World News Roundup: U.N. reaffirms refugees' right to seek asylum in U.S.; Trump-Putin meet at G20; Brexit deal

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Exclusive: China envoy warns of dire consequences if U.S. hardliners hold sway

China is going to this week's G-20 summit hoping for a deal to ease a damaging trade war with the United States, Beijing's ambassador to Washington said on Tuesday, while warning of dire consequences if U.S. hardliners try to separate the world's two largest economies. Speaking to Reuters before heading to join Chinese President Xi Jinping's delegation at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires, Cui Tiankai said China and the United States had a shared responsibility to cooperate in the interests of the global economy.

U.S. could unveil peace plan at start of 2019: Israel's U.N. envoy

The United States has spoken with Israel about possibly presenting a long-awaited Middle East peace plan at the start of next year, which could avoid interfering with the country's election, Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has been preparing a plan for peace between the Palestinians and Israel. But the Palestinians are skeptical and have accused the Trump administration of siding with Israel on the core issues relating to the decades-old conflict, burying all chances for peace.

Massive effort needed to deal with migration: incoming Mexico official

Mexico's incoming foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Tuesday that to contain migration pressure in Central America and southern Mexico, an effort on the scale of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt war-ravaged Europe would be needed to develop the region. Mexico is battling to curb the flow of migrants from Central America fleeing violence and poverty, and tensions have risen on the U.S.-Mexico border since the arrival in the last few weeks of a caravan of mostly Hondurans seeking U.S. asylum.

Pentagon tells Russia not to tamper with alleged Aleppo attack site

The Pentagon cautioned Russia on Tuesday not to tamper with the site of an alleged gas attack in Syria's Aleppo and allow investigators to inspect the site. The global chemical weapons agency, know as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), has said it will investigate the alleged gas attack in Aleppo on Saturday that reportedly sickened up to 100 people. The Syrian government and its ally, Russia, blamed the attack on insurgents.

U.N. reaffirms refugees' right to seek asylum in U.S.

Asylum seekers at the Mexican border fleeing violence or persecution are entitled to lodge claims in the United States to obtain sanctuary there, U.N. agencies said in a fresh attempt to shield migrants from tough U.S. immigration policies. United Nations officials have repeatedly urged Washington to ensure asylum seekers are protected, but U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday Mexico should send migrants seeking asylum in the United States back to their home countries.

Merkel ally says Europe may need to step up sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

Europe may need to impose tougher sanctions against Moscow following Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian navy vessels and their crews at the weekend, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday. Norbert Roettgen, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, made the statement as Russia's rouble recovered some of its losses from the previous day.

Trump says may cancel Putin meeting at G20 over Ukraine conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he may cancel his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Argentina because of Russia's maritime clash with Ukraine. In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump said he was awaiting a "full report" from his national security team Tuesday evening about Russia’s capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews on Sunday.

UK PM May pitches Brexit deal to Scotland ahead of crucial vote

British Prime Minister Theresa May will take her Brexit sales pitch to Scotland on Wednesday, where she will likely face an uphill struggle to convince skeptical voters of the benefits of her deal for businesses and the fishing industry. May is trying to drum up backing for the exit deal she has negotiated with Brussels in the hope of triggering a groundswell of support from businesses and citizens that will push lawmakers from across the political spectrum to drop their opposition.

Ties with West in focus in Georgian presidential run-off

Ex-Soviet Georgia votes in a presidential election runoff on Wednesday that pits a candidate backed by the ruling party who favors a policy balancing ties with Moscow and the West against a rival who advocates a stronger pro-Western line. If the opposition challenger Grigol Vashadze wins, he is likely to use the presidency's limited powers to push a vocal message of integration with the U.S.-led NATO alliance and the European Union -- sensitive issues in a country that fought a war in 2008 with its neighbor Russia.

North Korea's Kim open to nuclear site inspection report

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is willing to allow inspectors into the reclusive country's main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a senior diplomatic source. "I understand that Chairman Kim told (South Korean) President Moon (Jae-in) during their summit in September that if the U.S. took corresponding steps he would not only be willing to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facilities but also allow verification," Yonhap quoted the source as saying.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)