Venezuela’s U.S. defense attache breaks with Maduro
Venezuela’s defense attache to the United States broke with the government of President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, saying free and fair elections were needed after an opposition leader proclaimed himself interim president this week.
French ‘yellow vests’ defy Macron again in tense protests
Thousands of “yellow vest” demonstrators marched in Paris and other French cities on Saturday in protests that brought sporadic clashes with police and suggested that President Emmanuel Macron has yet to defuse public discontent.
Hezbollah could ‘for years’ enter Israel via tunnels, group’s leader says
Iran-backed Hezbollah has “for years” been able to enter Israel, the Lebanese group’s leader said on Saturday, responding for the first time to Israel’s discovery of tunnels dug into Israeli territory from Lebanon.
Israel strikes in Syria could prompt strike on Tel Aviv: Hezbollah leader
The “axis of resistance” of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah could respond to Israeli strikes on Iran and Hezbollah in Syria with their own attack on Tel Aviv, Hezbollah’s leader said on Saturday.
European parliament scolds Nicaragua over ‘democratic crisis’
A European Parliament delegation on Saturday urged Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to release political prisoners, permit the return of banned human rights groups and to restart dialogue with the opposition to end a months-long political crisis.
Egypt opens new international airport in Giza for trial flights
Egypt opened a new international airport on the outskirts of the capital on Saturday for an initial trial period, in a bid to ease pressure from Cairo’s main airport and help boost tourism.
Foreign troops to quit Afghanistan in 18 months under draft deal: Taliban sources
Taliban officials said U.S. negotiators on Saturday agreed on a draft peace pact setting out the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan within 18 months, potentially ending the United States’ longest war.
Canada PM fires ambassador to China after remarks on Huawei
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday said he had fired his ambassador to China, who prompted a political furor with comments about a high-profile extradition case.
Lawyer Mulook returns to Pakistan in blasphemy case: Dutch lawmaker
Pakistani lawyer Saiful Mulook, who fled to the Netherlands after receiving death threats for defending a Christian woman on blasphemy charges, is returning home, a Dutch politician said on Saturday.
Canada PM fires ambassador to China after remarks on extradition
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday said he had fired his ambassador to China, who prompted a political furor with comments about a high-profile extradition case.
