International

Russia says spy poisoning ‘grotesque provocation’ by UK, US

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The head of Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence agency said Wednesday the poisoning of a Russian former double agent in Britain was a “grotesque provocation” by the British and US security services. “Even when it comes to the grotesque provocation with the Skripals that was crudely concocted by the British and American security services, a number of European countries are in no rush to unquestioningly follow London and Washington but prefer […]

Kremlin demands apology from British PM over spy row ‘idiocy’

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The Kremlin has demanded an apology from British Prime Minister Theresa May and her government which implicated President Vladimir Putin in the nerve agent attack on a former double agent, saying this “idiocy has gone too far” “Their theory will not be confirmed in any case because it is not possible to confirm it,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on a visit to Ankara Tuesday evening. “And the British foreign minister who […]

Skills shortage hampers Portugal’s economic recovery

  by Daniel Silva  Agence France-Presse LISBON, Portugal (AFP) — When French technology consultancy Altran needed to hire staff for a new center in Porto, it held a recruitment fair on board a boat docked in the northern Portuguese city’s colorful riverside area. Dozens of recent graduates mingled with Altran staff as they enjoyed sweeping views of Porto’s iconic double-deck metal arch bridge. At the end of the day Altran managed to fill just over 20 […]

Teachers return to streets to protest US school funding

  by Nova Safo Agence France Presse CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — A teachers’ protest entered its second day in the US state of Oklahoma on Tuesday as lawmakers faced a spreading schoolhouse revolt against a decade of deep cuts to public education. The teachers’ union organizing the demonstration estimated at least 20,000 people rallied outside the capitol building in Oklahoma City and filled every floor of the rotunda inside — chanting “We’re not leaving” […]

Female suspect dead, several hurt in YouTube shooting

  by Josh Edelson Agence France Presse SAN BRUNO, United States (AFP) — Gunfire erupted at YouTube’s offices in California Tuesday, leaving at least three people injured and sparking a panicked escape before the suspected shooter — a woman — apparently committed suicide. Amid a chaotic scene in the city of San Bruno, a woman believed to be the shooter was found dead at the scene of the Google-owned video sharing service. “We have one […]

Tensions run high ahead of Brazil court’s ruling on Lula prison

by Damian Wroclavsky with Sebastian Smith in Rio de Janeiro © Agence France-Presse BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Tensions ran high Tuesday in Brazil ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on whether former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva should start a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, potentially upending this year’s presidential election. The court showdown scheduled for Wednesday has become a focal point for Brazil’s deeply divided electorate ahead of the October polls, in which Lula […]

Venezuela’s opposition urges Paris not to recognize May polls

  PARIS, France (AFP) — Leading opponents of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday called on France and other EU nations not to recognise elections set for May, saying the vote was simply a sham aimed at consolidating his grip on power. The country has been gripped by a political and economic crisis for months as Madura has overhauled institutions while sidelining the main opposition coalition, which has been barred from fielding candidates. “We’ve come to […]

New standards for journalists to fight fake news

PARIS, France (AFP) — Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and leading broadcasters launched a drive against fake news Tuesday with a new set of trust and transparency standards for journalists. The Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), which hopes to be able to certify outlets and news sources with high standards of ethical norms and independence, is being backed by Agence-France Presse, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Global Editors Network. RSF head Christophe Deloire said the […]

Powerful 6.8 quake strikes Bolivia: USGS

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A strong but deep earthquake measuring 6.8 struck in Bolivia on Monday but there were no reports of damage or injuries, the US Geological Survey said. The quake struck in the southeast of the country at a depth of 562 kilometers (348 miles), about 200 kilometers from Tarija, and near the border with Paraguay, the USGS said. Bolivia’s private San Calixto Observatory gave the quake’s strength at 6.6 magnitudes and […]

Corruption verdict on S. Korea’s Park to be televised live

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The corruption verdict and sentencing of South Korea’s former president Park Geun-Hye will be televised live, Yonhap said Tuesday, in a case that could see her jailed for 30 years. The 66-year-old Park, daughter of a former dictator, was ousted from power in March 2017 following months of street protests. She has been in police custody for almost a year over a wide-ranging corruption scandal, which exposed shady links between […]

Zimbabwe leader to meet Xi in first China state visit

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa was due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday as he seeks economic support from a major partner that previously backed his ousted predecessor Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa, who received military training in China when he was a young liberation fighter decades ago, will be greeted by Xi at the colossal Great Hall of the People for his first state visit to Beijing since taking power. Mnangagwa […]

Despite Trump vow, quick US pullout from Syria unlikely

by Thomas WATKINS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — When President Donald Trump vowed US forces would shortly quit Syria, observers were left wondering if he was signaling an epic policy shift — or whether it was more a case of wishful thinking. Trump, who campaigned on a pledge of “America First,” is said to be frustrated by the open-ended US commitment in Syria, where special operations forces are training and advising Kurdish […]