Denmark bans COVID-19 vaccines amid reports of blood clots
Denmark is the first country to fully ban the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine over concerns about its link to blood clots in recipients.
World News
U.S. intel chief: Coronavirus originated either from Chinese lab breach or infected animal
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told Congress on Wednesday the COVID-19 pandemic began either from an accident at a Chinese laboratory or through an infected animal who passed it along to humans.
Britain, France, Germany slam Iran for further violating 2015 nuclear deal
Britain, France and Germany criticized Iran on Wednesday for increasing enrichment of uranium to levels banned by the 2015 nuclear deal.
Senior Iran official confirms ‘thousands of centrifuges damaged and destroyed’
A senior Iranian official confirmed Tuesday that the blast at the Natanz nuclear facility, which Tehran blames on Israel, destroyed or damaged thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium.
Biden seeks face-to-face meeting with Putin, urges Russia to ‘de-escalate tensions’
NATO leaders and Russia traded sharp threats Tuesday over a military standoff in Ukraine, with President Biden pressing the Kremlin to de-escalate the situation and suggesting it was time for him and Russian President Vladimir Putin to have a face-to-face talk about Russian provocations.
US To Withdraw All Troops From Afghanistan By Sept. 11
U.S. President Joe Biden will announce that all American troops will leave war-torn Afghanistan by September 11, officials said.
Iran says it will begin 60% uranium enrichment
The Iranian government has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it will begin 60% uranium enrichment, Axios reports. This will be the most serious Iranian violation of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal since the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the agreement in 2018.
World Halts Rollout Of J&J Vaccine Amid Concerns About COVID Jabs
The United States, South Africa, and European Union have “temporarily” halted the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 jab amid mounting global concerns about coronavirus vaccinations.
Russia says the US is an “Adversary”
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday that the US is an “adversary” which works to “undermine Russia’s position on the world stage,” Reuters reports. Ryabkov made his statement while two US warships prepare to sail into the Black Sea this week, an event which Russia says is “provocative.”
Biden to approve $23 billion sale of F-35s to UAE that followed Abraham Accords
The Biden administration has told Congress it will move ahead with a massive arms deal to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced F-35 aircraft, that was signed in the wake of Israel’s normalization deal with the Gulf nation, congressional aides told Reuters on Tuesday.
White House says U.S. wasn’t involved in attack on Iranian nuclear facility
The White House said Monday that the U.S. had no role in the attack on an Iranian nuclear facility that Tehran has blamed on Israel.
Plastic particles proliferate globally, spread by ocean waves and through the air
As bigger pieces of plastic get broken down into smaller and smaller pieces, the pollution becomes harder and harder to see — but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.
South African COVID Variant Affects Vaccinated People More Than Unvaccinated People: Study
The South Africa variant affects those who have been vaccinated (around eight times higher) than those who have not received the vaccine — 5.4% to 0.7% according to a study from Tel Aviv University and Israel’s largest healthcare provider.
Cyber attack on Natanz facility reportedly caused major setback to Iranian nuclear program
Sunday’s cyber attack on the Natanz Iranian nuclear facility caused substantial damage to Iran’s uranium enrichment capability, Israeli and US media have reported. Although no official confirmation has been forthcoming, it is widely believed that Israel, which regards Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, was behind the attack.
St. Vincent: “Only Those Vaccinated Allowed To Flee Rumbling Vulcano’
The prime minister of Saint Vincent island has warned residents fleeing a rumbling volcano that only those vaccinated against the coronavirus can be brought to safety.
Iran Says Attack On Nuclear Plant ‘Nuclear Terrorism’; Israel Suspected
Iran said Sunday that a blackout at the country’s largest uranium enrichment facility was an act of “nuclear terrorism” amid rising tensions with Israel.
Iran Launches Production Of New Centrifuges After Start Of Nuclear Talks In Vienna
Iranian President Hassan Rohani oversaw the launch of a production line of advanced centrifuges on April 10 in an apparent new violation of the 2015 nuclear deal after talks began earlier this week in Vienna aimed at bringing the United States and Iran back into full compliance with the accord.
Rioters battle police in Belfast as Brexit stokes tensions in Northern Ireland
Rioters waged a running battle with police in Belfast on Thursday night, tossing gasoline bombs, setting fires and dodging jets from water cannon, as a week of unrest showed no sign of letting up.
Russia Warns of Full-Scale War in Eastern Ukraine, Blames Kyiv
The recent deployment of Russian troops along Ukraine’s border and Moscow’s indication that it could intervene in the event of a full-scale war in eastern Ukraine are dimming hopes for a peaceful resolution of the conflict that has festered for seven years and cost thousands of lives.
U.S. intelligence report warns of looming ‘catastrophic’ shocks worldwide due to tech, disease
A U.S. intelligence report is warning of a potentially grim set of scenarios in which factors like environmental issues and technology disruptions could have a significantly destabilizing effect on the global order in the near future.