Nuke deal hangs in balance as Trump plans Iran policy speech
President Donald Trump could announce his secret decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal next week.
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Russia throws North Korea lifeline to stymie regime change
Russia is quietly boosting economic support for North Korea to try to stymie any US-led push to oust Kim Jong Un as Moscow fears his fall would sap its regional clout and allow US troops to deploy on Russia’s eastern border.
Iran, Turkey vow ‘decisive action’ against Iraqi Kurds over referendum vote
Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday vowed to take ‘decisive action’ against leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan over last week’s historic independence referendum vote.
Russia giving cover to Iran could doom nuclear deal as Trump considers whether to certify
As President Donald Trump considers whether to certify to Congress the controversial 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, word that the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog can’t verify a crucial part of the agreement could tip the scales with time running out by the middle of next month.
Trump prepares to wound Iran deal — and then save it
Donald Trump’s national security team has unanimously recommended that he decertify the Iran nuclear deal — but that he stop short of pushing Congress to reimpose sanctions on Tehran that could unravel the agreement.
Asteroid Will Pass Within a Cosmic Hair of Earth October 12th
An asteroid measuring between 30 feet and 100 feet is set to pass Earth on October 12 at a distance of 27,000 miles—about an eighth of the distance to the Moon. This makes it one of the largest close approach asteroids to brush past Earth this year, and presents NASA with a valuable opportunity: To test out its planetary defense systems.
Trump says envoy ‘wasting his time’ talking to North Korea
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was ‘wasting his time’ trying to negotiate with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs, raising speculation about whether Trump could be undermining efforts to maintain channels of communication or somehow bolstering the diplomat’s hand in possible future talks.
Dam upstream leaves Egypt fearing for its lifeline, the Nile
Ethiopia is finalizing construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, its first major dam on the Blue Nile, and then will eventually start filling the giant reservoir behind it to power the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa.
Catalonia referendum: 90% of voters back independence, Catalan officials say
Preliminary results show that 90% of those who voted in Catalonia’s independence referendum backed leaving Spain, Catalan officials say.
Trump: military option for North Korea not preferred, but would be ‘devastating’
President Donald Trump warned North Korea on Tuesday that any U.S. military option would be ‘devastating’ for Pyongyang, but said the use of force was not Washington’s first option to deal with the country’s ballistic and nuclear weapons program.
Emmanuel Macron says Britain could be part of reformed EU after Brexit
Emmanuel Macron has signaled Britain could be part of a reformed European Union after Brexit.
North Korean official says Trump has ‘declared war,’ threatens to shoot down U.S. warplanes
A top North Korean official said Monday that President Trump has “declared war on our country,” and warned that Pyongyang could shoot down any U.S. warplanes flying nearby.
Devastated Puerto Rico struggles without power, water, phones
Millions of Puerto Rico residents are struggling to survive since Hurricane Maria devastated the island last week as a Category 5 storm.
Merkel celebrates fourth-term victory; right-wing nationalists win seats in German parliament
German voters delivered Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats a fourth consecutive term and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party a spot in the parliament in Sunday’s federal election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Ms. Merkel’s performance over the past 12 years.
Iran releases video of new ballistic missile being test-fired
Iran’s state media showed video Friday of the successful test-launch of a new ballistic missile capable of reaching portions of the Middle East, including Israel.
Defying Trump, Iran says will boost missile capabilities
Iran will strengthen its missile capabilities and will not seek permission from any country to do so, President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday in an undisguised snub to demands by U.S. President Donald Trump.
North Korean foreign minister: We may test hydrogen bomb in Pacific
South Korean media reports that North Korea’s top diplomat says his country may test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean to fulfill leader Kim Jong-un’s vow to take the “highest-level” action against the United States.
U.S. weighs whether to stay in Iran nuclear deal
The United States said on Wednesday it is weighing whether the Iranian nuclear deal serves its security interests even as Iran said it did not expect Washington to abandon the agreement.
Scientists edit embryos’ genes to study early human development
British scientists have used a genome editing tool known as CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out a gene in embryos just a few days old, testing the technique’s ability to decipher key gene functions in early human development.
Hurricane Maria: ‘storm of the century’ gathered strength after lashing Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria regained major hurricane strength as it thrashed parts of the Dominican Republic with heavy rain and high winds.