Section: Time (USA)
Pope Francis Wishes Christmas Peace to Those Scarred by War and Terrorism
(VATICAN CITY) — Pope Francis on Sunday wished Christmas peace for people scarred by wars and for those who have lost loved ones to terrorism that he said is sowing “fear and death into the hearts of so many countries and cities.” An estimated 40,000 tourists and Romans calmly endured long lines for security checks to enter St. Peter’s...
Vladimir Putin Says Russia’s Military Is Stronger Than Anyone’s
(MOSCOW) — Russia’s military is now stronger than any potential foe, President Vladimir Putin told an annual end-of-year meeting with the defense ministry on Thursday. “We can say with certainty: we are stronger now than any potential aggressor,” he told the meeting. “Anyone!” His comments come at the end of a year when tensions between...
Why the Assassination of a Russian Ambassador in Turkey Won’t Start a New War
When an assassin in a suit and tie shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey in an Ankara art gallery on Monday, many were quick to predict the killing would launch a crisis between the longtime rivals. The two countries back opposing sides in a proxy war in Syria, a point of friction that triggered a crisis in November 2015 when the Turkish...
The Era of American Global Leadership Is Over. Here’s What Comes Next
As in the past, the day will be cold. Melania will hold the Bible. The kids will stand by proudly. The new President will recite his lines carefully, smile broadly and change history. And American international leadership, a constant since 1945, will end with the presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump on Jan. 20, 2017. That’s not...
Japan and Russia Are Looking to Make an Economic Pact After Stalemating on Territory
TOKYO (AP) — Russia and Japan aren’t likely to resolve a long-running territorial dispute, but they hope to announce an economic cooperation agreement after their leaders finish talks in Tokyo on Friday. The two countries have been negotiating the agreement since Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed it as part of a “comprehensive...
The White House Suggests That Vladimir Putin Authorized Cyber Attacks on the Democratic Party
(WASHINGTON) — The Obama administration suggested Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorized the hacking of Democratic officials’ email accounts in the run-up to the presidential election and said it was “fact” that such actions helped Donald Trump’s campaign. The White House also assailed Trump himself,...
Vladimir Putin and Shinzo Abe Hold Talks on Japan-Russia Territorial Dispute
The leaders of Russia and Japan held talks at a hot springs resort in western Japan on Thursday on a territorial dispute that has divided their countries for 70 years. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the summit meeting in Nagato city marks his first official visit to a G-7 country since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Japanese Prime Minister...
Why Donald Trump Really Shouldn’t Play Games with China Over Taiwan
East Asian geopolitics is a tapestry of fictions. Beijing insists Taiwan is part of China, despite the island of 23 million being self-governing for over half-a-century. The constitution of Taiwan — officially called the Republic of China, a legacy of the routed Nationalists (KMT) flight across the Strait in 1949 following China’s civil war...
Donald Trump Gets the First Test of His Stance Toward Russia With Aleppo’s Fall
(WASHINGTON) — Aleppo’s fall to Syrian government forces is shaping up as the first major test of President-elect Donald Trump’s desire to cooperate with Russia, whose military support has proven pivotal in Syria’s civil war. The death and destruction in the city is only renewing Democratic and Republican concern with...
Why Russia Is Excited About Donald Trump’s Pick for Secretary of State
Although Vladimir Putin has no shortage of energy executives on his payroll, the Russian President likes to negotiate oil and gas deals personally. He seems to get a kick out of it. He has been known to discuss the minutiae of drilling rigs and pipeline routes with foreign delegates until their eyes glaze over. Call it a hobby, or an obsession....
