| 1. CHINA CANCELS N.B.A. EVENT AMID TENSIONS: The Chinese government canceled an event that was supposed to be hosted by the Nets, following controversy that spawned from a tweet about the Hong Kong riots by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, which angered people in mainland China. As part of a weeklong tour, Nets players were slated to participate in an N.B.A. Cares event at the New York Experimental School in Shanghai. New York Post: “The Education Bureau shut down the event—a dedication ceremony for the new N.B.A. Cares Learn and Play Center in Shanghai—with no explanation given to the media. The event was nixed not so much because of fear the players would be put in the awkward position of answering questions about the festering situation, but more out of the Chinese government’s hurt feelings over Morey’s comments.” 2. LONG-DELAYED MIAMI MUSIC FESTIVAL POSTPONED AGAIN: The Miami Beach Pop Festival has been postponed indefinitely, due to “unforeseen circumstances” according to organizers. The inaugural event was slated to take place October 8 in South Beach with Chance the Rapper as a headliner. The festival was initially slated to debut the weekend after Art Basel 2018, but was pushed back a year so organizers could assess logistics and get approval from locals. Steve Sybesma, Paul Peck, and Miami promoter Bruce Orosz of ACT Productions are behind the event. Miami New Times: “Music festivals typically pull the plug at the 11th hour due to low ticket sales, but Miami Beach Pop organizers have not yet revealed a reason for the postponement beyond ‘unforeseen circumstances.’ Asked specifically about ticket sales, a spokesperson for the festival declined to comment. In May, however, organizers told New Times they would add single-day ticket options if early-bird sales looked promising. Three months later, in early August, the festival announced its daily schedule alongside single-day tickets.” 3. MSNBC AND WASHINGTON POST WILL CO-HOST NOVEMBER DEMOCRATIC DEBATE: MSNBC and Washington Post will co-host the fifth Democratic presidential debate, taking place in Georgia on November 20. Eight candidates have appeared to qualify for the debate based on fund-raising and polling criteria. The event’s venue, format, and moderators will be announced at a later date. NBC News: “The polling requirement is slightly different than the previous debates—it calls for candidates to hit at least 3 percent in four qualifying state or national polls or 5 percent in two qualifying state polls. … An unofficial survey by NBC News shows eight candidates appear to have qualified already—former Vice President Joe Biden, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, California Senator Kamala Harris, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, billionaire Tom Steyer, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.” | 