TRUMP REBUKES RACISM CLAIM
manchester, n.h.» Donald Trump confronted head-on allegations that he is racist on Thursday, defending his hardline approach to immigration while trying to make the case to minority voters that Democrats have abandoned them.
His general election opponent, Hillary Clinton, meanwhile hammered the point that Trump unleashed the “radical fringe” within the Republican Party, including anti-Semites and white supremacists, dubbing the billionaire businessman’s campaign as one that will “make America hate again.”
The ping-pong accusations come as the two candidates vie for minorities and any undecided voters with less than three months until Election Day.
Brazilian senators blast each other as Rousseff trial starts B
rio de janeiro» Brazil’s Senate on Thursday began deliberating whether to permanently remove President Dilma Rousseff from office, the final step in a leadership fight that has paralyzed Congress and cast a pall over a nation in the midst of a severe recession.
Brazil’s first female president is accused of illegally shifting money between government budgets to mask yawning deficits.
Turkey sends more tanks to Syria, insists on Kurdish retreat B
ankara, turkey» Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Thursday and gave Syrian Kurdish forces a week to scale back their presence near the Turkish border, a day after it launched a U.S.-backed cross-border incursion to establish a frontier zone free of the Islamic State group and Kurdish rebels.
Skirmishes broke out between Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters, raising the potential for an all-out confrontation between the two American allies that would also jeopardize the fight against the Islamic State in the volatile area.
Turkey’s incursion Wednesday to capture the town of Jarablus was a dramatic escalation of Turkey’s role in Syria’s war and adds yet another powerhouse force on the ground in a complicated conflict.
U.S. warship fired warning shots at Iranian boats
B washington» A U.S. Navy ship fired three warning shots in the direction of an Iranian boat that was approaching another American ship head-on in the North Arabian Gulf on Wednesday, U.S. officials said, in an escalation of encounters in the region this week.
According to U.S. Navy Cmdr. Bill Urban, the Iranian boat came within 200 yards of the USS Tempest and ignored several bridge-to-bridge radio calls and warning flares. It finally turned away after the USS Squall, which was with the USS Tempest, fired three warning shots from its .50-caliber gun, said Urban, a spokesman for the Navy’s 5th Fleet.
Google, Twitter, Facebook failing on terrorism, British panel says B Internet
london» companies including Google, Twitter and Facebook are failing in their duty to block extremist content that promotes terrorism and violence, British lawmakers said.
The companies should employ more staff to police content and British law-enforcement agencies should have extra resources to detect and block dangerous posts and users, Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee said in a report published in London Thursday.
Heroin cut with elephant tranquilizer may have caused 60 overdoses across two states in 48 hours.
Drug dealers, to stretch their supply and deliver a stronger, longer high, are cutting their heroin with carfentanil.
It’s the most potent opioid used commercially, strong enough to knock out — or even kill — a 15,000-pound elephant and used primarily to sedate other large animals, such as oxen, moose and buffalo.
On Tuesday night, officers responded to at least 11 overdose cases in Jennings County, Ind.
That same day and into Wednesday evening, authorities in Hamilton County, Ohio — home to Cincinnati — received more than 50 heroin overdose calls.
Dwayne Johnson tops Forbes list of highest-paid actors B
new york» Dwayne Johnson elbowed Robert Downey Jr. aside to become the highest-paid actor with a fast and furious income of $64.5 million, according to Forbes magazine.
The former wrestler beat out Jackie Chan with $61 million and Matt Damon, who earned $55 million.
Forbes’ list of the highestpaid actresses put Jennifer Lawrence on top with $46 million, Melissa McCarthy with $33 million and Scarlett Johansson with $25 million.