U.S. military has yet to approve its first religious exemption to COVID vaccine mandate
The U.S. military has yet to approve a religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate sought by service members, according to The Epoch Times.
Military
52,000 Afghan evacuees released into U.S. in 2021
More than 50,000 Afghan evacuees have been processed and released into American communities over the last four months, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday as it announced the closure of another of the camps that had been erected at military bases to house the Afghans.
Russian, US Presidents Talk Amid Ukraine Invasion Fears (Worthy News In-Depth)
Talks were underway Thursday between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin amid international fears that Moscow plans a military invasion into Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin warns Joe Biden it would be a mistake to impose new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has warned Joe Biden that new sanctions against Russia over Ukraine would be a big mistake, according to the Kremlin.
China warns of ‘drastic measures’ if Taiwan continues on path toward independence
A Beijing official warns that China will take “drastic measures” if Taiwan moves toward independence.
‘Moment of Crisis’ in Eastern Europe: Biden and Putin to Speak Again; Second Time in Three Weeks
As a year marked by a late escalation in tensions between Moscow and the West draws to a close, Presidents Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak by phone on Thursday, amid the Kremlin’s stepped-up demands for an end to what it sees as threats posed by NATO.
Biden Signs $768 Billion Bill As US Faces Attack
U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $768 billion defense bill amid fears that Russia and China are ahead of the United States in developing new weapons systems such as hypersonic technology.
‘Campaign Between Wars’: Israel Struck ‘Dozens’ of Syrian Targets in 2021 to Disrupt Weapons Transfer to Iranian Proxies
The Israeli army said Tuesday that airstrike operations carried out this year hit “dozens” of targets in Syria and have limited the ability of Iran to funnel arms to its proxies in the region.
UN Condemns Myanmar Christmas Eve Massacre (Worthy News In-depth)
The new United Nations special envoy to Myanmar has condemned escalating violence in the country after the ruling army reportedly killed up to 38 people on Christmas Eve.
Myanmar: Save the Children aid group says two members missing since Christmas Eve massacre
The international Save the Children aid organization reported Saturday that two of its members were missing in Myanmar after the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) murdered 35 civilians on Friday and burned the bodies beyond recognition, the Washington Times reports. The slaughter on Christmas Eve was the latest atrocity committed by the Tatmadaw in seeking to control Myanmar and impose Buddhism as the national religion.
Israeli airstrikes said to hit key Syrian port of Latakia, causing ‘massive’ damage
Syrian state media said Israeli warplanes fired missiles on the port of the coastal city of Latakia early Tuesday causing large explosions and fires, the second alleged strike in a month on the key facility.
Biden signs $768.2 billion defense spending bill into law
President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law Monday, authorizing $768.2 billion in military spending, including a 2.7% pay raise for service members, for 2022.
‘Iran deal put us on cruise control heading over a cliff,’ former envoy warns
Former Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer this week defended his government’s positions that encouraged the United States to leave the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and supported Israel’s current position that the US must leave a military option on the table and signal that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons
Russia ‘not bluffing’ on NATO rollback, warns of ‘large-scale conflict in Europe’
Russia will not drop a demand that NATO “be rolled back” to its 1997 boundaries, according to a senior Russian envoy, a requirement backed by the threat of “a large-scale conflict in Europe” arising out of Ukraine.
US and Russia to hold talks on January 10, official says
The United States and Russia are set to hold dialogue on nuclear arms control and tensions over a military build up around Ukraine on January 10, a White House official said on Monday.
Myanmar atrocity: Burmese Army burns 35 civilians alive on Christmas Eve
Myanmar’s Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) burned alive at least 35 civilians, including elderly people and children, in Karenni state on Christmas Eve, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The Tatmadaw rogue army has been slaughtering and displacing non-Buddhists since it overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in a February 1 coup.
In ‘warning’ to Israel, Iran says it fired 16 ballistic missiles able to hit country
Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles Friday at the close of five days of military drills that generals said were a warning to Israel and included a mock strike on Israel’s nuclear facility.
Russia withdraws 10,000 troops from Ukrainian border ahead of planned negotiations next month
Russia has withdrawn over 10,000 troops from the Ukrainian border as it prepares to enter security discussions with the Biden administration in the new year.
China To Control World’s Rare Earths
In a Christmas setback for the United States, China moved to cement its position as the world’s dominant supplier of “rare earth,” 17 minerals for consumer electronics and military equipment.
Europe, Canada Fear Russian Mercenaries In Mali
France and 14 European allies, as well as Canada, have condemned the alleged deployment of Russian mercenaries in the West African country of Mali.