In what is believed to be the largest expulsion of diplomats from any country in history, President Vladimir Putin has ordered several hundred American staff to leave diplomatic missions in Russia, the Euro News website reports today (July 31, 2017).
The decision was made on July 28 in retaliation for new U.S. sanctions against Moscow, but Putin has now confirmed that the 775 diplomats must leave Russia by September 1, 2017.
The exodus will bring the U.S. diplomatic workforce to 455 -- the same as Russia's complement in Washington.
The Russian government is also seizing holiday properties and a warehouse used by U.S. diplomats.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Poland Belittles EU's Lawsuit on Court Overhaul; Says EU Charges of Discrimination Lack Authority
Poland rejected a move by the European Union (EU) yesterday for a probable lawsuit to halt the just-passed overhaul of the country's lower courts, claiming the EU lacked such authority, the Bloomberg Politics website reports today (July 30, 2017).
The escalation in an almost two-year row over court independence and the government's respect for the rule of law opens the way for the EU to file suit.
Polish President Andrzej Duda signed into law last week several significant changes in the common courts, which the commission says violate EU rules.
Among the changes in Poland's courts that the EU says violates EU discrimination is one in which Poland has set a retirement age of 60 for female judges but 65 for male judges.
The escalation in an almost two-year row over court independence and the government's respect for the rule of law opens the way for the EU to file suit.
Polish President Andrzej Duda signed into law last week several significant changes in the common courts, which the commission says violate EU rules.
Among the changes in Poland's courts that the EU says violates EU discrimination is one in which Poland has set a retirement age of 60 for female judges but 65 for male judges.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
N. Korean Leader:We Can Hit US with an ICBM; Analysts Agree N.Korea Can Reach US Mainland
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said today (July 29, 2017) that the second flight test of an Intercontinental Balistic Missile (ICBM) demonstrated his country can hit the U.S. mainland, according to the Yahoo News website.
The Korean Central News Agency said that Kim expressed "great satisfaction" after the Hwasong-14 missile reached a maximum height of 3,725 kilometers (2,314 miles)and traveled 998 kilometers (620 miles) before accurately landing in waters off Japan.
The agency added that the test was aimed at confirming the maximum range and other technical aspects of the missile it says was capable of delivering a "large-sized, heavy nuclear warhead."
U.S. analysts had estimated that North Korea's first ICBM on July 4 could have reached Alaska, and said yesterday's missile appeared to extend that range significantly.
The Korean Central News Agency said that Kim expressed "great satisfaction" after the Hwasong-14 missile reached a maximum height of 3,725 kilometers (2,314 miles)and traveled 998 kilometers (620 miles) before accurately landing in waters off Japan.
The agency added that the test was aimed at confirming the maximum range and other technical aspects of the missile it says was capable of delivering a "large-sized, heavy nuclear warhead."
U.S. analysts had estimated that North Korea's first ICBM on July 4 could have reached Alaska, and said yesterday's missile appeared to extend that range significantly.
Slovak Is Charged with Using Neo-Nazi Symbols; Parliament Party Leader Backs WWII Nazi Ideas
The leader of a far-right party with seats in the Slovak parliament has been charged with crimes related to the use of neo-Nazi symbols, the Times of Israel website reports today (July 29, 2017).
Marian Kotleba, head of the People's Party Our Slovakia, has been charged, according to police spokesman Martin Waldl.
He gave no other details, but police are investigating whether the party gave financial gifts of 1,488 euros to several poor families in March. The number 1,488 has a symbolic meaning for neo-Nazis.
Kotleba openly admires Slovakia's World War II-era Nazi puppet state. His party has 14 lawmakers in the 150-seat parliament.
Marian Kotleba, head of the People's Party Our Slovakia, has been charged, according to police spokesman Martin Waldl.
He gave no other details, but police are investigating whether the party gave financial gifts of 1,488 euros to several poor families in March. The number 1,488 has a symbolic meaning for neo-Nazis.
Kotleba openly admires Slovakia's World War II-era Nazi puppet state. His party has 14 lawmakers in the 150-seat parliament.
Friday, July 28, 2017
One Killed,Several Hurt in German Supermarket; Cops Nab Man,Yelled "Allahu Akbar" after Attack
Police arrested a blood-soaked man today (July 28, 2017) after at least one person was killed and several injured at a supermarket in Hamburg, Germany, according to the Breitbart website.
The attack took place at a supermarket in the Barmbek neighborhood of Hamburg at around 3 p.m. local time.
The man involved, who has not yet been identified to the press, ran into the supermarket and began attacking customers with a "long kitchen knife" leading to the death of at least one victim.
One witness to the attack said that the man stabbed the customers and yelled "Allahu Akbar" ("Allah is Greatest") immediately after the attack.
The attack took place at a supermarket in the Barmbek neighborhood of Hamburg at around 3 p.m. local time.
The man involved, who has not yet been identified to the press, ran into the supermarket and began attacking customers with a "long kitchen knife" leading to the death of at least one victim.
One witness to the attack said that the man stabbed the customers and yelled "Allahu Akbar" ("Allah is Greatest") immediately after the attack.
Russia Retaliates on US for Levying Sanctions; Seizes 2 Diplomatic Bldgs.,Cuts Embassy Staff
Russia took its first steps today (July 28, 2017) to retaliate against proposed American sanctions for Moscow's suspected meddling in the 2016 election, seizing two American diplomatic properties and ordering the United States Embassy to reduce its staff by September, according to the NY Times website.
The move came a day after the U.S. Senate approved a measure to expand economic sanctions against Russia.
The latest move by the Kremlin strikes another blow against the already dismal diplomatic relations between the two sides, with each new step moving Moscow and Washington farther from the rapprochement anticipated just a few months ago.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that if the U.S. ordered any further sanctions, Russia would again retaliate.
The move came a day after the U.S. Senate approved a measure to expand economic sanctions against Russia.
The latest move by the Kremlin strikes another blow against the already dismal diplomatic relations between the two sides, with each new step moving Moscow and Washington farther from the rapprochement anticipated just a few months ago.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that if the U.S. ordered any further sanctions, Russia would again retaliate.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Some 160K German Cath.Quit Church in 2016; Less Than 2015 When 180K Cath. Left Church
New figures show that about 160,000 Catholics left the Church in Germany last year, the Catholic Herald website reports today (July 27, 2017).
The number represents an improvement on 2015, when 180,000 faithful left the Catholic Church -- or opted out of paying a church tax compulsory for members.
Nearly a third -- or 23 million -- of the people in Germany are Catholic.
Fr. Hans Langendorfer, bishops' conference secretary, said: "We should not forget our real mission in the figures... to joyfully proclaim the Gospel."
The number represents an improvement on 2015, when 180,000 faithful left the Catholic Church -- or opted out of paying a church tax compulsory for members.
Nearly a third -- or 23 million -- of the people in Germany are Catholic.
Fr. Hans Langendorfer, bishops' conference secretary, said: "We should not forget our real mission in the figures... to joyfully proclaim the Gospel."
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