French “Yellow Vest” Protests Turn Violent; US President Uses His Veto for the First Time

Russia adds S-400 missile defense system to Kaliningrad

S-400 missile defense system. Photo: TASS

An S-400 air defense missile battery entered combat duty in Russia’s Kaliningrad region on March 15. This is the latest addition to Russia’s battalions of S-400 surface-to-air missiles and tactical nuclear-capable Iskander systems deployed in the Baltic Sea since 2016.

Reports of Russia deploying the aforementioned defense systems in Kaliningrad, very close to former NATO territory, have been criticized by some members of the military alliance as a “threat,” especially at a time of escalating tensions between Russia and its Western neighbors.

The Kremlin explains the deployment as purely defensive in nature, saying it is a response to the US missile shield being developed in Eastern Europe.

President Trump vetoes to 'protect' border wall

President Donald Trump announced his veto of a bill that would have overturned the border emergency declaration that had been passed by lawmakers from both parties. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump has used his first veto to reject a bipartisan bill that would have rescinded his border emergency declaration.

According to the New York Times, the bill that was vetoed by Mr. Trump earlier also received important support from Republican members of Congress. This bill rejected the President's declaration of a national emergency at the southwest border to have a basis for using the federal budget to build the wall.

Mr Trump also called the bill that passed the House “dangerous”, “reckless” and “anti-fact”. With this veto, the bill will return to Congress and will almost certainly not receive enough votes to overturn it. This means that Mr Trump’s emergency declaration will remain in effect.

Firefighters try to extinguish fires set by "Yellow Vest" protesters on the Champs Élysées in Paris. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

After weeks of scaling down, the “Yellow Vest” protests resumed in Paris, France on March 16 and quickly turned violent. This is the 18th consecutive week of anti-government protests.

More than 5,000 police officers were deployed to guard against violence. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters, setting up barricades near the Champs Élysées.

Protesters then attacked a police car and tried to get into it. Looting also occurred at several stores on the avenue.

Venezuela creates special force to protect electricity and water infrastructure

President Maduro released photos of the fire at the Petro San Felix Plant on March 13. Photo:AFP

"The Strategic Basic Services Defense Command will be responsible for protecting, maintaining, and operating Venezuela's infrastructure against real-world and cyber attacks,"AFPquoted President Nicolas Maduro speaking on March 16 after establishing a new special task force under the Venezuelan military.

The decision was made after Venezuela suffered a widespread power outage that lasted for days, affecting the lives of millions of people.

President Maduro accused the US and the Western-backed opposition of causing "sabotage" of the power system, saying he would ask the United Nations, Russia, China, Cuba and Iran to investigate the causes behind the "cyber attacks" on the country's power system.

US, France, Germany and UK refuse to support Syria reconstruction

Devastation caused by war in Syria. Photo: Sputnik

The United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom will not participate in the reconstruction of Syria until a "genuine political stabilization process" begins in the country, the message was conveyed in a joint statement on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the conflict in the Arab Republic.

The statement stressed that the above-mentioned countries will continue to seek those responsible for the crimes committed in the Syrian conflict.

Meanwhile, as Syrian President Bashar Assad declared last year, Damascus will have nothing to do with Europe or the United States when it comes to rebuilding the country.

According to the Syrian leader, this nation will rely only on its own strength, if there are difficulties - they will only ask for help from trusted friends.