Yemen’s warring
parties trade blame for breaching port ceasefire
Reuters, Aden
Yemen’s warring parties have traded accusations of breaching a ceasefire in Hodeidah that was mediated by the United Nations to avert a full-scale assault on a port city vital for food and aid supplies, and pave the way for peace negotiations.
Residents reported shelling late on Tuesday, the first day of the truce, for nearly one hour on the eastern and southern outskirts of the Houthi-held Red Sea city, a lifeline for millions. It was calm early on Wednesday.
Trump to shut down his embattled charity
AFP, New York
President Donald Trump has agreed to shut down his personal charity, the Trump Foundation, the New York attorney general said Tuesday, accusing it of engaging in a “shocking pattern of illegality” to advance his political and business interests.
State Attorney General Barbara Underwood said the family foundation would be dissolved and its remaining assets distributed to other charities under her supervision.
Third Canadian detained in China
AFP, Beijing
A third Canadian citizen has been detained in China, a Canadian newspaper reported Wednesday, amid a diplomatic spat between Beijing and Ottawa over the arrest of a Chinese telecom executive.
Canada’s foreign ministry said it was “aware of a Canadian citizen” having been detained, according to the National Post, which cited a ministry spokesperson.
The spokesperson did not provide further details and did not suggest that the detention was linked to the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, the report said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing that she had “not heard” about the reported detention.
Pakistan takes steps to avoid terror finance blacklist
AP, Islamabad
Pakistani officials say the government has approved fresh measures to avoid being blacklisted by an international group that monitors money laundering and terror financing.
Three officials say the measures adopted Tuesday would prevent suspected militants from operating bank accounts and illegally transferring money by air, land and sea. They spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the decision with reporters.
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force placed Pakistan on a “grey list” earlier this year but gave it time to take action before a further downgrade. Pakistan fears the listing could deter foreign investors and hinder its access to international markets as it grapples with a fiscal crisis.
Migration row forces Belgian PM’s resignation
AFP, Brussels
Nationalist anger over migration brought down the Belgian government on Tuesday, forcing Prime Minister Charles Michel to offer the king his resignation. With only five months to go until planned legislative elections in May, in was not immediately clear whether King Philippe would accept Michel’s sudden departure. The palace said a decision is pending but a senior source told AFP the “most likely” outcome would be the crown asking Michel’s government to handle the day-to-day business of government until the scheduled vote.
EU agrees to ban most single-use plastics
AFP, Brussels
EU countries and the European Parliament on Wednesday agreed details of a ban on single-use plastics, including plates, cutlery and drinking straws, in a bid to cut marine pollution. The new rules, which still need final approval before becoming law, target the top 10 items most frequently found littering European beaches. Plastic cotton bud sticks and expanded polystyrene food containers are also barred, as the EU tries to cut back on products that account for huge quantities of waste in the world’s oceans.
