Early court ruling sides with Johnson in fight to suspend Parliament - Fox News

A Scottish court Friday rejected the first legal bid to block British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from suspending Parliament until two weeks before the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline.

Judge Raymond Doherty refused to grant lawmakers an emergency injunction but did not comment on the merits of their appeal. The move was seen as a blow to the lawmakers seeking to stop a no-deal Brexit.

QUEEN APPROVES BORIS JOHNSON'S REQUEST TO SUSPEND PARLIAMENT

The judge ruled there is time to hold more hearings next week.

Two other legal cases are in progress in London and Northern Ireland.

Johnson’s request to suspend parliament was approved by Queen Elizabeth Wednesday.

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Johnson said this week there would be "ample" time to debate once the suspension ends on Oct. 14.

Lawmakers reacted with fury, including John Bercow, speaker of the lower House of Commons, who was not told in advance of Johnson’s plan.

“Shutting down Parliament would be an offense against the democratic process and the rights of parliamentarians as the people’s elected representatives,” Bercow said. “Surely at this early stage in his premiership, the prime minister should be seeking to establish rather than undermine his democratic credentials and indeed his commitment to Parliamentary democracy.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/scottish-court-rejects-first-bid-to-block-boris-johnson-from-suspending-parliament

2019-08-30 10:27:40Z
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Hurricane Dorian is days away from striking Florida and could be a monster storm by landfall - CNN

"If you're anywhere on that east coast of Florida, you want to have food, water, medicine for up to seven days," Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday.

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Dorian, now a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 105 mph, is due to slow in the coming days, gaining intensity over warm Caribbean waters to fuel the heavy rains, damaging wind and storm surge it's expected to deliver, CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said.

Hurricane watches have been issued for the northwestern Bahamas, where Dorian is expected to hit Sunday as a Category 3 storm, the National Hurricane Center said.

TRACK THE STORM

It is then forecast to roar toward the US mainland Monday evening into Tuesday morning at major-hurricane strength, though experts warn that forecasts are subject to change.

"There is a wide cone of uncertainty of the storm, especially since it is still days from landfall on Florida," CNN meteorologist Rob Shackelford said. The cone extends from Key West up to around Jacksonville, a distance of 500 miles, he added.

Big storm, big response

Dorian warrants a multibillion dollar price tag, FEMA associate administrator Jeffrey Byard told reporters Thursday.

"This is going to be a big storm. We're prepared for a big response," he said.

Since Dorian had minimal impact on Puerto Rico, the agency is shifting staff from the island to Florida in preparation.

Dorian already has claimed the title of strongest storm so far of this year's Atlantic hurricane season.

If it reaches Florida, this will be the fourth year in a row a hurricane of any strength has hit the state. That would be the most years in a row since the 1940s.

And if it reaches Florida as a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of around 130 mph, it would be the strongest hurricane to strike Florida's east coast since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller said.

Florida residents are stocking up

DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all 67 Florida counties. The state has 819,000 gallons of water and 1.8 million meals ready for distribution, he said.

Florida residents have been stocking up on gas and food for a stormy weekend, and officials are urging those in the state to be prepared.

"Get water, get gas, get cash out of the ATMs," West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James said. "The more we hear about this storm, it sounds like a serious one."

With Dorian scheduled to arrive in time for Labor Day weekend, major airlines have offered waivers for flights to Florida, Georgia and the Caribbean. And tourist areas were emptying out Thursday, CNN affiliate WFLA reported.

"We usually get hundreds of visitors every day, and it's just been one of those days that drives everyone away. It's a gorgeous day but the hurricane is just going to kill it all," Jason Pun, owner of a Cocoa Beach restaurant, told the station.

"it is taking a little bit of a hindrance, especially when we're supposed to be preparing for one of our busiest weekends of the year," Frank Figueroa, owner of the neighboring Sandbar, said.

Military and NASA are making adjustments

To avoid damage from Dorian, the US Navy is moving more than 40 planes from Jacksonville to bases in Michigan, Ohio and Texas.

The US Air Force is evacuating 16 aircraft from MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa to McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita, Kansas, an Air Force official said.

Florida State University had been scheduled to play its season-opening game off campus, in Jacksonville near the Atlantic coast. But because Dorian will be approaching, the game has been moved farther inland to FSU's normal home field in Tallahassee.

Because Dorian could impact Florida's Kennedy Space Center, NASA has said it will have a crawler-transporter move NASA's mobile launcher Friday from launch pad 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building about 3.5 miles away. The launcher was being tested on the pad in anticipation of future Space Launch System missions.

CNN's Paul P. Murphy, Omar Jimenez, LaRell Reynolds, Meg Wagner, Tina Burnside and Daniel Shepherd contributed to this report.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/30/us/dorian-forecast-friday-wxc/index.html

2019-08-30 10:48:00Z
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Hurricane Dorian could become Category 4 storm; IG report could be only the beginning of bad news for Comey - Fox News

Shoppers wait in long lines at Costco, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Davie, Fla., as they stock up on supplies ahead of Hurricane Dorian. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Good morning and welcome to Fox News First. Here's what you need to know as you start your Friday...

Hurricane Dorian getting stronger as Florida braces for Labor Day weekend impact
Hurricane Dorian was upgraded to Category 2 strength late Thursday, and forecasters said it could develop into a potentially catastrophic Category 4 storm as it heads toward Florida, with landfall there expected Monday. As of 11 p.m. ET Thursday, the storm was approaching Category 3 status, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. Dorian was expected to remain a major hurricane through Friday and hit the U.S. somewhere between the Florida Keys and southern Georgia — a 500-mile stretch that reflected the high degree of uncertainty regarding the storm's projected path.

President Trump said Thursday he's canceling his planned trip to Poland this weekend and instead will send Vice President Mike Pence so he can stay in the United States to monitor the strengthening Hurricane Dorian. Meanwhile, former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell said that she wished for Hurricane Dorian to make a "direct hit" on Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Click here to read more on our top story.

James Comey bruised by inspector general’s ‘damning’ report -- but he should prepare for worse, critics warn
The reputation of James Comey took a hit Thursday with the release of a scathing inspector general's report on his handling of memos about contacts with President Trump. However, the fired former FBI director should be wary of what Connecticut federal prosecutor John Durham may find in his probe into the origins of the Russia investigation, critics warn. "Obviously, today was a bad day for James Comey," said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C. and chairman of the influential House Freedom Caucus, on "Hannity." He added it was unbelievable that Comey was nonetheless going on Twitter, seeking apologies from his detractors.

Republicans on Capitol Hill warned the inspector general's report could be only the start of a series of blows to the reputations of key law enforcement figures. The inspector general report said Comey violated bureau policies by drafting, leaking and retaining memos documenting private discussions with President Trump. The Justice Department's official watchdog concluded that the memos Comey kept were, in fact, "official FBI records," and said he set a "dangerous example" with his actions. Click here to read the inspector general report on Comey.

Video from 2005 raid on Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion showed nude images of young women
Video of a 2005 police raid of Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach, Fla., mansion reveals a home partially decorated with illicit photos and imagery of young women. Inside the home, the video shows a wall covered in artsy nude photos of men and women, a painting of a nude woman lying on her back and a photo of a naked woman – reportedly Epstein's ex-girlfriend and alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell – lying on a sandy beach. Police also discovered a green massage table leaning against a wall under framed photos of Epstein, who was accused of molesting dozens of girls at the mansion.

By 2006, Palm Beach investigators had interviewed more than 30 young women – some of whom were minors at the time of the alleged crimes. In the end, prosecutors and Epstein’s lawyers negotiated a then-secret plea deal which led Epstein to serve just 13 months in jail under work-release privileges, allowing him to visit his office six days a week.

Detective handcuffed to Oswald when he was fatally shot dies
The Texas police officer handcuffed to Lee Harvey Oswald when he was fatally shot at Dallas police headquarters two days after the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, died Thursday at age 99, according to his family. Former Dallas police Detective Jim Leavelle was transporting Oswald to the Dallas County Jail when the assassin was suddenly shot on live television by nightclub owner and police informant Jack Ruby at point-blank range on Nov. 24, 1963. Karla Leavelle, daughter of the retired detective, confirmed her father's death to FOX 4 Dallas.

Cadbury ridiculed over new chocolate bar meant to promote diversity
The British confectionery giant Cadbury faced backlash on social media for a new candy bar introduced in India that features four types of chocolate — dark, blended, milk and white — to promote diversity. “This is as absurd as Kendall Jenner fighting police brutality with a Pepsi,” tweeted legal analyst Imani Gandy. “Congratulations to Cadbury for solving racism,” wrote restaurant critic Tejal Rao. Cadbury rolled out the multi-flavored chocolate bars Aug. 15 — teaming up with the global advertising agency Ogilvy — to celebrate India’s Independence Day.  - Reported by the New York Post

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Don Lemon tells Trump surrogates that it's a privilege to come on CNN, not a right.
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#TheFlashback: CLICK HERE to find out what happened on "This Day in History."

SOME PARTING WORDS

Sean Hannity says the report by the Justice Department's inspector general proves fired former FBI Director James Comey is not the "super patriot" he claims to be, but is a "liar and a leaker."

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Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your Friday and Labor Day weekend! We'll see you in your inbox first thing on Tuesday morning.

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/hurricane-dorian-category-4-florida-ig-report-comey

2019-08-30 08:47:37Z
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Arrests of high-profile Hong Kong activists a bid to spread 'white terror' - Guardian News

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8cOx4qIfAM

2019-08-30 08:23:32Z
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Hurricane Dorian path map: Latest euro model, NOAA charts and spaghetti models - Express.co.uk

Hurricane Dorian has already battered the US Virgin Islands and is now churning through the Atlantic Ocean towards the US state of Florida. The horrifying weather system is whipping out maximum sustained winds of 105mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson hurricane wind scale. Dorian is forecast to further strengthen and develop into a major Category 3 hurricane later on Friday. Hurricane warnings could be issued today.

Hurricane Dorian is expected to be on Florida’s doorstop on Monday morning, but weather models are showing very different tracks for the hurricane.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) Dorian continues northwestward, and while the forecast for the next 24 hours is fairly high, it turns uncertain.

NOAA said: "As you can imagine, with so many complex variables in play, it is no wonder the models have been having a difficult time nailing down the path of the hurricane.

"There's been a notable trend on this model cycle toward a slower, more westward track beyond 36 hours, which can be seen most strongly in the GFS-based guidance."

READ MORE: Hurricane Dorian tracker: Category 3 hurricane could smash Florida

However, the GFS model keeps Dorian off the Floridian coast, perhaps making landfall further north in Jacksonville.

The model even suggests that Dorian could ride up the coastline, not making landfall in Florida at all.

Accuweather reports: “At this point, there is the likelihood of stormy conditions with heavy rain and gusty winds that push northwestward across part of the Florida Peninsula beginning Saturday night and continuing into Sunday night.

The weather service added: “Flooding downpours and power outages are possible.”

READ MORE: Storm Dorian track: Risk of hurricane storm surge in Florida increases

Another tracker, the Euro model, sees the hurricane making landfall in southeastern Florida, perhaps close to Fort Lauderdale.

Following this, Dorian will head west, affecting areas from the coast of Sarasota.

“Should Dorian remain over land for the duration after reaching Florida, the system will slowly weaken and rain itself out over the southeastern corner of the US during Labor Day and beyond”, AccuWeather said.

The key message from NHC is the risk of dangerous storm surge and hurricane-force winds later this week and this weekend.

This risk continues to increase in the central and northwestern Bahamas and along Florida’s east coast, although it is too soon to determine exactly where these hazards will occur.

NHC warned: “Residents in these areas should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place and not focus on the exact forecast track of Dorian’s centre.”

With lower shear and very warm waters, all of the intensity models forecast Dorian to begin strengthening again soon, and rapid intensification could occur.

Dorian is likely to reach major hurricane strength in the next day or two and is forecast to maintain that status until it reaches land.

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https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1171434/hurricane-dorian-path-map-latest-euro-model-gfs-noaa-chart-spaghetti-model-nhc

2019-08-30 07:05:17Z
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Hong Kong Police Holds Briefing After Three Protest Activists Arrested - Bloomberg

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1. Hong Kong Police Holds Briefing After Three Protest Activists Arrested  Bloomberg
2. 3 Hong Kong Protest Leaders Arrested  Bloomberg Politics
3. Joshua Wong arrested: Hong Kong pro-democracy activist  BBC News
4. Joshua Wong and other Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders arrested ahead of rally  CNN
5. Hong Kong Democracy Activists Arrested Ahead Of Planned March  NPR
6. View full coverage on Google News

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2019-08-30/hong-kong-police-holds-briefing-after-three-protest-activists-arrested

2019-08-30 06:58:00Z
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What’s Next for Brexit? Six Possible Outcomes - The New York Times

LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament next month has brought a fresh wave of consternation and confusion to Britain’s already chaotic efforts to leave the European Union, while still leaving wide open the question of where Britain will end up on Oct. 31., the day the country is scheduled to leave the bloc.

Mr. Johnson says he would rather Britain leave with a reworked Brexit deal but, failing that, it would be out the door anyway. His opponents have sworn to remove any possibility of leaving without a deal, which they say would be economically calamitous.

Adding to the confusion, what happens next depends not just on the battle between the prime minister and his opponents in Parliament, but also on the flexibility of the so-far unyielding European Union leadership and, down the line, quite possibly on a British court.

Following are six of the most likely outcomes leading up to Oct. 31.

1: Lawmakers Take Charge

Members of Parliament don’t agree about much on Brexit, but a majority oppose what they consider a destructive “no-deal” departure and would like to rule it out of bounds. By suspending Parliament for several crucial weeks, Mr. Johnson has made this hard. But he has also galvanized his opponents into action, and Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats, hinted in a BBC interview that they may copy Mr. Johnson in using an arcane procedure — she did not specify what — to stop a “no-deal” Brexit. So don’t count them out quite yet.

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If they fail to legislate against a no-deal Brexit, lawmakers can resort to the ultimate weapon: a motion of no confidence, ousting Mr. Johnson from office.CreditMatt Dunham/Associated Press

2: Parliament’s Nuclear Option

If they fail to legislate against a no-deal Brexit, lawmakers can resort to the ultimate weapon: a motion of no confidence, ousting Mr. Johnson from office. Currently, they do not appear to have the votes to pull this off. But even if they did, it might not solve their problem.

The law calls for the formation of a new government within two weeks or a general election. One option might be a caretaker administration that would presumably request another Brexit delay to afford time to hold an election. The problem is opposition leaders cannot agree on a caretaker prime minister. Jeremy Corbyn, the natural choice as leader of the Labour Party, is too left-wing, and as a lifelong critic of the European Union, is distrusted by determined opponents of Brexit.

Many would prefer a more centrist figure — perhaps the former Conservative cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke — as the caretaker. That would require Mr. Corbyn agreeing to stand aside, because a no-confidence motion could not succeed without his support.

And even if it did, Mr. Johnson has another trick up his sleeve, one that his supporters have repeatedly telegraphed: He could refuse to resign and then schedule a general election for November, in effect forcing through a no-deal Brexit. Dirty pool, perhaps, it would leave deep scars in the body politic. But there is nothing in the relevant law, the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, requiring the prime minister to step down immediately.

3: A Snap Election

If lawmakers should succeed in quickly passing legislation outlawing a no-deal Brexit before Parliament is suspended, Mr. Johnson could try to outflank them again by calling a general election. This would be risky, but he needs to hold one soon anyway because he has a working majority in Parliament of just one seat, a margin far too small for comfort for any government. If there is an election soon, Mr. Johnson is likely to run as a champion of the people against a Parliament intent on obstructing the pro-Brexit outcome of the 2016 referendum. One theory is that the election could take place on Oct. 17, allowing Mr. Johnson — if he wins — to go to the European Union summit the following day with a fresh mandate.

But there could be a significant roadblock. To call an election, Mr. Johnson would need the support of two-thirds of the House of Commons, so he would need opposition votes. The Labour Party wants an election, but might demur if it thinks that, instead of a quick vote, Mr. Johnson wants to delay it until after the Brexit deadline.

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Mr. Johnson says he would rather Britain leave with a reworked Brexit deal but, failing that, it would be out the door anyway.CreditTolga Akmen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

4: Leaving the E.U. With a Deal

No one seems to think this option has much chance. After all, Parliament voted three times against a Brexit agreement negotiated by Mr. Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, and the European Union is stubbornly refusing to reopen negotiations. But don’t rule it out.

The critical date is Oct. 17-18, when the bloc’s leaders meet, providing an opportunity for last-minute negotiations (which is practically the only way things get done there). If a potentially disastrous no-deal Brexit is still a possibility, Mr. Johnson can put a gun to the heads of European leaders to get a revised deal, then put the gun to the heads of his lawmakers to get the measure passed. “Either accept my new, revised, Brexit agreement,” he will say, or we are headed for the dreaded no-deal exit.

5: A No-Deal Brexit

While it is widely thought that Mr. Johnson is using the threat of an unruly exit as a negotiating tactic, it is also possible that he actually means what he says. If European leaders offer too few concessions for his liking, he might plow ahead with a no-deal exit and, given the limited parliamentary time to stop it, he might succeed. It is, after all, the default option. That would allow Mr. Johnson to unite Brexit supporters behind him in a general election either late in 2019 or in 2020. The risk, however, is that the predictions of economic chaos after a no-deal Brexit are borne out, making an election unwinnable for him (and, if things are bad enough, possibly for the Conservative Party for years to come).

6: The Courts Decide

There are already three cases being considered against Mr. Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament. Experts think these are unlikely to succeed — though Gina Miller, an anti-Brexit campaigner, defied such predictions when she won a case against Mrs. May’s efforts to bypass Parliament when starting exit talks. She is trying again now.

But there may be other opportunities to go to court. If Mr. Johnson refuses to resign after losing a vote of confidence and tries to push a general election beyond the Halloween deadline, a legal challenge would be likely. Then it could be judges, not lawmakers, who have the decisive voice in Britain’s biggest peacetime decision in decades.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/30/world/europe/brexit-scenarios-boris-johnson.html

2019-08-30 06:00:00Z
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