US Targets Maduro-Picked Top Legislator, Six Others in Fresh Venezuelan Sanctions

Canadian Nuclear Station ‘Incident’ Alert Was Sent in Error: Officials

A local politician, Syliva Jones, also stressed there “was no incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station that should have triggered public notification. Nor was there ever any danger to the public or environment.” Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan said he’s demanding a full investigation into the matter. “Like many of you, I was very troubled to have received that emergency alert this morning. While I am relieved that there was no actual emergency, I am upset that an error such as this occurred. I have spoken to the Province, and am demanding that a full investigation take place,” Ryan said via Twitter.

WASHINGTON—The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan government officials it said led a bid by Venezuelan socialist President Nicolas Maduro to wrest control of the country’s congress from U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Earlier this month, troops blocked Guaido from entering congress long enough for the Socialist Party to declare allied legislator Luis Parra as head of parliament.

Opposition legislators in a separate session on Jan. 5 re-elected Guaido and later returned to the legislative palace to hold a session.

Washington blacklisted Parra and six other current or former officials “who, at the bidding of Maduro, attempted to block the democratic process in Venezuela,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, left, who many nations have recognized as the country’s rightful interim ruler, arrives at the National Assembly in Caracas, where he is due to be voted in for a second term as parliament speaker, on Jan. 5, 2020. (Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images)

Sanctions prohibit access to U.S. financial markets, freeze any assets in U.S. control and prohibit those in the United States from any transactions with those targeted.

The other Maduro-aligned National Assembly delegates blacklisted on Monday are Jose Noriega, Franklyn Duarte, Jose Brito, Conrado Perez, Adolfo Superlano and Negal Morales.

This article is from the Internet:US Targets Maduro-Picked Top Legislator, Six Others in Fresh Venezuelan Sanctions

Taiwan President Meets With US Official After Election Win

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Fresh from a landslide reelection victory, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taipei on Jan. 12. William Brent Christensen, a U.S. diplomat who is director of the American Institute in Taiwan, congratulated Tsai on her victory in Saturday’s election, and she thanked him for his support. The United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is legally bound to ensure that the island can defend itself against threats. Tsai has sought closer relations with the United States while pushing back against pressure from the Chinese regime. China considers self-governed Taiwan a part of its territory and opposes any official contact with the United States as an interference in its domestic affairs. Since the Nationalist Party fled to the island upon…