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13 Apr 2021
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Iran to begin enriching uranium at 60 pct purity: State media

April 13, 2021

Iran will begin enriching uranium at 60 percent purity starting Wednesday, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi announced on Tuesday, state media reported.“Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its plan to start 60 percent uranium enrichment as of Wednesday,” Iran’s Press TV cited Araghchi as saying.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The announcement comes after an attack on Sunday on Natanz, a key nuclear site in central Iran, for which Tehran has held arch-foe Israel responsible. Iranian authorities have described the attack as “nuclear terrorism” and vowed revenge. Israel has not commented on the incident.Iran will “soon” replace the centrifuges that were damaged in Sunday’s attack on Natanz, as well as install an additional 1,000 centrifuges of 50 percent higher enrichment capacity at the nuclear site, Araghchi said, according to Press TV.Shortly after the announcement, Iranian state media reported that talks scheduled for Wednesday in Vienna between Iran and world powers aimed at reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have been postponed to Thursday “due to a member of the European Union delegation contracting coronavirus.”Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had said in February Tehran might enrich uranium up to 60 percent purity if the country needed it.“Iran’s uranium enrichment level will not be limited to 20 percent. We will increase it to whatever level the country needs ... We may increase it to 60 percent,” Khamenei said at the time.Read more:Israel played ‘very bad gamble’ by sabotaging Natanz nuclear facility: Iran’s ZarifLavrov says Russia expects Iran nuclear talks to be saved, condemns EU sanctionsEU says it ‘rejects any attempts’ to undermine Iran nuclear talks
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran to begin enriching uranium at 60 pct purity: State media

13 Apr 2021
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Saudi Arabia records 951 new COVID-19 cases, eight deaths

April 13, 2021

Saudi Arabia recorded 951 new COVID-19 cases, 608 recoveries and eight deaths in the last 24 hours, the country’s health ministry announced on Tuesday.The Kingdom’s critical coronavirus cases have increased to 962 and the number of currently active cases sits at 400,288.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The majority of Tuesday’s cases were recorded in Makkah and Riyadh, 212 and 389 respectively.The COVID-19 death toll increased to 6,773, total recoveries to 384,635 and total cases recorded since the beginning of the outbreak in March 2020 increased to 400,228.On Saturday, the Kingdom’s health ministry announced that appointments for second vaccine doses would be postponed until further notice in an effort to vaccinate more people with a first dose. The ministry said that the decision was made as the world began to grapple with the scarcity of vaccine supplies and to ensure that more high-risk people are given the opportunity to be vaccinated.Read more:Saudi Arabia reports 842 COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths in 24 hoursSaudi Arabia Holy Mosque visitors should adhere to COVID-19 guidelines: al-SudaisSaudi King approves support package for Hajj, Umrah companies impacted by COVID-19
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia records 951 new COVID-19 cases, eight deaths

13 Apr 2021
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Biden to announce withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan this week: Official

April 13, 2021

President Joe Biden is expected to announce the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan later this week, a senior administration official said Tuesday.The move was first reported by the Washington Post. Citing people familiar with the plans, the US-based newspaper said the withdrawal date would be Sept. 11, 2021 and that Biden would announce the move on Wednesday.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.That would mark 20 years since terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and other US cities. The 9/11 attacks drew the US into one of its longest wars in history after the Bush administration sent troops to Afghanistan in an effort to root out al-Qaeda, which was based out of Afghanistan.Former US President Donald Trump reached a deal with the Taliban last year that would see American forces withdrawn from Afghanistan by May 1. NATO allies and the Afghan government have urged Biden and the Pentagon not to go ahead with the move over fears that the Islamist Taliban would take over the country.Last month, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters that the US had spent $825 billion in Afghanistan since 9/11.“Afghanistan just does not rise to the level of those other threats at this point,” the Post quoted a person familiar with Biden's plans as saying. "We are going to remain committed to the government, remain committed diplomatically. But in terms of where we will be investing force posture, our blood and treasure, we believe that other priorities merit that investment,” the person reportedly said.Since taking office, Biden has said that Russia and China pose the biggest threats to Washington and to the international community.Read more: US joins Russia, China, and Pakistan in call for ceasefire in Afghanistan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Biden to announce withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan this week: Official