Amazon анонсировала специфический облачный игровой сервис — Luna

Amazon   прeдстaвилa oблaчный игрoвoй сeрвис Luna, кoтoрый дoлжeн стaть конкурентом Stadia с Google и   xCloud от Microsoft.

Получи старте в Luna+ будет доступно больше 100 игр. Для первых пользователей уламывание будет стоить $5,99 в месяц. И Amazon запустит отдельную подписку соборно с разработчиком Ubisoft с ранним доступом к новым играм.

Luna брось доступна на ПК, Mac, Fire TV, iPhone и iPad; там запуска компания обещает выпустить и версию в целях Android. Подписка Luna+ позволит гудеть на двух устройствах одновременно. Услуги также будет интегрирован с Twitch.

Amazon анонсировала и приватный контроллер Luna Controller с поддержкой Alexa. В старте он будет стоить $49,99.

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Тренды азартных игр в 2020 году

За последние 10-15 лет мир азартных игр очень существенно изменился, так как перешел в онлайн и многие игры поменялись, так как цифровые разработки не стоят на месте. А с появлением смартфонов в общемировой доступности, всё стало еще более развито. Различные разработчики и программисты со всего мира стали разрабатывать новые игры, а также новые игровые платформы, каждый раз улучшая предыдущие разработки.

Итак, какие же главные тренды азартных игр в 2020 году?

1) Живые игры. Один из самых главных минусов онлайн-казино — это то, что игры не передают атмосферу живой игры, где есть люди вокруг или же крупье, когда играешь в рулетку. Поэтому, чтобы решить эту проблему придумали формат живых игр. Такие игры в онлайне помогают лучше прочувствовать атмосферу игр и наверняка получить большее наслаждение от игрового процесса.

2) Виртуальная и дополненная реальность. Некоторые онлайн-казино предлагают также очки дополненной реальности, чтобы вовремя игры можно было прочувствовать максимально хорошо атмосферу игр и приблизиться к атмосфере реальной игры с другими участниками. Единственный минус этого в том, что дома нужно иметь специальные очки или шлем, чтобы воспользоваться функцией дополненной реальности.

3) Существенная модернизация игровых автоматов. Игровые автоматы, которые раньше можно было увидеть в каждом наземном казино, превратились сначала в видео слоты, в которые можно поиграть в любом онлайн-казино, например в 777 вулкан. А затем эти видеослоты превратились в 3D-слоты, а то есть игра с 3D-графикой, заменяя плоские конструкции.

Есть еще некоторое количество других важных трендов, но остановимся на этих трех главных позициях, на которые сегодня нужно обратить внимание, если вы поклонник и аматор онлайн-казино и азартных игр.

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Sonic boom brings French Open to a halt

The second round match between Stan Wawrinka and Dominik Koepfer halted play during the second service game when the blast was heard.

Watch Roland-Garros 2020 Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial now & start streaming instantly >

In the middle of his service routine, Koepfer was startled by the noise that also left those in the stands shaken.

The German star stood on the baseline staring at Wawrinka unsure of what he had just heard as both players looked on in uncertainty.

Fears quickly rose from those in the city of a potential terror attack being the cause of the blast, however those fears were quickly cast aside.

Thankfully the city was not in the throws of a terrorist attack, the noise was caused by none other than a military jet flying overhead and breaking the sound barrier.

Paris police confirmed the cause of the noise and asked for those in the city to not clog the emergency lines.

“A very important noise was heard in Paris and in the Paris region. There is no explosion, it is about a fighter plane which crossed the sound barrier. Don’t clutter up the emergency lines!” they tweeted. Embed iFrame (Custom HTML) Custom HTML 11 / 350

Un bruit tru00e8s important u00e0 u00e9tu00e9 entendu u00e0 Paris et en ru00e9gion parisienne. Il n'y a pas d'explosion, il s'agit d'un avion de chasse qui a franchi le mur du son.N'encombrez pas les lignes de secours !— Pru00e9fecture de Police (@prefpolice) September 30, 2020 Embed iFrame (Custom HTML) Custom HTML 11 / 350

#Paris the sound was a sonic boom from a fighter jet that crossed the sound barrier over french capital.— MIQ (@miqazi) September 30, 2020

Play got back underway shortly after the noise rocked the city with number 16 seed Wawrinka asserting his dominance over Koepfer and racing away to claim the opening set 6-3.

The blast heard overhead may have brought play to a stop, but it was news in the tunnels of Roland Garros that rocked the Grand Slam with former world number one Serena Williams withdrawing ahead of her second round contest.

Williams spoke to media members and said an ongoing achilles injury which had failed to properly heal from the US Open caused her to pull the pin.

“I love playing in Paris, I actually adore the clay it’s so fun for me. I really wanted to give an effort here,” Williams said.

“It’s my achilles that didn’t have enough time to properly heal after the Open. Looking longterm in this tournament will I be able to get through enough matches and so for me I don’t think I could.

“I’m struggling to walk so that’s a tell-tale sign that I should try to recover.” Embed iFrame (Custom HTML) Custom HTML 11 / 350

"I really wanted to give an effort here. (I'm) struggling to walk so that's a tell-tale sign that I should try to recover"Get well soon, Serena!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/PekxZ4tSzj— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 30, 2020

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Debate host Chris Wallace slammed by viewers

Tuesday night’s chaotic head-to-head in Ohio – aptly described as a “s**tshow” by one host – at points more or less descended into a three-way shouting match between the men.

“First of all, I guess I’m debating you, not him – that’s OK, I’m not surprised,” the President snarkily said to Wallace during one exchange early on about Obamacare, after the host repeatedly interrupted his answer.

pic.twitter.com/HUSFkHqsyC— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2020

Several times during the debate, Wallace cut into Mr Trump’s answers, telling him he was getting ahead of the subject.

“We’re going to that in the next segment,” he said at one point, as Mr Trump attempted to talk up the post-COVID-19 economic recovery during a discussion about a vaccine.

Wallace repeatedly asked Mr Trump to “let him finish” when he spoke over his Democratic rival, who largely avoided eye contact with the President, instead directing his answers to the moderator or turning to look down the camera and speak to the American people.

“Please let him speak, Mr President,” Wallace said, as the Republican hammered Mr Biden over his 110-page far-left “manifesto” jointly released with Senator Bernie Sanders earlier this year. “There is no manifesto, number one …” Mr Biden said, as Mr Trump continued to speak over him.

Later, as the discussion turned to the Supreme Court, Mr Biden refused to answer when asked by Wallace whether he supported calls by some Democrats to “pack the court” by adding more seats to the nine-Justice bench – a controversial policy with little public support.

The Democratic candidate claimed that whatever his answer was, “that will become the issue”. “The issue is the American people should speak,” he said. “You should go out and vote. You’re in voting now. Vote and let your senators know how strongly you feel.”

Mr Trump asked, “Will you pack the court? Why wouldn’t you answer the question?”

Mr Biden, getting flustered, hit out, “Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential.”

Wallace then leapt in to defuse the situation, saying “we’ve ended this segment”.

The moderator was forced to literally yell for the first time later in the debate as Mr Biden angrily denied any wrongdoing by his son Hunter Biden, after Mr Trump repeatedly raised revelations in a Republican-led Senate report that he had received $US3.5 million from the wife of the former mayor of Moscow.

“Mr President!” Wallace yelled. “Mr President, let him answer!”

As the angry back-and-forth continued, Wallace yelled again, “Gentlemen! I hate to raise my voice but it seems to me, why shouldn’t I be different than the two of you?”

Donald Trump argues with debate moderator Chris Wallace. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

Near the end of the 90-minute slog, as both candidates were given two minutes to make their case to voters, Mr Trump again interrupted Mr Biden to bring up Hunter Biden.

“No, no. Wait a minute,” Wallace said. “Mr President, your campaign agreed to both sides getting two-minute answers uninterrupted. Why don’t you agree what your campaign agreed to as a ground rule? It was a rhetorical question.”

Mr Biden asked, “Can I have back 30 seconds?”

Wallace said, “Yes, you may have.”

Just over an hour in, as Mr Trump argued with the moderator, Wallace said, “If you want to switch seats we can do that.”

In one moment that raised eyebrows, Mr Biden was invited to respond to a diatribe from Mr Trump. “Mr Vice President, answer his final question,” Wallace said.

“The final question is – I can’t remember which of all his rantings it was,” Mr Biden said.

Wallace laughed, responding, “I’m having a little trouble myself!”

.@JoeBiden: "I can't remember which of all his rantings it was."Chris Wallace: "I'm having a little trouble myself."Wallace and Biden both mock @realDonaldTrump for "rantings." pic.twitter.com/P6hx3rJhTK— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 30, 2020

Many of the President’s supporters were critical of Wallace’s performance.

In a statement after the debate, the Trump campaign said the moderator only interrupted Mr Biden 15 times while interrupting Mr Trump 76 times.

“Here’s the deal. (Donald Trump) beat Wallace. Biden came in a distant bumbling mumbling third,” tweeted Rudy Giuliani, former New York Mayor and Mr Trump’s personal lawyer.

“Wallace said he wants to be ‘invisible’ in this debate. Apparently ‘invisible’ means ‘talk more than both candidates combined’,” said conservative blogger Matt Walsh.

Lawyer Harmeet Dhillon said Wallace was “a disgrace”. “Republicans need to stop allowing the slanted media to have any role in debates in future years,” she wrote.

Actor and prominent Trump supporter James Woods wrote, “Chris Wallace is shamelessly biased. It’s a beautiful demonstration of fake news in action. I’m actually glad it’s happening, because you can see it for yourself.”

Donald Trump Jr, speaking to fellow Fox News personality Sean Hannity after the debate, slammed the moderator. “I understand he is a Fox guy but he’s no conservative,” he said. “He’s no centrist either.”

Sean Davis from The Federalist said, “Chris Wallace is making very clear that his goal tonight is to run interference for Joe Biden. If he wants to be a deranged NeverTrumper, that’s his prerogative, but Wallace is doing everything in his power to tilt the election toward his preferred candidate. Everyone can see it.”

Even many of Wallace’s colleagues were apparently not happy. National Review columnist and Fox News contributor Andy McCarthy wrote, “I love Chris Wallace, but he should get out of the way.”

Fellow Fox News host Greg Gutfeld backed conservative commentator Stephen Miller’s view that “Wallace laughing along with Biden isn’t a good look”. “That was not good,” Gutfeld agreed.

Some on the left also criticised Wallace – but for not doing more to bring Mr Trump under control. “Question. Chris Wallace is not doing a good job as debate moderator, no doubt about that,” said journalist and former Hillary Clinton campaign co-chair Yashar Ali.

“But in terms of Trump’s repeated interrupting would another moderator have handled it better? Without the ability to mute a microphone, what could another moderator have done?”

frank.chung@news.com.au

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NZ sergeant shot to death during coronavirus inspection

Sergeant Matt Ratana, 54, has been hailed by UK Police Commissioner Cressida Dick as a “big guy with a big heart” who had served on the force for 29 years.

He died in hospital after being shot at close range by a handcuffed suspect as he was about to be searched at 2.15am.

The 23-year-old man, who was reportedly known to counter-terror cops, then turned the revolver on himself and is in a critical condition in hospital.

Sgt Matt Ratana served with the Met Police in the UK for 28 years. Picture: Twitter.

The respected officer was shot dead by an arrested suspect. Picture: Instagram

After being taken to the station in a van, the suspect pulled the revolver from his trousers and fired at custody sergeant Sgt Ratana as he was about to check him over with a metal detector.

The police force has recently introduced new coronavirus booking rules, and as the cop, who is believed to be in his 40s, went to “meet and greet” the man in custody, he was attacked.

The shooting occurred in the yard of the station in Croydon, South London.

After the man was shot in his chest, colleagues desperately attempted to offer assistance but he died on the way to hospital.

It is believed that special constables failed to find the gun when they had earlier detained him on suspicion of possessing drugs and ammunition.

Sgt Ratana, from Sussex, had served with the Met Police since 1991 after moving to the UK from his native New Zealand. He was also a rugby coach.

Metropolitan Police collect floral tributes at Croydon Custody Centre. Picture: Hollie Adams/Getty Images

His partner of four years Sue Busby was said to be devastated tonight and was being comforted by friends.

Her sister Amanda Tessier, a community nurse, told The Sun: “He was a great big friendly bear of a man, one of the loveliest men you could meet.

“He was absolutely dedicated to being a police officer and had almost 30 years of service.

“He knew the dangers of being a police officer in London and he had spoken about them but for him it was all part of the job.

“It was something he was trained in and used to.

“He was such a lovely guy. He was a big friendly guy.

“He liked to keep fit and loved his rugby but he also liked a burger or two.”

Sgt Ratana’s death will be investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Picture: Hollie Adams/Getty Images

She added: “We simply can’t believe it. How did someone have a gun in the police station?

“I’m sure there is going to be a huge investigation by the Met but it doesn’t seem right at all.”

Mrs Tessier said her sister was left devastated by the news.

“They had been together for about four years. She got a knock on the door in the morning. It’s just devastating,” she said.

“We can’t believe it. He was the life and soul, a real fun-loving guy who was totally committed to doing his job.”

Amanda said that Matiu, known as Matt, was also a passionate rugby fan who coached players at Hove Rugby and also East Grinstead.

Breaking down in tears, Amanda continued: “They’ll be devastated by this. He coached the juniors as well.

“It’s just awful.”

Matt is pictured at the rugby with partner Sue Busby. Picture: Instagram.

Sgt Ratana is the tenth officer to have been killed in the line of duty in the past decade.

Met officer Stuart James, who raced to help his colleague as he battled for life, described the horror scenes as fellow officers fought to save his life.

He wrote on Twitter: “This morning my team and I responded to the worst possible radio transmission from custody, words and scenes I shall never forget.

“The unimaginable happened to our police family. We have lost not only a good skipper but also a real gentleman. One of the best. RIP brother.”

Chief Insp Jack Rowlands wrote: “Hard to put into words. All I can say is I lost a friend today and know very many more friends did everything they could. I‘m thinking of everyone affected.”

Sgt Ratana died in hospital despite colleagues' efforts to save his life. Picture: Instagram.

Community police officer Jacqueline Kufuor burst into tears after laying flowers outside the centre in tribute to her colleague.

She said: “You never expect this to happen when you go to work. For him to have been in custody and for this to have happened, it is just so sad.

“He was a very lovely man. He was such a nice man. When he sees you, he would just stand and talk to you.

“He would ask you about your job and how your are coping and how you are doing out there.”

Commissioner Dick said Sgt Ratana was known as a “big guy” with a “big heart”.

“A lovely man, respected by his colleagues, officers, staff and of course by members of the public, including, I may say, suspects arrested or dealt with in custody,” she said.

“He was very well known locally and he will be remembered so fondly in Croydon and missed there, as well as in the Met and in the rugby world.”

She said he leaves behind a partner and an adult son from a previous relationship.

Commissioner provides further details following the terrible events this morning, which resulted in the death of Sergeant Matt Ratana.“We will establish the facts. We owe it to Matt, his loved ones and all other officers.”#RIPMattRatana

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Trump claims tax report is both ‘fake’ and based on ‘illegally obtained’ info

The newspaper’s investigation, based on almost two decades of data from Mr Trump’s tax returns, uncovered a number of previously unknown details.

For example, it found the self-described billionaire had been paying hardly any federal income tax – just $US750 in both 2016 and 2017, and “no income taxes at all” in 11 of the 18 years it examined.

On top of that, Mr Trump’s highest profile businesses are haemorrhaging money, and he has massive personal debts totalling $421 million, most of which will come due during his second term in office.

Yesterday the President labelled the report “fake” and “made up”. Today, he once again lashed out at The Times for publishing it.

“The fake news media, much like election time 2016, is bringing up my taxes and all sorts of other nonsense with illegally obtained information and only bad intent,” Mr Trump said.

“I paid many millions of dollars in taxes but was entitled, like everyone else, to depreciation and tax credits.

“Also, if you look at the extraordinary assets owned by me, which the fake news hasn’t, I am extremely under-leveraged – I have very little debt compared to the value of assets.

“Much of this information is already on file, but I have long said that I may release financial statements, from the time I announced I was going to run for president, showing all properties, assets and debts.

“It is a very IMPRESSIVE statement, and also shows that I am the only president on record to give up my yearly $400,000-plus presidential salary!”

The emphasis on IMPRESSIVE there is his, not mine.

Mr Trump does indeed donate the entirety of his salary, though he is not “the only president on record” to do so. John F. Kennedy and Herbert Hoover, both of whom were wealthy before they took office, each donated their salary to charity.

The President continues to receive income from his real estate empire, having ceded control of the Trump Organisation to his children.

RELATED: The juiciest details in Donald Trump’s tax returns

US President Donald Trump. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

Mr Trump’s claim that The Times’ reporting is both fake and, at the same time, based on illegally obtained information, seems a little contradictory. For what it’s worth, there is no evidence the newspaper acted outside the law here.

Its sources, on the other hand, may indeed have acted illegally when they leaked Mr Trump’s personal information.

We don’t know who those sources are. The paper didn’t provide any clues, merely saying the information came from people “with legal access to it”.

“All of the information The Times obtained was provided by sources with legal access to it,” it said.

“While most of the tax data has not previously been made public, The Times was able to verify portions of it by comparing it with publicly available information and confidential records previously obtained by The Times.”

Two of Mr Trump’s most prominent defenders, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and his son Donald Jr, went on the Fox News morning show Fox and Friends to defend him today.

“This is the same playbook they tried in 2016 and the same playbook the American people rejected, and will do so again,” said Ms McEnany. She called the report a “hit piece”.

“If only they spent as much time looking for, maybe, I don’t know, Hunter Biden’s tax returns and the Biden crime family issues,” said Donald Jr.

An investigation by Republican senators, which delivered its findings last week, concluded Hunter’s work for the Ukrainian energy company Burisma was a “problematic” attempt to “cash in” on his father’s name.

However, it discovered no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe Biden, and no proof of criminal conduct by his son.

RELATED: Hunter Biden laments his own ‘poor judgment’

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Picture: Roberto Schmidt/AFP

The Democrats have largely responded to The Times’ report by focusing on the President’s personal debts, framing them as a national security issue.

Speaking to MSNBC, vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris demanded a “full accounting” of Mr Trump’s financial interests.

“Who does he owe the money to? Tell us. Who do you owe the money to?” said Ms Harris.

“And do you owe debt to any foreign nation? Do you owe money to anybody who is impacted by any decision you make as President of the United States?

“We need to know that. The American people have a right to know that when the President of the United States acts, he acts with their priorities in mind, not with his priorities in mind.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said pretty much the same thing.

“This President appears to have over $400 million in debt,” Ms Pelosi said.

“To whom? Different countries? What is the leverage they have? So for me, this is a national security question.”

The Times has promised more stories on Mr Trump’s finances in the coming weeks, as the election draws closer.

Yesterday, investigative reporters Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig and Mike McIntyre wrote that Mr Trump had “been more successful playing a business mogul (on The Apprentice) than being one in real life”.

“The tax returns that Mr Trump has long fought to keep private tell a story fundamentally different from the one he has sold to the American public,” they said.

“His reports to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) portray a businessman who takes in hundreds of millions of dollars a year, yet racks up chronic losses that he aggressively employs to avoid paying taxes.

“Now, with his financial challenges mounting, the records show that he depends on making money from businesses that put him in potential and often direct conflict of interest with his job as President.

“Should he win re-election, his lenders could be placed in the unprecedented position of weighing whether to foreclose on a sitting president.”

Mr Trump has refused to release his tax returns to the public since before the 2016 election. He has repeatedly justified that refusal with the fact that they are under audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

All the way back in February of 2016, the IRS issued a statement clarifying that “nothing prevents individuals from sharing their own tax information”.

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ABC journalist warns people ‘may die of boredom’ if they visit Adelaide

Eager travellers have rushed to book flights to South Australia after the state reopened its border to NSW residents today.

On Wednesday, NSW Health announced another day of no community transmission of COVID-19, with the 14-day streak prompting SA Premier Steven Marshall to drop the mandatory quarantine requirement.

ABC News NSW digital editor Riley Stuart couldn’t help taking a jab at the nation’s thinnest-skinned inhabitants on Wednesday.

“#BREAKING NSW residents warned not to travel to Adelaide when SA border opens tonight as they ‘may die of boredom’,” he tweeted.

#BREAKING NSW residents warned not to travel to Adelaide when SA border opens tonight as they “may die of boredom”— Riley Stuart (@RileyStuart1) September 23, 2020

As is customary whenever someone dares to suggest there might not be that much going on down the bottom of Australia, South Australians rushed to defend their state’s virtues.

“Yeah, all the beautiful coast line with no one to annoy you. Fresh sea food grown without sewage. Clean green power. Port Adelaide fans. Salt bush. Rangeland steak. Flinders Ranges. Limestone hills covered in grape vines. Boring,” one person tweeted.

Another said, “The jokes about Adelaide being ‘boring’ frustrate me! It’s actually a beautiful city with fabulous food and wine, great museums and galleries, and an incredible Arts scene in general (just for starters).”

One simply wrote, “What a p***k you are.”

This won’t age well.— Nat Cook MP (@NatCookMP) September 23, 2020

“Your ABC,” said FIVEaa breakfast host William Goodings.

State Labor MP Nat Cook replied, “This won’t age well.”

Even some of Stuart’s own ABC colleagues were outraged.

Appalling judgement from someone who supposedly sets the bar by editing the work of ABC employees and is responsible for upholding ABC editorial policies and ABC values..all entrenched in ABC governance . Total lack of awareness of ABC being more than just Ultimo. @gavmorris— Drew Radford

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Trump to nominate new Supreme Court judge

The White House has indicated in conversations that Ms Barrett was Mr Trump’s intended choice to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg but cautioned that he could still change his mind, senior Republican sources told CNN.

Ms Barrett was spotted Friday at her home in South Bend, Indiana, but it’s unclear if she’s aware of Mr Trump’s intentions, CNN said.

Ms Barrett is a former law clerk to late right wing Justice Antonin Scalia, and her appointment would tip the Supreme Court to a conservative majority, 6 to 3.

The New York Times also reported that Mr Trump had made Ms Barrett his choice.

Supreme Court nominees are often informed of their selection at the last possible moment to maintain secrecy.

Trump has repeatedly said that he was going to pick a woman and make a formal announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House at 5pm Saturday.

RELATED: National abortion rights threatened by new US Supreme Court appointment

US President Donald Trump in Maryland on Thursday. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett will replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court. Picture: Julian Velasco/University of Notre Dame/AFP

RELATED: Donald Trump refuses to commit to ‘peaceful transfer of power’ if he loses election

The president said Monday that he was considering five women for the seat on the Supreme Court, including Ms Barrett and another federal appeals court judge, Barbara Lagoa.

President Trump told reporters on Friday evening he had made up his mind on his Supreme Court nominee, but he refused to confirm that it was Ms Barrett.

“I haven’t said that,” Mr Trump said after arriving back in DC from Florida.

“I haven’t said it was her, but she is outstanding.”

The commander in chief said he did not meet with Lagoa while he was in the Sunshine State.

At 48, Ms Barrett would also be the youngest member of the high court and would maintain its conservative majority for decades.

The revelation of Mr Trump’s reported intentions came just hours after Ginsburg’s body lay in state at the US Capitol, making her the first woman and the first Jewish person to receive the posthumous honour.

Ginsburg, who died September 18 of metastatic pancreatic cancer at 87, will reportedly be buried next week in Arlington National Cemetery, next to her late husband, Marty Ginsburg, who died in 2010.

The move to replace Ginsburg ahead of the November 3 election has sparked outrage from Democrats because US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) blocked then-President Barack Obama’s nomination of federal appeals Judge Merrick Garland in 2016 on grounds that it was an election year.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and two GOP members — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — have objected to fast-tracking Ginsburg’s replacement, but no others appear ready to break ranks.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump called on Republican senators to quickly confirm whoever he nominated so the Supreme Court has a full bench of nine justices to rule on a likely legal battle over mail-in votes cast in his race against former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden.

“I think this scam that the Democrats are pulling — it’s a scam,” he said Wednesday.

“This scam will be before the United States Supreme Court and I think having the four-four situation is not a good situation if you get that.”

In 2017, Mr Trump nominated Ms Barrett, then a Notre Dame law professor, to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, and she was confirmed by the US Senate in a near-party-line vote of 55-43.

Ms Barrett was also reportedly on his shortlist to replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018 after the jurist announced his retirement at age 81.

But Ms Barrett’s White House interview didn’t go well, NPR reported Thursday, citing a source who said she had to wear dark glasses due to a case of conjunctivitis and was “not at her best.”

Mr Trump ultimately nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, who was confirmed by a narrow 50-48 margin following a gruelling, four-day hearing during which he emotionally denied Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her while drunk at a party when they were teenagers.

A report last year in Axios suggested Mr Trump still had big plans for Barrett, based on private comments he reportedly made to confidants while discussing Kennedy’s replacement.

“I’m saving her for Ginsburg,” Mr Trump said in remarks confirmed this week by NPR.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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Australian man Trent Lee killed in Solomon Islands bomb blast

Newcastle man Trent Lee, believed to be in his 40s, was working for a Norwegian aid agency conducting surveys of unexploded World War II bombs when the blast rocked a residential part of Honiara, local police said.

The Solomon Islands is littered with unexploded bombs and the Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) is an NGO that aims to locate and remove them.

In August, Mr Lee took to Facebook to talk about his dangerous his line of work.

“Pretty much the most dangerous WWII ammunition we find. It’s cocked and ready to fire … one bump and it’s all over,” he wrote, accompanied by two images.

An Australian man and his British colleague died in the blast. Picture: Facebook

NPA confirmed Mr Lee had died, alongside British citizen Stephen Atkinson.

“It is with my deepest regret that we confirm the death of two dear colleagues after a tragic accident,” the organisation’s deputy secretary-general Per Nergaard said in a statement.

“We are devastated by what has happened.”

Authorities are working to clear the site of the explosion while investigators try to determine why explosives were present at a block of residential flats.

“Explosives ordnance disposal officers will have to render the scene safe before forensics and other investigators access the scene to find out what happened,” Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Inspector Clifford Tunuki said.

It is understood the two men were rushed to National Referral Hospital where they were later confirmed dead.

It is with deepest regret that we confirm the death of two dear colleagues after a tragic accident in the Solomon...Posted by Norwegian People's Aid on Sunday, September 20, 2020

A spokesman for NPA said the organisation was “deeply sorry” for the ”tragic accident” involving two of their staff.

“We are devastated by what has happened, and for the loss of two good colleagues. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their families, relatives and staff,” NPA’s secretary-general Henriette Killi Westhrin.

“The safety and security of our staff is our highest priority, said Nergaard, emphasising that the investigation needs to be completed before there can be a conclusion on the cause of events.”

Trent Lee (centre) was killed after a historic WW2 bomb exploded in Honiara in the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands is one of the forgotten battlefields of WWII, but is still littered with wrecks and unexploded bombs left over from the first major offensive in the Pacific nearly 80 years ago.

The Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942-43 was crucial in ensuring the Pacific - and ultimately Australia - did not fall to the Japanese who were constructing an airfield on the island as they built up strategic and communications strongholds in the region.

The US Marines landed on the main island Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942 and, together with Australian forces, engaged in a bloody six-month battle to fend off the Japanese.

Thousands of men died from both sides, more than 50 warships sunk and hundreds of aircraft shot down.

While wreckage remains littered throughout the islands and under the sea, so too do unexploded bombs and munitions.

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Tiny island is key to stopping China

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Regan and assault ship USS America will join amphibious warfare vessels USS New Orleans and USS Germantown in war-games centred on Guam’s major naval and air force facilities.

Dubbed “Exercise Valiant Shield”, the co-ordinated land, sea and air operations around the central Pacific island will last 10 days and extend through the Marianas Island chain, the US Pacific Fleet said in a statement.

RELATED: War warning: Next 10 months are critical

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) leads a formation of Carrier Strike Group Five ships as U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircrafts and U.S. Navy F/A-18s pass overhead for a photo exercise during Valiant Shield 2018. Picture: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kaila Peters.

Military analysts have recently highlighted the importance of Guam, noting it is just outside of the range of potential missile swarms that could quickly overwhelm other key US bases such as those in Japan and Okinawa.

The manoeuvres were announced at the same time as China’s Communist Party mouthpiece The Global Times published an editorial exhorting its people to prepare for a potential war.

“We have territorial disputes with several neighbouring countries instigated by the US to confront China,” it said of Beijing’s expansionist moves into the Himalayas and the South and East China Seas. “Chinese society must therefore have real courage to engage calmly in a war that aims to protect core interests, and be prepared to bear the cost.”

Beijing is heavily engaged in an expansive series of military exercises around Taiwan and the South China sea. Spanning several months, Taiwan last week accused Chinese combat aircraft of violating its airspace and highlighted the presence of ‘militia’ vessels close to its territorial claims.

Last month, Beijing threatened to extend the scope of its war-games to include Guam.

“If the US goes further, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could take more countermeasures, including live-fire missile drills east of Taiwan Island and near Guam,” a senior Chinese Communist Party official warned.

RELATED: China-India border tensions flare up

The tiny island of Guam in the Pacific. Picture: Google Maps.

‘MORALLY JUSTIFIED’

“We are confident to win on the battlefield if conflicts are fought with neighbouring forces that have territorial disputes with China,” the Global Times editorial warns India, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. “Similarly, if there is a war with the US near China’s coastal waters, we also have a good chance of victory.”

The PLA on Wed released a video of Tibet military command’s live-fire drill on the plateau. PLA also conducted a drill of airborne troops. Yes, these are all aimed at the situation on China-India border. The Indian army will either stop provoking or be prepared to be defeated. pic.twitter.com/124h0ccu8h— Hu Xijin ??? (@HuXijin_GT) September 9, 2020

The Chinese Communist Party insists these widespread international tensions are not its fault.

“Some of these countries believe that the US support provides them with a strategic opportunity and try to treat China outrageously,” the editorial asserts.

“Of course, after all, wars cannot be fought casually, and we must win if we are to fight. Such winning has two meanings: First, it means defeating the opponent on the battlefield; second, it must be morally justified.”

But the tough-talking editorial makes one key concession: Beijing runs the risk of being internationally isolated.

“If we win on the battlefield at the expense of our international morality, we might mistakenly help the US build an anti-China alliance that challenges our strategic position even more,” it reads.

PILAU PITCHES IN

The tiny Pacific Island nation of Palau has urged the United States to build military bases on its territory to counter Chinese influence in the region.

The US Defence Secretary visited the nation last week, some 1500km to the east of the Philippines, accusing Beijing of “ongoing destabilising activities” in the Pacific.

Palau’s President Tommy Remengesau declared his 22,000 strong nation would welcome US military facilities – so long as they use them often.

“Palau’s request to the US military remains simple — build joint-use facilities, then come and use them regularly,” he said.

China will hold military drills in the south of the #YellowSea from Sept 13 to 20 every day from 8 am to 11 pm; entry will be prohibited, according to China's Maritime Safety Administration. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/f46WxMhRX4— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) September 12, 2020

Remengesau also asked for US help in patrolling its vast marine reserve which is increasingly the subject of illegal international fishing.

Palau, while an independent nation, has no military. Since World War II, a Compact of Free Association has given the US responsibility for its defence.

“The US military’s right to establish defence sites in the Republic of Palau has been under-utilised for the entire duration of the Compact,” Remengesau said.

A new US radar facility is being constructed on the strategically placed island chain. But work has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID CRISIS

The global pandemic being partially blamed for South East Asia’s dramatically increased instability is also taking its toll on Guam. Some 1900 cases have been reported there.

This does not include the 1150 sufferers from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt which cut short its operations in March and anchored off Naval Base Guam to fight its outbreak.

According to local media, US military personnel taking part in the exercise are having their movements restricted and must largely stay within their hotels. Soldiers, sailors and aircrew were also required to take part in 14-day quarantines before being deployed to the island.

“In support of exercise events, service members will only be permitted to travel between their designated hotel room and their appointed place of military duty on base,” A US Pacific Fleet spokesperson said.

RELATED: China’s secret ‘space plane’ mission

The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) fought a COVID-19 outbreak off the coast on Guam. Picture: Nicholas V. HUYNH / Navy Office of Information / AFP.

Valiant Shield follows last month’s downsized Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise off Hawaii and the following Pacific Vanguard operation. Among the 23 warships from 10 nations were the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart, the frigates HMAS Stuart and Arunta, and the supply ship HMAS Sirius.

“It is vitally important that we demonstrate to our allies and partners our strong commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” US Rear Admiral Michael Boyle said in the Valiant Shield statement.

It’s the eighth time the war game has been held since first initiated in 2006. The most recent was in 2018.

Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer | @JamieSeidel

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