Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, June 17

Christian Lindmeier, the spokesperson of the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed Tuesday that sustained human-to-human transmission and community transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in South Korea had not yet been observed.

"The virus has not yet behaved any differently to what has been observed in the Middle East, it is still only spreading in hospital settings and has not fulfilled the conditions of community transmission," he told a press conference at the United Nations office here. (WHO-MERS)

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WASHINGTON -- The United States is working to ensure that Iran sanctions be snapped back into place if the Iranians violate any nuclear agreement, Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (UN) said Tuesday.

Speaking at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Power did not specify the so-called snap-back mechanism at UN, but warned that UN sanctions could be reapplied to Iran if it substantially breaches terms of a deal. (U.S.-Iran)

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BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday she was counting on a meeting of euro area finance ministers on Thursday to resolve the standoff over Greece's debt issue.

She made the remarks at a press conference after meeting with visiting Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel here. (Germany-Greece)

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RAMALLAH -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Tuesday that the unity government, which was formed in June last year, is to resign within the coming 24 hours, well-informed source said.

Abbas told a meeting of his Fatah Party's Revolutionary Council held in Ramallah that he will designate Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to form a new government, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Palestine-Government) Endite