While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 20
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Taylor Swift has not yet publicly thrown her weight behind any presidential candidate but has previously been critical of Mr Trump.
PHOTOS: AFP
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Trump shares doctored images showing Taylor Swift support
Donald Trump has shared doctored images on social media showing Taylor Swift and her fans support his presidential campaign, in an apparent effort to tap into the pop singer’s mega star power in the US election.
Swift has not yet publicly thrown her weight behind any presidential candidate in the November 5 election, but she backed President Joe Biden in 2020 and has previously been critical of Mr Trump.
On Aug 18, Mr Trump shared screenshots of posts with manipulated images – including some that an expert said appeared to be AI-generated – suggesting that the pop star and her fans, popularly known as Swifties, support his campaign.
Blinken says Netanyahu confirmed truce support, presses Hamas
REUTERS
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Aug 19 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured him of support for a US proposal to bridge gaps on reaching a Gaza ceasefire, and pressed Hamas to agree.
Following three hours of talks with the prime minister in Jerusalem, Mr Blinken said that Netanyahu promised Israel would send a team to talks scheduled to resume this week, mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
“In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel accepts the bridging proposal. He supports it. It’s now incumbent on Hamas to do the same,” Mr Blinken told reporters later in Tel Aviv.
Expelled former congressman Santos pleads guilty to corruption charges
REUTERS
Former US Representative George Santos pleaded guilty to criminal corruption charges on Aug 19, cementing the downfall of a novice politician who was expelled from Congress last year after a brief, scandal-plagued tenure.
Santos, a Republican, was hit with federal charges in May 2023 for laundering campaign funds to pay for his personal expenses, charging donors’ credit cards without their consent, and receiving unemployment benefits while he was employed. He entered his guilty plea at a hearing before US District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip, New York.
Santos had initially pleaded not guilty. He had been in plea talks with prosecutors since last December.
UK grants permission for London City Airport expansion after appeal
Britain’s government has approved plans to expand capacity at London City Airport by 2.5 million passengers, overturning parts of a previous local-level decision but maintaining a ban on Saturday afternoon flights.
The airport had sought to expand annual capacity to 9 million passengers, up from 6.5 million, by 2031. It wanted to take a number of measures, including seeking permission to push back a curfew on flights on Saturday afternoons from 12:30pm to 6:30pm local time. On Aug 19 a document published on the government website stated: “The Secretaries of State agree with the Inspectors’ conclusions, and agree with their recommendation. They have decided to grant planning permission, subject to revised conditions that maintain the existing Saturday curfew period.”
The decision is one of the first big infrastructure planning calls made by the new Labour government elected in July. Since taking office, ministers have pledged to streamline planning processes and boost construction in all sectors, but have also been forced to cancel some projects due to funding constraints.
Germany’s Gundogan retires from international football
REUTERS
German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has retired from international soccer, the 33-year-old said on Aug 19.
Gundogan, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City last year, made his debut for Germany in 2011 and scored 19 goals in 82 appearances for the national side.
“After a few weeks of consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to end my national team career,” Gundogan posted on social media.
