Iran threatens Washington army base, top US general — intelligence officials
Iran has made threats against Fort McNair, an Army base in the nation’s capital, and against the Army’s vice chief of staff, two senior US intelligence officials said.
World News
‘No way to strangle China’: Fiery rhetoric, clashes besiege U.S., Beijing at Alaska meeting
Senior Biden administration officials squared off against their Chinese counterparts in Alaska on Thursday, with the two sides trading charges of global coercion and undermining international order.
Egypt prepares to start move to new capital, away from the chaos of Cairo
Egypt is racing to prepare a grandiose new capital city in the desert east of Cairo before the first civil servants move in this summer and ahead of the delayed official opening of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s flagship project.
Pompeo casts doubt on WHO-China coronavirus origins inquiry and defends Wuhan lab intelligence
Mike Pompeo cast doubt on the credibility of the recent WHO-China investigation into the origins of COVID-19 ahead of its expected report release as the former secretary of state defended the declassified intelligence that seemingly points toward the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Iran has not yet recovered from Natanz explosion hit
Iran has yet to recover from a devastating explosion at its Natanz nuclear facility last July, sources have told The Jerusalem Post, undercutting IAEA reports this week that the Islamic Republic has made progress with advanced centrifuges for enriching uranium.
Iran, Russia and Turkey signal growing alliance
Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was very content during a trip to Turkey on Friday. He said it was productive and smiled alongside his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. He said it was a “wonderful” trip where he spoke with his “brother Cavusoglu.”
Huge asteroid flying closer to Earth than the Moon
A particularly big asteroid will pass by Earth particularly close on Monday night, and the encounter will be streamed live online. Don’t worry: The flyby will be completely safe and doesn’t pose any risk to anything or anyone on Earth or any of our satellites. But asteroid 2021 EQ3 will come closer to Earth than our lone natural satellite.
Report: WHO Granted China Authority To Veto Scientists On Wuhan Mission
The Chinese government maintained tight control of a World Health Organization investigation in Wuhan into the origins of the coronavirus, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, which said that Beijing was granted veto power over which scientists were allowed to take part in the mission.
Study: COVID Reinfection Rare, More Common Over 65
Surviving COVID-19 protects most people against reinfection for at least six months, but elderly patients are more likely to be laid low by the virus a second time, researchers reported Thursday.
Dutch Prime Minister Rutte Wins Election
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was heading towards a fourth term in office as one of Europe’s longest-serving leaders in elections overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Bangladeshi Conjoined Twins Home After Separation
Two Bangladeshi girls who were born conjoined at the head returned to their hometown after they were successfully separated by a team of Hungarian doctors in 2019, officials confirmed.
Court rules Japan’s failure to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
In what campaigners have described as a major landmark victory, a court in Japan has ruled that the country’s failure to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, AFP reports.
US scientists suggest building genetic vault on the moon in case Earth is annihilated
In considering that planet Earth may one day be destroyed, scientists from the University of Arizona have suggested building an underground vault on the moon that would contain a variety of genetic materials and act as a “global insurance policy,” Technology Times reports.
Iran now using advanced new centrifuges to enrich uranium at Natanz plant
Iran has begun using the highly advanced new IR-4 centrifuge to enrich uranium at its Natanz plant in a further breach of its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, the Reuters news agency reported Tuesday, citing a UN atomic watchdog document.
‘Three Warfares’: U.S. pummeled by covert disinformation war waged by Russia, China
China and Russia are engaged in sophisticated information warfare against the United States, spreading false narratives to undermine social cohesion and sow division, senior Pentagon intelligence officials disclosed Tuesday.
Moderna to launch COVID-19 vaccine trial on children as young as 6 months old
Moderna, the maker of one of three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use in the U.S., announced Tuesday it will start testing its vaccine on children as young as 6 months old.
Italy, France, Germany join countries that have suspended AstraZeneca vaccine
Italy and Germany on Monday joined Ireland and Holland as the latest European Union member states to suspend the use of the British-Swedish AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Reuters reports. The decisions follow Norwegian reports of blood clots and brain hemorrhages among people who had taken the shot; Denmark, Norway, and Bulgaria have also suspended use of the vaccine.
Myanmar Army Kills Over 100 Protestors
Myanmar’s military rulers declared martial law in a large area of the country’s largest city Yangon after security forces killed more than 100 pro-democracy protesters since Saturday.
Iranian foreign minister says US should quickly rejoin Iran deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday that the US should quickly rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran deal, because the upcoming Iranian elections may hinder any talks about it, the Washington Times reports. The JCPOA is a treaty under which international sanctions on Iran would be removed in exchange for the regime’s adherence to limits on its nuclear program.
Netherlands Holding Elections Overshadowed By Pandemic Tensions
The Netherlands faces the first significant test of a European Union government’s COVID-19 policies this year. This week the nation is holding parliamentary elections amid one of the strictest lockdown measures in Europe.