Section: Latin America
South China Sea: Duterte orders Philippines military to occupy islands
Hong Kong (CNN) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he has ordered military personnel to occupy all Philippines-claimed islands in the disputed South China Sea. “We tried to be friends with everybody but we have to maintain our jurisdiction now, at least the areas under our control. And I have ordered the armed forces to occupy...
IOC strips three medal-winners from Beijing and London over doping violations
Artur Taymazov, an Olympic wrestling champion from the 2008 Games in Beijing, has been stripped of his title by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after being found guilty of doping violations. The Uzbekistani won gold in the 96-120 kilogram freestyle category, but that result has now been removed from the record. “Re-analysis of...
Russia Hopes Tillerson’s Visit Will Lead to Improved Ties
MOSCOW — Russia voiced hope Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s planned visit next week will help improve relations between the former Cold War foes. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tillerson’s talks next Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will focus on the fight against terrorism, various...
3 Tiger Cubs Destined for Zoo in Syria Rescued in Lebanon
BEIRUT – Three Siberian tiger cubs destined for a zoo in war-torn Syria were rescued by a Lebanese animal rights group after being trapped in an unmarked, maggot-infested crate in Beirut’s airport for almost a week. The tigers, which were being transported from Ukraine, arrived at the Beirut airport on March 7, inside a ventilated...
US Ambassador Says ‘No Love’ in Dealings with Russia
WASHINGTON — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says there’s no question Russia was involved in the U.S. presidential election and insists President Donald Trump would fully support strong action against the Kremlin once investigations are complete. Speaking in television interviews broadcast Sunday, Nikki Haley contended there is no...
US ambassador says ‘no love’ in dealings with Russia
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says there’s no question Russia was involved in the U.S. presidential election and insists President Donald Trump would fully support strong action against the Kremlin once investigations are complete. Speaking in television interviews broadcast Sunday, Nikki Haley contended there is no...
Russian Prosecutors Move to Block Online Calls for Protests
MOSCOW — Russian prosecutors moved Friday to block calls on social networks for more street protests in Moscow and other Russian cities following a wave of rallies that have cast a new challenge to the Kremlin. Tens of thousands demonstrators turned out in Moscow and other cities on Sunday to rally against official corruption in the largest...
As War in Afghanistan Drags on, Russia Resurrects Interest
WASHINGTON – As the United States’ effort to end 16 years of war in Afghanistan yields little progress, Russia is resurrecting its own interest in the “graveyard of empires.” The jockeying includes engaging the Taliban and leading a new diplomatic effort to tackle Afghanistan’s future, with or without U.S. support....
Putin on US Election Hack Charge: ‘Read My Lips: No’
MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin on Thursday emphatically denied allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election and said Moscow would maintain hopes of improving relations while waiting for political infighting in Washington to stop. Putin also said he is ready to meet with President Donald Trump in Finland if that country...
Russian Manafort Client: Willing to Speak to Congress
WASHINGTON – A Russian billionaire close to President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he is willing to take part in U.S. congressional hearings to discuss his past business relationship with President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. Last week, it was reported that Manafort had written aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska in...
