US President Donald Trump has announced that the White House flag will be returned to half-staff, after critics attacked his response to the death of Republican Senator John McCain.
Flags at some federal buildings were fully raised on Monday, far earlier than would normally be expected after such an event.
Mr. Trump tweeted his condolences to the McCain family, but has not offered a tribute to the veteran’s life.
The pair had a fractious relationship.
Mr. Trump appeared to repeatedly ignore media questions about the flag before announcing that it would be lowered again.
He said in a statement: “Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country and, in his honour, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment.”
He also confirmed reports he will not attend McCain’s funeral next weekend.
The statement said other members of the Trump administration, including his chief of staff and secretary of defence, will attend instead.
Former Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama will pay tribute to McCain during his funeral ceremony on Saturday at the National Cathedral.
Vice-President Mike Pence will also address a service in McCain’s honour at the capitol on Friday.
Earlier on Monday, before the flag U-turn, McCain family friend Rick Davis read out a posthumous message prepared by the senator before his death from brain cancer on Saturday.
Parts of it could be interpreted as taking aim at President Trump’s policies.
It urged the nation not to “hide behind walls” and said the American people are “a nation of ideals, not blood and soil.”
“We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe,” McCain had said.
“We weaken it when we hide behind walls rather than tear them down.”
McCain also told his country folk: “Do not despair of our present difficulties, but believe always in the promise and greatness of America.”
Traditionally, the death of somebody of McCain’s stature would see flags flying at half-staff until their burial.
The White House was urged by senators of both parties to honour that protocol, and critics asked why a proclamation had not been issued as it was after the deaths of other political figures, such as former First Lady Barbara Bush.
Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer and top Republican Mitch McConnell said the flags on all government buildings should be at half-staff for the late senator until his burial next Sunday.
Flags at the US Capitol and other Washington landmarks remained at half-staff earlier on Monday, but the White House had returned to its usual levels.
Some said the White House was simply following proper procedure, however, because US Flag Code states that flags be lowered “on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.”
The rather sparing statement on Monday was the first from the White House to reference McCain’s death.
None were issued over the weekend, though one was drafted, according to US media.
Instead, both the president and vice-president offered their condolences to the senator’s family via Twitter.
Trump announces ‘incredible’ trade deal with Mexico
The US and Mexico have reached common ground on key trade terms as pressure mounts to complete renegotiation of the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.
US President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of the existing deal, announced the apparent breakthrough on Monday.
The final outcome remains in doubt with Canada, the third country in the pact, due to rejoin talks on Tuesday.
Mr. Trump has triggered a year of talks, after threatening to pull out of Nafta.
He demanded renegotiation of the 1994 trade agreement, which he blames for a decline in US manufacturing jobs, especially in the auto industry.
US shares rose and the Mexican peso strengthened on news of the preliminary treaty on Monday.
In a televised appearance at the White House, Mr. Trump said the US and Mexico had agreed on terms that would make for an “incredible” deal that was “much more fair.”
Negotiators have been rewriting the Nafta treaty over the past year, but in the last five weeks, Canada has not been part of the discussions.
“We will see whether or not we decide to put up Canada or just do a separate deal with Canada,” Mr. Trump said.
He also threatened Canada with tariffs on cars and said he wanted to get rid of the name Nafta, which he said has “bad connotations.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with Mr. Trump since the breakthrough with Mexico was announced.
They “had a constructive conversation” and “look forward to having their teams engage this week with a view to a successful conclusion of negotiations,” Mr. Trudeau’s office said.
Canadian negotiators are set to meet their US counterparts on Tuesday.
Mr. Trudeau also spoke to outgoing Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Sunday, and the leaders shared their commitment to reaching a successful conclusion of Nafta “for all three parties.”
Negotiators want to strike a deal before the newly elected Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, takes office in December.
Mr. Obrador has been reluctant to continue Mr. Pena Nieto’s opening up of Mexico’s energy sector, which could complicate negotiations.
In order to meet that deadline, the Trump administration must present the US Congress with a deal at least 90 days in advance – by the end of this month, which is Friday.
However, President-elect Obrador said on Monday that a two-way agreement with the US was just the first step in a new treaty.
“We’re very interested in it remaining a three-country deal,” he told journalists on Monday. “The free-trade agreement should remain as it was originally conceived.”
A spokesman for Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the country is “encouraged” by the progress made by the US and Mexico but did not comment on the specific terms.
The US and Canada have been at loggerheads on a range of trade matters, including Canadian protections for its dairy industry and US tariffs on steel and aluminium.
“We will only sign a new Nafta that is good for Canada and good for the middle class. Canada’s signature is required,” spokesman Adam Austen said.
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Malcolm Turnbull: Australian ex-PM ‘to quit parliament’
Malcolm Turnbull has said he will quit Australia’s parliament on Friday following his ouster as prime minister by party rivals, local media report.
Mr. Turnbull was replaced by Scott Morrison last week in a bid to end infighting that had crippled the centre-right government.
The ousted leader said Australians would be “appalled” by recent events.
His departure will trigger a by-election and place Mr. Morrison’s parliamentary majority at risk.
In explaining his decision, Mr. Turnbull again took a thinly veiled swipe at his predecessor, Tony Abbott – who had been accused of undermining the government.
“Former prime ministers are best out of parliament not in it, and I think recent events best underline the value of that observation,” Mr. Turnbull told party members on Monday, in a speech reported by multiple outlets.
Without Mr. Turnbull, Mr. Morrison will command 75 of a reduced 149 seats in the House of Representatives.
A by-election for Mr. Turnbull’s seat will most likely take place in October, Australian media reported.
If the government loses the seat, Mr. Morrison will be forced to rely on independents to pass legislation in a 150-member parliament.
The Labour opposition currently has 69 seats.
The seat, Wentworth, has been held by the conservative Liberal Party since World War Two.
However, some say victory for the government is not guaranteed.
In a further twist, Mr. Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster, is reported to be considered running for the seat – but must first be selected by the Liberal Party.
The next general election is due to be held by May, 2019, with opinion polls currently giving Labour the lead.
Germany migrants: Protesters face off in Chemnitz
Rival protests over a murder in the east German city of Chemnitz have ended with several people injured as objects were hurled by both sides, police say.
Far-right activists had gathered in the centre for a second day as a Syrian and an Iraqi remained under arrest on suspicion of Sunday’s deadly stabbing.
Anti-Nazi activists rallied just metres away, accusing the far right of using the death for political ends.
Injuries were caused when protesters on both sides threw objects, police say.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel had warned that “vigilante justice” would not be tolerated.
Police warned masked demonstrators who were picking up stones in the city 190km (118 miles) south of Berlin that their actions were being filmed.
Earlier, the authorities said police were investigating alleged assaults on an Afghan, a Syrian and a Bulgarian during the unrest that broke out on Sunday.
Reports have included mentions of protesters chasing foreigners, though there are few details, and police have appealed for witnesses to the assaults to hand over any video they may have recorded.
It is unclear what triggered a fight which reportedly preceded the stabbing, at about 03:15 (01:15 GMT) on Sunday, on the sidelines of a street festival, which has now been cancelled.
The victim, a carpenter aged 35, was mortally wounded and died in hospital.
Two other German men with him, aged 33 and 38, were seriously hurt, police say.
The Syrian detainee is 23 and the Iraqi 22.
Police have denied rumours on social media that the fight was linked to the sexual harassment of a woman.