Venezuela’s socialist president Nicolas Maduro accused the right-wing governments of Chile, Colombia and Mexico on Monday of helping “terrorists” who tried to kill him during a drone attack in early August. The three countries refuted Venezuela’s accusations that they were linked to the attack, which used drones carrying explosives during ... Read More »
Russia sends angry message at Israel by offering Syrians upgraded anti-aircraft weaponry
Russia blames Israel for the downing of a military aircraft last week Moscow has announced it will supply advanced S-300 surface-to-air and jamming systems to Syria within the next two weeks. Speaking on Monday, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed the move would “cool hotheads” in the region. But he also ... Read More »
U.S. approves $330 million military sale to Taiwan
The U.S. State Department has approved the sale to Taiwan of spare parts for F-16 fighter planes and other military aircraft worth up to $330 million, the Pentagon said on Monday. U.S. military sales to self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, is an irritant in the relations between ... Read More »
Hong Kong bans pro-independence party for ‘security reasons’ in unprecedented blow to protest rights
Perception of growing influence from China has stoked tensions in recent years Hong Kong has taken the unprecedented step of banning a pro-independence party, invoking a colonial-era “national security” law for the first time since Britain handed over control of the territory to China in 1997. The Hong Kong National ... Read More »
Thousands mourn victims of Iran military parade attack
Thousands of people packed the streets of the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz on Monday to mourn the victims of an attack on a military parade that killed 25 people, including 12 members of the elite Revolutionary Guards. Saturday’s assault, one of the worst against the most powerful military force ... Read More »
Asian shares wobble on fear of long U.S.-China trade war; oil rallies
Asian shares stumbled in holiday-thinned trading on Monday as China’s decision to cancel talks with the United States reinforced fears of a protracted trade war with neither side willing to back down. Oil prices jumped after top producers ruled out boosting crude output. U.S. stock futures were a touch weaker ... Read More »
Canada accuses Myanmar of genocide against Rohingya
Lower house of parliament endorses UN findings of crimes against humanity by military and calls for prosecution Canadian lawmakers have unanimously voted to declare Myanmar’s military actions against the Rohingya people a genocide. The House of Commons endorsed the findings of a UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar that found “crimes ... Read More »
Trump will slap 10% tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods — and they will go to 25% at year-end
President Donald Trump will impose 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, and those duties will rise to 25 percent at the end of the year. The action, announced by the Trump administration Monday, escalates a trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies. China has already ... Read More »
Nikki Haley accuses Russia of ‘cheating’ and helping North Korea avoid UN sanctions
The US ambassador to the UN says Russia can no longer be trusted Nikki Haley has accused Russia of “cheating” and helping North Korea skirt strict United Nations placed on them for their nuclear development activities. The US ambassador to the UN was speaking at a Security Council meeting when ... Read More »
Russia and Turkey agree to create buffer zone in Syria’s Idlib
Russian and Turkish troops are to enforce a new demilitarized zone in Syria’s Idlib region from which “radical” rebels will be required to withdraw by the middle of next month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart. Russia, the biggest outside backer of ... Read More »