Venezuela’s foreign minister condemned the opposition and their foreign backers for their silence over Tuesday’s helicopter attack on the capital. At a press conference on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Samuel Moncada said Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition leader Henry Ramos’ only comment on social media was that the attack was “useless.” “Firstly that does not condemn it,” Mr Moncada said. “Secondly it appears he was condemning it because it didn’t have the desired effect, that is to say, that it would blow up the building.” And he asked why fellow Mud leader Henrique Capriles lacked the “moral courage to... repudiate a terrorist act.” The newly-appointed minster and former ambassador to Britain accused fellow members of the Washington-based Organisation of American States of “feigning ignorance” and so protecting the culprits. And he accused sections of the media of portraying the culprit — Police investigator and one-time action film star Oscar Perez — as a “Rambo ...

Delegates from across the developing world called for a “new world order” of peace and development in Bolivia last week. The final declaration of the World People's Conference in Tiquipaya, outside the central city of Cochabamba, said the “social property of natural resources” must be consolidated, the Bolivian Information Agency reported. Some 4,000 delegates from 43 countries on four continents attended the conference on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. They demanded the establishment of a “new international finance architecture” without multilateral organisations serving transnational capital. The declaration also called for “the building of true peace” — not only between nations but in social relations. “It is not only the inexistence of armed conflicts but also the overcoming of structural violence that translates to equitable access to wealth and development opportunities,” it read. It identified the principal causes of the current global crisis as: “Armed confli...

Russia accused US President Donald Trump of “Cold War rhetoric” On Sunday after his partial reversal of three years of detente with Cuba. A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said Mr Trump’s speech in Miami on Friday was "returning us to the forgotten rhetoric of the Cold War." "It's clear the anti-Cuba discourse is still widely needed. This can only induce regret." Mr Trump said he would order Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to convene a task force on expanding internet access in Cuba — an aim shared by the government but a possible indication of more smuggling of sophisticated telecoms equipment to dissidents. And he reiterate US opposition to moves at the UN to lift the 55-year blockade of Cuba. Mr Trump demanded Havana release “political prisoners” — and in the same breath that it extradite fugitives granted asylum there. He named “cop killer Joanne Chesimard,” AKA Assata Shakur, the former Blank Panther who insists she was framed for a 1973 mu...

Cuba solidarity campaigners warned of a “a major setback” on Friday with US President Donald Trump announced new travel restrictions — but kept diplomatic relations. Anonymous White House officials leaked details of policy changes to the media ahead of Mr Trump’s official announcement in Miami’s Little Havana district. The president spoke on Friday afternoon at Manuel Artime Theatre — named after the leader of the disastrous 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion aimed at overthrowing Fidel Castro’s revolutionary government. Mr Trump will not completely reverse the detente begun under his predecessor Barack Obama in December 2014 — as he promised Florida’s Cuban emigre community during last year’s election. Full diplomatic relations established in 2015 will be maintained, while air and cruise lines can still carry tourists to the Caribbean nation. And the “wet foot-dry foot” asylum policy that led thousands to risk their lives on people-trafficking boats will not be reinstated. But he ...

Venezuela’s government has confirmed rumours of talks with a jailed opposition leader to end riots that claimed two more lives on Wednesday. The deaths of 17-year-old militant Neomar “Neon” Lander and Bolivarian National Guard Sergeant William Jose Mendoza in the capital Caracas brought the death toll to 83 — by regional news network Telesur’s count. Opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) coalition claimed Mr Lander was a peaceful protester who was hit by a police teargas canister. But Public Defender Tarek William Saab said Mr Lander was killed when a homemade bomb he was preparing to throw exploded next to his chest Cuba’s Prensa Latina reported on Wednesday that Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez confirmed negotiations with Popular Will (VP) party leader Leopoldo Lopez on Tuesday night. Ms Lopez told a meeting broadcast by Venezolana de Television from the Fort Tiuna military prison in Caracas. “A dialogue with Leopoldo Lopez has begun and we are going to s...

The Prime Minister of Nato’s newest member state yesterday played down US President Donald Trump shoving him aside at the alliance’s summit last month. Mr Trump barged to the front of the group of Nato leaders at the Brussels summit two weeks ago before telling reporters he expected them to contribute more troops to the US-dominated alliance. He also made no mention of Article Five of the Nato charter committing members to mutual self-defence. Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic told Germany’s Bild newspaper yesterday: "Contact took place, which the media referred to as pushing" but that he "did not perceive it like that." Mr Trump is seeking improved relations with Russia, which opposed the former Yugoslav republic’s Nato membership. On Monday Mr Markovic visited the White House as Montenegro’s Nato membership became official. But he was met by US Vice-President Mike Pence rather than Mr Trump.

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Moro and Communist rebels to join the fight against the country’s ISIS affiliate. The unprecedented move on Sunday came ahead of a Supreme Court challenge by six opposition Congress members yesterday to Mr Duterte’s declaration of martial law in the southern island of Mindanao. Troops are fighting ISIS-affiliated Abu Sayyaf extremists who seized the central Mindanao city Marawi two weeks ago. Congressman Edcel Lagman, leader of the six, said the the state of emergency was unjustified as there had not been a revolution or invasion. Several foreign jihadis have been identified among militants killed in the battle to recapture the city of 200,000 residents, almost all of whom have fled. On Sunday Mr Duterte said he had accepted an offer from Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari to integrate 2,000-3,000 guerillas into the Armed Forces of the Philippines to help fight the Maute group — Abu Sayyaf’s strongest ally....