Venezuela has released from jail six former executives of US-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday, more than three years after they were arrested on corruption charges.&nbsp;

The officials were detained in November 2017 after being called into a meeting at the Caracas office of state oil company PDVSA, which owns Citgo. &nbsp;

The detention of the former executives, which includes five naturalised US citizens and one permanent resident, has been a major sticking point in tense relations between Caracas and Washington, which has repeatedly called for the men's release and called their detention unlawful.&nbsp;

The United States labels Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a dictator, and the former Trump administration imposed crippling sanctions on the OPEC nation's oil sector to try to force his ouster. The release of the six men comes as Maduro seeks to improve ties with US President Joe Biden's new administration.&nbsp;

A Venezuelan court in November sentenced the six former executives, who were accused of crimes including embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy, to prison terms ranging from eight to 13 years.&nbsp;

The executives - Jose Pereira, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell and Gustavo Cardenas - all denied the charges. &nbsp;

Neither Venezuela's Information Ministry nor its chief prosecutor's office immediately replied to a request for comment.&nbsp;

"I'm happy my brothers will sleep in a better place tonight, but the job is not finished until they are back home in the USA," Alirio Rafael Zambrano, the brother of Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Jose Zambrano, wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

The men had been granted house arrest in December 2019, but were moved back to prison at the Helicoide - as the headquarters of the Venezuelan intelligence agency Sebin is known - just months later, in February 2020, hours after President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.&nbsp;

The United States recognises Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader, accusing Maduro of rigging his 2018 re-election and using the justice system to stifle dissent. Maduro says Washington wants to control Venezuela's oil reserves and aims to oust him in a coup. &nbsp;

"This is a positive and important step that should help secure their wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak in Venezuela," said veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson, who has traveled to Caracas to help negotiate the men's release.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Venezuela has released from jail six former executives of US-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday, more than three years after they were arrested on corruption charges.

Venezuela has released from jail six former executives of US-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday, more than three years after they were arrested on corruption charges. The officials were detained in November 2017 after being called into a meeting at the Caracas office of state oil company PDVSA, which owns Citgo. The detention of the former executives, which includes five naturalised US citizens and one permanent resident, has been a major sticking point in tense relations between Caracas and Washington, which has repeatedly called for the men's release and called their detention unlawful. The United States labels Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a dictator, and the former Trump administration imposed crippling sanctions on the OPEC nation's oil sector to try to force his ouster. The release of the six men comes as Maduro seeks to improve ties with US President Joe Biden's new administration. A Venezuelan court in November sentenced the six former executives, who were accused of crimes including embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy, to prison terms ranging from eight to 13 years. The executives - Jose Pereira, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell and Gustavo Cardenas - all denied the charges. Neither Venezuela's Information Ministry nor its chief prosecutor's office immediately replied to a request for comment. "I'm happy my brothers will sleep in a better place tonight, but the job is not finished until they are back home in the USA," Alirio Rafael Zambrano, the brother of Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Jose Zambrano, wrote on Twitter. The men had been granted house arrest in December 2019, but were moved back to prison at the Helicoide - as the headquarters of the Venezuelan intelligence agency Sebin is known - just months later, in February 2020, hours after President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. The United States recognises Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader, accusing Maduro of rigging his 2018 re-election and using the justice system to stifle dissent. Maduro says Washington wants to control Venezuela's oil reserves and aims to oust him in a coup. "This is a positive and important step that should help secure their wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak in Venezuela," said veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson, who has traveled to Caracas to help negotiate the men's release. (With inputs from agencies)

Venezuela releases former Citgo executives to house arrest: Source 

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on Friday declared a state of siege over the worsening violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu that has killed hundreds this year and displaced more than 1.5 million. &nbsp;

A surge in attacks by armed militias and inter-communal violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have killed over 300 people since the start of the year as government troops and UN peacekeepers struggle to stabilise the mineral-rich territory. &nbsp;

Announcing Tshisekedi's decision, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said, "The objective is to swiftly end the insecurity which is killing our fellow citizens in that part of the country on a daily basis."&nbsp;

He did not say what steps would be taken next under the state of siege in the two affected regions.&nbsp;

On Friday armed police in North Kivu’s regional hub of Beni dispersed students, who were staging an eight-day sit-in at the town hall to draw attention to the worsening security situation. Several students were wounded and others were arrested, according to a witness.&nbsp;

A Ugandan insurgent faction active in eastern Congo since the 1990s called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is believed to be responsible for much of the recent bloodshed. &nbsp;

It has committed a spate of brutal reprisal attacks on civilians since the army began operations against it in late 2019, killing around 850 people last year, according to UN figures.&nbsp;

The violence has fuelled a humanitarian crisis with more than 1.6 million people displaced in Ituri out of a total population of 5.7 million people, UNICEF said in April. Some 2.8 million people there are in need of some form of emergency assistance, it said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on Friday declared a state of siege over the worsening violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu that has killed hundreds this year and displaced more than 1.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on Friday declared a state of siege over the worsening violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu that has killed hundreds this year and displaced more than 1.5 million. A surge in attacks by armed militias and inter-communal violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have killed over 300 people since the start of the year as government troops and UN peacekeepers struggle to stabilise the mineral-rich territory. Announcing Tshisekedi's decision, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said, "The objective is to swiftly end the insecurity which is killing our fellow citizens in that part of the country on a daily basis." He did not say what steps would be taken next under the state of siege in the two affected regions. On Friday armed police in North Kivu’s regional hub of Beni dispersed students, who were staging an eight-day sit-in at the town hall to draw attention to the worsening security situation. Several students were wounded and others were arrested, according to a witness. A Ugandan insurgent faction active in eastern Congo since the 1990s called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is believed to be responsible for much of the recent bloodshed. It has committed a spate of brutal reprisal attacks on civilians since the army began operations against it in late 2019, killing around 850 people last year, according to UN figures. The violence has fuelled a humanitarian crisis with more than 1.6 million people displaced in Ituri out of a total population of 5.7 million people, UNICEF said in April. Some 2.8 million people there are in need of some form of emergency assistance, it said. (With inputs from agencies)

Congo declares state of siege over eastern bloodshed 

The&nbsp;Brazilian&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;released nearly 20 per cent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over the last decade than it absorbed, according to a stunning report that shows humanity can no longer depend on the world's largest tropical forest to help absorb man-made carbon pollution. &nbsp;&nbsp;

From 2010 through 2019, Brazil's&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;basin gave off 16,600,000,000 tonnes of CO2, while drawing down only 13,900,000,000 tonnes, researchers reported on Thursday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The study looked at the volume of CO2 absorbed and stored as the forest grows, versus the amounts released back into the atmosphere as it has been burned down or destroyed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="UK space agency hunts for 'Moon Trees' from seeds brought back by mission 50 years ago">UK space agency hunts for 'Moon Trees' from seeds brought back by mission 50 years ago</a>

"We half-expected it, but it is the first time that we have figures showing that the&nbsp;Brazilian&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;has flipped, and is now a net emitter," said co-author Jean-Pierre Wigneron, a scientist at France's National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA).

"We don't know at what point the changeover could become irreversible," he told AFP in an interview.

The study also showed that deforestation -- through fires and clear-cutting -- increased nearly four-fold in 2019 compared to either of the two previous years, from about one million hectares (2.5 million acres) to 3.9 million hectares, an area the size of the Netherlands.

"Brazil saw a sharp decline in the application of environmental protection policies after the change of government in 2019," the INRA said in a statement.

Brazilian&nbsp;President Jair Bolsonaro was sworn into office on January 1, 2019.&nbsp;

Terrestrial ecosystems worldwide have been a crucial ally as the world struggles to curb CO2 emissions, which topped 40 billion tonnes in 2019.&nbsp;

Over the last half century, plants and soil have consistently absorbed about 30 per cent of those emissions, even as those emissions increased by 50 per cent over than period.&nbsp;

Oceans have also helped, soaking up more than 20 per cent.

The&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;basin contains about half of the world's tropical rainforests, which are more effective at soaking up and storing carbon that other types of vegetation.

If the region were to be come a net source rather than a "sink" of CO2, tackling the climate crisis will be that much harder.

Using new methods of analysing satellite data developed at the University of Oklahoma, the international team of researchers also showed for the first time that degraded forests were a more significant source of planet-warming CO2 emissions that outright deforestation.

Over the same 10-year period, degradation -- caused by fragmentation, selective cutting, or fires that damage but do not destroy trees -- caused three times more emissions that outright destruction of forests.

The data examined in the study only covers Brazil, which holds some 60 per cent of the Amazonian rainforest.

Taking the rest of region into account, "the&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;basin as a whole is probably (carbon) neutral," said Wigneron.

"But in the other countries with&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;rainforest, deforestation is on the rise too, and drought has become more intense."

Climate change looms as a major threat, and could -- above a certain threshold of global warming -- see the continent's rainforest tip into a much drier savannah state, recent studies have shown.

This would have devastating consequences not only to the region, which currently harbours a significant percentage of the world's biodiversity, but globally as well.

The&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;rainforest is one of a dozen so-called "tipping points" in the climate system.

Ice sheets atop Greenland and the West Antarctic, Siberian permafrost loaded with CO2 and methane, monsoon rains in South Asia, coral reef ecosystems, the jet stream -- all are vulnerable to point-of-no-return transitions that would radically alter the world as we know it. &nbsp;

The Brazilian Amazon released nearly 20 per cent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over the last decade than it absorbed, according to a stunning report that shows humanity can no longer depend on the world's largest tropical forest to help absorb man-made carbon pollution.

The Brazilian Amazon released nearly 20 per cent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over the last decade than it absorbed, according to a stunning report that shows humanity can no longer depend on the world's largest tropical forest to help absorb man-made carbon pollution. From 2010 through 2019, Brazil's Amazon basin gave off 16,600,000,000 tonnes of CO2, while drawing down only 13,900,000,000 tonnes, researchers reported on Thursday in the journal Nature Climate Change. The study looked at the volume of CO2 absorbed and stored as the forest grows, versus the amounts released back into the atmosphere as it has been burned down or destroyed. Also read: UK space agency hunts for 'Moon Trees' from seeds brought back by mission 50 years ago "We half-expected it, but it is the first time that we have figures showing that the Brazilian Amazon has flipped, and is now a net emitter," said co-author Jean-Pierre Wigneron, a scientist at France's National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA). "We don't know at what point the changeover could become irreversible," he told AFP in an interview. The study also showed that deforestation -- through fires and clear-cutting -- increased nearly four-fold in 2019 compared to either of the two previous years, from about one million hectares (2.5 million acres) to 3.9 million hectares, an area the size of the Netherlands. "Brazil saw a sharp decline in the application of environmental protection policies after the change of government in 2019," the INRA said in a statement. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sworn into office on January 1, 2019. Terrestrial ecosystems worldwide have been a crucial ally as the world struggles to curb CO2 emissions, which topped 40 billion tonnes in 2019. Over the last half century, plants and soil have consistently absorbed about 30 per cent of those emissions, even as those emissions increased by 50 per cent over than period. Oceans have also helped, soaking up more than 20 per cent. The Amazon basin contains about half of the world's tropical rainforests, which are more effective at soaking up and storing carbon that other types of vegetation. If the region were to be come a net source rather than a "sink" of CO2, tackling the climate crisis will be that much harder. Using new methods of analysing satellite data developed at the University of Oklahoma, the international team of researchers also showed for the first time that degraded forests were a more significant source of planet-warming CO2 emissions that outright deforestation. Over the same 10-year period, degradation -- caused by fragmentation, selective cutting, or fires that damage but do not destroy trees -- caused three times more emissions that outright destruction of forests. The data examined in the study only covers Brazil, which holds some 60 per cent of the Amazonian rainforest. Taking the rest of region into account, "the Amazon basin as a whole is probably (carbon) neutral," said Wigneron. "But in the other countries with Amazon rainforest, deforestation is on the rise too, and drought has become more intense." Climate change looms as a major threat, and could -- above a certain threshold of global warming -- see the continent's rainforest tip into a much drier savannah state, recent studies have shown. This would have devastating consequences not only to the region, which currently harbours a significant percentage of the world's biodiversity, but globally as well. The Amazon rainforest is one of a dozen so-called "tipping points" in the climate system. Ice sheets atop Greenland and the West Antarctic, Siberian permafrost loaded with CO2 and methane, monsoon rains in South Asia, coral reef ecosystems, the jet stream -- all are vulnerable to point-of-no-return transitions that would radically alter the world as we know it.

Climate change: Amazon may be turning from friend to foe

Tonnes of dead fish have washed up on the banks of a lake on Lebanon's Litani river, engulfing a nearby village in a pungent smell, in a disaster blamed on polluted waters.

Volunteers collected rotting fish carcasses near the Qaraoun lake on Lebanon's longest river, the Litani, where activists have warned for years of water pollution caused by sewage and waste.

Piles of garbage drifted in the lake near the dead fish. Swarms of flies spread near the reservoir and thousands of fish were decomposing in already dirty waters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Turkish lake with likely clues to Mars gains unwanted fame">Turkish lake with likely clues to Mars gains unwanted fame</a>

"This phenomenon appeared on the shore of the lake several days ago," said Ahmad Askar, a local activist. "The fish started floating up, and in abnormal quantities...It`s unacceptable."

At least 40 tonnes have turned up dead in a few days, numbers which Askar and fishermen in Qaraoun described as unprecedented. They called on the Litani river authority to find the cause and go after anyone dumping wastewater into the lake.

The river authority said this week that the fish were toxic and carried a virus, urging people to avoid fishing all along the Litani due to "an aggravated disaster that threatens public health".

The pollution prompted a ban since 2018 on fishing in the reservoir, which was created in 1959 with a large dam to collect water for hydropower and irrigation.

Last month, volunteers removed clumps of sticky tar from some beaches along the Lebanese coast after an oil spill which environmentalists warned would harm marine life.

Ecological disasters are the last thing Lebanon needs as it suffers through an alarming financial collapse and the aftermath of a huge explosion that devastated Beirut port in last August.

Tonnes of dead fish have washed up on the banks of a lake on Lebanon's Litani river, engulfing a nearby village in a pungent smell, in a disaster blamed on polluted waters.

Tonnes of dead fish have washed up on the banks of a lake on Lebanon's Litani river, engulfing a nearby village in a pungent smell, in a disaster blamed on polluted waters. Volunteers collected rotting fish carcasses near the Qaraoun lake on Lebanon's longest river, the Litani, where activists have warned for years of water pollution caused by sewage and waste. Piles of garbage drifted in the lake near the dead fish. Swarms of flies spread near the reservoir and thousands of fish were decomposing in already dirty waters. Also read: Turkish lake with likely clues to Mars gains unwanted fame "This phenomenon appeared on the shore of the lake several days ago," said Ahmad Askar, a local activist. "The fish started floating up, and in abnormal quantities...It`s unacceptable." At least 40 tonnes have turned up dead in a few days, numbers which Askar and fishermen in Qaraoun described as unprecedented. They called on the Litani river authority to find the cause and go after anyone dumping wastewater into the lake. The river authority said this week that the fish were toxic and carried a virus, urging people to avoid fishing all along the Litani due to "an aggravated disaster that threatens public health". The pollution prompted a ban since 2018 on fishing in the reservoir, which was created in 1959 with a large dam to collect water for hydropower and irrigation. Last month, volunteers removed clumps of sticky tar from some beaches along the Lebanese coast after an oil spill which environmentalists warned would harm marine life. Ecological disasters are the last thing Lebanon needs as it suffers through an alarming financial collapse and the aftermath of a huge explosion that devastated Beirut port in last August.

Tonnes of dead fish wash up on shore of polluted Lebanese lake

The&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;said on Friday that it was canceling all US-Mexico border wall construction projects paid for with military funds.

Former US president Donald Trump had ordered the diversion of billions of dollars in&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;money to pay for the barrier after being denied funding by Congress.

President Joe Biden announced a halt to border wall construction after taking office in January.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Mexican border governor impeached for alleged tax evasion">Mexican border governor impeached for alleged tax evasion</a>

"Consistent with the president's proclamation, the Department of Defence is proceeding with canceling all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds originally intended for other military missions," deputy&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;spokesman Jamal Brown said.

Brown said the Defence Department "has begun taking all necessary actions to cancel border barrier projects."

"Today's action reflects this administration's continued commitment to defending our nation and supporting our service members and their families," he said.

Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015 with a pledge to build a wall along the US-Mexico border and to make Mexico pay for it.

Mexico refused and so did the House of Representatives after Democrats took control in 2018.

Trump ultimately bypassed Congress by controversially dipping directly into the&nbsp;Pentagon's coffers, forcing the Defence Department to allocate billions of dollars for the project.

The Pentagon said on Friday that it was canceling all US-Mexico border wall construction projects paid for with military funds. Former US president Donald Trump had ordered the diversion of billions of dollars in Pentagon money to pay for the barrier after being denied funding by Congress.

The Pentagon said on Friday that it was canceling all US-Mexico border wall construction projects paid for with military funds. Former US president Donald Trump had ordered the diversion of billions of dollars in Pentagon money to pay for the barrier after being denied funding by Congress. President Joe Biden announced a halt to border wall construction after taking office in January. Also read: Mexican border governor impeached for alleged tax evasion "Consistent with the president's proclamation, the Department of Defence is proceeding with canceling all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds originally intended for other military missions," deputy Pentagon spokesman Jamal Brown said. Brown said the Defence Department "has begun taking all necessary actions to cancel border barrier projects." "Today's action reflects this administration's continued commitment to defending our nation and supporting our service members and their families," he said. Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015 with a pledge to build a wall along the US-Mexico border and to make Mexico pay for it. Mexico refused and so did the House of Representatives after Democrats took control in 2018. Trump ultimately bypassed Congress by controversially dipping directly into the Pentagon's coffers, forcing the Defence Department to allocate billions of dollars for the project.

Pentagon cancels border wall construction projects

Mexico's Congress voted on Friday to impeach the current governor of the border state of Tamaulipas on charges of tax evasion, money laundering and organised crime.

But the state legislature in Tamaulipas, a cartel-plagued state across from Texas, voted not to recognise the action by the federal Congress and reaffirm Francisco Garcia Cabeza de Vaca as governor. His term ends next year. 
It is unclear if the state legislature's move would hold up in courts. It seemed likely the issue could go to the Supreme Court.

The lower house of the federal congress voted earlier on Friday to remove Cabeza de Vaca's immunity from prosecution, a process similar to impeachment. He is the latest in a string of Tamaulipas governors accused of wrongdoing or corruption.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Number of migrant children at Mexico-US border increases nine-fold this year">Number of migrant children at Mexico-US border increases nine-fold this year</a>

Garcia Cabeza de Vaca is a leading member of the opposition National Action Party, which claimed the charge were part of a campaign by President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador's Morena party to win votes in the June 6 midterm elections.

The vote is part of a political propaganda operation by the Morena government to try to win the elections,&nbsp;National Action said in a statement.

Prosecutors claim he owns a large number of luxury properties that it says don't match the income from his government jobs over the last 20 years. Garcia Cabeza de Vaca has denied the charges.

Mexico's agency for curbing money laundering, the Financial Intelligence Unit, said in a report to Congress earlier this year that Garcia Cabeza de Vaca earned about USD 2,000,000 in wages and USD 1,000,000 in other income since 2000, but acquired properties worth many times that. It also mentioned properties owned by the governor or his relatives in Texas.

The agency also said front companies used by the Sinaloa drug cartel had passed money through the same company that assisted in purchasing one of Garcia Cabeza de Vaca's luxury apartments. But the agency did not say it has any direct evidence of links between the governor and the cartel.

In a video in March, the governor said the agency used data and speculations that are notoriously false&nbsp;in drawing up its report. None of the homes that were shown in the report belong to me, he said.&nbsp;Garcia Cabeza de Vaca also said, have no links to organised crime."

But Garcia Cabeza de Vaca speculated his brushes with the federal government had angered Lpez Obrador's administration. He is among the National Action Party governors who have staked out opposition policies on the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.

He noted that his Gulf coast state is a leading site of wind farms, an energy source that Lpez Obrador has proposed reducing in favor of fossil fuels.

They must be very upset over the way we publicly exposed them, the governor said, referring to an incident in December when the federal power utility&nbsp;a pet agency of the president acknowledged it had falsified a document in an effort to excuse a widespread blackout that month.

The Federal Electricity Commission denied the December&nbsp;28 outage was the result of incompetence.

Instead, it said, a brush fire in Tamaulipas had caused a kind of short-circuit that led to a two-hour blackout that affected one-fourth of the country's customers.

The utility published a supposed report of a brush fire in an area beneath power pylons that it claimed caused the blackout.

But Tamaulipas officials maintained that the document, purportedly issued by a state civil defense office, was forged. The utility at first denied that, but later admitted the report was false.

Garcia Cabeza De Vaca has governed Tamaulipas since 2016. Organised crime groups have long had deep roots in the state and numerous politicians have been implicated in dealings with them.

Former Governor&nbsp;Toms Yarrington of the Institutional Revolutionary Party was extradited to the US&nbsp;from Italy in 2018 to face drug trafficking charges. US&nbsp;Officials also have tried to extradite the governor, who succeeded Yarrington in 2005, Eugenio Hernndez, to face money laundering charges.

The leading candidate to follow Hernndez in 2011, Rodolfo Torre Cant, was assassinated while campaigning for office.

Mexico's Congress voted on Friday to impeach the current governor of the border state of Tamaulipas on charges of tax evasion, money laundering and organised crime.

Mexico's Congress voted on Friday to impeach the current governor of the border state of Tamaulipas on charges of tax evasion, money laundering and organised crime. But the state legislature in Tamaulipas, a cartel-plagued state across from Texas, voted not to recognise the action by the federal Congress and reaffirm Francisco Garcia Cabeza de Vaca as governor. His term ends next year. It is unclear if the state legislature's move would hold up in courts. It seemed likely the issue could go to the Supreme Court. The lower house of the federal congress voted earlier on Friday to remove Cabeza de Vaca's immunity from prosecution, a process similar to impeachment. He is the latest in a string of Tamaulipas governors accused of wrongdoing or corruption. Also read: Number of migrant children at Mexico-US border increases nine-fold this year Garcia Cabeza de Vaca is a leading member of the opposition National Action Party, which claimed the charge were part of a campaign by President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador's Morena party to win votes in the June 6 midterm elections. The vote is part of a political propaganda operation by the Morena government to try to win the elections, National Action said in a statement. Prosecutors claim he owns a large number of luxury properties that it says don't match the income from his government jobs over the last 20 years. Garcia Cabeza de Vaca has denied the charges. Mexico's agency for curbing money laundering, the Financial Intelligence Unit, said in a report to Congress earlier this year that Garcia Cabeza de Vaca earned about USD 2,000,000 in wages and USD 1,000,000 in other income since 2000, but acquired properties worth many times that. It also mentioned properties owned by the governor or his relatives in Texas. The agency also said front companies used by the Sinaloa drug cartel had passed money through the same company that assisted in purchasing one of Garcia Cabeza de Vaca's luxury apartments. But the agency did not say it has any direct evidence of links between the governor and the cartel. In a video in March, the governor said the agency used data and speculations that are notoriously false in drawing up its report. None of the homes that were shown in the report belong to me, he said. Garcia Cabeza de Vaca also said, have no links to organised crime." But Garcia Cabeza de Vaca speculated his brushes with the federal government had angered Lpez Obrador's administration. He is among the National Action Party governors who have staked out opposition policies on the coronavirus pandemic and other issues. He noted that his Gulf coast state is a leading site of wind farms, an energy source that Lpez Obrador has proposed reducing in favor of fossil fuels. They must be very upset over the way we publicly exposed them, the governor said, referring to an incident in December when the federal power utility a pet agency of the president acknowledged it had falsified a document in an effort to excuse a widespread blackout that month. The Federal Electricity Commission denied the December 28 outage was the result of incompetence. Instead, it said, a brush fire in Tamaulipas had caused a kind of short-circuit that led to a two-hour blackout that affected one-fourth of the country's customers. The utility published a supposed report of a brush fire in an area beneath power pylons that it claimed caused the blackout. But Tamaulipas officials maintained that the document, purportedly issued by a state civil defense office, was forged. The utility at first denied that, but later admitted the report was false. Garcia Cabeza De Vaca has governed Tamaulipas since 2016. Organised crime groups have long had deep roots in the state and numerous politicians have been implicated in dealings with them. Former Governor Toms Yarrington of the Institutional Revolutionary Party was extradited to the US from Italy in 2018 to face drug trafficking charges. US Officials also have tried to extradite the governor, who succeeded Yarrington in 2005, Eugenio Hernndez, to face money laundering charges. The leading candidate to follow Hernndez in 2011, Rodolfo Torre Cant, was assassinated while campaigning for office.

Mexican border governor impeached for alleged tax evasion

In his first public address since the end of the Trump administration, former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday put down a marker for a potential return to elected office, telling an audience in early-voting South Carolina that he will use the coming months pushing back on the liberal agenda", he says is wrong for the country.

We've got to guard our values ... By offering a positive agenda to the American people, grounded in our highest ideals,&nbsp;Pence told an audience of several hundred at a Columbia dinner sponsored by a conservative Christian non-profit that lobbies for what it considers to be biblical values, such as heterosexual marriage.

Now, over the coming months, I'll have more to say about all of that.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="US extends face-mask requirement on planes until September">US extends face-mask requirement on planes until September</a>

The choice of South Carolina for Pence's post-administration debut has definite political overtones, helping him develop exposure for a potential 2024 presidential bid.

The state holds the first presidential primaries in the South, and candidates of both major parties typically spend more than a year in the state ahead of those votes, introducing themselves and trying to secure support.

Republican candidates use South Carolina as a proving ground to test their anti-abortion-rights mettle.

Thursday's event, hosted by Palmetto Family Council, also gave Pence a backdrop for some of the issues for which he long advocated as an Indiana Congressman-turned-governor, such as restrictions on abortion and support for the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Palmetto Family most recently helped push through a ban on most South Carolina abortions, a law now being challenged in federal court.

We will stand with the right of every American, of every faith, to live, to work, to speak and to worship according to the dictates of their conscience," Pence said.

Pence, who since leaving office has been doing work with the Heritage Foundation and Young America's Foundation, has not indicated if he plans a future run.

As vice president, he made numerous trips to South Carolina, meeting several times with Governor&nbsp;Henry McMaster for coronavirus-related forums and campaigning in the state for US&nbsp;Senator&nbsp;Lindsey Graham and US&nbsp;Representative&nbsp;Nancy Mace.

But the question is whether Pence's former boss still looms large for the possible Republican field.

Trump has not explicitly stated his plans but has teased a possible bid. On Thursday morning, asked on Fox Business about running in 2024, Trump said he's 100% thinking about it and would even possibly consider Florida Governor&nbsp;Ron DeSantis as his running mate.

Last month, another possible GOP contender, former UN&nbsp;Ambassador Nikki Haley, said when asked about 2024 by The Associated Press that she would stand down if Trump opted to run again.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has launched an aggressive schedule, visiting states that will play a pivotal role in the 2024 primaries and signing a contract with Fox News Channel.

DeSantis has been courting donors, including in Trump's backyard, with a prominent speaking slot before the former president at a GOP fundraising retreat dinner this month at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida resort where Trump now lives.

Earlier Thursday, South Carolina Democratic Chair Trav Robertson said Pence was coming to the state to "try and salvage his relationship&nbsp;with Trump supporters irked that Pence didn't support efforts to block certification of the 2020 presidential election.

On Thursday, Pence promised to reveal more of his ideas soon, promising that he would be challenging the Biden administration's avalanche of liberal policies as he ramps up speaking engagements around the country. 
We have the winning agenda,&nbsp;Pence told Thursday's crowd.

And now it's incumbent upon us to take that winning agenda to the American people.

In his first public address since the end of the Trump administration, former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday put down a marker for a potential return to elected office, telling an audience in early-voting South Carolina that he will use the coming months pushing back on the liberal agenda", he says is wrong for the country.

In his first public address since the end of the Trump administration, former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday put down a marker for a potential return to elected office, telling an audience in early-voting South Carolina that he will use the coming months pushing back on the liberal agenda", he says is wrong for the country. We've got to guard our values ... By offering a positive agenda to the American people, grounded in our highest ideals, Pence told an audience of several hundred at a Columbia dinner sponsored by a conservative Christian non-profit that lobbies for what it considers to be biblical values, such as heterosexual marriage. Now, over the coming months, I'll have more to say about all of that. Also read: US extends face-mask requirement on planes until September The choice of South Carolina for Pence's post-administration debut has definite political overtones, helping him develop exposure for a potential 2024 presidential bid. The state holds the first presidential primaries in the South, and candidates of both major parties typically spend more than a year in the state ahead of those votes, introducing themselves and trying to secure support. Republican candidates use South Carolina as a proving ground to test their anti-abortion-rights mettle. Thursday's event, hosted by Palmetto Family Council, also gave Pence a backdrop for some of the issues for which he long advocated as an Indiana Congressman-turned-governor, such as restrictions on abortion and support for the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Palmetto Family most recently helped push through a ban on most South Carolina abortions, a law now being challenged in federal court. We will stand with the right of every American, of every faith, to live, to work, to speak and to worship according to the dictates of their conscience," Pence said. Pence, who since leaving office has been doing work with the Heritage Foundation and Young America's Foundation, has not indicated if he plans a future run. As vice president, he made numerous trips to South Carolina, meeting several times with Governor Henry McMaster for coronavirus-related forums and campaigning in the state for US Senator Lindsey Graham and US Representative Nancy Mace. But the question is whether Pence's former boss still looms large for the possible Republican field. Trump has not explicitly stated his plans but has teased a possible bid. On Thursday morning, asked on Fox Business about running in 2024, Trump said he's 100% thinking about it and would even possibly consider Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as his running mate. Last month, another possible GOP contender, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, said when asked about 2024 by The Associated Press that she would stand down if Trump opted to run again. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has launched an aggressive schedule, visiting states that will play a pivotal role in the 2024 primaries and signing a contract with Fox News Channel. DeSantis has been courting donors, including in Trump's backyard, with a prominent speaking slot before the former president at a GOP fundraising retreat dinner this month at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida resort where Trump now lives. Earlier Thursday, South Carolina Democratic Chair Trav Robertson said Pence was coming to the state to "try and salvage his relationship with Trump supporters irked that Pence didn't support efforts to block certification of the 2020 presidential election. On Thursday, Pence promised to reveal more of his ideas soon, promising that he would be challenging the Biden administration's avalanche of liberal policies as he ramps up speaking engagements around the country. We have the winning agenda, Pence told Thursday's crowd. And now it's incumbent upon us to take that winning agenda to the American people.

In first post-office speech, Pence lays down marker for 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday listed the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, adding another shot to its arsenal in the fight against the coronavirus. According to The Hill, the shot from Moderna joins shots from Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-SK Bio, Serum Institute of India and Janssen on WHO's list of emergency use vaccines."

Today, WHO listed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA 1273) for emergency use, making it the fifth vaccine to receive emergency validation from WHO," it said in a statement, according to Sputnik.

WHO experts recommend using the vaccine for patients over 18 years of age. The drug is mRNA-based, it has an efficacy of 94.1 per cent, according to WHO estimates.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Pfizer/BioNTech seek Covid jab approval for 12-15-year-olds in EU">Pfizer/BioNTech seek Covid jab approval for 12-15-year-olds in EU</a>

The vaccine can be stored between -25oC and -15oC, but it can also be stored for up to 30 days at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C.

The addition of Moderna's shot to the WHO's emergency use listing is a prerequisite for it to be a part of COVAX, the programme to disseminate shots to low-income countries.

It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

The US&nbsp;granted emergency use authorisation to the Moderna shot in December, with the European Union following shortly after in January.

The authorisation comes as the world works to ramp up its coronavirus vaccinations to significantly curb the pandemic over a year after it broke out in Wuhan, China.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday listed the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, adding another shot to its arsenal in the fight against the coronavirus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday listed the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, adding another shot to its arsenal in the fight against the coronavirus. According to The Hill, the shot from Moderna joins shots from Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-SK Bio, Serum Institute of India and Janssen on WHO's list of emergency use vaccines." Today, WHO listed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA 1273) for emergency use, making it the fifth vaccine to receive emergency validation from WHO," it said in a statement, according to Sputnik. WHO experts recommend using the vaccine for patients over 18 years of age. The drug is mRNA-based, it has an efficacy of 94.1 per cent, according to WHO estimates. Also read: Pfizer/BioNTech seek Covid jab approval for 12-15-year-olds in EU The vaccine can be stored between -25oC and -15oC, but it can also be stored for up to 30 days at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C. The addition of Moderna's shot to the WHO's emergency use listing is a prerequisite for it to be a part of COVAX, the programme to disseminate shots to low-income countries. It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer the COVID-19 vaccine. The US granted emergency use authorisation to the Moderna shot in December, with the European Union following shortly after in January. The authorisation comes as the world works to ramp up its coronavirus vaccinations to significantly curb the pandemic over a year after it broke out in Wuhan, China.

WHO gives emergency use authorisation to Moderna's COVID-19 jab

Colombia has deployed more police and army units to Cali, its third-biggest city, in a bid to end disturbances and vandalism amid protests against a controversial tax reform, the defense minister said on Friday.

Unions called strikes on Wednesday in Colombia's main cities to demand the government of President Ivan Duque withdraw the reform, which it presented to congress earlier this month as it tries to increase tax income.

The most serious riots and vandalism took place on Wednesday and Thursday in Cali, capital of Colombia's Valle del Cauca province, with banks and government offices attacked, among other incidents.

Also Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/your-story-colombia-witnesses-deadliest-day-of-pandemic-378853/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

One man died on Wednesday following confrontations between protesters and the police, while 55 civilians and more than 40 police officers were injured in the last two days, according to local authorities.

"We have discovered that the violent events in Cali were premeditated, planned and sponsored by criminal organisations. We are taking more men and women from the police and the army to guarantee the defence and security of citizens," Defence Minister Diego Molano told reporters at a briefing.

An additional 2,500 members of security forces will be deployed in Cali, he added.

Cali Mayor Jorge&nbsp;Ivan&nbsp;Ospina estimated that losses due to looting and vandalism amounted to around 80,000,000,000 pesos.

The national protests began despite a court order and pleas from authorities to suspend marches due to fears of contagion while Colombia remains gripped in a third wave of coronavirus infections, which has stretched healthcare to breaking point.

The government said it is willing to modify the tax reform bill via debates in Congress. A majority of political parties, in addition to unions and business associations, reject the proposal.

Colombia has deployed more police and army units to Cali, its third-biggest city, in a bid to end disturbances and vandalism amid protests against a controversial tax reform, the defense minister said on Friday.

Colombia has deployed more police and army units to Cali, its third-biggest city, in a bid to end disturbances and vandalism amid protests against a controversial tax reform, the defense minister said on Friday. Unions called strikes on Wednesday in Colombia's main cities to demand the government of President Ivan Duque withdraw the reform, which it presented to congress earlier this month as it tries to increase tax income. The most serious riots and vandalism took place on Wednesday and Thursday in Cali, capital of Colombia's Valle del Cauca province, with banks and government offices attacked, among other incidents. Also Watch: One man died on Wednesday following confrontations between protesters and the police, while 55 civilians and more than 40 police officers were injured in the last two days, according to local authorities. "We have discovered that the violent events in Cali were premeditated, planned and sponsored by criminal organisations. We are taking more men and women from the police and the army to guarantee the defence and security of citizens," Defence Minister Diego Molano told reporters at a briefing. An additional 2,500 members of security forces will be deployed in Cali, he added. Cali Mayor Jorge Ivan Ospina estimated that losses due to looting and vandalism amounted to around 80,000,000,000 pesos. The national protests began despite a court order and pleas from authorities to suspend marches due to fears of contagion while Colombia remains gripped in a third wave of coronavirus infections, which has stretched healthcare to breaking point. The government said it is willing to modify the tax reform bill via debates in Congress. A majority of political parties, in addition to unions and business associations, reject the proposal.

Colombia ups deployment of security forces to Cali amid violence

At least 12 Covid-19 patients died on Saturday in the latest in a series of hospital fires in India, local media reported, as the country's healthcare system buckles under a surge in cases.

There were around 50 other patients at the four-storey hospital in Bharuch in the western state of Gujarat when the blaze began at 1&nbsp;am (0730 GMT). It has since been put out.

Also read: <a href="Several signs were ignored as India battered by fresh wave of coronavirus">Several signs were ignored as India battered by fresh wave of coronavirus</a>

"As per information at 6.30 am, the death toll in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths," the Press Trust of India quoted a local police official as saying.

On April 23 a fire on the outskirts of Mumbai killed 13 Covid patients, a few days after another blaze left 22 people dead at another clinic, also in Maharashtra state.

Last month 22 other coronavirus patients died at a hospital in the same state when the oxygen supply to their ventilators was disrupted by a leak.

India's healthcare system has long suffered from underfunding, and the new virus outbreak has seen critical shortages in oxygen, drugs and hospital beds, with patients dying outside hospitals in some areas.

At least 12 Covid-19 patients died on Saturday in the latest in a series of hospital fires in India, local media reported, as the country's healthcare system buckles under a surge in cases.

At least 12 Covid-19 patients died on Saturday in the latest in a series of hospital fires in India, local media reported, as the country's healthcare system buckles under a surge in cases. There were around 50 other patients at the four-storey hospital in Bharuch in the western state of Gujarat when the blaze began at 1 am (0730 GMT). It has since been put out. Also read: Several signs were ignored as India battered by fresh wave of coronavirus "As per information at 6.30 am, the death toll in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths," the Press Trust of India quoted a local police official as saying. On April 23 a fire on the outskirts of Mumbai killed 13 Covid patients, a few days after another blaze left 22 people dead at another clinic, also in Maharashtra state. Last month 22 other coronavirus patients died at a hospital in the same state when the oxygen supply to their ventilators was disrupted by a leak. India's healthcare system has long suffered from underfunding, and the new virus outbreak has seen critical shortages in oxygen, drugs and hospital beds, with patients dying outside hospitals in some areas.

Indian hospital's fire kills 12 Covid patients: Reports

Protesters against military rule marched in Myanmar on Saturday three months after a coup ended a democratic transition, with several small blasts compounding a sense of crisis that a UN&nbsp;envoy warned could bring state administration to a halt.

The military has tried to end dissent and impose its authority on a people largely opposed to the return of rule by the generals after 10 years of democratic reforms that included a government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi.

Despite a relentless crackdown in which at least 759 protesters have been killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) advocacy group, crowds come out day after day to reject the junta. 
"Our cause, democracy, our cause, a federal union. Free arrested leaders," protesters chanted at one of two rallies in the main city of Yangon.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi demands meeting with her lawyers in person">Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi demands meeting with her lawyers in person</a>

Suu Kyi, 75, has been detained since the coup the along with many other members of her party. The AAPP says more than 3,400 people have been detained for opposing the military.

People also rallied in the second city of Mandalay and the southern town of Dawei, media reported. 
There were no immediate reports of violence.

Media reported several small blasts in different places including Yangon late on Friday and on Saturday. There were no immediate reports of casualties and no claims of responsibility.

A spokesman for the junta did not answer calls seeking comment. The military has accused pro-democracy activists of planting bombs.

The UN&nbsp;special envoy on Myanmar told the Security Council on Friday that in the absence of a collective international response to the coup, violence was worsening and the running of the state risked coming to a standstill, according to diplomats who attended the private meeting.

Christine Schraner Burgener briefed the 15-member council from Thailand, where she has been meeting regional leaders. She hopes to travel to Myanmar but the military has yet to approve a visit.

"The general administration of the state could risk coming to a standstill as the pro-democracy movement continues in spite of the ongoing use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests and torture as part of the military`s repression," Schraner Burgener said, according to diplomats.

She told diplomats that reports of a continuing crackdown risked undermining momentum toward ending the crisis following a meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on April 25 with the junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Schraner Burgener, expressing concern about rising violence, cited reports of bomb attacks and of civilians, mostly students from the urban areas, getting weapons training from ethnic minority insurgents.

UN&nbsp;special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said Min Aung Hlaing had used the summit as a 'propaganda ploy'.

"Indeed, he tried to appear to be what he is not - a legitimate leader," Andrews said in a post on Twitter.

"The good news: Those who ARE legitimate are ready to engage: the National Unity Government."

Ousted members of parliament from Suu Kyi's party, politicians representing ethnic minorities and democracy activists set up the unity government but it has yet to win the international recognition it says it is due.

The UN&nbsp;Security Council reiterated its 'deep concern' at the situation and its support for Myanmar's democratic transition.

The council has issued several statements since the coup but diplomats say Russia and China are likely to prevent any stronger council action against Myanmar.

Protesters against military rule marched in Myanmar on Saturday three months after a coup ended a democratic transition, with several small blasts compounding a sense of crisis that a UN envoy warned could bring state administration to a halt.

Protesters against military rule marched in Myanmar on Saturday three months after a coup ended a democratic transition, with several small blasts compounding a sense of crisis that a UN envoy warned could bring state administration to a halt. The military has tried to end dissent and impose its authority on a people largely opposed to the return of rule by the generals after 10 years of democratic reforms that included a government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi. Despite a relentless crackdown in which at least 759 protesters have been killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) advocacy group, crowds come out day after day to reject the junta. "Our cause, democracy, our cause, a federal union. Free arrested leaders," protesters chanted at one of two rallies in the main city of Yangon. Also read: Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi demands meeting with her lawyers in person Suu Kyi, 75, has been detained since the coup the along with many other members of her party. The AAPP says more than 3,400 people have been detained for opposing the military. People also rallied in the second city of Mandalay and the southern town of Dawei, media reported. There were no immediate reports of violence. Media reported several small blasts in different places including Yangon late on Friday and on Saturday. There were no immediate reports of casualties and no claims of responsibility. A spokesman for the junta did not answer calls seeking comment. The military has accused pro-democracy activists of planting bombs. The UN special envoy on Myanmar told the Security Council on Friday that in the absence of a collective international response to the coup, violence was worsening and the running of the state risked coming to a standstill, according to diplomats who attended the private meeting. Christine Schraner Burgener briefed the 15-member council from Thailand, where she has been meeting regional leaders. She hopes to travel to Myanmar but the military has yet to approve a visit. "The general administration of the state could risk coming to a standstill as the pro-democracy movement continues in spite of the ongoing use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests and torture as part of the military`s repression," Schraner Burgener said, according to diplomats. She told diplomats that reports of a continuing crackdown risked undermining momentum toward ending the crisis following a meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on April 25 with the junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Schraner Burgener, expressing concern about rising violence, cited reports of bomb attacks and of civilians, mostly students from the urban areas, getting weapons training from ethnic minority insurgents. UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said Min Aung Hlaing had used the summit as a 'propaganda ploy'. "Indeed, he tried to appear to be what he is not - a legitimate leader," Andrews said in a post on Twitter. "The good news: Those who ARE legitimate are ready to engage: the National Unity Government." Ousted members of parliament from Suu Kyi's party, politicians representing ethnic minorities and democracy activists set up the unity government but it has yet to win the international recognition it says it is due. The UN Security Council reiterated its 'deep concern' at the situation and its support for Myanmar's democratic transition. The council has issued several statements since the coup but diplomats say Russia and China are likely to prevent any stronger council action against Myanmar.

Myanmar protesters march three months after coup; UN warns of 'standstill'

Russia on Wednesday ordered the expulsion of seven diplomats from Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian envoys in the wake of Czech accusations that Russian intelligence was behind a deadly 2014 blast. &nbsp;

Moscow and Prague are locked in their biggest row since the end of the Communist era in 1989, which has spiralled into a series of diplomatic disputes with other European Union and NATO countries as Russia's ties with the West linger at post-Cold War lows.&nbsp;

Russia's foreign ministry gave the three Slovak and two Lithuanian diplomats, as well as an envoy from Latvia and another from Estonia, one week to leave Russia.&nbsp;

Russia accused the four countries of showing 'pseudo-solidarity' with the Czech Republic, which ordered most Russian diplomatic staff in Prague to leave last week after accusing Russian spies of being behind the blast at an ammunition depot. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, Bulgaria said on Wednesday prosecutors were collecting evidence on the possible involvement of six Russians in four explosions between 2011 and 2020 at Bulgarian arms depots that were storing munitions destined for export to Ukraine and Georgia.&nbsp;

Russia has branded the Czech accusations absurd and dismissed the Bulgarian probe.&nbsp;

Moscow's latest diplomatic expulsions come days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to draw up a list of 'unfriendly' states that will be subject to restrictions.&nbsp;

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday the list would soon be published. The ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, has already confirmed the United States would be on it. &nbsp;

Izvestia newspaper reported on Tuesday that the list could also include Poland, the Czech Republic and the three Baltic states. &nbsp;

The two suspects named by Czech authorities in the 2014 ammunition depot explosion, known under the aliases Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, were reported by the New York Times in 2019 to be part of the elite Unit 29155 in Russia's GRU military intelligence service. &nbsp;

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after its publication that the article amounted to 'pulp fiction'.&nbsp;

Britain charged the pair in absentia with attempted murder after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Russia denied involvement in that incident.&nbsp;

Russia on Wednesday ordered the expulsion of seven diplomats from Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian envoys in the wake of Czech accusations that Russian intelligence was behind a deadly 2014 blast.

Russia on Wednesday ordered the expulsion of seven diplomats from Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian envoys in the wake of Czech accusations that Russian intelligence was behind a deadly 2014 blast. Moscow and Prague are locked in their biggest row since the end of the Communist era in 1989, which has spiralled into a series of diplomatic disputes with other European Union and NATO countries as Russia's ties with the West linger at post-Cold War lows. Russia's foreign ministry gave the three Slovak and two Lithuanian diplomats, as well as an envoy from Latvia and another from Estonia, one week to leave Russia. Russia accused the four countries of showing 'pseudo-solidarity' with the Czech Republic, which ordered most Russian diplomatic staff in Prague to leave last week after accusing Russian spies of being behind the blast at an ammunition depot. Meanwhile, Bulgaria said on Wednesday prosecutors were collecting evidence on the possible involvement of six Russians in four explosions between 2011 and 2020 at Bulgarian arms depots that were storing munitions destined for export to Ukraine and Georgia. Russia has branded the Czech accusations absurd and dismissed the Bulgarian probe. Moscow's latest diplomatic expulsions come days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to draw up a list of 'unfriendly' states that will be subject to restrictions. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday the list would soon be published. The ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, has already confirmed the United States would be on it. Izvestia newspaper reported on Tuesday that the list could also include Poland, the Czech Republic and the three Baltic states. The two suspects named by Czech authorities in the 2014 ammunition depot explosion, known under the aliases Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, were reported by the New York Times in 2019 to be part of the elite Unit 29155 in Russia's GRU military intelligence service. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after its publication that the article amounted to 'pulp fiction'. Britain charged the pair in absentia with attempted murder after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Russia denied involvement in that incident.

Russia expels diplomats from Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia 

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