Syria: Are water supplies being weaponized by Turkey?
Around 1 million people in the Kurdish-governed region of Al-Hasakah in Syria’s northeast have again had their water supply cut off — as they have around 20 times in the past 12 months.
World News
Biden speaks with Macron, agrees to coordinate on Iran nuclear deal
French President Emmanuel Macron and new US President Joe Biden agreed Sunday to coordinate on Middle East Peace issues and the Iran nuclear deal, the Elysee palace said.
7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Recorded Near Chilean Antarctic Base
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Saturday off the coast of Antarctica, with authorities issuing a tsunami warning for Chile’s Eduardo Frei base on the frigid continent, emergency officials said.
Norway Raises Concern Over Vaccine Jabs for the Elderly
Norway expressed increasing concern about the safety of the Pfizer Inc. vaccine on elderly people with serious underlying health conditions after raising an estimate of the number who died after receiving inoculations to 29.
China authorizes coastguard to fire on foreign vessels in disputed waters of East China and South China Seas
China has passed a law that for the first time explicitly allows its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels, a move that could make the contested waters around China even more volatile.
Taiwan denounces incursion of air defense zone by Chinese fighter jets, bombers
Eight Chinese bomber planes and four fighter jets entered the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Saturday, and Taiwan’s air force deployed missiles to “monitor” the incursion, the island’s Defence Ministry said.
ISIS claims responsibility for Baghdad suicide attacks killing at least 32
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing in Baghdad this week that killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 100.
US to Offer Russia 5-year Extension on Nuclear Treaty
The new administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is planning to offer Russia a five-year extension of a nuclear arms treaty that is set to expire February 5, U.S. officials said Thursday.
Pakistan Announces Successful Test of Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile
Pakistan said Wednesday that it had successfully test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile into the Arabian Sea, aimed at “revalidating” the weapon’s operational and technical parameters.
A coalition of tech and health giants is working on a digital COVID-19 passport
A group of tech giants and health organizations are working together in developing a digital COVID-19 vaccination passport that would give holders access to countries and businesses requiring proof of inoculation, the Hill reports. Called the Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI), the coalition includes Microsoft, Oracle, and the US nonprofit Mayo Clinic.
Italy’s Conte Narrowly Wins Confidence Vote
Italy’s embattled Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte won a crucial Senate confidence vote Tuesday night, allowing him to keep his shaky coalition afloat.
Iran imposes sanctions on Trump, Pompeo
Iran on Tuesday imposed sanctions on President Donald Trump and a number of members of his administration over their alleged role in support of “terrorism,” according to its foreign ministry website.
Iran says it is producing half a kilo of 20% enriched uranium every day
The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Monday that the country was producing almost 500 grams of uranium enriched to 20 percent purity a day, after beginning to do so earlier this month in breach of the 2015 nuclear accord.
U.S. declares China engaged in genocide against Uighurs
The U.S. government on Tuesday declared that China’s communist government is guilty of carrying out genocide and crimes against humanity against Uighur ethnic minorities and others in western China.
Nine Iraqi soldiers killed and dozens wounded in airstrikes near Baghdad
An Iranian media network has said nine Iraqi army soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded in airstrikes near Baghdad, Iraq on Monday night, Israel National News (INN) reports. Citing an Iraqi security source, the Al-Alam network said the strikes had targeted Iraqi army and Shiite militia positions.
Experts Probing Virus Origin Quarantine in Wuhan As Pompeo Calls Again For Lab Scrutiny
International experts probing the origins of the novel coronavirus are holding virtual meetings from their Wuhan hotel rooms as they work their way through a mandatory 14-day quarantine period which began last Thursday, after the Chinese government eventually allowed the team to enter the outbreak epicenter city.
Kremlin Critic Navalny Jailed For Month After Returning Home
A Russian court has jailed the nation’s most prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for 30 days despite several countries’ calls to release him immediately. The decision came shortly after Navalny was detained following his return from Germany, where he received medical treatment for nerve agent poisoning.
German local authorities to open detention centers for people who repeatedly disobey quarantine rules
German regional authorities are opening detention centers in which to hold people who repeatedly refuse to quarantine after exposure to COVID-19, the Daily Mail reported Monday. Legal experts have said state governments are authorized to detain people for breaking quarantine rules under the Disease Protection Act, passed by the German Bundestag last March.
B-52 bombers patrolling over Middle East
For the second time in as many weeks, the Air Force has flown B-52 bombers over the Middle East in what are known as “presence patrols,” officials said Sunday.
Germany and France Oppose Trump’s Twitter Exile
Germany and France attacked Twitter Inc. and Facebook Inc. after U.S. President Donald Trump was shut off from the social media platforms, in an extension of Europe’s battle with big tech.