Justin Trudeau confirms Canadian agents heard recordings related to Khashoggi’s killing and a Democrat becomes the first woman to serve in Senate from Arizona.
Marvel patriarch Stan Lee dies at 95
Stan Lee, co-creator of Marvel Comics, has died at the age of 95 in Los Angeles, reported CNN.
According to Kirk Schneck, an attorney for Lee’s daughter, the Marvel patriarch was taken by ambulance from his Los Angeles home early Monday to Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center, where he later died. The cause of his death is not yet known.
Lee started his career in 1939 as a writer for Timely Comics and over the years went on to become editor and occasional illustrator.
The comic book industry at the time was dominated by DC (then National) Comics, creators of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern.
To compete against the giant DC Comics’ Justice League, Lee was told to come up with a team of superheroes.
With a series of flawed, more human superheroes, Marvel’s comic books rejuvenated the industry. First came the Fantastic Four, followed by Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, X-Men and Daredevil. These superheroes gained immense popularity over the years.
Lee, who had a lifelong passion for comic books, said in a 2012 YouTube video, “Comic book should be written as one word. So from now on, I want you to remember that. They are not funny books. They are not comic books, they are comicbooks! Remember that, or incur my wrath.”
Aung San Suu Kyi stripped of Amnesty International’s highest honour
Amnesty International has withdrawn its highest honour from Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi for her “shameful betrayal” of the values she once stood for, reported CNN.
“Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defense of human rights,” Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty’s secretary general, wrote to Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi received the Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2009 while under house arrest. She was awarded the honour in recognition of her peaceful and nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights.
“Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you,” the letter added.
A number of prestigious awards to Suu Kyi have been revoked amid allegations of genocide of the country’s minority Rohingya Muslim population.
“We will continue to fight for justice and human rights in Myanmar — with or without her support,” Naidoo said.
Canada has heard Khashoggi recordings, says Justin Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the country’s agents have listened to audio recordings related to the killing of Saudi Arabia journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reported CNN.
“We continue to be engaged with our allies on the investigation into accountability for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and we are in discussions with our like-minded allies as to next steps towards Saudi Arabia,” Trudeau said in Paris Monday.
The Canadian prime minister added that he has not heard the recordings himself.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said he had given the “tapes” to some countries, but Trudeau is the first since that announcement to officially confirm that his country’s intelligence has heard the audio, reported CNBC.
Though Turkish officials have said little about what the recordings contain, confusion has persisted over which countries have and haven’t heard them.
Democrat Kyrsten Sinema wins US Senate seat
Democrat Representative Kyrsten Sinema has won Arizona’s open US Senate seat after defeating Republican Martha McSally to become the first woman to serve in the Senate from the state, reported The New York Times.
Sinema’s victory also marks the first Democrat triumph since 1976 in a battle for an open Senate seat in Arizona.
The victory fir Sinema guarantees the Democrats at least 47 seats. Republicans have 51 seats with two still undecided.
Supporters of Sinema are of the opinion that her victory offers a path forward for Democrats seeking to win crucial races in other Republican-held states.
With Sinema’s win, Democrats who have not had a majority since 1960s, now, have six seats in the state’s Congressional delegation. The Republicans have five.