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Happening Today: Trump Jr., Mosul, Gonorrhea, Obamacare, ‘Jersey Shore,' Nelsan Ellis

What to Know

  • Sporadic clashes are continuing in Mosul, even after Iraq declared a "total victory" over the Islamic State group in the city
  • Gonorrhea infections are becoming harder and harder to treat, according to new data published by the World Health Organization
  • New details surrounding "True Blood" actor Nelsan Ellis' death have been revealed

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Trump Jr. Admits He Wanted Information on Clinton From Russian

A meeting between President Trump's eldest son and a Russian lawyer during the presidential campaign occurred at the behest of a Moscow-based singer with family ties to Trump's businesses, according to a participant in the talks. Donald Trump Jr. acknowledged he made time for the meeting hoping to get information about Democrat Hillary Clinton. The circumstances surrounding the meeting, and a report by The New York Times that Trump Jr. was told ahead of time that the source of the information was the Russian government, fueled new questions about the Trump campaign's possible ties to Moscow, which are being scrutinized by federal and congressional investigators. The Times reported that Trump Jr., who was a key campaign adviser to his father, was told the Russian government was behind the information on Clinton in an email from music publicist Rob Goldstone. The Times cited three unnamed people with knowledge of the email. The report is the first public word that Trump Jr. took the meeting with the understanding that he would be presented with damaging information about his father's political opponent and that the material could have emanated from the Kremlin.

Sporadic Clashes in Iraq’s Mosul After Victory Declaration

Sporadic clashes are continuing in Mosul, even after Iraq declared a "total victory" over the Islamic State group in the city. At least one airstrike hit the Old City, the scene of fierce final battles with IS, sending a plume of smoke into the air. Meanwhile, Amnesty International released a report saying that the conflict in Mosul has created a "civilian catastrophe," with the extremists carrying out forced displacement, summary killings and the use of human shields. Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the "total victory" in Mosul— after a nearly nine-month-long battle with IS fighters. The fight dealt a huge blow to IS' so-called territorial caliphate, but also killed thousands, left entire neighborhoods in ruins and displaced nearly 900,000 from their homes.

As Drug Resistance Evolves, Gonorrhea Is Getting Harder to Treat

Gonorrhea infections are becoming harder and harder to treat, according to new data published by the World Health Organization. The WHO found that ciprofloxacin and azithromycin -- two drugs commonly used to treat gonorrhea -- are not as effective in treating the sexually transmitted illness as they used to be. Due to the shape-shifting nature of the bacterial infection, antibiotics used to fight the infection tend to wear off overtime. "The bacteria that cause [gonorrhea] are particularly smart," said a medical officer at the WHO. "Every time we use a new class of antibiotics to treat the infection, the bacteria evolve to resist them." Some cases of gonorrhea have been deemed untreatable by all known antibiotics in some developed countries. This knowledge is attributed to high quality surveillance methods, which poorer countries lack, but where gonorrhea may actually be more common, the WHO said. Gonorrhea affects roughly 78 million people per year, according to the WHO.

Insurer Profits Up Under Obamacare, Report Says

Insurer profits are up this year in Obamacare’s individual exchanges, according to a new report by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. NBC News reports the analysis found insurance companies are paying a lower share of premiums out in medical claims than in any period since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, without any significant difference in the health of the group measured. The new information suggests the insurance market is stabilizing, despite claims from Republicans that Obamacare is collapsing. However, some insurers have submitted significant premium increases or pulled out of the market, which experts say could be related to uncertainty over health care legislation.

“Jersey Shore” Cast Spotted Filming on Boardwalks for Mystery Project

The cast of the controversial reality show "Jersey Shore" has returned to the boardwalks that made them famous. The Asbury Park Press reports the cast of the hit MTV show have been spotted in recent weeks at Point Pleasant Beach and Asbury Park with camera crews in tow. Asbury Park city officials told APP that the show's producers had applied for a permit to film on the boardwalk and beach area under the production name "Roadtrip Reunion." An MTV spokesperson told the newspaper it wasn't their project. Some of the cast members have been hinting at a reunion on their Instagram and Snapchat accounts, but further details remain murky. The cast was known to visit Point Pleasant while filming the reality show, which ran on MTV from 2009 to 2012. But Seaside Heights, where the reality show was originally based, wasn't receptive to a reunion filming there. The borough rejected the project's application to film there, APP reports.

Nelsan Ellis Abused Alcohol and Drugs for Years Before His Death, Family Says

New details surrounding "True Blood" actor Nelsan Ellis' death have been revealed. The 39-year-old actor was pronounced dead due to "complications with heart failure." Ellis' family issued a statement via his manager, Emily Gerson Saines, in an effort to help other people who are struggling with the same addictions he faced. "Nelsan's father has bravely agreed for me to share the circumstances of Nelsan's heart failure," she said. "Nelsan has suffered with drug and alcohol abuse for years. After many stints in rehab, Nelsan attempted to withdraw from alcohol on his own. Funeral plans for Ellis have not been made public.

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