Egypt’s el-Sisi elected new chairman of African Union
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has been elected chairman of the African Union at the continental body’s summit in Ethiopia.
War
House Dems announce wide-ranging probe of Trump
The House intelligence committee announced a wide-ranging probe into President Trump’s administration Wednesday, questioning whether he, his children or his businesses have been compromised by foreign agents who have ‘leverage’ over him.
Hezbollah leader calls on Lebanon to accept arms from Iran to confront Israel
The leader of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah said Wednesday that he is willing to ask Iran to supply the Lebanese military with weapons and aerial defense systems to confront Israeli warplanes and called on Beirut to accept the offer.
House Democrats advance bill to shut down U.S. role in Saudi-Yemen war
A key House panel on Wednesday moved to block any U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, in the first move by the new House Democratic majority to challenge President Trump’s close alliance with Riyadh.
Iran to Israel: Further Syria strikes will be met with ‘firm’ response
Iran warned Israel on Tuesday of a ‘firm and appropriate’ response if it continued attacking targets in Syria, where Tehran has backed President Bashar Assad and his forces in their nearly eight-year war against rebels and militants.
Trump: ‘Great nations do not fight endless wars’
President Trump gave an emphatic defense of his intention to conclude ‘endless wars,’ one day after the Senate issued a warning against a ‘precipitous withdrawal’ from Syria and Afghanistan.
Moscow Says New Missile Systems Planned To Counter U.S. By 2021
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says Moscow will push to develop two new land-based missile systems before 2021 in response to Washington’s planned exit from a landmark nuclear arms control agreement.
New Jersey to require schools to teach LGBT history
New Jersey has become the second state in the nation after California to adopt a law that requires schools to teach about LGBT history in a move hailed by civil rights groups as a step toward inclusion and fairness.
Putin, Erdogan, Rohani Set For Sochi Summit On Syria
The leaders of Russia, Iran, and Turkey are scheduled to meet in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on February 14 to discuss the situation in Syria, according to Turkish and Russian state media.
EU hails system to trade with Iran despite sanctions, but warns it over missiles
The EU warned Tehran over its ballistic missile program and interference in the Syria conflict Monday, while welcoming a new mechanism to trade with Iran while bypassing US sanctions.
Senate pushes back against Trump over Syria troop pullout
The Senate voted Monday to oppose the withdrawal of US troops from Syria and Afghanistan, breaking with President Donald Trump as he calls for a military drawdown in those countries.
North Korea trying to protect nuclear, missile capabilities: U.N. report
North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs remain intact and the country is working to make sure those capabilities cannot be destroyed by any military strikes, according to a confidential report by U.N. sanctions monitors.
Israel Begins Building Massive Fence on Gaza Border
Israel says it has started construction of a galvanized steel barrier 20 feet high that will run the length of its frontier border with the Gaza Strip.
Trump says U.S. military intervention in Venezuela ‘an option;’ Russia objects
U.S. President Donald Trump said military intervention in Venezuela was ‘an option’ as Western nations boost pressure on socialist leader Nicolas Maduro to step down, while the troubled OPEC nation’s ally Russia warned against ‘destructive meddling.’
Russia to pull plug on nuclear arms pact after US does same
Following in the footsteps of the U.S., Russia will abandon a centerpiece nuclear arms treaty but will only deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles if Washington does so, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.
Nearly all of Iran’s advanced nuke centrifuges failing, top expert reveals
Nearly all of Iran’s advanced centrifuges used for enriching uranium potentially towards a nuclear bomb are failing, one of the world’s leading nuclear weapons experts revealed to The Jerusalem Post this week.
Persecution spreading at a ‘rapid rate’ across India
Persecution in India is at its highest level in 70 years, a new report has warned.
Iran general says Tehran aims to wipe Israel off the ‘global political map’
he deputy head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Monday that Tehran’s strategy was to eventually wipe Israel off the ‘global political map.’
Midwestern US endures worst of polar vortex, all-time record lows broken
Records have been shattered as the polar vortex unleashed the harshest cold in years on the midwestern United States during the final days of January.
Brexit: Britain faces ‘accidental’ no-deal, EU warns
Britain risks an accidental crash-out of the EU, warned the deputy to EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday. In some of her toughest remarks, Sabine Weyand slammed Prime Minister Theresa May’s handling of the divorce talks.