Uneasy Democrats still hope for a white knight to save them from Biden, Warren or Sanders

Although Sen. Elizabeth Warren has gained ground on him over the course of the year, a series of polls taken after the most recent debate have been positive for Biden, including a CNN survey released Wednesday morning that showed him with his widest lead among Democratic voters since shortly after he entered the race in April: 34 percent to 19 percent for Warren and 16 percent for Sen. Bernie Sanders. That hasn't stopped establishment Democrats from worrying about his campaign or the party's chances against Donald Trump in 2020 with either Biden or one of the runner-ups, the two most liberal candidates in the race, as the likely standard bearer.

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  Silicon Valley CEOs Appear to Have Chosen Their 2020 Candidate

  Bloomberg
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  Pete Buttigieg gets a boost in Iowa after several months of stagnating polls

  Business Insider

Under China's shadow, Taiwan, Hong Kong squabble over a murder suspect

Chinese-ruled Hong Kong and Taiwan engaged in a rare squabble on Wednesday over a Hong Kong man accused of murder in Taiwan whose case was used by Hong Kong to promote a now-withdrawn extradition bill. Self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers its own, wants an extradition, not a voluntary surrender, of the suspected murderer from a Chinese-ruled territory, reinforcing its status as self-ruled and separate to China. Chan Tong-kai was accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in Taiwan last year before fleeing back to Hong Kong where he was sentenced to 29 months in jail on money-laundering charges.

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  Activists to hand out thousands of 'Free Hong Kong' shirts at Warriors opening day game

  KGO – San Francisco
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  Did the Hong Kong government think they could end it? Our street protest is now a global democracy campaign

  The Independent

Honduran woman accuses immigration agent of sexual assault over seven years

A Honduran woman living in Connecticut has accused a US immigration agent of sexually assaulting her over a period of seven years under the threat of deportation, according to a federal lawsuit. The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, sued the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), and the former Ice agent Wilfredo Rodriguez on Saturday, seeking $10m in damages. “My only comment is that my client had a choice: cooperate with Ice or be deported with her family,” said George Kramer, the woman's lawyer.

The Latest: Employee: Brothers' were lured to their deaths

An employee of two slain Wisconsin brothers says he believes a Missouri cattleman promised to give the men money to lure them to his farm so he could kill them. Twenty-five-year-old Garland Nelson, of Braymer, was charged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 35-year-old Nick Diemel and 24-year-old Justin Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin. Rob Chubb managed the feeder cattle side of the business operated by the brothers.

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  Missouri farmer charged in killing of Wisconsin brothers

  Associated Press
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  Missouri farmer Garland Nelson charged with murder in deaths of Wisconsin brothers

  USA TODAY

Tasmanian Tigers Are Extinct, So Why Are Locals Reporting Sightings?

The Australian government recently released a list of documented thylacine—also known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf—sightings. It remains to be seen whether or not any reported thylacine sightings will be made official—something made especially difficult with no photographic proof or other hard evidence. If the creatures are extinct, there may still be hope to see a living thylacine as scientists have replicated their DNA and may one day be able to use the genetic material to clone the animal.

Deep-sea researchers discover second missing Battle of Midway ship

After the recent discovery of a Japanese aircraft carrier that was destroyed in the 1942 Battle of Midway, researchers combing through the deep seas for lost World War II-era warships have found the remains of another craft. Discovered nearly 5,500-metres below the surface in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, roughly 2,000 kilometres from Pearl Harbour, the carrier Akagi was found by a crew using an autonomous underwater vehicle on Sunday morning. Image scans show debris surrounding the vessel on the sea floor.

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  Deep-sea explorers find Battle of Midway warships

  USA TODAY
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  Researchers Discover Second Long-Lost Japanese Warship From Historic World War II Battle of Midway

  Meredith Videos

Seattle Public Schools Want to Teach Social Justice in Math Class. That Hurts Minorities.

Seattle's public-school district has proposed a new math curriculum that would teach its students all about how math has been “appropriated” — and how it “continues to be used to oppress and marginalize people and communities. A draft of the curriculum, which was covered in an article in Education Week, would teach students how to “explain how math and technology and/or science are connected and how technology and/or science have (sic) been and continues to be used to oppress and marginalize people and communities of color,” as well as to “identify and teach others about mathematicians* of color in their various communities: schools, neighborhoods, places of worship, businesses, etc.” Educat...

Can Israel Fend off an Iranian Missile or Drone Attack?

The IDF's missile defense shield is composed of four layers: the iconic Iron Dome system for intercepting short-range rockets, David's Sling for medium-range rockets, Arrow-2 against intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and Arrow-3 against ICBM's and potentially satellites. Widely seen as a class-leading missile defense system when it was introduced in 2011, Iron Dome has since come under criticism by several revisionist defense commentators. MIT Professor Ted Postol authored a series of influential if not controversial articles arguing that Iron Dome's true interception rate -- that is, its ability to strike and destroy a rocket's warhead rather than its fuselage-- was under 50%.

Boeing confirms 737 MAX timetable as profits tumble

Boeing on Wednesday reported a sharp drop in third-quarter earnings due to the 737 MAX grounding but said it still expects regulatory approval this year to return the plane to service. The company booked an additional $900 million in costs due to the MAX as it reported much lower profits than analysts expected. The top-selling MAX has been grounded since mid-March following two deadly crashes.

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  Boeing predicts 737 Max will fly again by the end of 2019

  The Independent
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  Boeing replaces head of commercial plane division amid MAX crisis

  AFP

See Photos of the New Honda Fit

The new fourth-generation Fit hatchback is here, but its prospects for the U.S. are not looking good. From Car and Driver

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  The Honda Jazz goes hybrid and gets a makeover

  AFP Relax News
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  Honda brings forward goal to be fully electrified in Europe to 2022

  Autoblog

'Trump is thinking outside the box': Graham now 'impressed' with White House handling of Syria

Until recently, Sen. Lindsey Graham had been one the most outspoken critics of President Donald Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria ahead of Turkish military action across the border into Kurdish territory. But, after speaking with Trump on Saturday, he said he had changed his mind. When he first learned of the move, Graham said it was "short-sighted and irresponsible" and warned that abandoning the Kurds, who had allied with the U.S. against the Islamic State, would leave "a stain on America's honor."

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  Rand Paul says Lindsey Graham needs to get to the bottom of the Russia investigation

  FOX News Videos
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  'This is a lynching, in every sense': Lindsey Graham says Trump's impeachment description 'accurate'

  USA TODAY

Hillary Clinton's attacks on Tulsi Gabbard are embarrassing

Hillary Clinton has kept a relatively low profile since her embarrassing 2016 election defeat, popping up only occasionally to make out-of-touch elitist comments that confirm why she lost. Clinton accused the Hawaii congresswoman of being groomed by outside forces, saying: “I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate … She's the favorite of the Russians.” There is some dispute about whether Clinton meant it was the Russians or Republicans who were pushing a third-party Gabbard candidacy, but a Clinton spokesman asked about the comments replied “if the nesting doll fits”, clearly implying it was dastardly Russians. Related: It was gutsy of Hillary Clinton to stand by Bill.

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  Former Clinton adviser on Hillary accusing rivals of being Russian assets

  FOX News Videos
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  Bernie Sanders defends Tulsi Gabbard, says claim that she's a Russian asset is 'outrageous'

  USA TODAY

Inmate convicted of murder in deadly prison breakout attempt

A North Carolina inmate was found guilty Monday of murdering four prison workers during a failed escape attempt two years ago. Jurors deliberated for about half an hour before convicting Mikel Brady, 30, of four counts of first-degree murder in the state's deadliest attempted prison breakout. The jury next will recommend whether Brady should get life in prison or execution.

U.S. Security Bloc to Keep China in ‘Proper Place,’ Pompeo Says

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said efforts to revive the Indo-Pacific security grouping known as the Quad will help the Washington contain China's rise. “We've reconvened 'the Quad' -- the security talks between Japan, Australia, India and the United States that had been dormant for nine years,” Pompeo said in a speech to the conservative Heritage Foundation research group on Tuesday.

Newt Gingrich and Whoopi Goldberg go at it on 'The View' over Trump's 'lynching' comments

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Whoopi Goldberg go toe to toe over Trump's “lynching” comments on Twitter.

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  Newt Gingrich discusses Trump’s ‘phony emoluments clause’ comment

  ABC News Videos
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  'The View' Gets Newt Gingrich To Admit Trump's Lynching Comments Went A Bit Too Far

  HuffPost

Iranian beauty queen pleads for asylum in the Philippines

An Iranian beauty queen is seeking asylum in the Philippines, fearing for her life after Tehran demanded her extradition for a crime she claims she did not commit. Bahareh Zare Bahari, who represented Iran at the 2018 Miss Intercontinental pageant in Manila, and who has studied dental medicine in the Philippines since 2014, has been held for six days at the country's Ninoy Aquino airport after Iran slapped an Interpol Red Notice on her for alleged assault. In a series of messages, the distraught Ms Bahari told the Telegraph that the case was a “big lie,” adding that she believed she was being targeted for her political activism and outspoken support of women's rights.

Sen. Lindsey Graham and a Fox News contributor threw a Hail Mary to keep US troops in Syria

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and retired US Army Gen. Jack Keane reportedly tried convincing President Donald Trump to walk back his decision to completely withdraw US forces in Syria. The duo attempted to persuade him to keep a contingency force in the country to help defend oil fields from Iranian interests, NBC News reported. Graham has been outspoken in keeping US troops in Syria, claiming the abrupt withdrawal would abandon Kurdish allies and lead to a resurgence of ISIS.

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  Rand Paul says Lindsey Graham needs to get to the bottom of the Russia investigation

  FOX News Videos
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  'This is a lynching, in every sense': Lindsey Graham says Trump's impeachment description 'accurate'

  USA TODAY

Biden extends polling lead over 2020 Democrat rivals to widest margin in six months

Joe Biden is leading by his widest-set margin among Democratic presidential contenders since his campaign's launch in April, according to a new poll from CNN. More than 35 per cent of Democrat and Democrat-leaning voters support the former vice president, compared to other frontrunners Elizabeth Warren, who polled at 19 per cent, and Bernie Sanders, who was on 16 per cent. SSRS surveyed 1,003 people over three days in October; 352 were called on a landline and 651 responded via mobile phone.

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  Silicon Valley CEOs Appear to Have Chosen Their 2020 Candidate

  Bloomberg
• 
  Pete Buttigieg gets a boost in Iowa after several months of stagnating polls

  Business Insider

US far-right activists get four years in jail for attacking leftists

Two members of a US far-right group were each sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday for brawling with anti-fascist demonstrators in New York, prosecutors said. The sentencing comes as tensions between white supremacists and leftists simmer in the United States. Maxwell Hare and John Kinsman, members of the Proud Boys group, were found guilty in August by a state court of several counts of attempted assault and rioting.

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  Proud Boys Sentenced to 4 Years In Prison for Attacking Protesters

  Rolling Stone
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  Two Proud Boys Members Each Get Four Years in Prison for Manhattan Brawl

  The Wall Street Journal

Kim orders South's buildings at resort in North be destroyed

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the destruction of South Korean-made hotels and other tourist facilities at the North's Diamond Mountain resort, apparently because Seoul won't defy international sanctions and resume South Korean tours at the site. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday that Kim had visited the resort and described its facilities as "shabby" and lacking national character. The report said Kim criticized North Korea's policies pushed under his late father as too dependent on the South and vowed that the North would redevelop the site on its own.

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  Amid push to restart U.S. talks, Kim Jong Un gets confrontational

  CBS News
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  Kim Jong Un orders South's hotel buildings in North be destroyed

  Yahoo News Video

Making do with less: Mexican media bruised by president's austerity

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in December promising to reduce public spending to free up more resources for the poor. But his austerity drive has left media outlets reeling, and raised questions about whether Lopez Obrador is trying to influence coverage. Between January and August, Lopez Obrador's government spent 88 million pesos ($4.6 million) on advertising, just 3.6% of the sum spent in the same months of 2018 by his predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto, Public Administration Ministry (SFP) data show.

Rats and Mold in Kushner-Managed Apartments, Maryland Claims

Westminster Management lied about the quality of rental units and the level of maintenance the company would provide, routinely failing to address hazardous conditions in the properties, including infestations by rodents and other vermin, water leaks and mold growth, Attorney General Brian Frosh said in a statement. “We're charging that Westminster and the rental property owners in this case took advantage of consumers, primarily low- and middle-income families, collecting fees and other unlawful costs from them and often failing to make the repairs needed to maintain suitable environments for their tenants,” Frosh said. Westminster Management is a unit of Kushner Cos., a family-run, New York-based business that owns, manages and develops properties and was built on working-class apartment complexes in New Jersey and Maryland.