Drone attack targets Iraqi base in Erbil that houses US troops: reports
An unmanned drone dropped explosives on a U.S.-led base near the Erbil airport in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq on Wednesday night, according to reports.
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Iran enriches uranium to 60%, a short step from weapons grade levels
Iranian scientists have successfully enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, its highest ever levels, senior Iranian officials declared on Friday.
Pfizer CEO says third COVID booster shot ‘likely’ needed within a year of getting vaccinated, perhaps a yearly shot
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla predicted Thursday that people who have received the company’s COVID vaccine will “likely” need a third booster shot within a year to maintain protection against the virus.
DNI Avril Haines knocks WHO report that dismissed theory COVID-19 escaped from lab
U.S. intelligence agencies disagree with the findings of a recent joint World Health Organization-Chinese government probe that dismissed the theory that the COVID-19 virus outbreak could have resulted from an accidental escape from a Chinese laboratory, officials told Congress on Thursday.
Putin will block foreign warships from entering Black Sea via the Kerch Strait
Russia will block foreign warships and non-commercial vessels from transiting the Kerch Strait to access the Black Sea, according to reports from Ukrainian media. The strait lies between Crimea and Russia, and connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.
China’s ‘Guam Killer’ missile force rapidly expands
Deployment of China‘s new DF-26 intermediate-range missile, dubbed the “Guam killer” by Beijing, has rapidly expanded over the past year, according to a Pentagon intelligence report.
Iran and Turkey leaders discuss recent Israeli activity
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, spoke on Wednesday to discuss “recent Israeli activities in the region,” and Israel’s normalization of relations with a number of Arab states last year, the Times of Israel said. According to Iranian media, Rouhani and Erdogan talked about regional and economic cooperation between their countries.
US Imposes Sanctions On Russia As Tensions Rise; 10 Diplomats Expelled
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday expelled 10 Russian diplomats in retaliation to Moscow’s interference in last year’s presidential election and the hacking of federal agencies.
Turmoil Over China’s First University In Hungary (Worthy News In-depth)
Political tensions are rising in Hungary over government plans to build the European Union’s first Chinese university campus in Budapest, the capital, despite security and social concerns.
US to announce new sanctions against Russia
The United States will soon announce new sanctions against Russian individuals and entities for alleged election interference and malicious cyber activity, Voice of America reports. It is expected that thirty organizations will be blacklisted and that some 10 Russian officials in the US will be issued with orders to leave the country.
China Sends 25 Warplanes Into Taiwanese Airspace
China sent 25 military planes into Taiwanese airspace on Monday, escalating tensions between the United States and Beijing.
US intelligence chiefs: ‘We don’t know’ Putin’s reason for military buildup on Ukrainian border
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reason for a major military buildup on Ukrainian borders remains a mystery, U.S. intelligence officials told lawmakers.
China and Russia pose greatest threat to US
In its annual survey of United States national security threats, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) reported Tuesday that China and Russia currently pose the greatest danger to America, the Washington Times reports.
Japan plans to throw 1m tons of treated nuclear wastewater into the sea
Japan announced Tuesday that it plans to dump 1 million tons of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, Business Insider reports. Set to be implemented in 2023, the plan is part of an ongoing effort to deal with the 2011 tsunami-triggered disaster at the plant.
Biden offers to have summit with Putin
US President Joe Biden has offered to have a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid rising tensions over Russia’s buildup of troops close to Ukraine’s eastern border and Crimea, the Washington Times reports. Moscow has acknowledged the offer of a summit.
Denmark bans COVID-19 vaccines amid reports of blood clots
Denmark is the first country to fully ban the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine over concerns about its link to blood clots in recipients.
U.S. intel chief: Coronavirus originated either from Chinese lab breach or infected animal
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told Congress on Wednesday the COVID-19 pandemic began either from an accident at a Chinese laboratory or through an infected animal who passed it along to humans.
Britain, France, Germany slam Iran for further violating 2015 nuclear deal
Britain, France and Germany criticized Iran on Wednesday for increasing enrichment of uranium to levels banned by the 2015 nuclear deal.
Senior Iran official confirms ‘thousands of centrifuges damaged and destroyed’
A senior Iranian official confirmed Tuesday that the blast at the Natanz nuclear facility, which Tehran blames on Israel, destroyed or damaged thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium.
Biden seeks face-to-face meeting with Putin, urges Russia to ‘de-escalate tensions’
NATO leaders and Russia traded sharp threats Tuesday over a military standoff in Ukraine, with President Biden pressing the Kremlin to de-escalate the situation and suggesting it was time for him and Russian President Vladimir Putin to have a face-to-face talk about Russian provocations.