World News Briefs -- June 16, 2021 (Nght Edition)

 

Reuters: Far apart at first summit, Biden and Putin agree to steps on cybersecurity, arms control 

GENEVA (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday to begin cybersecurity and arms control talks at a summit that highlighted their discord on those issues, human rights and Ukraine. 

In their first meeting since he took office in January, Biden asked Putin how he would feel if a ransomware attack hit Russia's oil network, a pointed question making reference to the May shutdown of a pipeline that caused disruptions and panic-buying along the U.S. East Coast. 

While Biden stressed that he did not make threats during the three-hour meeting, he said he outlined U.S. interests, including cybersecurity, and made clear to Putin that the United States would respond if Russia infringed on those concerns.  

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MIDDLE EAST 

Israeli military launches airstrikes in Gaza in response to incendiary balloons launched from the coastal enclave. 

Israeli air strikes target Gaza, Palestinians respond with fire-carrying balloons as unrest continues. 

Iran ultraconservative headed for presidency as poll rivals pull out. 

Iran’s presidential race narrows as two candidates drop out on campaign’s last day. 

Lebanon’s crisis threatens one of its few unifiers, the army. 

Lebanon too broke to pay soldiers enough, army warns ahead of donor meet. 

'Child killers' are led to a public square, forced to lie on rugs and shot dead by an executioner with an AK-47 in front of grinning Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen. 

40 years after Israeli strike, Iraq looks to build nuclear reactors. 

Erdogan says Turkey can work with France on Syria, Libya. 

ASIA 

China says fuel rods damaged but no radioactive leak at Taishan nuclear power plant

China set to launch first crew to new space station. 

Myanmar village of Kin Ma burns down after clashes. 

Kim Jong Un is thought to have lost around 40 pounds as new photo shows him looking noticeably slimmer while warning North Korea faces 'tense' food shortages. 

Kim Jong Un addresses North Korea's food crisis at Workers' Party meeting. 

Many killed in monsoon flash floods, landslides in Bhutan, Nepal

Indian Defence Minister: Beijing-led talks on South China Sea should not undermine others' interests. 

Coronavirus digest: Taj Mahal reopens as India cases slow

AFRICA 

Africa's Covid patients 'dying from lack of oxygen'. 

Dozens of rebels killed in DR Congo clashes, says monitor

 Ivory Coast awaits return of ex-president Gbagbo 10 years after arrest. 

Ethiopia's Oromia region is volatile ahead of elections. 

Frontier closures hit Togo's economy hard. 

U.S. blacklists Namibian former ministers over corruption allegations

South Africa marks anniversary of Soweto student protests. 

EUROPE 

Biden, Putin hail positive talks, but U.S. warns on cyber warfare. 

EU agrees fresh Belarus sanctions over Ryanair diversion. 

EU and US team up to face China and Russia

COVID: Moscow orders mandatory vaccinations for many workers. 

France to drop mandatory mask-wearing outdoors Thursday, curfew on Sunday. 

Ukraine police seize cash, cars, computers in raids on hackers that targeted U.S.

Germany, Poland mark 30 years of Good Neighbourship treaty. 

AMERICAS 

US death toll from Covid-19 tops 600,000 as states lift some health restrictions. 

REVEALED: Biden's 'middle-class death tax' that means widows' families could get far less of their estate - and could break his promise not to hike rates for Americans making less than $400K a year. 

US House to vote Wednesday on making Juneteenth a federal holiday. 

Millions fear eviction as US housing crisis worsens. 

Peru leftist Castillo claims victory in presidential election as Fujimori cries fraud

Brazil hikes interest rate, eyeing inflation

El Salvador stresses to IMF that both Bitcoin, dollars accepted. 

 Nicaraguan banker arrested in widening crackdown. 

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR 

Nigeria's Boko Haram confirms chief's death, urges loyalty. 

Risk of Al-Qaeda revival rising as US, NATO troops withdraw from Afghanistan: UN report

 Jihadists free 10 hostages in Nigeria: sources. 

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS 

Stocks down, yields up as Fed discusses dialing back support. 

Federal Reserve officials say they might need to raise interest rates sooner than expected to keep inflation from spiraling out of control as economy grows at lightning speed. 

Fed sees earlier time frame for rate hikes with inflation up

US Federal Reserve warns US economy path depends on virus. 

Microsoft shareholder seeks report on Gates, sexual harassment

'Third largest diamond' ever seen found in Botswana mine.

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