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'Alter your course': Dramatic audio released of Iran seizing British ship

An audio recording released Sunday reveals the tense moments before a British-flagged oil tanker was seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces rappelling from helicopters to the ship's deck. The Stena Impero tanker was confiscated "for failing to respect international maritime rules," the guard said after the seizure Friday. In the recording, an apparent Iranian official warns the tanker's crew to alter course. "If you obey, you will be safe," the voice says. "Alter your course 3-6-0 degrees immediately." The voice of a British naval officer then warns that the ship had a right to continue undisturbed. Video posted online showed Iranian soldiers in black ski masks sweeping onto the ship, which was eventually boarded by Iranian soldiers and seized.

Two weeks ago, British marines seized an Iranian tanker suspected of breaching sanctions off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he spoke with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, who viewed seizure of the Stena Impero as a "tit-for-tat" situation.

Trump 'might' try to stop 'send her back chants,' Pence says

Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that President Donald Trump "might make an effort to speak out about it" if audience members at one of his rallies began to chant, "Send her back" like they did last week in North Carolina. "The president wasn't pleased about it," Pence told CBS regarding the chant that began after Trump criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, at a recent rally. Days earlier, Trump suggested Omar — a one-time refugee from Somalia — should "go back" to her country of origin. Omar was one of four liberal congresswomen of color lambasted by Trump as incapable "of loving our Country" in a tweet Sunday morning, leaving Democrats divided over how to talk about race and racism heading into next year’s elections.

Mocking hurricane victims: Puerto Rico governor says he won't resign amid scandal

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, joined a growing chorus of lawmakers including Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in calling for the resignation of Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló over a scandal involving leaked text messages between the governor and top aides. The territory, whose residents are U.S. citizens, has been rocked by protests after nearly 900 pages of private chats between the 40-year-old governor and members of his administration leaked, revealing the men mocking women, disabled people, and victims of Hurricane Maria. On Sunday, Rosselló said in a brief Facebook video that he will not resign as governor, though he will decline to seek re-election and will step down as head of his pro-statehood party. The scandal came to light a day after Rosselló’s former secretary of education and five other people were arrested on charges of steering federal money to unqualified, politically connected contractors.

Real quick

'Sunday could be the hottest day of this heat wave'

Residents in the Northeast and Midwest braced Sunday for screaming temperatures as a relentless heatwave gripped the country. Local officials issued dire warnings — and even urged criminals to stay home. Temperatures at or near 100 degrees were forecast for Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston and hundreds of cities and towns in between. "Sunday could be the hottest day of this heat wave all along the Interstate 95 corridor," AccuWeather said. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh declared a heat emergency while the National Weather Service extended "excessive heat" warnings across much of the East. Police in Braintree, a few miles south of Boston, tapped Facebook to try and leverage the heat into something positive. "Due to the extreme heat, we are asking anyone thinking of doing criminal activity to hold off until Monday," the post said.

Marvel announces 'Black Widow,' fourth 'Thor' and Mahershala Ali as 'Blade'

Saturday's Marvel Studios panel is always the most anticipated presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, the one thousands of fans camp out overnight to watch live, and this year's was one of its biggest yet. Mahershala Ali will star in a new "Blade" movie as the iconic vampire hunter played by Wesley Snipes in three movies beginning in 1998. "Black Widow" comes out May 1, 2020, and will feature "Stranger Things" star David Harbour is Alexei alongside Scarlett Johansson. "Thor: Love and Thunder" hits theaters in fall 2021, with Taika Waititi returning to direct the fourth Thor film.

Attacks by masked assailants as Hong Kong protests turn violent

Hong Kong’s protest movement took a violent turn Sunday as police launched tear gas at protesters after a massive march continued late into the evening, and subway riders were attacked by masked assailants who apparently were targeting pro-democracy demonstrators. The firing of the tear gas was the latest confrontation between police and protesters who have taken to the streets for over a month to fight a proposed extradition bill and call for electoral reforms in the Chinese territory. Protesters on Sunday threw eggs at he Liaison Office, which represents China’s Communist Party-led central government within the city. Organizers said 430,000 people participated in Sunday’s march, while police said there were 138,000 during the procession’s “peak period.”

Irishman Shane Lowry wins British Open

It might not have been the greatest British Open victory, but it was probably the greatest Irish victory since the tournament began in 1860. Irishman Shane Lowry beat runner-up Tommy Fleetwood by six shots on a wet and windy Sunday, joining Fred Daly, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy as Champion Golfer of the Year from Ireland or Northern Ireland. The 32-year-old Lowry’s historic win stands out for one very important reason: he did it on the Emerald Isle at Royal Portrush. The 148th Open Championship was foreshadowed with ample focus on what divides the people of this island, so it was only appropriate that a man who embodies many of the traits that unite them should emerge as the winner. After the emotional victory, Lowry was greeted by his family, including wife Wendy Honner and 2-year-old daughter Iris. “My wife and my little girl, Iris," Lowry said, "to have them here today it’s extra special.”

Contributing: The Associated Press

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