NEWS IN BRIEF

US, IRAN SWAP PRISONERS

Xinhua, Washington

The United States and Iran completed a prisoner swap Saturday, freeing one scholar from each country. Xiyue Wang, a US scholar who had been in Iranian custody since August 2016, and Iranian scholar Massoud Soleimani held by the United States for more than one year, were released. “After more than three years of being held prisoner in Iran, Xiyue Wang is returning to the United States,” the White House issued a statement Saturday morning on behalf of US President Donald Trump. The US State Department tweeted a photo of Wang with the department’s special envoy for Iran Brian Hook at an airport.

 

TRUMP TAPS NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR OPERATIONS

Xinhua, Washington

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Anthony Ornato, deputy assistant director of the Secret Service, will become his new deputy chief of staff for operations. Trump tweeted that he has worked with Ornato for three years, and that “he will do a fantastic job!” Ornato is to replace Daniel Walsh who is leaving the White House for the private sector. A longtime Trump aide, Walsh oversaw the planning of the administration’s foreign trips and the White House military office.

 

STUDENTS KEEP DRIVING PROTESTS DEMANDING CHANGE IN CHILE

AP, Santiago

Nearly two months ago, Catalina Santana jumped a turnstile in the Santiago metro and helped launch a movement that changed the course of Chilean history. Student protests over a fare hike morphed into a nationwide call for socioeconomic equality and better social services that brought millions to the streets and forced President Sebastián Piñera to increase benefits for the poor and disadvantaged and start a process of constitutional reform. But Santana, 18, isn’t done.

 

30,000 MONKS ATTEND MASS ALMS-GIVING IN MYANMAR

AFP, Mandalay, Myanmar

Thirty-thousand monks assembled in the early morning chill in Myanmar yesterday for a spectacular alms-giving event, partly organised by a controversial mega-temple under scrutiny across the border in Thailand. With many barefoot, Buddhist monks from Myanmar and Thailand and senior religious officials from a dozen countries collected alms next to an airport in the central city of Mandalay, that is also a heartland of the faith.

 

TRAPPED GOLD MINERS FOUND DEAD IN S AFRICA

AFP, Johannesburg

Four gold miners trapped underground after a tremor caused a rockfall in northeast South Africa have been found dead, their union said yesterday. A fifth miner was rescued with serious injuries on Friday after the accident at the Tau Lekoa Mine in the town of Orkney, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said. “The four mineworkers were found dead,” a union statement said after the rescue team lost contact with the four men deep underground early Saturday.

 

NEWS IN BRIEF

US, IRAN SWAP PRISONERS Xinhua, Washington The United States and Iran completed a prisoner swap Saturday, freeing one scholar from each country. Xiyue Wang, a US scholar who had been in Iranian custody since August 2016, and Iranian scholar Massoud Soleimani held by the United States for more than one year, were released. After more than three years of being held prisoner in Iran, Xiyue Wang is returning to the United States, the White House issued a statement Saturday morning on behalf of US President Donald Trump. The US State Department tweeted a photo of Wang with the departments special envoy for Iran Brian Hook at an airport. TRUMP TAPS NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR OPERATIONS Xinhua, Washington US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Anthony Ornato, deputy assistant director of the Secret Service, will become his new deputy chief of staff for operations. Trump tweeted that he has worked with Ornato for three years, and that he will do a fantastic job! Ornato is to replace Daniel Walsh who is leaving the White House for the private sector. A longtime Trump aide, Walsh oversaw the planning of the administrations foreign trips and the White House military office. STUDENTS KEEP DRIVING PROTESTS DEMANDING CHANGE IN CHILE AP, Santiago Nearly two months ago, Catalina Santana jumped a turnstile in the Santiago metro and helped launch a movement that changed the course of Chilean history. Student protests over a fare hike morphed into a nationwide call for socioeconomic equality and better social services that brought millions to the streets and forced President Sebastin Piera to increase benefits for the poor and disadvantaged and start a process of constitutional reform. But Santana, 18, isnt done. 30,000 MONKS ATTEND MASS ALMS-GIVING IN MYANMAR AFP, Mandalay, Myanmar Thirty-thousand monks assembled in the early morning chill in Myanmar yesterday for a spectacular alms-giving event, partly organised by a controversial mega-temple under scrutiny across the border in Thailand. With many barefoot, Buddhist monks from Myanmar and Thailand and senior religious officials from a dozen countries collected alms next to an airport in the central city of Mandalay, that is also a heartland of the faith. TRAPPED GOLD MINERS FOUND DEAD IN S AFRICA AFP, Johannesburg Four gold miners trapped underground after a tremor caused a rockfall in northeast South Africa have been found dead, their union said yesterday. A fifth miner was rescued with serious injuries on Friday after the accident at the Tau Lekoa Mine in the town of Orkney, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said. The four mineworkers were found dead, a union statement said after the rescue team lost contact with the four men deep underground early Saturday.