World News Briefs -- June 21, 2019 (Evening Edition)

Daily Mail: 'Nothing was greenlighted.' Trump says planes were NOT in the air when he called off air strikes on Iran because he 'didn't like' the idea of '150 dead people'

* Trump tweeted that the U.S. military were within 10 minutes of hitting three targets in Iran when he called off airstrikes
* He said that he was told there would be 150 deaths which he said was not proportionate to the loss of the $180 million U.S. Navy spy drone
* Iran said that Trump asked for talks with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
* It also said it could have downed a Navy Poseidon P-8 spy plane flying with the drone and claimed it would have killed 35 Americans, but chose not to
* White House confirmed that Trump overruled 'unanimous' advisors including Mike Pompeo and John Bolton when he called off strikes
* It was denounced as an 'unprovoked attack' in international air space by the US
* Iran and the U.S. are at odds over whether the drone was in international or Iranian air space when it was downed by surface-to-air missile
* Prince of oil went up Friday over the growing tensions despite Trump refusing to attack; he also said sanctions were being imposed on Iran
* United Airlines, Qantas, Nritish Airways, Air France and KLM have changed flight routes in the Gulf

President Trump says that he had not given the final go ahead for an Iranian attack when he called off a strike on Thursday night.

He told NBC's Chuck Todd in a Friday interview that airs in full on Sunday morning on 'Meet the Press' that the planes were still on the ground when he called the whole thing off.

'Nothing is greenlighted until the very end, because things change,' Trump said. 'We had something ready to go, subject to my approval.'

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Donald Trump confirms he called off attack on three sites in Iran as operation was underway.

Trump says Iran strikes would not have been 'proportionate'.

‘If Trump doesn’t want war, he has to ease sanctions’ – Iranian presidential adviser.

Surveillance drone may have tracked Japanese tanker: experts.

Trump and MBS discuss Iran, oil in phone call.

World Food Program partly suspends aid in Yemen.

'Seige and starve': Syrian refugees trying to survive.

Iraq: Civilians killed in Baghdad blast at Shia mosque.

Turkey: PKK leader calls for neutrality in Istanbul mayoral vote.

‘Not part of the deal’: Turks say US can’t exclude them from F-35 program.

ASIA

Xi Jinping vows to work with North Korea on ‘political resolution’ to nuclear issue. Kim, Xi reach consensus, to develop relations no matter the international situation: KCNA.

North Korea lauds China ties as Xi wraps up trip.

China and US negotiating teams scramble to make a plan for Xi Jinping and Donald Trump’s G20 Osaka summit.

India deploys destroyer, patrol vessel to Gulf of Oman.

Trade to headline as Southeast Asian leaders meet in Bangkok.

China’s new ambassador to Japan hoping for Xi Jinping visit during cherry blossom season.

US slams China’s ‘extreme hostility’ towards religious freedom in new report.

Fate of 24 arrested Hong Kong protesters hangs in balance as anger turns on police.

Taiwan's richest man to run for president.

AFRICA

Thousands of Malians demonstrate to demand end to massacres.

Tripoli airport suspends flights after rocket fire.

Protests in Algeria as prominent figures arrested in graft probe.

Mauritania eyes peaceful transfer in presidential election.

Ethiopia opposition see dangers if 2020 vote delayed.

C.Africa is worst country for food insecurity: WFP.

Uganda's burgeoning refugee burden.

EUROPE

Georgia protesters return to streets despite speaker resignation.

Russia suspends flights to Georgia after violent clashes.

Cyprus drilling dispute calls for sanctions against Turkey.

'New blood' in Ukraine parliament will ease reform path: Zelenskiy party chief.

Police called to disturbance at UK PM candidate Johnson's home.

Italian government wins confidence vote on economic growth decree.

Spain's 'Wolf Pack' found guilty of rape at Pamplona running of the bulls.

AMERICAS

Democrats call for oversight after Trump's Iran airstrikes reversal.

Trump's immigration round-up will start before dawn in SUNDAY say officials, with 2,040 illegal families targeted in cities including New York, LA, Houston, Miami and Chicago.

US imposes sanctions on four top Nicaraguan officials.

Florida city pays $600,000 ransom to save computer records.

White population of the U.S. shrinks for the second year in a row as Hispanic population booms by 1.2M and will soon become the largest group in Texas.

Mexico's AMLO proposes September meeting with Trump.

Mexico immigration chief vows to cut number of people migrating by 60%.

Honduras protests: Military deployed after violence.

U.N. rights chief Bachelet to leave monitors in Venezuela after visit.

Uruguay court orders government to sell Nazi bronze eagle from battleship.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Global watchdog give Pakistan until October to curb terror financing.

Regulators tightening scrutiny of Iran over terror financing.

Jihadist-hit Burkina adopts tough law on covering military ops.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Bang-up week on Wall Street ends with a whimper.

Lufthansa and global airlines avoid Iranian airspace.

US bans exports to five Chinese technology entities, expanding trade battle to supercomputing.

Cannabis-laced beer and dog treats excite big firms.