North America

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 21 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed a landmark international agreement banning violence and harassment in the workplace which was adopted on Friday at the International Labour Organization’s Centenary Conference in Geneva.

In his speech to delegates in the Swiss city, Guterres congratulated member states for “building upon a legacy of achievement, guided by that age-old vision of social justice through social dialogue and international cooperation”.

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday spoke over phone with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Iran.

The two leaders discussed issues related to Iran and Saudi Arabia's role in ensuring stability in the Middle East and the global oil market, the White House said in a statement.

The ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran further intensified after the downing of a U.S. military drone by Iran on Wednesday.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Mayors of sanctuary cities in San Francisco Bay Area Friday denounced the federal government's planned deportation operations targeting undocumented immigrants, which could begin on Sunday.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed slammed the potential raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, ordered by President Donald Trump, on up to 2,000 migrant families.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — So many gray whales are dying off the U.S. West Coast that scientists and volunteers dealing with the putrid carcasses have an urgent request for coastal residents: Lend us your private beaches so these ocean giants can rot in peace.

NEW YORK (AP) — All 18 of the nation’s largest and most complex banks are strong enough to withstand a severe economic downturn and would be able to stay in business without collapsing, the Federal Reserve said Friday.

The results are from the first round of the central bank’s annual stress tests, which showed the 18 big banks have benefited from an improving economy and have balance sheets strong enough to withstand a deep global downturn and the U.S. unemployment rate rising to double digits.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Explosions and a blaze at the largest oil refinery on the East Coast sent a fireball into the sky and shook homes before dawn Friday, though authorities reported only a few minor injuries and said the air was safe to breathe.

The fire at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex was deemed contained and controlled but continued to burn late Friday afternoon, said Craig Murphy, deputy fire commissioner.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Nearly 400 claims have been filed against New Mexico’s largest and oldest Roman Catholic diocese as part of a pending bankruptcy case that stems from the clergy sex abuse scandal, church officials announced Friday.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe reported that 395 people filed claims against the church as of the June 17 deadline. That included 374 claims involving allegations of sex abuse. The remaining 21 were related to other grievances.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The leader of House Democrats’ political arm wants to build on 2018 midterm gains by turning out more voters who are young and diverse.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Cheri Bustos said Friday that the organization is honing in on 70-plus districts held by Republicans or newly-minted Democrats.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Two Navy SEALs testified Friday that their platoon chief gunned down a young girl and an old man in Iraq in 2017 from his sniper’s perch, though neither witnessed him pulling the trigger.

The SEALs said shots came from the tower where Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher was posted and they watched through their scopes as the civilians fell to the ground.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Capitol will be closed Saturday due to a “possible militia threat” from right-wing protesters as a walkout by Republican lawmakers over landmark climate change legislation drags on.

Republican state senators fled the Legislature — and some, the state — earlier this week to deny the majority Democrats enough votes to take up the climate bill, which would dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions by 2050. It would be the second program of its kind in the nation after California if passed.