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Sunday 8.12.18
No moon? No problem. Tonight's dark sky will make the spectacle of the annual Perseid meteor shower even more scintillating. Here's what else you need to know to Start Your Week Smart.
By Michelle Krupa and AJ Willingham
This morning, NASA sent a spacecraft on a seven-year journey to explore the sun ... Jurors ruled that Roundup, the most popular weedkiller in the world, gave a former school groundskeeper terminal cancer ... A man stole a passenger plane from a Seattle airport and crashed it, raising security questions .... The US ambassador to the UK warned Britain to side with President Trump on Iran sanctions or risk "serious trade consequences" ... Author V.S. Naipaul -- whose sly and unsparing look at the shards of colonialism won him many awards, including the Nobel prize -- has died.
Today marks one year since the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, claimed the life of a counterprotester and showed the world that white supremacists remain a tiny but vicious subset of American life. Now, far-right activists, led by the organizer of last year’s rally, plan to gather again this afternoon in Lafayette Square, near the White House. Their opponents have promised to show up, too, to advocate for justice and peace. Far-left activists, including some who accept violence as a protest method, could also attend. Activists plan to rally against racism today in Charlottesville as well.
As the workweek kicks off, keep your eye on two running stories that could generate fireworks. First, the trial of ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on tax and bank fraud charges continues, with the defense expected to launch its pushback against the feds’ dramatic presentation of Manafort’s lavish spending and alleged hidden accounts. Across the pond, negotiations ramp up again between United Kingdom and European Commission leaders, who look less and less likely to reach a Brexit deal before the UK crashes out of the European Union.
On Monday, two US Cabinet secretaries reportedly are due to visit California to see for themselves the catastrophic damage left by this summer’s wildfires. More than a dozen fires are burning across the state, claiming lives, obliterating homes and setting records for their destructive force. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue are expected in Redding, where the Carr Fire is only about half contained.
On Tuesday – you guessed it – more primaries! Eight Democrats are vying to face Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who, in an interesting twist, just bolstered Obamacare as his poll numbers flag. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who has said she'll oppose President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, also will learn which Republican she’ll face in November. Minnesotans will decide who competes for Al Franken’s old Senate seat, along with other top offices. Two Trump-talking Connecticut Republicans are facing off to challenge Sen. Chris Murphy, the Democrat who represented Newtown in Congress at the time of the Sandy Hook shooting and who often is cited as a potential 2020 White House contender. And independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, also a party to 2020 rumors, almost certainly will emerge to face one of four GOP challengers in Vermont.
The school year opens Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and students in Parkland, Florida, can expect a “profoundly different” kind of first day. Their school, now the site of one of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in US history, will feature metal detectors, dozens more cameras, charged locks on classroom doors, more security staff and counselors, plus a 12-foot fence. And of course, they’ll feel the absence of friends, teachers and coaches whose lives were cut short so violently. Meanwhile, due back in court is admitted shooter Nikolas Cruz, who told a detective that a voice in his head urged him the night before the February massacre to hurt people.
We could learn Thursday the conclusion of a murder drama with international intrigue. A court in Malaysia is expected to rule in the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother, Kim Jong Nam. You’ll recall he was killed last year in a chemical attack at a Kuala Lumpur airport. South Korean intelligence indicated the North Korean ruler ordered the killing, and the United States sanctioned the North for it. Still, the trial of a woman from Indonesia and one from Vietnam has unfolded as North Korea has been on its diplomatic charm offensive. If convicted, the women could face the death penalty.
The emotional toll of an issue that has stricken at the heart of communities of color will be laid bare Saturday, with a town hall discussion on gun violence and its effect on survivors. It’s part of the "Circle of Fathers Conference" organized by the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which honors the unarmed teenager gunned down in 2012 by a neighborhood watchman. Trayvon’s father, Tracy, will participate.
Saturday also is the birthday of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who with her husband continues to be active in humanitarian efforts around the world. Happy 91st, Mrs. C!
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It looks like the ground just opened up, right? Well, it kinda did when a sinkhole developed in Harbin, China. No one was hurt, reports say. There's more to make you look twice in this week's top images gallery from CNN Photos.
Beyoncé and Serena Williams, who are sharing their own experiences to draw attention to risks of childbirth for black women
"This is Middle America doing what we do. ... We give back to the community wherever we can. We are blessed to be able to be doing what we do."
Dan Drozdowic, one of four bidders who won the same pig at a 4-H auction to help the seller raise money in the cancer battle of his teacher's niece
The only face you can never really see is ... your own
It's one reason doctors are concerned about "Snapchat dysmorphia," in which people use their own selfies to judge their flaws and sometimes seek out cosmetic procedures to correct them. Dive into the uber-modern phenomenon -- one of CNN's weekend reads.
Movie message
Spike Lee hopes his new film, “BlacKkKlansman,” will help make Trump a one-term President. The true story of a black cop who infiltrated the Klan just hit theaters.
Crazy big expectations
"Crazy Rich Asians" is also in theaters now. The groundbreaking movie is expected to cash in big, but its stars say that's not the project's real mark of success.
If you dream it, it could happen
Fans are "shaken and stirred" over the prospect of British heartthrob Idris Elba being the next James Bond. Is there something to the rumors?
Better trans representation
Dozens of companies, advocacy groups and Hollywood heavyweights have signed an open letter demanding trans actors and creators be "brought to the table" for projects that feature trans stories.
The chase is on
The final round of the 100th US PGA Championship is today in St. Louis. Tiger Woods rallied going into the second round, but a lot of big names were on his tail.
Super Bowl LII redux
The NFL launches the second week of its season-before-the-season Thursday, with the Eagles at the Patriots, along with the Steelers at the Packers and the Jets at the Redskins. A key story line will be whether players continue to protest racial injustice during the National Anthem.
Happy birthday, Madonna!
The Material Girl turns 60 on Thursday (and yes, that means we're all old). She's reportedly celebrating with a fundraiser for Malawi's children. You can donate, then throw your o