Mario Draghi Italy’s New Prime Minister
The former head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has been sworn-in as Italy’s prime minister after political turmoil over coronavirus policies.
World News
China bans BBC World News from showing in the country in what appears to be an act of retaliation
China has barred BBC World News from airing in the country, a move that comes not long after the British broadcasting license for a Chinese state-owned entity called CGTN was revoked.
China rapidly expanding military assets in South China Sea, admiral says
China’s military increased both warship and warplane missions in the South China where two U.S. aircraft carriers recently conducted operations to bolster international rights to the seas there, the commander of a carrier strike group in the region said.
UN Atomic Watchdog Says Iran Has Started Producing Uranium Metal In Violation Of 2015 Accord
Iran has begun producing small amounts of uranium metal, the UN atomic watchdog said on February 10, in the latest breach of Tehran’s 2015 deal with world powers as it seeks to ramp up pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden’s new administration.
WHO’s COVID Investigator Is Recipient Of Chinese Communist Cash, Worked With Wuhan Lab For 18 Years
Peter Daszak’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party call into question the validity of his and the World Health Organization (WHO) investigative team which concluded that it is “extremely unlikely” COVID-19 came from a Chinese Communist Party lab. Their claims echo Chinese Communist Party narratives, and Daszak himself implored the world to not “rely” on U.S. intelligence for it is “wrong on many aspects” and “politically charged.”
UN Security Council fail to agree joint declaration on Syria
The United Nations Security Council was unable to reach agreement on a joint declaration about the devastating war in Syria after yet another round of UN peace talks on Tuesday, i24News reports. It was hoped a new declaration would revive the grid-locked peace talks.
Documents: ‘German Government Hired Scientists To Create Fear And Justify Lockdowns’
Germany’s Interior Ministry hired scientists to help create an atmosphere of fear to justify government-imposed lockdowns and other restrictive measures during the coronavirus pandemic, internal documents show, prompting outrage among opposition leaders.
Thousands of Christians Flee Myanmar Bombardments’
Thousands of Christian villagers have reportedly fled bombardments in Myanmar since the coup that ousted the nation’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on February 1.
Iran threatens to build nuclear weapons, accusing US of backing it into a corner
Iran will build nuclear weapons if Tehran’s demands regarding economic sanctions are not met, according to a top government official.
Haitians Alarmed After President Retires 3 Supreme Court Justices
Haitian President Jovenel Moise has retired three Supreme Court justices, two days after announcing a foiled coup attempt.
Blinken says US returning to ‘flawed’ UN Human Rights Council
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday that the Biden administration had decided to return the US to the UN Human Rights Council, reversing the departure by former president Donald Trump, who cited ongoing Israel bias by the body in his decision to leave.
North Korea developed nuclear, missile programs in 2020: U.N. report
North Korea maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programs throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions, helping fund them with some $300 million stolen through cyber hacks, according to a confidential United Nations report seen by Reuters on Monday.
Pope Francis Calls For Economic Revolution
Pope Francis urged world leaders to use the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to “rethink the relationship between individuals and the economy,” in his annual foreign policy address to the Holy See diplomatic corps on Monday.
Attempted Coup Foiled in Haiti, Justice Minister Says
Haitian authorities said Sunday they had foiled an attempt to kill President Jovenel Moise and overthrow the government, as a dispute rages over when his term ends.
COVID-19: South Africa halts rollout of Oxford/AstraZeneca jab due to ‘limited protection’ as Britons face needing a third jab
South Africa is suspending its rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine after findings suggested it offers limited protection against mild disease caused by the COVID-19 variant discovered there.
Iran’s Khamenei: US must lift sanctions before we return to nuclear deal
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the United States must lift all sanctions before Tehran reverses any nuclear production steps.
IAEA: Samples from two secret Iranian sites contain radioactive particles
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told three diplomats that samples taken from two secret sites in Iran last fall contained a smattering of radioactive material, the Wall Street Journal reported.
EU Furious As Russia Expels German, Swedish, and Polish Diplomats
Amid mounting international pressure over its perceived crackdown on dissent, Russia has expelled three diplomats from Germany, Sweden, and Poland, prompting an angry response from the European Union. Moscow says the diplomats joined unauthorized protests supporting opposition activist Alexei Navalny, who was jailed earlier this week.
US warship crosses through Taiwan Strait for first time in Biden presidency
The USS John S. McCain sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, its first such operation since Joe Biden took office.
American, European sources say Iran will be put on the table, and soon
The US, British, French and German foreign ministers are expected to have a conversation soon to discuss how to revive the Iran nuclear deal abandoned by former US President Donald Trump, four sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.