World News Briefs -- August 25, 2017 (Evening Edition)

Washington Post: Hurricane Harvey reaches Category 3 intensity; Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls for evacuations

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex. — Hurricane Harvey has intensified into a Category 3 storm as it churns toward what is certain to be a devastating landfall Friday night or Saturday morning near this city of 320,000.

The storm, which evolved explosively since Wednesday over the steamy waters of the western Gulf of Mexico, would be the first major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — to hit the United States since Wilma in 2005.

Forecasters and government officials were emphatic in their warnings Friday: Harvey, they said, will be a full-blown natural disaster, one that will test the resilience of millions of people over the coming days and weeks. In addition to bringing ferocious winds and a storm surge that could reach 12 feet, Harvey is primed to be an historic rain event, with the cyclone expected to stall on the coast.

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MIDDLE EAST

Iraqi forces zero in on IS-held citadel of Tal Afar.

Iraqi military finds grave sites of IS victims.

Iraqi forces say they have broken through Islamic State lines in Tal Afar.

US-backed fighters seek to oust IS from Syria's Deir Ezzor.

IS militants push back advancing Syrian troops near Raqqa. IS counterattack kills 34 Syria regime forces in Raqa province: monitor.

U.N. calls for humanitarian cease-fire in Raqqa, Syria.

UN official: Half of trapped Raqqa population are children.

Turkey urges Iraqi Kurds to abandon independence vote.

Yemen war: Children dead after Sanaa air strike.

Saudi cleric condemns inter-Muslim conflict ahead of pilgrimage.

Apple, citing U.S. sanctions, removes popular apps in Iran.

Palestinians question US peace motives.

ASIA

Duterte visits Marawi after Filipino troops recapture mosque.

China accuses US of damaging navigation safety with military activities at sea.

Rohingya militants blamed as Myanmar border attacks kill 32. Fresh violence kills 89 in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Bomber, gunmen attack Kabul mosque. Bomber, gunmen attack Shia Imam Zaman mosque in Kabul.

Clashes kill 22 in India as court convicts guru of rape. India guru rape case: 12 die in unrest as Ram Rahim Singh convicted. At least 12 killed in riots after Indian guru convicted of rape.

Ex-Thai PM who failed to appear in court 'may have fled country'. Yingluck trial: Ex-PM 'flees Thailand' ahead of verdict.

US won't pull back from South China Sea ops: general.

Maldives opposition leader jailed over bribery accusation.

Australia's prime minister says changing statues is a 'Stalinist' rewrite of history.

Tony Abbott: Australian ex-PM was 'too drunk' to make vote.

Report: North Korea hired KGB spies to protect Kim Jong Un.

Samsung heir sentenced to five years in jail after corruption conviction.

Macau enlists Chinese army as authorities struggle with typhoon fallout.

Pakistan's population tops 207 million: early census results.

AFRICA

15 killed in suspected Islamist attack in Cameroon.

Togo's capital tense after opposition call to stay home.

10 civilians, including kids, dead in US-backed Somalia raid.

Angola elections: Ruling MPLA wins parliamentary vote. Angola's ruling MPLA wins parliamentary election, commission says.

Boris Johnson says UK was 'over-optimistic' about Libya.

Trump calls Egypt's Sisi to affirm support: statement.

US warned Mauritania’s ‘total failure’ on slavery should rule out trade benefits.

N.Nigerian Muslim group retracts threat to Christians.

White farmers found guilty in South Africa coffin case.

Grace Mugabe make first public appearance since South Africa assault charge.

EUROPE

Man shot in Brussels after attacking soldiers: prosecutors.

Terror attacks leave Barcelona and Madrid at odds, as ever.

Britain will not pay 'a penny more' than it thinks right to leave EU: Boris Johnson.

Brexit bill gets bigger as euro strengthens.

EU states begin returning refugees to Greece as German reunions slow.

Germany bans far-left protest website over G20 riots.

Row escalates between France, Poland over EU labor reforms.

In stinging attack, France's Macron says Poland isolating itself in Europe. Polish PM Szydlo calls Macron's comments on Poland 'arrogant'.

France's Macron looking for a cheaper way after spending $30,000 on makeup in 3 months.

AMERICAS

White House imposes fresh sanctions on Venezuela 'dictatorship'.

British spy behind Trump dossier ordered to give deposition in Buzzfeed suit.

Trudeau forced to backtrack on open invitation to refugees.

Trump says Chief of Staff Kelly is 'doing a great job'.

Venezuela cuts 2 Colombian networks from cable TV.

Maduro: Venezuela can meet Trump talk with military might.

Peru tribal leaders vow to halt oil output unless indigenous rights respected.

Colombian government slams 'ridiculous' FARC list of assets.

Hurricane Harvey: Texas braces for category two storm.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Machete-wielding man is gunned down in Brussels after attacking a group of soldiers while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' near street where ISIS called for vehicle attacks.

ISIS claims responsibility behind Kabul mosque attack that left scores dead, wounded.

ISIS fighter hilariously mocked by Spanish social media users.

Mapping terrorist groups operating inside Pakistan.

'We're going to slit your throat': Madrid jail prisoners threaten one of the Barcelona terror suspects by shouting death threats at him from their cell windows.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Stocks climb; S&P 500 breaks two-week losing streak.

Janet Yellen defends US regulations.

FBI arrests Chinese national connected to malware used in OPM data breach.

Fiat declines to comment on spinoff rumors.