U.N. increases sanctions on North Korea
Newyork—theu.n. Securitycouncil Voted Fridayto Sharpen Sanctions Againstnorth Korea After A Seriesof Missile Launches In Recentweeks.
The15-member Council Votedon A Resolution To Imposetravel Bans And Asset Freezeson A New List Of 14 Northkorean Officials. Fourentities Including The Nationalkoryo Bank Are Alsosubject To A Global Asset Freezeunder The Resolution.
Southkorea’s U.n. Ambassadorcho Tae Yul Supportedthe “resolute Response”of The Security Councilon Friday.
Therehave Been Missile Launches, Directed By Pyongyang,on Almost A Weeklybasis Since The Inaugurationof The New South Korean government In Seoulon May 10, He Added.
Putin on Syria attack
ST.PETERSBURG, Russia— Russian President VladimirPutin insisted Fridaythat the Syrian leader didn’tuse chemical weaponsagainst his people, sayingthe recent attack that killedscores of civilians was a“provocation” against PresidentBashar Assad.
Speakingat an economic forumin St. Petersburg, Mr. Putin made one of his strongest reject ions of blaming Mr.Assad’s forces for the chemicalattack in April. Theattack in northern Syriakilled at least 90, includingmany children.
“Weare absolutely convincedthat it was a provocation. Ass ad didn’t usethe weapons,” Mr. Putinsaid. “It was done by peoplewho wanted to blamehim for that.” He said Russian intelligence had information that a“similar scenario” was to be implemented elsewhere in Syria, includingnear Damascus.
Manchester concert
“OneLove Manchester,” featuring major international acts including Aria na Grande,Justin Bieber and Usher,was announced after asuicide bombing at a concertby Ms. Grande in Manchesterlast month left 22people dead. Proceeds fromthe concert will go to a funddesigned to help those affectedby the attack.
Thousandsof tickets for theconcert went on sale Thursday,but organizers had also set as idea substantial amount of free tickets forthose who had been at theconcert where the attackoccurred. Later that day,Ticket master announcedthat more than 25,000people had applied for thosetickets, when only around14,000 people are thoughtto have been at Ms. Grande’sconcert May 22.
“Sadly, over 10,000 unscrupulous applications havebeen made,” Ticketmastersaid in a statement.
Inaddition to the 14,200 placesset aside for attendeesof the original concert, around35,000 additional ticketshad been available for sale through the Ticketmaster. These tickets are have sold out in just20 minutes. The BBC reportsthat some tickets have appearedfor sale on eBay, listedat inflated prices.
BotheBay and Ticketmasterare working to block anyreselling of the tickets, butthat has slowed the processof getting tickets to genuineattendees of the first concertand has led to some frustrationamong fans.
Also in the world ...
Thenumber of babies bornin Japan fell below 1 millionin 2016 for the first timesince records began in the19th century, underscoringthe demographic challengesfacing the nation withan aging and declining population. ... Pakalitha Mosisili and Thomas Thabane will resume their long-running battle to lead Lesotho when the southern African mountain kingdom holds its third election in five years on Saturday.