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June 22nd, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Trump immigration
The US is asking its military to prepare beds for up to 20,000 immigrant children.
The request points towards a continuation of President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy on immigration.
A day after signing an executive order to stop minors being separated from their parents, First Lady Melania Trump visited Texas to meet some of the 2,300 children who’ve been detained since early May.
But her visit became a point of contention after she wore a casual green jacket with an inscription on the back, which read, "I really don't care, do you?"
It raised questions over who the message was intended for.
EU tariffs
The EU will today begin imposing a 25 percent retaliatory tariff on certain US imports.
Brussels imposed the duties in a tit-for-tat response to the US decision to slap tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports.
The list includes $3.2 billion dollars worth of US goods such as cosmetics, agricultural and steel products and motorcycles.
EU leaders have tried to reach a compromise with Trump, but with significant trade deficits with the rest of the world, the US president believes he can win any potential trade war.
Indonesian cleric
Radical Indonesian cleric Aman Abdurrahman has been sentenced to death for orchestrating the 2016 suicide attacks in Jakarta
Abdurrahman heads a local extremist network and is also the de facto head of Daesh in Indonesia.
Prosecutors say he planned the attacks on a Starbucks cafe in Jakarta from prison where he’s currently serving a terror-related sentence.
Abdurrahman was also recruiting for Daesh from prison.
Koreans reunited
North and South Korean officials are meeting to discuss the next reunion of families separated by the Korean War.
The recent thaw in relations between the neighbours has raised hopes for many waiting to see long lost relatives, but for some, time is running out.
There are around 57,000 South Koreans waiting to be reunited with their families in the North.
More than 60 percent of them are over the age of 80.
Since 1985, there have only been 21 face-to-face family reunions.
World Cup
And finally,
Football titans Argentina suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Croatia, pushing Jorge Sampaoli’s side to the brink of an early exit.
In the days other fixtures, a struggling French team beat Peru 1-0 and Denmark and Australia drew 1-1.
Today’s fixtures will see Brazil face Costa Rica, Nigeria against Iceland and Serbia versus Switzerland.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Fri, 22 Jun 2018 09:57:36 +0000
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June 21st, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Trump backdown
US President Donald Trump has backed down on separating families trying to enter the United States without valid papers, including those seeking asylum.
He signed an executive order that will end the isolated detention of children amid an outcry from all sides.
But his supporters are standing firm, and say he is just trying to protect the country, going into midterm elections in November.
Hudaida
Fears of a humanitarian crisis in Yemen's port city of Hudaida are growing as fighting spills into residential districts.
A Saudi-led coalition seized control of the airport on Wednesday, driving out Houthi rebels.
The Iran-backed rebels are fighting to keep control of the city, the country's main port and a lifeline for millions of Yemenis.
South Sudan
South Sudan's warring leaders are meeting face-to-face for the first time in almost two years to try to end a five-year civil war.
President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar shook hands on Wednesday in neighbouring Ethiopia.
The East African regional bloc is mediating the talks to try to end a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and created Africa's largest refugee crisis in more than two decades.
Indonesia ferry
The death toll from Monday's ferry disaster in Indonesia could top 200, with 190 people still missing after the overcrowded ferry sank early Monday evening.
The disaster could be Indonesia's worst sinking in more than a decade, unless more survivors are found. That seems to be unlikely.
Internet copyright
And finally,
Google, Facebook, Microsoft and other tech giants could face more curbs on their power after a European Parliament committee voted in favour of tougher copyright rules.
The European Commission called for the changes two years ago, and they have some way to go before they become law.
If passed, the new law would force online platforms to share revenue with publishers and make them responsible for copyright infringement on the internet.
Copyright holders have welcomed the move, but critics say it could break the internet in Europe.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Thu, 21 Jun 2018 13:10:16 +0000
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June 20th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Assault on Gaza
Israeli warplanes struck Hamas positions in Gaza after what it said were rocket, kite and balloon attacks.
Tensions have been high in the region after Palestininians started demanding the right to return home in what is Israel today.
Israeli forces, mainly snipers, have killed over 120 protesters in the demonstrations since late March.
Hudaida
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says it has seized control of Hudaida airport and continues to attack pockets of Houthi resistance nearby.
The battle for the airport is part of a larger struggle for control of Hudaida.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels are dug into the city, the sole port under their control, and a lifeline for millions of people in war-torn Yemen.
Hostage children
Sources close to US President Donald Trump say he sees his immigration policy as a winner with voters ahead of midterm elections in November.
Currently, the administration is under fire from critics for separating children and parents at the US border with Mexico.
Trump says he's willing to end that and sign a bill that builds a wall between the two countries, and otherwise slows down immigration.
His critics say the president is effectively holding children hostage to get his way on the issue.
World Refugee Day
Among the people being turned away at the US border are victims seeking asylum.
It's worth remembering today, World Refugee Day. Those seeking asylum in the United States are just some of the 69 million people worldwide who have fled war, violence and persecution.
Turkey is the country sheltering most refugees, 3.5 million, mostly Syrians, who have fled the war there.
World Cup
And finally,
They're the second bottom-ranked team. But hosts Russia are almost through to the round of 16 in the football World Cup.
It's an improbable position for a team most said didn't have a chance. But Russian fans are celebrating after a 3-1 win over Egypt, following their 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia.
So now the only question is, if the odds go in Russia's favour, how far can the host team go?
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Wed, 20 Jun 2018 11:33:50 +0000
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June 19th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Immigration Camps
The Trump administration continues to defend its harsh immigration policies as outrage grows over the separation of families at the southern US border.
Footage of highly traumatised children being separated from their parents has been dominating international news the last couple of days.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands of youngsters are being held in camps which have been termed inhumane and cruel.
Critics say Trump’s child separation tactic is being used as a bargaining tool by Republicans and the White House.
Trump wants billions of dollars for the construction of a border wall with Mexico and other measures to curb immigration.
Manbij
Turkish and American troops have begun patrolling the northern Syrian city of Manbij under a roadmap drawn by the two NATO allies.
The deal between Turkey and the US focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and bring stability to the region.
Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.
Manbij is around 40km from Turkey's border and controlled by US-backed SDF forces of which the YPG militants form a core group.
US military support for the YPG in Manbij, which hosts roughly 2,000 US troops, has strained ties between Ankara and Washington.
And the Manbij roadmap marks an important first step in de-escalation.
Korean Peninsula
South Korea and the United States have called off joint military drills due to take place in August.
This comes after US President Donald Trump's pledge to end 'war games' on the Korean Peninsula.
The large-scale military exercises were delayed following the historic summit in Singapore last week between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Meanwhile, Kim is in China for a two-day visit as the trade war between the US and China intensifies.
Israel Spy
Israel's internal security agency says a former government minister has been jailed after being charged with spying for Iran.
Former energy minister Gonen Segev was extradited from Guinea and arrested when he arrived in Israel last month.
He's accused of 'acting as an agent' for Iran, and sharing information about Israel's energy market and security sites.
In 2004, he was arrested for trying to smuggle 32,000 ecstasy tablets from the Netherlands to Israel using an expired diplomatic passport.
World Cup
And finally,
To Russia we go.
Day five of the World Cup saw tons of action in Group G with a gutsy Tunisia showing their might against England
But a last minute header by captain Harry Kane gifted the Three Lions a 2-1 victory over the Tunisians at the Volgograd Arena.
In the earlier fixtures, Dries Mertens scored an absolute screamer to open Belgium’s goal tally and Romelu Lukaku got a double as they cruised passed Panama 3-0 in Sochi.
Sweden beat South Korea 1-0.
Today we have Colombia taking on Japan and Poland facing Senegal in Group H.
In the final match of the day, the second round of group games commences with Russia facing Egypt.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Tue, 19 Jun 2018 12:06:56 +0000
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June 18th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Japan Earthquake
At least three people have been killed and over 200 injured after a strong earthquake hit Japan.
The 6.1 magnitude quake shook the country’s second largest metropolis of Osaka and suspended railway services, halted factorylines and burst water mains.
No tsunami warning was issued and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said authorities were assessing damage and the government’s top priority was the safety of residents.
Grim Immigration
In the US, seven Democratic lawmakers visited an immigration detention center in New Jersey.
They were talking to men, separated from their families, on Father's Day.
Their visit comes as US First Lady Melania Trump spoke out for the first time against the controversial US policy - of separating families - who enter the country illegally from Mexico.
Her spokesperson released a statement saying she “hates to see children separated from their families, and hopes both sides can come together to achieve successful immigration reform.”
There's been growing concern over President Donald Trump's "zero-tolerance" policy towards Mexican immigrants.
It’s estimated that nearly 2,000 families have been separated in the last six-weeks.
Colombia Elections
In Colombia, the conservative candidate Ivan Duque (Du-kay) has been elected president.
He beat Gustavo Petro by 54% of the votes to 41% in the runoff.
Duque has pledged to roll back parts of the landmark 2016 peace deal with FARC guerrillas.
His opponent Petro, a former left-wing guerilla, supported the fragile peace process, and was seen as a new hope to strengthen relations with former fighters from FARC.
In his victory speech, Colombia's new president promised to unite the country.
Google Asia
Google will invest $550 million in Chinese e-commerce powerhouse JD.com.
The move is part of the US internet giant’s efforts to expand its presence in fast-growing Asian markets and battle rivals including Amazon.
The two companies described the investment as one piece of a broader partnership that will include the promotion of JD.com products on Google’s shopping service.
This could help JD.com expand beyond its base in China and Southeast Asia and establish a meaningful presence in US and European markets.
World Cup
And finally,
Football.
Day four of the 2018 World Cup in Russia brought a number of upsets.
Favourites Brazil failed to beat Switzerland and drew one all.
But the biggest shock was reserved for match 11 at the Luzhniki Stadium where Mexico consigned reigning champions Germany to a 1-0 defeat.
Hirving Lozano’s 35th-minute strike on a counterattack was enough to seal the deal for Mexico, leaving German coach Joachim Low with a lot of questions for rest of their campaign.
In the day’s other game, Serbian captain Aleksandar Kolarov curled in a superb free kick to get his side a 1-0 win over Costa Rica.
In today’s fixtures, Sweden take on South Korea, Belgium face Panama and the big match of the day will see Tunisia play England.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Mon, 18 Jun 2018 09:59:55 +0000
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June 15th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Hudaida
Forces from a Saudi-led coalition were poised to enter the airport of Yemen's main port on Friday.
The battle for Hudaida is the biggest in the three-year war.
The Saudi-led coalition backing the exiled government is battling Iran-linked Houthi rebels.
The UN fears the attack on Hudaida could make the humanitarian crisis in Yemen even worse, a claim the Saudi-led coalition rejects.
Trade war
China has vowed to strike back quickly if the United States hurts its interests.
A foreign ministry spokesman on Friday said if the US imposes tariffs, we will "protect our fair and legitimate rights."
The warning from Beijing came just hours before US President Donald Trump is due to list tariffs targeting 50 billion dollars worth of Chinese goods.
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking is being interred at Westminster Abbey today.
The remains of the renowned physicist will be placed between those of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin in the English cathedral.
After the service honouring his life, there are plans to broadcast his voice into space.
The broadcast will be directed at the nearest black hole to Earth. Black holes were Hawking's expertise.
Boris Becker
Former tennis star Boris Becker is claiming diplomatic immunity to try to avoid bankruptcy proceedings. That's according to British media.
The three-time Wimbledon champion and former world number one is now a sports attache to the European Union for the Central African Republic.
The German national took up the post in April, after he was declared bankrupt a year ago.
The current battle is over alleged assets.
Becker's lawyers say his position as an attache for the African country gives him immunity from prosecution.
Eid
Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al Fitr, at the end of Ramadan.
It's time for lavish feasts and new clothes at the end of the fasting month.
Fireworks displays are also held in many countries.
Friday, June 15, 2018
Fri, 15 Jun 2018 12:11:00 +0000
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June 14th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Hudaida
The Saudi-led assault on the Yemen port city of Hudaida is continuing as witnesses report fighting near the airport on Thursday morning.
The coalition is backing the exiled government, after Iran-backed Houthi rebels occupied the capital, Sanaa.
Hudaida is the main entry for food aid into a country already on the brink of famine, with fears mounting of a humanitarian disaster.
The UN security council is scheduled to meet on this latest attack later today.
Pompeo
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Seoul meeting his counterparts from South Korea and Japan.
Pompeo said N Korea will continue to face tough sanction until it gets rid of its nuclear weapons.
That appears to contradict the North's view, that its promise to disarm will be phased and ra-see-pra-cal.
Pompeo's visit comes after US President Donald Trump met North Korea's Kim Jong-un earlier this week in a summit in Singapore that was long on talk but short on detail.
Palestine resolution
The UN General Assembly has voted in favour of a resolution put forward by Turkey and Algeria, which condemns Israel for its 'excessive use of force' against Palestinians.
It follows the deaths of more than 120 people in recent months in protests on the Gaza-Israel border.
The US failed to win enough votes in its proposed amendment, which would have condemned Hamas for inciting violence.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said passage of the resolution signalled a failure for Washington.
Macedonia
A tough road lies ahead for Macedonia and Greece.
The country's two prime ministers thought they had reached a deal to rename the Balkan nation to the Republic of Northern Macedonia to distinguish it from a region in Greece also called Macedonia.
But Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov says he won't sign the agreement.
Macedonia's parliament could force the issue, but that could then lead to a referendum with all bets then off in a dispute that is causing division on both sides of the border.
World Cup
And finally,
Nobody would have picked the tournament’s two worst teams to launch the 2018 World Cup.
But when Russia and Saudi Arabia meet later today, form will be irrelevant as the world’s biggest football festival explodes into life in Moscow.
The game features the two lowest-ranked teams in the tournament, but it does kick off the game's global showcase.
So it's unlikely that anybody outside of Russia and Saudi Arabia will be paying much attention to the score.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Thu, 14 Jun 2018 09:50:56 +0000
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