Exclusive: Australia to accept first Central American refugees under U.S. deal

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will accept several dozen Central American refugees within the next few months, two sources familiar with the process told Reuters, the first transfers under a controversial refugee swap arrangement agreed with the United States.

Canberra pledged to take an unspecified number of Central American refugees under a deal struck with former U.S. President Barack Obama late last year.

In exchange, Washington said it would accept up to 1,250 asylum seekers held in Australian immigration centres in the Pacific Island nations of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru that Australia wants to close.

A group of approximately 30 refugees from El Salvador currently being held in Costa Rica will move to Australia in the next couple of months, the two sources said, with a second group of a similar size to follow shortly afterwards.

“The group have been vetted and will likely move in the (northern hemisphere) fall,” said one source, who was not authorised to speak to media about the arrangements.

A spokesman for Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton declined to comment.

A U.S. State Department spokeswoman said although the United States has reached a 50,000 cap on refugee admissions this fiscal year, the U.S. government continues to process refugee applications from Nauru and Manus.

“United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet concluded its adjudications of any refugees being considered for resettlement out of Australian facilities in Nauru and Manus islands,” the spokeswoman said. “USCIS does not make public the exact schedules of their interview teams, but they are planning return trips to the islands.”

The transfer of the Salvadoran refugees to Australia will focus attention on U.S. steps to uphold its end of the agreement, described by President Donald Trump as a “dumb deal” for America.

None of the refugees on PNG’s Manus Island or Nauru – mostly men from the Middle East and South Asia – have been approved to move to the United States yet. Earlier this month, U.S. officials halted screening interviews after the United States reached its annual refugee intake cap…

Source: Exclusive: Australia to accept first Central American refugees under U.S. deal – sources

The first fully electric Mini will be a 3-door model entering production in 2019

BMW Group today revealed more information about its forthcoming battery electric Mini car, which will join the existing internal combustion and hybrid options as a pillar of the lineup. The all-electric model will be a “variant of the brand’s core 3 door model,” BMW revealed for the first time today, and will enter production in 2019 alongside the rest of the Mini lineup.

The electric Mini’s drietrain will be supplied by the company’s Landshut and Dingolfing plans in Bavaria, and they’ll be assembled with the rest of the vehicle at the main production plan in Oxford. The plan, for BMW, is part of its overarching strategy of developing a flexible vehicle structure that will make it possible to electrify every single one of the vehicle series in its lineup.

While BMW’s electrification roadmap extends well beyond 2020, in the immediate future the new Mini will be joined by a MBW i8 Roadster in 2018, and an all-electric X3 starting in 2020. The plug-in Mini Countryman variant is the latest in its overall alternative powertrain range of offerings.

No word yet on further details regarding the all-electric Mini, but expect more to be available soon since that 2019 production tiemline is not all that far off in terms of automaker manufacturing timelines.

Source: The first fully electric Mini will be a 3-door model entering production in 2019 | TechCrunch

Mumbai building collapse: At least 12 killed

At least 12 people were killed when a five-story building collapsed in a suburb of the Indian metropolis of Mumbai Tuesday morning, local authorities said.

A massive search and rescue operation is now underway to dig out people trapped in the debris. Fourteen people have already been rescued from the rubble, P.S. Rahangdale, the chief fire officer at the Mumbai Fire Brigade, told CNN.

“We are still looking for more people,” he said.

Video from the site showed a chaotic scene, with dozens of bystanders nearby and first responders trying to dig through what remained of the building in the working-class neighborhood of Ghatkopar.

“It was very chaotic this morning. People were screaming, running around. The locals claim they saw the building shake for a moment before it collapsed. They are shaken by this incident,” S. Gandote, a local police inspector, told CNN.

Source: Mumbai building collapse: At least 12 killed – CNN.com

WA POLICE: Hunting a violent rapist who broke into woman’s home in Perth + attacked her

WA POLICE are hunting a violent rapist who broke into a woman’s home in Perth’s south and attacked her.

The woman, who is aged in her 50s, spent Monday night in hospital recovering after the brutal attack inside her Hilton home.

According to police, the man forced his way into the woman’s home around 11.30pm on Monday night and bashed her, before raping her.

The woman, who lives alone, told police the attacker then ran from the house.

The victim’s neighbour said he didn’t hear anything on Monday night and he was shocked by what had happened to the “lovely and gentle” woman.

The sex attacker is described as being aged between 18 and 25 years, short with a slim build, stubble and a heavy jaw.

He was last seen wearing black trousers and a dark grey hoody.

Anyone with information on the man, or who saw suspicious people or vehicles in the Hilton area between 8pm and 2am, is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Woman sexually assaulted in Hilton home | Perth Now

The Latest: Trump continues tweet rant against Attorney General Jeff Sessions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions (all times local): 6:15 a.m.

President Donald Trump is keeping up pressure on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, taking to Twitter at daybreak Tuesday to accuse the former senator and campaign ally and adviser of taking a “VERY weak” position at the Justice Department on “Hillary Clinton crimes.”

In a post shortly after 6 a.m. EDT, the president also said: “Ukrainian efforts to sabotage Trump campaign — quietly working to boost Clinton. So where is the investigation A.G.” He also tweeted: “Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are E-mails & DNC server) & Intel leakers!”

The social network flares sent out from the White House followed a pattern that intensified earlier this month with Trump’s harsh criticism of Sessions in an interview with The New York Times. Earlier, Trump referred to the attorney general in a tweet as “beleaguered.” Trump has been angry that Sessions chose to recuse himself from the government’s investigation of Russian meddling in last year’s U.S. election.

___

3:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump has spoken with advisers about firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions, as he continues to rage against Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from all matters related to the Russia investigation.

The president’s anger again bubbled into public view Monday as he referred to Sessions in a tweet as “beleaguered.” Privately, Trump has speculated aloud to allies in recent days about the potential consequences of firing Sessions, according to three people who have recently spoken to the president. They demanded anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Trump often talks about making staff changes without following through, so those who have spoken with the president cautioned that a change may not be imminent or happen at all. What is clear is that Trump remains furious that the attorney general recused himself from the investigations.

Source: The Latest: Trump continues tweet rant against AG Sessions

Egypt car bomb kills seven

Seven civilians, including two young children, have been killed by a car bomb that exploded at a security checkpoint on the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt’s army says.

The military said it intercepted the vehicle at a checkpoint near the city of Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, on Monday and tried to contain the expected blast by running over the car with a tank.

However, the bomb exploded after the tank had driven away and the civilians nearby were caught in the blast, according to video released by the army.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Four gunmen were inside the vehicle, the army said.

Source: Egypt car bomb kills seven

“It’s the apocalypse,” Corsica fires threaten homes in Biguglia; CLIP

Flames spread across 900 hectares of forest and threatened homes, according to emergency services.

"It's the apocalypse," one resident says as firefighters tackle fires in Corsicahttps://t.co/905ZOh9apc http://pic.twitter.com/NRiJVqZlDQ

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) July 25, 2017

Source: Corsica fires threaten homes in Biguglia – BBC News

‘ITS ALL OVER’ flare indicating the end of Lisa Blair’s 104 day journey at sea

'ITS ALL OVER' Race official Mark LeCrae has set off a flare indicating the end of Lisa Blair's 104 day journey at sea @abcnewsPerth http://pic.twitter.com/R0ykYtnUZJ

— Gian De Poloni (@GianDePoloni) July 25, 2017

Going through red light + stop sign in Perth could be made legal – if you’re a cyclist; Clip

Going through a red light or a stop sign in Perth could be made legal – but only if you're a cyclist. http://pic.twitter.com/g4WpMrviU7

— 7 News Perth (@7NewsPerth) July 25, 2017

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‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7, Episode 2 Recap: ‘Stormborn’

Season 7, Episode 2, ‘Stormborn’

One thing we knew going into Season 7 of “Game of Thrones” was that as the expansive story began to contract toward its conclusion, characters who had been long separated or were strangers to one another would begin to come together.

On Sunday that was happening all over the place, as roughly 98 subplots unfolded over lots of conversation and a few flashes of action in a talky, busy episode. Characters we’ve known for years connected either for the first time on the show or in new ways, sharing moments that were by turns touching, revolting, conniving and deadly.

Euron Greyjoy met a couple of Sand Snakes, and it didn’t go well for the ladies. (R.I.P., I guess.) Melisandre talked prophesies with Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion. Yara and Ellaria explored new layers to their relationship before getting interrupted by a sea battle. Samwell Tarly’s dad negotiated loyalties with Jaime. Samwell himself treated Jorah and [shudder].

Others felt each other out, like Daenerys Targaryen and Varys, who hashed out six seasons of tangled history in a few pages of dialogue. (And it mostly made sense!) Elsewhere in Dragonstone, Grey Worm and Missandei found a way to make it work…

George R.R. Martin Says To Expect A New Book (Or Two) In 2018

“The Winds of Winter” is finally coming — probably.

Two-thirds of being a “Game of Thrones” fan involves feverishly anticipating what’s in store for Westeros, especially now that the HBO series is ahead of George R.R. Martin’s books. On Saturday, the author delivered promising news on that front.

In a post on his LiveJournal, where all the best ideas are publicized, Martin said to expect the “Song of Ice and Fire” series’ next written installment in 2018. Regarding the forthcoming book, “The Winds of Winter,” Martin had this to say:

I’ve seen some truly weird reports about WOW on the internet of late, by ‘journalists’ who make their stories up out of whole cloth. I don’t know which story is more absurd, the one that says the book is finished and I’ve been sitting on it for some nefarious reason, or the one that says I have no pages. Both ‘reports’ are equally false and equally moronic. I am still working on it, I am still months away (how many? good question), I still have good days and bad days, and that’s all I care to say. Whether WINDS or the first volume of FIRE AND BLOOD will be the first to hit the bookstores is hard to say at this juncture, but I do think you will have a Westeros book from me in 2018… and who knows, maybe two. A boy can dream…

Initially meant for publication after the “Song of Ice and Fire” series was done, “Fire and Blood” is Martin’s history of House Targaryen, a bloodline that is supposed to end with Iron Throne seeker Daenerys…

Source: George R.R. Martin Says To Expect A New Book (Or Two) In 2018

Trump makes mock threat to fire health chief, but swipe at Sessions is no joke

President Donald Trump has jokingly threatened to fire his health secretary if a crucial vote to repeal Obamacare fails.

Key points:

• Donald Trump threatens to tell Tom Price “you’re fired” if repeal fails
• Senator Shelley Moore Capito also singled out ahead of health care vote
• President also renews attack on Attorney-General Jeff Sessions

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price may have taken some comfort from the President’s light-hearted tone, but Attorney-General Jeff Sessions had no such luxury.

Mr Trump took a remarkable new swipe at Mr Sessions on Monday, referring to him in a tweet as “beleaguered”, while privately musing about whether he should fire his longtime ally.

But the President seemed in a more genial mood when he told thousands of boy scouts at a national gathering in West Virginia that Mr Price “better get” the votes to begin debate on healthcare legislation on Tuesday (local time), lest Mr Trump repeat his tagline from The Apprentice, the reality show in which he once starred.

“Hopefully he’s going to get the votes tomorrow to start our path toward killing this horrible thing known as Obamacare,” Mr Trump said, before turning to Mr Price.

Source: Donald Trump appears at Scout jamboree to make mock threat to sack health secretary – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

#Perth Princess Margaret Hospital contamination scare as ‘visible dust’ found in theatre prep area

Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (PMH) in Perth has been hit with a contamination scare following the discovery of dust-coated surgical instrument trays in the theatre preparation area.

The newly appointed chief executive of WA’s Child and Adolescent Health Service, Robyn Lawrence, has written to colleagues saying the hospital has contacted the families of 370 patients to alert them to the issue.

They include patients who had “relevant implant surgery” at PMH between May 31 last year and June 1 this year.

“In recent weeks, PMH has identified five surgical instrument trays in the theatre preparation area which contained visible dust,” Dr Lawrence wrote.

“Following the identification of the contaminated trays a review of post-operative infection rates and re-admission rates for the past 18 months has taken place…

Source: Princess Margaret Hospital contamination scare as ‘visible dust’ found in theatre prep area – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Woman found dead in suspected stabbing in Richmond, Vic.

Police are at the scene of a fatal stabbing in the inner city suburb of Richmond.

Neighbours have spoken of a confronting scene after a woman was found dead in a house on Westbank Terrace about 4pm.

Police are yet to confirm the exact circumstances of the death but investigators are treating it as suspicious, a Victoria Police spokesman said.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said paramedics were called just before 4pm following reports of a stabbing.

She declined to comment further and said the matter was now a police investigation.

A neighbour to the property told Channel Ten the victim was a woman in her 40s.

He said a man had knocked on his door about 4pm and they had both gone next door to discover the woman’s body.

One of the victim’s friends had also arrived to do a welfare check when the woman failed to show up at work, Channel Ten reported.

Source: Woman found dead in suspected stabbing in Richmond

Dunkirk Veteran Weeps At Film Premiere: ‘It Was Just Like I Was There Again’ CLIPS

Ken Sturdy, a 97-year-old WWII veteran, was just 20 during the real Battle of Dunkirk.

Walking out of a Calgary, Canada, movie theater on Friday, where he’d just watched the premiere of Christopher Nolan’s highly acclaimed “Dunkirk,” 97-year-old war veteran Ken Sturdy was seen wiping tears from his eyes.

“I never thought I’d see that again,” an emotional Sturdy, dressed in a jacket adorned with war medals and a military beret, told Canada’s Global News. “It was just like I was there again.”

Sturdy, who is originally from Wales, is one of the few surviving World War II veterans who was at the Battle of Dunkirk in 1940. He was among the 330,000 Allied troops who were evacuated from the French town as Nazi forces made their advance. More than 100,000 British and French troops perished in the battle, according to the BBC.

“I was 20 when that happened, but watching the movie, I could see my old friends again,” said Sturdy, who added that he’d “lost so many of my buddies” over the course of WWII.

Speaking after the film, Sturdy said he’d been moved to tears for another reason too.

“Tonight I cried because it’s never the end,” he said, referring to humanity’s inexplicable penchant for war. “We the human species, we are so intelligent and do such astonishing things. We can fly to the moon, but we still do stupid things.”

Source: Dunkirk Veteran Weeps At Film Premiere: ‘It Was Just Like I Was There Again’

Monsoon rain lashes India, killing 16

Heavy monsoon rain has lashed western India, killing at least 16 people this week, with more than 24,000 villagers fleeing to higher ground.

A government spokesman says hundreds of rescuers using motorboats saved 789 people, including some pregnant women, from being swept away by the swirling floods in six districts in Gujarat state.

Mount Abu, a popular hill station in the desert Rajasthan state, received 80cm of rain on Monday, surpassing a 1992 record of 66cm, according to the state flood relief department.

At least 60 people have died in northeastern Assam state due to flooding since the start of the monsoon season, which runs from June to September.

Source: Monsoon rain lashes India, killing 16 | Perth Now