Trump Administration Audits Somali-Origin Citizenship Cases Amid Fraud Allegations 
Philippines Challenges Chinese Research Vessel Spotted Near Cagayan Coast 
Trump Administration Clarifies Minnesota Childcare Funding Status Amid Fraud Claims 
UN Condemns Israel’s Move to Cut Utilities to UNRWA Facilities 
Trump Ends National Guard Deployments in Major Cities Amid Legal Setbacks and Crime Debate 
Xi Jinping to Host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as China Seeks to Strengthen Seoul Ties 
Jack Smith Testimony Claims Trump Privately Admitted 2020 Election Loss, Transcript Shows 
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Seeks Strong Peace Deal, Rejects “Weak” Agreement in New Year Address 
Venezuela Frees More Detainees After 2024 Election Protests Amid Rising U.S. Pressure 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Discussing Possible U.S. Troop Presence as Security Guarantee 
MSF Faces Possible Ban From Gaza as Israel Enforces New Aid Registration Rules 
U.S. Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Enforce Medicaid Funding Ban on Planned Parenthood 
U.S. Questions Russia’s Claim of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Putin Residence 
Global Concern Grows as Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens Despite Ceasefire 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
U.S. Intelligence Disputes Russia’s Claim of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Putin 
Tensions between Iran and the United States can potentially set off what may be a world war 3 if conflicts escalate further. Tensions remain at a high especially as Iran has recently warned the US that its troops are on standby.
Following the sighting of US warplanes over the Middle East, the Islamic nation’s foreign ministry warned Washington that their military is on standby and prepared to retaliate to any attack the US may have planned. This also comes as it marks a year since the killing of Iran’s top commander Qassem Soleimani, for whom the Iranian government including a Lebanese militia group Hezbollah, has pledged to take revenge against Washington. US B-52 warplanes were seen close to Iranian airspace last week.
The US has since confirmed that the warplanes have left the region. It is believed that officials in Washington are already wary of a possible attack by Iran at this time. Along with the warning of Iran’s foreign ministry, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s military adviser Hossein Dehghan warned that Tehran can launch an attack on any US base in the region. Dehghan also warned outgoing US president Donald Trump not to turn 2021 into a period of “mourning” for the US. Dehghan also referred to Trump as a “White House evictee” after his election defeat to Joe Biden.
“I saw on the news that the Americans are on alert for fear of revenge and have flown two B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf. All their military bases in the region are covered by our missiles. I advise the White House evictee not to turn the New Year into mourning for Americans,” tweeted Dehghan.
Aside from tensions between Iran and the United States, the ongoing conflict between China and Taiwan can also potentially set off world war 3 should further aggression be shown. Beijing has insisted on claiming sovereignty over the island nation and refused to acknowledge its autonomy. In her New Year’s address on new year’s day, Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-Wen addressed the conflict with China, especially what is occurring at the Taiwan Strait. Tsai said that she is open to settling the conflict diplomatically with China, assuming that Beijing is looking to improve relations with the island nation.
However, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office blasted the remarks, criticizing Taiwan’s dominant political party for “seeking independence.”
