Chemical weaponsUN Watchdog Confirms Assad Used Chemical Weapons against Civilians Published 16 April 2021 The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Monday released the findings of the second report by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT). IIT concludes that units of the Syrian Arab Air Force used chemical weapons in Saraqib

ARGUMENT: Biological destructionThe Importance of “Biological Destruction” in Responsible Coverage of Xinjiang Published 16 April 2021 Recent news coverage of the ongoing situation in Xinjiang has focused on whether or not those events meet the international legal definition of genocide.The majority of nonacademic pieces seem to presume, however, that if genocide is occurring, it must

Iran’s nukesIran Says 60 Percent Enrichment “Under Way” at Natanz Site Published 16 April 2021 Iranian officials say the country has begun enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity, higher than it has ever done before, despite ongoing talks between Tehran and world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Under the 2015 nuclear deal,

Conspiracy theory“Deprogramming” QAnon Followers Ignores Free Will and Why They Adopted the Beliefs in the First Place By Paul Thomas Published 16 April 2021 Recent calls to deprogram QAnon conspiracy followers are steeped in discredited notions about brainwashing. As popularly imagined, brainwashing is a coercive procedure that programs new long-term personality changes. Deprogramming, also coercive,

The Russia connectionU.S. Expels Russian Diplomats, Imposes New Sanctions on Russia in Retaliation for Hacking, “harmful activities” Published 15 April 2021 The U.S. has imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia targeting what it calls the “harmful” foreign activities of Moscow. U.S. intelligence officials have pointed the finger at Russia for a massive hack

AfghanistanAfghanistan Withdrawal Could Pose ‘Significant Risk’ to U.S.: Intelligence Officials By Jeff Seldin Published 15 April 2021 The plan to pull troops from Afghanistan could give terrorist groups like al-Qaida and Islamic State a chance to regenerate the capabilities they would need to carry out an attack against the United States, according to top U.S.

Hemispheric securityColombia Gives Nearly 1 Million Venezuelan Migrants Legal Status and Right to Work By Erika Frydenlund, Jose J. Padilla, and Katherine Palacio Published 15 April 2021 Colombia will grant legal status to all Venezuelan migrants who fled there since 2016 to escape their country’s economic collapse and political crisis. The bold new policy –

Iran’s nukesNatanz Attack Sets Back Iran’s Nuclear Operations Published 14 April 2021 The Israeli Sunday sabotage operation against Iran’s nuclear facility at Natanz destroyed a well-protected electrical substation housed 40 to 50 meters underground.Iranian officials said that thedestruction of the power supply led to the damage or destruction of “thousands of centrifuges” by causing them

Iran’s nukesSabotage May Weaken Tehran’s Position in Indirect Talks with U.S. By Michael Lipin, Payam Yazdian, Katherine Ahn, Linda Gradstein Published 14 April 2021 With the U.S. and Iran planning their second round of indirect nuclear talks in Vienna this week, some analysts say Sunday’s sabotage of Iran’s Natanz nuclear site has weakened the Iranian

Iran’s nukesThe Natanz Blackout: Can the Iran Deal Talks Still Succeed? By Ray Takeyh Published 14 April 2021 Washington and Tehran seem determined to revive the deal that freezes Iran’s nuclear program, despite domestic criticism on both sides and the apparent sabotage of an Iranian facility. Did the April 11 explosion at the Natanz facility, which