Belarus Olympic Athlete Seeks Asylum In EU
A Belarusian Olympic athlete who criticized her nation’s authoritarian leadership and coaches wants asylum in a European Union nation, Worthy News learned Sunday.
World News
Popular protests, violent crackdown put Biden Iran policy to the test
It started two weeks ago as a small-scale demonstration over water shortages in a remote province, but like other Iranian protests in recent years, the outburst has spread to several major cities with large crowds calling for the downfall of the Iranian regime and chants of “Death to the dictator.”
Taliban rockets hit Kandahar airport, clashes intensify in Afghanistan
Taliban fighters struck Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan with at least three rockets overnight, the insurgent group’s spokesman said on Sunday, adding that the aim was to thwart air strikes conducted by Afghan government forces.
EU Targets Christian Doctors Saying Abortion Is ‘Human Right’
Pro-Life doctors and Christian groups are under pressure after the European Parliament passed a resolution saying that abortion is a “human right” and condemned opponents.
Dubai is coping with its 125-degree heat by using laser-beam-shooting drones to shock rainwater out of clouds
The National Center of Meteorology in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has found a new way to make it rain. It’s using laser-beam-shooting drones to generate rainfall artificially.
US-China Wrangle Over COVID Origins at UN, After US Complains China Is Not Cooperating
The politically charged dispute over the origins of COVID-19 spilled over at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, with the U.S. accusing China trying to “undermine” the investigation and Beijing’s envoy retorting that the U.S. was smearing China in a bid to deflect attention from “its botched response to the pandemic.”
Inquiry Blames Maltese State For Murder Journalist
A public inquiry into the car bomb murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has concluded that the Maltese state failed to protect her.
China Jails Billionaire Who Criticized Leaders
A prominent Chinese billionaire who was outspoken on issues such as human rights has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in China.
Afghan government may fall to Taliban once US troops withdraw
The Afghan government may well fall to the Taliban after the US completes its military withdrawal in August, a US government watchdog reported on Wednesday. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) Afghan security forces are ill-prepared to resist the Taliban militarily, the Voice of America reports.
Iran claims to have arrested spies connected to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency
Iran’s state TV reported Tuesday that Iranian government authorities had arrested members of a group connected to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, the Associated Press reports. The arrests were reported amid protests in Iran over water shortages in Khuzestan province.
China warns Europe stop ‘politicizing origin tracing’ of pandemic, amid speculation on COVID start
China on Wednesday told Brussels to stop “politicizing the issue of origins tracing” after a European Union official called for more investigations.
China Building Massive Nuclear Missile Base, Satellite Images Reveal
China is building a field of more than 100 nuclear missile silos out of range of most U.S. weapons, satellite images reveal.
Iran opens new oil terminal in bid to bypass crucial Strait of Hormuz for exports
Iran opened its first oil terminal in the Gulf of Oman, a move aimed at making Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s regime less dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, often a source of international tension.
Hungarians Protest Against Leaked Spy Scandal
Hungarians demonstrated Monday against the reported spying by the government of hundreds of Hungarians, including critical journalists, activists, and other public figures.
Iran protests spread to Tehran: ‘Death to the Dictator!’
Dozens of Iranians marched down a major street in Tehran on Monday, online videos show, amid ongoing protests over water shortages in southwestern Iran.
France Warned The US In 2015 About The Wuhan Lab It Helped Build, Former COVID-19 Investigator Claims
The U.S. federal government should have stopped funding research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2015 when China reduced its cooperation with the French in building and operating the lab, according to the leader of an investigation into COVID-19’s origins by the State Department under the Trump administration.
Argentina: Citizens have option to identify as ‘X’ on ID card, instead of male or female
In a move welcomed by LGBTQ activists, Argentina now officially allows citizens to place an ‘X’ in their national ID document, instead of male or female, DW reports. The first South American country to make this change, Argentina is following New Zealand, Canada, and Australia in its decision.
Crisis in Lebanon: 71% of people at immediate risk of losing access to clean water
UNICEF reported last week that over 71% of people in Lebanon are at immediate risk of losing access to safe water as a grinding economic crisis causes water pumping to cease across the country. More than 4 million citizens are within ‘highly critical’ and ‘critical’ levels of risk.
Tunisia President Accused Of Coup After Ousting Premier
Tunisia plunged into the worst social unrest in years Monday, with the main political parties accusing the president of staging a coup.
Netherlands Turmoil Over Return Islamic State Fighters (Worthy News In-Depth)
The Dutch are facing social and political unrest over the government’s decision to return at least some of the dozens of mainly female Islamic State group fighters and their 56 children from Syria to the Netherlands. The government views it as a humanitarian and legal obligation. Still, populist parties fear the radicalized returnees may threaten Dutch security.