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Georgia reacts angrily to EU suspension of visa-free travel

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Georgia reacts angrily to EU suspension of visa-free travel

The European Commission had proposed to suspend the visa-free travel regime for Georgian diplomats and officials in response to the violent crackdown on protesters, who took to the streets for weeks to denounce the ruling party’s gradual pivot away from Europe and towards Russia.

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Georgia has reacted angrily to the suspension of a mutual visa-free travel agreement by the European Union. 

The development may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for visas when travelling to an EU member state. 

Speaking to Euronews a day after the announcement of the suspension, Georgian foreign minister Maka Botochorishvili called the decision “politically wrong.” 

“Legally, it is absolutely groundless and nonsense. There is no proof or explanation how Georgian diplomats are creating threats or threatening public order in the European Union or EU member states,” she said.  

“I just think that it is absolutely against European values or something that we refer to very often, and that is very unfortunate.”  

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‘Intention to be part of the EU’ still there

The decision by the European Council came in response to controversial laws that the Georgian parliament passed last year that undermine basic democratic rights, according to Brussels. 

It was described as a reaction to the adoption of controversial Georgian laws on foreign influence and family values

Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak said “fundamental rights and democratic values are core principle of EU integration,” adding that officials from a country “which trample down these values should not benefit from easier access to the EU.” 

Botchorishvili rejected this notion – stressing Georgia’s willingness to pursue its path to EU membership. 

“Georgia has been a dedicated partner for the European Union and that is not just empty words,” she said, adding that her country “is there with this intention to be part of the European Union. And we are very serious about that.” 

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Following a decision of the Georgian government in November 2024, the opening of negotiations with the EU about membership is suspended until 2028. 

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Mexican president orders retaliatory tariffs against U.S.

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Mexican president orders retaliatory tariffs against U.S.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Saturday she ordered her economy minister to implement tariff and non-tariff measures to defend her country’s interests, after the U.S. slapped across-the-board duties on goods coming from Mexico.
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Jailed ex-Pakistani PM Imran Khan draws parallels to President Trump in fight for justice

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Jailed ex-Pakistani PM Imran Khan draws parallels to President Trump in fight for justice

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FIRST ON FOX: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was jailed last month on charges of corruption, is being compared by supporters to President Donald Trump given the way they say authorities in Pakistan have persecuted him. 

Many have linked his situation to Trump’s and blamed the government for jailing the popular former prime minister. Khan’s plight has also been highlighted by longtime Trump ally and adviser Richard Grenell, who took to social media late last year when he tweeted, “Free Imran Khan!”

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A Pakistani court sentenced Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 14 and seven years in jail after finding them guilty of corruption. They were convicted for allegedly accepting land as a bribe through the Al-Qadir Trust, which they had set up while Khan was in office. Khan, however, maintains his innocence, describing the events as a “witch hunt” in exclusive comments to Fox News Digital. It is just one of the more than 100 cases he is facing.  

PAKISTANI COURT SENTENCES EX-PM IMRAN KHAN AND HIS WIFE TO 14 AND 7 YEARS IN PRISON IN GRAFT CASE

President Donald Trump greets Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House, July 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

In response to Fox News Digital questions about Khan’s conviction, Pakistan’s federal minister for information and broadcasting, Ata Ullah TararIn, defended Khan’s conviction. “The 190 million pound case is one of the biggest corruption cases in the history of Pakistan, and it is a mega scam in which former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been found to be guilty. There is irrefutable evidence that they not only used the official position to grant illegal favor to a property tycoon, but they also received gratification and formed a sham trust in order to grant this favor to a property tycoon.”

He continued, “This is corruption of the highest order, and the former prime minister has been convicted on the basis of irrefutable evidence of corruption and this, this scam, which is the biggest scam in the history of Pakistan, has reached its legal conclusion.”

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Khan has denied the charges and says his 2023 arrest and consequent sentencing was a plot to stop him from returning to office.

Supporters of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan

Supporters of Imran Khan chant slogans during a protest against the Pakistan Election Commission, in Lahore, Pakistan, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Khan’s responses to Fox News Digital questions came via his spokespeople, who communicated them with the former prime minister. Khan noted the parallels between himself and Trump, saying the two shared similar experiences. “The world today needs steadfast leadership that champions peace, democracy, and human rights, and I hope that his leadership can contribute to that vision”. 

Trump’s and Khan’s experiences with the authorities share are a key similarity, but their stories mirror each other in ways that go beyond just that.

While Trump transformed the U.S. political scene with his “Make America Great Again” movement, Khan energized Pakistanis with his “Naya Pakistan” (New Pakistan) vision. And in a manner similar to Trump, Khan did away with the elitism of politics, focusing on the average person instead.

Khan told Fox News Digital that his political party “is an inclusive party that represents the diverse fabric of Pakistan.” He noted that while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was initially perceived as a party of the educated elite, that notion was “quickly dispelled.”

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FORMER PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER IMRAN KHAN ARRESTED ON CORRUPTION CHARGES BY POLICE

Imran Khan

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, his wife, speak to the media at an office of Lahore High Court in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 17, 2023. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary, File)

Khan continued, the “PTI resonates with people from all walks of life – rural and urban, middle class and marginalized – and it’s because our policies prioritize inclusion, merit and justice.” He added, “We represent all provinces, castes and religions, ensuring that every voice has a place in shaping Pakistan’s future. This inclusivity is what makes us the largest national party, uniting Pakistan under the principles of equity and fairness.” 

Zuhair Ahmed, a waiter from Lahore, told Fox News Digital, “Imran Khan resonates with a diverse crowd from all ethnic groups and religious sects. We have never seen a leader who has this much grassroots support-base. That’s the beauty of it, and we are confident that he will return to power and make the country better.”

Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, hold a rally on Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

PAKISTAN PREPARES FOR PIVOTAL ELECTION AS ONE OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES SERVES JAIL TIME

In Pakistan’s turbulent politics, it has been observed by some analysts that “Allah, the army and America” are the key to rule. Since Trump’s return to office, the South Asian nation has been buzzing with speculation and hope over whether he will force Khan’s release. The two have a friendly relationship, with Trump calling Khan “a very good friend of mine” at a 2020 forum in Davos. The two first met in Washington in July 2019, which at the time was considered a reset for U.S.-Pakistan relations.

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Shortly after Trump’s win in November, Grenell wrote on X “Watch Pakistan… Their Trump-like leader is in prison on phony charges, and the people have been inspired by the U.S. Red Wave. Stop the political prosecutions around the world!” 

Ric Grenell and Donald Trump at table

Richard Grenell has stated his support for freeing Imran Khan on social media. (Justin Merriman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Zulfikar Bukhari, special assistant to Khan, told Fox News Digital “They say Grenell seems to be the second most popular man in Pakistan due to his tweet supporting Khan.” He added that Trump prevailed in a similar situation, and “it’s only a matter of time before Khan also returns.”

Khan tweeted his congratulations to Trump on winning November’s presidential election, noting, “The will of the American people held against all odds.” 

When it comes to national priorities, Trump and Khan have put the economy at the forefront. Khan has also asserted that Pakistan will thrive when he makes his comeback. The country’s economy has teetered on the verge of collapse over the past few years. 

“Economic diplomacy will be central to my approach. Pakistan is rich in natural resources, yet we have barely scratched the surface of our potential in agriculture, industrialization, and IT,” Khan stated. “These sectors hold immense promise, both domestically and globally.”

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Explaining his aspirations, Khan concluded, “Rather than relying on handouts, we must focus on self-sufficiency and leveraging our strengths to build sustainable economic relationships. With a population of 250 million, what succeeds internally can and should be positioned globally, creating opportunities for trade and investment that benefit the nation and our international partners alike.” 

Khan’s message to his supporters and foes alike, “The people of Pakistan have never been more awake or more determined. They see with clarity what is happening to their nation, and they understand the forces at play. I firmly believe that truth and justice will ultimately prevail. And as long as I have breath, I will continue to fight for this cause and for a Pakistan that reflects the will and aspirations of its people.”

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Israel’s Netanyahu travels to US to discuss second phase of Gaza ceasefire

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Israel’s Netanyahu travels to US to discuss second phase of Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to the United States to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire agreed with Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, his office says.

Negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire are due to begin in Washington, DC on Monday, Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday as the Israeli leader departed for the US.

US President Donald Trump, who has claimed credit for the ceasefire deal signed on January 19, is expected to host Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday – Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration for a second term.

Netanyahu’s US trip comes two weeks into the first phase of the ceasefire that is set to free 33 Israeli captives in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The second phase is expected to cover the release of the remaining captives and to include discussions on a more permanent end to the war.

The Gaza ceasefire paused 15 months of an Israeli genocide in the enclave that killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities.

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Speaking at Tel Aviv airport before his departure, Netanyahu said he and Trump would discuss “victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terror axis” in the Middle East.

Netanyahu called it “telling” that he would be the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his inauguration. “I think it’s a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance,” he said.

It is also Netanyahu’s first US trip since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him in November for alleged war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip.

The US, which has previously praised the ICC decision to issue a warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in relation to the Ukraine war, is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.

Senior US politicians are trying to sanction the international court over the arrest warrants of Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and have threatened to blacklist its top prosecutors and their families.

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Fragile ceasefire

How committed Trump and Netanyahu are to advancing the ceasefire remains to be seen. Netanyahu is under immense pressure from his far-right government partners to abandon the deal after the first phase and restart the attacks on Gaza.

Trump, for his part, has given mixed signals on the prospect of a permanent end to the war. Asked on January 20, shortly after being sworn in, if he was confident the truce in Gaza would hold, he said: “I’m not confident.”

“It’s not our war, it’s their war,” he added.

More recently, Trump has also proposed to ethnically “clean out” Gaza, insisting Arab states Egypt and Jordan should take in displaced Palestinians from the enclave, a prospect they roundly rejected.

Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at University College Dublin, told Al Jazeera the second phase of the Gaza deal faces pressure from multiple sides. He said Israeli captives still held in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons would only be released if elements of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire could remain in place.

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“Here, you’re talking about four sides of pressure around Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump,” he said.

There is pressure from the hard right in Israel, especially from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from inside the cabinet and former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, he said.

“They don’t want a phase two. They want a military government in Gaza, they want displacement of Palestinians, and they’re actually talking about returning to war already.”

Then there is pressure from elements in Israel who think their priority should be the return of all captives.

On the other hand, Lucas said, Hamas will continue to resist Israeli efforts to eliminate the group from Gaza, and Palestinians are rejecting military occupation.

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“Fourth is Donald Trump, who wants to be a peacemaker, but who is also staunchly pro-Israel to the extent that his solution to bring peace is to send all the Gaza residents to Egypt and Jordan. So there’s no way to square those four sides to get a phase two at this point.”

Occupied West Bank settlements

Also on the agenda during Netanyahu’s visit could be Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Smotrich, who opposes the ceasefire and is a vocal settlement advocate, urged Netanyahu to raise the issue.

“We must strengthen our grip and sovereignty over the homeland in Judea and Samaria,” Smotrich said in a message directed at Netanyahu, referring to the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu’s early meeting with Trump marks a clear departure from his ties with the previous US administration, which, despite being Israel’s largest arms supplier, had criticised its war conduct and paused some military shipments.

Trump has declared himself the most pro-Israel president in US history and appointed senior diplomats who openly support far-right Israeli factions, including their push to annex the occupied West Bank.

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