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North Korea Tests New Rocket Launcher

August 25, 2019 Focus Washington

North Korea confirmed on Sunday that the country’s leader Kim Jong-un had supervised the test-firing of a “newly developed super-large multiple rocket launcher,” a move that is likely aimed at increasing leverage prior to continuing […]

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American Imprisoned in Russia Says He Was Injured by Guards

August 25, 2019 Focus Washington

A Russian court extended Friday the detention of American citizen Paul Whelan, who has already spend nine months in a prison in Moscow, despite continuous concerns about his wellbeing and the treatment at the detention […]

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Israel Could Have Had Role in Iraq Airstrike Complicating U.S.-Iraqi Relations

August 24, 2019 Focus Washington

The U.S. government has said that Israel possibly has a role in a last month’s strike that took place north of Baghdad and took a toll on relations between Iraq and the United States, two […]

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U.S. Slaps $16mn Fine to Deutsche Bank for Hiring Russian Execs’ Sons and Daughters

August 24, 2019 Focus Washington

German banking conglomerate Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay a $16 million fine to U.S. authorities after it was revealed that it hired unqualified relatives of powerful Russian and Chinese government officials to win business, […]

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China to Slap New Sanctions On U.S. Goods

August 23, 2019 Focus Washington

China informed that it will impose fresh tariffs on U.S. goods worth $75 billion, the latest salvo in the year-plus trade war between the world’s two largest economies, The Hill reported. The country’s State Council said […]

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Trump Slammed by Kremlin over Greenland Purchase Idea

August 23, 2019 Focus Washington

Russia does not engage in “international shopping” and does not want to meddle in U.S.-Danish relations, the Kremlin said on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump flaunted an idea to purchase Greenland from Denmark, the […]

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South Korea to Abandon Intelligence-Sharing with Japan

August 22, 2019 Focus Washington

South Korea announced its plan for abandoning a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, which is going to dramatically escalate tensions between the two nations, offering new evidence of the declining presence of the United States in […]

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Emmanuel Macron Delivers Tough Brexit Message to Boris Johnson in Paris

August 22, 2019 Focus Washington

Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson, in a speech in front of the reporters ahead of their meetings in Paris on Thursday, gave two opposite statements amid Brexit process, CNN informed. The two men were adamant […]

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Mexico Govt to ‘Evaluate’ Anulment of Flores Agreement

August 22, 2019 Focus Washington

The federal government of Mexico expressed concerns late on Wednesday regarding the Trump administration’s decision to annul the Flores Settlement Agreement which is currently preventing the detention of immigrant minors for more than 20 days, […]

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Trump Cancels Denmark Visit Over Greenland Row

August 21, 2019 Focus Washington

Danish leaders expressed shock and disbelief on Wednesday over President Donald Trump’s cancellation of a state visit to Denmark after its prime minister rebuffed his interest in purchasing Greenland, Reuters informs. Trump’s proposal at first […]

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Huawei Executive Meng Wanzhou Claims Canada Abused Her Rights

August 21, 2019 Focus Washington

Huawei’s chief financial officer argued in court documents made public Tuesday that Canadian efforts to extradite her to the U.S. should be stayed because of misconduct by Canadian and U.S. law enforcement, The Wall Street […]

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Iran Warns U.S. Аgainst Oil Tanker Seizure as Ship Leaves Gibraltar

August 19, 2019 Focus Washington

Iran has warned the U.S. against attempting to seize an Iranian oil tanker in open seas after after its release from Gibraltar, Guardian reported. The tanker, which has been caught in a standoff between Tehran and […]

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Hong Kong Protesters Find New Momentum, Organize Largest Rally in Weeks

August 18, 2019 Focus Washington

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy demonstrators braved torrential rain to hold their largest rally in weeks, a show of mass support that reset the movement that opposes Beijing’s tightening grip on the city and which heaped pressure […]

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Iranian Tanker Expected to Leave Gibraltar on Sunday

August 18, 2019 Focus Washington

The Iranian tanker caught in a stand-off between Tehran and the West is expected to leave Gibraltar on Sunday night, Iran’s ambassador to Britain said, hours after the British territory rejected a U.S. request to […]

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Russian Airstrikes Kill 13 Civilians in Idlib, Syria

August 17, 2019 Focus Washington

At least 13 civilians were killed when Russian airstrikes hit a Syrian town inside the Idlib de-escalation zone, the White Helmets civil defense group said on Friday, Anadolu Agency reports. Mustafa Haj Youssef, director of […]

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Hong Kong Protests Will be ‘Settled or Crushed’ ahead of China National Celebrations, Analyst Claims

August 17, 2019 Focus Washington

The months-long protests in Hong Kong could come to an end soon, according to strategist David Roche, who said they will “be settled or crushed” before October 1 — the 70th anniversary of China’s National […]

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U.S. Issues Warrant to Seize Iranian Tanker off Gibraltar

August 17, 2019 Focus Washington

The United States has issued a warrant to seize an Iranian oil tanker caught in the standoff between Tehran and the West in a last ditch effort to prevent the vessel from leaving Gibraltar, Reuters […]

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U.S. Oil Embargo on Venezuela Bring $900mn Profit to Russian Companies: Report

August 16, 2019 Focus Washington

Russia has profited considerably in the past 9-10 months as Washington imposed draconian oil sanctions on Venezuela, Bloomberg writes. According to the news outlet, the demand for Russian oil that is sourced from the country’s […]

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Russia Could Send Navy to Venezuela After ‘Unacceptable’ U.S. Moves

August 16, 2019 Focus Washington

The Russian military has signed a deal that would allow it to send military ships to Venezuela, expressing support for the Latin American country. The U.S. has been critical of current Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, […]

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U.S. Threatens Visa Restrictions For Crew Of Freed Iranian Oil Supertanker

August 16, 2019 Focus Washington

The United States says the crew of an Iranian supertanker whose departure from Gibraltar Washington apparently was unable to block could be subject to a U.S. visa ban, Radio Free Europe informed. State Department spokeswoman […]

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Syrian Rebels Counter-attack After Government Forces Surge

August 16, 2019 Focus Washington

A rebel group backed by Turkey will send reinforcements to the front lines of the last major rebel enclave in northern Syria to oppose a government offensive, it said on Thursday, Reuters informs. Over the […]

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North Korea Launches More Projectiles, Rejects Talks with Seoul

August 16, 2019 Focus Washington

North Korea fired more projectiles into the sea on Friday hours after deriding South Korea for taking part in ongoing military drills with the U.S. It was the latest in a series of launches since […]

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U.S. to Block Release of Iranian Tanker Detained in Gibraltar

August 15, 2019 Focus Washington

The Department of Justice has made a last-minute application to block the release of the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1, which was seized by authorities in Gibraltar last month, a spokesman for the Gibraltar attorney […]

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Iran Arrests British-Iranian Academic

August 15, 2019 Focus Washington

A British-Iranian academic was arrested at his home in Tehran over the weekend, roiling relations once again between Iran and Britain just as they appeared to be making progress on the release of an Iranian […]

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Maduro Accuses Former Colombian President Uribe of Assasination Plot

August 15, 2019 Focus Washington

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday accused former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe of plotting to assassinate him in cohorts with Colombia’s U.S. ambassador Francisco Santos, and exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Lester Toledo, Reuters informs. It […]

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Syrian Regime Forces Advance Towards Key Town

August 15, 2019 Focus Washington

Syrian regime fighters pushed further into a jihadist-run bastion in the northwest part of the country on Wednesday, inching towards a key town after months of deadly bombardment, a monitor said, France24 reported. Eight years into Syria’s civil […]

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Iran, U.K. Edge Closer to Tanker Crisis Resolution

August 14, 2019 Focus Washington

Iran and the U.K. are making progress toward the release of an Iranian tanker impounded in Gibraltar, according to people familiar with the talks, a move that could prompt Tehran to free a British-flagged vessel […]

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Chinese Riot Police Clashes with Protesters at Hong Kong Airport

August 14, 2019 Focus Washington

Riot police clashed with pro-democracy protesters at Hong Kong’s airport late Tuesday night, moving into the terminal where the demonstrators had shut down operations at one of the world’s busiest transport hubs for two straight […]

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Trump Delays Tariffs on Chinese Cellphones, Laptops, and Toys

August 13, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed off his Sept. 1 deadline for 10% tariffs on remaining Chinese imports, delaying duties on cellphones, laptops and other consumer goods, in the hopes of blunting their impact on […]

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U.S. Delegation Begins Work on Syria Safe Zone

August 13, 2019 Focus Washington

Turkey says a U.S. delegation has arrived in the country to set up a coordination center for a so-called “safe zone” in Syria, part of an agreement struck last week that appeared to avert a […]

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