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Trump skips joining Biden, other former presidents at official 9/11 memorial ceremonies

Donald Trump, instead of appearing at the ceremonies, traveled several blocks from his Trump Tower building in Manhattan to the 17th police precinct and the neighboring fire station in NYC.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was absent at official 9/11 memorial ceremonies in New York City and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton all attended a somber ceremony Saturday morning at the National September 11 Memorial where the World Trade Center towers fell two decades ago.

Biden traveled next to the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville to attend a wreath-laying ceremony. Earlier, former President George W. Bush and Vice President Kamala Harris both spoke at the memorial.

Trump, instead of appearing at the ceremonies, traveled several blocks from his Trump Tower building in Manhattan to the 17th police precinct and the neighboring fire station in NYC.

During an unannounced stop at a Shanksville fire department, Biden praised Bush for encouraging American unity in his speech. He also defended his administration’s handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan in brief remarks to the press pool.

A guard of honor salutes during a commemoration ceremony of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, the United States, on Sept. 11, 2021.

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Biden’s last stop in the day was the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, where he attended a wreath-laying ceremony along with first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Biden did not deliver formal remarks on Saturday but released a video statement on Friday recognizing the lives lost in the deadliest attack in U.S. history and calling for national unity.

Nineteen terrorists hijacked four fuel-loaded U.S. commercial airplanes bound for west coast destinations on Sept. 11, 2001. A total of 2,977 people were killed in the attacks.

Relatives read victims

Published : September 12, 2021

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Former U.S. President George W. Bush warns against domestic extremism on 9/11 anniversary

Bush lamented the division in the United States, contrasting the current political climate to the spirit of unity that he said he observed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday warned against domestic extremism, saying the country has seen “growing evidence that the dangers to our country can come not only across borders but from violence that gathers within.”

“There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home,” said Bush in a speech marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“But in their disdain for pluralism, in their disregard for human life, in their determination to defile national symbols, they are children of the same foul spirit, and it is our continuing duty to confront them,” he said.   

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•  

Bush, who was in his first year as president when the horrific attacks took place, paid tribute to the passengers and crew members of Flight 93, which crashed in a field after those on board fought back against the hijackers and diverted them from their intended target.

The former Republican president lamented the division in the United States, contrasting the current political climate to the spirit of unity that he said he observed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

“A malign force seems at work in our common life that turns every disagreement into an argument, and every argument into a clash of cultures. So much of our politics has become a naked appeal to anger, fear, and resentment,” Bush said. “That leaves us worried about our nation and our future together.”

Bush has been outspoken about condemning violent insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election results for President Joe Biden.  
 

Published : September 12, 2021

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Families, residents pay tribute to 9/11 victims as U.S. still healing 20 years on

Dale Nacke noted that the 9/11 attacks helped galvanize the country and bring the society together, but it didnt last long. “Now 20 years later, I see a country thats largely divided.”

When Dale Nacke talked about the last moments of his late brother Joey before the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed 20 years ago, he said his brother didn’t make any phone call because he wouldn’t share that burden with anybody.

“He wouldn’t put that kind of pain on the rest of us, so he didn’t make any phone calls. That isn’t our brother,” Dale, 49, told Xinhua on a chilly Friday night after a Luminaria Ceremony at the plane’s crash site surrounded by meadows and hills, located in the Pennsylvania countryside outside of Shanksville.

Asked how long it took for the family members to recover from the tragedy, Dale said 20 years doesn’t make much of a difference. “I don’t think we do (recover),” he said, choking back tears. “I’ll live the rest of my life without my brother and that absence in our family never goes away.”

Flight 93 was one of the four hijacked planes on Sept. 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 people were killed in the deadliest terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. The other three planes hit the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York, and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.

A wreath is seen at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the United States, Sept. 9, 2021.

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Experts believe that the target of the Flight 93 hijackers was likely the U.S. Capitol Building or the White House. The 40 passengers and crew members attempted to seize control from hijackers and eventually forced down the plane, which crashed only 20 minutes flying-time from Washington, D.C.

“If I had the opportunity to say anything to him, given what this is, I would love to tell him how much, how proud I was of him,” Dale said.

His elder brother Louis Joseph Nacke II, a toy company executive, had just turned 42 two days before the 9/11 attacks. Dale said his brother liked to be called “Joey” by family members, while he preferred the name “Lou” with colleagues and friends.

“He had a Superman tattoo. He was afraid of nobody. He was my big brother. He was always my protector. And he was, he was a little brash. He was a little loud, but he was very loyal, very loving. As my big brother, I always looked up to him,” Dale said, bursting into laughter when describing what kind of person his brother was.

The Luminaria Ceremony, held a few hours before President Joe Biden and some former presidents gathered at the site to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, was attended by hundreds of families and friends of the victims, as well as many others who traveled hours to pay their tribute to the courageous heroes they never met.

Fourty candle lanterns were lit and carried by family members and friends, and placed below each victim’s name, engraved on tall slabs of white marble, known as Wall of Names. Flowers, mini American flags and a toy bear were easy to spot.

Glenna Putyrski, who lived in a nearby town, said she was a sixth grader when the plane crashed and had no idea what was going on, and attending the Luminaria Ceremony makes things real.

“Seeing the family members, I was really choked up too, because it just makes it so much more real seeing a family member of each person. And you just realize all those individual families and their own stories and everybody that was affected,” Glenna told Xinhua.

Asked about one of the major changes the 9/11 attacks have brought, Glenna highlighted the loss of trust among people and among countries. “Just overall distrust in the world, I feel like that just changed everybody’s outlook on everything,” she said.

“That sense of fear that people have now, maybe they didn’t before,” Glenna’s mom Anne Putyrski added.

“I’d say that we as a nation are not as arrogant about our own security as we were perhaps 20 years ago,” Dale said. “And I think we have a better heightened awareness, and are maybe more vigilant.”

Dale also noted that the 9/11 attacks helped galvanize the country and bring the society together, but it didn’t last long. “Now 20 years later, I see a country that’s largely divided,” he said.

Lanterns are placed at the Wall of Names during a candlelight memorial to the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the United States, Sept. 10, 2021.

Published : September 12, 2021

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5 soldiers killed, 6 wounded in ELN attack in Colombia

According to authorities, the wounded men were promptly transferred to a health center, where they are recovering from their injuries, while the army “is coordinating the corresponding legal procedures with the relevant authorities.”

 At least five soldiers were killed and six were wounded on Saturday in an attack by guerrillas from the National Liberation Army (ELN) in a rural area of the Colombian municipality of Arauquita in the department of Arauca.

According to authorities, the wounded men were promptly transferred to a health center, where they are recovering from their injuries, while the army “is coordinating the corresponding legal procedures with the relevant authorities.”

“The soldiers of Colombia express their heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of our murdered heroes,” said the Colombian Army.

Colombian President Ivan Duque condemned the attack, saying on Twitter, “These cowardly acts are the product of despair in the face of military pressure. For the memory of our heroes, we will continue attacking narco-terrorism and dismantling its structures.” 
 

Published : September 12, 2021

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Malaysian PM pushes Asean travel bubble with China as Covid cases surge

Southeast Asia witnessed a rise in new Covid-19 infections and a decline in deaths on Saturday, collated data showed.

Asean countries reported 83,523 infections and 1,323 deaths on Saturday compared to 75,832 and 1,390 respectively on Friday.

Malaysia‘s new Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has proposed Asean to create guidelines on forming a travel bubble with China in order to stimulate the economy amid the Covid-19 crisis.

If the guidelines become a reality, it would help the tourism industry recover and enable people to connect with each other, he said.

Singapore‘s government will kick off its project to administer a third Covid-19 jab, using Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, to boost immunity for the elderly aged over 60 years from September 14.

The country’s health minister said the elderly who had already received the second jab at least six months ago could receive the third jab, adding that 900,000 seniors were curently eligible.

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Malaysian PM pushes Asean travel bubble with China as Covid cases surge

Published : September 12, 2021

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Curtis Samuel placed on injured reserve, will be eligible to return after three games

The Washington Football Team will have to start its season without one of its newest (and highest-paid) offseason acquisitions. Curtis Samuel was placed on injured reserve Friday because of a lingering groin injury, forcing the veteran wide receiver to miss at least the first three games of the season.

It’s unclear when Samuel first suffered the injury, but he has dealt with it since at least early June, forcing him to miss minicamp and later training camp and the preseason. He also spent 10 days on the covid-19/reserve list early in training camp, which Coach Ron Rivera said set him back in his recovery.

Samuel returned to practice for the first time Monday and participated on a limited basis in pads. But at the team’s subsequent practice Wednesday, Samuel ran only a few individual drills before walking over toward the sideline in apparent discomfort. He was formally listed as a nonparticipant on the team’s practice report both Wednesday and Thursday.

“We’re just trying to take a little bit of pressure off of him in terms of his rehab program,” Rivera told reporters Friday. “Having been put on the covid list at one time I think set him back in terms of his opportunity to rehab and get himself ready to go for the year. So we want to create this opportunity and take advantage of it and really let him focus on getting healthy before he has to start worrying about playing.”

Rivera indicated that Samuel’s time on IR is expected to be short term. Per the NFL’s modified IR rules, Samuel has to miss three games before he is eligible to return to practice, which would be Sept. 27 for Washington, following its Week 3 game at Buffalo. If Samuel is designated for return, the team would have 21 days to decide to activate him or leave him on IR for the remainder of the season.

The soonest Samuel could suit up for a game is Week 4 against the Falcons in Atlanta.

When asked about the possibility of surgery for Samuel, Rivera became irritated and said it’s “not an option.”

“Don’t even bring that up,” he told reporters. ” . . . I don’t want to start any rumors, any crap, okay? This has got nothing to do with any of that, guys. It’s just about giving a guy an opportunity to get a chance to rehab the way he needed to because, unfortunately, when we had to put him on [the] covid [list], he missed basically two weeks. We’re trying to catch up on those lost two weeks. We pushed him a little bit last week, he’s not ready, so we figured this is the best thing to do. . . .

“Do not even mention that, please. That is not an option as far as we’re concerned right now. It’s not even on the table. . . . Do not start something that’s not there.”

Washington signed Samuel to a three-year, $34.5 million contract in March with the expectation that he would become a focal point of an offense that last year lagged in most major statistical categories. Per Sportradar, Washington tied for 29th in the league with 94 total explosive plays (at least 12 yards rushing or 16 yards passing).

“I think it was one of the things that we were missing, was the opportunity to have three or four guys on the field that could potentially go the distance,” Rivera said Monday. “You know, we may have had two guys at a time, but now we have a potential to put three or four guys out on the field that have the ability to go the distance every time they touch it. So this is pretty exciting as far as what we can be on offense. . . . The things that we did, we did in mind with that express intent, and that was to get faster, to put more playmakers that have the chance to go vertical.”

With sub-4.4-second speed and experience in Washington’s offensive system (he was coached by Rivera and coordinator Scott Turner with Carolina), Samuel was a natural fit to pair with Terry McLaurin atop the wide receiver depth chart. But Samuel wasn’t the only addition at the position, and now players such as third-round draft pick Dyami Brown, veteran free agent Adam Humphries and fourth-year player Cam Sims will be called upon to step up as Samuel continues to rehab.

“We have enough guys that can do what Curtis does, and we feel good about those guys, and that’s why we don’t feel any pressure as far as doing what we’re doing,” Rivera added Friday.

Brown and Sims, in particular, presumably will be relied upon more in Samuel’s absence to start the season. But the future of Washington’s offense remains unknown while Samuel remains sidelined.

“It’s just one of those things,” Rivera said, “that at some point, we just say: ‘You know what? Let’s just let you heal up.’ And let’s let you go out and now focus in on getting better and getting ready to play as opposed to having to worry about: ‘Oh, man, I got to feel better. I got to feel better so I can play.’ “

Published : September 11, 2021

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Tina Charles returns to form, gives Mystics playoff hopes a boost with win over Dream

WASHINGTON – The Washington Mystics had grown accustomed to turning to Tina Charles to carry them in the first half of the season. With the team missing multiple starters, Charles shouldered the load, leading the WNBA in scoring.

Then came a hip injury and a four-game absence. Friday night, in an 82-74 win over the Atlanta Dream at Entertainment & Sports Arena, Charles returned to form, scoring 26 points to go with 16 rebounds and putting the Mystics into a tie with the New York Liberty for the league’s eighth and final playoff spot with three games remaining.

Charles’s work over the second and third quarters put the Mystics (11-18) in control. She scored 11 points during a 14-2 second-quarter run to give Washington a 38-29 lead. After Atlanta (7-22) cut the margin to 40-34 at halftime, she opened the third quarter with six straight points and eight during a 12-2 run that gave the Mystics a 52-36 lead, effectively putting away the Dream.

“I thought I played very poor,” Charles said. “I have high standards for myself and how I come out and play and trying to be efficient the older I get. I just missed some shots that I should have made that could’ve made the game more easier for us. Gave Atlanta a little bit of life.

“Having teammates like Shavonte Zellous, who knows me and knows to get into me, definitely encouraged me to just keep going out there and keep playing my game and to be more aggressive.”

Charles also had a career milestone as she passed Rebekkah Brunson to become the No. 2 rebounder in WNBA history behind Sylvia Fowles. She received a standing ovation when the accomplishment was announced. Charles waved and pointed to her former U-Conn. teammate Kalana Greene, whom Charles called her best friend.

“It means everything,” Charles said. “Especially Rebekkah Brunson, it’s very unfortunate she was left off that Top 25 [players in WNBA history]. Rebekkah Brunson is one of the dominant players. Coming out of the Big East and knowing what she represented there. She was someone I looked up to.

“She set the tone for rebounding. So, to go past Rebekkah Brunson, it’s more so about her and how she set the tone to me.”

Theresa Plaisance scored 14 points off the bench for the Mystics and Natasha Cloud added 13 points, six assists and four steals. Every Washington player that stepped on the floor scored during the game.

Courtney Williams paced the Dream with 23 points, Monique Billings chipped in 14 point and 10 rebounds and Tiffany Hayes finished with 13 points.

The Mystics have struggled mightily on the defensive end of the floor recently and the 74 points were the fewest Washington has allowed since a 78-68 win over the Sparks on Aug. 24.

“I thought we did a really, really good job defensively,” Coach Mike Thibault said. “Even [Williams] she had to work to get them. She had to shoot it over a hand in their face. . . . Billings got most of hers early and not a lot late.”

Thibault singled out the defense of guards Natasha Cloud and Leilani Mitchell.

“Obviously, [Cloud] did her usual getting up into Tiffany Hayes. And I thought our other guards, particularly Leilani at the start, made Aari McDonald work.”

The season-long trend of playing shorthanded continued for the Mystics as they were without Elena Delle Donne (back), Myisha Hines-Allen (non-covid illness) and Ariel Atkins (personal reasons). Delle Donne is now dealing with a nerve issue after getting banged up in her second game back from a pair of back surgeries that kept her out the better part of two years.

Hines-Allen remains out with an illness that doctors have yet be able to diagnose. Thibault said she’s doing better, but is extremely fatigued and not ready to return to the court.

All three are expected to miss Sunday’s game at Chicago.

Things weren’t much better for the Dream as they were without Odyssey Sims (personal reasons), Cyrstal Bradford (foot), Tianna Hawkins (foot) and Cheyenne Parker (pregnancy).

“Tonight was big for us,” Cloud said. “We needed this. We needed the momentum. We needed the confidence. We needed this game. We are very aware of where we are in the standings. We’re very aware that we’re fighting for our lives to get in the playoffs. I’m really proud of this group with the resiliency of being able to bounce back from a really bad loss in Seattle.

“Through all the injuries, through all the adversity, to come out tonight and get a good feeling win was huge for us.”

Published : September 11, 2021

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Josh Bell homers in return to Pittsburgh, but Nats bullpen blows another lead

PITTSBURGH – For the first five years of his career in the majors, Josh Bell came to PNC Park and strolled through the corridors on the field level until arriving at the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse, where he had become a beloved teammate as well as a fan favorite.

On Friday, Bell headed in the opposite direction, to the visitor’s clubhouse with his Washington Nationals’ teammates for the opener in the three-game series. The journey was just a little bit awkward.

“It’s my first time walking through this tunnel,” Bell, who joined the Nationals this past offseason, said while standing in front of the visitor’s dugout roughly 90 minutes prior to first pitch. “First time being in that clubhouse.”

Bell was far more comfortable at the plate, sparking the Nationals (58-83) to a two-run lead with a homer in the sixth. The bullpen, however, doomed Washington again in a 4-3 loss after Ke’Bryan Hayes singled to drive in the decisive run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, wasting a strong start from Josh Rogers.

Well before the collapse that unfolded when relievers Patrick Murphy and Alberto Baldonado failed to record the final three outs, Bell had blasted a solo shot off Pirates reliever Sam Howard on an 0-1 fastball that sailed over the wall in left center. It was the switch hitter’s 26th homer, matching his second-most in a season.

In 2019, Bell set his personal mark for homers with 37 while playing 143 games with the Pirates. He also had career highs of 116 RBIs, 94 runs and 146 hits with a .277 batting average, on the way to being named an all-star for the first and only time in his career.

Friday’s blast was the ninth homer of the season for Bell while batting right-handed, and extended a run of hitting safely in 16 of 18 games. Over that time Bell is hitting .313 (21-for-67) with six homers, four doubles, 15 RBIs and eight runs. He also walked twice, bumping his total to 13 in that span.

The first baseman has hit safely in 21 of 24 games and entered Friday hitting .294 over his last 23 games with an on-base percentage of .400 and a slugging percentage of .565.

Bell exchanged pleasantries with a handful of former teammates, and appreciative Pirates supporters greeted him with two ovations, the first during pregame player introductions.

Then they rose from their seats when Bell walked to the plate for the first time to face Pittsburgh opening pitcher Steven Brault, who worked two innings during which time the Nationals took a 2-0 lead.

“It was cool,” Bell said. “You really don’t know what to expect going into it, but I was happy to get somewhat of a good turnout here, cool little video tribute that they put together for me. It was definitely icing on the cake to hit a homer as well.”

Catcher Riley Adams, all 6-foot-4, 246 pounds of him, drove in the Nationals’ first run in the second inning with his first career triple after third baseman Carter Kieboom drew a leadoff walk. Adams scored when center fielder Lane Thomas connected on a sharp liner to left.

Pittsburgh got one back in the third off Rogers, who permitted a leadoff double to Cole Tucker. The Pirates shortstop scored two batters later on Hayes’s sacrifice fly to center. Rogers also gave up a leadoff solo homer in the seventh to Anthony Alford.

The 26-year-old left-hander making his second start with the Nationals and just the fifth of his career recorded two outs in the seventh before departing on the heels of a single from pinch hitter Wilmer Difo, formerly of the Nationals for the previous six seasons.

Rogers exited with Washington leading 3-2 after giving up eight hits with one walk and a one strikeout over 6 2/3 innings in the longest outing of his career, which began in 2018 with the Baltimore Orioles.

“I thought he came out of the game throwing fastballs and just challenging guys,” said Nationals bench coach Tim Bogar, who managed while Dave Martinez served a one-game suspension for his involvement in Wednesday’s incident in which reliever Sean Nolin hit Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. “He did a really good job of getting after people with that.”

Andres Machado pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief following Rogers, who averted what had the makings of a productive inning for the Pirates in the sixth when they started with consecutive singles. But Rogers induced three straight fly outs to escape damage.

Murphy and Baldonado could not muster the same. With closer Kyle Finnegan getting a second straight night off, Murphy got the first crack at closing, but Alford led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and Ben Gamel followed with a walk.

Two wild pitches later, Pittsburgh (51-90) had runners on second and third with one out, and Murphy gave way to Baldonado. Pinch-hitter Colin Morgan’s hard-hit groundout off Baldonado allowed Alford to score the tying run before Hayes ended it.

“I mean, that’s baseball,” Rogers said. “It is what it is. Obviously everybody in that locker room was fighting hard and wants to get the win. Hopefully we’ll come back tomorrow and compete.”

Published : September 11, 2021

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Total lockdown an option as Covid cases spike in Singapore

Southeast Asia reported 75,832 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, lower than Thursday’s 80,238. There were 1,390 fatalities, almost on par with the previous day’s 1,388.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the region crossed 10.83 million and the death toll rose to 240,284.

Singapore reported 573 new cases and one death on Friday, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 70,612 with 58 deaths. The government said the infection rate been climbing again due to the spread of the delta variant of the virus, which may hinder the country’s plan of “living with Covid-19”. It added that more intense testing and social distancing measures will be employed, while total lockdown measures will remain a possibility if the situation escalates.

Meanwhile Vietnam plans to reopen the beach-fringed island of Phu Quoc to foreign tourists from next month, as the country looks at ways to revive an economy suffering from extended lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fully vaccinated tourists with a negative coronavirus test will be eligible to visit Phu Quoc either on chartered or commercial flights. Foreign arrivals to Vietnam slumped from 18 million in 2019, when tourism revenue was $31 billion or nearly 12 per cent of gross domestic product, to 3.8 million visitors last year.

Published : September 11, 2021

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U.S. Fed officials prepare for tapering asset purchases in November: media

While Fed officials are unlikely to announce a plan for tapering asset purchases at their meeting on Sept. 21-22, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell could use that gathering to signal they are likely to start the process at their following session on Nov. 2-3, according to The Wall Street Journal.

U.S. Federal Reserve officials will seek to forge agreement at their coming meeting later this month to begin tapering the central bank’s asset purchases in November, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

While Fed officials are unlikely to announce a plan for tapering asset purchases at their meeting on Sept. 21-22, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell could use that gathering to signal they are likely to start the process at their following session on Nov. 2-3, according to the Journal.

Under the plans taking shape, Fed officials could reduce those purchases at a pace that allows them to conclude asset buying by the middle of next year, the report said.

The Fed has pledged to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the record-low level of near zero, while continuing its asset purchase program at least at the current pace of 120 billion U.S. dollars per month until “substantial further progress” has been made on employment and inflation.

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Many Fed officials have said in recent interviews and public statements that the central bank could begin reducing asset purchases this year.

“Assuming the economy continues to improve as I anticipate, it could be appropriate to start reducing the pace of asset purchases this year,” Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said Wednesday at a virtual event.

“I will be carefully assessing the incoming data on the labor market and what it means for the economic outlook, as well as assessing risks such as the effects of the Delta variant,” he said.

Published : September 11, 2021