Today In World News: July 30, 2017

Today In World News:

Courtesy of Al Jazeera

• An Israeli military court upheld the 18-month sentence of a soldier convicted of fatally shooting a Palestinian attacker who lay on the ground wounded after stabbing and wounding another soldier. 

• President Vladimir Putin said the United States would have to cut its diplomatic staff in Russia by 755 people and that Moscow could consider additional measures against Washington as a response to new U.S. sanctions approved by Congress.

• Saudi Arabia's foreign minister called what he said was Qatar's demand for an internationalization of the Muslim hajj pilgrimage a declaration of war against the kingdom. Qatar said it never made such a call.

• Thousands of people rallied in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, against security measures Israel has imposed at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

• At least 23 African Union peacekeeping troops and a Somalian soldier have been killed in an ambush carried out by armed group al-Shabab in southern Somalia.

• Republicans urged President Donald Trump's new chief of staff John Kelly to rein in the chaos within the White House.

• A Philippine mayor accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of having links with the illegal drugs trade has been shot dead in a police raid.  Reynaldo Parojinog, mayor of the city of Ozamiz on Mindanao island, was killed with his wife and 10 others at his home as police served a warrant.

• The White House stepped up demands for revived congressional efforts on health care and suggested senators cancel their entire summer break, if needed, to pass legislation after failed votes last week.

• The U.S. travel bans have stranded more than 100 refugee children who were already matched to waiting American foster families.

Today In World News: July 29, 2017

Today In World News: 

Courtesy of Reuters

• Syrian government troops have entered the last ISIL stronghold in Homs province after fighters began withdrawing.

• The man who killed one person and injured 6 in a supermarket knife attack in Hamburg was a "known Islamist but not Jihadist”. 

• President Trump threatened to end key ObamaCare payments and cancel some of lawmakers' healthcare benefits. The president was referring in the first part of the tweet to ending key payments to insurance companies under ObamaCare known as Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments

• A man armed with a machete has forced his way into the rural home of Kenya's Vice President William Ruto after wounding a police guard.  Mr Ruto and his family were not at the compound near the western city of Eldoret at the time.

• North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the test proved that the entire US was within striking range, state media reported. North Korea has hailed as a success its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), describing it as a "stern warning" for the US.

• Police disrupted a "terrorist plot" to bring down a plane and arrested 4 men in raids on homes in several Sydney, Australia suburbs, the prime minister said.

• President Donald Trump replaced his White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, after only 6 months on the job, installing retired General John Kelly in his place in a major shake-up of his top team.

• U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating concerns in his party about his ability to govern the country six months after taking office. 

• Venezuela's opposition said it is ready to change tactics in its bid to bring down President Nicolas Maduro after Sunday's election of a legislative super-body that they say is designed to tighten the socialist's already strong hold on power.

• President Trump said that he is "disappointed" in China for not doing more to rein in North Korea. 

• Fighters aligned with Khalifa Hafter, the military general based in the remote east of Libya. They held assembly members at gunpoint, and demanded they back down from a recently approved draft constitution.  The draft calls for a presidential and general election no more than 180 days from the passing of a constitution. 

• Yemen's Houthi rebels have said they targeted a military ship belonging to the United Arab Emirates, part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting them in the country.

• Iran has vowed to press ahead with its missile program, denouncing new US sanctions as "an effort to weaken the nuclear deal”.

Today In World News: July 26, 2017

Today In World News:

Courtesy of Palestinian Chronicles

• Israel has removed more security installations from the entrance to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem after protest and deadly unrest in recent days.   Newly installed railings, gates and scaffolding where cameras were previously mounted were removed from the entrance to the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

• President Donald Trump abruptly declared a ban Wednesday on transgender troops serving anywhere in the U.S. military, catching the Pentagon flat-footed and unable to explain what it called Trump’s “guidance.”

• Republican U.S. Senate leaders, struggling to keep a seven-year promise to end Obamacare.

• U.S. President Donald Trump intends to nominate Republican Kansas Governor Sam Brownback as ambassador at large for international religious freedom.

• Police in the Chinese capital have detained 67 people for disturbing social order after demonstrators gathered to stage a rare protest in Beijing, complaining that the government was unfairly targeting a charity.

• U.S. lawmakers reached an agreement on Wednesday that paves the way for the U.S. Senate to pass a bill as soon as this week to impose new sanctions on Russia. The sanctions package passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming 419-3 on Wednesday and is expected to garner similar support in the Senate.  That would easily overcome a veto by Trump.

• Trump called the Lebanese Shia armed group, Hezbollah, a threat to the entire Middle East when speaking at a press conference with Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

• Anthony Scaramucci, although has a White House job, still stands to profit from an ownership stake in his investment firm SkyBridge Capital.  The incoming White House communications director earned $4.9 million from his ownership stake in SkyBridge in addition to more than $5 million in salary between Jan. 1, 2016.

• US Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry talked for 22 minutes on the phone with a man he thought was the prime minister of Ukraine.

• Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is knocking down a flurry of speculation that he is unhappy in his job and may soon quit.  He said he would remain as the nation’s top diplomat “as long as the president lets me.” 

Today In World News: July 25, 2017

Today In World News:

Courtesy of CNN

• President Trump told the newspaper he is “looking” at the possibility of firing the former Alabama senator, Jeff Sessions, and did not suggest that he will curtail his criticism of Sessions.

• Attorney General Jeff Sessions has reportedly made it clear to the Trump administration that he has no plans on stepping down despite increasing tension with President Trump.

• US officials said they have seen increased North Korean activity at a site in the western city of Kusong that could be preparations for another missile test within days.

• Intelligence officials believe North Korea will have a reliable, intercontinental missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon as early as next year.

• President Donald Trump's campaign-style address to the Boy Scouts of America touched off a firestorm of criticism on Tuesday as parents and former Scouts decried a speech peppered with partisan attacks and ridicule of "fake media.”

• The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote overwhelmingly for a bill that would slap new sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea, potentially complicating President Donald Trump's hopes of pursuing improved relations with Moscow.

• Riyad Mansour warned in his speech to the Council on Tuesday that "the stoking of a religious conflict is rapidly unfolding as Israel persists its illegal actions in occupied East Jerusalem”.

• The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a leading civil rights group in the US, is questioning why President Donald Trump turned down an invitation to speak at its annual convention. He is the first president for many years to snub the event. 

Qatar Crisis--What You Need To Know

Courtesy of The Associated Press

Quick Info:

• June 4, 2017: Media reports emerged of the hacking of the email account of Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE's ambassador to the United States. 
• The emails revealed ties between Otaiba and a pro-Israel think-tank in Washington >> along with efforts to undermine the image of Qatar and to some extent, Kuwait, internationally.
• This included Emirati requests to move the US forward Central Command operations from the airbase in Qatar's al-Udeid, to the UAE.

• June 5-6, 2017: The 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis began when several countries abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar.

• These countries included:
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Yemen
• Maldives
• Libya
• The severing of relations included withdrawing ambassadors, and imposing trade and travel bans.

• The Saudi-led coalition cited Qatar’s support for terrorism as the main reason for their actions, insisting Qatar has violated a 2014 agreement with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

• Qatar claims that it has assisted the United States in the War on Terror and the ongoing military intervention against ISIL.

• Saudi Arabia's move was welcomed by United States president Donald Trump despite a large U.S. presence at the Al Udeid Air Base.
• The primary base of U.S. air operations against the Islamic State.

• A number of countries in the region >>> Turkey, Russia and Iran, called for the crisis to be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

• Qatar is dependent on imports by land and sea for the basic needs of its population of 2.7 million, and about 40% of its food came in through the land border with Saudi Arabia.
• The hoarding quickly ended after Turkey and Iran began sending food by air and sea.

• The emirate has now been warned by its neighbours that the restrictions will continue until it "changes its policies for the better”.

• Exports of liquefied natural gas have so far not been affected, and the emirate's finance minister says Qatar has enough resources to defend its economy and currency.

Background:

• Qatar has had differences with other Arab governments on a number of issues: 
• It is accused of maintaining good relations with Iran. The Shia power (Iran) is Sunni-ruled, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival.
• It shares the world's largest gas field with Iran.
• Broadcasts Al Jazeera.
• It has supported the Muslim Brotherhood in the past.

• Qatar is a close ally of the United States, hosting the largest American base in the Middle East, Al-Udeid Air Base.

• The countries withdrawing diplomatic relations accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, of interfering with their internal affairs and maintaining relations with Iran.
• Egypt also cut diplomatic ties, but did not impose restrictions on its 180,000 citizens living in Qatar.
• Yemen, the Maldives and Libya's eastern-based government later followed suit.
• Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt closed their airspace to Qatari aircraft, and said foreign airlines would have to seek permission for overflights to and from Qatar.

• Two states in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) did not cut ties with Qatar - Kuwait and Oman.
• Kuwait has offered to mediate in the dispute.

• Qatar denies allegations that it supported terrorism, and pointed out that it has been contributing to the U.S.-led fight against ISIL.

The Proxy Battle:

• Proxy for states split by their sympathies for or against Iran.   
• Turkey, Russia and Iran have lined up behind Qatar
• Turkey's parliament has authorized 3,000 troops to Qatar.

• Tensions with Qatar’s Gulf Arab neighbours have grown in recent years as part of a tussle for regional leadership.

• The Gulf states have been emboldened by Trump and the row with Qatar as a Saudi-led attempt to bring Qatar into line.

• There was an immediate effect on air travel in the region: 
• Qatar Airways, one of the region’s major long-haul carriers, said it was suspending all flights to Saudi Arabia
• Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, said it would suspend flights to Qatar “until further notice”
• Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, announced it would suspend Qatar flights
• FlyDubai, the Dubai-based budget carrier said it would suspend flights to and from Doha

Issues of Contention:

• Qatar maintains relatively good relations with Iran.
• In 2006, Qatar was the only UN Security Council member to vote against United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696, which was calling on Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program (which for Saudi Arabia is a very serious issue of national security).

• Qatar and Iran share ownership of the South Pars/North Dome Gas-Condensate field:
• By far the world's largest natural gas field, with significant geostrategic influence.
• In April 2017, after a 12-year freeze, Qatar lifted a self-imposed ban on developing the gas field with Iran, which would require cooperation between the two countries.

• Qatar used to be a kind of Saudi vassal state, but it used the autonomy that its gas wealth created to carve out an independent role for itself.

• Qatar wants to promote a regional policy of engagement with Shiite Iran to secure the source of its wealth.

• Qatar has supported the Muslim Brotherhood in the past.
• Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies see the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat,
•  It ideologically opposes hereditary rule.
• The government of Egypt has long viewed the Muslim Brotherhood as "enemy No. 1”.
•  In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Qatar supported the Egyptian protesters agitating for change, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood.
• By contrast, Saudi Arabia supported Hosni Mubarak and currently supports Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

• Qatar has been accused of sponsoring terrorism:
• Some countries have faulted Qatar for funding rebel groups in Syria such as:
• Hezbollah
• Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria >> the Al-Nusra Front.
• Although the Saudis have also supported Al-Nusra Front.
• Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the CIA–led Timber Sycamore covert operation to train and arm Syrian rebels.

• Qatar has hosted officials from the Afghan Taliban and Hamas.   
• Qatar defends this move by saying it is trying to act as an intermediary in regional conflicts.
• For example, Qatar hosted talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in 2016.

Liquified Gas:

• Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are all members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

• Saudi Arabia is the de facto leader of the group as the largest oil producer in the world
• Qatar is one of OPEC’s smallest oil producers.

• Qatar is a global leader in liquefied natural gas production (LNG)-- it is natural gas that has cooled to liquid form for export by tanker.
• Despite the severing of ties >>>
• Qatari natural gas continues to flow to the UAE and Oman through Abu Dhabi based Dolphin Energy's pipeline.   
• The pipeline meets about 30-40 percent of UAE's energy needs.

• Iran and Qatar are respectively holders of the world's second and third largest natural gas reserves --behind Russia.

• LNG production in Qatar is divided between two companies, Qatargas and Rasgas.
• State oil company Qatar Petroleum (QP) owns a majority stake in both.
• RasGas is 70 percent-owned by QP and 30 percent-owned by ExxonMobil.

What Did Qatar’s Neighbors Want (13 Point List)?

• Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions there.   
• Expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard from Qatar and cut off any joint military cooperation with Iran.   
• Only trade and commerce with Iran that complies with U.S. and international sanctions will be permitted.

• Sever all ties to “terrorist organizations,”  formally declare those entities as terrorist groups, specifically:
• the Muslim Brotherhood
• the Islamic State group
• Al-Qaida
• Lebanon’s Hezbollah

• Shut down Al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations.

• Shut down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including
• Arabi21
• Rassd
• Al Araby Al-Jadeed
• Middle East Eye

• Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence currently in Qatar and end any joint military cooperation with Turkey inside of Qatar.

• Stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organizations that have been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, the United States and other countries.

• Hand over “terrorist figures” and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their countries of origin.
• Freeze their assets and provide any desired information about their residency, movements and finances.

• End interference in sovereign countries’ internal affairs.   
• Stop granting citizenship to wanted nationals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.   
• Revoke Qatari citizenship for existing nationals where such citizenship violates those countries’ laws.

• Stop all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.   
• Hand over all files detailing Qatar’s prior contacts with and support for those opposition groups.

• Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent years.   
• The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.

• Align itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries:
• Militarily
• Politically
• Socially
• Economically, 
• As well as on economic matters>>in line with an agreement reached with Saudi Arabia in 2014.

• Agree to all the demands within 10 days of it being submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid.   
• The document doesn’t specify what the countries will do if Qatar refuses to comply.

• Consent to monthly audits for the first year after agreeing to the demands, then once per quarter during the second year.   
• For the following 10 years, Qatar would be monitored annually for compliance.

• On July Saudi Arabia and the UAE

***Qatar rejected a list of "non-negotiable" demands, saying it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law.***

Today In World News: July 21, 2017

Today In World News:

Courtesy of PressTV

• At least 3 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more injured amid mass protests over new Israeli security measures at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.  At least 140 Palestinians have been injured in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

• Under Trump, U.S. immigration agents are planning nationwide raids next week to arrest, among others, teenagers who entered the country without guardians and are suspected gang members.  Under Obama, minors could be targeted for deportation if they had been convicted of crimes, but were not arrested simply for suspected gang activity or membership.

• Russia's ambassador to Washington was overheard by U.S. spy agencies telling his bosses that he had discussed campaign-related matters, including issues important to Moscow, with Jeff Sessions during the 2016 presidential race.

• First daughter Ivanka Trump will make at least $1.5 million per year even as she serves in the White House.

• The Indian army shot and killed a man and wounded another while firing at a group of protesters in the Indian-administered Kashmir region. Police accused the group of throwing rocks at soldiers, but residents said the army was shooting indiscriminately and only a few rocks were hurled - and none hit soldiers.

• The special counsel investigating has asked White House officials to preserve any records of a meeting last year between the president's eldest son and a Russian lawyer.

• The United States is considering financial sanctions on Venezuela that would halt dollar payments for the country's oil.  Sanctions prohibiting any transaction in U.S. currency by Venezuela's state-run oil firm, PDVSA, are among the toughest of various oil-related measures under discussion at the White House.

• The spokesman for US President Donald Trump's legal team--Mark Corallo-- has resigned amid reports of a shake-up at the White House over the Russia investigation. 

• President Donald Trump picked Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci, a long-time supporter, to be his White House communications director.

• Mr Spicer, the former press secretary,  stepped down because he "vehemently" disagreed with the appointment of Mr Scaramucci--the new White House Communications Director, which he believed to be a "major mistake”.

• The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee said on Friday President Donald Trump's eldest son and his former campaign manager have agreed to negotiate whether to be interviewed by the panel in its Russia probe.

Today In World News: July 20, 2017

Today In World News:

Courtesy of The Intercept

• The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, was caught on tape on Wednesday urging four European leaders to help him undermine a provision of a European Union trade agreement that imposes an obligation on Israel to respect the rights of the millions of Palestinians  it rules in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

• Jeff Sessions and the US Justice Department revived a federal program that gives state and local law enforcement more power to seize property from people who haven’t been charged, let alone convicted, of a crime.

• Mueller is now looking at transactions involving Trump’s businesses and those of his associates.

• Jared Kushner's status as a top aide to President Donald Trump was used to lure Chinese investors to his family's New Jersey development, even after his family's company apologized for mentioning his name during a sales pitch in May.

• Troops in the West African nation of Cameroon have tortured prisoners at a remote military base that is also used by U.S. personnel and private contractors for drone surveillance and training missions.

• U.S. allies in eastern Europe and Ukraine are worried that Russia's military exercises in September could be a "Trojan horse" aimed at leaving behind military equipment brought into Belarus.

• Many Venezuelan streets were barricaded and deserted as millions joined the 24-hour shutdown, staying at home, closing businesses or manning roadblocks in a civil disobedience campaign against President Maduro in hopes will end nearly two decades of socialist rule.

• 6 teenagers from a Burundi robotics team have been reported missing after an international competition in Washington and two of them were seen entering Canada.

• Qatar's Ministry of Interior say experts now have evidence showing that the cyberattack on the country's official media originated from the United Arab Emirates.

• The Palestinian group Hamas has warned Israel against crossing a "red line" at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

What Is Net Neutrality? -- What You Should Know

Courtesy of Action Network

Net Neutrality--What You Need to Know:

• The House recently voted to repeal Obama-era rules to protect the open internet.

• Net Neutrality is the internet’s guiding principle: It preserves our right to communicate freely online.

• It means the internet enables and protects free speech.

• ISPs (Internet Service Provider) should provide us with open networks — and shouldn’t block or discriminate against any applications or content that ride over those networks.
• Ex: Phone companies shouldn’t decide who you call and what you say on that call --your ISP shouldn’t interfere with the content you view or post online.

• 3 rules for Net Neutrality:

• No Blocking-- A broadband provider cannot block >>
• Lawful content
• Applications
• Services or nonharmful devices.

• No Throttling ("slowing down”)-- The FCC stated that providers cannot single out Internet traffic based on >>
• Who sends it.
• Where it's going.
• What the content happens to be.
• Whether that content competes with the provider's business.

• No Paid Prioritization-- A broadband provider cannot accept fees for favored treatment.
• The rules prohibit Internet fast lanes.

Without Net Neutrality: 

• The internet becomes a closed-down network:
• Cable and phone companies call the shots and decide which websites, content or applications succeed.
• Companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon would be able to decide who is heard and who isn’t.
• They would be able to block websites or content they don’t agree with.
• They can also block applications that compete with their own offerings.

• Cable and phone companies could carve the internet into fast and slow lanes.

• An ISP could slow down its competitors’ content or block political opinions it disagreed with.

• ISPs could charge extra fees to the few content companies that could afford to pay for preferential treatment — relegating everyone else to a slower tier of service.

• It would destroy the open internet.

Why Is Title II So Important?

• Gives the FCC the authority it needs to ensure that companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon can’t block, throttle, or interfere with web traffic.   
• Title II preserves the internet’s level playing field >>
• This allows people to share and access information of their choosing.  
• This has created the historic era of online innovation and investment — and have withstood two court challenges from industry.

• Chairman Ajit Pai (former Verizon lawyer) wants to ditch Title II and return the FCC to a “light touch” Title I approach.   
• Translation: Pai wants to give control of the internet to the exact companies that violated Net Neutrality for years before the FCC adopted its current rules in 2015.

Who Is Attacking Net Neutrality?

• Big phone companies
• Verizon
• Nokia
• AT&T

• Cable companies
• Comcast
• Lobbyists
• National Cable & Telecommunications Association 
• American Cable Association

• Other companies include:
• Qualcomm
• Panasonic
• IBM
• Intel
• Ericsson
• Cisco

• These companies have spent $572 million over the past 9 years on influencing multiple government agencies, including the FCC to overturn Net Neutrality.
• Every comment sent to the FCC about the proposed elimination of net neutrality>>  those groups spent about $100 on their lobbying efforts.

Who Is Defending Our Net Neutrality:

• Google
• Facebook
• Netflix
• Twitter
• AirBnB
• Amazon
• Reddit
• OkCupid
• Mozilla
• Vimeo
• Etsy
• The ACLU

Violations of Net Neutrality:

• Comcast was secretly slowing uploads from peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) applications by using forged packets.
• Comcast didn't stop blocking these protocols like BitTorrent until the FCC ordered them to do so.

• AT&T was also caught limiting access to FaceTime.
• Only those users who paid for the new shared data plans could access the application.

• In 2004: The Madison River Communications company was fined $15,000 by the FCC for restricting their customer’s access to Vonage which was rivaling their own services.

Why Is Net Neutrality So Crucial For Our Communities?

• Without Net Neutrality, ISPs could block speech and prevent dissident voices from speaking freely online.

• The open internet allows people of color and other vulnerable communities to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. 

• Because of systemic racism, economic inequality and runaway media consolidation, and lack of diverse ownership--people of color own just a handful of broadcast stations >>
• Without Net Neutrality, people of color would lose a vital platform.

• Net Neutrality is crucial for:
• Small business owners
• Startups
• Entrepreneurs
• These are the people who rely on the open internet to launch their businesses, create markets, advertise their products and services, and reach customers.

Today In World News: July 19, 2017

Today In World News:

Courtesy of Reuters

• At least 20 civilians, including women and children from the same family, have been killed in a Saudi-led coalition air attack in southwest Yemen, according to the United Nations and witnesses. Those killed are believed to have been in their homes when the attack took place.

• President Trump warned special counsel Robert Mueller from investigating his family’s finances beyond the scope of the probe into ties between his administration and Russia in an interview with The New York Times.

• A new report showed 32 million Americans would lose health insurance if senators opt to repeal the law without a replacement.

• The Trump administration has decided to halt the CIA's covert programme to equip and train certain rebel groups fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, two US officials said, a move sought by Assad ally Russia.

• President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner and former campaign manager Paul Manafort have been asked to appear before U.S. Senate committees next week to answer questions about the campaign's alleged connections to Russia.

• U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not have appointed Jeff Sessions as attorney general if he had known Sessions would recuse himself from the Russia investigation.

• Paul Manafort owed 17 million dollars to pro-Russia interests before he became President Donald Trump’s campaign chairman last year.  According to the New York Times report, which cited financial records filed in Cyprus in 2016, Manafort — who kept bank accounts in the low tax jurisdiction.

• U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a previously undisclosed conversation during a dinner for G20 leaders at a summit earlier this month in Germany.

• UN demands access to report on Yemen's 'man-made catastrophe' after BBC journalists are blocked from traveling to Sanaa.

• Manas Kongpan, a Thai general, is among more than 60 people convicted in Bangkok of trafficking Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims, a minority fleeing Myanmar.

• Liberal activists are urging people to stay registered to vote after President Donald Trump’s new election integrity commission’s request for voter data spooked some Americans and caused them to cancel their registrations.