A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Ashton on mission to Middle East
WASHINGTON – Republican senator John McCain is donating $1 million left over from his presidential campaign to help Senate Republican candidates ahead of the November 2nd poll, aides said yesterday.
Mr McCain’s donation to the national Republican senatorial committee was described as the biggest transfer of funds by any Republican lawmaker to the committee this election cycle.
Republicans look set for big gains in the congressional elections, but seem unlikely to win a majority. Polls show Republicans leading in races that could give them a net gain of eight seats. – (Reuters)
McCain donates $1m to election fund
WASHINGTON – European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she would leave for the Middle East yesterday as diplomatic pressure intensified to save faltering Israel-Palestinian peace talks.
“I’m going to the Middle East tonight and and I’ll meet George Mitchell when I land tomorrow,” Ms Ashton said. in an interview in Washington, adding that she also planned to meet Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
Ms Ashton’s trip, follows talks in Washington with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. – (Reuters)
Prostitution laws in Canada overturned
TORONTO – An Ontario court overturned key provisions in Canada’s prostitution laws in a case that could set a precedent for the country.
Prostitution is not illegal in Canada, but the court struck down three provisions that criminalised most aspects of it. The bans on communicating for the purposes of prostitution, pimping and operating a brothel were lifted under the court’s ruling.
Valerie Scott, one of the women who launched the challenge, said sex workers can now pick up the phone and call the police and report a bad client. – (PA)