F001China's Claim to Most of South China Sea Has No Legal Basis, Court SaysAn international tribunal ruled that China's claim to historic rights in most of the South China Sea has no legal basis, dealing a severe setback to Beijing that the US fears could intensify Chinese efforts to establish its control by force. The tribunal in The Hague declared that a "nine-dash" line used by Beijing to delineate its claims contravenes a United Nations convention on maritime law. It also decided that China isn't entitled to an exclusive economic zone surrounding one island in the Spratlys archipelago that is claimed by China and controlled by Taiwan. (Click here)
Europe approves new trans-Atlantic data transfer deal
European officials approved a new agreement on Tuesday that will allow some of the world’s largest companies, including Google and General Electric, to move digital information freely between the European Union and the United States. The pact, known as the E.U.-US Privacy Shield, comes after months of political wrangling. It is aimed at allowing online data — from social media posts and search queries to information about workers’ pensions and payroll — to be transferred across the Atlantic. The agreement also provides extra privacy protections for European citizens when their information is moved to the United States. The pact bolsters privacy guarantees for anyone living in Europe — but not for people in the United States — when their data is shifted across the Atlantic. Many Europeans fear that their information might be used inappropriately by the United States government, including its intelligence agencies, and by companies. The new safeguards include a greater say for Europeans on how their information is used, the right to go to American courts when people think companies or the United States government may have misused their data, and written guarantees from American officials that government agencies will not indiscriminately collect and monitor Europeans’ data without cause.
Israel passes law targeting human rights groups
Israel’s parliament has passed a controversial law that increases the regulation of many Israeli human rights organizations. The law approved by a vote of 57 to 48 on Monday targets groups that receive more than half their funding from foreign governments or political organizations. In practice, the law will affect liberal groups almost exclusively because hawkish groups in Israel largely rely on donations from wealthy individuals, which are exempt. The law requires organizations to state that they rely on foreign funding in all communication with public officials and on television, newspapers, billboards and online. Representatives of these groups must also declare they depend on foreign contributions to the heads of parliamentary committees when participating in meetings. Failure to comply will result in fines.
Obama urges US to 'reject despair'
Obama has urged the US to "reject despair" as he paid tribute to five police officers killed during a deadly sniper attack in Dallas. He told a memorial service in the city the US must "try to find some meaning amidst our sorrow" and could unite, reflecting on role as 'consoler-in-chief' during Dallas speech. His trip came amid mounting racial tensions across the country.
Hundreds forcibly disappeared in Egypt crackdown, says Amnesty
Egypt's security services have forcibly made hundreds of people disappear and tortured them in the past year to try to tackle dissent, a rights group says. Students, political activists and protesters - some as young as 14 - have vanished without a trace, according to a new report by Amnesty International. Many are alleged to have been held for months and often kept blindfolded and handcuffed for the entire period. Egypt's government has denied it uses enforced disappearances and torture.
Spain and Portugal face first EU fines over deficit levels
Portugal and Spain face becoming the first EU countries to be fined for running an excessive budget deficit, after a vote in the European Council. The council found that both countries had failed to reduce their deficits to below 3% of GDP and had not tried hard enough to do so. However, Portugal's prime minister said imposing fines would be "counterproductive" for the eurozone. Both nations have 10 days to submit new deficit reduction plans.
Kimberly-Clark: Venezuela seizes and re-opens US-owned factory
The government of Venezuela has said it has seized a factory owned by the US firm Kimberly-Clark. The firm had said it was halting operations in Venezuela as it was unable to obtain raw materials. But the labor minister said on Monday that the factory closure was illegal and it had re-opened "in the hands of the workers". Kimberly-Clark, which makes hygiene products including tissues and nappies, said it had acted appropriately. Over the weekend it became the latest multinational to close or scale back operations in the country, citing strict currency controls, a lack of raw materials and soaring inflation.
HRW: Turkey preventing independent investigation into mass abuses against civilians
The Turkish government is blocking access for independent investigations, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released Monday. HRW claims that the Turkish government is abusing civilians on a massive scale and attempting to cover it up. These alleged abuses include "unlawful killings of civilians, mass forced civilian displacement, and widespread unlawful destruction of property." HRW reviewed lists of the dead compiled in numerous attacks which show as many as 66 residents, including 11 children, killed by gunfire or mortal explosions during Turkish government security operations.
Lawsuit filed against Facebook for facilitating terrorist attacks
A group of Israeli and American citizens filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday seeking $1 billion in damages from Facebook for allegedly facilitating in Palestinian military attacks. The plaintiffs are relatives of victims who died in attack in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the West Bank between 2014 and 2016. They are accusing Facebook of assisting in the Hamas militants' operations. The complaint contends that Facebook "knowingly provided material support and resources to Hamas ... facilitating this terrorist group's ability to communicate, recruit members, plan and carry out attacks, and strike fear in its enemies." This lawsuit follows comments made by Israel's security minister discussing Facebook's reluctance to help track potential Palestinian militants.
IMF says Italy has 'two lost decades' of growth
Italy's economy will not return to the levels seen before the 2008 financial crisis until the mid-2020s, the IMF has said, implying "two lost decades". By the mid-2020s, it says the economies of other eurozone members will be 20-25% larger than levels seen in 2008. The Fund's comments came as it cut its growth forecasts for the eurozone's third largest economy. Italy has an unemployment rate of 11% and a banking sector in crisis, with government debt second only to that of Greece. Italian banks are weighed down by massive bad debts, and may need a significant injection of funds.
Brazil beefs up security ahead of Olympic Games in Rio
The federal government in Brazil says it is releasing additional $24m funding to help them meet security needs ahead of next month's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The military would begin patrolling sports venues from 24 July, he added. More than 80,000 police and soldiers will patrol the streets of Rio for the duration of the games.
Ireland, Home to US ‘inversions,’ sees huge growth in G.D.P.
The country, which attracts companies with a low corporate tax rate, saw its economy expand 26.3 percent last year, according to new figures.
Clinton, State Department seek to block deposition in email-server lawsuit
Attorneys for Hillary Clinton and the State Department moved on Tuesday to quash a conservative group’s request to interview the former secretary of state under oath about her use of a private email server while in government.
SEC investigating Tesla for possible securities-law breach
The SEC is investigating whether Tesla Motors breached securities laws by failing to disclose a fatal crash in May involving an electric car that was driving itself.
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