US To Boycott China’s Winter Olympics
The White House says it will stage a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing China’s reported severe human rights abuses.
China
Pacific chief says China’s military buildup largest since World War II
China’s buildup of military forces is the largest the world has seen since World War II and has driven Australia and other nations around the world to seek closer security ties to the United States, according to the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Israel Warns As Iran Could Have Nuclear Bomb Within Weeks (Worthy News In-Depth)
Revelations that Iran may have a nuclear bomb within weeks overshadowed Hanukkah feasts in Israel, but Israel’s spy chief warned Iran it would not be allowed to become a nuclear power.
Pentagon: US Nearly Doubled Military Personnel Stationed in Taiwan This Year
The United States has doubled its unofficial military presence in Taiwan over the past year in what specialists describe as the latest signal to China that Taiwan’s future remains a priority.
Chinese government continues harassment of Christians; “please pray”
China’s ruling Communist Party is continuing its harassment of Christians by raiding house churches and detaining congregants: last month several believers from Shanghai and Sichuan were taken to police stations for questioning, and one woman was charged and detained, International Christian Concern (ICC reports).
Europeans See ‘Problem’ if Iran Is Not Serious in Nuclear Talks This Week
Iran must show seriousness this week about reviving a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, European diplomats said on Tuesday, saying otherwise they had a “problem” and it remained unclear if Tehran would resume talks where they left off in June.
US-China hypersonic weapons ‘arms race’ is underway, Air Force chief says
The U.S. Air Force affirmed Tuesday that a hypersonic weapons “arms race” is well underway between the United States and China.
Chinese Officials Plan Surveillance System To Target Journalists, Foreign Students
Security officials in one of China’s largest provinces have commissioned a surveillance system they say they want to use to track journalists and international students among other “suspicious people,” documents reviewed by Reuters showed.
Iranian demands raise fresh doubts as nuke talks resume
Iran refused to meet face-to-face with American diplomats as talks over the Islamic republic’s suspect nuclear programs resumed Monday in Vienna following a five-month hiatus — a period in which a hardline new government has come to power.
Christians Killed As US Removes Nigeria As ‘Country of Concern’
Just days after the United States removed Nigeria’s designation as engaging in or tolerating violations of religious rights, several Christians were killed by Islamic fighters, Christians said.
Taiwan scrambles air force fighters to warn off 27 Chinese jets in buffer zone
Taiwan deployed its air force Sunday in an effort to drive back dozens of Chinese aircraft that entered its air defense space.
Israel launches diplomatic blitz ahead of renewed Iran nuclear talks
Israel will make its position heard ahead of the return to nuclear talks with Iran by world powers on Monday, with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid scheduled to visit London and Paris next week.
Chinese hypersonic weapon fired a missile over South China Sea
The hypersonic weapon China tested this summer, alarming US military leaders, fired something off midflight while inside the atmosphere somewhere over the South China Sea, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the intelligence.
Lithuania Allows Taiwan To Establish ‘Embassy’ Despite China’s Outcry
Lithuania has defended its decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in the Baltic nation despite an angry response from China.
South Korea Rejects Asylum Claims Of Chinese Christians
South Korea turned down asylum requests from dozens of Chinese Christians despite fears their deportation to China could mean imprisonment, “forced disappearances and torture,” Christians said.
China Detains Presbyterian Church Members
Chinese authorities have detained several members of the independent Presbyterianism Early Rain Qingcaodi Church in southwest China on “baseless fraud” charges, Christians say.
Chinese military now set for invasion of Taiwan, says Hill commission
China‘s military now is capable of a full-scale invasion of Taiwan and has added new missiles and amphibious ships to the People’s Liberation Army for an attack on the island democracy, according to the latest annual report of a congressional China commission.
UN atomic agency: Iran is steadily increasing stockpile of enriched uranium
The United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency reported Wednesday that Iran now has an estimated 17.7 kilograms (39 pounds) of uranium enriched at up to 60% fissile purity, a level that can easily be refined to make atomic weapons, The Associated Press (AP) reports.
US Intends to Move Forward on F-35 Sale to UAE, US Official Says
The United States intends to move forward with the sale of 50 F-35 stealth fighters jets to the United Arab Emirates but there must be a clear understanding of “Emirati obligations,” a US official said on Tuesday as progress on the sale slows.
‘Red lines’ or ‘rules of the road’: China, U.S. paint different images of summit
The White House painted a rosy picture of President Biden‘s video summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but it was only half as rosy as the portrayals by China‘s state-controlled media, which all but declared victory after Monday night’s highly anticipated meeting.