10 things you need to know today: September 24, 2018

1. Second woman accuses Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct

A second woman has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct that allegedly occurred decades ago, The New Yorker reports. Deborah Ramirez, 53, says that Kavanaugh exposed himself and put his penis in her face at a dorm-room party when they were freshmen at Yale. Senate Democrats demanded a full investigation. Kavanaugh released a statement denying the allegation. "This is a smear, plain and simple," he wrote. Kavanaugh added that he looked forward to testifying "about the truth" on Thursday, when he and his first accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, will answer questions about her claim that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school, which he denies. Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' lawyer, said he represents a victim and witnesses who say Kavanaugh and friends targeted girls for sexual abuse at parties in high school.

The New Yorker Politico

2. Tiger Woods caps his comeback with first win in 5 years

Tiger Woods won the 2018 Tour Championship on Sunday in his first victory since 2013. Woods shot a final-round 71 to finish two strokes ahead of Billy Horschel. The victory, Woods' 80th title, capped the latest comeback effort by the once dominant player. Woods now trails only Sam Snead, who had 82 wins, for the most victories in PGA Tour history. The victory thrilled Woods' fans. Justin Rose, the world's No. 1 golfer, finished tied for fourth but he edged out Woods by one stroke to take the 2018 FedEx Cup crown, which comes with $10 million in bonus money. If Rose hadn't birdied the last hole, Woods would have won his third FedEx title.

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3. Feinstein calls for delaying Kavanaugh hearing to investigate

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) Sunday night requesting an "immediate postponement of any further proceedings" regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. On Sunday, The New Yorker published an article where a classmate from Yale University said that while they were at a party, Kavanaugh exposed himself to her. Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault while they were teenagers, is set to testify before the committee on Thursday. Feinstein said the White House should direct the FBI to investigate all allegations against Kavanaugh; if not, the Senate Judiciary Committee "must subpoena all relevant witnesses. It is time to set politics aside."

The Hill

4. Iran's Revolutionary Guard vows 'deadly' vengeance for parade attack

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard said Sunday it would seek "deadly and unforgettable" revenge against those responsible for an attack on a military parade that killed 25 people, including 12 guard members. Tehran has accused Gulf Arab nations allied with the U.S. of supporting the gunmen in Saturday's assault, which was one of the worst ever against the Revolutionary Guard. Four assailants opened fire on officials gathered on a viewing stand in the southwestern city of Ahvaz during an annual event held to remember the start of Iran's 1980-1988 war with Iraq. The Iranian Arab opposition movement Ahvaz National Resistance claimed responsibility. Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, rejected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's accusation that the U.S. and Gulf states provoked the attack.

Reuters

5. Conservative strategist takes leave of absence after controversial tweets

Conservative strategist Ed Whelan is taking a leave of absence from the Ethics and Public Center think tank after facing harsh criticism for tweeting that the woman who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school might have mistaken him for someone else. The organization's board announced Sunday that Whelan, who apologized on Twitter, had submitted his resignation but the board declined to accept it, instead deciding that he should take a leave of absence. The board will meet in a month to review Whelan's status.

CNN

6. Opposition candidate wins Maldives presidential election

Opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih declared victory Sunday in the third multiparty presidential election in the Maldives' history. The Maldives' Elections Commission on Monday confirmed Solih's victory. He had about 58 percent of the vote with more than 90 percent of the ballots counted. The country's authoritarian incumbent, Yameen Abdul Gayoom, conceded defeat, saying, "Yesterday, the Maldivian people decided what they want." Solih said in a victory speech that the result marked "a moment of happiness, hope, and history." Opposition supporters had feared that the vote would be fixed in favor of the incumbent.

The Associated Press The New York Times

7. Trump heads to U.N.

President Trump heads to the United Nations in New York this week, where he will address the General Assembly, chair his first Security Council meeting, speak at a conference on drugs, and hold private meetings with leaders from Japan, France, Britain, and several other countries. Trump made a stormy debut at the world body last year, slamming North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man" and threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatened the U.S. He also warned of the threat posed by "loser terrorists." This year, Trump is expected to argue that his combative diplomacy has been a success, citing progress toward North Korean denuclearization in his June summit with Kim, and battlefield successes against the Islamic State.

Los Angeles Times

8. More communities evacuate as Florence floodwaters flow downstream

South Carolina authorities issued fresh evacuation orders as the trillions of gallons of rainwater dumped by last week's Hurricane Florence flowed downstream and threatened to flood previously unscathed communities. Georgetown County officials told residents to evacuate more than 8,000 homes in neighborhoods that rarely flood. Floodwaters from Florence, which has been blamed for at least 44 deaths, are slowly making their way into the area from some of the hardest hit parts of North Carolina. The Waccamaw River is expected to crest Wednesday at 28 feet in Horry County, four feet higher than after Hurricane Matthew in 2016, possibly hitting more areas with flooding.

CBS News The State

9. Porsche becomes 1st German automaker to ditch diesel

German sports car maker Porsche announced Sunday that it would stop making diesel cars to focus on vehicles with gas-powered engines, along with electrics and hybrids. It is the first German automaker to make the move. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said the company was "not demonizing diesel" in the wake of the diesel-emissions cheating scandal that has left its parent company, Volkswagen, battered since 2015. "It is and will remain an important propulsion technology," Blume said. He added that even though diesel has always "played a secondary role" for Porsche since gasoline engines are better-suited to its high-performance cars, "Porsche's image has suffered" due to the backlash from the scandal, so it made sense for Porsche to go "diesel-free."

BBC News Porsche

10. Death toll rises to 224 in Tanzania ferry disaster

Tanzanian authorities said Sunday that the death toll from last week's ferry accident on Lake Victoria had risen to 224. Investigators have detained those responsible for managing the capsized MV Nyerere ferry for questioning. Boat accidents are common on Lake Victoria, which is shared by the East African nations of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, due to lax safety laws and the poor condition of many of the aging vessels. Investigators have not determined what caused the boat to capsize. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said an investigation commission will find out what happened and "legal measures will be taken against all who were involved in causing the tragedy."

Reuters