A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – Iraq’s foreign minister is asking nuclear countries for help building an atomic reactor for peaceful purposes, saying the country has a right to use atomic power peacefully.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari made the request in his speech Saturday to the U.N. General Assembly’s annual meeting of presidents, prime ministers and monarchs. He called for assistance “to build a nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes in Iraq, to acquire this nuclear technology.”

Former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein’s previous efforts to build a nuclear reactor were met with an Israeli airstrike in 1981 and years of suspicion about his nuclear intentions. The U.S cited concerns that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction as the basis for invading Iraq in 2003, but none were ever found. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Four Christians in Nepal sentenced to five years in prison on false charges of “witchcraft” and “violence” were released today after a high court annulled their convictions, church leaders said.

Lali Pun, Bimkali Budha, Suk Lal Pariyar and Ganga Pariyar had been accused in Salyan District Court on May 19, 2016 for praying for a mentally troubled woman, Seti Pariyar, according to the Federation of National Christian Nepal (FNCN). On Dec. 19, 2016 they were convicted of witchcraft, violence and holding Seti Pariyar against her will, though the woman testified that she was not mistreated or captive and had been healed by the prayer.

Besides the prison sentences, the Christians had been told to pay a fine of 50,000 Nepalese rupees (US$475), an overwhelming sum in Nepal. A fifth Christian, Rupa Thapa, was arrested with them but was declared not guilty and released in 2016. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – President Trump accused Iran of collaborating with North Korea to strengthen their missile technology Saturday evening in a Twitter post criticizing the 2015 nuclear agreement between the U.S., Iran and five other nations.

Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel.They are also working with North Korea.Not much of an agreement we have!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Nonproliferation experts have long suspected North Korea and Iran are sharing know-how when it comes to their rogue missile programs. Earlier this month, CIA Director Mike Pompeo told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” that Iran would “certainly be someone who would be willing to pay” for that expertise. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – U.S. trade negotiators will only partially unveil new text on modifying a key chapter on investment under NAFTA, two well-placed sources said on Sunday, underlying the cautious pace of talks that are supposed to wrap up by the end of the year.

The sources, with knowledge of the effort to modernize the trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), said the proposal on investment would not elaborate on possible changes being weighed by Washington under Chapter 11 of NAFTA.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the administration was still consulting with stakeholders, including business, on the issue. [ Source: Reuters (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – German voters delivered Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats a fourth consecutive term and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party a spot in the parliament in Sunday’s federal election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Ms. Merkel’s performance over the past 12 years.

Ms. Merkel’s jubilance over her re-election will be short-lived, as she now must piece together a coalition of widely disparate parties that can propel her Eurocentric, economy-driven mandate — an almost herculean task, given that a far-right nationalist party is entering parliament for the first time since shortly after the end of World War II. The AfD will be Germany’s third-largest party, having won 12.7 percent of the vote, according to early returns with about 95 percent of the vote counted.

Major Jewish groups expressed alarm Sunday over AfD’s electoral success, while France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, congratulated the German nationalist party. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Iran’s state media showed video Friday of the successful test-launch of a new ballistic missile capable of reaching portions of the Middle East, including Israel.

Just hours earlier, the Khorramshahr missile was unveiled at a large military parade presided over by Iranian President Hassan Rohani who vowed to continue Tehran’s missile program in defiance of demands from Washington to halt it.

Iran_Military_Parade_Math
Iran’s Khoramshahr missile is displayed by the Revolutionary Guard during a military parade marking the 37th anniversary of Iraq’s 1980 invasion of Iran Friday (AP)

State broadcaster IRIB showed footage of the missile test. The report did not give the time or location of the test. The video included footage from an on-board camera showing the detachment of the cone that could carry multiple warheads.

“You are seeing images of the successful test of the Khorramshahr ballistic missile with the range of 2,000 km [1,200 miles], the latest missile of our country,” state television said. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]