Trump shows fake map in effort to back his false claim Hurricane Dorian may hit Alabama

Donald Trump presented an altered National Hurricane Centre map that expanded Hurricane Dorian’s official forecast so it would include Alabama, a state he incorrectly and repeatedly said would be hit by the storm.Speaking to media in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the president asked acting department of homeland security secretary Kevin McAleenan to retrieve a large map from behind him showing the hurricane’s potential path over the US after it pummelled the Bahamas throughout the week.

'Over the top:' McConnell still mad about #MoscowMitch, calls attention to 2020 election

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was first called "Moscow Mitch" in July by MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on on his "Morning Joe" show

Pentagon chief says he currently has no plan to seize Iranian tanker Adrian Darya 1

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday he currently had no plan on his desk to seize the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, which is at the center of a dispute between Tehran and Western powers. The vessel, formerly named Grace 1, was detained by British Royal Marine commandos off Gibraltar on July 4 as it was suspected to be en route to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. "We do not talk about plans, but currently I have no plan right now sitting on my desk to do such a thing," Esper told reporters in London when asked if there was any plan to seize the ship.

Trump directly contradicts Pence claim he told him to stay at his golf course: 'People like my product, what can I tell you?'

Donald Trump has directly contradicted Mike Pence by claiming he never suggested to his vice-president that he stay at one of his private golf resorts during an official trip to Ireland.Mr Pence drew criticism earlier this week when it emerged he was staying at the Trump International Golf Club in Doonbeg, despite the majority of his duties taking place nearly 180 miles away in Dublin.

Guatemala declares state of siege after suspected drug dealers kill soldiers

Guatemala's government on Wednesday declared a state of siege in five northeastern provinces in an effort to regain control after three soldiers were killed by suspected drug traffickers, authorities said. Authorities will send more military and police personnel to Alta Verapaz, El Progreso, Izabal, Peten and Zacapa provinces, a drug-trafficking corridor that runs from the Honduran to Mexican borders. "These criminal groups operate throughout the region," Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales told a news conference.

Military Base Loses Funding for New School to Trump’s Border Wall

By BY HELENE COOPER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2ZveaRg

Jeffrey Epstein’s Donations Create a Schism at M.I.T.’s Revered Media Lab

By BY TIFFANY HSU, MARC TRACY AND ERIN GRIFFITH from NYT Business https://ift.tt/2ZSlNko