Trump says Iran deal decision coming ‘very shortly’
President Donald Trump says he will ‘very shortly’ announce his decision on U.S. participation in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, as aides prepared for an end-of-the-week rollout.
World Headlines
U.S. Warship Sails Near Islands Beijing Claims in South China Sea
A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Tuesday, three U.S. officials told Reuters, even as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks Chinese cooperation in dealing with North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.
UK reaffirms commitment to Iran nuclear deal in call with Trump
Prime Minister Theresa May has reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to a 2015 Iran nuclear deal in a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump ahead of a key US decision on whether Tehran has stuck to the terms of the pact.
U.S. officials ramp up rhetoric against Iran-backed Hezbollah
U.S. officials elevated their public condemnation of Hezbollah on Tuesday, adding two of the Iran-backed terror group’s top operatives to a special State Department most-wanted list and asserting that all of the group’s factions — even those holding political office in Lebanon — are part of the same terrorist operation.
IMF Says Venezuela’s Inflation Rate May Rise Beyond 2,300% in 2018
Venezuela’s triple-digit annual inflation rate is set to jump to more than 2,300 percent in 2018, the highest estimate for any country tracked by the International Monetary Fund.
Catalan leader under pressure to drop independence
Catalonia’s secessionist leader faced increased pressure on Monday to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain, with France and Germany expressing support for the country’s unity.
Moscow says escalation of tension on Korea peninsula unacceptable
Any escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula is unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on Monday.
Russia threatens US media with legal crackdown
Russia on Monday threatened US media operating in the country with new legal restrictions after Kremlin-controlled broadcaster RT complained of persecution by Washington.
Huge demonstration against Catalan independence in Barcelona
Hundreds of thousands of people are marching in Barcelona to demand Catalonia rejects independence and stays with Spain.
U.S. approves possible $15 billion sale of THAAD missiles to Saudi Arabia
The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of a THAAD anti-missile defense system to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $15 billion, the Pentagon said on Friday, citing Iran among regional threats.
Study Shows Link between Abortion and Breast Cancer in China
Abortion is widespread in China, due to the country’s One Child Policy, and now the updated, but hardly less restrictive, Two Child Policy. Reports have emerged of Chinese women being forced to undergo abortions or face harsh consequences, but to make matters worse, a study has now been released that shows a link between abortions and breast cancer in women, according to LifeNews.com.
Iran’s foreign minister urges Europe to defy US if Trump sinks nuclear deal
Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has called on Europe to defy US sanctions if the Trump administration torpedoes the international nuclear agreement with Tehran.
Islamic State driven out of last stronghold in northern Iraq
Iraqi forces announced on Thursday they had captured Islamic State’s last stronghold in northern Iraq, leaving the militant group holed up near the Syrian border as its self-proclaimed ‘caliphate’ shrinks further.
US seeks ‘new Israel’ in region, Khamenei says of Iraq Kurd referendum
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that the United States and Israel were some of the only countries benefiting from the recent referendum in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and that Washington and other Western powers were seeking to ‘create a new Israel’ in the Middle East.
Iran nuclear negotiator gets 5 years for espionage
An Iranian negotiator who helped clinched the 2015 nuclear deal has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of espionage in Iran.
3 U.S. Army Green Berets killed in Niger likely attacked by al-Qaeda militants
U.S. officials said three U.S. Army special operations commandos were killed Wednesday and two others were wounded when they came under fire in southwest Niger.
UK: Amber Rudd: viewers of online terrorist material face 15 years in jail
People who repeatedly view terrorist content online could face up to 15 years behind bars in a move designed to tighten the laws tackling radicalisation the home secretary, Amber Rudd, is to announce on Tuesday.
US votes against UN resolution condemning the death penalty for gay sex – joining Iraq and Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration has come under fire for joining with Iraq and Saudia Arabia on voting against a UN resolution condemning the death penalty for gay sex.
Russia says its strikes killed hundreds of IS in east Syria
Russia’s military says its airstrikes in eastern Syria this week killed more than 300 Islamic State militants.
Five held after ‘failed bomb attempt’ in upmarket Paris district
Five people are in custody after an apparent failed bomb attempt in an upmarket district of Paris.