Venezuela holds largest military exercise in 200 years; President Trump's work schedule revealed

Venezuela holds largest military exercise in history

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered what he calls the “most important” military exercise in the country’s history, aimed at preparing to repel any invasion from the US and its allies.

RT quoted Mr. Maduro as saying that the exercise will last until February 15 and will be the largest armed exercise in Venezuela's 200-year history.

White House urgently seeks source of Trump's work schedule leak

The White House is currently working to track down the source of leaks of President Donald Trump's personal schedule. However, Axios reports that it continues to receive more leaks of Trump's personal schedule.

The magazine has published four more private schedules of the US leader since last week, showing that his "executive time" is even longer than previously reported.

Axios estimates that 60% of Mr. Trump's work time is classified as "executive time" — that is, time spent making phone calls, reading newspapers, tweeting and watching television.

The US President has strongly denied this information and said that such free time should be viewed in a "positive, not negative" perspective.

"During my term, I have generally been working, not resting. In fact, I have worked more hours than most presidents before me," Mr. Trump shared on Twitter.

Brexit issue: UK economy grows at slowest pace in 6 years

London, England. Source: Reuters

The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) released figures showing that in 2018, the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth reached 1.4%, down from 1.8% in 2017 and the lowest level since 2012, while GDP growth in the fourth quarter of last year was only 0.2%.

The ONS report was published amid uncertainty over the UK's exit from the European Union (EU), known as Brexit, and weaker global economic growth.

Palestine accuses US of forcing Arab countries to stop aid to the country

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki. Source: AFP/VNA

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki has accused the US of trying to pressure Arab countries to stop financial aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The information was released in the context of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement accusing Israel and the US of "tightening the financial blockade" against the PA, after Palestine rejected the US-proposed Middle East peace plan.

Japan cuts down on plastic

According to NHK, the Japanese government has decided to cut down on the use of plastic in cafes and shops located inside 200 government agencies, including national universities.

Government contracts with cafes and shops inside government offices will be regulated to ban the use of plastic food containers, straws or cutlery, except for those serving people with disabilities. Convenience store owners will also be required to stop providing plastic bags or straws to customers.

The new regulations will come into effect from April 2019. Japanese Environment Minister Yoshiaki Harada hopes the government's campaign to limit plastics will continue to spread nationwide to help curb the plastic waste that is flooding the world's oceans.