Wednesday, May 20, 2015

World News Briefs -- May 20, 2015



Reuters: U.N. announces Yemen talks, Iran to allow ship inspection

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday announced talks between warring Yemeni parties in Geneva on May 28 to end over seven weeks of war, as Iran agreed for international inspections of an aid ship sailing to Yemen.

The moves are aimed at defusing the deepening crisis in the southern Arabian Peninsula, where Saudi-led forces killed at least 15 Houthis in the latest air strikes in a campaign to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

MIDDLE EAST

Ramadi battle: Iraq calls for volunteers for IS fight. Iraqi forces say they repulse Islamist attack near Ramadi.

U.S., allies target Islamic State with 25 air strikes: task force.

IS 'seizes part of Syria's Palmyra'. IS group seizes part of ancient town of Palmyra in Syria. Fears for Palmyra's ancient treasures as Isis retakes northern part of Syrian city.

Anti-Islamic State coalition to meet in Paris on June 2.

Iran's Khamenei rules out interviews with nuclear scientists.

Iran ship heads towards Red Sea amid fears of Yemen showdown.

Netanyahu cancels West Bank Palestinian bus segregation.

ASIA

Indonesia and Malaysia agree to offer 7,000 migrants temporary shelter.

Kerry throws himself into the battle for Asia trade pact.

S. Korea protests N. Korea’s missile test.

United Nations: 2,500 North Koreans die annually from tuberculosis.

N. Korea’s isolation grows with cancellation of Ban visit.

Japan's economy grows faster than expected.

China denying passports to restrict critics, minorities.

AFRICA

Burundi delays parliamentary elections after protests.

Burundi leader tightens grip as fallout mounts from coup attempt.

South Sudan fighting continues near major oilfield, 4 killed.

Chadian lawmakers extend mandate of troops fighting Boko Haram.

Gunman attacks U.N. vehicles, residence in Mali capital.

Sahara desert gun battle yields drugs haul, says France.

New Ebola cases spike in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

EUROPE

Ukraine's Poroshenko talks of 'real war' with Russia.

Ukraine shows off captured 'Russian soldiers'.

Yatsenyuk asks Parliament to allow foreign military in Ukraine.

Russia to take legal moves if Ukraine defaults on $3bn debt - finance minister.

Russia threatens to ban Google, Twitter and Facebook over extremist content.

Tunisia museum attack: Man arrested in Italy.

Despite growth uptick, full recovery still far for Europe.

Most of Hatton Garden jewel heist haul recovered, police believe.

AMERICAS

Hillary Clinton says her Iraq war vote was a 'mistake'.

Exclusive: House Benghazi panel subpoenas former Clinton White House aide.

Cuba establishes banking ties in US ahead of talks.

U.S. officials hopeful ahead of talks with Cuba on reestablishing relations.

Mass roundup of bikers in Waco shootout tests limits of court system.

Canadian youths 'trying to join Islamic State' arrested.

Drought shaming targets wealthy California water wasters who have lush lawns.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

US reveals real name of ISIS leader killed in raid.

Bin Laden bent on spectacular US attack until the end: files.

US releases documents recovered from Osama bin Laden raid.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Five global banks to pay $5.7 billion in fines over rate rigging.

Takata doubling U.S. recall for defective air bags to 34 mln vehicles.

HSBC to charge for holding deposits.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who ever expected otherwise?

Iran is all talk and nothing more. The reality is that it is a weak, beaten, impovrished nation that has nothing but bluster to shore up the spirits of its downtrodden masses.

Iran is nothing but a bully and a joke and the sooner the U.S. and other countries that make up the civilized world face up to that reality, the sooner Iran will cave on the nuclear issue as it does on every other one when faced with a determined West.

James said...

Maybe so Anon, but it does seem that everyone is more than glad for this "third party" timeout. It won't last forever and the stated positions haven't changed. Personally I agree with your take on this, but the ones making the decisions seem to live in a different reality than we do.