World News Briefs -- June 18, 2020 (EVening Edition)

Reuters: Satellite images suggest Chinese activity at Himalayan border with India before clash

SINGAPORE/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - In the days leading up to the most violent border clash between India and China in decades, China brought in pieces of machinery, cut a trail into a Himalayan mountainside and may have even dammed a river, satellite pictures suggest.

The images, shot on Tuesday, a day after soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand combat in the freezing Galwan Valley, show an increase in activity from a week earlier.

India said 20 soldiers were killed in a premeditated attack by Chinese troops on Monday night at a time when top commanders had agreed to defuse tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), or the disputed and poorly defined border between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

China rejected the allegations and blamed frontline Indian soldiers for provoking the conflict which took place at the freezing height of 14,000 feet (4,300 metres) in the western Himalayas.

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MIDDLE EAST

U.N. mulls proposal to reopen Iraq crossing for pandemic aid to Syria.

Iran's death toll from coronavirus outbreak approaches 10,000.

Iraq demands Turkey 'stop bombardment, withdraw forces' from north.

Rockets hit Baghdad's Green Zone for the fifth time in ten days.

Iran targeted PDKI bases in two-day shelling of Kurdistan Region: statement.

Saudi Arabia's proposal to end standoff between allies in Yemen.

Caesar Act: Fresh sanctions on Syria could worsen Lebanon economy.

Israeli annexation poses 'unprecedented danger': Jordan FM.

Turkey makes masks mandatory in Istanbul, 46 other provinces.

ASIA

Beijing uses phone data to round up 350,000 people for coronavirus testing, and installs facial recognition checkpoints at apartment complexes as 21MILLION are put under lockdown.

Reluctance to free 'most dangerous' Taliban prisoners slows Afghan peace talks: sources.

China, India blame each other for border clash as death toll remains unknown.

Indians hold funerals for soldiers killed at China border, burn portraits of Xi.

Indians call for boycott of Chinese goods after fatal border clashes.

Pakistan army says Indian fire kills 4 civilians in Kashmir.

China keen to play down India clash before key meeting with US, insiders say.

North Korea an 'extraordinary threat': US.

Japan confirms plans to 'protect' its citizens in Korea.

AFRICA

After second round of voting, Kenya wins spot on U.N. Security Council.

Nigeria's president rebukes security chiefs over worsening violence.

Burundi swears in Evariste Ndayishimiye as president after predecessor’s death.

Sudan wants PMs to resolve Nile dam deadlock.

Nigeria attacks spark fears of bloodier jihadist strategy.

China to cancel interest-free loans to African nations.

African countries drop Covid-19 curbs in effort to limit economic harm.

Coronavirus in South Africa: Restrictions ease as Covid-19 cases rise rapidly.


In Africa, those who beat the virus continue to live under its cloud.

Algeria weighs plan to allow army deployments abroad.

'Worst outbreak ever': Nearly a million pigs culled in Nigeria due to swine fever.

EUROPE

PM Johnson tells Macron: Brexit talks cannot stretch into autumn.

Merkel urges EU to agree on €750 billion recovery plan by end of July.

Merkel urges EU unity to counter coronavirus crisis.

Germany reports 650 new coronavirus cases in a meat processing plant.

Coronavirus: Bank pumps £100bn into UK economy to aid recovery.

Hungary NGO law breaches basic rights, top EU court rules.

Georgian's death in Berlin was a Russian-ordered assassination, prosecutors believe. Germany accuses Russia of Berlin park assassination.

Russia says to react if Germany takes action on killing of Chechen ex-rebel.

French police arrest six Chechens over violent clashes in Dijon.

Macron marks 80 years since de Gaulle's call to resistance at London ceremony.

AMERICAS

Poll: Americans not buying White House spin on coronavirus.

Supreme Court blocks Trump plan to end DACA program. Trump lashes out at Supreme Court after DACA ruling: 'Shotgun blasts' to conservatives.

US jobless claims total 1.5 million, worse than expected as economic pain persists.

Pelosi: Trump is 'ethically unfit and intellectually unprepared to be president'.

Honduras' president hospitalized with COVID-19 as Latin America becomes virus 'epicenter'.

US puts up rewards for Colombia FARC dissidents.

Canada hits 100,000 coronavirus cases, major challenges remain.

Canada loses out to Ireland and Norway in Security Council vote.

Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh kicked out for calling rival 'racist'.

Colombian army frees two foreigners held by FARC dissidents.

Saharan Dust from Africa will stretch toward the US, putting the hurricane season on pause.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Iran, Hezbollah say US sanctions will worsen Syrians' suffering.

Taliban ramps up attacks after ending unilateral ceasefire.

Hay’at Tahrir al Sham reportedly arrests Uzbek jihadist leader.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

S&P 500 closes nominally higher amid COVID-19 spikes, muted data.

World stocks pull back as virus worries resurface.

US pulls out of talks on big tech tax at last minute.

Carnival sees more pain after posting $4.4 billion loss.