a preview of what an electoral and legitimacy crisis might look like?

The Biden campaign on Thursday said casting ballots by mail is the “most secure form of voting,” as President Trump railed against the practice, warning of widespread voter fraud ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The president and the Republican Party have been warning for months about possible fraud connected to mail-in voting. The RNC and the Trump campaign have filed lawsuits to hit back against efforts by Democrats to overhaul voting laws in response to the pandemic. "They want $3.5 billion for something that's fraudulent ... for the mail-in votes, universal mail-in ballots. “How would you like to have $3.5 billion for mail-in voting?

“Furthermore, the PRC [People's Republic of China] has taken advantage of America’s openness to undertake large scale and well-funded propaganda efforts and influence operations in this country.”STATE DEPT. CONDEMNS CHINESE SANCTIONS ON SENS. The institutes have been accused of spreading Beijing’s views on issues such as Tibet and the Tiananmen Square massacre. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLast month the U.S. ordered the Chinese consulate in Houston to close down, contending it was a hub of spy activity by the Chinese Communist Party. Fox News' Marisa Schultz contributed to this report.

The New York Times was quick out of the blocks with the Democratic pitch that Kamala Harris is a “pragmatic moderate.” It’s pulling your leg. Joe Biden’s running mate had the most liberal voting record in the Senate last year — surpassing even Bernie Sanders — according to government watchdog GovTrack. The San Francisco progressive is prepared to pose as a law-and-order centrist in crucial states where suburban voters are nervous about violent riots. Like Biden, her moderate label is a phony play for swing states, but in this age, overloaded with hypocrisy as it is, it might work. Unlike Biden, Harris might go out physically to campaign across the country, but she will be protected in a virtual basement.

**On the roster: Trump seeks to starve post office to limit mail-in voting - Dems cash in on veep announcement - See you in September: Last hopes for virus deal fade - Kevin McCarthy gets blame for Georgia debacle - 100 gallons of wishesTRUMP SEEKS TO STARVE POST OFFICE TO LIMIT MAIL-IN VOTINGWaPo: “President Trump said Thursday that he does not want to fund the U.S. The Office of Special Counsel is an independent agency responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act and other laws concerning federal employees. But in Sonora, a carne asada is the weekly gathering of friends and family, with the dish at its heart. SCOREBOARDNATIONAL HEAD-TO-HEAD AVERAGETrump: 40.6 percentBiden: 51.4 percentSize of lead: Biden by 10.8 pointsChange from one week ago: Biden ? 0.4 points, Trump no change in points[Average includes: Monmouth University: Trump 41% - Biden 51%; Fox News: Trump 41% - Biden 49%; ABC/WaPo: Trump 44% - Biden 54%; Quinnipiac University: Trump 37% - Biden 52%; NBC News/WSJ: Trump 40% - Biden 51%.] Currently, 40% say he is doing a good job and 57% say he is doing a bad job.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is not a moderate, Fox Business anchor Dagen McDowell said on Thursday, calling out the Democratic Party for adopting policy proposals that are far-left. Americans would know that would be the coronavirus, that would be a virus that originated in China that was unleashed on the world,” McDowell said. “The case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut," Harris continued. “That’s actually the reason why President Trump got elected -- because of eight years of lackluster growth. It was under this president, the unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low,” McDowell said.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is a “shape shifter,” which makes it difficult for the Trump campaign and President Trump to figure out how to go after her, “Fox News Sunday” anchor Chris Wallace told “The Brian Kilmeade Show” on Thursday. Wallace made the comment, two days after Harris--a politically shrewd senator with a law enforcement background that has caused some tensions with the progressive left--was announced as Joe Biden’s running mate. “She was seen as being too soft in going after policemen who were involved in shootings. BIDEN AND HARRIS CAMPAIGNS ENGAGE IN NASTY TWITTER FEUD OVER BUSING“Because if anything I think it’s kind of legitimate to say that she is a shape-shifter. “That’s just sort of the nature of it, but in the context of the Democratic Party, I don’t think she is on the extreme left, the far left of the party.”

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. They called the opposing party unreasonable as millions of Americans wonder whether they can afford food or housing in the coming days and weeks. The parties' 2020 political conventions will consume their attention over the next two weeks. If they return next month without an agreement, lawmakers will have to consider coronavirus aid while trying to avoid a government shutdown by Sept. 30. Pelosi and Mnuchin last made contact by phone on Wednesday, when Mnuchin once again said the White House would not double the GOP's roughly $1 trillion aid offer.

"People are leaving New York, not just hanging out in the Hamptons," said Mark Klein, tax attorney and partner at Hodgson Russ in New York. Telecommuting tax painsMoMo Productions | Getty ImagesPeople toying with the idea of a permanent shift to a different state aren't the only ones facing tax woes. In this case, as you earn income telecommuting, both New York and Connecticut will each want their slice of taxes, said Klein. "Connecticut will say, 'We have the right to tax you as if you were a resident because you're using our services,'" said Klein. "So you're paying New York and Connecticut taxes on income because you're domiciled in New York and residing in Connecticut."

Here's exactly what he said:"They want $3.5 billion for something that will turn out to be fraudulent, that's election money basically. They want $25 billion, billion, for the Post Office. That means they can't have universal mail-in voting, they just can't have it. A five-year study on voter fraud commissioned by George W. Bush -- a Republican -- found that same conclusion as Levitt. "The things they had in there were crazy," Trump said in April of Democrats' push for all mail-in voting this election .

A group of armed individuals entered and searched the offices of Russian Internet-service company in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, on Thursday, the fourth day of unrest sparked by the disputed reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko. A spokesperson for the company, Yandex, told NBC News Thursday the armed people, who they have not identified, are in their offices. Security forces have clashed with some protesters, using tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades amid widespread internet and cell phone outages. The interior ministry said thousands of people have been detained, and dozens of protesters and police officers have been injured. The government's crackdown on protesters drew harsh criticism from the country's European neighbours, the U.S. and the United Nations.

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential running mates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail for a second time on Thursday, showcasing the former prosecutor’s new role as Biden’s potential governing partner and top critic of President Donald Trump’s pandemic response. Harris is expected to focus on Trump’s response to the crisis, which has been an effective argument for Biden so far. After introducing Harris’ personal story on Wednesday in their first joint appearance since picking his running mate, Biden quickly moved to talking about the urgency of the moment. Biden’s campaign said they collected $34.2 million on Tuesday and Wednesday after announcing Harris as the running mate, a record pace of fundraising. In her debut appearance as Biden’s running mate on Wednesday, Harris delivered a rebuke of Trump’s leadership and highlighted the historic significance of her new role.

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters would incur a “high price” and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting of his ruling AK Party in Ankara, Turkey, August 13, 2020. Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean have risen sharply this week after Turkey sent a survey vessel to the region, escorted by warships, in a move Greece decried as illegal. European Union foreign ministers, who have already imposed sanctions on two Turkish energy executives over Turkey’s operations in the eastern Mediterranean, will discuss the situation on Friday. “If we act with common sense and reason, we can find a win-win solution that meets everyone’s interests,” Erdogan said earlier on Thursday.

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential running mates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail for a second time on Thursday, showcasing the former prosecutor’s new role as Biden’s potential governing partner and top critic of President Donald Trump’s pandemic response. “It should be the public health professionals that are leading policy in our country to address this lethal pandemic,” Harris told reporters as she settled into a video briefing with Biden’s public health advisers, who are physicians. After introducing Harris’ personal story on Wednesday in their first joint appearance since picking his running mate, Biden quickly moved to talking about the urgency of the moment. Biden’s campaign said they collected $34.2 million on Tuesday and Wednesday after announcing Harris as the running mate, a record pace of fundraising. In her debut appearance as Biden’s running mate on Wednesday, Harris delivered a rebuke of Trump’s leadership and highlighted the historic significance of her new role.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A top U.S. diplomat said on Thursday the FBI would join a probe of the massive Beirut explosion that killed at least 172 people, urging change in Lebanon to “make sure something like this never happens again”. A security officer stands guard outside UNESCO Palace where Lebanon's parliament is expected to meet, after a massive explosion in Beirut August 13, 2020. Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale said Lebanon needed “economic and fiscal reforms, an end to dysfunctional governance and to empty promises”. The explosion at Beirut port injured 6,000 people and forced around 300,000 out of their homes in the city, which was already sinking deep into financial crisis. Authorities have blamed the Aug. 4 blast on a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored for years at the port without safety measures.

FILE PHOTO: White House senior adviser Jared Kushner listens as U.S. President Donald Trump holds a meeting on economic "opportunity zones" in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., May 18, 2020. REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House adviser Jared Kushner confirmed on Thursday that he had met recently with entertainer Kanye West, who is seeking to get his name on ballots for the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election. West is a Trump supporter and some view his bid to run for president himself as designed to have a spoiling effect that would help Trump and hurt Democrat Joe Biden. Asked whether he had discussed the campaign with West, Kushner told reporters at the White House: “We had a general discussion, more about policy.”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it was requiring the center that manages Chinese government-funded Confucius Institutes in the United States to register as a foreign mission, the latest sign of deteriorating relations between Washington and Beijing. In June, the State Department announced it would start treating four major Chinese media outlets as foreign embassies, calling them mouthpieces for Beijing. Stilwell said there were about 500 Confucius classrooms in the United States affiliated with a university-based Confucius Institute. According to the U.S. non-profit organization, the National Association of Scholars, there were 75 Confucius Institutes in the United States as of June, including 66 at colleges and universities. The association contends that the institutes compromise academic freedom, defy Western norms of transparency, and are inappropriate on campuses.

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential running mates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail for a second time on Thursday, showcasing the former prosecutor’s new role as Biden’s potential governing partner and top critic of President Donald Trump’s pandemic response. Harris is expected to focus on Trump’s response to the crisis, which has been an effective argument for Biden so far. After introducing Harris’ personal story on Wednesday in their first joint appearance since picking his running mate, Biden quickly moved to talking about the urgency of the moment. Biden’s campaign said they collected $34.2 million on Tuesday and Wednesday after announcing Harris as the running mate, a record pace of fundraising. In her debut appearance as Biden’s running mate on Wednesday, Harris delivered a rebuke of Trump’s leadership and highlighted the historic significance of her new role.

FILE PHOTO: Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 88th Winter Meeting in Washington, U.S., January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts(Reuters) - The U.S. Conference of Mayors took direct aim at powerful police unions on Thursday, calling the collective bargaining agreements they negotiate an obstacle to police reform and the regaining of public trust. Cities have ceded too much authority to police unions in the disciplining of bad cops, the report said. “We’re at the inflection point, and unions need to be part of the solution,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, chair of the conference’s working group on police reform and racial justice, told a news conference. They have proven effective at forcing mayors to temper calls for reform and unifying behind officers accused of misconduct.

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters would incur a “high price” and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning. FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan talks to media after attending Friday prayers at Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey August 7, 2020. REUTERS/Murad SezerTensions in the eastern Mediterranean have risen sharply this week after Turkey sent a survey vessel to the region, escorted by warships, in a move Greece decried as illegal. “We said that if you attack our Oruc Reis you will pay a high price, and they got their first answer today,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara without giving details. European Union foreign ministers, who have already imposed sanctions on two Turkish energy executives over Turkey’s operations in the eastern Mediterranean, will discuss the situation on Friday.

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential running mates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail for a second time on Thursday, showcasing the former prosecutor’s new role as Biden’s potential governing partner and top critic of President Donald Trump’s pandemic response. Harris is expected to focus on Trump’s response to the crisis, which has been an effective argument for Biden so far. After introducing Harris’ personal story on Wednesday in their first joint appearance since picking his running mate, Biden quickly moved to talking about the urgency of the moment. Biden’s campaign said they collected $34.2 million on Tuesday and Wednesday after announcing Harris as the running mate, a record pace of fundraising. In her debut appearance as Biden’s running mate on Wednesday, Harris delivered a rebuke of Trump’s leadership and highlighted the historic significance of her new role.

Coronavirus Admiral Brett Giroir, the Trump Administration’s Testing Czar and member of the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force, joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the state of the response to the coronavirus. Adm. Giroir shares concerns expressed by CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield that the fall flu season will coincide with the coronavirus, though he says that "we know we have effective measures" to reverse any outbreaks. He also says that he expects available testing capacity grow to "well over 85 million tests" in September.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tells Andrea Mitchell that she's "sad" to see the way President Trump is attacking Kamala Harris, "calling her angry because she's tough, or calling her mean because she wants to hold him accountable." Mayor Bowser also continues to push for Congress to provide support to state and local governments, telling congressional leaders that "by not providing that funding, you're actually eliminating critical local services."

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — House Republican Leader J.T. “Being isolated at my house on the farm isn’t miserable. Any meetings have been held remotely, and it’s unclear what the 105-legislative session will look like when it convenes in January. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. At least 105 lawmakers in 30 states are known to have contracted the coronavirus, according to a tally by The Associated Press.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to fast-track a challenge to absentee ballot rules for the November general election that were liberalized due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Trump’s campaign, Minnesota Republican Party and other GOP groups are appealing a lower court ruling. Chief Justice Lorie Gildea informed the parties Wednesday that the high court will hear the case Sept. 3. ADVERTISEMENTMinnesota Public Radio reported the Republican lawyers urged a ruling by Sept. 9 because absentee ballots will start going out nine days later. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday refused to block a similar relaxation of ballot witness rules in a Rhode Island case.

Erin Loos Cutraro is the founder of She Should Run, a nonpartisan organization that encourages women to run for elected office. On Tuesday, presidential candidate Joe Biden named Kamala Harris his running mate. She’s the first Black woman and first woman of Indian ancestry to be No. 2 on a major party ticket.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday said he’s dropping a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta in a dispute over the city’s requirement to wear masks in public and other restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kemp had sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council. The Republican governor argued local leaders cannot impose measures that are more or less restrictive than those in his executive orders. The decision to drop the lawsuit comes as negotiations ordered by a judge between Kemp and Bottoms broke down, according to a statement from Kemp.

TikTok and its U.S. employees are planning to take the Trump administration to court over a sweeping order that could ban the popular video app, according to a lawyer preparing one of the lawsuits. TikTok and its U.S. employees are planning to take the Trump administration to court over a sweeping order that could ban the popular video app, according to a lawyer preparing one of the lawsuits. The employees’ legal challenge to Trump’s executive order will be separate from a pending lawsuit from the company that owns the app, says Mike Godwin, an internet policy lawyer representing the employees. The looming ban has annoyed TikTok users, some of them Trump supporters like Pam Graef of Metairie, Louisiana. Godwin said the employees’ legal challenge will be focused on worker rights, not on the national security claims underlying Trump’s order.

At the funeral of John Lewis in Atlanta last month, former President Barack Obama described the late civil rights leader and Democratic congressman as a “Founding Father” of a “fuller, fairer, better America.” It was an epochal turn of phrase. A protégé of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lewis desegregated lunch counters in Nashville in 1960, spoke at the 1963 March on Washington and was beaten leading a march in Selma in 1965. Mr. Obama explicitly linked those episodes to the efforts of progressive activists and practitioners...

A screen capture from a Kentucky Democratic Party blog shows a picture of Senate Majority Leader in front of a Confederate battle flag. "If he wouldn’t stand in front of a Confederate flag today, he needs to be able to say, 'I shouldn’t have done that.'" From apartheid to affirmative action: Sen. Mitch McConnell's complicated history on raceThe history behind the photo of McConnell, now 78, is somewhat obscure. Nikki Haley that the Confederate battle flag should no longer be displayed at that state's (or any other state's) Capitol. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Sen. Mitch McConnell photo with Confederate flag lives on

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said White House negotiators have not spoken on Tuesday with Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress on coronavirus aid legislation after talks broke down last week. "As far as I know, the secretary of the Treasury and the (White House) chief of staff have not spoken to the speaker and the Democratic leader today. And so another day has gone by with an impasse and they need to get together," McConnell told Fox News. (Reporting by David Morgan; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Sen. Kamala Harris endorses Gavin Newsom's run for governor at an event in February 2018. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)With California Sen. Kamala Harris now cemented as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate, Gov. Fundamentally, it’s about his legacy," said Democratic strategist Rose Kapolczynski, who ran campaigns for former California Sen. Barbara Boxer for two decades. That wasn't the case the last time a California governor made a Senate appointment. Though not well known throughout most of the state, the mayor of Long Beach would also be a history-making pick for Newsom.

Donald Trump Mike Pence vs Joe Bien Kamala Harris us election 2020 policies compare - AFPWith Joe Biden announcing that Kamala Harris will join him on the Democratic presidential ticket this November, the 2020 presidential campaign is finally in full swing. Americans of all stripes say Mr Biden is the candidate who can unite the country at a time of major divisions. Republicans are poised to exploit these verbal trip-ups, while Mr Trump has already begun sharing clips of Mr Biden's gaffes to question his mental acuity. Polls show Americans trust Mr Trump with the economy more than Mr Biden, a key issue for many voters. Kamala HarrisStrengths: Ms Harris is a skilled campaigner with the ability to energise crowds through her passionate stump speeches.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of the most prominent and outspoken progressives in the Democratic Party, will have just one minute to deliver remarks at the virtual Democratic National Convention next week. Ocasio-Cortez eloquently acknowledged the limited time slot, tweeting a poem by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, “I have only just a minute.” The late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) Politico reported last week that her supporters felt Ocasio-Cortez deserved a prominent speaking spot, given her role leading Biden’s climate task force and her ability to energize younger voters. However, some moderate Democrats reportedly expressed concerns a prime-time speaking slot would fuel the Trump campaign’s efforts to cast Biden as a vessel for the left. “It would be stupid” not to give her a slot, Corbin Trent, a former top adviser to Ocasio-Cortez, told Politico.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has challenged Donald Trump to release his college transcript to compare grades, saying she would do the same. The New York freshman congresswoman issued her challenge to the president after he said on Fox News on Thursday that she was "not even a smart person" and was "a poor student" during her time at Boston University. It is, of course, doubtful he would know anything about her academic standing at the school since her transcript is private. But Ms Ocasio-Cortez signalled on Thursday she would be willing to share her college grade sheet if the president is willing to share his. "Let’s make a deal, Mr. President: You release your college transcript, I’ll release mine, and we’ll see who was the better student.

The fireball and subsequent shockwave, caught in dramatic videos posted on social media, wrought devastation across entire neighbourhoods of Beirut. A week later, the blast that left 6,000 people injured and made an estimated 300,000 people temporarily homeless looked like a potential watershed in Lebanon's troubled political history. On Monday, the head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, said Lebanon needed all the help it could get because 85 percent of Lebanon's food used to come in through the port. Health officials have warned that the chaos caused by the blast risked leading to a spike in infections. "The events of the previous week have, understandably, shifted attention away from the pandemic," Firass Abiad said on social media.

Getty ImagesThe newly elected district attorney of Portland, Oregon announced Tuesday that his office will not prosecute individuals who were arrested on non-violent misdemeanour charges during protests. The amnesty for those arrests will retroactively cover arrests for all non-violent misdemeanour charges relating to protests since late May. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt told the Associated Press the new policy was meant to address and account for prejudice shown to minority communities. Protests for racial justice and against police brutality in Portland began in the wake of the George Floyd protests, and have been ongoing for 76 nights. The city gained national attention when Donald Trump sent federal agents to beat back protesters under the auspices of protecting a federal court house.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Thursday that he has moved to suspend or terminate 26 employees involved in a fight during an off-duty party associated with the Banditos clique at East L.A. station. The discipline comes after the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office in February declined to file charges against a sergeant and three deputies involved in the incident at Kennedy Hall, saying there was “insufficient evidence” that Sgt. Villanueva’s move follows recent allegations from a whistleblower deputy that a gang of deputies who call themselves the Executioners dominate the Compton sheriff’s station. Los Angeles County has paid out roughly $55 million in settlements in dozens of cases where sheriff’s deputies are accused of belonging to cliques. Villanueva has said that he put measures in place in February that prohibit deputies from participating in cliques.

— Three men who are members of a Milwaukee group that's marching to the nation's capital for a national commemoration of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington were arrested in northern Indiana after police said they were blocking traffic on a highway. Frank David Sensabaugh, 30, Eric Ajala, 20, and Tory Lowe, 44, were arrested Wednesday on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction of traffic, Indiana State Police said. Lowe was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement, police said. All three Milwaukee residents were taken to the Kosciusko County Jail and later released, The Times-Union of Warsaw reported. State police said in a news release that the county's prosecutor "will review this case for all appropriate charges."

On May 20, in the border district of San Ysidro, Mexican authorities quietly turned over a 49-year-old member of MS-13 to the FBI. The handoff of Nelson Alexander Flores came with none of the ceremony that typically accompanies the capture of MS-13 gang members. For these reasons, he is perhaps the gang’s most influential member outside of its leadership in El Salvador, the officials said. Born in El Salvador, Flores was a child when the country descended into civil war. In exchange, the Mexican Mafia offers protection in the jails, prisons and streets it controls.

And now, a new statewide bill that would levy a yearly 0.4 percent tax on every Californian worth more than $30 million. California is suddenly reckoning with an unusually heated debate over taxing the rich as the coronavirus’ economic impact ratchets up the gulf between those at the top of the economic ladder and those at the bottom. It would raise an estimated $7.5 billion a year from California’s top 0.15% wealthiest residents. It would raise $422 billion, more than a quarter of that from California residents, according to the analysis by Americans for Tax Fairness. History suggests raising income taxes doesn’t drive large numbers of wealthy people away.

Lebanese authorities had invited the FBI to take part, and it is one way that Washington can help the country deal with the effects of the disaster, said U.S. Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale as he toured the Gemayezeh neighborhood, which was damaged by the Aug. 4 blast.

Programming is set to be broadcast and streamed online each night from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT. Party officials and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s aides describe the agenda as a way to pitch the nominee as a steady, consensus-building figure in contrast with Trump’s turbulent tenure. Prominent Democratic women dominate the lineup Wednesday, when the vice presidential nominee will speak. As with a normal convention, Biden’s acceptance speech will conclude the proceedings Thursday night. He is expected to speak live from his home state of Delaware, though the campaign has not announced a venue.

Frank Sensabaugh, also known as Frank Nitty, who is the leader of a Black Lives Matter group, is released from the jail on Aug. 12, 2020. He was marching from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C., when he was arrested along with two other group leaders near Warsaw, Indiana. (Amanda Bridgman/Times Union)

Emails show Emanuel’s lieutenants enjoyed cordial relationships with the Labkon family that owned General Iron through four generations. The former mayor also was the top recipient of the more than $500,000 in campaign contributions to local politicians from family members, who hired a former top aide to Emanuel as one of their City Hall lobbyists.

Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also falsely stated that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and made the unfounded claim that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. Postal Service and election security ahead of the November election. "They want $25 billion — billion — for the post office," he said, adding that, without it, the Postal Service won't be equipped to handle the influx of mail-in ballots. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill.

The meeting came at a notable time. West recently criticized Joe Biden in an interview with Forbes. He did not deny that he is acting as a spoiler to damage the Biden campaign with his effort to get on several ballots in states like Colorado, where he will appear. It’s less clear that his name will be on the ballot in Wisconsin, where his signature petitions are being challenged.

Andy Beshear will provide an update on efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus during his daily 4 p.m. press conference. The Kentucky Department for Public Health announced the single highest daily number of positive cases in the commonwealth on Wednesday. There were 1,163 new cases of coronavirus reported, bringing the total number of cases to 36,945. Andy Beshear said Wednesday that he will not shut down any schools that disagree with his recommendation to postpone in-person classes until Sept. 28. Andy Beshear updated the commonwealth's travel advisory during his press conference Wednesday.

It's unclear whether the contact information of up to 2,000 contact tracing volunteers still is in the possession of a Democratic data management firm whose state contract was canceled in April, Michigan health director Robert Gordon told lawmakers Thursday. An email seeking comment from NGP VAN was not immediately returned. Whitmer canceled the roughly $194,000 no-bid contract after widespread criticism of the contract in April. Since Michigan is under a state of emergency, the state could issue no-bid contracts because it was exempted from soliciting bids prior to awarding the contract. Before the contract was finalized, volunteers were given training information with the link to NGP Van included in it.

Ryan J. FoleyAssociated PressIowa City, Iowa – President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters’ absentee ballot applications. At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in, including their names, dates of birth and voting pin numbers. Those who cast absentee ballots overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton while Trump narrowly won Linn County among Election Day voters. The law was passed days after Iowa’s June primary, when saw record turnout and heavy absentee ballot use. Republican supporters of the new law say that requiring voters to provide their personal information before getting an absentee ballot is a key election safeguard.

Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump has moved to sow public distrust in the Postal Service's ability to deliver what is expected to be record numbers of mail-in ballots. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year. Postal Service to hinder Americans from voting.

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Hooked up to ventilators, 11 prematurely born infants struggled for survival Thursday in the intensive care ward of a Bolivian maternity hospital. The babies' supply of oxygen is in peril, doctors say, because of nationwide blockades by supporters of the party of former President Evo Morales who object to the recent postponement of elections. Bolivia's political crisis adds to the burden on its health care system, which was already grappling with the coronavirus as it continues to spread across one of Latin America's poorest countries. It was the third time the vote has been delayed, angering protesters who accuse the government of interim President Jeanine Áñez of simply trying to hang on to power. Now, after about 10 days of blockades, supplies are threatened in some hospitals that are also dealing with an escalating number of COVID-19 patients, according to officials.

Unfortunately, there is one candidate in this race who I believe has proven himself unfit to represent this District,” Cavell said. Though there has been a dearth of independent polling in the race, Auchincloss is considered one of the top contenders for the seat having been among the most prolific fundraisers. “Therefore, I will be working with and voting for my friend Jesse Mermell, a passionate fighter for progressive values and working people of every race and background,” he said. Deval Patrick who left her position as president of the Alliance for Business Leadership to run for Congress when U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III decided to run for Senate. Cavell’s name will remain on the ballot in the Fourth District, which stretches from the western suburbs of Boston to the South Coast.

Read moreLindsey Roland, a 31-year-old Black woman and Michigan real estate agent, said that background gave her pause. But for Black women, the freedom to vote didn’t come until much later, part of a historical pattern of being denied justice offered to others. “It took an additional 45 years of organizing to secure the rights to vote for Black women and other women of color,” Ufot said. I thought about in this moment that as a Black woman, we are seen,” Campbell said. It affirms Black women and all we did for this country.

Beginning Thursday, US Facebook users who post about voting may start seeing an addendum to their messages – labels directing readers to authoritative information about the upcoming presidential election. Facebook began adding similar links to posts about in-person and mail-in balloting by federal politicians, including Donald Trump, in July. The primary focus is registering people to vote, she said, but the information people see will evolve throughout the election season. “This is a unique election and a unique election season,“ she said. Looking ahead to November, Facebook said it is “actively speaking with election officials about the potential of misinformation around election results as an emerging threat”.

Kamala Harris's history-making nomination as the first woman of colour to join a major-party presidential ticket in the US was being celebrated in both her father’s native Jamaica and her mother’s hometown of Chennai, India. Ms Harris, 55, who was announced on Wednesday as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate, may have grown up in the Bay Area of California but proud locals in both countries have claimed her as their own. "This means a lot for every little girl who has ever dreamed an impossible dream," told Agence French Press, describing Harris as an "honourary Jamaican". Her father, Donald Harris, is a naturalised US citizen who served as an economics professor at prestigious Stanford University in California, where he taught and carried out research. He also served as a consultant to Jamaica's government and its prime ministers.

Both Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs also voted to remove Mr Swinney, who by parliamentary convention would have been expected to resign had he lost the vote. Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, said the backlash and subsequent reversal over this year's results was "just the latest catastrophe in Mr Swinney's tenure in education". A desire to avoid something that would look like grade inflation meant students lost out on grades that their teachers believed they deserved. "The statistical model used meant many more students were downgraded in poorer areas than in other parts of Scotland. Ross Greer, the Scottish Green education spokesman said the Scottish Government had accepted the solutions put forward by his party.

The comment was unusual for Mr Cain, not because it was ideologically inconsistent with his usual commentary, but because he died a week prior. Mr Cain tested positive for coronavirus on 29 July and was hospitalised on 1 July. Mr Cain was the co-chair of Black Voices for Trump. "There's no way of knowing for sure how or where Mr Cain contracted the coronavirus," Mr Cain's account tweeted following his hospitalisation. Mr Cain was especially at risk from the virus, as not only was he in his 70's, but he was also a stage 4 cancer survivor.

The UAE is only the third Arab nation to maintain active diplomatic ties with Israel, joining Egypt and Jordan. Thursday’s agreement appears to suspend those plans, but the prime minister announced that there will be “no change” in his annexation plans. Palestinian officials were excluded from negotiations and have rejected plans from the White House, while UAE officials have warned that Israel’s annexation efforts would upend relationships throughout the Arab world. The Independent‘s request for comment to his campaign was referred to the White House, and the State Department declined to comment on his remarks. The announcement also falls short of White House pledges to bring ”peace” in the Middle East, now an election eve promise less than three months before a crucial November election.

Image copyright AFP Image caption The coronavirus pandemic has hit the US Postal Service hardPresident Donald Trump has said that he opposes funds for the US Postal Service because it would boost mail-in voting he alleges would favour Democrats. Mr Trump has previously claimed that mail-in voting would hurt his campaign, which polls show to be in a tight race with Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Democrats denounced Mr Trump's comment, saying his position is an attempt to prevent Americans from voting him out. Mr Trump has repeatedly condemned mail-in voting as an opportunity for fraud and election interference. That means they can't have universal mail-in voting, they just can't have it."

Over 500 members of Belarus' booming tech industry have weighed in on the unstable situation in the country in an open letter calling for new elections. "We assume that the presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus were rigged." While the IT chiefs do not claim to be "experts in politics" they say "we are experts in the tech business". "It is now impossible to keep silent," Michael Dubakov, founder of startup Fibery, told Euronews. "For IT companies it's impossible to do business and it's awful for the economy," he added.

It is a chunk of land located - as the name suggests - on the west bank of the River Jordan and bounded by Israel to the north, west and south. The move could result in some 4.5% of Palestinians in the West Bank living in enclaves within annexed territory. Mr Netanyahu may initially act to annex just the settlements, which could amount to only 3% of the West Bank. Israel claims historical and religious rights to the West Bank as the ancestral land of the Jewish people. Currently, building and zoning in the West Bank requires the approval of Israel's defence minister and prime minister, and can take months or years.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani warned that the country was paying a major instalment on the cost of peace by releasing 400 Taliban prisonersAdvertising Read moreKabul (AFP)Hundreds of Taliban inmates that are set to be released as a precondition to peace talks with Kabul pose a danger "to the world", Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Thursday. They are set to meet once Kabul has released 400 Taliban prisoners in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation after it emerged many of the inmates were involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners. The freeing of the 400 prisoners comes after Kabul already released about 5,000 lower-risk Taliban inmates. "The burden of history and the initiative now lies with the Taliban," Ghani said. Using an old saying attributed to the Taliban, Ghani said Afghan negotiators can take as long as is needed to get a fair peace settlement.

Article content(Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump drew a hard line against a Democratic plan for shoring up the U.S. Postal Service, escalating his attempts to hinder mail-in voting in the November election. Try refreshing your browser, or Trump won't send aid to ailing U.S. Democrats have pressed for the funding to ensure capacity to process an increased share of postal ballots given the dangers of the spread of Covid-19. A drop in bulk mail due to the pandemic has worsened the balance sheet despite an increase in package deliveries.

The problem with the nomination stems from the federal Indian Act, Jenkins said. Chief and councillors must be nominated and seconded “by persons who are themselves eligible to be nominated” — meaning the nominators must be members of the First Nation. “It certainly hasn’t been updated in the way that most other major pieces of federal legislation has been updated so there are many archaic aspects to it,” Jenkins said. “We have been governing our own administration since 1965, we were the first First Nation to do so,” he said. “There’s avenues to take on even more self-governance and that’s in the way of lawmaking.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday left in place an agreement that allows Rhode Island residents to vote by mail in two upcoming elections without signing their ballots in the presence of two witnesses or a notary. Rhode Island allows voters to request to vote by mail for any reason, and the coronavirus has resulted in an enormous increase in mail-in voting. The case arose after Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, in April suspended the so-called two witness requirement for the state’s June 2 presidential primary. In July, the American Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit on behalf of Common Cause Rhode Island, the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and others in an effort to extend the suspension.

Supreme Court denies GOP request, allows Rhode Island pandemic-related relief on mail-in ballotsWASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Thursday rebuffed the Republican Party and allowed a consent decree to go forward so that Rhode Island voters during the coronavirus pandemic could cast mail-in ballots without in-person witness verification. Rhode Island requires voters mailing their ballots to sign them in front of two witnesses or a notary. John Marion, executive director, Common Cause Rhode Island, said the organization is "thrilled that the Supreme Court agreed not to stay the consent decree. Because of this order hundreds of thousands of Rhode Island voters will be able to safely cast their ballots without risking their health. " The Supreme Court put on hold a judicial order granting similar relief in that state, where state officials had defended its need.

Three weeks ago, LaRose asked Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) for a legal opinion on whether extra ballot drop boxes were allowed under state law. “What I decided was instead of waiting for continued legal analysis, was to move forward to say we are not going to allow additional drop boxes for this election,” LaRose said at a Wednesday news conference. “This is his decision to artificially limit drop boxes to one per county. This is his decision to artificially limit drop boxes to one per county. https://t.co/VSfgQqsciS — David Pepper (@DavidPepper) August 12, 2020LaRose argued that adding extra drop boxes would invite lawsuits — such as one that the Trump campaign filed against Pennsylvania — that would delay the process of preparing for the election.

Trump also tweeted a lengthy joint statement between the US, UAE and Israel, calling the agreement to "full normalization of relations" between Israel and the UAE a "historic diplomatic breakthrough." The UAE and Israel plan to exchange embassies and ambassadors, according to the statement. It will be the third Arab country to open relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan. Trump heaped praise on his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who said Trump urged his team to take an "untraditional approach." Last week when an interagency delegation traveled to the UAE, a peace agreement with Israel was not discussed, the officials ?said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address Thursday that he remains "committed to annexing parts of the West Bank," but agreed to “temporarily suspend” those plans in order to reach a normalization deal with the UAE. But Netanyahu and UAE Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) have since offered diverging statements. “I am still committed to annexing parts of the West Bank to Israel but it can only happen in coordination with the U.S.," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu said one aspect of the deal involved major investments by the UAE in Israeli scientific efforts toward a coronavirus vaccine. He said they'd agreed to a "roadmap," not a final normalization deal.

Turkey will continue its cross-border operations against Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq if Baghdad continues to overlook the rebels' presence in the region, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, urging Iraqi authorities to cooperate with Ankara. Turkey has regularly attacked Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters, both in its mainly Kurdish southeast and in northern Iraq, where the group is based. In June, Ankara launched a new ground offensive, dubbed Operation Claw-Tiger, that saw Turkish troops advance deeper into Iraq. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. The Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq, dominated by the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP), see the PKK as a worrying presence but have never been able to uproot it from northern Iraqi bases.

He said Israel would co-operate with the UAE in developing a coronavirus vaccine, in energy, water, environmental protection and many other fields. The UAE's ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, said the deal with Israel was "a win for diplomacy and for the region". It marks only the third Israel-Arab peace deal since Israel's declaration of independence in 1948. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Israel annexation: What is the West Bank? He said he expected to see interactions "very quickly" between Israel and the UAE, and the US would resume discussions with several other countries about a possible deal concerning Israel.

The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. “Today we usher in a new era of peace between Israel and the Arab world,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised statement. Netanyahu also said in the broadcast that the Trump administration asked that Israel put its West Bank annexation plans on hold to move forward with the agreement with the UAE. For Israel, the announcement follows years of Netanyahu boasts that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. It remains unclear what prompted Israel and the UAE to make the announcement now.

Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 88th Winter Meeting in Washington, U.S., January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts(Reuters) - The U.S. Conference of Mayors took direct aim at powerful police unions on Thursday, calling the collective bargaining agreements they negotiate an obstacle to police reform and the regaining of public trust. Cities have ceded too much authority to police unions in the disciplining of bad cops, the report said. “We’re at the inflection point, and unions need to be part of the solution,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, chair of the conference’s working group on police reform and racial justice, told a news conference. They have proven effective at forcing mayors to temper calls for reform and unifying behind officers accused of misconduct.

Beirut, Lebanon - Lebanon's parliament has approved a state of emergency that grants sweeping powers to the army, citing the exceptional circumstances in the country following a massive explosion in Beirut last week. The cabinet had declared a two-week state of emergency on August 5, the day after the Beirut blast that left at least 200 dead and some 6,000 injured. Parliament on Thursday voted for the emergency declaration eight days in, as is legally required, though it could have also voted it down. But the Lebanese army, Internal Security Forces, and armed plain-clothes officers were observed using excessive force against anti-establishment protesters on Saturday. "The only real reason we can see for a state emergency is to grant security forces powers to control the streets as much as possible - to give legal coverage to things that would otherwise be impossible," he said.

He also emphasized that the Voting Rights Act remains the law of the land. He credits his parents with instilling in him a belief in civil rights, despite their upbringing in the South. Several years later, he voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which expanded protections against employment discrimination based on race and other characteristics. "But make no mistake about it: The Voting Rights Act is still the law." Those appointments have been praised by many in conservative circles but also have been criticized by some civil rights organizations.

MILWAUKEE – Indiana State Police arrested Milwaukee protest leaders Frank "Nitty" Sensabaugh and Tory Lowe on Wednesday evening on their march to Washington, D.C. because, police said, the group was blocking traffic. The group's caravan of vehicles was driving slowly in the right lane to protect the people walking, Sensabaugh said. As Sensabaugh, Lowe and other march participants were speaking to him, the trooper said they needed to "get out of the roadway." Police arrested three people "after multiple attempts to gain compliance," the spokesman said: Sensabaugh, Lowe and another participant, 20-year-old Eric Ajala of Milwaukee, on suspicion of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and obstruction of traffic. He also called attention to the fact that the three people arrested were walking on the shoulder, not driving.

"If he wouldn’t stand in front of a Confederate flag today, he needs to be able to say, 'I shouldn’t have done that.'" From apartheid to affirmative action:Sen. Mitch McConnell's complicated history on raceThe history behind the photo of McConnell, now 78, is somewhat obscure. That same summer, McConnell indicated he was OK with removing the statue of Confederate president Jefferson Davis from the Rotunda in the Kentucky Capitol, where a statue of former President Abraham Lincoln also stands. "It just seems to me that Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln are not equal in stature, which is not to say that Jefferson Davis wasn't an important person in American history. Another statue of Jefferson Davis stands on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., where McConnell and other congressional lawmakers work.

U.S. users of Facebook Inc. who post about voting may soon start seeing fact-checking notes added to their messages about the presidential election on Nov. 3. The addendum will link to a new voter information hub similar to one about COVID-19 that Facebook says has been seen by billions of people globally. “Facebook must do more to combat the weaponization of voting and election disinformation and misinformation on its platform. Twitter Inc. TWTR, +0.56% has said it would roll out tools, policies and partnerships to help users register and prepare to vote by mail, and find local early-voting options. In January, the company created a feature that lets users report voter suppression and misinformation.

Postal Service and election security ahead of the November election. "They want $25 billion – billion – for the post office," he said, adding that, without it, the Postal Service won’t be equipped to handle the influx of mail-in ballots. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. Postal Service to hinder Americans from voting. Postal Service is 2020 election sabotage amid COVID-19.

The contest between President Trump and the full Democratic ticket has quickly turned personal as the president continued with a third day of name-calling to attack Joe Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris. In an interview on Fox Business on Thursday morning, Mr. Trump criticized Ms. Harris over her 2018 grilling of now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his Senate confirmation hearings. “And now you have a sort of a madwoman, I call her, because she was so angry and such hatred with Justice Kavanaugh,” Mr. Trump said. Republicans dismissed as theatrics her line of questioning about his conversations related to then-special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference, and Mr. Kavanaugh was eventually confirmed by a 50-48 vote. Mr. Trump’s comments Thursday were his latest attacking Ms. Harris’s demeanor as his campaign responds to Mr. Biden’s selection of the California lawmaker as his running mate.

Iranian troops swooped down from a navy chopper onto a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, taking over the vessel for several hours amid mounting tensions between Tehran and Washington, a US military official said Thursday. “Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian ‘Sea King’ helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the ‘Wila,’” the military command said in a tweet. A US defense official told Agence France-Presse that the Iranians released the ship after holding it for four to five hours about 20 miles off the Strait of Hormuz. “A coalition ship monitored the event but did not receive a distress call from M/T Wila,” the official told the news outlet. In July 2019, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero for allegedly ramming a fishing boat and released it two months later.

The long-awaited criminal fraud trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes finally has a start date. Davila agreed to delay the trial, which was initially scheduled for October, after Holmes’ lawyers argued that going to court during the pandemic would be dangerous. “I wish you good health and I know we’ll be seeing each other again soon,” Davila said at the end of a 30-minute Zoom hearing, according to CNBC. Prosecutors for the Justice Department had countered that time is of the essence, and that the government is “ready to go.”“It’s important to this case that it goes expeditiously,” Assistant US Attorney Robert Leach said last month. The duo each faces a maximum of 20 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine on 12 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy.

Kamala Harris is used to people butchering her name. The presumptive Democratic vice presidential candidate released a video in 2016 with kids showing the proper pronunciation of her first name. It’s not “camel-uh,” or “kuh-mahl-uh” or “karmel-uh,” according to the clip, which aired during Harris’ run for Senate. Simply put — it’s “comma-la,” the California senator wrote in the preface of her 2019 memoir “The Truths We Hold.”“It means ‘lotus flower,’ which is a symbol of significance in Indian culture,” she wrote. “A lotus grows underwater, its flower rising above the surface while its roots are planted firmly in the river bottom.”Harris’ father, Donald Harris, is Jamaican and her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was Indian.

A top cop in Chicago who recently announced his retirement had just been suspended for almost a month — for comparing police reforms to “rape,” according to a report. “Grope me, don’t rape me,” Waller reportedly told the meeting at police HQ of losing his key officers. The force’s top brass then decided to double the punishment and suspend him for 28 days, the report said. Calling his punishment “somewhat harsh,” Waller said he understood “the message they wanted to send.”“I was trying to make an emphatic point. It wasn’t meant in that context,” he told the Chicago paper.

But Hong Kong was the most open part of China (not including the self-governing island of Taiwan). Hong Kong, literally overnight, has become like every other city in China. Traveling from mainland China into Hong Kong always felt like lifting a heavy weight off your shoulders or taking in a breath of fresh air. Many reporters blocked by the government from moving to China set themselves up in Hong Kong, where they could operate unhindered. The Hong Kong of old, the one where you could breathe freely, is never coming back.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors on Thursday released a slate of recommendations for overhauling local police departments, after months of angry demonstrations against police brutality across the country. Their policy suggestions include banning chokeholds, mandating that officers wear body cameras and limiting the power of police unions to keep problem officers on the job. Departments should have clear “de-escalation” policies to prevent violence, the report said, and require officers to report all uses of force. And the report said mayors should renegotiate union contracts so officer discipline is swift and transparent, an issue Lightfoot said might require changes to state laws as well. The U.S. Conference of Mayors represents more than 1,400 cities with populations of 30,000 or more.

“The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., ticket is by far the most radical leftist ticket that the Democratic Party has ever put forward,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn said on Wednesday night. Blackburn, R-Tenn., told “Fox News @ Night,” “When you look at Senator Harris's record and look at her vote, she's for the Green New Deal. The presumptive Democratic nominee and former vice president announced on Wednesday that his campaign's raised a staggering $26 million since Tuesday's running mate announcement. Last week, a new group called “We Have Her Back” promised to make sure Biden's female VP pick receives fair coverage from the media. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APPBlackburn acknowledged that Harris made history and should be congratulated on making that history.

The Supreme Court Thursday rejected the Republican National Committee's request to temporarily block a lower court’s order that relaxed Rhode Island’s absentee voting requirements. The court noted that state election officials support the decree and none have opposed it. "The status quo is one in which the challenged requirement has not been in effect, given the rules used in Rhode Island's last election, and many Rhode Island voters may well hold that belief." The case involves several voting rights groups and Rhode Island officials. The RNC and the Republican Party of Rhode Island had asked for a decision before mail-in ballots are due to go out Aug. 12.

A federal judge on Thursday, citing the coronavirus pandemic, ordered the release, of a Rhode Island man who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for participating in a plot to behead conservative blogger Pamela Geller on behalf of the Islamic State. ISIS SUPPORTER WHO PLOTTED TO BEHAD PAMELA GELLER SENTENCED TO 28 YEARS IN PRISON“The court concludes that there exist extraordinary and compelling circumstances that warrant granting this motion for compassionate release,” Young wrote in his order. He was sentenced in 2017 after pleading guilty to conspiracy for his role in the plot to kill Geller, who organized a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland, Texas, in 2015. Rovinski, during the trial, testified against David Wright, who prosecutors described as the mastermind of the plot. The cartoon contest Geller organized ended in gunfire, with two Muslim gunmen shot to death by police.

KAMALA HARRIS' FLIP-FLOPS UNDER A MICROSCOPE AFTER VP SELECTIONThe case prompted a threat from then-California Attorney General Bill Lockyer to take it over. Another controversial death penalty decision by Harris involved an MS-13 gang member named Edwin Ramos who killed a man and his two sons after mistaking them as rival gang members. BRET BAIER: KAMALA HARRIS VP PICK SENDS POWERFUL MESSAGE TO BLACK AND ASIAN GIRLSRamos was eventually sentenced in 2014, according to SF Gate, after Harris had left the San Francisco DA's office to become California's attorney general. Beyond death penalty cases, Harris also received criticism for giving probation to a man named Devaughndre Broussard after he participated in a brutal robbery and assault in 2005. In another controversial case, Harris got into a very public spat with the San Francisco Police Department after it arrested nine prostitutes but Harris declined to pursue charges, according to SF Gate.

World leaders are reacting to the deal reached Thursday between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that will lead to a "full normalization" of diplomatic ties between the two Middle Eastern countries, with one calling it a "historic day." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reposted a tweet from President Trump announcing the deal. The agreement was made during a phone call Thursday between President Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed. Israel commends the courage of MBZ for the historic decision of the UAE to join Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) in making peace with Israel. Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi tweeted, "Israel got rewarded for not declaring openly what it’s been doing to Palestine illegally & persistently since the beginning of the occupation."

The speculation over where former Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the biggest speech of his half-century-long political career is over. Biden’s campaign confirmed to Fox News on Thursday that he’ll deliver his Democratic National Convention presidential nomination acceptance speech from the Chase Center, a convention center located in his hometown of Wilmington, Del. But last week, Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez announced that Biden would stay home and give his speech in Delaware. The former vice president’s campaign declined to offer details on the purpose of Biden’s more than two-hour visit to the convention center. TRUMP SAYS HE'LL DELIVER HIS CONVENTION SPEECH FROM GETTSYBURG BATTLEFIELD OR WHITE HOUSEPresident Trump is scheduled to deliver his renomination acceptance speech a week later, when the Republican National Convention is held.

CONSERVATIVES REACT TO HARRIS AS BIDEN RUNNING MATE, BLAST NY TIMES FOR ‘PRAGMATIC MODERATE’ DESCRIPTORConservative strategist Chris Barron told Fox News he finds the “media’s coordinated gaslighting of Kamala Harris’ record absolutely hilarious” because she was treated much differently during her presidential bid. “To quote Maya Angelou, when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”"Breaking News: Sen. Kamala Harris of California is Joe Biden’s pick for vice president. ABC’S GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS SAYS KAMALA HARRIS IS FROM ‘MODERATE WING’ OF DEMOCRATIC PARTYMedia Research Center vice president Dan Gainor said it’s a “laughable narrative” to label Harris a moderate. Gainor feels the letter is proof that nothing should be considered off-limits when it comes to manipulating media coverage of the Democratic ticket. However, members of the mainstream media continue to downplay her progressive record and describe her as a moderate.

Facebook on Thursday outlined the threats that the company is working to counter ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. "We want to make sure people have access to the latest, authoritative information about preliminary results on and after election night," Gleicher said. Asked about how Facebook is preparing to handle attempts by President Trump to discredit mail-in voting, Gleicher said this is something the company is focused on. "In particular because it looks increasingly like we may not have results on election night," said Gleicher, adding that Facebook is prepared to provide users with accurate information about the vote counts on election night and the following days. Gleicher added the company is prepared to take action against posts from any Facebook users that incite violence or clearly violate the social network's community standards.

High demand for a safe and effective vaccine against the coronavirus is already causing competition between countries and could drive prices higher, the World Health Organization's top official warned Thursday. "When a successful new vaccine is found, there will be greater demand than there is supply. Excess demand and competition for supply is already creating vaccine nationalism and risk of price gouging," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference from the United Nations agency's Geneva headquarters. Spreading the investment in vaccine development among different countries shares the risk of failure and the reward of success. The world needs multiple vaccine candidates of different types to maximize the chances of finding a winning solution."

Cohen on Thursday tweeted out a photo of the cover of his forthcoming tell-all about working for Trump, along with the message: "Coming Soon." Trump has considered Cohen disloyal to him because the former fixer cooperated with federal and state prosecutors in investigations of the president. But Cohen, who since last year has publicly condemned the president in heated terms, considers Trump disloyal to his oath of office, among other infractions. In testimony to Congress before he entered prison in early 2019, Cohen called Trump a "racist" and a "con man." Legal efforts by Trump's brother Robert to block Mary Trump's book and by the Justice Department to block Bolton's book failed.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department said it dismantled an elaborate cyber campaign used by overseas terror organizations to finance their operations and seized $2 million dollars from more than 300 cryptocurrency accounts, in what is described as the largest-ever seizure of its kind. The Justice Department said three overseas terrorist groups – al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIS – used cryptocurrencies and social media to raise funds for their terror campaigns. "It should not surprise anyone that our enemies use modern technology, social media platforms and cryptocurrency to facilitate their evil and violent agendas," Attorney General William Barr said in a release. A senior Justice Department official said that federal agents were investigating individuals who donated to those accounts. The ISIS campaign sought to take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic by selling fake personal protective equipment.

(CNN) Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, are set to appear together in Delaware for a second consecutive day for a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic. The two are set to receive a Thursday briefing from a panel of public health experts assembled by Biden's campaign. Biden has for months been receiving private briefings from a group of health experts who are advising his campaign on pandemic policies, as well as whether and how the former vice president can hold in-person events. That briefing will be followed by speeches from Biden and Harris, who was offered and accepted the Democratic vice presidential nod on Tuesday and campaigned in person with Biden for the first time on Wednesday in Wilmington. Biden and Harris both used speeches Wednesday to hammer President Donald Trump over his handling of the pandemic.

"While ICE respects the rights of people to voice their opinion peacefully, that does not include illegally interfering with their federal law enforcement duties. Krantz later went to the protest scene and used the bullhorn to warn the crowd, "My information is there will be federal agents coming here. Bend Mayor Sally Russell said in a tweet she was told both men detained by the ICE officers "have warants out for their arrest. ICE seeks straightforward cooperation with state and local law enforcement and has never requested them to enforce federal immigration law. "Due to law enforcement sensitivities and officer safety, ICE does not discuss planned operations.”

Washington (CNN) Vice President Mike Pence made a Wednesday claim about job creation that was both wildly dishonest in its general premise and inaccurate in its specific numbers. Appearing Wednesday night on Sean Hannity's show on Fox News, Pence said, "We've already created more jobs in the last three months than Joe Biden and Barack Obama created in their eight years in office." Facts First: Pence's "last three months" time frame is absurd: he is boasting about the addition of about 9.3 million jobs in May, June and July right after a loss of about 22.2 million jobs in March and April; the economy is still down nearly 13 million jobs because of the coronavirus crisis. (Also, many of the added jobs were people returning to their previous jobs after temporary layoffs.) And even if you accept Pence's dishonest premise, it's not true that these last three months saw more jobs added than were added in the eight years of the Obama administration.

While Asian Americans are far from monolithic and are comprised of many different ethnicities, they have supported Democrats overall in recent decades. In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton won AAPI voters over Republican Donald Trump by a 2-to-1 margin, according to a Reuters/Ipsos Election Day poll. Indian Americans represent the largest Asian-American group in each of those states. Historically, Republicans and Democrats have put little effort toward reaching Asian-American voters. The Biden campaign is hosting numerous AAPI events, including the launch of the Wisconsin AAPIs for Biden effort on Thursday and an Indian independence event on Saturday.

The resolution is the foundation for many peace initiatives but its imprecise phrasing - is the reference to all territories or just some? 1979 - Israeli-Egyptian peace treatyThe first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country sets out plans for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Sinai within three years. 2002-2003 - Bush Declaration/Arab peace initiative/Road MapGeorge W. Bush becomes the first U.S. president to call for the creation of a Palestinian state, living side-by-side with Israel “in peace and security”. 2009 - Netanyahu’s Bar-Ilan addressPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he would be prepared for a peace deal that includes the establishment of a demilitarised Palestinian state. 2019Netanyahu says he intends to annex West Bank settlements, and much of the Jordan Valley if elected.

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters would incur a “high price” and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting of his ruling AK Party in Ankara, Turkey, August 13, 2020. Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean have risen sharply this week after Turkey sent a survey vessel to the region, escorted by warships, in a move Greece decried as illegal. EU foreign ministers, who have already imposed sanctions on two Turkish energy executives over Turkey’s operations in the eastern Mediterranean, will discuss the situation on Friday. “The path to a solution in the eastern Mediterranean is via dialogue and negotiation,” Erdogan said earlier on Thursday.

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters would incur a “high price” and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning. FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan talks to media after attending Friday prayers at Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey August 7, 2020. REUTERS/Murad SezerTensions in the eastern Mediterranean have risen sharply this week after Turkey sent a survey vessel to the region, escorted by warships, in a move Greece decried as illegal. “We said that if you attack our Oruc Reis you will pay a high price, and they got their first answer today,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara without giving details. “The path to a solution in the eastern Mediterranean is via dialogue and negotiation,” Erdogan said earlier on Thursday.

Bavarian state premier Markus Söder | Pool photo by Nicolas Armer/AFP via Getty Images Bavarian leader Söder under fire over coronavirus test delays Some 900 travelers returning to Germany were unaware they had tested positive. MUNICH — Bavarian state premier Markus Söder apologized Thursday for authorities' failure to deliver the results of tens of thousands of coronavirus tests for travelers returning to Germany, 900 of which were positive. Critics noted that the lack of timely test results meant that people with the coronavirus may have passed it onto many others in the meantime. Söder tweeted about the testing failures on Wednesday and canceled a trip to the North Sea coast scheduled for the weekend. Responding to demands to sack his health minister, Söder said Huml had offered her resignation twice but he refused to accept it, citing her experience and psychological strength.

POLITICO Playbook PM: Israel and the UAE align, and more on Covid negotiations Presented byThere is a hope within the Trump administration that this is the beginning of Arab nations aligning themselves with Israel over the Palestinians, who, in the administration's view, have turned down good deal after good deal. “The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. But as a longtime UAE resident, I assure you this was a longtime coming and UAE has been largely tolerant of Israel. OH MY … ‘VOTING RIGHTS’ IS A LIBERAL WISH? So much of the Democratic asks are really liberal left wish lists … voting rights and aid to aliens and so forth.

Steve Elmendorf, a well-known lobbyist who hosted a DNC fundraiser last week with other Democratic lobbyists at his firm, said that since the Biden campaign won’t take lobbyists’ checks, he has turned to giving to the DNC and state parties as the way for lobbyists to contribute to the campaign against President Donald Trump. Biden has said he would implement rules to reduce the “improper influence” of lobbyists if elected, building on the Obama administration’s ethics policies. Biden's campaign has responded to criticism by rejecting the idea that his donors influence his decision-making. With the Biden campaign unwilling to take their checks, giving to the DNC is viewed by some Democratic lobbyists as the next best option. Democratic lobbyists, meanwhile, are eager to attend the events.

A Virginia mayor is facing calls for his resignation over a Facebook post in which he said that Joe Biden "just announced Aunt Jemima" as his running mate. Luray Mayor Barry Presgraves posted the comment last weekend on his Facebook page. Luray is about 90 miles west of Washington, D.C.Biden named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate on Tuesday. Barry Presgraves, mayor of Luray, Va., Town of Luray"I want to make this very clear to everyone with absolutely no qualifications," Presgraves said. Veney told Presgraves she was not there to tear him down or speak ill of him but that she had to stand for what is right.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday declined to block a lower court ruling that makes it easier to vote by mail in Rhode Island, allowing that ruling to remain in effect. Thursday's action keeps a Rhode Island law on hold that said absentee ballots must be signed by two witnesses or a notary public, as well as by the voter. The Supreme Court has now kept that agreement, known as a consent decree, intact. Gorbea urged the Supreme Court to keep the witness requirement on hold, given that many in the state want to maintain social distancing. Steven Brown of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island praised the court’s action.

President Donald Trump will not support a coronavirus relief deal that includes "voting rights" provisions backed by Democrats, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Thursday. It was soon after that the top economics voice in the White House characterized voting rights -- a cornerstone of any healthy democracy -- as something found on "really liberal, left wish lists." I can only hope Kudlow wasn't condemning voting rights in general, and was instead arguing that the White House wouldn't tolerate provisions related to voting rights in an economic aid package. * Why does Team Trump consider voting rights a priority limited to "liberals" and the "left"? Instead, White House officials, including the president, are being quite candid in their position: they want to make it harder for Americans to vote.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s labor commissioner says the state is ready to rapidly ramp up its unemployment system again in case the pandemic surges and the economy must shutter once again. “We are ready,” state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said during a Thursday legislative hearing. Over a third of the state’s unemployment claims came from workers in particularly hard-hit industries: retail, accommodation and food services, and health care and social assistance. A supplemental federal unemployment weekly benefit of $600 expired Aug 1. Reardon said federal funding covers about three-fourths of the unemployment assistance provided this year, and that New York is borrowing $5 billion interest-free from the federal government to pay out unemployment benefits.

Flag-draped coffins of troops from sunken tank sent to DoverIn this photo provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marines and sailors carry a casket inside a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (Lance Cpl. Marine Corps via AP)In this photo provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marines and sailors carry a casket inside a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (Lance Cpl. The caskets will be handed over to their families for final arrangements, the Marine Corps said in a press release.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters’ absentee ballot applications. At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in, including their names, dates of birth and voting pin numbers. She called the lawsuits part of a national GOP campaign seeking to restrict access to absentee ballots. About 40,000 requests for absentee ballots, which will be mailed to voters beginning Oct. 5, have already been received, he said. Those who cast absentee ballots overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton while Trump narrowly won Linn County among Election Day voters.

A Court Case In Spain Raises Hope For Justice For Priests Killed In El SalvadorEnlarge this image toggle caption Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty ImagesIt is remembered as one of the great atrocities of El Salvador's 12-year civil war. She documented the case in her 1993 book Death Foretold: The Jesuit Murders in El Salvador. "This is a wound in El Salvador that has never properly healed and it won't until the full truth is known." News of the trial was closely followed in Spain and El Salvador, but Doggett maintains it is also important for a U.S. audience. International outrage and a congressional investigation led the U.S. government to pull its support for El Salvador's military regime.

TEL AVIV—Israel and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday forged a formal diplomatic relationship, after Israel agreed to suspend a plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank in a dramatic U.S.-backed shift that signaled Israel’s warming ties with Gulf Arab states. “The historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region,” said a joint statement from Israel, the U.S. and the U.A.E that praised “the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential...

The contest between President Trump and the full Democratic ticket has quickly turned personal as the president continued with a third day of name-calling to attack Joe Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris. In an interview on Fox Business on Thursday morning, Mr. Trump criticized Ms. Harris over her 2018 grilling of now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his Senate confirmation hearings.

WASHINGTON—President Trump said his efforts to block new funding for the U.S. Postal Service in coronavirus-aid talks, if successful, would also hamper efforts to expand mail-in balloting this fall, sparking charges from Democrats that Mr. Trump was trying to undercut voters. The president, who has said he believed mail-in voting benefits Democrats, criticized their efforts to expand voting by mail and provide more funds for the Postal Service in the next round of stimulus legislation.

U.S. users of Facebook Inc. who post about voting may soon start seeing fact-checking notes added to their messages about the presidential election on Nov. 3. The addendum will link to a new voter information hub similar to one about COVID-19 that Facebook says has been seen by billions of people globally. “Facebook must do more to combat the weaponization of voting and election disinformation and misinformation on its platform. Twitter Inc. TWTR, +0.64% has said it would roll out tools, policies and partnerships to help users register and prepare to vote by mail, and find local early-voting options. In January, the company created a feature that lets users report voter suppression and misinformation.

U.S. users of Facebook Inc. who post about voting may soon start seeing fact-checking notes added to their messages about the presidential election on Nov. 3. The addendum will link to a new voter information hub similar to one about COVID-19 that Facebook says has been seen by billions of people globally. “Facebook must do more to combat the weaponization of voting and election disinformation and misinformation on its platform. Twitter Inc. TWTR, +0.65% has said it would roll out tools, policies and partnerships to help users register and prepare to vote by mail, and find local early-voting options. In January, the company created a feature that lets users report voter suppression and misinformation.

They want $3.5 billion for the mail-in votes, OK. Universal mail-in ballots. Postal Service and mail-in voting. “You’ve seen how bad it’s been with this Carolyn Maloney scam,’” Trump also said, referring to a Democratic primary election in New York between Maloney, a veteran Democratic congresswoman, and her challenger, Suraj Patel. Trump alleged that she “probably lost, but they said, ‘Mail-in ballots — it’s all mixed up.’” Election officials in New York last week declared Maloney the winner. Trump has spent months bashing mail-in voting, though he did change his tune on the topic this month when it comes to the swing state of Florida.

U.S. users of Facebook Inc. who post about voting may soon start seeing fact-checking notes added to their messages about the presidential election on Nov. 3. The addendum will link to a new voter information hub similar to one about COVID-19 that Facebook says has been seen by billions of people globally. “Facebook must do more to combat the weaponization of voting and election disinformation and misinformation on its platform. Twitter Inc. TWTR, +0.65% has said it would roll out tools, policies and partnerships to help users register and prepare to vote by mail, and find local early-voting options. In January, the company created a feature that lets users report voter suppression and misinformation.

The Lincoln Project, a conservative-led political action committee aimed at driving down Republican support for President Trump, has generated buzz in recent months with its slick attack ads. Voters in those states will see eight different commercials that the Lincoln Project made. Mike Madrid of the Lincoln Project (Facebook)“We call it realtime focus grouping because we get analytics back every day on how the ads perform with different voter segments. Along with these targeted messages Lincoln Project’s digital blitz also includes commercials designed to appeal to the broader Republican audience. “They don’t know how to win, and their so-called Lincoln Project is a disgrace to Honest Abe,” Trump said.

Presumptive democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden Jr. selected Senator Kamala Harris of California as his vice-presidential running mate. In the 24 hours following Biden's pick, the Biden-Harris campaign raised a whopping $26 million. However, in July, the Trump campaign did raise more than the Biden campaign -- $165 million to Biden's $140 million. But the Biden campaign ended July with nearly as much money as the Trump campaign, with a less than $6 million difference in total purse sizes. What does Kamala Harris mean for investors?

President Trump said Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also falsely stated that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and made the unfounded claim that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. “They want $25 billion — billion — for the post office,” he said, adding that, without it, the postal service won’t be equipped to handle the influx of mail-in ballots. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the postal service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill.

As a result, the end of my life could involve great suffering. It’s why I have supported the bipartisan Massachusetts End of Life Options Act since it was originally introduced, in 2011 . It would give me the option to peacefully end my suffering if it becomes intolerable as I near death. AdvertisementThe coronavirus pandemic has tragically highlighted the fragility of life and the importance of a compassionate death. Most Massachusetts voters agree.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made those traditions impossible — and the conventions will almost surely be better for it. Ever since 1948, when convention proceedings were first broadcast on television, the quadrennial events have slowly morphed from authentic political gatherings into slickly produced infomercials. The old-style conventions weren't particularly good TV; they were live pageants adapted for the small screen, often awkwardly. Instead of lame infomercials pretending to be conventions, they will openly and proudly be giant infomercials, a quintessentially American art form. "They're being designed to serve the viewers, not the delegates," Chuck Todd, the political director of NBC News, told me.

NEW ORLEANS — A federal appeals court in New Orleans upheld the constitutionality of the all-male military draft system Thursday, citing a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court decision. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans said "only the Supreme Court may revise its precedent." Thursday's unanimous ruling from the three-judge panel acknowledged that "the factual underpinning of the controlling Supreme Court decision has changed. Plaintiffs in the case could seek a rehearing before the full 17-judge appeals court or go to the Supreme Court. The 2019 district court decision declaring the male-only draft unconstitutional had been appealed by the Selective Service System, the federal agency that administers the draft.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — President Donald Trump's reelection campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters' absentee ballot applications. At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in, including their names, dates of birth and voting pin numbers. She called the lawsuits part of a national GOP campaign seeking to restrict access to absentee ballots. About 40,000 requests for absentee ballots, which will be mailed to voters beginning Oct. 5, have already been received, he said. Those who cast absentee ballots overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton while Trump narrowly won Linn County among Election Day voters.

The search for Massey spanned Wisconsin, northern Illinois and Indiana, Gonzalez said. He said there were other people in the Gary home where Massey was arrested, but could not confirm whether any of those other people were arrested.

By DEB RIECHMANN and ANTHONY IZAGUIRREWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year. Postal Service to hinder Americans from voting.

Kevin McGillAssociated PressNew Orleans — A federal appeals court in New Orleans upheld the constitutionality of the all-male military draft system Thursday, citing a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court decision. Thursday's unanimous ruling from the three-judge panel acknowledged that “the factual underpinning of the controlling Supreme Court decision has changed. However, the judges noted, “that does not grant a court of appeals license to disregard or overrule that precedent.”Plaintiffs in the case could seek a rehearing before the full 17-judge appeals court or go to the Supreme Court. Earlier this year — after the arguments before the 5th Circuit — a federal commission recommended including women in the military draft system. The 2019 district court decision declaring the male-only draft unconstitutional had been appealed by the Selective Service System, the federal agency that administers the draft.

Jon Gambrell, Matthew Lee and Josef FedermanAssociated PressDubai, United Arab Emirates – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the announcement that full diplomatic ties will be established with the United Arab Emirates has ushered in a “new era” in Israel’s relations with the Arab world. The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. Mauritania recognized Israel in 1999, but later ended relations in 2009 over the Israel’s war in Gaza at the time. Still, by dropping the annexation plan Netanyahu may be hedging his bets ahead of a possible change in the White House.

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted Thursday that businesses in Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy seamless access to the rest of the U.K. after a Brexit transition period with the European Union expires at the end of the year. “There will be no border down the Irish Sea — over my dead body," he said on a visit to Northern Ireland, where he met the new Irish prime minister, Micheal Martin. Following the U.K.'s departure from the EU at the end of January, the country is in a transition period with the bloc during which it remains part of its economic arrangements, including the tariff-free single market and customs union. Though discussions about the future economic relationship are still taking place, Northern Ireland has a special status in the talks — deal or no deal.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump's reelection campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters' absentee ballot applications. The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other GOP groups filed the lawsuits Tuesday against elections officials in Linn and Johnson counties. At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in, including their names, dates of birth and voting pin numbers. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, last month told auditors in an emergency election directive that request forms mailed to voters must be blank in order “to ensure uniformity." But his office has not taken any action to block the county mailings.

NEW YORK (AP) — For all the secrecy and speculation that typically surrounds the search for a vice presidential candidate, the decision rarely sways an election. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who served as Hillary Clinton's vice presidential nominee in 2016, said Biden's decision "may be the most closely held and personally driven vice presidential pick ever." While he promised months ago to pick a woman, the nation's reckoning with systemic racism has added pressure to pick a Black woman. Within the party, there is some tension about how soon before the Democratic National Convention Biden should unveil his decision. But Biden allies hope the historic nature of his pick might help energize two key Democratic constituencies: women and people of color.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Tuesday became the first country to clear a coronavirus vaccine and declare it ready for use, despite international skepticism. Putin emphasized that the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and has proven efficient, offering a lasting immunity from the coronavirus. Speaking at a government meeting Tuesday, Putin said that the vaccine has undergone proper testing and is safe. Professor Alexander Gintsburg, head of the Gamaleya Institute that developed the vaccine, said that vaccination will start while the Phase 3 trials continue. When the pandemic struck Russia, Putin ordered state officials to shorten the time of clinical trials for potential coronavirus vaccines.

The women's groups say their efforts are informed by the sexism Hillary Clinton faced from Donald Trump, some of his supporters and the media during the 2016 campaign. While the groups have primarily been led by Democrats, their efforts are backed by nonpartisan groups and some Republicans. The attacks, which include false smears and threats of violence online, not only hurt campaigns but dissuade women from seeking office. That has invited not only sexist but racist commentary and misinformation around her candidacy. In reality, she said, "I do not believe you're a racist" before criticizing his past opposition to policies around school desegregation.

Polls show GOP voters think the government is already doing enough. Republicans on Capitol Hill are divided over the best approach. Get caught up on the latest virus developments.

That means every DNR employee must wear a mask while in a DNR facility, noted Cole, an appointee of the Democratic governor. “Set the safety example which shows you as a DNR public service employee care about the safety and health of others.”The governor’s mask order requires people to wear masks when they are indoors — other than in private residences. But the DNR’s position that employees should wear them for teleconferences is ridiculous, he said. “My caucus hasn’t shifted on its position.”UW Health’s Safdar said she was frustrated by the politicization of mask wearing. “There really is no risk to mask wearing, so I think it would be very disappointing to say the least if this were to happen,” she said.

And they announced several events and demonstrations that will continue protests in the city — including a "large demonstration" on Aug. 25. "We're here because we believe that our city, the mayor and others have acted as obstructionists," local pastor Timothy Findley said at the conference. We are thankful for Until Freedom, and we will not stop this fight until we see justice." On Aug. 25, the group will conduct a "large action" meant to draw people back into the protests, which have fluctuated in recent weeks. Cannon, dressed in a hoodie that helped him blend into the crowd, said he came to Louisville to support local protesters.

In other words, if you have a sweet tooth and are of a right-wing persuasion, you might feel that Ben & Jerry's is not the ice-cream brand for you. So has Ben & Jerry’s overstepped the mark in this week's criticism of Priti Patel? “Consumers, especially Gen Z and Millennials, are really savvy," says Hayley Smith, director at Boxed Out PR which focuses on helping inject social values into branding. But in the case of Ben & Jerry's, where campaigning on social issues has always been a central part of the brand, Smith thinks consumers see their stance as genuine. "When it’s so integrated into their branding already, as with Ben & Jerry’s, and they can back it up as evidential, I don’t think they have anything to worry about.”

Jordan was the last Arab nation to accept ties with Israel, back in 1994. And before that, only Egypt made a peace deal with Israel - in 1979. For the UAE, the deal allows them to make a splash on the international stage amid an increasingly fraught situation in the Middle East. Allied to the US, there appears little doubt that allowing Trump to announce the deal will strengthen ties there. Beyond this new agreement, there have been Israeli efforts in recent years to thaw ties with the UAE.

Mr Emhoff, 55, appeared ready to take on this historical moment, as he tweeted out a picture following the event of his wife and the former vice president. Another move when Mr Emhoff was a teenager then landed the family in Los Angeles, California. Prior to meeting Ms Harris, the lawyer married his first wife, with whom he had two children with: Cole and Ella. It didn’t dawn on Mr Emhoff at the beginning of his relationship with Ms Harris that he could become immersed in the national political sphere. When Ms Harris ran in the presidential race, he would often share pictures of himself wearing the campaign gear.

Speaking at the event in Wilmington, Delaware, Ms Harris told the crowd that family means a lot to her. Her husband, Douglas Emhoff, joined her on stage and they shared a kiss. Many of Ms Harris's supporters will be familiar with Mr Emhoff - he was one of his wife's most enthusiastic cheerleaders during her run for the presidency. After Joe Biden announced she was his running mate, Mr Emhoff tweeted his excitement. Mr Emhoff is a partner at global law firm DLA Piper, specialising in entertainment litigation and intellectual property, and splits his time between Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Michael Cohen previewed the cover of his upcoming book 'Disloyal' on ThursdayMichael Cohen previewed the cover image and title of his upcoming book 'Disloyal' on Thursday after the courts ruled against Attorney General Bill Barr's attempt to stop him from publishing the tell-all. 'Coming Soon,' Cohen teased on Twitter along with an image of the cover of his memoir revealing the title, 'Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump'. 'Favorable ruling yesterday by the Court as I am close to completion of my book…' Cohen wrote of Trump's niece Mary Trump being able to publish her critical book about her uncle. The tweet of him touting his new book Thursday is the first time he has posted since being released from prison. Cohen intentionally revealed that the book would be coming out ahead of the November elections.

A judicial official said Wednesday that the prosecution would question several ministers and former ministers over the disaster. World leaders, international organisations and a seething Lebanese public have pressed for an international probe, but President Michel Aoun has said that calls for such an investigation are a "waste of time." Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said last week that French citizens were injured in the blast and prosecutors had opened a probe into "negligent injury" using their jurisdiction to investigate acts committed abroad. Many want heads to roll over the tragedy they see as shocking proof of the rot at the core of their political system. He is expected to meet with Lebanese officials and civil society representatives on Friday.

Advertising Read moreWashington (AFP)The United States is suspending private charter flights to Cuba as another way to starve the government in Havana of revenue, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday. Pompeo slammed the communist regime in Cuba for continuing to jail reporters and pro-democracy activists, suppress dissent, oversee "horrific" physical abuse and prop up President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, among other offenses. "The suspension of private charter flights will deny economic resources to the Castro regime and inhibit its capacity to carry out abuses," Pompeo said in a statement. "This administration will continue to target and cut the revenue the Cuban government earns from landing fees, stays in regime-owned hotels, and other travel-related income," Pompeo added.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa attend a joint press conference after their meeting.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday said his team was rejecting Democrats’ bid to include funds for the U.S. Postal Service and to shore up election infrastructure in a new coronavirus relief bill, as he vowed to block money to facilitate mail-in voting. Congressional Democrats accused Trump of trying to damage the struggling Postal Service in an effort to improve his chances of being re-elected in November. “The items are the post office and the $3.5 billion for mail-in voting,” Trump told Fox Business Network, saying Democrats want to give the post office $25 billion. DeJoy said last Friday that the Postal Service’s approach to election mail has not changed.

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a Republican bid to tighten rules on mail-in voting that had been eased as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Republican National Committee and the Rhode Island Republican Party challenged the relaxed rules, saying in court papers that they could increase the likelihood of fraudulent voting. After a federal appeals court refused to block the new rules, the GOP took the case to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court rejected that argument, saying that in the Rhode Island case, unlike the Alabama case "and other similar cases where a State defends its own law, here the state election officials support the challenged decree, and no state official has expressed opposition." "The status quo is one in which the challenged requirement has not been in effect, given the rules used in Rhode Island's last election, and many Rhode Island voters may well hold that belief," the court added.

A South Carolina Democrat has flipped a state House seat in a special election, stirring excitement in the party as the November general election approaches. Spencer Wetmore handily defeated Republican candidate Josh Stokes by 20 points in Tuesday's election, according to The State. The seat was long held by Republicans and became a target for Democrats after former state Rep. Peter McCoy resigned earlier this year to become South Carolina’s U.S. attorney. With Wetmore's win, Democrats now have 45 seats in South Carolina's 124-person lower chamber. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has the state's Senate race rated as “likely” Republican.

The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was “a truly historic moment.”“Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates,” he said. While Thursday’s deal halts Israeli annexation plans, the Palestinians have repeatedly urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached. A joint statement from the U.S., the UAE and Israel was issued immediately after Trump’s tweet. Still, by dropping the annexation plan Netanyahu may be hedging his bets ahead of a possible change in the White House.

Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis on Thursday shared a Newsweek op-ed that baselessly claims Sen. Kamala Harris may be ineligible for the vice presidency because both of her parents were not naturalized citizens at her birth. Why it matters: Harris was born in Oakland, Calif. She is an American citizen and is eligible for the office. Eastman's view on birthright citizenship and presidential eligibility is not accepted by constitutional law scholars. President Trump, then campaigning against Cruz, was one of the first to push the idea of his ineligibility. Republican pollster Frank Luntz simply reiterated that Harris was born in Oakland.

Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates," Trump wrote on Twitter. A signing ceremony including delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will be held at the White House in the coming weeks, Trump added. "After 49 years, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalise their diplomatic relations. A joint statement issued by the three nations said the three leaders had "agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates". Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates' lead .... and normalise relations with Israel."

Unclassified minutes of a secret Israeli cabinet meeting held 51 years ago reveal that Israel planned a massive transfer of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the tiny Latin American country of Paraguay. Notorious SS doctor Josef Mengele was among the Third Reich élite that fled to Paraguay after World War II. ”It is unclear how many Palestinians emigrated to Paraguay within the short-lived plan’s framework. Israel had evaded the issue of Palestinian refugees displaced by its 1948 war of independence. So for Golda, this plan was just another in a long line of similar schemes.”Little is known of other initiatives to transfer Palestinians, but the Paraguay plan was singularly concrete and ambitious.

Congressman Neal should apologize to Alex Morse, and fire any staff who had contact with the homophobic schemer. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (@CDRosa) August 13, 2020 Richard Neal should make a clear, strong statement, denouncing the tactics described here. Leaders of the College Democrats group went beyond merely plans to leak. Ultimately, the College Democrats did not release any chats or any other specific claims against Morse, opting instead to level broader charges that he behaved inappropriately. "After Ennis concluded the chats with Abramson would sink Morse's campaign, the conversation between Morse and Abramson continued for another several weeks," The Intercept reported.

Bill Lee that cracks down on racial justice protesters by making it a felony to camp overnight on state property. As Nashville Public Radio reported:Camping on state property without authorization has been made a crime since the Occupy Wall Street movement nearly a decade ago. But House lawmakers insisted on making camping on public property a Class E felony, with up to six years in prison. — Jeff Yarbro (@yarbro) August 12, 2020 Well, camping on state property will now lead to felony punished by range of 1 to 6 years in prison and up to a $3,000 fine. — Jeff Yarbro (@yarbro) August 12, 2020 Pretty disturbing thread of criminal offenses that are now less severely punished than a citizen camping on state property.

While progressive critics denounced the Democratic National Committee's decision to give Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just 60 seconds for a speech at the party's national convention next week, the congresswoman took to social media to indicate she plans on making that one minute count. Sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, I did not choose it,But I know that I must use it. Due to Covid-19, the party will livestream the event, and many speakers, including AOC and Biden, will pre-record their remarks. So the DNC is giving AOC a TikTok minute while Republican John Kasich gets a whole speaking slot to talk about Monday's theme, "We the People."

Some of Trump's very fine people in Charlottesville. So, too, is the sad old racist in the White House, who afterwards famously crowed there were "very fine people on both sides," and who since then has gradually upgradedhis venomous dog whistle to a scream. At this point, some argue Trump really should go with it, and just wear his white hood at public appearances. In truth, argue two new killer anti-Trump ads, "Nothing has changed" - he is and always was a racist loser. At their campaign debut, Harris and Biden entered to Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," and slayed it.

Seventy-five years later, I hear the words of hibakushas and feel my soul plunge into emptiness. Apparently no hibakusha, or someone who shares their understanding, has ever been the leader of a nuclear power. The essential paradox of disarmament is that nuclear power, and thus nuclear bombs, having been invented, will never go away. Without disarmament at that scale, nuclear disarmament will never be a certainty, even if the world dismantles existing nuclear weapons. What I’m saying is that nuclear disarmament does not mean humanity somehow forgetting—mysteriously no longer knowing—how to rebuild its nukes.

"I believe that moving away from a profit-based healthcare system is the moral issue of our time. Khanna told Common Dreams that he is "inspired by the delegates who are voting no," calling them "the force and energy behind our party." "Covid-19 makes Medicare for All an urgent moral imperative," Khanna told Common Dreams. Medicare for All was part of the Democratic platform until 1980. "I want my party, the Democratic Party, to address this moral problem with clarity of moral purpose," Khanna concludes.

"I will be voting 'No' on the platform because when we say that healthcare is a human right, we must truly mean it—and fight for it." Yet history teaches us that the Democratic Party has sometimes faced an issue so great that it alone should be the yardstick for measuring the wisdom of voting for or against the platform. In 1948, there was going to be a split in the Democratic Party regardless of the national convention's vote on civil rights. Harry Truman ran and won on universal healthcare in 1948, and it was part of Democratic Party platforms until 1980. I will cast a "No" vote because, in the words of our great Democratic National Committee member from Iowa, Jodi Clemens, "Our friends are dying"—and I want my party, the Democratic Party, to address this moral problem with clarity of moral purpose.

Postal Service with the express purpose of stopping an expansion of mail-in ballot access ahead of the November elections. "That means they can't have universal mail-in voting, they just can't have it." Listen to Trump's comments:Trump this morning why he won’t fund US Postal Service. "Congress must provide the Postal Service the financial resources needed to ensure a smooth process of mail-in ballots for the November election." "We call on Majority Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans to make the right move," said Morgan.

Kamala Harris is the Vice-Presidential pick and Joe Biden is leading in the polls by a bunch. Politics Done Right Live weekdays @ 3:00 PM CentralVideo Zoom: LINK — Live Calls: (346)248-7799 ID:254 0 9091According to FiveThirtyEight Joe Biden has a substantial advantage. Donald Trump may be using the post office as one of the tools to try to steal the election. Pelosi goes on the media and sets the agenda by first using the airwaves before answering the specific question. Podcasts: Stitcher | iTunes, Tune-In | iHeartRadio | Player.fm | SpotifyLive Video: Facebook Live | Youtube Live | Periscope | TwitchMy new book "It's Worth It: How to Talk To Your Right-Wing Relatives, Friends, and Neighbors" is live.

Out of the four "executive orders" Trump gave, only one was actually an order and not just a memorandum. So it doesn't put a moratorium on evictions at all, and it was also the one thing clearly within Trump’s power to do; he could have extended the moratorium that expired on July 31. He didn't do anything to prevent evictions of people in housing funded by federally backed mortgages or who use Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing vouchers from starting up again. That's despite the fact that 30 to 40 million households are now at risk of being evicted. Voter suppression is the main game at this point, and they'll go at it from every angle possible, from a repeat of the 2016 Russia troll assistance to crippling the U.S.

TODAY IN CONGRESS (TIC) :Your One Stop Shop For Learning What Our Congress Critters Are Up To! So Congress is basically twidelling it’s thumbs while COVID Relief Bill negotiations go on behind the scenes (or not). Senate —11:00 am — Senate Session (The Senate returns for morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. Post Jan 30 CLICK HERE. Post Jan 30 CLICK HERE.

Thanks to the media circus unleashed by ruthless, ambitious, nasty, uppity (of course) San Francisco Demon Rat socialist Kamala Harris, Tuesday's state primary races slid under the radar. Maine's mealy-mouthed senator Susan Collins has never had to lift a finger to fight for reelection until now…and it shows. […] While 49 percent of voters said Collins was too tied to extreme elements of her party, only 30 percent thought the same of Gideon. CHEERS to America's favorite safety net. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!

Photo credit: Chris O'Meara/Associated PressThis series lists prominent Republicans or former senior staffers now openly dissing the Donald. ‘Are you for Donald Trump, or are you for America’?” [5 July 2020]63. Brett McGurk, Trump’s former special envoy on ISIS:“Donald Trump is not a commander-in-chief. Michael Bloomberg, former Republican mayor of New York:"Behind your back they [mutual acquaintances in New York] laugh at you & call you [Trump] a carnival barking clown. But that is very hard for President Trump and could be his Achilles' heel.” [23 February 2019]67.

Never mind that many other Jews are (I admit I am) strident defenders of Israel, but tRump is *not*. These fundies hate us Jews, I am sure, but they want us alive and in Israel so their myths can come true. tRump just changed his tune on his plan for Israel and the Iran deal. This time the support for tRump seems to come down to the sanctions deal with Iran. But…x Trump at a fundraiser with Israel supporters.

Their Responses to 10 Common Criticisms of Anti-Racism Action in STEM provides the references to “scholarly literature” to which academics are accustomed, addressing some of the frequent arguments they’ve heard in opposition to anti-racism efforts in academia. It starts (#1) with the most simple and straightforward opposition to efforts to diversify STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) by providing the evidence of racism that some still deny exists. Many of the responses will sound very familiar to seasoned climate change experts, for example the charge to “stick to the science” and not “politicize” STEM (#2). Much of the latter half of the report could apply to the lack of diversity in green groups just as easily as it does the lack of diversity in academia. Number 9 addresses whataboutist claims that addressing anti-Black racism in STEM discriminates or marginalizes efforts to combat ablesim, sexism, or discrimination against other communities of color.

Virtually all of the Supreme Court law clerks come to the Court via lower court “feeder” judges, discussed in the article. Ideological alignment of feeder judges with Supreme Court Justices is usually a very important factor in the selection process. Conservative Justices have normally and uniformly drawn more law clerks from conservative feeder judges and liberal Justices have likewise drawn from liberal feeder judges. Now, do I think that Chief Justice Roberts is becoming a “moderate Democrat”? But, is he still the same very conservative John Roberts as when he started as Chief Justice back in 2005.

x ActBlue, the leading site to process online donations to Democratic candidates, processed about $30 million in the first 24 hours after Kamala Harris was named to the Democratic ticket. https://t.co/iddTzP6Ks0 — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 12, 2020The Team Joe Store has been very very busy, too! x Since the Kamala Harris pick, the Biden campaign has sold $1.2 million in yard signshttps://t.co/0Q1C2GLaQG — Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) August 13, 2020Truth matters! (Button available at the Team Joe Store!) (Button available at the Team Joe Store!)

He pointed out that mail-in voting works fine in Colorado and that the election will not, under any circumstances, be postponed. Here’s an op-ed Hickenlooper had in the Washington Post back in April:Mailing ballots has upsides beyond the obvious convenience. Here in Colorado, we've shown that vote by mail works. https://t.co/jhXCAM6m7Z — John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) August 13, 2020We need to get rid of Trump and his enablers like Gardner in the Senate. Click below to donate and get involved with Hickenlooper, Biden and their fellow Colorado Democrats campaigns:Joe BidenJohn HickenlooperDiane Mitsch Bush

Welcome to the Daily Kos Elections Live Digest, your liveblog of all of today's campaign news. Please note: The Live Digest is a 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primary-free space. It’s also a place to discuss elections, not policy. Sign up here to receive the Daily Kos Elections Morning Digest in your inbox each weekday.

Deadline information for an absentee ballot/vote by mail ballot, Arizona:Deadline for absentee ballot request is October 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Polls are open on Election Day: November 3, 2020 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.ColoradoRegister to vote information, here. To request an absentee ballot, voters should complete an absentee ballot application and return the absentee ballot application to their county registration office. Early VotingEarly Voting starts Octorber 12, 2020 Information is forthcoming Poll open Election Day: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.HawaiiRegister to vote information, here. Election Day (you must show proof of residence to register at the polls on Election Day).

As Trump continues to cripple the United States Postal Service in his endless attacks on our democracy, could there be a way to bypass the Post Office altogether? What if volunteers in each county were able to collect most of the mail in ballots for their area, and mail them together in one shipment using UPS United Parcel Service priority shipment? This would bypass the Post Office and at the same time Trump would not be able to sabotage it. I’m throwing this idea out there, not because I’m an expert in mail in voting or UPS but because I think it’s panic time, and all options need to be on the table. Please leave feedback or if you have better ideas we need to hear them now.

Born to an Indian mother and Jamaican father, Harris is a biracial Black and South Asian woman who represents the diversity of America. Donald Trump alone mispronounced Harris’ name at least twice during a press conference, and Fox News' Tucker Carlson became the prime example of individuals who intentionally perpetuate microaggressions of racism by refusing to correctly pronounce Harris’ name. Harris, should she be elected in November, will serve as the United States’ first Black vice president, first South Asian American vice president, and first female vice president. Yet some people think they have the authority to decide her identity for her, claiming that she wouldn't be the first “African American” vice president but the “first vice president of color.”“Give your daughters difficult names. My name doesn’t allow me to trust anyone that cannot pronounce it right.” — Warsan ShireJust like you don’t get to decide whether or not Harris is Black or South Asian enough, you don’t get to decide how to pronounce her name.

x YouTube Video U.S. Sen. David Perdue’s latest ad opens with a direct-to-camera assertion from the Republican: “Health insurance should always cover pre-existing conditions for anyone. Period.” It’s his latest attempt to play to the middle of the electorate in a tight race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. The raw numbers give Perdue an edge against his challenger, Democratic documentary filmmaker Jon Ossoff. But our poll shows Perdue ahead of Ossoff 44 to 41 percent – which is a statistical tie, within the poll’s margin of error of about 5 percent. Incumbents usually like their poll numbers to be above fifty percent," said Emory political scientist Dr. Andra Gillespie.

Donald Trump yesterday brazenly declared that the money needed for USPS and elections will not be approved. 5) Polls are tightening in key states — latest AZ poll has Mark Kelly only up 48-43 previous July poll by same outfit was 52-43. Emerson’s Minnesota poll has Biden up 3 vs the plus 13 from the Fox News poll. Please give me factual reasons about why I am wrong. I want to be wrong, I want to believe that this is not a banana republic, that the election will matter.

Not long ago, I wrote a comment in response to a Doom and Gloom Diary, featuring the Transition Integrity Project. I wroteThey probably can't rig the election, but they can claim that it was rigged, and try to foment violence. Biden Campaign Deploys 600 Lawyers So Trump Can’t ‘Steal This Election’ Protest demonstrations are on hair-trigger alert. The Union went to a lot of trouble to allow soldiers to vote, even pausing the military campaign in Georgia. But first they have to prevail in lower courts, which have a pretty good record of laughing utterly bogus Trumpish legal arguments out of court.

I’m not a lawyer, but it’s worth pointing out that 18 U.S. Code § 1703 says:(a) Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, unlawfully secretes, destroys, detains, delays, or opens any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail entrusted to him or which shall come into his possession, and which was intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried or delivered by any carrier or other employee of the Postal Service, or forwarded through or delivered from any post office or station thereof established by authority of the Postmaster General or the Postal Service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. In general, felonies are crimes with sentences of more than a year. So, are the Postmaster General, and the President able to be charged with this very specific crime?

Then, this morning, Trump said just straight up said that he wasn’t going to fund the postal service because he hates vote by mail. In Florida, the implementation of drop boxes was part of legal settlements over voter suppression. Republican lawmakers are doing their best to help out, too — Tennessee isn’t allowing drop boxes at all. On Tuesday, Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that Ohio will permit drop boxes… but only one per county. That means the entire city of Cleveland will have the same number of drop boxes as small rural counties.

"You have a few people that want to be cute, and those people are going to lose their elections," Trump reiterated. The Hill recalled that Trump stood at the podium the day following the midterms and gloated over all the House Republicans who lost their seats after not proving sufficiently loyal to him. Trump clearly didn't realize he was on the ballot that year and ultimately drove the House GOP's massive drubbing. Those House candidates didn't lose in spite of him, they lost because of him—something Trump failed to comprehend even if Senate Republicans got the memo. But if Trump thinks a few threats will stop Senate Republicans from being "cute," he'd better think again.

Yes, the first part of this Thursday pundit round-up is heavy on Kamala Harris stuff...but with a twist! The Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards write about the selection of their United States Senator, Kamala Harris, to be Joe Biden’s 2020 running mate. The tale of the incredible Indian living the American dream continues with Kamala Harris’ selection as the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential candidate. WASHINGTON: Indians and Indian-Americans weighed in on Kamala Harris, with vigorous discussions breaking out on various forums on the extent of her “Indianness” and whether she would make the transition from “Lotus to Potus,” the name Kamala meaning lotus, and Potus the acronym for President of the United States. "Dear Indian Media, I know this is hard but please avoid ‘Kamala Harris - Indian pride’ Template.

National and state Republican leaders wasted no time welcoming Greene to the fold following her victory. It soon became clear, though, that Greene would be an awful GOP nominee in a competitive seat like the 6th District. Primary Result Recaps? GA-09: Gun store owner Andrew Clyde won the Republican primary runoff by defeating state Rep. Matt Gurtler 56-44. ? Fulton County, GA District Attorney: Former judge Fani Willis defeated 24-year incumbent Paul Howard in a 73-27 landslide in Tuesday's Democratic primary runoff. David Zuckerman defeated former state Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe 51-40 in the Democratic primary to face Republican Gov.

Perfection in 30 words or less. x Let’s make a deal, Mr. President:You release your college transcript, I’ll release mine, and we’ll see who was the better student. https://t.co/OXnmJxufIw — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 13, 2020The orange shitgibbon has no clue as to who he should be messing with. AOC will not be intimidated by the twitler hitler at all. mr trump, Women Rule the World, especially yours!

Remember all those poems we recited together in 2nd grade? Jacobs tweeted: “One of my lowest days this summer, worried about my teaching future. x Wow....the Democratic Party is basically telling progressives to go elsewhere at this point. Bad strategy toward 40-45% of the party https://t.co/fWoOl90SMZ — Jordan (@JordanChariton) August 12, 2020"Someone please tell me this ain’t true. Please tell me that @AOC does not have a literal sixty seconds to deliver remarks at the @DNC Convention??

Yeah, her daddy was Black from Jamaica—that island in the Caribbean that was slavery central during the triangle trade. Or are you gonna whitenize the Caribbean that gave us Black power activist Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael), and Shirley Chisholm? Oh yeah, lest I forget, you hoteps better stop quoting Malcolm X too while you’re at it. Black folks come in all colors, from ecru to ebony. Going back to the birther crap: Folks really need to take Newsweek to task for printing this garbage.

The true nature of Florida’s coronavirus impact will not be known for a long time. Not because that is the nature of historic public and economic crisis like a pandemic, but because Gov. Ron DeSantis, alongside President Donald Trump, has spent most of his working life trying to figure out ways to pretend the coronavirus pandemic isn’t really that bad. Even more awful is that DeSantis and his administration have been actively trying to hide the true nature and human toll of the pandemic among their constituents. During his Wednesday evening live address to his constituents, DeSantis decided to create quite the telling analogy for the reopening of schools in the Sunshine State.

Hot on the heels of announcing Kamala Harris as his running mate, likely Democratic nominee Joe Biden has taken a six-point lead over President Trump in the latest Rasmussen Reports’ weekly White House Watch survey. Just one of the five nights in the latest survey follows the Harris announcement. White House Watch will be posted at noon Eastern every Wednesday until Labor Day. The survey of 2,500 Likely Voters was conducted August 5-6 and 9-11, 2020 by Rasmussen Reports. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.

All too often we say something that we do not really mean, or we make an exaggerated statement or a claim. Business firms want to make as much profit as possible, consumers want to buy more of everything, and investors wish to achieve maximum return on their investments. Therefore, they resort to all sorts of gambits to muster as many supportive friends, fans, and "likes" as possible. Similar to a risk-aversion strategy for financial investors, rejection aversion becomes an effective strategy for publicity-seeking people and eventually, a way of life. Rejection aversion strategies have a way of backfiring by igniting the very rejection we are trying so hard to avoid.

"I have held off using the f-word for three and a half years, but there is no longer any honest alternative. Trump is a fascist, and he is promoting fascism in America." Sooner or later we will need to discover more about what Peter Dale Scott has called, "The Deep State." Eco summarizes the qualities of what he calls 'Ur-Fascism', or 'Eternal Fascism' as typified by 14 features:1. "The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders.

Flaskey's push to prevent Diamond timeshare owners from seeking third-party assistance when exiting a Diamond timeshare is both self-serving and dangerous for consumers. During my 15-plus-year tenure in the timeshare-exit industry, I have been an advocate of consumer education and industry reform. The timeshare-exit industry has very little regulation and oversight, so that timeshare owners don't know whom to trust. Additionally, I estimate that the timeshare-exit industry generates about $500-$800 million, making it more than the "cottage industry" Flaskey claims it to be. This program is subject to change or termination without notice and in the sole discretion of Diamond Resorts."

This piece was reprinted by OpEdNews with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. Hong Kong leader, Carrie Lam declared that the September 6 elections in SAR would be postponed by one year. Right away, she offered a rational explanation:"We have 3 million voters going out in one day across Hong Kong, such flow of people would cause a high risk of infection." *Whether elections were to be held or not, attacks against Ms. Lam and Beijing were planned to continue.

If he wins, Biden must be pressured to use the climate crisis to heal our economic woes. This was seen in Ireland, where a citizens' assembly considered changes to the country's abortion law, which received widespread public support in a following referendum. Rebecca Willis, an expert lead for the Climate Assembly UK, has studied how U.K. politicians think and talk about climate change. A citizens' assembly allows those we recognize as our peers to be educated on the full nature of the emergency and then make recommendations, legitimizing the required radical response to the crisis. ? Some students at the University of Nebraska have been trying to gauge the effects of climate change on the Cornhusker State.

This contrasts with the way that the U.S.-centered corporatocracy very smoothly exploited other countries when the empire was at its peak around the mid-20th century. In the modern world, this invisible type of imperialism is getting harder for them to pull off. Despite extreme repression from the coup regime, large parts of the country have come under the jurisdiction of the armed indigenous movement, and this movement has continued to sabotage the regime's policies. This has forced the coup regime to mobilize the military and utilize death squads in the hope that these drastic acts of violence will bring balance to a less-than-ideal situation. Another one of these late-stage imperialist heists is Washington's recent oil grab in Syria.

The Trump campaign has spent tens of millions of dollars on Facebook ads, but has not reported any of that spending to the Federal Election Commission, records show. Along with a number of affiliated committees, the campaign appears to be funneling payments to Facebook through shell companies. Official committees affiliated with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden have also apparently used shell companies to foot Facebook ads, but those committees have reported a much larger proportion of their spending. For instance, public data from Facebook lists the Trump campaign as the ultimate sponsor of more than $20 million in ads on the official Donald Trump page since May 2018. However, the campaign did not report any Facebook payments to the FEC in that time.

President Donald Trump proclaimed Wednesday that the U.S. While USPS leadership insists it has “ample capacity” to meet election needs, postal workers have warned that without emergency funding, the agency could struggle to deliver mail-in ballots on time in November. “Therefore, they don’t have the money to do the universal mail-in voting. So therefore, they can’t do it,” said the president, who repeated his false claim that mail-in voting is highly susceptible to fraud. The bill ultimately included a $10 billion loan — to which Trump’s Treasury Department attached conditions that critics warned will give the administration unprecedented access to USPS operations.

To achieve this illusion, Trump increasingly wants to rule by fiat — or at least to pretend to rule by fiat. I heard about Trump’s executive orders while driving back from a family trip to Wyoming. Whatever Trump says, a president can’t solve economic woes on the scale of those the U.S. now faces with a few signatures on a few executive orders. Whatever Trump says, a president can’t solve economic woes on the scale of those the U.S. now faces with a few signatures on a few executive orders. Trump doesn’t want to roll up his sleeves and really apply himself to the hard work of repairing a busted economy.

The debut of Coriky, a new band featuring members of Fugazi and The EvensBy Matthew Brennan13 August 2020The newly formed rock group Coriky released their self-titled debut album in June. MacKaye and Lally were previously members of the influential post-punk band Fugazi, formed in 1986 and on hiatus since 2002. MacKaye and Farina, who are also married, have been the sole members of the group The Evens since 2005. The new album Coriky continues certain musical threads found in both Fugazi and The Evens. To combat the “sell-outs” denounced in their music, MacKaye, Lally and the other members of Fugazi, famously developed a rigorous band “ethic” of never buying-in in the first place.

Unfortunately, Black Americans continue to learn this lesson on grand political stages. From this lighthearted idea, Harris’s relationship to Black communities, writ large, has taken on the character of “fictive kinship.” This term was introduced by sociologist Carol Stack in her 1974 study of Black families considered “urban poor” in the Midwest. Nor have they offset her reliance on age-old tactics of surveillance and policing that overwhelmingly affect young Black Americans in Chicago. Even now, young Black Americans in Chicago have been staging overt actions in protest of yet another police-perpetrated shooting. Melissa Harris-Perry writes about fictive kinship in her 2011 book, Sister Citizen.

The selection of Kamala Harris and the degradation of American politics13 August 2020With the selection of Kamala Harris to be the running mate of Joe Biden, the framework of the 2020 elections has been set. This says everything about the degraded state of American politics. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, opposition from the Democratic Party has been focused on issues of foreign policy. There is something incredibly degrading and shameful about the whole process, testifying to the intellectual and cultural collapse of American politics. Joseph Kishore—SEP candidate for US presidentThe author also recommends:Biden picks former law-and-order prosecutor Kamala Harris to be his Democratic running mate[12 August 2020]Who is Democratic Senator Kamala Harris?

New outbreak of COVID-19 in New ZealandBy Tom Peters13 August 2020Yesterday a “level three” lockdown was imposed in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, after four people in a family tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. COVID-19 testing stations in Auckland were overwhelmed yesterday, with some people waiting up to 12 hours for a test and others reportedly being turned away. It was the epicentre for a measles outbreak last year, which spread from New Zealand to Samoa where it killed 83 people, most of them children. The new COVID-19 outbreak will compound the social crisis that is already pushing workers and young people to the left. The author also recommends:Quarantine bungles in New Zealand threaten new COVID-19 outbreak[23 June 2020]New Zealand government lifts all COVID-19 restrictions[16 June 2020]Pandemic intensifies social crisis in New Zealand[30 May 2020]Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Washington, DC transit system faces massive budget shortfall as it resumes near pre-pandemic service levelsBy Harvey Simpkins13 August 2020The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is facing the worst financial crisis in its 50-year history due to a massive drop in ridership since the onset of the pandemic in March. The transit system is currently losing $2.5 million in revenue each weekday because of a 90 percent drop in ridership on its bus and rail lines. For Fiscal Year 2020, 36 percent of WMATA’s revenues came from parking and transit fares, totaling $723 million. The rail system will add 15 hours more service per week, with opening times returning to normal and the system closing at 11 p.m. each night. After the DC region largely shut down from late-March through most of May, rail ridership collapsed to about 5 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

President Donald J. Trump participates in a meet and greet with Supreme Court Justices Thursday, November 8, 2018. The result of the blatantly political Supreme Court order is that a referendum to change the manner in which electoral districts are drawn in Oregon will be kept off the November ballot. In the case, Oregon Democratic Party officials objected to the intervention of Judge McShane easing petitioning requirements for an organization called People Not Politicians. The groups then sued Oregon Secretary of State Beverly Clarno demanding accommodations due to the pandemic. The Supreme Court decision in the Oregon case Clarno, Or Sec.

Germany: SPD nominates Finance Minister Scholz as its candidate for chancellorBy Peter Schwarz13 August 2020On Monday, the leadership committee of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) unanimously nominated Olaf Scholz as their candidate for chancellor for the federal elections in autumn 2021. By “common direction,” Kühnert meant the billions and trillions of euros that Finance Minister Scholz forked over to the banks and large companies during the coronavirus crisis. It continues the enrichment of the wealthy at the expense of the poor, which the grand coalition has been pursuing for years. In 2001, he took over the office of the Interior Senator (state minister) in the Hamburg state executive. In Merkel’s fourth cabinet, Scholz took over the office of finance minister from Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) and continued his austerity course in Europe and Germany.

There have been no recent efforts in Congress to pass a Puerto Rico statehood bill. In 2017, about 97% of voters in Puerto Rico cast a ballot in favor of statehood, although that is deceptive: Many who opposed statehood boycotted the vote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., similarly complained that granting statehood to D.C. and Puerto Rico would give each “two more new Democratic senators,” even though Puerto Rico is currently represented in Congress by a Republican. “This is full-bore socialism on the march in the House,” he said ahead of the House vote. “Make no mistake: one of the many ways our country has silenced Black voices and suppressed Black votes has been by preventing D.C. statehood,” she said.

Growing wave of protests across the US against school openingsBy Evan Blake13 August 2020Across the United States, thousands of teachers, education workers, parents and students are mobilizing to oppose the unsafe reopening of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the event, titled, “Kids First: Getting America’s Children Safely Back to School,” was to promote pseudoscience and downplay the risks of reopening schools. In Utah, dozens of teachers protested the resumption of in-person learning in Alpine School District, the largest district, which has roughly 80,000 students. With schools slated to resume in-person learning in Washoe County School District, in Nevada, over 100 educators, parents and students protested outside the district’s school board meeting Tuesday. The initiative and active struggle of educators, parents and students must be expanded and deepened as widely as possible.

“Secretary DeVos has held 9 roundtables, 4 briefings, 30 calls with governors, 62 calls with state superintendents, 28 interviews and 13 conference calls about this pandemic. During that time, DeVos’ public schedule has been almost entirely empty, according to NBC News. The education secretary spoke for one minute and fifteen seconds at the top of the 40-minute session before sitting silently for the duration. The education secretary has diverted millions of dollars in coronavirus relief to private schools, resulting in a lawsuit. Amid a vacuum of public consensus on science, school reopening plans have become almost wholly political.

If President Donald Trump sounds like he’s mindlessly rattling off random facts and figures on a monotone voice while reading another script that sounds like the same script before, there’s a reason for that. The scripts have been almost identical on multiple occasions. While Trump is quoted more frequently for his Q&A session of the press briefing, there’s a reason that the intro of the press conference has been ignored: it’s too similar to previous briefings. See the video from The Recount below: Trump's COVID briefings: same script, different day. pic.twitter.com/xlp69NxElL — The Recount (@therecount) August 12, 2020

President Donald Trump told Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo on Thursday that he is blocking needed funds to the United States Postal Service as a way to thwart Democrats’ efforts to have mail-in voting during the 2020 presidential election. When asked a question about giving the Post Office the resources needed to handle millions of mail-in ballots this fall, the president said he was not interested in providing the funds. “Now they need that money in order to make the Post Office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said, according to CNN’s Abby Philip. “But if they don’t get those two items that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting.”

The lengths to which the State Department has gone in the last day to spin and obscure the facts show how desperate they are to hide the truth,” Engel said in a statement. A redacted version of the watchdog’s report was published online Tuesday, with acting IG Diana Shaw noting in an accompanying memo that the document reflects redactions requested by the State Department. And Mr. Pompeo decided on the exact date to declare an emergency 20 days ahead of time,” said Engel. “This report tells us everything we suspected: the emergency was a sham,” he said. And ever since Mr. Pompeo declared that ’emergency,’ he and his top lieutenants have worked to bury the truth.”The State Department, for its part, said the OIG report “confirms no wrongdoing” by Pompeo.

CNN.com outed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for continuing to hold a stake in a company that the United States Postal Service uses as a contractor. Reporting Wednesday, CNN revealed that DeJoy’s investment in XPO Logistics is a serious conflict of interest. Now the post office is treating it “like bulk-rate mail,” where it won’t have the same priority. There was also the matter of DeJoy firing a slew of staff in key positions in the Postal Service late on a Friday night. Pro-democracy advocates are fearful that this is the beginning of an attempt to steal the election by Trump and his allies.

Afoh-Manin’s journey, like that of many Black women in America, has been a story of resistance and persistence. Black women represent about 11 percent of essential workers even though they’re only 6 percent of the workforce. Today, Black women are more than twice as likely as White women to work in service occupations. In the past decade, the number of Black women with more than a four-year degree has risen by 37 percent — compared to 23 percent for White women — even though Black women continue to have the highest rate of student loan debt. The reason, said Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, is systemic racism that has put Black women in the most susceptible jobs.

“It’s really good news.”Pompeo argued the development could boost Trump’s Middle East peace plan, which had been widely seen as dead on arrival. Trump's Middle East peace plan endorsed a "two-state" solution – an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. A 2002 Arab peace initiative envisioned that Arab countries would only normalize relations with Israel in exchange for returning territory Israel seized in 1967, among other concessions. While they are sharply divided over the fate of the Palestinians, Israel and the Gulf states share their concern about Iran's growing influence in the region. “What we see today is a new Middle East,” said Brian Hook, the State Department's special envoy for Iran.

Herman Cain, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate who died after contracting COVID-19, is continuing to denounce to Democratic politicians on social media two weeks after his death. We're not impressed and you won't be either," read a post added to his Facebook account on Wednesday. The flurry of political posts on his social media accounts is the work of Cain's daughter Dr. Melanie Cain Gallo. The name of Cain's Twitter account was changed to "The Cain Gang" Thursday morning, though the handle remains as @THEHermanCain." Others said Twitter should no longer mark the account as verified because Cain was dead.

Many exciting elements of the conventions long ago disappeared with the advent of primaries, the decline of party influence and the emergence of television. No contested vice-presidential nominations: That last happened at the 1956 Democratic convention. Some 30 million Americans watched Hillary Clinton’s 2016 acceptance speech, and 32.2 million watched Donald Trump’s. But now the roaring crowds, breathless gavel-to-gavel coverage, and occasional moments of drama are gone. With the two oldest candidates ever to seek the Oval Office, the vice-presidential picks matter more than usual, especially for Joe Biden.

Andrew Cuomo ordered the State Police on Thursday to investigate the anti-Semitic messages left on two Upper East Side buildings — including the office of a state assemblywoman. Two similar notes were scrawled and posted over the last two weeks on storefronts that housed offices for New York Professional Nurses Union and Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright. The tasteless language, which the Post is not printing, makes sexual references and alluded to harmful Jewish stereotypes. “I am appalled by reports of anti-Semitic graffiti that was found scrawled on a building in the Upper East Side – the latest in a series of hateful acts that have taken place in the neighborhood over the past two weeks – and am directing the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to provide assistance to help bring these cowards to justice,” Cuomo said in a statement Thursday, which echoed prior public remarks. Reports were filed with the NYPD over anti-Semitic graffiti.

Twitter this week said that it will expand its crackdown on on misinformation surrounding the election and mail-in voting. The social network — which made waves in May when it added a fact-check label to a tweet from President Trump claiming that mail-in ballots are “substantially fraudulent” — will also increase its efforts on getting users registered for mail-in and early voting, according to Politico. Jack Dorsey, the company’s CEO, said in an appearance on “The Daily” podcast last week that Twitter will “continue to evolve our policy to protect the integrity of the conversation around elections.”That includes, he said, suspending any accounts that might engage in “particular egregious aspects of violations of the terms of service,” even if it belongs to the President of the United States. “We won’t hesitate to take action on the accounts and use every tool that we have together with that,” Dorsey said. “Independent of the US president or any leader around the world, we will take action if we feel it’s necessary.”

Kristi Noem is getting a $400,000 taxpayer-funded security fence around her home, with state officials saying her lackadaisical approach to the coronavirus pandemic has helped make her a target. The governor’s office said there have been no specific threats against the first-term Republican, but that her security team recommended the move. She has also been among the laxest governors in the country in terms of COVID-19 restrictions, which Seidel said has won her some detractors. The 8-foot steel fence was first proposed last year and was to include a guardhouse, but that plan was scrapped. This time, Noem’s office said there are no longer plans for a guardhouse to accompany the fence.

Hale, who toured a heavily damaged neighborhood near the port, said the feds’ participation is one of the ways the US is helping Lebanon in dealing with the aftermath of the huge explosion. Meanwhile, chilling drone images have emerged of the post-apocalyptic scene at the city’s port, where a capsized cruise liner lies dockside amid the widespread ruins. The move has been assailed by rights groups and others who say the government was already operating with increased powers amid the coronavirus outbreak. It still was not known what caused the fire responsible for igniting 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that were stored for years in Beirut’s port after being confiscated from an impounded Russian cargo ship. Documents have emerged that show the country’s top leadership and security officials were aware of the volatile stockpile.

Nevertheless, documentarians Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss thought that development — entirely theoretical but perhaps telling about some disturbance in the zeitgeist — was interesting. The very next year, they arranged to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary, “Boys State,” about the 2018 Texas assembly. It seems clear which side McBaine and Moss fall on. “Boys State” shows us where some future politicos learn the dirty tricks, mudslinging and opportunism that we will likely continue to see in civic discourse and politicking — or perhaps it simply shows us how well that lesson has already been drummed into our youth, even before they get to a place like Boys State. “Boys State” is a portrait of the country in microcosm: divided, but not yet irredeemably lost.

Trump announces Israel-UAE peace agreementPresident Trump on Aug. 13 announced a peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and said the United States is a party to the agreement.

AD“What we’ve said is this: If the Russians are offering money to kill Americans or, for that matter, other Westerners as well, there will be an enormous price to pay,” Pompeo told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The New York Times reported last week that Pompeo had done this in a July 13 call with Lavrov, and now Pompeo is effectively confirming that. ADADAnother curious part of the timeline: 10 days after Pompeo issued this warning — on July 23 — Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. June 28 : Trump says “intel” told him the info wasn’t credible and that it was “Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax." July 23: Trump declines to discuss the issue with Putin because he still views it as being “fake news."

Trump kicked off Thursday morning with a flurry of attacks against Democratic women, taking aim at Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.). Footage of the hearing shows that Harris was calm and measured during her questioning of Kavanaugh. “Let’s make a deal, Mr. President: You release your college transcript, I’ll release mine, and we’ll see who was the better student. Later Thursday morning, CNN commentator Van Jones, a former Obama environmental adviser, responded to Trump’s attacks on Harris by noting that the president is seeking to deploy the racist “angry Black woman” trope. Jones argued that such attacks against Harris are “just not effective — calling her a ‘mad woman,’ when you just saw yesterday she’s anything but that.”

Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!” Trump tweeted. ADThe United States was also part of efforts to normalize Israel’s relations with Egypt and Jordan decades ago. ADIsrael’s ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, tweeted shortly after Trump’s announcement. Israel commends the courage of MBZ for the historic decision of the UAE to join Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) in making peace with Israel. AD“The news of normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates is important and opens the door to future agreements,” Ashkenazi said.

They voted during World War I and World War II,” Trump told Bartiromo. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed back Thursday in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”“In the legislation we had $25 billion,” Pelosi said. Postal Service. So, when the president goes after the Postal Service, he’s going after an all-American, highly approved-by-the-public institution,” she said. Democrats earlier in the spring had rallied to the Postal Service’s defense when it sat on the brink of insolvency.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors on Thursday released a slate of recommendations for reforming local police departments, after months of angry demonstrations against police brutality across the country. Their policy suggestions include banning chokeholds, mandating that officers wear body cameras, and limiting the power of police unions to keep problem officers on the job. Departments should have clear “de-escalation” policies to prevent violence, the report said, and require officers to report all uses of force. And the report said mayors should renegotiate union contracts so that officer discipline is swift and transparent, an issue Lightfoot said might require changes to state laws as well. The U.S. Conference of Mayors represents more than 1,400 cities with populations of 30,000 or more.

This podcast is from 7-31-20 ... Howie Kurtz on President Trump getting backlash from all sides for election delay tweet, how Herman Cain's death is impacting views on the coronavirus and new court documents being unsealed in the case against Ghislaine Maxwell. Follow Howie on Twitter: @HowardKurtzFor more #MediaBuzz click here

The mayor of Calais, France, has accused Britain of a “declaration of maritime war” over its proposed move to send in the Royal Navy to curb the waves of illegal immigration into the U.K. from France across the English Channel. "It is a declaration of maritime war," Mayor Natacha Bouchart said, according to The Daily Telegraph, before accusing the British of "contenting themselves with giving lessons and by subjecting Calasians to this situation for too long." BRITAIN BEGINS RETURNING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BACK TO FRANCE, GERMANY“We in Calais no longer want to be permanent hostages enduring the lectures of British leaders,” she said. On Wednesday, Britain started returning to France and Germany migrants who had been identified as having already claimed asylum in one of those countries. asylum restrictions such as the Dublin Regulation when it leaves the bloc at the end of the year.

The mainstream media is trying to portray presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as moderates, which is false, Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen told "America's Newsroom" Thursday. The American Enterprise Institute scholar warned the Biden-Harris ticket is just a "Trojan horse" with "an army of socialists waiting to get inside the White House gates and wreak havoc on our country." JOE BIDEN-KAMALA HARRIS TICKET WAS EARLY 'CHRISTMAS PRESENT' TO MY FATHER, SAYS ERIC TRUMP"They're portraying themselves as being the moderate, centrist, reasonable bipartisan work-across-the-aisle type and her record doesn't show that at all and Joe Biden ... will be the autopen president," Thiessen said. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APPThe Biden campaign announced on Wednesday that it raised a staggering $26 million since Tuesday's running mate announcement. He has to get swing voters – not socialists – to give them permission to defect from Donald Trump and vote for the Biden-Harris ticket.

The “common denominator” in the crime “problem” in Chicago is “our state's attorney’s office,” Anthony Napolitano, a Chicago alderman and former police officer, said on Thursday. Napolitano, who is calling for Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx to resign, made the comment on “America’s Newsroom” on Thursday, four days after a Ronald McDonald House in Chicago, where families of hospitalized children stay, was reportedly targeted by looters. A security guard and another person were shot and hospitalized in critical condition, Fox 32 in Chicago reported. He also noted that, as of July, homicides in Chicago have increased 51 percent this year compared with the year before. “They're celebrating letting these felony criminals go,” Napolitano said.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court in New Orleans upheld the constitutionality of the all-male military draft system Thursday, citing a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court decision. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans said "only the Supreme Court may revise its precedent." The case was argued in March and was the result of a lawsuit by the National Coalition for Men and two men challenging the male-only draft. Plaintiffs in the case could seek a rehearing before the full court or go to the Supreme Court. Earlier this year — after the arguments before the 5th Circuit — a federal commission recommended including women in the military draft system.

(CNN) President Donald Trump said Thursday that he opposes much-needed funding for the United States Postal Service because he doesn't want to see it used for mail-in voting this November. By directly linking USPS funding to mail-in voting, Trump is fueling allegations that he is trying to manipulate the postal system for political gain. Universal mail-in ballots. They want $25 billion, billion, for the Post Office. "But if they don't get those two items that means you can't have universal mail-in voting because you they're not equipped to have it," Trump added.

I went through the transcript of the interview and pulled out the lines you need to see. "The cows -- I don't know if they actually put the cows in. "He doesn't know what he's doing. "I built the greatest economy in history, greatest job numbers, greatest stock market numbers, greatest economic numbers." How does Trump know all of this?

(CNN) The Supreme Court will not intervene in a legal fight concerning absentee ballots in Rhode Island, meaning the state's order removing a requirement that absentee ballots must be signed by two witnesses or a notary public will stand. Thursday's order is a loss for the Republican National Committee, which had asked the court to step in after lower courts ruled to uphold the new absentee ballot rules. The witness requirement was eliminated at the height of the pandemic, and applied to absentee ballots during the state's rescheduled presidential primary on June 2. In its filing to the Supreme Court, the Republicans argued that the pandemic won't prevent voters from getting signatures from witnesses or a notary. "That task is not unusually difficult - certainly no more difficult than getting a photo ID," the party's filing stated.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced Tuesday his office would not prosecute certain crimes stemming from the ongoing nightly protests. Such crimes include:Interfering with a peace officer or parole and probation officer (ORS 162.247)Disorderly conduct in the second degree (ORS 166.025)Criminal trespass in the first and second degree (ORS 164.245 & ORS 164.255)Escape in the third degree (ORS 162.145)Harassment (ORS 166.065)Riot (166.015) – Unless accompanied by a charge outside of this list. All other offenses–including those that allege acts of intentional physical violence against community members and/or law enforcement–will be handled according to general office policies, according to Schmidt. Schmidt, along with guest speakers, will outline changes aimed to improve interactions between law enforcement and protesters. He added he would listen to what the community had to say about law enforcement practices and would use his office to put those changes into practice.

(CNN) President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a "historic" peace agreement. As part of the deal, Israel will "suspend" plans to annex parts of the West Bank, according to a joint Israel-UAE-US statement that ?Trump tweeted Thursday morning. He said he expected other countries to follow the UAE's lead on normalizing relations going forward. "We are already discussing this with other nations," Trump said. Trump tweeted out a lengthy joint statement between the US, UAE and Israel, calling the agreement to "full normalization of relations" between Israel and the UAE a "historic diplomatic breakthrough."

Trump and allies, including Attorney General William Barr, have questioned whether the Russians showed a preference for Trump in 2016. The 2016 intelligence is among the issues being examined by Durham, the Connecticut-based federal prosecutor who is leading a broad inquiry into the Russia investigation. Before his appointment as attorney general, Barr had made clear his skepticism of the 2016 investigation of the Trump campaign. JUST WATCHED Barr asked about Russia election interference. Hear his response Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Barr asked about Russia election interference.

(CNN) The United Nations refugee agency raised alarm over Trump administration rules limiting asylum claims, arguing in a new court filing that the plan could run afoul of the US' international obligations. In a proposed amicus brief , the UN refugee agency said the policy, coupled with a 2019 presidential proclamation, "reflects a substantial change to United States asylum policy that, if implemented, would be at variance with three binding international law protections." In late 2018, the Trump administration introduced a new rule that would restrict the ability of those crossing illegally to seek asylum on the southern US border. The UN refugee agency, which is charged with overseeing the implementation of international refugee treaties, warned that the revised asylum policy sets up the US to be in violation of international obligations, specifically the 1967 Protocol and the 1951 convention. The 39-page brief submitted by the UN refugee agency is a condemnation of one of many asylum policies introduced by the Trump administration.

LAKE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an elaborate break-in and theft at Bloom Medicinals in Painesville Township. Deputies were called to the medical marijuana facility early Monday morning. Once there, the suspects broke through reinforced concrete to access the vault. Investigators say suspects broke through a steel vault door to access marijuana and cash. If you have information that can help investigators, call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at (440)350-5620.

The email says the deputy should then walk away.The sheriff did list exceptions when people could wear preapproved masks. Masks can also be worn in the Marion County Jail where 200 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 and a nurse died from complications of it. The sheriff of Marion County is telling his deputies and visitors to the Marion County Sheriff's Office that they are forbidden from wearing face masks. AdvertisementAn email sent by Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said, in part, "...My order will stand as is when you are on-duty/working as my employee and representing my office -- masks will not be worn..."The sheriff's email sites "current events" as why visitors can't wear masks in the lobby or substations. Masks can also be worn in the Marion County Jail where 200 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 and a nurse died from complications of it.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday left in place a lower-court ruling that relaxes voting restrictions in Rhode Island during the coronavirus pandemic. FILE PHOTO: A general view of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. July 2, 2020. The decision means that mail-in ballots will not, as usual, have to be accompanied by the signatures of two witnesses or one notary. The Supreme Court on July 2 had granted a similar request made by Republican officials in Alabama. Trump has made unsubstantiated claims that mail-in ballots are especially vulnerable to fraud and suggested that their widespread use would lead to a “rigged election.”

It also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the United States view as the main threat in the conflict-riven region. The agreement was the product of lengthy discussions between Israel, the UAE and the United States that accelerated recently, White House officials said. Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” Trump wrote on Twitter. A signing ceremony including delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will be held at the White House in the coming weeks, Trump added. “After 49 years, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalize their diplomatic relations.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday a U.S.-brokered deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates represented a “historic day” for his country. The agreement, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, broke new ground in Israel’s outreach to Gulf Arab countries with a common fear of Iran’s regional influence. But Israel’s agreement, according to White House officials, to suspend de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank posed a measure of political risk at home for Netanyahu, who had pledged to carry out the step. “I will make a special announcement at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) with more details about this historic day for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter. But the official said: “The Trump administration asked us to temporarily suspend the (sovereignty) announcement so that the historic peace agreement with the UAE can be implemented.”

The agreement was the product of lengthy discussions between Israel, the UAE and the United States that accelerated recently, White House officials said. Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” Trump wrote on Twitter. In the White House Oval Office, Trump said similar deals are being discussed with other countries in the region. A signing ceremony including delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will be held at the White House in the coming weeks, Trump added. “After 49 years, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalize their diplomatic relations.

The Democratic National Committee’s presidential nominating convention kicks off next week after the coronavirus pandemic caused significant delays and changes in the schedule. CAROLYN KASTER/ASSOCIATED PRESS On July 28, 2016, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton gives a thumbs-up as she appears on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. “The upcoming Democratic convention is different than we’d imagined. Harris will speak on Wednesday to accept the Democratic nomination for vice president. Biden will speak on Thursday, the last night of the convention, to accept the Democratic nomination for president.

In the POLITICO/Morning Consult flash poll, voters are divided on whether Biden’s choice of a running mate will affect their vote. In the POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, his approval rating is just 39 percent, matching his favorable rating. In the flash poll, Harris’ 45 percent favorable rating leads her 37 percent unfavorable rating. In a late July POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, voters were evenly divided: 33 percent rated her favorably, and 34 percent had an unfavorable opinion of her. The POLITICO/Morning Consult flash poll surveyed 1,990 registered voters.

* Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) held their first joint event as running mates yesterday in Delaware, and the presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee wasted little time in condemning the Trump/Pence record. This site is protected by recaptcha* On a related note, the Biden/Harris campaign boasted yesterday that it had raised a whopping $26 million in the 24 hours after this week's announcement. It came a day after Eric Trump favorited a tweet that referred to Harris as a "whorendous pick." A separate Trump campaign pitch argued that Biden and Harris "hate America." * Abandoning subtlety, operatives in Montana collecting ballot signatures for Kanye West's presidential candidacy have begun asking local voters, "You want to help Trump?"

The National Urban League's Marc Morial discusses the State of Black America 2020 report and how the coronavirus impacted the Black community.

Jared Kushner praised President Trump for helping achieve a "historic peace effort" to establish diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Demonstrator opposed to Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara running for a third term confront riot police in Abidjan Thursday Aug. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde)Demonstrator opposed to Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara running for a third term confront riot police in Abidjan Thursday Aug. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde)ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Opposition and civil society groups demonstrated Thursday in Ivory Coast’s city of Abidjan against President Alassane Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term in October elections. The ruling party nominated him as its candidate after its previous nominee, Prime Minister Amadou Coulibaly, died in July from a heart attack. Ouattara’s party said it cancelled its marches that were planned for Thursday.

The case arose after Rhode Island Gov. Common Cause Rhode Island, the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and others sued in July in an effort to extend the suspension. State officials ultimately agreed to keep the requirement suspended for the Sept. 8 primary and Nov. 3 general election. Aug. 18 is the last day voters can apply for a mail-in ballot for the primary. For the general election, Oct. 13 is the last day to request a mail-in ballot.

California Gov. Bass, who was on Joe Biden's vice presidential short list, would likely get consideration. California Gov. Bass, who was on Joe Biden's vice presidential short list, would likely get consideration. Gavin Newsom, who would choose a replacement if Joe Biden and Harris defeat President Donald Trump’s ticket.

ADVERTISEMENTWeeks later, what authorities think actually happened in the case of Cohoes Police Officer Sean McKown is still shrouded in secrecy. State Police have refused to disclose any information about the incident, except to say that their investigation is closed. McKown later called police and acknowledged the story was a lie, the Times Union reported. After viewing a neighbor’s security video, troopers also told McKown their investigation showed his weapon had been deliberately set down, not tossed away. As their questioning continued, McKown allegedly asked the troopers why they were trying to “jam him up,” the Times Union reported.

FILE - Chris Evans arrives at the premiere of "Avengers: Endgame" on April 22, 2019, in Los Angeles. Evans is hoping his new website and app can help voters make educated choices in the November U.S. election. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)FILE - Chris Evans arrives at the premiere of "Avengers: Endgame" on April 22, 2019, in Los Angeles. Evans is hoping his new website and app can help voters make educated choices in the November U.S. election. His civic engagement site A Starting Point features short videos from Republican and Democratic members of Congress and other U.S. politicians sharing perspectives on policy issues.

“Boys State” may sound like a mere mock government exercise, but the film finds in Boys State a microcosm of American politics, one that frighteningly reflects much of the tenor of today’s Washington and, in other ways, counters our more cynical grown-up government with stirring idealism. “Boys State” will give you both hope and fear for America’s future. Moss and McBaine were unaware of Boys State before reading a 2017 Washington Post article about a first in the program’s history: Texas voted to succeed. Paul Barker, then Chairman of the American Legion Texas Boys State, was impressed by McBaine and Moss’ previous film ( “The Overnighters” ) and figured a documentary could expand the program. The Texas Boys State, like the national political system, is a skewed representation.

Postal Service for the express purpose of making it harder to expand voting by mail. Postal Service to expand voting by mail. But if they don't get those two items, that means you can't have universal mail-in voting because they're not equipped to have it." Postal Service. When you always talk about Russia, Russia, Russia and China, Iran on voting — the biggest problem is going to be with the Democrats, not with China, Russia and Iran," he said.

From Fringe To Congress: QAnon Backers Are On The Ballot In NovemberEnlarge this image toggle caption Mike Stewart/AP Mike Stewart/APMarjorie Taylor Greene's path to Congress has been strewn with controversy. The baseless QAnon conspiracy sprang from right-wing message boards in 2017. The watchdog group Media Matters for America counts 19 congressional candidates with links to QAnon who will be on the ballot in November. Greene has embraced the QAnon conspiracy in a series of social media posts in recent years. "I'm looking at these groups, and I'm seeing friends that I went to school with or colleagues, in QAnon groups," Argentino said.

Opinion: Even A Grammar Geezer Like Me Can Get Used To Gender Neutral PronounsEnlarge this image LA Johnson/NPR LA Johnson/NPRLetter-for-letter, no part of speech gets people more worked up than pronouns do. Right now, the provocation is the gender-neutral pronouns that some nonbinary people have asked to be called by, so that they won't have to be identified as "he" or "she." Some are new words, like "ze" and "co," but some go back a ways — in fact, people have been proposing new gender-neutral pronouns for 150 years, though none has ever caught on. The gender-neutral singular "they" has history, English grammar and gender equity on its side, and it's gradually been restored to the written language. When the diversity and inclusion office at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville published a guide to alternative pronouns in 2015, the state legislature promptly defunded the center and barred the university from promoting the use of gender-neutral pronouns in the future.

Shekar Narasimhan was flooded with calls and messages from fellow Indian-Americans almost immediately after Joe Biden announced Sen. Kamala Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, as his running mate. Mr. Narasimhan, founder of AAPI Victory Fund, a super PAC that helps elect Asian-Americans, said the people reaching out to him wanted to know how they could help the Democratic ticket. Indian-American donors who were on the sidelines told him they were ready to help Mr. Biden, and those already involved...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. A joint statement from the U.S., the UAE and Israel was issued immediately after Trump’s tweet. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.”Netanyahu tweeted an Israeli flag with a short message in Hebrew: “Historic Day.”Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan have active diplomatic ties with Israel.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court in New Orleans upheld the constitutionality of the all-male military draft system Thursday, citing a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court decision. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans said “only the Supreme Court may revise its precedent.”The case was argued in March and was the result of a lawsuit by the National Coalition for Men and two men challenging the male-only draft. Their arguments had been that the the 1981 case was decided at a time when women were largely absent from combat. Plaintiffs in the case could seek a rehearing before the full court or go to the Supreme Court. Earlier this year — after the arguments before the 5th Circuit — a federal commission recommended including women in the military draft system.

“ ‘They want $3.5 billion for something that will turn out to be fraudulent. They want $3.5 billion for the mail-in votes, OK. Universal mail-in ballots. They want $25 billion for the post office. Now they need that money in order to have the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots. Trump’s remarks came during a Fox Business Network interview, when he was asked about the issues preventing a deal on another coronavirus relief package.

Notorious SS doctor Josef Mengele was among the Third Reich élite that fled to Paraguay after World War II. It is unclear how many Palestinians emigrated to Paraguay within the short-lived plan’s framework. In a 2004 interview, Meir Novik, a police commander involved in the operation, said “a few dozen Palestinians” had moved. Israel had evaded the issue of Palestinian refugees displaced by its 1948 war of independence. So for Golda, this plan was just another in a long line of similar schemes.”Little is known of other initiatives to transfer Palestinians, but the Paraguay plan was singularly concrete and ambitious.

Trump campaign Twitter account @TrumpWarRoom has tweeted and retweeted some questionable things in the past. Lately, it's been all systems go against former Vice President Joe Biden, who is set to oppose President Trump in November's election. In a blog post, the campaign points to Biden staffer's donations to bail funds amid the nationwide protests against police brutality. The campaign highlighted four alleged "regular criminals," all of them Black, who were supposedly freed from jail thanks to Biden. President Trump's campaign is tweeting mugshots of black people to attack Joe Biden.

YouTube says it will take down videos that promote election interference, such as encouraging people to create long voting lines that make it harder for others to vote. It also says it will remove videos including information gleaned from hacks that might meddle with the democratic process. Miller also noted YouTube will display information panels for 2020 presidential or federal candidates when you search for them. The panels will appear above search results and include the candidate’s party affiliation, office they’re running for and their YouTube channel. On Wednesday, they discussed “preparations for the upcoming conventions and scenario planning related to election results.”

AJC Hosting Virtual Advocacy Programs at Democratic, Republican ConventionsAJC Hosting Virtual Advocacy Programs at Democratic, Republican ConventionsPR NewswireWASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2020WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) will host a series of panel discussions on key policy issues at the Democratic and Republican conventions. "Our programs on the sidelines of both political conventions every four years have offered unique opportunities to engage in-person delegates and other attendees," said Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief Political and Public Policy Officer. AJC at the 2020 Political Conventions follows on the popular AJC Advocacy Anywhere series, first launched in March, that has gained more than three million viewers, and the AJC Virtual Global Forum in June, in which many of the political issues to be explored during the conventions were discussed. The series of AJC programs at both political conventions will feature panels composed of major thought leaders, members of Congress, party officials, and AJC experts. Global LeadershipFeaturing: Dr. Peter Berkowitz, Director of Policy Planning, U.S. Department of StateCisionView original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ajc-hosting-virtual-advocacy-programs-at-democratic-republican-conventions-301111975.htmlSOURCE American Jewish Committee

Before he hit the one-hour mark, even friendly Fox News decided it had seen enough as it cut to coverage of his Democratic rivals’ campaign debut. The president opened the briefing with prepared remarks, though he ad-libbed at times, and charts. Repeatedly, he complained about congressional Democrats and mocked his general election foes, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris. When served up by a reporter a chance to respond to Ms Harris’ sharp words painting him as a failed leader during her first appearance as the Democratic VP candidate, Me Trump essentially whiffed. Read moreBiden says Trump has problem with ‘strong women’ such as Kamala HarrisHarris calls out Trump for following ‘miracle’ Covid curesKellyanne Conway: Kamala Harris cannot fix Biden’s ‘inadequacies’Trump and Republicans losing ground with voters on creating jobsDonald and Ivanka Trump donated to Kamala Harris’ previous campaigns

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Attorneys for the only Native American on federal death row are asking a judge to delay his upcoming execution while they argue that the procedures should be consistent with Arizona law. Lezmond Mitchell, who is Navajo, is set to be put to death on Aug. 26 at the federal prison in Indiana where he's being held. Circuit Court of Appeals had spared Mitchell from execution temporarily while he sought to interview jurors about potential racial bias in his case. The appeals court ruled against him, and the stay of execution is expected to expire next week. Jonathan Aminoff, one of Mitchell's federal public defenders, argued Wednesday that the Federal Bureau of Prisons is required to carry out the execution in the same way Arizona would.

The network’s convention coverage will originate from the nation’s capital throughout the week and will be available across all of FOX News Media’s signature platforms, including FOX News Audio and FOX News Digital. FNC will commence its convention coverage with a primetime special entitled, Democracy 2020: Convention Kickoff at 10PM/ET on Sunday, August 16th. Special coverage will pre-empt primetime program The Ingraham Angle with host Laura Ingraham, which will move to 11PM/ET during the week of the DNC. Story continuesAdditionally, anchor Bill Hemmer will offer FOX O&O stations and broadcast affiliates live convention coverage throughout the week. FOXNews.com will also feature comprehensive coverage of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, including live blogs, video of key speeches and the latest articles on all breaking developments.

NetanyahuDonald Trump, the US president, said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was "a truly historic moment." "Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates," he said. For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged.

Jeffery Ryans on Salt Lake City police body cam footage. The footage recently surfaced when Ryans announced he was planning to file a lawsuit against the police department for excessive force, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune. A Salt Lake City police officer has been suspended and is under investigation after video surfaced showing him ordering a K-9 to attack a Black man while responding to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance. Police were called to Ryans' home on April 24 a neighbor called 911 when she heard arguing coming from the property, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune. Six seconds after the initial threat, an officer told his K-9 to attack with the phrase, "Hit, hit."

Negotiations over a new virus relief package have all but ended, with the White House and congressional leaders far apart on the size, scope and approach for shoring up households, re-opening schools and launching a national strategy to contain the virus. “The White House is not budging,” Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement. Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows briefed GOP senators privately on Wednesday. Because McConnell has such cool support from his ranks for any bill, Democrats are trying to push the White House to go bold. The Democrats said they are waiting for the White House to put a new offer on the table.

Some funding to meet these goals likely will come from Measure A — the $950 million affordable housing bond Santa Clara County voters passed in 2016. “It’s a bold plan, and not all of the funding is there,” said Ragan Henninger, deputy director of San Jose’s housing department. But scraping together new funding will be harder than ever this year, as both San Jose and Santa Clara County grappled with budget deficits stemming from the coronavirus-ravaged economy. Thursday’s plan is the second “plan to end homelessness” put forward by city, county and nonprofit partners working on the issue. The number of homeless residents in Santa Clara County jumped from about 6,500 in 2015 to nearly 10,000 last year.

The answer, in my opinion, isn’t to ditch the primary system that took root after the mayhem of 1968, but to make that system much better and to encourage many more citizens to participate. That would mean ending the handful of remaining caucuses — like Iowa’s first-in-the-nation contest — in favor of all primaries, which also should be open primaries to encourage more independent and cross-over voting. Rotate the order of the states so that Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina don’t have so much more influence than the rest of us. And then pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and undo all the crazy GOP restrictions, to further boost turnout. No party bosses would have picked Trump, but would a truly open-to-all election?

The Dallas County Sheriff's Department is looking for candidates who are bilingual. Some of the benefits of the positions include retirement, health plan, vacation and accrued time. The vacancies are as follows: Deputy Sheriffs, Deputy Sheriffs in Court, Detention Service Officer, Communications Technician, Communications Clerk, Level I Clerk, Cook and Courtesy Patrol. Some of the basic requirements include:Be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of ageHigh School Diploma/GEDValid Texas driver's license or IDHave no convictions or felonies, class A juvenile crimes or family violence crimesFor more information visit this link.

On vandalism during protestRe: “Dems need to oppose vandalism,” Aug. 12 commentaryTed Trimpa, on the topic of protest vandalism, assumes Democrats “standing idly by” are silent because they are afraid of a “small swath of the far left and the mob of Twitter trolls.” Allow me to offer an alternative explanation. Isn’t it time, more than 150 years since the end of slavery, to reject the false equivalence of property and Black humanity? Isn’t it time we recognized that the morality of vandalism is irrelevant in a conversation about life and death? Peter Bruno, ArvadaSeeking legislators’ support of Farm System Reform ActI am writing to ask for your help. We need to urge Rep. Jason Crow, Sen. Cory Gardner and Sen. Michael Bennet to sign on as cosponsors on The Farm System Reform Act.

The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. Israel and the UAE also have been among Trump’s closest foreign allies. For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. It also puts the UAE out first in a regional recognition race among neighboring Gulf Arab states. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.”Netanyahu tweeted an Israeli flag with a short message in Hebrew: “Historic Day.”Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan have active diplomatic ties with Israel.

Dozens of lawyers throughout the state are working with organizations such as the FRRC, the Alliance for Safety and Justice and the League of Women Voters of Florida to help felons determine whether they have outstanding financial obligations and to clear up the debts so they can register to vote. Floridians have until Oct. 5 to register to vote in the November general election.

The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. Israel and the UAE also have been among Trump's closest foreign allies. For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.”Netanyahu tweeted an Israeli flag with a short message in Hebrew: “Historic Day.”Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan have active diplomatic ties with Israel. It remains unclear what prompted Israel and the UAE to make the announcement now.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Trump also falsely stated that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and made the unfounded claim that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. Postal Service and election security ahead of the November election. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. Postal Service to hinder Americans from voting.

“They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said on “Mornings with Maria,” adding, “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”

Lungarini said Wednesday he and the board received advice from the Connecticut State Medical Society’s Sports Medicine Committee. He also “spoke with a person who is an infectious disease board certified person with [Hartford HealthCare]” and claimed to continue to consult and reach out to” DPH. DPH said in the letter their staff spoke with Lungarini Sunday, Monday and Wednesday when the recommendation as finally requested. In an video released on the CIAC Twitter account, Lungarini said that the vote was made with the medical advice the group had in hand and that if DPH had additional information, it could revisit the plan.

The roughly $1.4 million mailing is an effort to encourage more people to vote from home during the pandemic. A record 1.6 million people voted absentee during the Aug. 4 primary and roughly 2.4 million currently are registered to receive absentee ballots in the November election. The record absentee vote came after Benson mailed absentee ballot applications to the state's 7.7 million qualified voters in May. Clerks are required by law to mail requested absentee ballots 40 days before the election, or on Sept. 24. The record 1.6 million absentee votes cast Aug. 4 surpassed Michigan's prior record of 1.27 million absentee ballots cast in the November 2016 presidential election.

The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. Israel and the UAE also have been among Trump's closest foreign allies. For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan have active diplomatic ties with Israel. It remains unclear what prompted Israel and the UAE to make the announcement now.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also falsely stated that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and made the unfounded claim that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. Polls indicate Trump is in for a tough reelection fight against Democrat Joe Biden. “They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said on “Mornings with Maria," adding, “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”

(AP) — A Nebraska county that owes $28.1 million to six people wrongfully convicted of murder reached a settlement with several insurance companies to help pay part of the judgment. The Gage County board approved agreements with six insurers on Wednesday to secure $5.98 million to help pay the county's debt off sooner. The people known as the Beatrice Six spent more than 70 years in prison collectively for a 1985 rape and killing in Beatrice, Nebraska, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Lincoln. The Beatrice Six sued Gage County after their release, alleging the county ran a reckless investigation. A federal jury awarded them $28.1 million in 2016, plus interest and attorney fees that raise the total to more than $30 million.

Incumbent state representatives for Pima and Santa Cruz counties won big in Tuesday’s primary election. In Legislative District 2, incumbent Daniel Hernandez and Andrea Dalessandro will advance to the Nov. 3 general election after winning the Democratic primary. Hernandez collected 32% of the nearly 32,600 votes cast on Tuesday, followed by Dalessandro, who is currently a state Senator, with 30%. In Legislative District 3, incumbents Alma Hernandez and Andrés Cano effectively won seats as state representatives for the district by winning Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Hernandez had 46% of the roughly 30,000 votes cast in the Democratic primary, followed by Cano with 37%.

“As we face some of the hardest economic and social challenges in our country’s history, I am so grateful that Southern Arizonans trust me to continue the work we’ve started.”She’ll face Martin, the executive director of Keepers for Liberty, who had 44% of the roughly 58,000 votes, as of Wednesday morning. He was about 6,000 votes ahead of small-business owner Noran Eric Ruden (33%) and 11,500 votes ahead of Joseph Morgan, a support technician for Pima Community College (24%). The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday. Martin, who did not respond to an Arizona Daily Star email Wednesday morning, emerged victorious after finishing second in the Republican primary in 2018. His opponent, Lea Marquez Peterson, lost the general election to Kirkpatrick by roughly 28,000 votes, or about 9.5 percentage points.

Mosher conceded the race to Conover on Tuesday night, releasing the following statement: “Tonight, the voters of Pima County have spoken. I congratulate Laura Conover and her supporters, and give my sincere thanks to everyone who worked so hard to bring our campaign of meaningful reform to the people. It has been an honor to serve the families of Pima County.”Of the early results on election night, Conover said: “I feel good. I am certainly thankful for what appears to be a real mandate from the community for our vision for reform. “We are honoring the retirement of a 40-year administration, and thanking Ms. LaWall for her dedication to the community.”“Now is a critical moment in time for us to move the system forward, recognizing that we must have a medical response to addiction as an illness so that we may focus our resources on the complicated cases of fraud and scam, domestic violence and the exploitation of vulnerable populations,” Conover said.

Grijalva responded with this statement: “As an elected official, I took an oath to protect the American people and that includes their health and well-being. Obviously the Trump Administration doesn’t share my concern as their policies continually fail to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. It became sharper after an incident June 1 in which U.S. Park Police helped clear Lafayette Park of protesters, using tear gas and batons. President Trump then walked across the newly cleared park to stand in front of a church with a Bible in his hand. Grijalva held a hearing on the incident June 29.

Turnout across Arizona was on track to set a record and no major voting issues were reported despite new procedures and shuffled polling places in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

An audit the could cost at least $125,000 will look at the processes used by the Arizona Department of Education to approve vouchers.

ReporterStephanie is a Tucson native and graduated from the University of Arizona in 2014. She worked for newspapers in Rapid City, South Dakota; Manhattan, Kansas; and Lake Havasu City before moving back to Tucson.

The notice seeks $10 million from the city and $3 million from each of three former Tucson Police Department officers who, according to TPD's chief, violated several arrest-related policies during the incident.

City leaders are facing mounting pressure to defund the Tucson Police Department as part of a nationwide effort to reinvent local law enforcement. The Tucson City Council approved a $1.7 billion spending cap for next year that includes more than $165 million for police, the largest expenditure in the general fund. In Tucson, community members started calling in to City Council meetings June 9, asking council members to shift money away from the Police Department. “When one-third of the city budget goes towards policing, you almost admit that something has gone off the rails,” she said. The mayor said she and the City Council are already finding ways to focus on preventative services.

As expected, the two well-financed U.S. Senate candidates in Arizona officially advanced to the general election Tuesday with landslide victories in afterthought primary contests. Their race is one of the most closely watched in the nation.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is in the early process of exploring partnerships that would lead to broadband conduit being installed along three interstate routes. Watch now: A summer day in Tucson A few of the things that happen on Tucson summer days. “By putting that conduit in, it will hopefully allow local internet providers to provide high-speed internet to their communities by tapping into that line along the interstates there,” said Ryan Harding, an ADOT spokesman. Currently, ADOT has completed 129 miles of broadband out of the 1,169 total interstate miles it covers. Northbound motorists on SR 189 should use Grand Avenue as a detour, and southbound motorists can remain on Mariposa Road.

Tuesday's panel was the latest in a series of steps taken by the Freeman administration to arrive at a decision on whether to keep the school'…

"At this point, it's bigger than Breonna," Palmer said. There definitely should be another Breonna Taylor — anywhere." Palmer's Thursday morning remarks came a day after meetings with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and then Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer about the death of her daughter, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor. We do want this resolved quickly and accurately so that Ms. Palmer and her family can get some answers as it relates to the murder of Breonna Taylor." FACT CHECK:Debunking 7 widely shared rumors in the Breonna Taylor police shootingBen Crump, a Florida-based attorney on Palmer's legal team, said Taylor's case is an example of why the police should not be policing themselves.

HERMAN Cain is dead at the age of 74 after a month-long battle with coronavirus - but his Twitter account is very much alive. Who was Herman Cain? Herman Cain was a Tea Party activist and served as chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of the Kansas City Omaha Branch from 1989 to 1991. I’m very saddened to learn of the passing of my former boss, Herman Cain. Cain's Twitter account launched attacks on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris following the announcing that Harris would be Biden's running mate.

PRESIDENT Trump unloaded on "stone cold crazy" Nancy Pelosi, "mad woman" Kamala Harris, "poor student" AOC and Democrats who he claims "don’t love the country." Trump also unleashed on Biden and Harris Credit: AP:Associated Press9 Trump slammed New York Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a 'poor student' Credit: Getty - ContributorTrump first slammed Joe Biden's running mate Harris when speaking with host Maria Bartiromo. The president later pushed his belief that Republicans will take back a majority of seats in the House after the November election, attacking Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Nancy Pelosi is stone-cold crazy," he told Fox Business. Trump's campaign quickly slammed Biden's VP pick as "phony", saying Harris' appointment is proof the Democrat has "surrendered to radicals."

Iranian forces boarded a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the U.S. military command overseeing operations in the region says, though it's yet unclear what it expected to achieve with the provocative maneuver. U.S. Central Command reported late Wednesday that two Iranian ships and a helicopter carrying Iranian troops boarded the "Wila" tanker and overtook it. "Greek-managed vessels have come to the fore in recent months following their willingness to trade oil exported from Iran to Venezuela," it wrote in an analysis note. "Such a move brought Greek-firms under international scrutiny, and in June of this year four vessels linked to Greek companies were blacklisted by the U.S. Following this blacklisting, future shipments of crude oil from Iran which were to be carried by Greek-managed vessels were scrapped."

Herman Cain, one-time Republican presidential candidate and enthusiastic Trump supporter, sprang an unsettling surprise on Wednesday when his Twitter account abruptly began publishing posts – two weeks after Cain died from coronavirus. The first-person messaging of Cain’s Twitter account makes it less clear whose views the tweets are expressing. Some also took issue with @THEHermanCain having only begun posting after Harris became the first black woman to run on a major party presidential ticket. Cain died on 30 July, having been ill with coronavirus for several weeks. A vocal supporter of the president, Cain was co-chair of Black Voices for Trump and was in Tulsa as a surrogate for Trump’s campaign.

Donald Trump admitted on Thursday he opposed additional funding for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in order to make it more difficult to deliver mail-in ballots. The president, who has falsely claimed that widespread mail-in voting will lead to fraud, suggested that without the funding it would be harder to vote by mail. A USPS spokesman denied there was a blanket ban on overtime, but did not address questions about whether employees were being told to leave the mail behind. That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting. USPS officials have not said they need additional funding to deliver mail-in ballots this fall.

Fighting fires is no longer the primary task of the fire brigade, who now spend more time attending floods and road accidents, latest figures have shown. Non-fire incidents are said to include road crashes, helping gain entry or exit to buildings, assisting other emergency services, medical incidents and flooding. They now account for around a third of all call-outs for fire crews, according to the Home Office. Official figures show fire crews were called to 15,526 flooding incidents in the past year, up 16 per cent from 13,367 compared to the year before. So-called duty to collaborate legislation helped bring about this change of focus in 2017 by imposing a legal duty on each emergency service to work together if required.

Dominic Gilbert and Alex Clark have five charts outlining the algorithm's winners and losers. With so many people not getting the grades they wanted, the race is on to secure a university place. Trump wages war on shower heads for 'perfect' hairHis famous swept-back hair has been the subject of huge fascination over the years. Now Donald Trump has complained about the difficulty of carrying out his haircare routine - due to low-pressured shower heads. Under a 1992 law enacted by George H W Bush, shower heads in America are limited to allow 2.5 gallons of water through every minute.

Donald Trump, the US president, said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was "a truly historic moment." "Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates," he said. For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged.

The UK’s chief Brexit negotiator said that a free trade agreement with the European Union could be agreed in September on Thursday, as Ireland’s prime minister said a “landing zone” for the deal had emerged. British and EU officials meet in Brussels for the seventh round of trade talks next week after a fortnight’s break following five weeks of intensified negotiations. He said both sides knew that they needed to avoid the economic shock of a no trade deal Brexit after the coronavirus crisis. If a trade deal is not agreed by the end of the year then the EU and UK will trade on far less lucrative WTO terms. The UK accepted EU demands that the future relationship be governed by one overarching framework rather than separate deals.

Rather than imposing draconian new rules on certain boroughs, he argued in favour of targeted enforcement against pubs, restaurants and supermarkets failing to follow the guidance. "The message goes out to colleagues in the pub industry – we need you to get more serious about this. Sir Richard said the vast majority of those testing positive for coronavirus in Greater Manchester were now either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, so hospital admissions were "minimal". It is also feared Northampton could face a local lockdown after almost 300 sandwich factory workers tested positive for coronavirus. There have been 70 confirmed cases in the region in the past week, and council leader Jonathan Nunn said the situation "could go either way".

Election officials in the United States have warned they need extra funding to be able to handle the 2020 election. State and local officials told CNN that the pressures placed on voting by the coronavirus pandemic has stretched already thin budgets. They called for extra funding from Congress to prepare for polling season. Negotiations over election funding have become a sticking point between Democrats and Republicans in recent months. Election officials said the money they have for the election would soon run out.

However, the president has refused to give the service additional funding and has repeatedly claimed that mail-in voting will lead to widespread fraud in November’s election. “But if they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting, because they’re not equipped to have it. They don’t have the money to do the universal mail-in voting. So therefore, they can’t do it, I guess.”Mr Trump added: “Therefore, they can’t do the universal mail-in vote. Ridiculous!”In May, the president also falsely claimed that mail-in voting will enable “thousands of forgeries,” despite voting by mail in Florida himself in March for the Republican primary.

He knows that on the legit, it will be hard for him to win," Ms Pelosi told reporters on Thursday in response to a question about why she thought Mr Trump was trying to diminish an essential government operation during a pandemic. "You'd have to ask [Republicans]" why they're toeing Mr Trump's line, Ms Pelosi said. "They need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox Business on Thursday. Daily coronavirus briefing No hype, just the advice and analysis you need Enter your email address Continue Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists. Ms Pelosi said Democrats would return to the negotiating table when Republicans agree to budge from their rough $1trn cap on a package.

The news that Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden had picked Kamala Harris to be his running mate generated serious excitement on Twitter. Naturally, there was discussion over the history-making nature of the selection: Harris is the first black woman and south Asian American in the role. But given the way Harris stopped Biden in his tracks during an early Democrat candidate debate (before her own campaign faltered), more than a few analysts were eyeing up what she might do to Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s vice president. For after the pageantry (although much-reduced in these coronavirus times) of the party conventions, where the two pairs will be lauded by the faithful (from afar), the next big mark on the horizon is the presidential and vice-presidential debates.

Facebook has announced the launch of a "Voting Information Center" ahead of the US Presidential elections in November. The tool will direct users toward official information on how to register to vote, as well as up-to-date information on the election from verified sources. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg said that the aim of the new initiative is to help users "find authoritative information directly from election officials". Today we're launching the Voting Information Center, a resource we'll show at the top of Facebook and Instagram so every eligible voter in the US can get the details they need to navigate this year's unprecedented election process and find authoritative information directly from election officials. The Voting Information Center is part of our larger goal to help 4 million Americans register to vote this year.

Hundreds of protesters in Bend, Oregon clashed with ICE agents during a tense 10-hour standoff on Wednesday after they detained two undocumented immigrants in the sanctuary city. Protesters cleared the area by midnight after federal agents emptied the buses and took the two men away, according to OPB. ICE officials on Thursday said they had been operating on a mission to 'arrest criminal aliens presenting a danger to public safety and take them off the street.' 'We do not use funds or personnel or equipment to enforce federal immigration laws or to detain people based on immigration status. Portland-based nonprofit Innovation Law Lab has asked a federal court to keep ICE from taking the men out of central Oregon, the ACLU announced Wednesday night.

Two decorated police officers in Georgia who used force to detain the wrong person during a search for a suspect have been fired and could face criminal charges. Savannah’s mayor and police chief condemned the encounter that led to the termination of Savannah police Cpl. Minter said the person Kang and Arango used force to detain was 'mistakenly identified.' Kang and Arango notified a supervisor about their use of force in April. Arango had served on the force for about 15 years and Kang for eight.

President Donald Trump said Thursday he's blocking the coronavirus relief measure because of Democrats' funding request for the Post Office, arguing it's 'election money' for universal mail-in voting. Democrats have put $25 billion for emergency funding for the Post Office in their $3 trillion version of the coronavirus relief legislation - money that President Trump opposes. That means they can't have universal mail-in voting. Nevada, California and Vermont have opted for universal mail-in voting because of the virus. 'So therefore, they don't have the money to do the universal mail-in voting, so therefore they can't do it, I guess, right?'

In a surprise announcement, Trump tweeted a statement from the countries, acknowledging the deal. A joint statement from the U.S., the UAE and Israel was issued immediately after Trump's tweet. Mauritania recognized Israel in 1999, but later ended relations in 2009 over the Israel´s war in Gaza at the time. President Trump joked he wanted to call the deal 'the Donald J. Trump accord but Id didn't think the press would understand.' Next year, Israel will take part in the UAE´s delayed Expo 2020, the world´s fair being hosted by Dubai.

US President Donald Trump suggested that more diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and its Muslim neighbors in the region were expectedAdvertising Read moreWashington (AFP)US President Donald Trump, in a surprise announcement, said Thursday that Israel and the United Arab Emirates had reached a peace agreement. The normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel is a "HUGE breakthrough" Trump tweeted, calling it a "Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends." Speaking to reporters later, Trump suggested that more diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and its Muslim neighbors in the region were expected. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described it as "a historic day and a significant step forward for peace in the Middle East." "The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible, and will work together to achieve this goal," it added.

Biden and Harris are to deliver remarks afterwards, according to the campaign -- a signal to voters that curbing the spread of the virus is a top priority and major election issue. Harris warned Wednesday that Trump's "mismanagement" of the pandemic has plunged the nation into the deepest health crisis in a century and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. "As we continue to confront the China virus, we're rebuilding America's economy like nobody thought possible, actually," Trump said Wednesday at the White House. The Republican incumbent took a swing early Thursday at his White House challengers, calling Harris, a US senator from California, part of the "radical left" and saying a Biden presidency would trigger economic disaster. As for the coronavirus, "it will be going away," Trump told Fox Business Network.

Advertising Read moreThe announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel. While Thursday's deal halts Israeli annexation plans, the Palestinians have repeatedly urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached. A joint statement from the U.S., the UAE and Israel was issued immediately after Trump's tweet. Mauritania recognized Israel in 1999, but later ended relations in 2009 over the Israel’s war in Gaza at the time. It remains unclear what prompted Israel and the UAE to make the announcement now.

Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2020The officials described the agreement, to be known as the Abraham Accords, as the first of its kind since Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. It also gives Trump a foreign policy success as he seeks re-election on Nov. 3. HAZEM BADER / AFPDelegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications and other issues, the statement said. The statement said that as “a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty” over areas of the West Bank that were envisioned in the U.S. peace plan unveiled by Trump in January.

President Trump on Thursday said he is withholding approval for a coronavirus relief package because Democrats want to include funds for mail-in voting. “They want $25 billion, billion, for the post office. That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting, they just can’t have it.”President Trump gestures during a news conference at the White House on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Trump’s attack on the Postal Service. “When the president goes after the Postal Service, he’s going after an all-American, highly approved-by-the-public institution,” Pelosi said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday said his team was rejecting Democrats’ bid to include funds for the U.S. Postal Service and to shore up election infrastructure in a new coronavirus relief bill, as he vowed to block money to facilitate mail-in voting. REUTERS/Sarah SilbigerCongressional Democrats accused Trump of trying to damage the struggling Postal Service in an effort to improve his chances of being re-elected in November. “The items are the post office and the $3.5 billion for mail-in voting,” Trump told Fox Business Network, saying Democrats want to give the post office $25 billion. DeJoy said last Friday that the Postal Service’s approach to election mail has not changed.

President Trump on Thursday announced a historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that would pave the way for full normalization of relations between the two Middle Eastern countries. The deal, revealed in a tweet, was finalized during a phone call between Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!,” the president said in the posting. Trump and the administration team that hammered out the deal held a news conference in the White House moments after the announcement. Egypt is the only other Arab nation apart from Jordan, and now the UAE, with diplomatic ties to Israel.

Hong Kong (CNN) China is stepping up military drills around East Asia as a war of words with the United States heats up over Washington's military activities and the visit of a US cabinet secretary to Taiwan. Azar's presence in Taipei is "a serious breach" of US commitments on Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Monday afternoon. Recent drills include a mock beach assault in Hainan province on the South China Sea; a sea-crossing and landing with amphibious assault vehicles in Guangdong province; sea-crossing assault drills in Fujian province; and flights of missile-armed bombers and fighters over the South China Sea. "The PLA drills come amid the increasingly frequent provocative military activities made by the US near the island of Taiwan and in waters in the South China Sea," the Global Times report says. "I am sure the idea is on the table since the Chinese military would not publish such bombastic rhetoric on its initiative," he said.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel are to establish diplomatic ties in a deal halting planned annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians. It also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the US view as the main threat in the conflict-ridden region. Israel signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 but the UAE, along with most other Arab nations, did not recognise Israel and had no formal diplomatic or economic relations with the Jewish nation - until now. The Hamas militant group, which wants to destroy Israel, accused the UAE of stabbing the Palestinians in the back. UAE foreign minister Anwar Gargash called the deal "a bold step".

Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates! "US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who was in the White House on Thursday, said that "the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE will make Israel stronger and safer and will likely lead to additional exciting opportunities and incremental prosperity for Israel, its neighbors and the entire region. "The officials described the agreement, to be known as the Abraham Accords, as the first of its kind since Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. "This historic opportunity makes the entire region safer, stronger and more prosperous. "A joint statement issued by the three nations said the three leaders had "agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates have established full diplomatic ties in a historic Washington-brokered deal that will mean Israel “suspending” its plans to annex parts of the Palestinian territories. After Jordan and Egypt, the UAE is only the third Arab country to announce formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and Thursday’s announcement will reverberate across the Middle East, which has a violent history with the Jewish state. Described by Donald Trump in a tweet as a “peace agreement”, the move is a significant boost for Israel’s hardline prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The deal, announced in a joint statement between Israel, the UAE and US, said the two states had “agreed to the full normalisation of relations”. Mabrouk and Mazal Tov.”Egypt had a peace deal with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994.

A joint statement by Mr Trump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Al Nahyan said they hoped the "historic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East". As a result, they added, Israel would suspend its plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank. Until now Israel has had no diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab countriesHowever, shared concerns over Iran's regional influence have led to unofficial contacts between them. "It is a significant advance in Arab-Israeli relations that lowers tensions and creates new energy for positive change," he added. The countries will also join the US in launching a "Strategic Agenda for the Middle East", according to the joint statement.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a "historic" deal that is expected to lead to "full normalisation of relations" between the two Middle Eastern nations in an agreement that United States President Donald Trump helped broker. Under the agreement, Israel on Thursday agreed to suspend applying sovereignty to Palestinian areas of the occupied West Bank that it had been discussing annexing. The deal was the product of lengthy discussions between Israel, the UAE and the US that accelerated recently, White House officials told the Reuters news agency. Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates! "Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates," he said.

Though Biden and Harris were Democratic rivals for the better part of 2020 campaign, both candidates used versions of the phrase over the course of the Democratic primary. Seven months after leaving office, Biden used the phrase in firing the first shot in what grew into his campaign to unseat Trump. "If it wasn’t clear before, it’s clear now: We are living through a battle for the soul of this nation," Biden wrote after the incident. Meanwhile, Harris used almost the exact same words at various points in the Democratic primary campaign. "This Joe Biden 'battle for the soul of the nation' business is something – 'Who are we as a nation?

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced Thursday the United Arab Emirates and Israel had agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations, a potentially historic agreement and a rare foreign policy win for the president during an election year. The joint statement said the countries "agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates." The agreement makes the UAE only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties with Israel. “It’s really good news.”Pompeo argued the development could boost Trump’s Middle East peace plan. “What we see today is a new Middle East,” said Brian Hook, the State Department's special envoy for Iran.

ConnecticutHartford: The state’s acting public health commissioner was asked Tuesday to consider significantly expanding visitation rules at nursing homes and chronic disease hospitals. Because of reporting lags, the state health department figures do not necessarily represent deaths in a 24-hour period. MarylandAnnapolis: A municipal government in China has donated 40,000 medical-grade face masks to Maryland’s capital city amid the coronavirus pandemic. Tate Reeves described college football – even amid the coronavirus pandemic – as “essential” Tuesday, his comments echoing a tweet President Donald Trump posted the day before. The Virginian-Pilot reports city officials don’t have enough money to pay for it now because of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Trump sidestepped a question about whether FBI Director Christopher Wray should step down over the bureau’s role in the “Russian collusion” investigation but hoped he would be “forthcoming” about providing documents sought by the Senate as part of its examination of the origins of the probe. Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo asked the president if Wray should resign after documents revealed FBI officials misled the Senate about the veracity of the Steele dossier. “So Christopher Wray was put there. Graham said recently disclosed documents show the FBI misled senators about the validity of the dossier, compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele. “I hope they’re not going to be politically correct and say, ‘let’s get the lower guys that forged the documents going into FISA.

On Tuesday, sitting in the courthouse in Easton, Md., yards from the memorial, the Talbot County Council voted 3 to 2 to keep the statue in the same place it has stood for 104 years. I'm sure the statue will not go away.”Richard Potter, president of the Talbot County branch of the NAACP and a longtime opponent of the statue, blamed the vote on “three racist council members” who attributed their votes to limited public input during the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s a bunch of surface-level excuses that continue to uphold systemic racism in Talbot County,” he said. ADCouncil members Chuck F. Callahan, Frank Divilio and Laura E. Price, who are Republicans, voted to keep the memorial. “I think this is something that is going to haunt them politically and personally for the rest of their careers.”

Pelosi slams Republicans on coronavirus reliefHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Aug. 13 used a chart to explain why Democrat and Republican lawmakers can’t resolve their differences on a coronavirus relief package.

But Miss Sylvia, who qualifies to vote absentee in South Carolina under the “you are 65 or older” provision, is ready. Miss Sylvia isn’t alone. The National Conference of State Legislatures is a great resource for information on applying for an absentee ballot and early voting. ADADThat’s why Miss Sylvia isn’t taking any chances, and she is determined to bring others along. But if you can vote early with an absentee or mail-in ballot in the upcoming presidential election, be like Miss Sylvia: Put on a mask, go inside and hand-deliver it to your local election office.

“Now, they need that money in order to make the Post Office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said. Bulk mail delivery takes three to 10 days, according to the Postal Service, while first-class mail delivery takes two to five days. ADDemocrats worry the Postal Service may issue new directions for handling election mail and attribute those changes to the USPS’s financial difficulties and DeJoy’s cost-cutting mandate. The Senate and House Democratic caucuses wrote to DeJoy on Wednesday urging him not to change election mail processing practices. He ordered supervisors to reduce overtime hours and forbade postal workers to make extra trips to ensure on-time mail delivery.

Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!” Trump tweeted. ADThe United States was also part of efforts to normalize Israel’s relations with Egypt and Jordan decades ago. Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, tweeted shortly after Trump’s announcement. Israel commends the courage of MBZ for the historic decision of the UAE to join Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) in making peace with Israel. “The news of normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates is important and opens the door to future agreements,” Ashkenazi said.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has not yet explained how he would have handled the coronavirus pandemic differently than President Trump, former Obama National Finance Committee member Don Peebles said on Thursday. And that we haven’t heard yet.”Peebles made the comments one day after Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., made their debut together as running mates in Wilmington, Del. “We need to get to work, pulling this nation out of these crises we find ourselves in. Getting our economy back on track,” Biden said on Wednesday appearing with Harris. Peebles also noted on Thursday that “no one knew the impact” of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., being added to the ticket for the Democratic Party's presidential campaign was “an early Christman present,” said Eric Trump on Thursday. The presumptive Democratic nominee and former vice president announced on Wednesday that his campaign's raised a staggering $26 million since Tuesday's running mate announcement. Eric Trump said that Harris failed her home city San Francisco and she has “compared the police department there to the KKK.” Trump added that Harris wants "socialized medicine," which would dissolve 180,000 Americans' private insurance. “I don’t know why magically she’s going to become this unicorn that somehow rejuvenates Joe Biden who has zero enthusiasm, but, I really believe she was some kind of Christmas present in August for my father and for the campaign,” Trump said. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP“We’re really excited that she's on the ticket, to say the least.”Fox News' Paul Steinhauser, Madeleine Rivera, Allie Raffa contributed to this report.

Lebanon's Parliament approved a state of emergency Thursday following the deadly blast in Beruit, leaving activists worried that sweeping powers granted to the military will forcibly silence anti-government protests. Parliament's vote on the two-week state of emergency formalized government actions taken immediately after the explosion on Aug. 5. He said the state of emergency's only justification is to extend the power of the state and security agencies and “control the opposition." “We were waiting for the army to help in reconstruction, not be an extension of power,” Saghieh said. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale are both expected to push for sweeping reforms during visits to Lebanon Thursday.

The Israeli government announced Tuesday that IDE Technologies has been awarded a $1.5 billion contract to build the world’s largest desalination plant, beating out China-based CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. -- an announcement just weeks after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly opposed Chinese involvement in Israeli infrastructure. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S CORRUPTION TRIAL STARTS AS ISRAELI PM HITS BACK AT JUSTICE SYSTEMIDE Technologies will build the desalination plant, known as Sorek 2, by 2023, which is expected to convert 200 million cubic meters of drinkable water annually, according to the South China Morning Post. The desalination plant will be located just south of Tel Aviv and near the Soreq Nuclear Research Center and the Palmachim military air base. IDE Technologies will reportedly be 0.65 shekel -- or about 19 cents -- cheaper per cubic meter than current desalination strategies in Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP“I think the whole world has seen that and seen how the Chinese Communist Party deceived the world,” Pompeo told Kan 11 in describing the country's initial response to the coronavirus.

These states send ballots to all registered voters. No-excuse absentee ballotingThirty-four states now allow for people to vote by absentee ballot without having to provide an excuse. Once a voter asks to be placed on the list, that voter will automatically receive an absentee ballot for all future elections. Excuse neededVoters in just eight states need an excuse to obtain an absentee ballot. For voters in these states, in-person voting at polling stations remains the main option for casting a ballot.

The Israeli military confirmed on Monday there had been a "security incident" on the country's northern border with Lebanon and said its forces were engaged in "ongoing combat" with Hezbollah militants. Residents near the border said the fighting lasted about an hour and that there was a series of explosions. We are active in all arenas for the security of Israel - both close to our borders and far from them." Israel and Hezbollah fought to a stalemate in a month-long war in Lebanon in 2006. “He urges maximum restraint,” the UNIFIL statement said.

Seven boats at a shipyard in Iran caught fire Wednesday, the latest in a slew of mysterious incidents that have led to speculation that an international foe is perpetrating sneak attacks in an attempt to sabotage the embattled regime. Iran’s only nuclear power plant is located in Bushehr province. IRAN’S NUCLEAR FACILITIES ARE MYSTERIOUSLY UNDER ATTACK"The tempo and tenor of the recent explosions in Iran have been unusual. There is evidence of a concerted campaign underway to thwart Iran's nuclear program," Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News recently. "The more Iran advances its nuclear program in violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the greater the likelihood for additional strikes."

The sides have been holding talks for several months on finalizing a map spelling out which areas of the West Bank will be annexed by Israel. ISRAEL'S PLANNED WEST BANK ANNEXATION IS A 'DECLARATION OF WAR,' SAYS HAMASNetanyahu has been eager to begin annexing West Bank territory in line with President Donald Trump's Mideast plan. The Palestinians, who seek all of the West Bank as part of a future state, have rejected the Trump plan. Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. UN SECRETARY-GENERAL DEMANDS ISRAEL RENOUNCE WEST BANK ANNEXATION PLANSBut Trump has taken a far more conciliatory line than his Republican and Democratic predecessors.

NEC Director Larry Kudlow on 'Democratic asks' in stimulus negotiationsNEC Director Larry Kudlow comments on what he calls the Democratic asks during the ongoing stimulus negotiations, including 'voting rights.'

Northern Trust's Shundrawn Thomas: Markets can continue, but concerned for long-termShundrawn Thomas, Northern Trust President, joins "Squawk on the Street" to talk about his thoughts on the market rally.

Trump announces peace deal between Israel and UAECNBC's Ylan Mui reports President Trump announced Israel and the United Arab Emirates will move to normalize ties.

President Donald Trump will not support a coronavirus relief deal that includes "voting rights" provisions backed by Democrats, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Thursday. It is unclear what provisions related to voting rights, a keystone of American democracy, Kudlow believes are a priority only for Democrats. Postal Service to ensure smooth mail-in voting during a year when casting ballots in person is hazardous due to the virus. "But if they don't get those two items, that means you can't have universal mail-in voting, because they're not equipped to have it." "We knew the GOP opposed voting rights, but this is unmistakable," he wrote.

(CNN) Here is a look at the life of Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq. June 2014 - Nephew, Nechirvan Barzani, is appointed Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government's cabinet. September 25, 2017 - Iraqi Kurds cast their vote in a controversial referendum to achieve independence from Iraq. May 28, 2019 - Barzani's nephew, Nechirvan Barzani, is elected president, making him the second president of the Kurdish Regional Government. June 11, 2019 - Barzani's son, Masrour Barzani, is elected Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government the day after his cousin is sworn in as president.

(CNN) Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang said Thursday he was added to the Democratic National Convention's list of speakers, after he expressed disappointment earlier this week at not being invited to address the event. "And it's official - we have been added to the DNC Convention speaker lineup!" Yang wrote on Twitter , thanking his devoted followers known as the "Yang Gang." "Dear @DNC : Asian Americans are the fastest increasing group in America, including in multiple swing states. Yang ended his presidential campaign in February after a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses.

But in the televised appearances, he's lacked his usual vigor and animation, appearing tired and visibly hunched, veering into bizarre tangents and mispronouncing words. Trump painted a dark, dystopian picture of the United States under a potential Biden administration Thursday, warning of a world without cows or "any form of animals." And he continued to sow doubt in November's election results, saying that Democrats' request for additional United States Postal Service funding are holding up stimulus talks. They want $25 billion, billion, for the post office. "So what does it mean for the United States?

(CNN) Here is a look at the life of Yoweri Museveni , president of Uganda since 1986. April 1979 - FRONASA overthrows Amin and Museveni takes a position on the Military Commission, the newly formed government of Uganda. US President Bill Clinton meets with Museveni in Uganda. July 11, 2003 - Bush meets with Museveni in Entebbe, Uganda, to speak about Bush meets with Museveni in Entebbe, Uganda, to speak about AIDSAugust 2005 - Uganda's parliament removes presidential term limits. October 30, 2007 - Museveni meets with Bush at the White House.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheal Martin are seen at Hillsborough Castle, in Belfast, Northern Ireland August 13, 2020. “It seems to me that there is a landing zone if that will is there on both sides, and I think it is,” said Martin, who became prime minister in June. On his first visit to Northern Ireland since the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson sought to talk up the strength of union between Britain’s constituent nations. Johnson announced plans to establish two new bodies to work with his government on marking the centenary next year of the creation of Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster of the Democratic Unionist Party welcomed the initiative and called for it to be inclusive.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel hailed a U.S.-brokered peace deal with the United Arab Emirates on Thursday as a “great day for peace” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to hold a news conference at 1600 GMT to comment further. Saying he had to deal with a matter of great national interest, Netanyahu abruptly left a cabinet discussion on the coronavirus crisis about an hour before U.S. President Donald Trump announced the agreement to normalise relations between Israel and the Gulf Arab country. On Twitter, Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador in Washington, wrote: “A great day for peace! Israel commends the courage of MBZ (de facto UAE leader Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan) for the historic decision of the UAE to join Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) in making peace with Israel. Israel deeply appreciates all ... Trump has done to make this breakthrough possible.”

U.S. President Donald Trump | Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images Trump announces normalization of relations between Israel and UAE Israel will suspend its annexation plans as part of the agreement. As part of the agreement, Israel will suspend its plans to annex parts of land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state. Instead, according to the statement, it will “focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world." The deal is driven in large part by what Israel and the UAE view as a need to unite against a common foe: the Islamist regime in Iran. But it also comes as the cause of the Palestinians has faded to some extent amid the rise of what Arab countries see as the threat from Iran.

Trump’s pronouncement marks the latest escalation in his war on mail-in voting. He has, without evidence, claimed that mail-in voting is ripe for fraud and will lead to a “rigged” election. Most acknowledge that mail-in voting has a slightly higher risk of fraud, but it isn’t widespread. As of late, Trump has sought to draw a distinction between absentee voting and mail-in voting. The New York Times estimates that 76 percent of voters live in states where, at a minimum, there is no-excuse absentee voting.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow made an eyebrow-raising statement Thursday that President Donald Trump is not interested in voting rights protections in the next pandemic relief package. We don’t want to have voting rights and aid to aliens and so forth. In recent weeks, the White House fueled fears that it will seek to disrupt and delay the mail-in voting process. Trump has repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories linking mail-in voting to rampant voter fraud, despite a lack of evidence. Postal Service in order to kneecap mail-in voting during the pandemic.

Fox News host Jeanine Pirro said on-air Wednesday about Joe Biden 'For some reason, I just have this feeling that Joe Biden isn't going to be on the ticket. I have a sense that something is going to happen before the election...' The Morning Joe panel discusses.

The president complained dishwashers, toilets, and showerheads that only provide a "drip, drip, drip." "So showerheads -- you take a shower, the water doesn't come out," Trump said at a White House event last month. Since 1992, federal law has dictated that new showerheads shouldn't pour more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute (9.5 liters). So if there are four nozzles, no more than 2.5 gallons total should come out between all four. The new proposal Wednesday would allow each nozzle to spray as much as 2.5 gallons, not just the overall showerhead.

"They are asking too much money, $3.5 trillion, we have already spent over $3 trillion,” Kudlow said. “So much of the Democratic asks are really liberal left wish lists — voting rights and aid to aliens and so forth.”The HEROES act, crafted by Democratic lawmakers, allocates $3.6 billion for states to go toward election management. Voting rights have risen in importance during the 2020 campaign because of the coronavirus pandemic, which will likely lead to a dramatic increase in mail-in ballots. “They want $3.5 billion for the mail-in votes, OK, universal mail-in ballots. They want $25 billion dollars, billion, for the Post Office,” Trump said.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to normalize ties in a breakthrough brokered by the U.S., according to President Donald Trump. "This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region," according to a joint statement tweeted by Trump. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is the Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. Andrew Harnik / AFP via Getty Images file"The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible, and will work together to achieve this goal," it added. Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, direct flights, security and the establishment of reciprocal embassies, among other things, it added.

Kamala Harris campaign via AP“My mother, who raised me and my sister, was a proud woman,” Harris said while on the campaign trail. Still, Black voters are reliably Democratic — 89 percent of them voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, compared to 8 percent for Trump. In recent elections, the Asian American and Pacific Islander population has trended left, with 79 percent voting for Clinton in 2016, according to an Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund exit poll conducted in 11 different Asian languages. South Asian Americans in particular voted most strongly Democrat with some subgroups like Pakistanis voting as high as 96 percent for Clinton. In interviews with several Indian Americans in February 2019, South Asian American leaders indicated that many in the community were likely unaware of Harris' Indian heritage.

Former presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten will be honored by Equality California during its virtual Golden State Equality Awards celebration. The event will be hosted by “Pose” star Angelica Ross and take place on Sept. 13. The event will feature performances by Melissa Etheridge, Betty Who, Alex Newell, Shea Diamond and Robin S.Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. “The Equality Awards are a critical opportunity for members of our community to honor the leaders and organizations whose selfless work helps to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice. Over the past year, Pete and Chasten Buttigieg have transformed American politics forever.

Cory Booker coming to Maine for campaign fundraiserPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen Cory Booker is planning to make a stop in Maine. The New Jersey senator is part of a crowded field vying for the Democratic nod to take on Republican President Donald Trump. Booker’s scheduled to appear at Halo at the Point at Thompson’s Point in Portland at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Booker’s the fourth Democratic hopeful to make a stop in Maine during the current presidential election cycle. He was preceded by South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and author Marianne Williamson.

ADVERTISEMENTMany Democrats see climate change as an urgent crisis. Jay Inslee made action to limit the worst extremes of climate change the core of his presidential bid. Inslee would not have been invited to Wednesday’s climate change forum, either, having fallen short of the polling criteria. Among Democrats seeking the presidency, there is little disagreement that climate change is a building disaster. The relatively minor differences among Democrats on climate change come in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump, who has dismissed and mocked the science of climate change and has reversed course on U.S. climate policy.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is making a trip to Maine, making himself the fourth candidate to come to the Pine Tree State in this election cycle. Booker, a senator from New Jersey, plans to make a stop in Portland on Saturday. He’s slated to appear at Halo at the Point at Thompson’s Point in Portland at 5 p.m. for the ticketed event. It’s a busy week for Booker, who also plans to unveil policy positions about climate change on Tuesday, according to a spokesman. ADVERTISEMENTU.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont; South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; and author Marianne Williamson have also made stops in Maine.

FILE - In this April 20, 2019 photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker speaks at an event at the True Love Missionary Baptist Church in Las Vegas. Cory Booker's family ties to Las Vegas and the similar demographics between his home state of New Jersey and Nevada will help him compete in the western state's presidential caucuses, Booker's campaign manager said Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2019. Cory Booker's family ties to Las Vegas and the similar demographics between his home state of New Jersey and Nevada will help him compete in the western state's presidential caucuses, Booker's campaign manager said Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)LAS VEGAS (AP) — Cory Booker’s family ties to Las Vegas and the similar demographics between his home state of New Jersey and Nevada will help him compete in the western state’s presidential caucuses, Booker’s campaign manager said Wednesday. The campaign now has about 20 paid staff in Las Vegas and Reno.

BOSTON (AP) — New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, a Yankees fan, worked to whip up support for his presidential bid by venturing into the heart of rival Red Sox territory — a sports bar across from Fenway Park. On Monday, Booker told backers at the fundraising event that fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls should aim higher than just trying to oust President Donald Trump in next year’s election. ADVERTISEMENT“There are now more shelter-in-place drills and active shooter drills in America than fire drills,” he said. Booker participated in last week’s Democratic debate, but has struggled to break through in early state or national polls. Last month, Booker warned he might end his run unless donations from supporters increased quickly.

Castro says he needs $800,000 in 10 days or campaign is overDemocratic presidential candidate former Housing Secretary Julian Castro walks to be interviewed following a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN/New York Times at Otterbein University, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Westerville, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)Democratic presidential candidate former Housing Secretary Julian Castro walks to be interviewed following a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN/New York Times at Otterbein University, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Westerville, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Obama administration housing secretary Julián Castro said Monday that he’d drop out of the presidential race if he doesn’t raise $800,000 in 10 days — following the lead of rival Cory Booker, who rode a similar plea to a recent uptick in donations. “This is a critical moment — if my campaign can’t raise $800,000 by October 31st, my campaign will be silenced for good,” Castro tweeted. Castro ended the third quarter with just $672,000 in his campaign bank account.

Ten White House hopefuls will participate Wednesday in an all-day forum on gun policy hosted by MSNBC, March for Our Lives and Giffords. Both attended a gun policy forum Wednesday in Las Vegas. She went on to set up a gun control advocacy organization, which co-hosted Wednesday’s event. Nine of the 10 leading presidential candidates were expected to attend and speak about gun violence. ___12:05 a.m.As impeachment fever overtakes Washington, the progress made on stemming gun violence risks falling by the wayside.

Cory Booker says he hit his $1.7M campaign fundraising goalDemocratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks during the Climate Forum at Georgetown University, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks during the Climate Forum at Georgetown University, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker says he’s hit the $1.7 million fundraising goal he set for his campaign about a week ago, ensuring he has enough money to continue his White House bid. ADVERTISEMENTBooker’s campaign manager said the money would go toward ballot access and hiring staff, among other things. Booker raised $4.5 million during the second quarter but spent nearly $1 million more than that.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lagging in polling and fundraising, Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker said Saturday he may end his run unless donations from supporters increase quickly. “I don’t believe people should stay in this just to stay in it. ADVERTISEMENTWithout such a fundraising surge, the campaign does “not see a legitimate long-term path forward,” according to the memo. Booker did see the beginnings of a fundraising bump on Saturday, with Demmissie tweeting that the candidate had raised nearly $200,000 as of 5 p.m. Eastern time. But he has struggled with fundraising and yet to break through in either early state or national polls.

Booker, along with Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer, all presidential hopefuls, spoke at the breakfast event hosted by the Al Sharpton's National Action Network. Booker, along with Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer, all presidential hopefuls, spoke at the breakfast event hosted by the Al Sharpton's National Action Network. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)A super PAC formed to support Cory Booker’s Democratic presidential campaign is shutting down. The group’s founder, San Francisco lawyer Steve Phillips, indicated in a news release Wednesday that Dream United had struggled to raise money. Booker, a New Jersey senator, has publicly disavowed support from super PACs, which aren’t required to disclose their donors publicly.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., addresses supporters outside the State House after filing to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., addresses supporters outside the State House after filing to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker is on the ballot in New Hampshire, where he hopes his patience will pay off. The Democratic presidential hopeful signed up for the first-in-the-nation presidential primary on Friday, the final day of the filing period. Though he lags behind in polls, Booker says he’s not one to switch strategies or states to focus on, as some other candidates have done. Booker’s latest trip to New Hampshire comes a day after former Massachusetts Gov. Booker says it’s good to have robust competition, and that he doesn’t take it personally that some of his close friends are also running.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris spoke at a criminal justice forum at a historically black college on Saturday after a group that honored President Donald Trump with an award was removed as the event sponsor. Organizers at Benedict College in Columbia say the candidate forum in which Harris and other Democratic presidential candidates were speaking was considered separate from the event in which Trump was honored a day earlier, renaming the event and replacing signage from the venue with that of the college. ADVERTISEMENTSeveral other Democrats appeared onstage, including presidential candidate Cory Booker. Soon after, the city’s mayor, Steve Benjamin, told The Associated Press that he would organize an alternative event, working with Benedict officials to coordinate what was renamed as the Collegiate Bipartisan Presidential Forum, which he hosted. The Harris campaign said in a statement that, despite the group’s claims, Harris spoke with the understanding that she was participating in the new forum.

Castro says he raised $800,000 to stay in presidential raceFormer Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro listens to a question at the J Street National Conference, with the hosts of "Pod Save the World," Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Housing Secretary Julián Castro has announced raising the $800,000 he said he needed to avoid dropping out of the presidential race. Castro sent out a fundraising email Oct. 21 imploring supporters for a spike in donations by the end of the month. Polling at the bottom of the pack, Castro raised just $3.5 million during the year’s third quarter and ended it with less than $700,000 cash on hand. ADVERTISEMENTHe remains in danger of failing to meet minimum thresholds to make the Democratic presidential primary debate later this month in Georgia.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Fourteen Democrats and six Republicans, including President Donald Trump, are set to appear on next year’s Oklahoma presidential primary ballot after the state’s three-day filing period closed. Four more Democrats and one more Republican filed paperwork on Wednesday, while Sen. Kamala Harris of California formally withdrew her candidacy. Harris, who filed paperwork on Monday to appear on the ballot in in Oklahoma, abruptly ended her White House bid on Tuesday, citing fundraising difficulties. ADVERTISEMENTNo Libertarian candidates filed for Oklahoma’s primary. Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Ted Cruz each won their party’s nomination in Oklahoma’s 2016 presidential primary election.

FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2019, file photo, then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listens to a question in the spin room after a Democratic presidential primary debate in Atlanta. Silicon Valley donor Steve Westly, who raised millions for President Barack Obama and is now helping Biden, sent out emails Tuesday wooing Harris supporters. “Presidential campaigns are not delicate affairs. His campaign is encouraging Harris donors to attend, or donate before the year’s end, said one person involved with the campaign’s state operation. ADVERTISEMENTYet just because the campaigns are thirsting for new donors doesn’t mean Harris’ supporters are ready.

One by one, the men gathered at Booker’s South Carolina presidential campaign headquarters thanked him for highlighting their concerns. The New Jersey senator, one of two black men seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, said he was mostly there to listen. “There is no reason we shouldn’t vote for Cory Booker for president.”Black support is crucial to candidates’ success in South Carolina, which holds the first Southern primary next year. Harris has also specifically homed in on black men in South Carolina, in October going to a Columbia barbershop for a conversation on black men’s issues. Part of the explanation for lower support from black men, Seawright said, could be attributed to high incarceration rates among black men, as well as post-incarceration restrictions on voting.

Harris and Booker, a New Jersey senator, are black. Booker has a robust organization in Iowa, where voters will kick off the Democratic contest in less than two months. The alternative, he said, would be a Democratic debate, and perhaps soon a lineup of candidates, bereft of any racial or ethnic diversity. “I’m asking you to answer your phones when a pollster calls so we can get on that debate stage,” Booker pleaded. “The shooting of unarmed black men is a crisis in this country still and it was a crisis then,” Booker told the AP.

But they’re also aware that for a campaign languishing in the polls, this may be one of their last opportunities to turn things around. All it takes is one match, and I think we will take off,” Booker campaign manager Addisu Demissie said in an interview with The Associated Press. But if moving to the Senate was intended to bolster Booker’s credentials for an eventual presidential campaign, that hasn’t panned out. One person said Booker staffers have made it known in recent weeks that they’re considering their next steps in case Booker’s campaign ends soon. The super PAC will hold onto some cash, however, so it can continue to support Booker beyond the debate qualification deadline.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., acknowledges the crowd during a campaign event at the Old South Meeting House, Friday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., acknowledges the crowd during a campaign event at the Old South Meeting House, Friday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Boston. Warren addressed a raucous hometown crowd at Boston’s Old South Meeting House, a Congregational church famous for being the organizing point for the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Warren told the Boston crowd: “The billionaires know which candidates for president are on their side.”“Many corporate executives and career politicians and billionaires on both sides of the aisle want to keep their influence and their wealth. Wheatley was a poet who eventually inspired George Washington and once sat in the pews of the Old South Meeting House.

It was the best fundraising quarter so far for both Klobuchar and Booker. Both typically use more traditional fundraising methods, including frequent gatherings with big donors that Warren and Sanders have shunned. In the third quarter last year, Warren raised $24.6 million as months of strong, summer polling lifted her to front-runner status along with Biden and Sanders. In a message Friday, Warren campaign manager Roger Lau said the senator’s average contribution was $23, proving the grassroots nature of her appeal. Trump’s campaign said it raised $46 million during the last quarter and had more than $102 million cash on hand.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The financial sector, blamed by progressives for spawning the 2008 economic collapse, is lining up behind Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign. His campaign said Friday it has returned a $5,000 donation from one of Wall Street’s most prominent lawyers, H. Rodgin Cohen. One top Wall Street law firm could pose particular challenges for Buttigieg with progressives. Employees of the law firm have contributed more than $83,000 to Buttigieg’s presidential campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. But after seeing the donations from Sullivan & Cromwell lawyers, he decided to support Warren instead.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks during the Teamsters Presidential Candidate Forum at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette via AP)Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks during the Teamsters Presidential Candidate Forum at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While Booker has hit the grassroots fundraising threshold to qualify for the December primary debate, his campaign acknowledged it doesn’t expect him to meet the polling threshold. Instead of attending the debate, Booker will campaign in Nevada and Iowa next week. The debate will be held next Thursday in Los Angeles, co-hosted by PBS NewsHour and Politico.

Booker said a looming impeachment trial and other pressing issues in Washington could deal a “big, big blow” to his Democratic presidential campaign by keeping him away from Iowa in the final weeks before the Feb. 3 caucuses. Booker said a looming impeachment trial and other pressing issues in Washington could deal a “big, big blow” to his Democratic presidential campaign by keeping him away from Iowa in the final weeks before the Feb. 3 caucuses. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Cory Booker said a looming impeachment trial and other pressing issues in Washington could deal a “big, big blow” to his Democratic presidential campaign by keeping him away from Iowa in the final weeks before the Feb. 3 caucuses. “If this trial lasts two weeks, that is literally dozens of events we won’t be able to do,” Booker said. ___Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC___Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, “Ground Game.”

Booker has dropped out of the presidential race after failing to qualify for the December primary debate. Booker has dropped out of the presidential race after failing to qualify for the December primary debate. Booker also missed last month’s debate and exits the race polling in low single digits in the early primary states and nationwide. That didn’t land in a Democratic primary that has often rewarded candidates who promised voters they were tough-minded fighters who could take on Trump. Booker’s exit from the presidential race further narrows the once two dozen-strong field, which now stands at 12 candidates.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Uncertainty over when the Senate will begin President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is complicating crunch-time campaigning for the five Democratic senators seeking the White House. In the absence of a trial, they’re filling time with hastily scheduled campaign events far from Capitol Hill. The dynamic becomes even murkier next week, when a presidential debate in Iowa is set for Jan. 14. A trial could leave them in the early voting states without their top rivals. Taking private flights could make things easier but also might undermine the working-class credibility of some Democratic White House hopefuls.

Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop was making his first public declaration of support in the Democratic primary. Payne, Hastings and Wilson are the first Black Caucus members to pick new candidates after Booker and Harris ended their campaigns. ADVERTISEMENTThe Biden campaign confirmed the endorsements Tuesday, bringing the 77-year-old candidate’s roster of Black Caucus supporters to 15. Harris had peaked at 11 Black Caucus endorsements. Florida, with 219 pledged delegates at stake March 17, and Georgia, with 105 pledged delegates at stake on March 24, will hold two of the most significant primaries after the March 3 Super Tuesday slate when Democrats will scramble for more than a third of the total 3,979 pledged delegates.

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2020 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Patrick was the last remaining African American candidate in a Democratic presidential field once defined by its diversity. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2020 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Patrick was the last remaining African American candidate in a Democratic presidential field once defined by its diversity. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)ATLANTA (AP) — Joe Biden secured the endorsement of another former presidential rival on Friday, with former Massachusetts Gov.

FILE - In this June 1, 2019 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, of New Jersey, waves before speaking during the 2019 California Democratic Party State Organizing Convention in San Francisco. Booker has dropped out of the presidential race after failing to qualify for the December primary debate. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)FILE - In this June 1, 2019 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, of New Jersey, waves before speaking during the 2019 California Democratic Party State Organizing Convention in San Francisco. Booker has dropped out of the presidential race after failing to qualify for the December primary debate. Booker, who arrived in the Senate in 2013, is expected to have an easy path to reelection.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., walks to the Senate chamber, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington, for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin)Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., walks to the Senate chamber, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington, for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. Booker announced on Twitter early Monday that Biden will “restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.”Booker ended his own presidential bid in January, pledging to do “everything in my power to elect the eventual Democratic nominee for president.”Booker’s decision follows recent Biden endorsements by several failed Democratic presidential candidates, including Sen. Kamala Harris of California and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Booker of New Jersey has endorsed Joe Biden. Booker of New Jersey has endorsed Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. ADVERTISEMENTBooker planned to appear with Biden in Detroit and Flint, Michigan later Monday, according to a Biden aide. His decision follows recent Biden endorsements by several failed Democratic presidential candidates , including Sen. Kamala Harris of California and former Massachusetts Gov.

New Jersey Democrats and Republicans will choose their candidates for president, Senate and House on Tuesday, but because of the COVID-19 outbreak, they'll be doing it mostly by mail-in ballots. New Jersey Democrats and Republicans will choose their candidates for president, Senate and House on Tuesday, but because of the COVID-19 outbreak, they'll be doing it mostly by mail-in ballots. Though there was little suspense, former Vice President Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primary, and Democratic incumbent Sen. Cory Booker was victorious against his challenger. New Jersey had no-excuse voting by mail before Tuesday, but the experiment with nearly all mail-in voting stemmed from the COVID-19 outbreak. Murphy mandated that all Democrats and Republicans get mail-in ballots, and unaffiliated voters be sent applications to join a party so they could participate.

Ajaye' Brewington fills out a provisional ballot at a polling site in Hackensack, N.J., Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Ajaye' Brewington fills out a provisional ballot at a polling site in Hackensack, N.J., Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Tuesday’s primary elections in New Jersey and Delaware (all times local):9 p.m.Cory Booker has won New Jersey’s Democratic Senate primary. ADVERTISEMENT___8:30 p.m.Former Vice President Joe Biden has won New Jersey’s mostly mail-in Democratic presidential primary. ___8:25 p.m.Joe Biden has won Delaware’s Democratic presidential primary, while President Donald Trump has won the state’s Republican presidential primary.

The former Hill International CEO defeated former Burlington County freeholder Kate Gibbs in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District primary. (Philip W. Scott/David Richter for Congress via AP)David Richter poses for a photo July 31, 2019. The former Hill International CEO defeated former Burlington County freeholder Kate Gibbs in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District primary. In the 3rd Congressional district, former Hill International CEO David Richter defeated former Burlington County freeholder Kate Gibbs. He then entered the 3rd District race.

But the Senate’s two black Democrats, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, protested, saying the measure should pass as is. He said the Senate should make other reforms, such as easing “qualified immunity” rules that shield police officers from being sued. “Rather than consider a good-intentioned but symbolic bill, the Senate could immediately consider addressing qualified immunity and ending police militarization,” Paul said. He sought to offer an amendment to weaken the measure, and Booker blocked it. Full Coverage: Days of UnrestThe conflict had been kept relatively quiet as Booker and Paul sought an agreement, but media reports recently pegged Paul as the reason the measure is stalled.

Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, both former presidential candidates, are expected to announce a package in coming days, with a House bill coming soon and a House Judiciary Committee hearing next week. ADVERTISEMENTBoth the House and Senate efforts are expected to include changes to police accountability laws, such as revising immunity provisions and creating a database of police use-of-force incidents. With Democrats in the majority, the bills will almost certainly pass the House. On Thursday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pointedly called on McConnell to commit to considering the bills this summer. She acknowledged the opposition the bills will likely face, but called on fellow lawmakers to consider the option of doing nothing.

(Ronen Zvulun/ Pool Photo via AP)JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley will remain in what he described as an “enclave” after Israel annexes the territory and will not be granted Israeli citizenship. Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with plans to annex the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, in line with President Donald Trump’s Middle East plan, a process that could begin as early as July 1. The annexation of the Jordan Valley and the far-flung settlements would make it virtually impossible to create a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, which is still widely seen as the only way to resolve the decades-old conflict. ADVERTISEMENTIn an interview with the Israel Hayom newspaper, Netanyahu said Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, including residents of the city of Jericho, would remain under limited Palestinian self-rule, with Israel having overall security control. The Trump plan would grant the Palestinians limited statehood over scattered enclaves surrounded by Israel if they meet a long list of conditions.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Mideast envoy is trying to arrange a meeting of key global mediators to discuss prospects and threats to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the United Nations said Friday. ADVERTISEMENTDujarric said Nikolay Mladenov, special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, is holding discussions with the parties on holding a Quartet meeting. The U.S. plan envisions leaving about one third of the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967, under permanent Israeli control, while granting the Palestinians expanded autonomy in the remainder of the territory. The Palestinians, who seek all of the West Bank as part of an independent state, have rejected the plan, saying it unfairly favors Israel. He has called for negotiations under international auspices, including by the Quartet, to advance a two-state solution.

Palestinians burn pictures of U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest against Trump's mideast initiative, in the West Bank city of Nablus, Saturday, May 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)Palestinians burn pictures of U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest against Trump's mideast initiative, in the West Bank city of Nablus, Saturday, May 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has harshly criticized Jewish West Bank settler leaders for disparaging President Donald Trump over what they perceive to be his less than adequate plan allowing Israel to annex parts of the West Bank. Netanyahu has announced that he will annex parts of the West Bank, including the strategic Jordan Valley and dozens of Jewish settlements, in line with Trump’s Mideast plan. The Palestinians, who seek all of the West Bank as part of an independent state, have rejected the plan, saying it unfairly favors Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wears a mask as he looks on during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Saturday, May 31, 2020. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wears a mask as he looks on during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Saturday, May 31, 2020. Gantz also serves as “alternate” prime minister until he is expected to replace Netanyahu late next year, under a power-sharing agreement that ended more than a year of political turmoil. The U.S. plan envisions leaving about one third of the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967, under permanent Israeli control, while granting the Palestinians expanded autonomy in the remainder of the territory. The Palestinians, who seek all of the West Bank as part of an independent state, have rejected the plan, saying it unfairly favors Israel.

“Annexation will certainly and immediately upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and with UAE,” he wrote. The Palestinians want a state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. “In the UAE and across much of the Arab world, we would like to believe Israel is an opportunity, not an enemy. Netanyahu has argued that Israel must maintain full control of the Jordan Valley to meet its security needs. Israeli leaders have long expressed fears that withdrawing from the valley could open them up to a future Arab invasion from the east.

The Palestinians seek all of the occupied West Bank, captured by Israel in 1967, as part of a future independent state. The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a virtual meeting Wednesday and condemned the Israeli plan. Israel blocked him from traveling to the West Bank, citing coronavirus restrictions even while allowing Palestinian laborers to cross into and out of Israel. While reiterating his opposition