The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday that she had a “reasonable basis to believe” that American soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan, including torture. The international prosecutor has been considering whether to begin a full-fledged investigation into potential war crimes in Afghanistan for years. In Monday’s announcement, the prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, signaled that a full investigation was likely. Still, the prosecutor did not announce a final decision on an investigation, which would have to be approved by judges, and it is unlikely that the United States will cooperate. (NYT http://nyti.ms/2g9beDL)
Bolton or Giuliani for Secretary of State? Aides to President-elect Donald Trump are focusing on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton as the leading candidates to be the next secretary of state, two people familiar with the process said. The choice between the two would force Mr. Trump to choose between Mr. Giuliani, a longtime friend and ally in New York, and Mr. Bolton, a hawkish conservative diplomat who called last year for the U.S. to bomb Iran. A final decision could be several weeks away, these people said.” (WSJ http://on.wsj.com/2g9a5fl)
From COP 22 in Marrakech…China and other countries will stay committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change, irrespective of what the next U.S. administration decides to do, the outgoing U.S. climate envoy said Monday. Jonathan Pershing told reporters at U.N. climate talks in Morocco he doesn’t know what President-elect Donald Trump’s “outlook” on climate policy will be. But Pershing said his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, told him that China intends to move ahead regardless. “Of course they are going to move forward,” he said. “I’m hearing the same from the Europeans. I’m hearing the same from the Brazilians. I’m hearing the same from Mexico, and from Canada, and from smaller nations like Costa Rica and from Colombia.” (ABC http://abcn.ws/2g98DK5)
Smoggy shutdown...Iran shut schools and apologized to tourists Monday as its cities were hit by choking levels of air pollution. (AFP https://yhoo.it/2fS7jcX)
Fact of the day: The U.N. weather agency says 2016 is set to break the record for the hottest year since measurements began in the 19th century. (AP https://yhoo.it/2f9VCLc)
Top Stories
Air strikes hit two hospitals in rebel-held territory west of the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, and a number of patients and medics were wounded, a monitor and doctor said. (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2fSTSrs)
Myanmar’s military has killed about 30 members of what it has described as a Rohingya Muslim militant group, state media said on Monday, marking the largest escalation of the conflict since fighting erupted in the northwest a month ago. (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2fS2noG)
Gambia has notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, which will take effect on Nov. 10, 2017, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said on Monday, making it the third country to quit The Hague-based tribunal. (Reuters http://bit.ly/2fzuzcV)
President-elect Donald Trump is seeking quick ways to withdraw the United States from a global accord to combat climate change, a source on his transition team said, defying broad global backing for the plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. (Reuters http://bit.ly/2fSPjxc)
Kenya will not meet its deadline to close a sprawling Somali refugee camp by the end of November because Somalia could not yet guarantee basic social services for returning refugees, an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Monday. (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2fRUcIU)
After years of living in legal limbo, nearly 3,000 stateless people in the southern Philippines have been granted nationality by Manila and Jakarta this year, U.N. officials said on Monday. (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2frHgsH)
Most complaints of child sexual abuse in Malaysia do not lead to successful prosecutions, largely due to weaknesses in the nation’s criminal justice system, police, lawmakers and child welfare groups say. (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2fzD6N4)
In the face of strong opposition to migrant quotas, the European Union signaled Monday that it might not take action against countries refusing to share refugees from Greece and Italy as long as enough people find new homes. (AP https://yhoo.it/2fzy2bs)
People displaced by war across the world are at heightened risk of human trafficking due to gaps in the United Nations’ response, campaigners said on Monday, calling for the creation of a new U.N. office to fight modern slavery. (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2fRZy76)
Opinion/Blogs
The battle to stop Trump hijacking the climate agenda (IRIN http://bit.ly/2fRKGFH)
Donald Trump and the UN: Will He Get Along With Secretary General Antonio Guterres? (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2g98Dts)
Adaptation Funding a Must for Africa (IPS http://bit.ly/2frq7iy)
Who’s afraid of Mr Trump? (IRIN http://bit.ly/2g8ehvX)
So What’s the Big Fuss About No-Till Agriculture? (allAfrica http://bit.ly/2fzhH6L)
Analysts Recommend African Marshall Plan (Deutsche Welle http://bit.ly/2fRGIgi)
More Global Warming, More Action to Cope? (TRF http://bit.ly/2fRIIFq)
U.S. and Cuba: Frozen thaw? (BBC http://bbc.in/2fzka0F)
The battle to stop Trump hijacking the climate agenda (IRIN http://bit.ly/2fRKGFH)
Poor Women’s Voices Still Missing From UN Climate Talks (TRF http://bit.ly/2fzCyqd)
