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Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.South Florida Evacuates as Hurricane Irma Approaches
Authorities in the South Florida county of Miami-Dade ordered the compulsory evacuation of more than 100,000 residents amid rising concern that Hurricane Irma could hit the area hard. The National Weather Service said the likelihood of the Category 5 storm hammering the state "continues to increase." Fuel shortages at gas stations were reported as Floridians left designated evacuation zones in the Keys and on the coastline.—Miami Herald/NPRTrump Strikes Funding Deal with Democrats
President Trump hammered out an arrangement with the Democratic leadership to raise the debt ceiling at a White House meeting Wednesday, angering Republicans in the process. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said they had agreed with Trump to a three-month debt limit extension that will also ensure government funding and Hurricane Harvey aid relief.—The New York TimesFacebook Sold Ad Space to Russian Propaganda Outfit
Facebook appears to have unwittingly sold $100,000 worth of advertising to a Russian operation linked to the Kremlin during the 2016 election. The social network's higher-ups told a congressional panel investigating election interference that 3,000 ad buys seemed to come from a Russian "troll farm." Alex Stamos, chief security officer for Facebook, said the ads contained "divisive social and political messages."—The Washington PostFifteen States and DC Sue Trump Over DACA Decision
The Trump administration is facing a lawsuit launched by the attorneys general in 15 states and the District of Columbia over the president's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The attorneys general claim the move discriminates against Latino "Dreamers" and those of Mexican origin in particular.—VICE NewsHurricane Irma Leaves at Least Nine Dead in the Caribbean
At least nine people were killed when Hurricane Irma swept across several islands in the Caribbean. Six people were killed in St. Martin and two in St. Barthélemy as a result of the Category 5 storm. Barbuda's prime minister said almost all of the island's buildings were damaged or destroyed. Irma reached the US territory of Puerto Rico late Wednesday, cutting power for 965,000 residents.—CNN/The GuardianSyria Accuses Israel of Killing Two Soldiers in Airstrikes
The Syrian army has accused Israel of killing two soldiers in airstrikes launched early Thursday against military posts in the Hama region. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the jets hit the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center—a factory allegedly linked to the manufacture of chemical weapons used by the Syrian regime.—VICE NewsSon of Philippine President Denies Connection to Drugs Trade
Paolo Duterte, son of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, has been denied an alleged connection to narcotics worth $125 million confiscated by authorities in May. Despite a photograph showing Duterte with a businessman suspected of involvement in the drugs trade, he told a Senate panel investigating the allegations that they were "baseless" and "based on hearsay."—ReutersCatalan Politicians Vote for Referendum on Independence
Lawmakers in the Catalonia region have voted in favor of holding a referendum on separation from the rest of Spain. The independence vote for the area—which includes Barcelona—is scheduled for October 1, but Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has urged the country's constitutional court to invalidate the vote.—BBC News'Veep' Wrapping Up After Seventh Season
HBO's Emmy-winning political comedy Veep will come to a close at the end of next season, its creative team announced. "We don't want to repeat ourselves or wear out our welcome," said star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.—The Hollywood ReporterDonald Trump Jr. to Testify to Senate Committee
Donald Trump Jr. was slated to testify at a private hearing with investigators from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday. He was expected to explain his meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya during the 2016 election campaign.—ABC News50 Cent Boasts Three TV Shows Coming to Starz
50 Cent revealed that he is working on three new TV series for the Starz network. The Power producer said more episodes of the show were also in the pipeline. "I can't believe how much money they just gave me," he shared on Instagram.—BillboardDNA Said to Prove Salvador Dalí Did Not Have Long-Lost Daughter
Representatives of the estate of legendary surrealist Salvador Dalí have announced that DNA evidence conclusively disproves tarot reader Pilar Abel's claim that she was his daughter. The reps called it "an absurd and artificial controversy."—VICEBjörk Shares Details of New Art Film 'The Gate'
Björk has revealed details of her new film The Gate, slated to be shown at an exhibition space in London the weekend after this one. It shares its title with an unreleased single from her upcoming album, and is a collaboration with director Andrew Thomas Huang.—i-DResearchers Warn of 8,000 Fake Science Journals
There are roughly 8,000 fake science journals in operation around the world, according to research published in Nature. The so-called predatory publisher journals ask academics for fees despite the fact that they don't undertake editorial or peer reviews.—Motherboard
US News
Authorities in the South Florida county of Miami-Dade ordered the compulsory evacuation of more than 100,000 residents amid rising concern that Hurricane Irma could hit the area hard. The National Weather Service said the likelihood of the Category 5 storm hammering the state "continues to increase." Fuel shortages at gas stations were reported as Floridians left designated evacuation zones in the Keys and on the coastline.—Miami Herald/NPRTrump Strikes Funding Deal with Democrats
President Trump hammered out an arrangement with the Democratic leadership to raise the debt ceiling at a White House meeting Wednesday, angering Republicans in the process. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said they had agreed with Trump to a three-month debt limit extension that will also ensure government funding and Hurricane Harvey aid relief.—The New York Times
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Facebook appears to have unwittingly sold $100,000 worth of advertising to a Russian operation linked to the Kremlin during the 2016 election. The social network's higher-ups told a congressional panel investigating election interference that 3,000 ad buys seemed to come from a Russian "troll farm." Alex Stamos, chief security officer for Facebook, said the ads contained "divisive social and political messages."—The Washington PostFifteen States and DC Sue Trump Over DACA Decision
The Trump administration is facing a lawsuit launched by the attorneys general in 15 states and the District of Columbia over the president's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The attorneys general claim the move discriminates against Latino "Dreamers" and those of Mexican origin in particular.—VICE News
International News
At least nine people were killed when Hurricane Irma swept across several islands in the Caribbean. Six people were killed in St. Martin and two in St. Barthélemy as a result of the Category 5 storm. Barbuda's prime minister said almost all of the island's buildings were damaged or destroyed. Irma reached the US territory of Puerto Rico late Wednesday, cutting power for 965,000 residents.—CNN/The GuardianSyria Accuses Israel of Killing Two Soldiers in Airstrikes
The Syrian army has accused Israel of killing two soldiers in airstrikes launched early Thursday against military posts in the Hama region. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the jets hit the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center—a factory allegedly linked to the manufacture of chemical weapons used by the Syrian regime.—VICE News
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Paolo Duterte, son of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, has been denied an alleged connection to narcotics worth $125 million confiscated by authorities in May. Despite a photograph showing Duterte with a businessman suspected of involvement in the drugs trade, he told a Senate panel investigating the allegations that they were "baseless" and "based on hearsay."—ReutersCatalan Politicians Vote for Referendum on Independence
Lawmakers in the Catalonia region have voted in favor of holding a referendum on separation from the rest of Spain. The independence vote for the area—which includes Barcelona—is scheduled for October 1, but Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has urged the country's constitutional court to invalidate the vote.—BBC News
Everything Else
HBO's Emmy-winning political comedy Veep will come to a close at the end of next season, its creative team announced. "We don't want to repeat ourselves or wear out our welcome," said star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.—The Hollywood ReporterDonald Trump Jr. to Testify to Senate Committee
Donald Trump Jr. was slated to testify at a private hearing with investigators from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday. He was expected to explain his meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya during the 2016 election campaign.—ABC News50 Cent Boasts Three TV Shows Coming to Starz
50 Cent revealed that he is working on three new TV series for the Starz network. The Power producer said more episodes of the show were also in the pipeline. "I can't believe how much money they just gave me," he shared on Instagram.—BillboardDNA Said to Prove Salvador Dalí Did Not Have Long-Lost Daughter
Representatives of the estate of legendary surrealist Salvador Dalí have announced that DNA evidence conclusively disproves tarot reader Pilar Abel's claim that she was his daughter. The reps called it "an absurd and artificial controversy."—VICEBjörk Shares Details of New Art Film 'The Gate'
Björk has revealed details of her new film The Gate, slated to be shown at an exhibition space in London the weekend after this one. It shares its title with an unreleased single from her upcoming album, and is a collaboration with director Andrew Thomas Huang.—i-DResearchers Warn of 8,000 Fake Science Journals
There are roughly 8,000 fake science journals in operation around the world, according to research published in Nature. The so-called predatory publisher journals ask academics for fees despite the fact that they don't undertake editorial or peer reviews.—Motherboard