AP, Moscow
A top Russian diplomat says Russia is willing to negotiate a new nuclear weapons treaty with the United States and China.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters on Friday Moscow is closely following reports in the United States that the U.S. would like to reach a nuclear weapons deal with both Russia and China, and is “willing” to negotiate. The story was reported by CNN earlier Friday.
Macron’s attempt to quell yellow vest protests satisfy few
AP, Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron is satisfying few of his critics as he tries to quell five months of yellow vest protests with a mix of tax cuts and attempts to bridge the gap between the Paris elite and the rest of the country.
With promises of a tax cut for 15 million people, an end to the shuttering of rural hospitals and schools and the closure of the national administration school – his alma mater – Macron’s speech was an attempt to meet some of the demands of the protesters who have shaken his presidency.
Mine blast in Ukraine kills 4: 13 missing
AP, Moscow
Separatist officials in rebel-held eastern Ukraine say a methane blast at a coal mine has killed at least four people and 13 others are believed to be missing.
The Luhansk Information Center on Friday quoted emergency responders as saying that four bodies have been recovered from the mine in the village of Yurivka, west of the regional capital Luhansk.
Texas border mayor charged with trying to rig own election
AP, Austin, Texas
A Texas mayor on the U.S.-Mexico border was charged Thursday with trying to cheat his way into office through an illegal voting scheme in a region long plagued by public corruption scandals.
The arrest of Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina also comes at a time of heightened tension over voting in Texas, where Republicans in the coming weeks want to toughen penalties for election crimes over opposition from Democrats.
Meanwhile, a bungled search in January for non-citizens on Texas’ voter rolls set off lawsuits and questions from Congress .
