Iran threatens to start enriching uranium to 90 percent: report
Iran warned Thursday that the country could ramp up its uranium enrichment to 90 percent — just around the weapons-grade level.
World News
Indonesia Plane Carrying Dozens Plunges Into Sea
A passenger plane carrying dozens of passengers plunged into the Java Sea after leaving the Indonesian capital, investigators suggested.
China: New defense law increases military control of war powers, makes it easier to deploy against U.S.
China has amended a defense law to give increased control for its military to the Central Military Commission (CMC) which oversees the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and is chaired by President Xi Jinping, Anti-War reports. The Chinese military can now deploy much more quickly if it wants to challenge US warships that frequently patrol near the Chinese coast.
China builds 135 factories inside Xinjiang detention camps; Rights advocate says ‘stop producing and sourcing from Xinjiang’
A new report by Buzzfeed News reveals that among hundreds of detention camps recently built by China in Xinjiang, at least 135 compounds hold factories where prisoners can be forced to produce goods for export into major supply chains around the world. The report is based on government records, interviews, and hundreds of satellite images, Buzzfeed News said.
WHO Concerned About New COVID Variant
In a controversial move, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to do more to curb the new COVID-19 variant. The WHO has expressed concern about the rapidly spreading mutation new of the novel coronavirus.
Pompeo angers China with Hong Kong threat, plan to send envoy to Taiwan
Washington may sanction those involved in the arrest of over 50 people in Hong Kong and will send the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to visit Taiwan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday, drawing anger and the threat of retaliation from Beijing.
U.S. Government Says Russia ‘Likely’ Behind Massive ‘Intelligence-Gathering’ Hack
The U.S. government said January 5 that Russia was “likely” behind a massive hack of government and private company networks discovered last month and the intrusion was an “intelligence-gathering effort.”
China has not authorized WHO experts to enter and investigation pandemic origin
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that he is “very disappointed” China has not authorized a team of international experts to enter the country and investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports.
Iran says it is rolling out 1,000 additional centrifuges
Having just announced it plans to enrich uranium at a level far above that allowed by the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Iranian regime said Tuesday that it is installing 1,000 additional centrifuges and increasing its supply of yellowcake, a uranium concentrate powder used for enrichment.
Hong Kong police arrest dozens of pro-democracy activists for “subversion”
Acting under a national security law imposed by China last year, Hong Kong police arrested 53 pro-democracy activists Wednesday, citing “subversion” for participation in unofficial election primaries, the Associated Press reports. Former Hong Kong lawmakers were among those arrested.
Portugal: ‘Woman Dies After COVID-19 Vaccine’ Amid Global Concerns (Worthy News Investigation)
Portugal’s authorities investigate the death of a Portuguese health worker who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the novel coronavirus following similar reported incidents in other countries.
Iran confirms it has begun enriching uranium to 20% in breach of nuclear pact
Iran confirmed Tuesday that it was now enriching uranium to 20 percent purity, well beyond the threshold set by its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, sparking international concern.
Iran launches massive ‘drone combat wargames’
The Iranian military on Tuesday launched a massive series of “drone combat wargames” and boasted that its new generation of aircraft — including ominous “suicide drones” — will give Tehran a battlefield edge over its enemies.
East Africa braces for a return of the locusts
The first wave of the pests emerged at the end of 2019, numbering in hundreds of billions, multiplying by a factor of 20 per generation, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The second generation in March and April numbered in the trillions. A plague that spread like wildfire — up to now.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar resume diplomatic relations through US-brokered deal
Saudi Arabia restored its severed ties with Qatar on Tuesday, as the two countries signed a US-brokered agreement to end their dispute and resolve the Gulf crisis that broke out three years ago, Axios reports. A Saudi-led coalition cut diplomatic relations with Qatar in 2017 on the grounds of alleged Qatari support for Iran and terrorist organizations.
South Korea, U.S. Demand Iran Release Tanker Seized In Strait Of Hormuz
South Korea and the United States have demanded the release of a South Korean-flagged oil tanker seized by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.
Boris Johnson announces coronavirus lockdown, cases continue to rise
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a national lockdown through mid-February in an effort to combat a variant of the coronavirus that is continuing to rapidly spread in the region.
British Court Halts U.S. Extradition Of Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange
A British court says the founder of whistleblower news site Wikileaks, Julian Assange, cannot be extradited to the United States where he is wanted for revealing state secrets. The London judge cited concerns over Assange’s mental health and risk of suicide.
US Aircraft Carrier to remain in Persian Gulf because of “recent threats” by Iran
The Pentagon announced Sunday that the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will stay in the Persian Gulf because of “recent threats” by Iran, the Times of Israel reported. The announcement came after reports that the vessel would be returning to the US after having patrolled the Gulf since the end of November.
Explosion in Lebanon injures at least 10 people
At least 10 people were injured when an explosion erupted in a warehouse holding gas canisters in Lebanon Sunday, France24 reports. The wounded were rushed to the hospital by Lebanese Red Cross rescuers who had been sent to the site of the explosion near Lebanon’s border with Syria.