Melania Trump praises LeBron James following President's insult
Washington, Aug 5 : US First Lady Melania Trump praised NBA superstar LeBron James for his charity work, a day after her husband, President Donald Trump, attacked the Los Angeles Lakers players intelligence.
The First Lady's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham on Saturday said Melania Trump was supportive of James' work with children.
"It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation and just as she always has, the First Lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today," Grisham told CNN.
"As you know, Mrs. Trump has travelled the country and world talking to children about their well-being, healthy living, and the importance of responsible online behaviour with her 'Be Best' initiative."
The spokeswoman also said that the First Lady may even consider visiting the school that James opened last week in Ohio.
Grisham's statement came after President Trump posted a scathing tweet questioning James' intellectual capacity in response to an interview the basketball player gave to CNN which aired on Friday night.
In the interview, the NBA superstar said the President was using athletics and athletes to split up the country and would not sit down across from Trump if he were given the opportunity.
Following the airing of the interview, the President insulted James and interviewer Don Lemon in a series of tweets.
"Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon," he said. "He made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do."
This is not the first time Melania Trump has publicly expressed views or taken action that demonstrated an independent streak, CNN reported.
In January, as news broke about the President's alleged dalliance with porn star Stormy Daniels something which he denies, Melania Trump broke with tradition and took a separate motorcade to the President's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill instead of riding with him.
A month later, she opted to go solo prior to departing for a trip with her husband.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
