5 things you need to know Friday
Hurricane Irma gains strength as Harvey weakens
As Harvey weakened to a depression, a new hurricane, Irma, fired up in the central Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday. Irma is expected to gain speed Friday and is forecast to roar into an "extremely dangerous" hurricane over the next several days, with winds of 140 mph. It poses no immediate threat to land and its eventual track remains highly uncertain. Meanwhile, Harvey's record rainfall in Texas will funnel as many as 100,000 more claims into a National Flood Insurance Program system that is set to expire Sept. 30 unless Congress — unable to agree for years on a long-term fix — can reach a compromise to keep it afloat. Also, avoid getting scammed when you try to help Harvey victims and visit these sites instead.
Americans banned from traveling to North Korea
American citizens are barred from traveling to North Korea beginning Friday. The Trump administration announced the travel ban over concerns about the detention of Americans who travel there. Earlier this year, U.S. citizen Otto Warmbier was sent home in a coma and later died after spending more than a year imprisoned in North Korea. The U.S. had strongly warned Americans against traveling to North Korea, but has not prohibited it until now. Americans who venture there typically travel from China, where several tour groups market trips to adventure-seekers.
Force Friday II has retailers salivating
It's Black Friday for Star Wars nerds. Force Friday II, which happens Friday, duh, begins a marketing blitz by Disney that has potential to boost toy sales and may even help broader retail numbers, which are suffering from a slowdown in customer traffic. The campaign focuses on the newest Star Wars film, The Last Jedi, which hits theaters in December. Hundreds of retailers in more than 30 countries are participating in the promotion that includes a Pokemon Go-like app to get consumers into 20,000 stores.
Second round of NAFTA renegotiation kicks off
Renegotiating what President Trump has called the "worst trade deal ever made," the United States, Canada and Mexico will convene in Mexico City Friday to begin round two of talks to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. Trump, who has been a vocal opponent of the 23-year-old deal in its current form, tweeted last Sunday that the U.S. may have to terminate the deal because Mexico and Canada were "both being very difficult." Canadian Prime Minister said this week that he and Trump may not be far apart on their goals for the renegotiation. NAFTA eliminated most tariffs between the three countries, and talks to revise the deal began earlier this month.
Texans can now openly carry swords
It's now legal for Texans to carry blades longer than 5.5 inches down the street. Jim Bowie knives? Yep. Daggers, dirks, throwing knives, swords and machetes? Yep. Spears, too. But that doesn't mean they are legal everywhere in the state. Some bars and restaurants are out, as are schools, polling places, racetracks, churches and hospitals. Violating the law could result in a third-degree felony charge, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.
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