Section: National Newswatch (Canada)
Pompeo rejects Congress’ subpoenas for IG, Biden probe info
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday rejected congressional subpoenas issued for him and for the State Department to provide information and testimony to lawmakers about two politically charged developments. The refusals set the stage for an escalation in the confrontation between the State Department and the...
US intel: Russia acting against Biden; China opposes Trump
WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence officials believe that Russia is using a variety of measures to denigrate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ahead of the November election and that individuals linked to the Kremlin are boosting President Donald Trump’s reelection bid, the country’s counterintelligence chief said Friday in the...
Leaders of Russia and Belarus discuss arrested contractors
MOSCOW — The leaders of Russia and Belarus moved Friday to mend a rift caused by Belarusian authorities’ arrest of 33 Russian security contractors on charges of planning to foment unrest ahead of the country’s presidential election. Belarusian authorities accused the Russian contractors of planning to instigate mass riots as...
President’s virus swagger fuels anger ahead of Belarus vote
MINSK, Belarus — As Kseniya Milya’s grandfather lay dying of COVID-19 at a hospital in Belarus’ capital of Minsk, the country’s authoritarian leader was blithely dismissing the pandemic as “psychosis,” and recommending an unusual remedy: Have a regular shot of vodka and work hard in the fields. Like many other Belarusians angry...
Encouraging crop exports during first half of 2020, FCC says
Outlook for the rest of the year is promising despite disruptions. Ottawa—Exports of grains, oilseeds and pulses were 8.1 per cent higher in the first six months of 2020 than during the same period last year, says Farm Credit Canada. It was a notable performance considering “the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a global recession, highlighted by...
Russia warns Belarus will pay price for contractors’ arrests
MOSCOW — Russia’s security chief described the arrest of 33 Russian private military contractors in Belarus as a presidential campaign stunt and warned Wednesday that it would have grave consequences for ties between the two neighbours and allies. Authorities arrested the Russian contractors outside the capital of Minsk last week on charges...
Canada part of interim mechanism to keep WTO dispute arbitration alive
Canadian Valerie Hughes will be among the arbitrators. Ottawa—Canada and 22 other countries have agreed to an interim mechanism to keep the World Trade Organization functioning as a global trade referee during the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Valerie Hughes, an Ottawa lawyer and trade expert, was named one of the arbitrators on...
EU, in first-ever cyber sanctions, hits Russian intelligence
BRUSSELS — The European Union on Thursday slapped sanctions on six people and three organizations, including Russia’s military intelligence agency, accusing them of responsibility for several cyber-attacks that threatened EU interests. EU headquarters said in a statement that those targeted include people considered to be involved in the...
Pompeo says threats to US in Afghanistan raised with Russia
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that he and his team have warned Russian officials about all threats that Russia poses to Americans and U.S. interests in various parts of the world. Pompeo also defended the Trump administration’s tough line on China, saying the communist nation represents a potent threat to the...
Biden’s notes: ‘Do not hold grudges’ against Kamala Harris
WILMINGTON, Del. — Joe Biden was uncharacteristically tight-lipped on Tuesday about the final stretch of his search for a vice-president. But the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee seemed prepared to talk about at least one leading contender: California Sen. Kamala Harris. As he took questions from reporters on Tuesday, Biden held notes...
