Iran denies satellite programme has military dimension
AFP, Tehran
Iran’s government on Wednesday rejected US allegations that the Islamic republic’s satellite programme has a military dimension, days after the failed launch of its latest satellite.
“The subject of satellite launch vehicles and satellites is a civilian matter,” Defence Minister Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.
Opposition leader Guaido returns to Venezuela
AFP, Caracas
Opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to Venezuela on Tuesday following a 23-day international tour in which he defied a ban on leaving the country imposed by President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Guaido announced his return on Twitter before being greeted by a throng of cheering supporters at the Caracas international airport, where he arrived on a flight from Portugal.
However fighting quickly broke out between his supporters and those of Maduro as Guaido was leaving the airport.
French academic held in Iran ends hunger strike
AFP, Tehran
French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, jailed in Iran since June, ended a six-week hunger strike on Wednesday, according to her lawyer.
“Adelkhah responded to a written request from civil and political activists and ended her hunger strike at midday (0830 GMT) today,” lawyer Said Dehghan told AFP.
Dehghan expressed relief that Adelkhah had ended the hunger strike that she began on December 24, but said she remained fragile.
US to seek more help from NATO to counter Islamic State
AP, Brussels, Belgium
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday he is looking to NATO allies for more help countering the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and in bolstering U.S. defense efforts in the Middle East more broadly.
In an interview while flying to Brussels to attend a NATO defense ministers meeting, Esper told reporters he wants NATO countries to do more to help Iraq’s security forces.
