Security Council votes for stricter sanctions against North Korea, special counsel Mueller seeks documents from White House on former national security adviser, US intelligence officials as wary as ever of Russia
Developments in Washington, D. C., in recent days include the U. N. Security Council voting for stricter sanctions against North Korea, special counsel Robert Mueller looks at whether former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was paid by Turkey, top U. S. intelligence officials are as wary of Russia as ever, and President Donald Trump begins a 17-day stay at his golf retreat in New Jersey.
VOA Explains:
Former National Security Officials: Leak of Trump Transcripts Could Cause Lasting Damage — Former senior members of the White House National Security Council say they are shocked at what they call the rare leak of full transcripts of phone calls between Trump and the leaders of Australia and Mexico, and are worried about the lasting effects it could have on American diplomacy. The transcripts, published by The Washington Post, revealed that Trump engaged in candid, disjointed and often contentious discussions with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during the early days of his administration.
UN Security Council Approves New North Korea Sanctions — The U. N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to pass a resolution being pushed by the United States that will deprive North Korea of $1 billion a year in revenue that helps fuel its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile program. The move for additional sanctions came in response to Pyongyang’s intercontinental ballistic missile launches July 3 and 28, which showed that the rogue nation might now have the capacity to bring the U. S. mainland and much of Europe into its cross hairs.
Report: Mueller Looks at Whether Flynn Was Secretly Paid by Turkey — Special counsel Robert Mueller is questioning witnesses about whether former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn was secretly paid by the Turkish government during the final months of the 2016 presidential campaign, according to The New York Times .
Top US Intelligence Officials Wary as Ever of Russia — Top U. S. intelligence officials are refusing to back down over concerns about Russia, even as Trump and Russian officials lament what they describe as deteriorating relations between the two countries.
New Staff Discipline Is Giving Trump Time to Make Decisions, Observers Say — Trump’s choice of a general as chief of staff has quickly brought more order to the White House and is giving the president more time to ponder decisions as he tries to bounce back from a rocky six months with no major legislative achievements.
