Nation & World Glance
Aide dismissive of McCain departs White House
WASHINGTON — A West Wing aide who was dismissive of gravely ill Sen. John McCain during a closeddoor meeting last month has left the White House.
White House spokesman Raj Shah says, “Kelly Sadler is no longer employed within the Executive Office of the President.”
Sadler told colleagues last month they should disregard McCain’s opinion on President Donald Trump’s CIA nominee because “he’s dying anyway,” a remark that led to a torrent of criticism.
The Trump administration declined to publicly apologize and Trump demanded a crackdown on whoever leaked the story to the media.
The 81-year-old McCain was diagnosed in July with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Sadler apologized to the McCain family privately, but McCain’s daughter asked for a public apology.
Sadler’s departure was first reported by CNN.
New evacuations near Guatemala volcano set off panic
ESCUINTLA, Guatemala — Frightened people living near the Volcano of Fire fled with their children and few possessions when fresh flows of super-heated debris were announced, taking no chances after authorities gave them little time to evacuate before a deadly eruption over the weekend.
Traffic came to a standstill on choked roads Tuesday and those without vehicles walked, even in central Escuintla, which was not under an evacuation order. Businesses shuttered as owners fled, memories still fresh of Sunday’s blast, which left at least 75 people dead and 192 missing, and reduced a once verdant area to a moonscape of ash.
Mirna Priz, who sells tamales and chiles rellenos, wept as she sat on a rock at a crossroads, with a suitcase in front of her and her 11-year-old son, Allen, and their terrier mix Cara Sucia by her side.
“You feel powerless,” she said. “I don’t know where I’m going to go. To leave my things, everything I have.”
But after seeing what happened Sunday, she was afraid to stay.
Secluded resort chosen for Trump-Kim summit in Singapore
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet at a luxury resort on Sentosa Island for nuclear talks next week in Singapore, the White House said Tuesday.
The historic meeting will be held at the Capella Hotel, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted.
Trump and Kim’s highly anticipated meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. local time June 12 at — or 9 p.m. June 11 on the East Coast of the U.S. — after a flurry of on-again-off-again action.
Trump hopes to secure a nuclear deal with the North Koreans, seeking for Kim to give up his nuclear program, though he stressed last week that the process would likely take longer than a single meeting.
Hawaii volcano lava destroys hundreds of homes overnight
HONOLULU — Lava from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano destroyed hundreds more homes overnight, overtaking two oceanfront communities where residents were advised to evacuate last week, officials said Tuesday.
No injuries were reported as most residents heeded the advice to leave.
The latest lost homes were in addition to at least 117 others that were previously reported by officials since lava began spilling last month from cracks in the ground in a mostly rural district of the Big Island.