IN BRIEF (Page 11)

United States

Trump calls former aide 'dog'

President Donald Trump unloaded on former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman on Tuesday, calling her a "crazed, crying lowlife" and "that dog", as a clash rooted in the reality star's accusations of racism focused new attention on his frequent disparagement of prominent African-Americans. The public conflict showed no signs of slowing, as Manigault Newman did another round of interviews to promote her tell-all book and Trump's presidential campaign filed arbitration action against her alleging she breached a confidentiality agreement. Manigault Newman, who has painted a damning picture of Trump and alleged there is a videotape of him using a racial slur, said she is not going away.

India

Modi announces space mission

India will send a manned mission into space by 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Wednesday in a speech to the nation. "India will send into space - a man or a woman - by 2022, before that if possible," Modi said in a marathon address at the Red Fort in New Delhi for the country's Independence Day. The astronaut would be "carrying the national flag," Modi said, adding that India would be only the fourth country - after Russia, the United States and China - to launch its own manned space mission.

Cuba

Nationwide free internet for a day

The government said it provided free internet to the island nation's more than 5 million cell phone users on Tuesday, in an eight-hour test before it launches sales of the service. On the streets of Havana, mobile users said they were happy about the day of free internet, even as some complained that connectivity was notably slower than usual. Leinier Valdez, one of a group of young people trying to connect, said: "This is great. It's better and more so when you can connect for free."

Indonesia

Govt promises haze-free Games

The government is determined to carry out all necessary measures to prevent forest and land fires from spreading on the island of Sumatra, as the Asia Games will start on Saturday in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, at the peak of the dry season. Sixteen helicopters have been on standby across South Sumatra and can be deployed for water bombing at any time when forest fires are detected. Another 10 helicopters are also on standby in Riau, Ruandha said.

Ap - Afp - Reuters - The Jakarta Post

(China Daily 08/16/2018 page11)