Tuesday, July 17, 2018

World News Briefs -- July 17, 2018



Daily Mail: Petulant Trump desperately tries to end the Putin crisis by saying he BELIEVES Russia meddled in the elections - then mutters: 'Could be other people also' and John Kelly switches off the lights in the room by accident

* As he weathered heavy criticism on Tuesday for comments on election hacking, Trump declared victory in his Helsinki summit on Twitter
* He settled on a favored target for characterizing it as anything less than a success -- the media -- in late morning tweets
* 'While I had a great meeting with NATO, raising vast amounts of money, I had an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin of Russia,' he tweeted
* He said: 'Sadly, it is not being reported that way - the Fake News is going Crazy!'
* At a joint news conference with Vladimir Putin if believed his intelligence chiefs, Trump said he doesn't see 'any reason' why Putin would be lying
* Explained Tuesday in an extremely rare climb down that he meant to say there wouldn't be any reason for him to disbelieve his intel chiefs
* 'The sentence should have been, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be Russia,' Trump said. 'I think that probably clarifies things pretty good by itself'
* Trump said he was surprised by the firestorm that awaited him when he arrived on Monday in Washington and realized he needed to 'clear up' his comments
* Even allies of the president were telling him on Tuesday that he needed to 'reverse course' and issue a clarification

President Trump in the first major retreat of his administration said that he misspoke at his Helsinki summit when he said that he did not have 'any reason' to think that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.

Trump spoke directly to cameras on Tuesday afternoon in an effort to blunt criticism of a press conference with Vladimir Putin at which he let the Russian president off the hook for election interference.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iran 'preparing' to enrich if nuclear deal fails: official.

Amnesty: US-led coalition in denial over civilian deaths in Raqqa.

Dozens of fleeing Syrians turned away from Israeli border. Israeli army turns away displaced Syrians along Golan Heights.

Israel suspends fuel deliveries to Gaza over arson attacks.

Battle for Yemen's Hodeidah: 'Shells raining down on us'.

Yemen rebel leader willing to give UN control of key port.

Iraq braces for more unrest as Basra protests gather pace.

ASIA

Paving the way for peace talks, Afghanistan considers a second ceasefire.

Afghan officials: ISIL bomber kills 20, Taliban kill 9 police. Afghan officials: IS bomber kills 20, Taliban kill 9 police.

In parched Afghanistan, drought sharpens water dispute with Iran.

Trump now says no 'time limit' to denuclearize NKorea.

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un visits factories near Chinese border as leader’s focus switches to economy. Kim Jong Un 'very angry' after inspecting power station.

Rohingya want to return to Myanmar as citizens: UN.

Hong Kong: Pro-independence party faces possible ban.

AFRICA

Mali: Hundreds killed in intercommunal violence this year. UN 'deeply concerned' as communal violence surges in Mali.

S.Sudan foes to sign 'preliminary' power pact this week.

Eritrea reopens Ethiopia embassy as leaders pledge peace, progress.

Libya state oil company shuts terminal after attack.

Libyan coastguard left refugees to die in Mediterranean: NGO.

'We will rule forever,' says Tanzania's Magufuli.

Probe launched as one more black rhino dies after Kenya transfer.

Egypt to regulate popular social media users.

South Africa celebrates Nelson Mandela's centennial birthday.

EUROPE

May faces defeat as Labour backs customs union amendment.

Russia open to extending nuclear arms treaty with U.S..

Russian prosecutors want to question US intel agents.

EU 'positive' on Russia-Ukraine gas talks.

EU, US relations sinking further after divisive Trump tour.

Pussy Riot jail sentence for church protest 'exceptionally severe', European court says.

EU security chief: ‘far too much’ online extremist content.

Russian pilgrims mark 100th anniversary of czar’s execution.

Four years on Dutch remember those lost on flight MH17.

AMERICAS

Trump, Russians hail summit as major victory; other U.S. views different.

Trump-Putin summit: US president reverses remark on Russia meddling. Trump says he misspoke on Russia election meddling.

Obama's sharp rebuke to Trump as he warns that 'strongman politics are ascendant', 'shameless politicians double down on lies' and 'the free press is under attack'.

Mueller seeks immunity for 5 witnesses in Manafort case.

Maria Butina: Gun activist with links to NRA charged with being a Russian agent in the US.

Nicaraguan forces violently retake symbolic city.

Violence in Nicaragua escalates as UN slams Ortega's government. Pressure mounts on Ortega as UN calls for end to Nicaragua unrest.

Venezuela's president: Africa won World Cup.

Trump to redesign Air Force One to be 'red, white and blue'.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

ISIS is making a comeback in Iraq just months after Baghdad declared victory.

20 killed as ISIS bomber reportedly targets Taliban officials in Afghanistan.

IS fighters' orphaned children stranded in Libya.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

US stocks rebound as tech and household goods companies rise.

IEA warns of 'worrying trend' as global investment in renewables falls.

Japan, EU agree to sweeping trade deal against tariffs.

George Clooney made $322 million last year to become highest-earning actor in world.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos beats Bill Gates in new rich list.

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