The newly inaugurated Biden administration announced Wednesday it has temporarily suspended arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, DW reports. Noting it is standard practice for a new administration to review arms deals worth billions of dollars, a US State Department official described the suspension as “routine administrative action.”
Month: January 2021
US Defense Intelligence Agency bought warrantless phone location data
A report published Friday reveals that the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in recent years bought American smartphone location data with first obtaining warrants, Common Dreams reports. As the DIA is responsible for apprising military and civilian policymakers about the actions and intentions of foreign governments and non-state actors, the current revelation has caused digital rights advocates to react with alarm.
Holocaust Survivors Receive Coronavirus Vaccines Amid Tensions
Hundreds of Holocaust survivors in Austria and Slovakia have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine despite concerns about possible side effects and amid mounting antisemitism.
Israeli Military Chief Orders New Plans to Strike Iran’s Nuclear Program
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi announced on Tuesday the IDF is preparing military plans to hit Iran’s nuclear program in the upcoming year.
Russian parliament OKs New START nuclear treaty extension
The lower house of Russian parliament on Wednesday quickly approved the extension of the last remaining nuclear arms control pact days before it’s due to expire.
Fed holds rates near zero amid fresh signs US economic recovery is slowing
The Federal Reserve said during its first meeting of the year on Wednesday that it would leave interest rates near zero and reaffirmed its commitment to other easing policies amid fresh signs the U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is slowing.
Iran Will Take Steps Next Month to Curb Short-Notice IAEA Inspections: Official
Iran threatened on Tuesday to block short-notice inspections of its nuclear facilities, demanding Washington reverse economic sanctions before it returns to compliance with a nuclear deal that President Joe Biden aims to restore.
IDF chief’s message to Biden: If necessary, Israel will act alone
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi’s speech at the annual INSS conference on Tuesday might have been in Hebrew, but what he said was aimed at speakers of both English and Farsi.
Homeland Security issues domestic terrorism alert due to ‘violent extremists’
The Department of Homeland Security issued a domestic terrorism alert cautioning the public of potential attacks from “violent extremists.”
Biden Creates Commission To Study Supreme Court Reform
President Joe Biden’s administration is creating a commission to study Supreme Court reform, Politico reported Wednesday.