Iran reports explosion at plant that reportedly produces UAVs
At least nine people were injured in a blast on Sunday at a plant producing explosive materials in Iran’s central province of Isfahan, ISNA news agency reported.
World News
Intelligence on Sick Staff at Wuhan Lab Fuels Debate On Covid-19 Origin
Three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, according to a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report that could add weight to growing calls for a fuller probe of whether the Covid-19 virus may have escaped from the laboratory.
North Korea building MIRVS, tactical nukes
Army Gen. Paul LaCamera, nominated to be the next commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, told the Senate this week that North Korea is building small warheads, tactical nuclear arms and multiple warhead missiles.
Belarus Detains Journalist After Forcing Plane To Land
European leaders have condemned Belarusian authorities after a passenger plane traveling between two European capitals was forced to land, and a prominent opposition journalist was detained.
Fourteen Dead In Italy Cable Car Crash
At least 14 people have died, including one of two children rushed to hospital after a cable car crashed to the ground in Verbania, in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, officials say.
EU reaches deal on approving COVID ‘travel pass’
European Union lawmakers and member states on Thursday reached an agreement that would allow anyone in the bloc to obtain digital proof of coronavirus vaccination status, COVID test results, or recovery from an infection.
U.S. Treasury floats global corporate tax of at least 15%
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday offered to accept a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15% during international negotiations, a rate significantly below its proposed 21% minimum for U.S. multinational firms.
Indonesia Crackdown On Anti-Palestine Views Through Social Media
Indonesian authorities are cracking down on youngsters using social media to condemn Palestinians in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Dutch King Opens Slavery Exhibition Showing Unhealed Wounds
Her powerful voice trembled as she carefully sang her song in Papiamentu’ Vlemayo.’ It narrates the horrific story of a mother incapable of protecting her newborn child against famine, drought, diseases, and other threats.
India’s Catholic Church Struggling With COVID Deaths Among Priests
India’s Catholic Church says the coronavirus pandemic is killing many Catholic leaders. Some 160 Catholic priests have died from Covid-19 in the past five weeks, or an average of 4 each day, according to figures published Monday.
Christian Group Wants Australia, Britain, and New Zealand To Recognize Armenian Genocide
A leading human rights group is petitioning that governments of Australia, New Zealand, and Britain recognize the systemic killing of some 1.5 million mainly Christian Armenians systemic by Ottoman Empire forces as “genocide.”
Super Flower Blood Moon 2021: Where, when and how to see the supermoon lunar eclipse
On the night of May 25-27, observers in Oceania, Hawaii, eastern Asia and Antarctica will see a lunar eclipse that coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth — making it a “supermoon” eclipse that will turn the moon reddish — also known as a “blood moon.” (The dates of this eclipse span two days because the area it will be visible spans the international date line).
Russia, U.S. tout cooperation ahead of Arctic Council meeting
ith a warming climate melting more Arctic ice cover and global industries eager to exploit the region for shipping, fishing, drilling and mining, the United States and Russia sounded a rare, cooperative note going into an Arctic meeting this week.
France: Macron, Egypt’s Sisi, Jordan King to Hold Talks Seeking Mideast Ceasefire
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II will hold talks Tuesday aimed at seeking a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, the French presidency said.
Russia Urged To Unfreeze Bank Accounts Of US Broadcaster
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) said Monday that Russian authorities should unfreeze the bank accounts of U.S.- funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and cease labeling media outlets as “foreign agents.”
German court upholds ban on prayer vigil outside abortion advice center
A German has court has upheld a municipality ban on prayer vigils held in front of a pre-abortion advisory center, Catholic World reports. On May 14 the Karlsruhe Administrative Court dismissed a challenge to the ban by Pavica Vojnović, who had organized bi-annual prayer vigils outside the Pro Familia advice center, an International Planned Parenthood associate in Pforzheim, southwest Germany.
WEF Calls Off 2021 Summit In Singapore
The World Economic Forum announced Monday that it had called off its planned annual gathering of global political, economic and business leaders, which had been set for August in Singapore.
US Targets Islamic State Moneymen in Turkey, Syria
The United States is taking new steps to make it more difficult for the Islamic State terror group to move money, including donations from international supporters, through Syria and Turkey.
‘Monster’ cyclone to batter COVID-ravaged India as officials scramble to evacuate hundreds of thousands
Cyclone Tauktae, which has already killed six people in southern parts of the COVID-ravaged country, was expected to make landfall on Monday evening in Gujarat state with winds of up to 109 miles per hour.
China says it has landed its first probe on Mars
China has landed its first spacecraft on Mars, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.