China, Russia Concerns Top Pompeo Agenda in Central Europe

(Worthy News) – U.S. fears about China and Russia’s growing influence in Central Europe will top Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s agenda as he heads to the region this week, Trump administration officials say.

Pompeo leaves Sunday on a five-nation tour of Europe that will begin in Hungary and Slovakia where he will raise those concerns and the importance of promoting democracy and the rule of law to counter Beijing and Moscow’s efforts to pull the countries away from the West and sow divisions in the European Union and NATO.

The centerpiece of the trip will be a conference on the future of the Middle East in Poland on Wednesday and Thursday that is expected to focus on Iran and will also be attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace team of senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt. [ Source: U.S. News and World Report (Read More…) ]

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US and Russia push rival UN resolutions on Venezuela

(Worthy News) – The United States is seeking a United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Venezuela to conduct free, fair and credible presidential elections with international observers.

The US move has prompted Russia to propose a rival resolution, essentially raising concerns over outside interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.

Moscow has refused to support a US-led campaign to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader and head of the country’s elected National Assembly Juan Guaido as president and continues to back Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Guaido last month declared himself interim president, challenging Maduro’s rule.

More than 40 nations, including the US, major European powers, and most of Latin America have recognized Guaido as the country’s interim head of state. [ Source: Deutche Welle (Read More…) ]

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Egypt’s el-Sisi elected new chairman of African Union

(Worthy News) – Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has been elected chairman of the African Union at the continental body’s summit in Ethiopia.

The rights group Amnesty International warned that el-Sisi’s chairmanship might undermine the African Union’s human rights mechanisms.

The rights group said Egypt since 2015 has orchestrated a sustained political attack against the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the body that aims to monitor African states’ human rights records. “Dozens of cases alleging serious human rights violations have been lodged against Egypt at the ACHPR,” it said. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

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US-backed fighters close in on last IS-held village in Syria

(Worthy News) – A spokesman for U.S.-backed Syrian forces says they have captured 41 positions held by Islamic State group militants and destroyed their fortifications in the last tiny pocket they hold in eastern Syria.

Mustafa Bali, spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, says advances were made overnight and on Sunday. The SDF launched a final push to clear the area from IS militants Saturday night after 20,000 civilians were evacuated from the area in the eastern province of Deir-el-Zour.

Bali said heavy fighting was going on inside the village of Baghouz on Sunday. He did not say how long they expect the battle to last. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

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