(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, on Sunday said Pope Francis and the Vatican have "tried very hard" to find a solution to the crisis in Venezuela, which he said must be "peaceful and democratic".Cardinal Parolin told the ANSA news agency that Vatican efforts sought "to help all without distinction" and were meant "to recall each person to their own responsibilities"."The criteria for any solution must be only the good of the people," he said.At least thirteen people were killed in Venezuela on Sunday, during which voters cast their ballots for a Constituent Assembly proposed by President Nicolás Maduro.Listen to James Blears' report: A 39-year old lawyer and candidate for the Constituent Assembly was shot to death at his home in the South Eastern town of Cuidad Bolivia. To the West in Talchira State, a thirteen-year old and a seventeen-year old, as well as a soldier, were sh...
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, on Sunday said Pope Francis and the Vatican have "tried very hard" to find a solution to the crisis in Venezuela, which he said must be "peaceful and democratic".
Cardinal Parolin told the ANSA news agency that Vatican efforts sought "to help all without distinction" and were meant "to recall each person to their own responsibilities".
"The criteria for any solution must be only the good of the people," he said.
At least thirteen people were killed in Venezuela on Sunday, during which voters cast their ballots for a Constituent Assembly proposed by President Nicolás Maduro.
Listen to James Blears' report:
A 39-year old lawyer and candidate for the Constituent Assembly was shot to death at his home in the South Eastern town of Cuidad Bolivia.
To the West in Talchira State, a thirteen-year old and a seventeen-year old, as well as a soldier, were shot dead in separate incidents.
Seven police officers were injured and their motorcycles scorched when a homemade bomb exploded in an eastern district of the capital, Caracas.
According to polling specialists at Datanalisis, more than seventy percent of Venezuelans oppose the Constituent Assembly.
International condemnation of the vote has come from the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.
Unabashed, President Nicolás Maduro is determined to consolidate and tighten the government's grip on power by holding this vote, which appears to be dividing rather than ruling.
Yet its powers to rewrite the Venezuelan Constitution and dissolve the opposition dominated National Assembly appear absolute.
(Vatican Radio) The U.S. State Department has condemned Moscow's decision to expel 755 American diplomats from Russia in retaliation for new sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the move Sunday, while U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Estonia as part of a tour to reassure Eastern European allies who are concerned about Russian military activities.Listen to Stefan Bos' report: The U.S. State Department called Russia's decision "a regrettable and uncalled for act." Putin told Russian television that the U.S. would have to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by some 60 percent by September 1.He made clear that the measure was in response to new sanctions approved by the U.S. Congress and sent to U.S. President Donald Trump to be signed into law. "More than a thousand people both diplomatic and technical staff are currently working in Russia," he said, adding that "755 of them will have to stop their activit...
(Vatican Radio) The U.S. State Department has condemned Moscow's decision to expel 755 American diplomats from Russia in retaliation for new sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the move Sunday, while U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Estonia as part of a tour to reassure Eastern European allies who are concerned about Russian military activities.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report:
The U.S. State Department called Russia's decision "a regrettable and uncalled for act." Putin told Russian television that the U.S. would have to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by some 60 percent by September 1.
He made clear that the measure was in response to new sanctions approved by the U.S. Congress and sent to U.S. President Donald Trump to be signed into law. "More than a thousand people both diplomatic and technical staff are currently working in Russia," he said, adding that "755 of them will have to stop their activities and that is painful."
It is thought to be the largest expulsion of diplomats from any country in modern history.
Putin said the retaliation is necessary because of the sanctions. "America has taken a step to jeopardize U.S.-Russia relations. And the important thing is that step wasn't triggered by anything. This is a move is to impose illegal restrictions to attempt to influence other countries including U.S. allies which are interested in developing ties with Russia," he said.
WAITING LONG TIME
"We have been waiting for quite a long time so that maybe something would change for the better. We had hope that the situation would change. But it looks like, even if it does change then it won't be in the near future. I decided that it is time for us to show that we will not leave anything unanswered," Putin explained.
The sanctions hit President Putin and the oligarchs close to him by targeting Russian corruption, human rights abuses, and vital sectors of the Russian economy, including weapons sales and energy exports.
Russia's retaliation came while U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrived Sunday in Estonia for meetings with the leaders of three Baltic nations in northeastern Europe, the first stop of a four-day European tour.
The vice president and his wife, Karen Pence, arrived in the Estonian capital Tallinn to begin the European trip that also includes stops in Georgia and Montenegro.
Pence was scheduled to meet with the presidents of the Baltics - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - on Monday.
MUTUAL DEFENSE IMPORTANT
He made clear that Washington remains committed to the mutual defense of NATO allies, an important issue for the former Soviet republics that border Russia as they have expressed concern about Russian military activities in the region. "President Trump sent me to eastern Europe with a very simple message — that is that 'America First' doesn't mean 'America Alone,'" Pence explained after arriving in Estonia.
"Our message to the Baltic states, my message when we visit Georgia and Montenegro will be the same," he said.
"To our allies here in Eastern Europe [I say], we are with you, we stand with you on behalf of freedom," he continued. "It's a great honor for me to be here."
He was expected to also convey that message during his talks with leaders of Montenegro and Georgia, where U.S. and Georgian forces are currently holding their largest-ever joint military exercises.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Army medic from Michigan who risked his life multiple times to rescue Vietnam War comrades is becoming the first person to receive the Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Army medic from Michigan who risked his life multiple times to rescue Vietnam War comrades is becoming the first person to receive the Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump....
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A car bombing targeted the Iraqi Embassy in central Kabul on Monday, followed by gunfire, Afghan police officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties....
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A car bombing targeted the Iraqi Embassy in central Kabul on Monday, followed by gunfire, Afghan police officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties....
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- It was a routine check. Two vans, both without license plates, were stopped earlier this month by police in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province, where Taliban hold sway in large swaths of the countryside....
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- It was a routine check. Two vans, both without license plates, were stopped earlier this month by police in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province, where Taliban hold sway in large swaths of the countryside....
In the past decade or so, the U.S. Supreme Court and state legislatures have taken steps to scale back the most extreme punishments for juvenile criminals. Here's how the laws have changed and some reasons why teens who were sentenced to life without parole are now getting a second chance:...
In the past decade or so, the U.S. Supreme Court and state legislatures have taken steps to scale back the most extreme punishments for juvenile criminals. Here's how the laws have changed and some reasons why teens who were sentenced to life without parole are now getting a second chance:...
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan electoral authorities said more than 8 million people voted to create a constitutional assembly endowing President Nicolas Maduro's ruling socialist party with virtually unlimited powers - a turnout more than double that estimated by outsiders and by opponents who derided the announcement....
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan electoral authorities said more than 8 million people voted to create a constitutional assembly endowing President Nicolas Maduro's ruling socialist party with virtually unlimited powers - a turnout more than double that estimated by outsiders and by opponents who derided the announcement....
BERATZHAUSEN, Germany (AP) -- The U.S. Army soldier took a deep breath before hitting the button that sent the email to more than 200 fellow troops....
BERATZHAUSEN, Germany (AP) -- The U.S. Army soldier took a deep breath before hitting the button that sent the email to more than 200 fellow troops....
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- While North Korea's second launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile dominated headlines late last week, Pyongyang quietly unveiled renovations around the capital's biggest landmark: a futuristic, pyramid-shaped 105-story hotel, the world's tallest unoccupied building....
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- While North Korea's second launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile dominated headlines late last week, Pyongyang quietly unveiled renovations around the capital's biggest landmark: a futuristic, pyramid-shaped 105-story hotel, the world's tallest unoccupied building....
