US Sanctions Turkey For Purchasing Russian Missile System
The United States has sanctioned Turkey, a NATO military alliance ally after it defiantly bought a Russian anti-aircraft missile system.
Military
Leak: ‘China Communists Infiltrate Governments, Companies Worldwide’
A significant leak shows that at least nearly two million Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members work worldwide, including US government agencies and the biggest companies, Australian media reported Sunday.
Pentagon weighs cutting most of its support to CIA’s counterterrorism missions
In a surprising move, the Pentagon has told the Central Intelligence Agency that it is weighing an end to the majority of the military support it provides to the agency’s counterterrorism missions, according to a former senior administration intelligence official.
U.S. Military Denies Blocking Biden To Meet Spy Agencies
The U.S. military has rushed to deny reports that it has blocked Joe Biden, who claimed victory in the presidential election, and his team from meeting with intelligence agencies.
U.S. Bombers Fly Near Iran Amid Nuclear Standoff
The United States sends a warning to Iran on Thursday with two American bomber aircraft flying over a swath of the Middle East, officials confirmed.
New parts of Herod’s palace unveiled, including 300-seat personal theater
Israeli authorities are set to unveil previously off-limits structures within King Herod’s palace-fortress Herodium, which the tyrannical Roman-era leader interred as his enormous burial plot.
Defense bill veto could send fight with Trump into overtime
The lame-duck Congress could be facing a rare post-holiday return to Capitol Hill if President Trump follows through on a threat to veto a massive $740 billion defense policy bill in the coming days, a top House Democrat said Monday.
Russia Launching Coronavirus Vaccine Despite Controversy
Russia has become the first country to officially launch a massive immunization effort against the coronavirus, despite concerns about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. Russia provides the vaccine for free to people aged 18 to 60 who don’t suffer from chronic illnesses and aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding.
China Is Using Human Testing To Develop ‘Biologically Enhanced’ Soldiers, Top Intelligence Official Says
China has conducted human testing on members of its military in an effort to develop “biologically enhanced” soldiers, the head U.S. intelligence wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Thursday.
Congressional Report: China is expanding military to project global power
A major congressional report has concluded that China is fast expanding its military such that in the next 10 years it will be capable of prosecuting wars in distant countries around the world, the Washington Times reports. In its annual report published Tuesday, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission concluded that the Chinese government is working to turn the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into “a global expeditionary force in a matter of decades.”
Trump admin orders Baghdad embassy drawdown due to Iranian Gen. Soleimani killing anniversary
The Trump administration ordered a drawdown of diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq until some time in January due to risks of a potential attack, according to a new report.
More Reported Attacks on Iranian Military, Intelligence Officials as Parliament Reacts
Members of Iran’s parliament Tuesday chanted “death to Israel,” and they voted to increase the level of uranium enrichment to 20% and to halt U.N. nuclear inspections in reaction to the killing Friday of the country’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. At the same time, Arab and Iranian media reported the killings of two more high-level Iranian military and intelligence officials within the past 48 hours.
NATO chief warns: ‘China is investing massively in new weapons’
China’s growing military power holds potential dangers for the transatlantic alliance, according to NATO’s civilian chief.
Iran: assassinated nuclear scientist almost impossible to replace; Iranian-backed Hezbollah leader reportedly fears he may be targeted next
A former head of Israel’s military intelligence service has said it will be almost impossible for Iran to replace top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated Friday in an operation attributed to Israeli spy agency Mossad, World Israel News reports. Moreover, Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanon-based Iranian terror proxy Hezbollah, has reportedly gone underground out of concern he may be targeted next.
Biden plans swift moves to protect and advance LGBTQ rights
As vice president in 2012, Joe Biden endeared himself to many LGBTQ Americans by endorsing same-sex marriage even before his boss, President Barack Obama.
Ethiopia Rebels “Retake” Town Despite Government Victory Claims
Rebel forces in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region say they have retaken a town and shot down a military plane in a setback for the national government.
Iran Threatens To Attack Israel After Killing of Scientist
Iran made clear Sunday it was considering attacking Israel’s port city of Haifa to avenge the killing of its top nuclear scientist.
U.S. Sends Air Craft Carrier To Persian Gulf As Iran Vows Retaliation For Killing Of Scientist
The U.S. ordered the U.S.S. Nimitz and its strike group to return to the Persian Gulf to serve in a defensive capacity as U.S. forces in the region continue to drawdown during the final weeks of the Trump administration. The action coincides with rising tensions in the region between U.S. allies and Iran after a top Iranian nuclear scientist was taken out in a highly coordinated hit this week.
Top Iranian nuclear scientist “assassinated”
An Iranian nuclear scientist, who Israel alleges was in charge of Iran’s military nuclear program until the early 2000s, has been assassinated, the Associated Press reports. Iranian state media have reported that Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed on Friday. Israel has not immediately commented on the death.
CIA paramilitary officer killed during operations against al-Shabab in Somalia
A CIA paramilitary officer was killed in operations involving the terror group al-Shabab in Somalia, according to intelligence sources.