Erdogan Converts Another Historic Church into a Mosque
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reconverted another historic Byzantine church into a mosque on Friday just weeks after opening the iconic Hagia Sophia to Muslim worship.
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Iran official says sabotage caused fire at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site
A fire at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility last month was the result of sabotage, the spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation told state TV channel al-Alam on Sunday.
Iran unveils two new missiles as UN fails to extend expiring arms embargo
Iran announced Thursday that is has unveiled two new missiles, each of which has been named after a senior military official killed in US drone strikes this year, Fox News reports. The announcement follows a United Nations Security Council vote in which only the Dominican Republican backed a US request to extend an arms embargo on Iran which expires in October; the embargo will therefore not be extended.
NATO Denies Assembling Troops At Belarus Border
Member states of the NATO military alliance are denying allegations by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that their troops are preparing to invade Belarus. The wrangling came ahead of Sunday’s expected massive protests against the authoritarian head-of-state.
Belarus Detains Key Opposition Leaders As Unrest Spreads
Authorities in Belarus have detained the leader of striking factory workers and several opposition figures for rallying against the country’s autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko.
Poisoned’ Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Rushed To Berlin Hospital
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been airlifted from Russia to a hospital in Berlin for suspected poisoning.
’Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Poisoned’
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been rushed to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Russia’s Siberia region after falling ill from suspected poisoning, his spokeswoman says.
World Bank Chief: COVID May Have Pushed 100M Into Extreme Poverty
The coronavirus pandemic may have driven as many as 100 million people back into extreme poverty, World Bank President David Malpass warned Thursday.
Iran Unveils Two New Missiles Amid U.S. Tensions
Iran has displayed what it described as two new ballistic and cruise missiles, in defiance to U.S. calls that Tehran halt its missile program.
Church Leaders Urge Prayers For Belarus As Protests Grow
Catholic and Orthodox Church leaders call for prayers for the people of Belarus, and urge the government to end a crackdown on opposition supporters.
Trump: US to demand ‘snap back’ of UN sanctions against Iran
President Trump said his administration will call for all United Nations sanctions against Iran to be reimposed after the United States failed to extend a U.N. arms embargo.
U.S. ends 3 bilateral agreements with Hong Kong over new law
In a move that is expected to further heighten tensions between Washington and Beijing, the Trump administration on Wednesday suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong.
Hezbollah Has ‘Taken Hostage’ Lebanese People’s Future, Israel Says
Israel‘s Foreign Ministry reacted to the verdict in the case of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri’s assassination by saying Hezbollah had “taken hostage” the future of the Lebanese people.
DOJ Arrests Former CIA Officer for Chinese Espionage
The Department of Justice on Monday announced the arrest of a former CIA officer on charges of leaking sensitive information to Chinese intelligence officials.
US, Russia still at odds over new nuclear arms treaty
United States and Russia concluded two days of arms control talks Tuesday with the two sides still at odds over the US demand to include China in any new treaty, but showing signs of a possible willingness to extend the existing New START deal, which expires next year.
Japan’s economy suffers sharpest contraction since 2008 financial crisis
Japan’s economy has suffered its strongest contraction, shrinking an annualized 27.8% in April-June amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported Monday. This was steeper than the worse decline suffered in the 2008 financial crisis.
Belarus TV Joins Strike As Unrest Spreads
The Belarusian state-run television staff has joined strikes and spreading protests against long-time authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The unrest erupted in earnest following the August 9 disputed re-election of the president for a sixth term.
US troops attacked in eastern Syria, officials say
U.S. forces stationed in eastern Syria were attacked Monday morning, officials said, reporting no casualties.
Belarus Leader Warns: Russia Provides ‘Security’ As Protests Grow
Thousands of demonstrators in Belarus have retaken to the streets to demand that the nation’s authoritarian leader resigns after a presidential vote they claimed was rigged. In response, President Alexander Lukashenko declared that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had agreed to provide security assistance to restore order if Belarus requested.
Iran, EU Reject U.S. Plan To Trigger ‘Snapback’ Of Sanctions
Iran and the European Union have rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to trigger a “snapback” of sanctions on Iran at the United Nations under a provision of the Iran nuclear deal.