No saving face for Trump as health bill flops again

US President Donald Trump brought more disgrace to his office with an unkind gibe about a media personality’s “facelift”. But he’s hurting, too, after his healthcare overhaul was dealt a blow in the Senate, halting his attempt to deprive 22 million Americans of healthcare. The vote prompted this barb from late-night TV host Samantha Bee: “It turns out, 13 rich white guys alone in a room isn’t how good legislation happens.”

In Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared an end to the Islamic State caliphate as anti-IS forces stepped up their offensive in the formerly IS-held city of Mosul. His claim raised eyebrows, with fighting still on the go and the Syrian city of Raqqa yet to be freed.

In Africa, Botswana paid its respects to a former president, Quett Masire, one of the last gentlemen in the dirty game of the continent’s fraught politics. He was 91.

In China, an 80-year-old woman delayed a Shanghai flight for hours after tossing coins at an airplane for good luck. One of the coins landed in the engine.

And Hong Kong “celebrated” 20 years of Chinese rule with protests and pomp as President Xi Jinping made his first official visit to the former UK colony.