World News Roundup: Middle East peace plan by US; Iran suggests US talks

Trump envoys Kushner, Greenblatt in Middle East to seek support for peace plan

Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner is leading a U.S. delegation to the Middle East this week seeking support for a late June workshop aimed at helping the Palestinians, a White House official said on Tuesday. Kushner, Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, and Kushner aide Avi Berkowitz began their trip in Rabat and were to travel to Amman and Jerusalem, arriving in Israel on Thursday.

Global pact to fight workplace violence and harassment nears agreement

A global treaty aimed at protecting workers from violence and harassment is expected to be agreed next month, though some "tricky" issues remain, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Wednesday. The unresolved issues are focused on the extent to which employers should be held responsible for such behavior and on whether to include specific reference to protecting LGBTi people, ILO director-general Guy Ryder said.

Eyeing new independence vote, Scotland sets out referendum rules

Scotland's pro-independence government has set out new rules on referendums in the hope of holding another secession vote in the second half of 2020 if Britain's parliament gives the go-ahead. A bill presented to the devolved Scottish parliament on Wednesday aims to give clear ground rules that are legally watertight for any referendum vote.

Exclusive: Hong Kong judges see risks in proposed extradition changes

Some Hong Kong judges fear they are being put on a collision course with Beijing as the special administrative region's government pushes for sweeping legal changes that would for the first time allow fugitives captured in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China for trial. Three senior judges and 12 leading commercial and criminal lawyers say the changes, called the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance amendment bill, mark one of the starkest challenges to Hong Kong's legal system and are increasingly troubling its business, political and diplomatic communities.

Iranian naval mines likely used in UAE tankers attacks: Bolton

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday that attacks on oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates this month were the work of "naval mines almost certainly from Iran". Bolton also told reporters in Abu Dhabi that the United States is trying to be prudent in responding to the activities of Iran and its proxies in the region.

UK PM candidate Johnson to face court over Brexit claims

Boris Johnson, the favorite to replace Theresa May as British prime minister, must appear in court over allegations he lied about Brexit by stating Britain would be 350 million pounds a week better off outside the EU, a judge ruled on Wednesday. The figure, famously emblazoned on a campaign bus, was a central and controversial part of the Leave campaign's "take back control" message ahead of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Netanyahu hours away from deadline for forming coalition govt

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had until late Wednesday to form a new ruling coalition with a recalcitrant ally or face the possible end of a decade of combative leadership of Israel. As the hours ticked by, there was no sign of a breakthrough in talks with far-right former defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman. Parliament began a full-day debate on a motion to dissolve itself and call a new election if no deal is struck.

Italy 5-Star chief calls party confidence vote after EU election flop

The leader of Italy's 5-Star Movement, Luigi Di Maio, said on Wednesday he would seek a confidence vote from party supporters after a bruising defeat in European elections. The ballot will take place online on Thursday on a dedicated platform linked to the party, Di Maio -- who is deputy prime minister in a coalition government with the right-wing League -- said in a post on 5-Star's blog.

Iran's Rouhani suggests U.S. talks possible if sanctions lifted

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signaled on Wednesday that talks with the United States might be possible if Washington lifted sanctions, days after U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal with Tehran on its nuclear programme was conceivable. Washington withdrew last year from a 2015 international nuclear deal with Tehran, and is ratcheting up sanctions in efforts to shut down Iran's economy by ending its international sales of crude oil.

Exclusive: Islamic State suspects sent by U.S. from Syria to Iraq

U.S. forces have quietly sent at least 30 suspected foreign Islamic State fighters captured in Syria last year and in late 2017 to stand trial in Iraq, interviews with the men, Iraqi sources and court documents show. Three of the men have been convicted of IS membership and sentenced to death by Iraqi courts, while five have been given life sentences. Four of them told Reuters they were tortured in prison, a claim Reuters was unable to verify.