Section: Loop News Jamaica (Jamaica)
Sweden institutes military draft over concerns about Russia
Sweden’s left-leaning government instituted a military draft for both men and women Thursday because of what its defense minister called a deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden. Sweden abolished compulsory military service for men in 2010 because there were enough volunteers to meet its military needs. It has never...
Kremlin: Sessions uproar an impediment to fixing relations
A senior lawmaker called it “hysteria.” The Foreign Ministry said it was “media vandalism.” The Kremlin lamented the “emotional atmosphere” currently in Washington about Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ meetings with a Russian diplomat, saying it could thwart efforts to mend relations. The uproar is widely...
Trump’s new national security adviser a soldier-scholar
President Donald Trump has chosen as his national security adviser a soldier-scholar who fought in both Iraq wars and wrote an influential book that called out the U.S. government for “lies” that led to the Vietnam War. Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster would remain on active military duty while leading the National Security Council, White...
Russia’s ambassador to United Nations dies in NYC at 64
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, a veteran diplomat known as a potent and personable voice for his country’s interests as he sparred with his Western counterparts, died suddenly after falling ill Monday in his office at the mission. Vitaly Churkin, 64, was taken to a hospital in New York, where he died, Russia’s deputy...
Germany: No plans to add US to group solving Ukraine crisis
Germany’s foreign minister says there are no plans to add the U.S. to the group of countries that have been meeting in efforts to help reduce tensions in eastern Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel met his French, Russian and Ukrainian counterparts on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. Gabriel said all sides will use their...
In Europe, Pence says US will hold Russia accountable
Vice President Mike Pence vowed Saturday that the United States will “hold Russia accountable” even as President Donald Trump searches for new common ground with Moscow at the start of his presidency. Pence, in an address to the Munich Security Conference, also offered assurances to European allies that the U.S. “strongly...
500 US troops arrive in Romania to bolster defense
Five hundred U.S. troops are arriving at a Romanian Black Sea port with tanks and hardware to bolster defense in the East European NATO nation. The U.S. embassy said the “Fighting Eagles,” 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, will be stationed in the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in eastern Romania on a rotating basis. U.S. Ambassador...
Democrats demand independent Russia probe after Flynn quits
Democrats demanded a special investigation Tuesday into possible links between President Donald Trump’s administration and Russia. This includes when Trump learned that his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had discussed U.S. sanctions with a Russian diplomat. “The American people deserve to know the full extent of...
Germany to elect new president; Steinmeier the favourite
A German parliamentary assembly will elect the country’s new president on Sunday, with a respected former foreign minister who last year called Donald Trump one of the world’s “hate preachers” the overwhelming favourite to win. The German president has little executive power, but is considered an important moral authority....
Top US commander says more troops needed in Afghanistan
A few thousand more troops are needed to help end the stalemate in Afghanistan, according to a senior U.S. military commander who also told lawmakers Thursday that Russian meddling is complicating the counterterrorism fight. Army Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, didn’t provide the Senate Armed Services Committee...
