Breaking News

Brazil's 200-year-old national museum hit by huge fire A huge fire has broken out at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, the oldest scientific institution in the country. Firefighters are tackling the blaze at the building, which contains more than 20 million items in its collection. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-45392668

John McCain, War Hero, Senator, Presidential Contender, Dies at 81 John S. McCain, the proud naval aviator who climbed from depths of despair as a prisoner of war in Vietnam to pinnacles of power as a Republican congressman and senator from Arizona and a two-time contender for the presidency, died on Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/25/obituaries/john-mccain-dead.html

Scott Morrison is new Australian PM as Malcolm Turnbull ousted Scott Morrison has become Australia's new prime minister after Malcolm Turnbull was forced out by party rivals in a bruising leadership contest. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45292637

Paul Manafort, Trump’s Former Campaign Chairman, Guilty of 8 Counts ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, was convicted on Tuesday in his financial fraud trial, bringing a dramatic end to a politically charged case that riveted the capital. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/us/politics/paul-manafort-trial-verdict.html?6

Michael Cohen Says He Arranged Payments to Women at Trump’s Direction Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer, made the extraordinary admission in court on Tuesday that Mr. Trump had directed him to arrange payments to two women during the 2016 campaign to keep them from speaking publicly about affairs they said they had with Mr. Trump. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/nyregion/michael-cohen-plea-deal-trump.html?7

Kofi Annan, Who Redefined the U.N., Dies at 80 Kofi Annan, a soft-spoken and patrician diplomat from Ghana, who became the seventh secretary general of the United Nations, projecting himself and his organization as the world’s conscience and moral arbiter despite bloody debacles that left indelible stains on his record as a peacekeeper, died on Saturday. He was 80. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/18/obituaries/kofi-annan-dead.html

Aretha Franklin, Indomitable ‘Queen of Soul,’ Dies at 76 Aretha Franklin, universally acclaimed as the “Queen of Soul” and one of America’s greatest singers in any style, died on Thursday at her home in Detroit. She was 76. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/obituaries/aretha-franklin-dead.html

Italy Bridge Collapse Leaves 26 Dead GENOA, Italy — A bridge in the heart of Genoa collapsed on Tuesday, killing 26 people as dozens of vehicles and tons of concrete and steel plunged onto city streets below in a disaster that prompted an emergency review of Italy’s aging infrastructure. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/world/europe/italy-genoa-bridge-collapse.html?4

Stolen Plane Crashes After Airline Employee Takes Off From Seattle Airport An airline employee took off in a stolen plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday night in an episode that frustrated stranded travelers, riveted witnesses and ended with the plane crashing about 30 miles from the airport, the authorities said. The man, a 29-year-old who acted alone, was thought to be suicidal, said officials in Pierce County, where the plane crashed. No one else was believed to be on the 76-seat plane or injured on the ground. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/11/us/seattle-plane-crash-stolen.html?3

Mendocino Complex Fire Grows to Become Largest Wildfire in California History A wildfire burning through Northern California became the state’s largest on record on Monday, scorching more than 283,000 acres, officials said. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/western-wildfires/mendocino-complex-fire-grows-become-largest-wildfire-california-history-n898206

U.S. to Restore Sanctions on Iran Following Withdrawal From Nuclear Deal WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said it would restore sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord at midnight on Monday, ratcheting up pressure on Tehran while worsening a divide with Europe. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/us/politics/iran-sanctions-trump.html

Magnitude-7 Earthquake Strikes Off Indonesia, Killing at Least 37 JAKARTA, Indonesia — A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian resort island of Lombok near Bali on Sunday evening, killing at least 37 people and triggering a tsunami warning, officials said. The earthquake — initially announced as a magnitude 6.8 then revised to 7.0 — struck off Lombok’s north coast and was felt on Bali, just to the west, Indonesia’s national Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/world/asia/indonesia-earthquake.html