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Hong Kong delays the trial of Jimmy Lai, a democrat who has heart problems
After his lawyer claimed that Jimmy Lai had heart palpitations, the closing arguments in a trial for national security against Hong Kong's pro-democracy entrepreneur Jimmy Lai was delayed until Friday. Closing submissions will resume on Monday, after the court adjourned for Lai to get medication and a monitor. Lai founded the Apple Daily paper that was closed in June 2021 after a raid by police and an asset freeze. He has pleaded no-conviction to two counts of conspiracy to collide with foreign forces and one charge of conspiracy for publishing seditious materials. Robert Pang, Lai's lawyer, told the court Lai had experienced episodes when he felt "collapsing". He added that he accepted the recommendations of a visiting specialist and was still making arrangements. Esther Toh, one of the judges said, "He doesn't have the medication prescribed by the specialist or the monitor. I am concerned." Lai, who is a British national, has been in solitary confinement since more than 1,700 day, and his son had previously expressed concern about his declining health. The prosecutor Anthony Chau informed the court that there was a medical team on standby and that medication and a heart monitor would be available before Monday's hearing resumed. Several Western governments, such as the U.S. have called for Lai to be released immediately, claiming that the trial was politically motivated in light of a long-running crackdown on national security in the China-ruled financial center. Hong Kong and Chinese officials have insisted that Lai is receiving a fair trial, and they've condemned foreign governments who interfere with domestic affairs. In a Thursday media interview, U.S. president Donald Trump stated that he will "do all I can to rescue him." The closing arguments are expected to take eight days. Three judges will then be expected to deliberate for several months, over five years since Lai's first arrest in August 2020. Lai, wearing a windproof white jacket, arrived at the court Friday. He smiled and waved his family and supporters - some of whom had waited for hours for a ticket to the packed courtroom. His trial for national security In December 2023, the process began. Lai, in the witness box said that he was defending freedom of speech and denied allegations that he had lobbied for the U.S. imposing sanctions on Hong Kong or China. (Editing by Greg Torode & Saad Sayeed).
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Air Canada and unions clash despite pleas from the government for a deal to avoid a Saturday strike
Air Canada and its flight attendants remain at odds despite the government's pleas that both sides return to bargaining in order to avoid a strike which would disrupt travel for tens thousands of passengers. Canada's largest airline has announced that it will cancel 500 flights before the strike on Saturday. This leaves 100,000 passengers scrambling to find alternatives. Flightradar showed that Air Canada cancelled 27 flights by 10 pm EDT (0200 GMT Friday). Flight attendants at the carrier are preparing to go on strike on Saturday morning just before 1 am EDT over stagnant contract negotiations on union demands of higher wages and compensations for unpaid labor. The strike will hit Canada's tourism industry during the peak of summer travel and put the Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney to the test. The carrier has asked the government to intervene and enforce arbitration. Air Canada Rouge, its low-cost subsidiary, carries about 130,000 passengers a day. Air Canada has the most flights from Canada to the U.S. despite recent reductions in travel due to trade tensions. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPEU), which represents cabin crew, reported that Air Canada has stopped negotiating. It has also notified its flight attendants of its intention to lock them out. Patty Hajdu, the Canadian Minister of Jobs, has repeatedly encouraged both sides to negotiate. Arielle Meloul Wechsler, Chief Human Resources Officer at Air Canada, said that the airline was "ready to negotiate anytime as long as the negotiations are substantive." Air Canada and its union clashed on Thursday night over a deal to prevent thousands of passengers from being stranded abroad when the expected strike begins Saturday. The agreement would have delayed cabin crew's walkout until Saturday, when they return with their passengers. Air Canada announced on X on Friday that 25,000 additional passengers will be stranded as a result of the union rejecting the deal. They also said that the usual double number of flight attendants failed to report to work on Thursday evening. In a message to its members, however, the union stated that it supported the deal. This failed, because Air Canada refused to honor the collective agreements of their members when they return on Saturday, with passengers. The union stated that the flight attendants contract will cease to be valid when the strike starts on Saturday. The dispute revolves around the way airlines pay flight attendants. Traditionally, most airlines have paid flight attendants only when the plane is in motion. In their most recent contract negotiations, North American flight attendants have asked for compensation for the hours they worked. This includes tasks like boarding passengers or waiting at airports before and after flights. (Reporting by Allison Lampert, Montreal; Editing and proofreading by Christian Schmollinger).
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Updates for 6 PM
Please update the Daybook to include the following: ADDS TIMES PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SCHEDULE (early schedule) All times in Anchorage and Washington are Eastern. 6:30 a.m. ET: Departure from the White House. 6:45 a.m. ET: Departs Joint Base Andrews. 2:10 p.m. ET: Arrives Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska 3:30 p.m. ET: Meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage Alaska 7:30 p.m. Holds a press conference. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Departs Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Return to Joint Base Andrews Returns to White House Note: FOX News anchor Bretbaier will interview President Trump on the Air Force One Flight to Alaska. (Excerpts of the interview will air all afternoon on "Special Report With Bret Baier." Sean Hannity, FOX News' host, will interview President Trump following the Trump-Putin Summit (to be aired Friday at 9 pm ET). ET). Baier will interview Trump as well on the Air Force One flight returning to Washington after the summit. ------ ------ The Daybook August 15, 2025
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President Trump's schedule
ADDS TIMES The Daybook for President Trump Friday, August 15, 2020 The daybook editor is Timothy Ryan (reachable at 202-843-6282 or [email protected] or [email protected]). Call 1-800-435-0101, option 5, if you are having problems receiving the daybook. The content is only intended to be used as a guide and should not appear in the official record. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SCHEDULE (early schedule) All times in Anchorage and Washington are Eastern. 6:30 a.m. Departure from the White House. 6:45 a.m. ET: Departs Joint Base Andrews. 2:10 p.m. ET: Arrives Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska 3:30 p.m. ET: Meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage Alaska 7:30 p.m. ET: Holds news conference. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Departs Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Return to Joint Base Andrews Returns to White House Note: FOX News anchor Bretbaier will interview President Trump on the Air Force One Flight to Alaska. (Excerpts of the interview will air all afternoon on "Special Report With Bret Baier." Sean Hannity, FOX News' host, will interview President Trump following the Trump-Putin Summit (to be aired Friday at 9 pm ET). ET). Baier will interview Trump as well on the Air Force One flight returning to Washington after the summit. The Daybook for Trump August 15, 2025
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Updates for 5pm
Please update the Daybook to include the following: ADDS NOTE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SCHEDULE (early schedule) In Washington and Anchorage Early morning: Departure from the White House. Early morning departure from Joint Base Andrews. Arrives Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage. Departs Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Return to Joint Base Andrews Returns to White House Note: FOX News anchor Bretbaier will interview President Trump on the Air Force One Flight to Alaska. (Excerpts of the interview will air all afternoon on "Special Report With Bret Baier." Sean Hannity, FOX News' host, will interview President Trump following the Trump-Putin Summit (to be aired Friday at 9 pm ET). ET). Baier will interview Trump as well on the Air Force One flight returning to Washington after the summit. (AFGHAN-TALIBAN-RUSSIA/PROTESTS) ADVISORY -- At 4 p.m., Afghanistan Impact holds an online event "to condemn the Taliban's rule and Russia's recognition of the regime." Contact: Sadiq Amini, 202-802-6823 Note: Go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86376308533?. ------ ------ The Daybook August 15, 2025
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President Trump's schedule
The Daybook for President Trump Friday, August 15, 2020 The daybook editor is Timothy Ryan (reachable at 202-843-6282 or [email protected] or [email protected]). Call 1-800-435-0101, option 5, if you are having problems receiving the daybook. The content is only intended to be used as a guide and should not appear in the official record. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SCHEDULE (early schedule) In Washington and Anchorage Early morning: Departure from the White House. Early morning departure from Joint Base Andrews. Arrives Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage. Departs Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska Return to Joint Base Andrews Return to the White House Note: FOX News anchor Bretbaier will interview President Trump on the Air Force One Flight to Alaska. (Excerpts of the interview will air all afternoon on "Special Report With Bret Baier." Sean Hannity, FOX News' host, will interview President Trump following the Trump-Putin Summit (airing Friday at 9 pm ET). ET). Baier will interview Trump as well on the Air Force One flight returning to Washington after the summit. The Daybook for Trump August 15, 2025
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Source: Panama Canal will launch an auction for the construction and operation of two ports
A source familiar with the preparations told us on Thursday that the Panama Canal is soon to begin consulting with companies in order to launch a competitive bid in the first quarter next year for the construction and operation of two new ports within its zone. The ports are part a larger expansion plan organized by the administration of the canal. The plan aims to improve services for cargo handling including storage, trans shipment and gas transportation and ensure fresh water is available to operations. At a Thursday conference, Ricaurte Vaquez, the head of waterway, said that there was a high demand for terminals and facilities. She did not elaborate. The Panama Canal Authority didn't immediately respond to a comment request. The Panama Canal Authority's top executives said previously that the waterway planned to invest $8.5 billion over the next five-year period to upgrade and expand its infrastructure. The Panama Supreme Court will discuss a key project in the planning that involves the construction of a dam to contain Indio River and create a reservoir. This comes after the affected communities filed a suit against the project last month. Source: Another tender for a project of building a liquefied gas pipeline in the canal zone is also being prepared and could launch next year. The source said that Donald Trump, the U.S. president, threatened to seize control of the Panama Canal this year amid criticisms of what his government called the growing influence of China in the Central American nation. Panama's president Jose Mulino, in response to criticism about the contract terms, has decided to terminate a 25-year concession granted to CK Hutchison of Hong Kong for the operation and management of two important ports located outside the canal zone. CK Hutchison announced on Thursday that a $22.8-billion deal to sell its global ports, including two Panamanian ports, with a group headed by BlackRock and MSC, has a "reasonable" chance of being completed.
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Canal de Panama planea lanzar en 2026 licitacion para construir y operar dos nuevos puertos: fuente
El Canal de Panama empezara pronto consultas con empresas potencialmente interesadas para lanzar en el primer trimestre del proximo ano una licitacion competitiva para la construccion y operacion de dos nuevos puertos dentro de su zona, dijo una fuente involucrada en los preparativos. Los puertos forman parte de un amplio plan de expansion de negocios que la administracion de la via interoceanica esta organizando para aumentar los servicios relacionados con el manejo de carga, incluyendo el transbordo, el almacenamiento y el transporte de gas, asi como para asegurar el suministro de agua potable para sus operaciones. El proyecto surge en un momento en que el gobierno del presidente Jose Raul Mulino maniobra para finalizar una concesion de 25 anos a CK Hutchison, con sede en Hong Kong, para la operacion de dos puertos clave ubicados en ambos extremos del Canal, en medio de criticas a los terminos del contrato. CK Hutchison dijo el jueves que un acuerdo de 22.800 millones de dolares con un grupo liderado por BlackRock y la naviera MSC para vender la mayor parte de su negocio portuario global, incluidos los dos puertos en Panama, tenia una "posibilidad razonable" de concretarse. La Autoridad del Canal de Panama (ACP) no respondio de inmediato a una solicitud de comentarios. Anteriormente, ha indicado que planea invertir unos 8,500 millones de dolares en los proximos cinco anos para modernizar y ampliar su infraestructura. Un proyecto clave, incluido el de la construccion de una gran presa para contener el rio Indio y crear un nuevo embalse, se discutira en la Corte Suprema de Justicia panamena despues de que las comunidades afectadas presentaran una demanda en su contra. "Nosotros estamos viendo que hay una demanda enorme por facilidades y terminales portuarias", declaro el jueves a periodistas el administrador de la via interoceanica, Ricaurte Vasquez, sin dar mas detalles. Otra licitacion para la construccion de un gasoducto de gas licuado de petroleo (GLP) dentro de la zona del Canal tambien esta en preparacion y podria lanzarse el proximo ano, anadio la fuente. (Reporte de Elida Moreno; Escrito por Marianna Parraga; Editado en espanol por Raul Cortes Fernandez)
Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai trial delayed over heart problems
After his lawyer claimed that Jimmy Lai had heart palpitations, the closing arguments in a trial for national security against Hong Kong's pro-democracy entrepreneur Jimmy Lai was delayed until Friday.
Closing submissions will resume on Monday, after the court adjourned for Lai to get medication and a monitor. Lai has pleaded no contest to two counts of conspiracy to collude and one of conspiracy for publishing seditious materials. Lai founded the Apple Daily, a newspaper that had to be closed in June 2021 after a raid by police and an asset freeze. Lai has been called to release immediately by some Western governments including the U.S. They claim that the trial is political and part of a long-running crackdown on national security in the China-ruled financial center. In a Thursday media interview, U.S. president Donald Trump stated that he will "do all I can to rescue him." (Editing by Greg Torode & Saad Sayeed).
(source: Reuters)