News

Key facts about Henry Kissinger, US diplomat and presidential adviser

Published

2 years ago

November 30, 2023

Here are some facts on American diplomat Henry Kissinger, who died at age 100 on Wednesday.

– **Early Life and Immigration:**
– Henry Kissinger, born Heinz Alfred Kissinger, on May 27, 1923, in Germany.
– Faced anti-Semitic bullying; his family migrated to New York in 1938.
– Became a naturalized American in 1943.

– **World War II Service:**
– Served in the U.S. Army’s 84th Infantry Division during World War II.
– Worked as a translator in intelligence operations, received a Bronze Star.
– Helped round up Gestapo members in his homeland.

– **Political Career:**
– Joined Richard Nixon’s administration in 1969 as national security adviser.
– Continued as national security adviser under Gerald Ford.
– Also served as secretary of state under Nixon and Ford.

– **Global Impact:**
– Played a significant role in 1970s global events, including the Vietnam War and U.S.-Soviet arms control talks.
– Involved in diplomatic opening of China and expanded ties between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

– **Controversial Nobel Prize:**
– Awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize with Le Duc Tho for Paris peace talks on U.S. troop withdrawal.
– Controversial; two Nobel committee members resigned, and Tho declined the prize.

– **Personal Life and Image:**
– Associated with various actresses during his bachelor days.
– Playboy image deemed a media creation by those who knew him.

– ️ **Post-Presidential Administration:**
– Last worked in a presidential administration in 1977.
– Maintained a relationship with George W. Bush, led a commission on the 9/11 attacks but resigned.

– ⚖️ **Allegations and Controversies:**
– Accused of involvement in the Argentine “dirty war” against leftist dissidents.
– Declassified documents showed ambiguous support for the military during the 1976 coup.

– **Satirical Legacy:**
– Tom Lehrer famously quipped that political satire became obsolete when Kissinger received the Nobel Peace Prize.
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News

Iran warns U.S. retaliation as protest death toll soars — executions feared, nationwide unrest

Iran warns of severe retaliation against U.S. strikes, amid escalating tensions and internal unrest.

Published

1 hour ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran warns of severe retaliation against U.S. strikes, amid escalating tensions and internal unrest.

Iran has issued a stark warning of a severe response to any U.S. military strike, with leaders stressing that military action would be treated as an act of war.

President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned that attacks on strategic sites or leadership figures could trigger retaliation against U.S. and allied forces in the region — including potential targets in Israel and American bases. These warnings come as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate amid sustained unrest across Iran.

The backdrop for this diplomatic brinkmanship is a bitter standoff between Tehran and the U.S., with U.S. President Donald Trump publicly debating options for intervention and criticising Iran’s leadership.

Tehran, for its part, has blamed external forces for stoking internal dissent and insists it will fiercely defend its sovereignty.

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#IranProtests #IranUSConflict #MiddleEastTensions #HumanRights #IranDeathToll #ProtestCrackdown #GlobalNews

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EU condemns Trump’s Greenland tariff threats: Trade tensions escalate

Major EU nations criticize Trump’s Greenland tariffs as “blackmail,” risking trade agreements and raising tensions across the Atlantic.

Published

1 hour ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Major EU nations criticize Trump’s Greenland tariffs as “blackmail,” risking trade agreements and raising tensions across the Atlantic.

Major EU nations are pushing back against President Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland, calling them “blackmail” and raising tensions across the Atlantic. Germany and France are reportedly considering economic countermeasures to respond to the U.S. stance.

Trade agreements with the UK and the EU could be at risk, as these threats put key negotiations in jeopardy. The European Parliament is also expected to pause discussions on the EU-U.S. trade deal, signaling a growing rift.

Meanwhile, British officials insist their position on Greenland is non-negotiable, adding complexity to an already tense situation.

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#TrumpTariffs #Greenland #EUTensions #TradeWars #USPolitics #GlobalEconomy #EUTrade #NationalSecurity

News

Australia shuts millions of teen social media accounts

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Nearly five million social media accounts belonging to Australian teenagers have been closed since the nation’s social media ban began in December. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were responsible for removing around 4.7 million accounts held by minors, according to the eSafety Commissioner.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the figures as encouraging, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting children online. The new law holds social media companies accountable, with fines imposed on platforms that fail to prevent underage accounts from being created or maintained.

Despite these measures, some teenagers have reportedly bypassed the restrictions by falsifying their ages or using parental information. The debate continues over the effectiveness of these regulations and the balance between safety and online freedom.

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#AustraliaNews #SocialMediaBan #TeenSafety #eSafety #Instagram #TikTok #OnlineProtection #TechLaw