World News Briefs -- May 31, 2019 (Evening Edition)

Daily Mail: Trump claims his Mexican border tariffs are 'about stopping drugs as well as illegals' amid market plunge

* Trump announced tariffs on Mexico of 5 percent beginning on June 10
* Said in tweets that he'd raise them gradually until illegal immigration stops
* Dow opened 270 points down on Friday on news of the tariffs and fluctuated
* Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador meanwhile sent his foreign secretary to Washington for emergency discussions
* Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley said tariffs are a 'misuse' of Trump's tariff authority, because they're about border security and not trade
* Said tariffs would endanger Trump's renegotiated trade deal with Mexico
* President insisted in a tweet that tariffs are about all of the above and drugs
* White House says Trump want Mexico to break up caravans and keep Central American migrants from crossing over into the United States

The markets opened 270 points down on Friday morning, after President Trump threatened steep tariffs on Mexico.

Trump put his opening bid at 5 percent and said he'd gradually increase them, until Mexico takes a harder line on immigration.

He wants the border country to break up caravans and take Central American migrants into custody before they reach the United States, his press secretary told reporters at the White House after a Fox News appearance.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iran complies with nuclear deal limits, UN watchdog says.

Syria NGOs say Idlib attacks triggering mass displacement.

US coalition attacks Syrian oil transport boats On Euphrates river.

Almost 950 killed in a month of northwest Syria violence: monitor.

Saudi Arabia asks nations to respond to Iran with ‘firmness’.

Iran rejects Saudi Arabia's 'baseless' allegations at Arab summit.

Iran rejects US Mideast peace plan at Quds Day rally.

Iraq's president calls on neighbours, allies for Iran's stability.

Iraq: Series of deadly explosions hit Kirkuk.

Turkey says no delay in delivery of S-400s from Russia.

ASIA

Former Afghan leader mistakenly claims new Taliban truce.

Three killed in Kashmir militant gunbattle.

Trump-Xi trade war summit at G20 in Japan still up in the air as ‘conditions not right’, China adviser says.

U.S. 'playing with fire' on Taiwan, China says ahead of defense meeting.

China, Japan boats engage in cat-and-mouse chase near disputed Islands.

Report: North Korea executes envoy to US.

Questions hang over North Korean food supply as clock ticks on TB catastrophe.

Philippines' Duterte warns over South China Sea 'flashpoint'.

Philippines ships trash back to Canada after heated row.

AFRICA

16 killed in Mozambique insurgency attack: local sources.

Extended sanctions and renewed fighting in South Sudan.

Armed group in C. Africa to lay down weapons.

UN calls for evacuation of Libyan refugees amid 'dire' conditions.

Algerians rally for change despite arrests.

Sudan bans Al Jazeera amid protests over military rule.

Burundi threatens to cut ties with UN envoy: diplomats.

Morocco suspect admits killing Scandinavian hiker.

Angolan rebel leader Savimbi gets funeral in reconciliation bid.

Tanzania latest African nation to ban plastic bags.

EUROPE

Pompeo tells Germany: Use Huawei and lose access to our data.

Factbox: New Ukraine president picks top reformist, men with oligarch ties.

Russia says U.S. military curbs on space cooperation are unfair competition.

Putin submits bill to withdraw Russia from nuclear treaty.

Pompeo visit to Germany highlights differences, commonalities.

Donald Trump in the UK - Brexit, Huawei and banquet with the queen.

All Germans urged to wear kippah in protest against antisemitism.

Bosnia mass killings: Efforts under way to identify victims.

U.N. report says Assange has been subjected to 'psychological torture'.

AMERICAS

'Dangerous overcrowding' in US migrant facilities: government report.

Trump announces tariffs on Mexico over immigration.

Mexico president says to respond prudently to Trump threats, urges national unity.

US-Canada relationship 'never stronger' says Mike Pence, but Canadians aren’t so sure.

Pence calls on Canada to do more to engage Cuba over Venezuelan crisis.

China hopes Canada understands consequences of siding with U.S..

At least six inmates killed in Ecuador prison violence.

Nicaragua gov't says it released 50 more political prisoners.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Berlin ready to fetch 'IS' German children after court case.

IS fight: US-led coalition says it killed 1,300 civilians in Syria and Iraq.

Exclusive: FRANCE 24 questions AQIM jihadist leader.

Lyon bomb suspect 'pledged allegiance to IS'.

Dutch hostage killed fleeing Abu Sayyaf captors in Philippines.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Wall St. skids, jolted by Trump's surprise tariff threat on Mexico.

African Union deepens cooperation with Huawei.

US-China trade breakthrough ‘unlikely’ at G20 meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

Former Chinese officials warn of lengthy trade war.

Singapore rated world's most competitive economy.