Tuesday, June 19, 2018

World News Briefs -- June 19, 2018 (Evening Edition)



Reuters: U.S. withdraws from United Nations human rights body

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday accusing it of a “chronic bias against Israel,” a move that activists warned would make advancing human rights globally even more difficult.

Standing with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Haley slammed Russia, China, Cuba and Egypt for thwarting U.S. efforts to reform the council. She also criticized countries which shared U.S. values and encouraged Washington to remain but “were unwilling to seriously challenge the status quo.”

The United States is half-way through a three-year term on the main U.N. rights body and the Trump administration had long threatened to quit if the 47-member Geneva-based body was not overhauled.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syrian army drops leaflets over southern region amid tension.

Yemeni officials say fighting rages around Hodeida airport.

Yemen war: Pro-government forces 'storm Hudaydah airport'.

Yemen crisis: Saudi coalition demands Houthis' unconditional withdrawal.

Hopes dim for cease-fire in Yemen.

Ex-President Saleh’s last video address to Yemeni people emerges.

Syria constitution: Turkey, Russia and Iran start Geneva talks.

UN Palestinian refugee agency to pare down operations in Gaza.

UN chief Antonio Guterres: Gaza 'on brink of war'.

Most French firms 'won't be able to stay' in Iran: minister.

Iran rebuffs Trump’s call for OPEC to increase oil output.

Saudi entertainment chief sacked after conservative backlash.

ASIA

North Korea expected to begin transferring remains of U.S. troops soon: officials.

China's Xi praises North Korea's Kim for Trump summit, promises support.

Chinese President Xi Jinping says US, North Korea must build on Singapore summit, as Kim Jong-un returns to Beijing.

Two Koreas to hold basketball game, march together at Asian Games.

Report: Kim Jong Un confiscated officials' phones ahead of summit.

Afghan Taliban resume fighting after 3-day cease-fire ends.

Jammu & Kashmir gov't collapses as India’s ruling party BJP withdraws support.

State of emergency declared in Papua New Guinea after riots.

Chinese ambassador calls on Australia to drop 'cold war mentality'.

Malaysia seeks to lay multiple charges against ex-PM Najib Razak over 1MDB scandal.

AFRICA

Mali admits soldiers implicated in deaths during security sweep.

South Sudan's Kiir, Machar to meet on Wednesday in Addis Ababa. South Sudan's warring leaders to meet for talks in Ethiopia.

UN relief chief: 'Rampant' sexual abuse, violence in South Sudan.

Libya suffers 'catastrophic damage' to key oil port facility.

Oil crescent fighting will lose Libya billions in oil revenues: NOC.

EU to consider plans for migrant processing centres in north Africa.

Shadow of jihadists falls on Cameroon's cattle farmers.

Ethiopia PM: Security agencies committed 'terrorist acts'.

EUROPE

Kremlin says no plans for Putin-Trump meeting before Nato summit - Interfax.

Nato chief warns over future of transatlantic relationship.

Italian populist Salvini sparks row over counting Roma.

EU rallies to save Merkel: Bloc tells members to crack down on asylum seekers moving through Europe as German chancellor faces revolt over migrants.

Sharp fall in number of people seeking asylum in EU.

Merkel and Macron mold plans for EU reform.

Hungary legislature to vote on 'Stop Soros' bill, despite EU warning.

'Call me Mr President’: Emmanuel Macron scolds teenager.

AMERICAS

Trump administration pulls US out of UN human rights council.

Trump doubles down on family separations as border crisis rages.

No more 'internment camps': U.S. Democrats disrupt congressional hearing.

Trump, GOP to huddle as outrage builds over border policy.

Trump: Dems want illegal immigrants to 'infest our country'.

20 weeks out from midterms, Dems and GOP brace for surprises.

Nicaragua crisis talks stall after mediators walk out.

Doubts loom over Colombia peace deal with hawk’s election.

In Mexico, longtime foes ‘AMLO’ and elite getting pragmatic.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

London man 'plotted to kill PM in suicide attack'

7 shepherds killed as IS 'danger' grips Iraqi desert.

US-led coalition destroys Islamic State narcotics cache — including 300,000 so-called ‘Jihadi pills’.

Dutch police use DNA evidence to arrest 3 men with suspected links to Islamic State.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Dow posts 6th loss in row on trade spat; small cos. rally.

US slaps anti-dumping duties on Chinese alloy aluminum sheet.

Russia, Saudi push for big hike in oil output despite Iran opposition.

Trump tariffs: Markets fall as trade war fears mount.

Chinese envoy proposes joint action by India, China to counter US protectionism.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

A very hardline GOP President, in open defiance with his party, meets with DPRK emperor Kim and starts a normalization process, who would have thought it?

After endless US lectures to Germany to bolster its defense spending and doing nothing who would have thought the NATO Sec. Gen would muse publicly that NATO was in danger of collapse?


Is Israel and the Sunni Arabs could reconcile while Palestinians are getting killed while revolting against Israeli rule, anything is possible, including the continued existence of the UN.

Anonymous said...

It's good that North Korea no longer has nuclear weapons thanks to Trump.