World Glance
No civilians leave Syria’s Ghouta; Putin blames rebels
BEIRUT — The Russiaordered brief humanitarian pause was in effect for a second day Wednesday in rebel-held Damascus suburbs but no civilians used the corridor manned by Syrian and Russian forces to leave the enclave. Government forces, meanwhile, tried to push their way into the area, setting off ground battles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the rebels, saying they were preventing civilians from leaving the area known as eastern Ghouta, and suggested Russia would not “endlessly tolerate” the situation there.
Russia has ordered a fivehour daily humanitarian pause to allow civilians to exit the region that started Tuesday. But no humanitarian aid has gone in and no civilians have left. Residents said they do not trust the truce and the U.N. and aid agencies criticized the unilateral arrangement, saying it gave no guarantees of safety for residents wishing to leave.
The limited pause came after a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for a nationwide 30-day ceasefire that failed to take hold.
Grieving Bollywood fans pay their respects to Sridevi
MUMBAI, India — Lining up for hours and visibly grief-stricken, thousands of mourning fans paid their respects Wednesday to Sridevi, the iconic Bollywood actress who drowned accidentally in a Dubai hotel bathtub over the weekend.
Sridevi’s body was flown home late Tuesday night in a private plane owned by Anil Ambani, a Mumbai industrialist and entertainment baron.
By early Wednesday morning, people had begun lining up along a security fence outside the private club near Sridevi’s home where the body had been laid out.
A string of Mercedes and Audis ferried family members, Bollywood stars and VIPs in through another gate, with squadrons of private guards ensuring things stayed under control. One mourner, a man who gave his name only as Prashant, arrived at about 7 a.m., hours before anyone was to be allowed in.
“No matter how long I have to wait, I will wait,” he said, clutching a small bouquet of flowers. “I’ll wait until I’m able to pay my respects.”
Inside the club, the actress’s body was placed on a raised platform in a hall decorated with flowers. Her extended family, including her husband, producer Boney Kapoor, and her two daughters, stood by the platform as fans and colleagues walked past in respect.
Israel group mints Trump coin to honor Jerusalem recognition
JERUSALEM — An Israeli organization said Wednesday it has minted a coin bearing President Donald Trump’s image to honor his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The Mikdash Educational Center said the “Temple Coin” features Trump alongside King Cyrus, who 2,500 years ago allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon.
Rabbi Mordechai Persoff said that Trump, like Cyrus, made a “big declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of the holy people.”
His organization minted 1,000 biblical half-shekel coins that can be purchased with a minimum donation of $50. The coin cannot be used as currency.
School kids rule: Digital designs are 2020 Olympic mascots
TOKYO — The schoolchildren have had their say: A pair of futuristic digital characters will be the mascots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
Organizers unveiled the winning designs at a school in Tokyo on Wednesday.
A total of 205,755 classes at 16,769 elementary schools took part in selecting three short-listed designs, with their classes casting a single vote.
The winning pair, clad in the “ichimatsu” checkered pattern of the Games’ official logo, received 109,041 votes.