Venezuela’s opposition-run congress names PDVSA, Citgo boards
Venezuela’s opposition-run congress named new transitional boards of directors to state oil company PDVSA and its U.S. subsidiaries including refiner Citgo Petroleum Corp on Wednesday.
U.S. military intervention in Venezuela ‘not an option’: lawmaker
Congress will not support U.S. military intervention in Venezuela despite hints by President Donald Trump that such action had not been ruled out, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said on Wednesday.
Canada legislators ponder hearings into government’s ethics woes
The Canadian parliament’s justice committee will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to debate whether to probe allegations of political interference that are becoming a big problem for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
U.S. negotiators to meet Taliban delegation in Islamabad on Feb. 18: Taliban spokesman
Taliban negotiators will meet their U.S. counterparts on Feb. 18 in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad as part of accelerating diplomacy to end more than 17 years of war in Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Wednesday.
Three Americans among five killed in Kenya plane crash: source
A light plane crashed in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley region on Wednesday, killing five people including three Americans, a police source said.
Pope discusses ethics of artificial intelligence with Microsoft chief
Microsoft President Brad Smith met Pope Francis on Wednesday to discuss the ethical use of artificial intelligence and ways to bridge the digital divide between rich and poor nations, the Vatican said.
Saudi Arabia ‘to lift’ Lebanon travel warning, marking warmer ties
Saudi Arabia is lifting its longstanding warning against citizens traveling to Lebanon, its ambassador to Beirut said on Wednesday, marking a new warmth in a once-close relationship that has cooled in recent years.
France, Iran close to restoring ambassadors: foreign minister
France and Iran are close to exchanging ambassadors after Paris suspended nominating an envoy to Tehran last year over claims Iranian intelligence officials had planned an attack on an opposition group in Paris, France’s foreign minister said.
Estonia drops anti-money laundering legislation before election
Estonia’s parliament has dropped a proposed law that would have toughen rules on money-laundering, a parliamentary spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
Portugal tackles labor trafficking on farms but resources scarce
Portugal is cracking down on labor trafficking, carrying out thousands of raids on farms suspected of trapping poor migrants in unpaid work, with the known number of victims almost doubling in less than a decade.
