Russian Pres Putin meets Pompeo as US seeks ‘a way forward’ in ties

SOCHI (Russia), May 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the highest-level talks between the rival powers in nearly a year as they see if they can make headway on a raft of disagreements from Venezuela to Iran to arms…

UN experts urge ‘financial isolation’ of Myanmar military

GENEVA, May 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Myanmar’s military commanders should be financially “isolated” and brought to trial to face charges of war crimes and genocide against the Rohingya minority, UN investigators said. The United Nations fact-finding mission on the situation in Myanmar called on the international community to cut off all…

Opposition leader Guaido blasts Venezuela government after security forces block congress

CARACAS, May 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Opposition leader Juan Guaido accused the Venezuelan government of trying to “gag” congress after security forces prevented opposition lawmakers from entering the National Assembly on Tuesday. From early Tuesday, the security services cordoned off the building housing the National Assembly. Bullet-proof vehicles and a tow…

British govt to put forward Brexit bill in June

LONDON, May 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government will publish draft legislation in the first week of June that would allow Brexit to proceed if approved by parliament, a Downing Street spokesman announced. The statement came after talks between May and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on…

Saudi ship, blocked from loading arms cargo in France, arrives at Spanish port

SANTANDER (Spain), May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Saudi ship, prevented by rights groups from loading an arms cargo at the French port of Le Havre on Friday, arrived at the Spanish port of Santander early on Monday. It was not clear what the Saudi ship was doing in Santander or…

US man faces up to 140 years in prison for threatening to kill Trump, others

CONNECTICUT (US), May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man has been indicted in the US after prosecutors say he threatened to kill President Donald Trump and sent others bomb threats and mail containing suspicious white powder, according to court documents. Gary Gravelle, 51, was indicted on 16 counts, including that he threatened…

Egypt condemns man to death for Cairo church attack

CAIRO, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Egyptian man was sentenced to death by hanging for a deadly attack on a Cairo church in 2017 claimed by the Daesh militant group, a judicial source said. Ten people including a police officer were killed as the assailant targeted the Saint Mina Coptic…

Retired Lebanese soldiers picket central bank over cuts

BEIRUT, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Retired soldiers in Lebanon, concerned about any pension or benefit cuts as the government debates a draft budget, started picketing the Central Bank building late on Sunday, saying they aimed to stop workers from entering on Monday morning. As about 100 protesters gathered outside the…

Vietnam seizes half tonne of ketamine in crackdown on synthetic drugs

HANOI, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Vietnamese police have seized half a tonne of ketamine worth US$21 million in Ho Chi Minh City, a key transit hub that has seen record busts of synthetic drugs in recent weeks as narcotics gangs use its ports and air links to shuttle drugs across…

Argentine lawmaker dies of wounds suffered in brazen shooting

BUENOS AIRES, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Argentine lawmaker died on Sunday of gunshot wounds he suffered last week in a daylight attack outside the Congress building in Buenos Aires. The death of Hector Olivares, 61, was announced by his ruling party coalition, called Cambiemos.Advertisement Six people have been detained,…