Trump Issues More Sweeping Executive Orders

Donald Trump was reportedly readying two new executive orders that could have profound global ramifications. The first, as reported by the New York Times, sets its sights on funding of the UN and other international organizations. The second would would impose sweeping restrictions on refugee resettlement, immigration and the issuance of visas from several Muslim-majority countries.

On the UN: (NYT http://nyti.ms/2kulMP6)  On the Muslim Ban: (Reuters http://reut.rs/2kuneAT)

Gag rule? We don’t need no stinkin’ gag rule funds…Up to 20 countries have indicated support for the Netherlands’ plan to set up an international safe abortion fund to plug a $600m funding gap caused by Donald Trump’s reinstatement of the “global gag rule”, the Dutch international development minister, Lilianne Ploumen, said on Wednesday. (Guardian http://bit.ly/2jSFjFC)

Final three…The World Health Organization on Wednesday picked three finalists for the role of its next director-general, a high-stakes choice for the powerful agency described as facing an “existential crisis”. After a day of interviews, WHO’s executive board chose UN veteran David Nabarro of Britain, ex-Pakistani health minister Sania Nishtar and senior Ethiopian politician Tedros Adhanom. France’s former foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and Italy’s Flavia Bustreo, a current WHO deputy chief, were eliminated. (AFP https://yhoo.it/2jyt2Fo)