With the heavy focus on terrorists in Paris over the past few days, missing the attention of most U.S. media were the latest on Iran’s nuclear activity --- boosted by the U.S., no less --- and pending delivery of surface-to-air missiles to Iran from Russia, observed Grumpy Editor.
The U.S. is among global powers helping Iran update and reconstruct a nuclear reactor that has been suspected of helping the Islamic Republic produce enough material for a potential nuclear weapon, reported Adam Kredo, senior writer for the Washington Free Beacon.
Kredo pointed out that Iran maintains that the U.S. and partner nations will soon provide “advanced equipment” for the reactor in Arak.
A spokesman for the Iranian nuclear authority said that while Iran could complete the modernization on its own, “it has sought the world powers’ assistance to accelerate the job,” added Kredo.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal’s Nathan Hodge, citing Russian news sources, reported Russia is moving ahead in delivering S-300 advanced surface-to-air missiles to Iran.
Earlier delivery of the missiles, under a 2007 contract, was banned amid pressure from the U.S. and Israel, Hodge wrote, but Moscow has lifted the ban and Iran mentioned delivery could come by year end.
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…
In an ABC interview aired Friday, just hours before the Paris attack, President Barack Obama proclaimed ISIS had been contained. “I don’t think they’re gaining strength,” he said. “From the start, our goal has been first to contain and we have contained them”… No sooner did the Dow Jones Industrial Average look like it was going to reach 18000 again, when --- poof! --- weak earnings and economic data sent it down to close the week at 17245.24, including a 202.83 drop on Friday. Another downward movement factor with almost daily reminders on financial pages: the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates at its Dec. 16 meeting…Following an investigation, the Navy said little could have been done to prevent crew members aboard the submarine USS Wyoming from secretly recording women showering on board, reported Stars and Stripes…Amid cries to improve veterans’ medical attention, the Department of Veterans Affairs paid more than $142 million in bonuses to executives and employees for performance in 2014. Meanwhile, the VA Medical Center in Cleveland plans to open the first VA clinic specifically dedicated to transgender veterans needs, including primary care, hormonal therapy, mental health care and social work services…In the sky-is-falling department: Among many climate-related risks to public health, mentioned in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report spotted by CNSNews --- a rise in cardiovascular disease in the Northwest, more allergies in Great Plains states, an increase in drownings in the Midwest, a disruption of community water supplies in Alaska, more cases of dengue fever in Hawaii and West Nile virus in the Northeast, higher incidents of heat stress in the Southwest and increased fish poisoning in the Southeast…Family Circle magazine is sending out renewal notices sure to spark subscription action “when you renew today." It touted a “special bonus: free delivery.”
There’s that word again: A headline over an Associated Press story on Friday:
U.S. producer prices drop in latest sign of tame inflation
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