UN Secretary-General Warns of Imminent Financial Collapse
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned member states this week that the UN faces a "very real prospect of the financial collapse" of the world body, according to a letter reviewed by Al Jazeera on Friday. The warning comes amid unpaid annual dues and other financial issues plaguing the organization.
Meanwhile, in other international news, Islamic State in the Sahel claimed responsibility for an attack at the international airport and adjacent air force base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity and communications worldwide. The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Thursday, reportedly involved motorcycle-riding militants using heavy weaponry and drones. Planes belonging to an Ivorian carrier and Togolese airline were damaged in the assault, The Guardian reported.
Adding to global economic concerns, Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday laying the groundwork to potentially impose tariffs on goods from countries that provide oil to Cuba, the White House said. The order declares a national emergency and establishes a process for the US secretaries of state and commerce to assess tariffs against countries that sell oil to Cuba, according to The Guardian. The White House cited Cuba's ties to hostile powers as the reason for the order, which aims to increase pressure on the country's government.
In Venezuela, acting President Nicolas Maduro signed into law a bill making significant changes to the country's oil sector after pressure from the US to open it up to foreign private investment, The Guardian reported. The law will give private companies more control over the oil sector.
Amid these developments, confusion continues to grow over the state of US-Iran negotiations, Al Jazeera reported. While both the US and Iran have stated their desire for a diplomatic solution to their standoff, a growing military buildup and conflicting accounts about the state of negotiations are casting doubt on the possibility.
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