Iran military warning
A top Iranian military commander warns that the Islamic Republic will give a crushing response to any attack on its military and nuclear sites. The commander of the Khatam-al-Anbiya central headquarters has warned that Iran will not hesitate in its response. Major General Gholam Ali Rashid said Iran will target the source of aggression, the bases, the territory, and the airspace used for any possible attack. He noted that any Israeli threat against Iranian sites will be impossible without support from the US. Back in September, the Israeli minister of military affairs said the regime is preparing a strike on Iran. American and other Israeli officials have made similar suggestions over the past months.
China-US tensions
The Chinese foreign minister has blamed strategic US misjudgments for problems in bilateral relations. Wang Yi says China does not fear confrontation with the US, but would welcome cooperation if it was mutually beneficial. He says competition between the US and China should be positive. Beijing and Washington are at loggerheads over a host of issues, including trade, technology, Taiwan, Hong Kong, COVID-19 origins and the South China Sea. In the latest flare-up, the US announced that it would stage a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. China shrugged off the move, but promised a response. A virtual summit between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in November produced no breakthroughs.
Chile presidential vote
Chileans take to the streets in the capital Santiago to celebrate the victory of leftist candidate Gabriel Boric in the country’s presidential run-off. Streets in other Chilean cities also erupted in celebrations. Boric garnered 56 percent of the votes with almost 99 percent of ballots counted. His rival, far-right Jose Antonio Kast, secured 44 percent of the votes. Several Latin American presidents have sent congratulatory messages to Boric. He will take office for a four-year term starting March next year. The new president will be dealing with some of Chile's biggest challenges, including high inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest. He will also be in power for the approval of a new constitution that is in the process of drafting.