The Associated PressWhite House counselor Kellyanne Conway talks with reporters at the White House in Washington, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. Conway declares that the “fundamentals” of the U.S. economy are strong, citing benchmarks to support her contention. The job market does look solid, yet the factory and housing sectors are struggling and financial markets are sounding the alarm that growth is much shakier than the administration says. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
1. WITH EYES ON 2020, WHITE HOUSE INSISTS ECONOMY IS STRONG
Despite record low unemployment and a growing economy, that growth is slowing and stock markets have swung wildly in recent weeks on fears of recession.
2. EMBATTLED HUAWEI CONFIDENT IN OWN TECHNOLOGY
Founder Ren Zhengfei tells AP he doesn’t want relief from U.S. sanctions if it requires China to make concessions in a tariff war.
3. ‘PROTESTERS VS. POLICE’: DIE-HARDS IN HONG KONG DEFEND STANCE
Demonstrators explain how largely peaceful marches against proposed changes to the city’s extradition law morphed into a summer of tear gas and rubber bullets.
4. ‘THEY DESTROYED THEIR OWN HISTORY’
Museum workers in Afghanistan’s capital work to put back together pieces of artifacts that the Taliban had smashed during a 2001 rampage on art they deemed to be against Islam.
5. BIDEN SKIPPING DNC GATHERING
The former vice president will campaign in New Hampshire as his rivals jockey for attention from hundreds of Democratic officials gathering in San Francisco.
6. DEMOCRATS FOCUS ON STATE LEGISLATURES
Democrats are trying to gain ground in state legislatures ahead of a once-in-a-decade redistricting process that redraws congressional maps.
7. FREEWAY CROSSING TO GIVE WILDLIFE ROOM TO ROAM
Hoping to fend off the extinction of mountain lions and other species, California is building a mostly privately funded wildlife crossing over a major highway.
8. URGENCY FOR VACCINE GROWS AS VIRUS RAVAGES CHINA’S PIGS
Scientists are working to develop a vaccine to help guard the world’s pork supply as a deadly virus ravages Asia’s pig herds.
9. PLANNED PARENTHOOD LEAVES FEDERAL FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM
The organization decided not to abide by a new Trump administration rule prohibiting program participants from referring patients for abortions.
10. RETAILERS TO SHOWCASE THRIFTY SIDE
Department stores that have watched some of their customers flock to secondhand stores are trying to bring them back by partnering with online resale sites.