


NEWS BRIEFING
Iran vows ‘serious response’ to new sanctions, says no changes

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it would not agree to any changes to the nuclear deal, as President Donald Trump has demanded, and it vowed a “serious response” to new U.S. sanctions that it said crossed a red line.
The countries that negotiated the multilateral 2015 agreement with the United States were thrown into confusion, anger and disapproval over Trump’s ultimatum Friday to withdraw from the deal within months if his conditions are not met.
Trump is insisting on changes to the nuclear deal and U.S. law that would be difficult if not impossible to finesse. He wants Iran to allow the immediate inspection of all sites as requested by U.N. inspectors, and he demands no lapse of the “sunset” provisions imposing curbs on Iran’s nuclear program. He also wants Congress to modify U.S. law to link missile tests and nuclear weapons programs, as well as impose trigger points that would automatically snap sanctions back into place.
Russia called Trump’s remarks “extremely negative.” China said the deal now faces “complicating factors.” And the European Union said it would “assess” the implications.
But the strongest reaction came from Tehran, which agreed under the deal to curb its nuclear program and allow inspections of its nuclear facilities in exchange for relief from punishing economic sanctions.
Trump reluctantly extended waivers on the sanctions Friday but said it was the last time he would do so without the changes.
A Foreign Ministry statement reported by the state-run IRNA news agency said Iran “will not accept any change in the deal, neither now or in the future.”
It also said Iran will “not take any action beyond its commitments.”
ISIS group offshoot claims Oct. attack on U.S. troops in Niger
The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed ISIS affiliate claimed responsibility for the Oct. 4 ambush about 120 miles north of Niger’s capital, Niamey.
The news agency has carried messages from the affiliate before, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites.
The U.S. Africa Command has been investigating the attack, which also wounded two U.S. and eight Nigerien troops.
A final report is expected to be released this month.
After outcry, Mark Wahlberg donates $1.5 million film fee
Wahlberg said he’ll donate the money in the name of his co-star, Michelle Williams, who reportedly made less than $1,000 on the reshoots. “I 100% support the fight for fair pay,” Wahlberg said in a statement.
The announcement came after directors and stars shared shock at reports of the huge pay disparity for the Ridley Scott film. The 10 days of reshoots were necessary after Kevin Spacey was replaced by Christopher Plummer when accusations of sexual misconduct surfaced against Spacey.
Christ statue in Peru damaged by fire days before pope’s visit
Peruvians awoke to find nearly the entire back of the statue, perched on a barren desert bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, charred black.
A spokesperson with Peru’s firefighting corps told RPP Noticias that two dozen firefighters responded to the blaze and that an early working theory was the “Christ of the Pacific” was purposely set aflame. However police later told state news agency Andina that electrical cables for the statue’s lighting had short-circuited due to humidity, sparking the blaze.
Male models accuse photographers of misconduct
Fifteen current and former models said Weber's demands often occurred during photo shoots and other private sessions. Thirteen assistants and models accused Testino, the Times reported.
Weber's racy advertisements for Calvin Klein, Abercrombie & Fitch and other companies helped turn him into a star in commercial and fine art photography.
Testino, adored by celebrities, was accused of groping and making sexual come-ons, the paper said.
Representatives for both photographers said they were dismayed and surprised by the allegations.
Rival Koreas agree to talk on art troupe’s Olympics visit
Pyongyang wanted talks on sending its athletes and other officials to the February Olympics to be held at a later date so that Monday’s talks can focus primarily on the North Korean art troupe’s participation in the Games, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said. The South agreed to the proposal, the ministry said.
Officials from the nations met earlier last week in their first talks in more than two years. At that meeting they agreed to hold military talks and send a North Korean delegation of officials, athletes, cheerleaders and others to the Olympics.