Wednesday morning news: August 8, 2018

Trump: Iran sanction violators won’t do biz with US » President Trump drew a hard line on sanctions against Iran Tuesday. He said, quote—“Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States.”

The U.S. reimposed some sanctions against Iran this week. And in November, sanctions will return on foreign transactions and the country’s oil and energy sector.

National Security Advisor John Bolton said Tuesday the U.S. wants to convince the rest of the world to stop buying oil from Iran.

BOLTON: Obviously to do that you have to find substitute sources. We’re working with all the governments involved for that purpose, and I think governments all around the world and businesses should be asking themselves, regardless of the nuclear deal, why do you want to do business with the world’s largest financier of international terrorism. 

Many members of the European Union have voiced strong disapproval of President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. And some have vowed to continue their business dealings with Iran.

CA fire update » At least 17 wildfires are still burning in California.

Fire officials are now treating two of wildfires in the northern part of the state as one. That makes the Mendocino Complex blaze the largest wildfire in state history. It’s destroyed nearly 500 square miles that’s almost the same area as the city of Los Angeles.

One Lake County resident described seeing the approaching flames as a frightening experience.

AUDIO: When it was coming from both sides I just — I started crying but I was still doing my thing as I was crying, going God, please no. 

The fire north of San Francisco continues to grow and threatens more than 11,000 buildings.

Meanwhile, some good news as officials say they’re finally getting the upper hand on the Ferguson Fire. Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies said Tuesday…

BINNEWIES: Because of the really good momentum that we’ve been experiencing the last few operational periods, we’ve been able to repopulate the communities of Wawona, the — area, the entire Merced River canyon.

That fire caused the closure of Yosemite National Park.

More than 14,000 firefighters continue to battle blazes throughout the state.

Elections » It was election day Tuesday in several states and the day ended with two major elections too close to call.

In Ohio, a special election to fill Republican Pat Tiberi’s seat in the U.S. House has gone right down to the wire. Republican Troy Balderson ended the day with slight edge over Democrat Danny O’Connor. With more than 200,000 votes cast, less than 2,000 votes separated the candidates. And with thousand of provisional and absentee ballots outstanding, there was no winner declared in that race just yet. Either way, Democrats say a photo finish for what has been a Republican held seat for decades is a moral victory.  

Meanwhile in Kansas, Republican Governor Jeff Colyer may soon be out of a job. The clock struck midnight in Kansas with his GOP primary challenger leading by the slimmest of margins, just 800 votes. That’s out of more than 216,000 cast. The winner of the Republican primary will take on Democrat Laura Kelly in November.

Parkland shooter’s alleged confession released » Police have released a partially redacted transcript of the interrogation of Parkland shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz. WORLD Radio’s Anna Johansen reports.

ANNA JOHANSEN, REPORTER: Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Cruz said a voice in his head told him to “Burn, kill, destroy.” That according to the transcript of a 13-hour interrogation police conducted right after the shooting.

In the document, Cruz called himself “worthless,” and repeatedly said he wanted to die. He claimed the voice in his head had spoken to him every day since his father died 15 years ago telling him to “hurt people.” He said it told him to buy the gun he used in the attack and to take an Uber to the school.

The document does not include Cruz’ descriptions of the shooting. Those details will remain under wraps until Cruz’ trial.

Seventeen students and teachers died in the February attack.

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Anna Johansen.

Bangladesh protests » A human rights watchdog is accusing the government in Bangladesh of responding abusively to student-led protesters.

AUDIO: Bangladesh protest sound

Demonstrators took to the streets after a speeding bus killed two students last month in the capital city of Dhaka. Students have staged days of protests demanding better road safety.

Police responded with rubber bullets and teargas.

AUDIO: Police response sound

And Human Rights Watch said members of the ruling party’s youth wing also attacked protesters with machetes and sticks. At least 140 people suffered injuries.

Human Rights Watch Asian Director Brad Adams condemned the violence saying, “Yet again, Bangladesh authorities seem determined to take abusive shortcuts to problems, and then denounce those who criticize.”

I’m Kent Covington. Straight ahead: the debate over the federal flood insurance program continues as hurricane season heats up. Plus, a hospice center that cares for the homeless. This is The World and Everything in It.

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with business leaders, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. 

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