Kavanaugh, Accuser Set for Hearings | Korean Leaders Hold Summit

In a public session next Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony from President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee as well as the woman who has accused him of sexual assault. Allegations leveled by research psychologist Christine Blasey Ford, who came forward Sunday, have injected uncertainty into what previously seemed like an inevitable confirmation. Meanwhile, Trump emphatically backed Kavanaugh as “somebody very special” while also welcoming further hearings. “I’m sure it will work out very well,” he told reporters, dismissing the prospect of Kavanaugh backing out as “ridiculous.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greeted his South Korean counterpart, President Moon Jae-in, with a smile and a hug as he arrived at Pyongyang’s airport Tuesday. Tens of thousands of North Koreans reportedly waved flowers and chanted “Unification!” as the leaders paraded through the capital. Moon’s three-day visit — the first by a South Korean leader since 2007 — is aimed at restarting stalled talks over North Korea’s denuclearization, as well as negotiating a formal end to the Korean War. “What I want to achieve is peace,” Moon tweeted.

In the latest salvo of the trade war between Beijing and Washington, President Trump announced 10 percent tariffs on about $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, from luggage to seafood — and promised to tax $267 billion more if China retaliated. After taking effect Sept. 24, they’ll increase to 25 percent at the end of the year, adding to the $50 billion in tariffs already levied against Beijing. Trump blamed Chinese trade practices for posing “a grave threat” to the U.S. economy. Beijing has promised to hit back.

Fifteen people are feared dead after a Russian military reconnaissance plane was accidentally hit by Syrian anti-aircraft defenses Tuesday, according to Russian officials. But Moscow blamed Israeli pilots — believed to be conducting missile strikes on Syria’s Latakia province — for forcing the Il-20 into the line of fire. A spokesman for Russia’s defense ministry says Moscow, a key ally of Syrian leader Bashar Assad, retains “the right to an appropriate response.” Rescuers are combing the area near Syria’s Mediterranean coast for wreckage, but reportedly expect no survivors.

Know This: President Trump has ordered the Justice Department to declassify portions of the federal government’s investigation into Russian election interference. German doctors say it’s “highly probable” a Russian Pussy Riot activist who disrupted the World Cup final in July was poisoned. Coca-Cola is reportedly considering introducing cannabis-infused wellness drinks. And today OZY’s Around the World campaign returns to Brazil: Meet the renegade general championing the country’s military.

Remember This Number: $22 billion. That’s the upper value of property damage and disruption that analysts estimate Hurricane Florence has wrought on the Carolinas.

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Yusaku Maezawa, the 42-year-old founder of Japan’s largest online clothing retailer, will be the first paying passenger to venture around the moon on Elon Musk’s Big Falcon Rocket — a journey only two dozen astronauts made during the Apollo era. Maezawa said he’d invite as many as eight artists, as well as Musk himself, to create an art project titled Dear Moon. Musk reported that Maezawa will provide “a material percentage” of the $5 billion development cost for the passenger rocket, which is due to take off in 2023.

They’re getting organized. From nonprofits to digital newsrooms, workers are increasingly forming unions in places with little or no history of labor activism. And millennials are leading the movement: Workers under 35 represent the vast majority of the current growth in union membership. Often independent of major umbrella organizations, this new generation of organizers is forging its own path, preferring to keep groups local, flexible and member-oriented. Now they’re hoping stodgy U.S. labor laws will adapt to their needs too.

The largest study to date on adverse childhood experiences (ACE) suggests that while they’re worryingly universal, they disproportionately harm children from low-income families, people of color and LGBT youth. Research shows 3 out of 5 American adults experienced at least one such trauma, while one-quarter experienced three or more. Multiracial participants, meanwhile, reported around 2.5 ACEs, while bisexual adults averaged 3.1. Previous research has shown that childhood trauma can lead to a host of health problems during adulthood, including cancer, heart disease, depression and substance abuse.

Michael Che and Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live hosted the 70th annual celebration of television Monday night, joined by SNL stars Kate McKinnon and Keenan Thompson, who kicked off the event with a satirical take on Hollywood’s diversity problem called “We Solved It!” SNL, Game of Thrones and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel were big winners, while critically acclaimed Atlanta and The Handmaid’s Tale were shut out. But Oscars producer Glenn Weiss, a 12-time Emmy winner, stole the show during his acceptance speech for directing a variety special by proposing to his girlfriend onstage.

He’s punching back. The Golden Boy Promotions CEO lashed out at criticisms of star fighter Canelo Alvarez’s Saturday night victory in Las Vegas, penning a letter to chattering fans dismissing their “complete nonsense.” De La Hoya took issue with complaints over the judges, Alvarez’s previous positive drug tests, and arguments that the Mexican boxer was outmatched by opponent Gennady Golovkin. Alvarez won by majority decision, making him the unified middleweight world champion. ”Canelo delivered a near-flawless fight,” De La Hoya wrote.