Russia’s Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy new missiles against Western capitals if Washington sends missiles to Europe, as he delivered a state of the nation address Wednesday aimed at boosting falling approval ratings, The announcement comes after the US said it would withdraw from a key Cold War-era arms treaty over what it said were Russian violations, prompting a mirror move from Moscow. “Russia does not intend to be the first to deploy such missiles in Europe,” […]
Tag: politics
May hails Brexit talks ‘progress’ but no breakthrough
by Dave Clark and Damon Wake Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prime Minister Theresa May said she had made “progress” in talks with the EU on Wednesday as she sought to extract concessions on the terms of Britain’s divorce, but as expected there was no major breakthrough. With less than six weeks until Brexit day, May met European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker hoping for movement on the “Irish backstop” issue — after […]
Venezuela aid standoff hardens between Guaido, Maduro
by Roland LLOYD PARRY Agence France Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido forged ahead Wednesday with plans to bring US medical and food aid into the country in defiance of the military-backed government, raising fears of possible weekend confrontations. In the latest maneuver of his standoff with socialist President Nicolas Maduro, self-declared interim leader Guaido rallied bus drivers who he said will head to the borders to collect aid for Venezuelans […]
Venezuela ‘on alert,’ closes Curacao border ahead of aid shipment
by Roland Lloyd Parry and Maria Isabel Sanchez Agence France Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s military said Tuesday it was on “alert” at its frontiers following threats by US President Donald Trump and ordered its border with Curacao closed ahead of a planned aid shipment. Opposition leader and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido vowed to bring aid in from various points Saturday “one way or another” despite military efforts to block it. But commanders […]
Bernie Sanders launches second run for US president
by W.G. Dunlop Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Senator Bernie Sanders launched a second bid for the White House on Tuesday, taking direct aim at Donald Trump in an announcement that called the incumbent a “racist” and a “pathological liar.” Sanders, 77, joins an already crowded field of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to run against Trump in 2020. A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders made an unsuccessful run for the presidency […]
Venezuela military backs Maduro, on ‘alert’ for border violations
by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ Agence France Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s military reaffirmed its support for embattled President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday and said they were on “alert” for border violations following threats by US President Donald Trump who urged them to back opposition leader Juan Guaido. “The armed forces will remain deployed and on alert along the borders … to avoid any violations of territorial integrity,” said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, reading out […]
Jewish graves vandalized as France rallies against anti-Semitism
PARIS, France (AFP) — Nearly 100 graves were daubed with swastikas at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France, authorities said Tuesday, with President Emmanuel Macron vowing to crack down on hate crimes as the country grapples with a surge in anti-Semitic acts. Macron went immediately to the cemetery in Quatzenheim in the Alsace region near Germany, a few hours ahead of nationwide rallies to denounce a surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes. “We shall act, […]
Russia’s RT fumes after Facebook blocks ‘popular’ page “In The Now”
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Facebook has blocked a popular page run by Russian state TV channel RT, the channel’s editor said Monday, criticizing the move as an attack on media rights. “We had a subsidiary project in English, In the Now. The project was wildly popular — 2.5 billion views and four million subscribers on Facebook alone!” RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said on her Telegram social network account. She said a report aired by […]
Top advisor to Canada PM Trudeau resigns amid controversy
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s top advisor quit on Monday amid allegations of political interference in the criminal prosecution of engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. One of the key architects of Trudeau’s 2015 electoral win and his longtime friend, Gerry Butts said he resigned as the prime minister’s principle secretary to avoid distractions for the government facing another tough ballot fight in eight months. In a statement, Butts “categorically” denied accusations that […]
Venezuela’s Guaido calls for ‘million volunteers’ in aid standoff
by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ Agence France Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido set a goal Sunday of enlisting a million volunteers within a week to confront a government blockade that has kept tons of humanitarian aid, most of it from the United States, from flowing into the country. Guaido has given February 23 — one month to the day after he proclaimed himself acting president — as the date for a […]
Japan to recognize indigenous Ainu people for first time
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) – Japan’s government introduced a bill Friday to recognize the country’s ethnic Ainu minority as an “indigenous” people for the first time, after decades of discrimination against the group. The Ainu people — many of whom live in northern Hokkaido — have long suffered the effects of a policy of forced assimilation, and while discrimination has receded gradually, income and education gaps with the rest of Japan persist. “It is important to […]
Venezuela’s Guaido announces new board for US-based oil subsidiary
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido on Wednesday announced that the National Assembly legislature is appointing a new board of directors for Citgo, the US-based subsidiary of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA. “The new board of directors will be made up of qualified Venezuelans, who are free of corruption and without any partisan affiliation,” the opposition leader, who has been recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, said on […]





