State Dept. reports concrete poured into Arak nuclear reactor, mum on violations

State Dept. reports concrete poured into Arak nuclear reactor, mum on violations

Special to WorldTribune.com Iran has poured concrete into the core of its heavy water reactor at Arak, the U.S. State Department said on Jan. 14. The move is seen as critical to the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and the lifting of sanctions that will free up billions of dollars […]

Bipartisan anger builds in Congress over Iran’s detention of U.S. sailors

Bipartisan anger builds in Congress over Iran’s detention of U.S. sailors

Special to WorldTribune.com Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle expressed outrage over Iran’s detention of 10 U.S. Navy personnel and what was seen as a significant humiliation of the United States due to weak leadership from the Obama administration. “The IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps) communicated the message to the domestic and […]

Iran: USS Truman was ‘within our range’ and made ‘unprofessional moves’ after seizure of U.S. boats

Iran: USS Truman was ‘within our range’ and made ‘unprofessional moves’ after seizure of U.S. boats

Special to WorldTribune.com The commander of Iran’s navy said that his forces were “awaiting orders” after Iran seized two U.S. patrol boats on Jan. 12 and that U.S. and French aircraft carriers “were within our range.” “The USS Truman Aircraft carrier showed unprofessional moves for 40 minutes after the detention of the trespassers, while we […]

Carter details plan to take ISIL strongholds but not ‘Americanize’ conflict

Carter details plan to take ISIL strongholds but not ‘Americanize’ conflict

Special to WorldTribune.com Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Jan. 13 said the U.S.-led coalition has a plan in place to drive Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) out of its strongholds in Iraq and Syria. “The specialized expeditionary targeting force I announced in December is now in place and is preparing to work with […]

Iraqi refugee charged with plan to bomb Houston malls

Iraqi refugee charged with plan to bomb Houston malls

Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty An Iraqi refugee suspected of sympathizing with the Islamic State extremist group wanted to set off bombs at two Texas malls and was learning to make explosive devices, U.S. authorities said on January 13. Omar Faraj Saeed al-Hardan, who emigrated to Houston from Iraq in 2009, […]

U.S. Supreme Court seen allowing terror victims to get frozen Iran funds

U.S. Supreme Court seen allowing terror victims to get frozen Iran funds

Special to WorldTribune.com The U.S. Supreme Court is set to clear the way for families of American victims of Iran-sponsored terrorism to collect some $2 billion. The funds would be part of a $2.65 billion judgment against Iran the families won in U.S. federal court in 2007. The funds are currently being held in New […]

Cologne may be dealing with migrant rape game of the type that targeted CBS’s Lara Logan

Cologne may be dealing with migrant rape game of the type that targeted CBS’s Lara Logan

Special to WorldTribune.com A large group of Arab men accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of women in Cologne, Germany on New Year’s Eve were playing a “rape game” that is widely known in Arab countries, German officials suspect. The “game,” known in Arab countries as “taharush,” is orchestrated at large events by large numbers of […]

ISIL jihadist registered as refugee one week before terror attack in Istanbul

ISIL jihadist registered as refugee one week before terror attack in Istanbul

Special to WorldTribune.com The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) jihadist who killed 11 tourists in Turkey on Jan. 12 had registered as a refugee one week before the bombing. CCTV footage released on Jan. 13 shows 28-year-old ISIL jihadist Nabil Fadli registering as a refugee with Turkish immigration authorities. Fadli blew himself up in Sultanahmet Square […]

Djibouti: Tiny strategic hub plays host to armies from seven nations

Djibouti: Tiny strategic hub plays host to armies from seven nations

Special to WorldTribune.com By Backgrounder, Geostrategy-Direct.com Djibouti, a former French colony, is a country of searing heat (summer temperatures average over 100 degrees) and little rain (17 days a year on average). The population of the East African state is 900,000, which ranks 159th in the world. But the tiny state on the Horn of […]