Monday, 31 July 2017

Monday Morning Briefing

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A participant reacts in front of a mock-up tank on fire as university students and relatives of victims march to commemorate the killing of students during a protest in 1975 by Salvadoran military forces, in San Salvador, El Salvador.


 U.S.

 

Republicans urged President Donald Trump's new chief of staff John Kelly to rein in the chaos within the White House but said the retired Marine Corps general will be challenged to assert control. Trump announced Kelly would replace his embattled chief of staff Reince Priebus at the end of a particularly chaotic week that saw his first legislative effort - healthcare reform - fail in Congress. 

 

Trump tells Republicans to get back on healthcare bill 

 

Exclusive: Majority of Americans want Congress to move on from healthcare reform - Reuters/Ipsos poll

 

Trump bump - Court fights draw big money into attorney general races

 

Two inmates still at large after Alabama mass jailbreak 

 

Nine hurt as vehicle plows into Los Angeles crowd in what police describe as accident

 


 North Korea

 

Trump and Japan's Abe talk about 'grave and growing' North Korea threat

 

China hits back at Trump criticism over North Korea

 

 


Russia

 

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that prohibits technology that provides access to websites banned in Russia, the government's website showed on Sunday. The law, already approved by the Duma, the lower house of parliament, will ban the use of virtual private networks and other technologies, known as anonymizers, that allow people to surf the web anonymously. 

 

Putin says U.S. must cut 755 diplomatic staff, more measures possible

 

Kremlin says up to Washington to decide which embassy staff to cut 

 

  


Donated flash drives are shown with images of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Human Rights Foundation's "Flash Drives for Freedom" wall during the Def Con hacker convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.


Middle East

 

Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on the Iraqi embassy in Kabul that began with a suicide bomber blowing himself up at the main gate, allowing gunmen to enter the building and battle security forces. The assault comes a week after 35 people were killed in a Taliban attack on government workers in the Afghan capital and underlines the country's precarious security as the United States weighs an overhaul of its policy in the region.

 

Saudi Arabia says that calls for internationalization of holy sites 'a declaration of war'

 

Stranded Yemenis, thousands of others stand to lose 'golden ticket' to U.S.

 

Commentary: The person - and the policy - that could ease Syria’s suffering

 

Militants poised to leave Lebanon-Syria border zone under truce

 

Four Arab countries say they are ready for Qatar dialogue with conditions

 


Business

 

Discovery Communications is acquiring Scripps Networks Interactive for $14.6 billion in a deal that is expected to boost the combined company's negotiating leverage with pay TV operators at a time when more people watch video online.

 

Charter Communications says 'no interest' in buying Sprint

 

How China’s biggest bank became ensnared in a sprawling money laundering probe

 

Buyback and profit rise show progress as HSBC looks east 

 

Breakingviews: HSBC’s new chairman inherits a bank on the up

 

Reuters TV: A flood of new stock could sign Snap shares

 

India's Snapdeal ends talks for sale to Flipkart 

 


 Venezuela

 

Venezuela's ruling Socialist Party has vowed that a newly elected legislative super-body will begin passing laws quickly after a vote that was boycotted by the opposition and slammed by foreign governments as an affront to democracy. At least 10 people were killed in protests on Sunday by opponents of unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro, who insists the new "constituent assembly" will bring peace after four months of protests that have killed more than 120 people.

 

Graphic: Dark days in Venezuela