China Pushing For A Global COVID QR Code To Track Travel, Limit Exposure To Coronavirus
Chinese President Xi Jinping wants other nations to adopt a coronavirus tracking system that uses QR codes to track travel during the pandemic.
World News
Vaccination to Be a ‘Necessity’ for Overseas Travel, Qantas Says
Qantas Airways Ltd. plans to require future international passengers to have a Covid-19 vaccination before they fly, and said it’s likely to become a requirement at airlines across the world.
Beijing-Controlled News Outlet Paid US Newspapers Millions To Publish Propaganda This Year
An English-language newspaper controlled by the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda department paid U.S. media companies nearly $2 million for printing and advertising expenses over the past six months, even amid heightened scrutiny over Beijing’s disinformation efforts in the West.
Britain signs interim trade deal with Canada amid continued negotiations with EU
While still trying to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, the United Kingdom has been able to agree to an interim trade deal with Canada, Fox News reports. The agreement offers a source of business security for Britain, which must reach an agreement with the EU by the end of the post-Brexit transition period on 31 December or move instead into World Trade Organization terms with the European trading bloc.
US exits Open Skies Treaty citing Russian violations
The United States exited the Treaty on Open Skies on Sunday, six months after the Trump administration signaled it would. The administration cited repeated Russian Federation violations of the treaty designed to allow unarmed aerial surveillance flights by the treaty participants in Europe, Russia, and the U.S.
Iran puts allies on high alert, warns not to provoke US in Trump’s final weeks
Iran has instructed allies across the Middle East to be on high alert and avoid provoking tensions with the US that could give an outgoing Trump administration cause to launch attacks in the US president’s final weeks in office, Iraqi officials have said.
‘North Korea Detains, Starves, COVID-19 Patients in Camps’
North Korea is hiding coronavirus patients in ”quarantine camps” where they are left to starve to death, Christian aid workers revealed.
IFF Report: Global Debt hits staggering new record of over $272 trillion in Q3 2020
The Institute of International Finance (IFF) has issued a quarterly report showing that global debt has surged by over $15 trillion since 2019, reaching a massive new record of over $272 trillion in Q3 2020. The IFF also reports that, while there has been a dramatic increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has also been an “unprecedented” build-up of debt over the last four years, with global debt rising by $52 trillion since 2016.
Hungary Praising Trump For Supporting Persecuted Christians
Hungary, where believers suffered under communism, has praised “the Trump administration” for raising the issue of persecuted Christians amid concerns about terror attacks.
EU leaders clash over Hungary and Poland budget veto
European Union leaders argued at a summit Thursday over Poland and Hungary’s attempts to block the passage of the EU budget and coronavirus rescue package.
U.S. Targets al Shabaab Leaders With Sanctions
The U.S. State Department hit East African al Qaeda affiliate group al Shabaab with a series of sanctions to hold the group accountable for recent terrorist attacks.
US hits Iran with new sanctions as Pompeo warns against easing pressure
The United States hit Iran with new sanctions on Wednesday, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the case that undoing the actions of the Trump administration would be foolish and dangerous.
Saudi Arabia may acquire nuclear weapons if Iran does
Saudi Arabia has announced it will consider obtaining nuclear weapons if Iran acquires them, the Times of Israel reports. The Saudi Minister for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir made the announcement during a recent interview with the German news agency DPA.
Trump to cut troop levels in Afghanistan but stops short of full withdrawal
President Donald Trump will sharply reduce the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by mid-January, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday, stopping short of a threatened full withdrawal from America’s longest war after fierce opposition from allies at home and abroad.
Iran warns of ‘crushing response’ after Trump said to mull strikes on nuke sites
Iran warned on Tuesday of a “crushing response” in the wake of reports US President Donald Trump convened top advisers last week to ask if he had options to strike Iranian nuclear sites during his final weeks in office.
How did Iran, al-Qaeda end up in bed together?
This would seem to be all the truer about the most radical and fanatical Sunnis, al-Qaeda, and their counterpart fanatical Shi’ites, the Iranian regime.
Hurricane Iota hits Nicaragua, sparks warning of flash floods and landslides in parts of Central America
A powerful Hurricane Iota made landfall on the coast of Nicaragua late Monday, sparking warnings of a life-threatening storm surge and flash flooding in a region recently battered by Hurricane Eta.
Pro-Western Candidate Wins Moldova’s Presidential Election
Pro-western opposition candidate Maia Sandu has won Moldova’s presidential election after a run-off vote against incumbent Igor Dodon, who was openly supported by Russia.
Hungary, Poland Block EU Budget And Coronavirus Rescue
Hungary and Poland blocked approval of the European Union’s 1.8 trillion-euro ($2.1 trillion) budget and coronavirus rescue package after accusing the bloc of interfering in their domestic affairs.
Hurricane Iota bears down on Central America as ‘catastrophic’ Category 5 storm
Hurricane Iota made landfall in Nicaragua on Monday evening after strengthening to an incredibly powerful Category 5 storm. Several other Central American countries also braced for the storm’s impact.