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.
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Morocco, Israel Start ‘Great Light of Peace’
Israel and Morocco agreed Thursday to normalize relations in a U.S. brokered accord that Israel’s prime minister described as “another great light of peace.”
U.S. Experts Approve Pfizer Vaccine Despite Side Effects
A U.S. government advisory panel on Thursday endorsed Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, despite concerns about possible side effects.
EU Reaches Deal On 1.8 Trillion Stimulus
European Union leaders agreed on a 1.8 trillion euro ($2.2 trillion) stimulus package after Hungary and Poland withdrew their veto. Both EU member states threatened to torpedo funds if payments were tied to rule-of-laws standards.
Facebook hit with blockbuster antitrust lawsuits by FTC, 46 states
Facebook got slapped with a pair of blockbuster antitrust lawsuits on Wednesday, as government officials accused the Silicon Valley giant of systematically acquiring smaller rivals in order to prevent them from becoming competitive threats.
House overwhelmingly approves defense bill over Trump veto threat
The House voted overwhelmingly to pass a critical defense bill that President Trump has threatened to veto because it lacks new language that would punish social media firms.
Trump signs order prioritizing US in coronavirus vaccine distribution
President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday aimed at prioritizing shipment of the coronavirus vaccine to Americans over other countries as the United States inches closer to authorizing the first shots.
Saudi Prince says Palestinians are rotting in Israeli concentration camps
Leading Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal has described Israel as a Western colonizing power that is holding Palestinians in concentration camps, Ynet News reports. Formerly the Saudi ambassador to the US and the UK and head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Turki made his remarks Sunday at the Bahrain Security Conference.
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.
Amid Pandemic, Davos Event to Be Held in Singapore Next Year
Organizers of the annual World Economic Forum event in Davos, Switzerland, have again changed their planned venue for next year’s edition, announcing it will now take place in Singapore in May — a sign that the COVID-19 crisis has played havoc with planning.
Israel to get first batch of Pfizer coronavirus vaccines on Thursday
The first delivery of Pfizer vaccines will arrive in Israel on Thursday, according to multiple Hebrew media reports on Monday evening.
Direct conflict with Israel ‘could make Iran regional superpower’
Hardline Iranian daily Kayhan on Sunday called on Tehran not to delay in exacting vengeance for the assassination of the country’s nuclear mastermind last month.
Britain Protects COVID Vaccine Maker From Prosecution
The British government has granted Pfizer a legal indemnity protecting it from being sued for possible side effects of its new coronavirus vaccine.
Iran parliament passes bill to increase uranium enrichment to weapons-grade level
Iranian parliament has passed a “double-urgency” bill to increase the level of uranium enrichment to weapons-grade, Jerusalem Online reports. The move follows the recent assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in Damavand, east of Tehran on November 27.
South Korea Charges US Pastor Over ‘Illegal’ Bible Balloons
An American pastor has appealed for prayers after Korean authorities launched criminal proceedings against him for sending Bible balloons across the border into North Korea.
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.”
Islamic Militants Massacre Christian Farmers in Nigeria
Funeral services were underway in northeast Nigeria on Monday after more than 100 people were killed in suspected Islamic attacks over the weekend.
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.
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.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander reported killed in drone strike
A senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was killed in an apparent drone strike along the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to widely circulated reports in Arabic-language media Monday.