Jakarta, CNN Indonesia -- Tagar #WWIII dan kata kunci World War 3 menjadi trending di jagat Twitter Indonesia. Perang dunia ketiga ramai dibicarakan warganet tak lama setelah Mayor Jenderal Qasem Soleimani, yang merupakan perwira militer senior Iran , dilaporkan tewas dalam serangan udara Amerika Serikat . Sejauh ini #WWIII telah dicuitkan sebanyak 495 ribu kali, sementara kata kunci 'World War 3' telah dicuitkan sebanyak 2,06 juta. Alih-alih serius membicarakan perang, warganet justru bersenda gurau dengan isu perang ini. [Gambas:Twitter] [Gambas:Twitter] [Gambas:Twitter] [Gambas:Twitter] Beberapa warganet juga menyalahkan pemerintah AS yang 'membunuh' Soleimani. Bahkan PM Boris Johnson juga masuk dalam kicauan kocak warganet. [Gambas:Twitter]
Warganet juga ada yang membagikan cuitan lawas Presiden Donald Trump pada 2011 yang mengatakan agar Barack Obama akan berperang dengan Iran agar bisa terpilih kembali. Akun @adeyinks 11 bahkan menuding Trump memantik perang dengan Iran untuk menghentikan pemakzulan Trump. [Gambas:Video CNN] [Gambas:Twitter] [Gambas:Twitter] Akun @Qwarmie_ bahkan mengatakan penggemar klub bola Manchester United, Chelse, Mancherster City dan Barcelona akan bergembira dengan adanya Perang Dunia Ketiga. Pasalnya Perang Dunia Ketiga akan mencegah Liverpool untuk menjuarai kompetisi Premier League. [Gambas:Twitter] Banyak dari warganet yang justru mencuitkan hal-hal lucu apabila dirinya terkena wajib militer. [Gambas:Twitter] [Gambas:Twitter] [Gambas:Twitter] [Gambas:Twitter]
Indeks Harga Saham gabungan (IHSG) mengawali perdagangan terakhir di pekan ini, Jumat (3/1/2020), di zona hijau.Pada pembukaan perdagangan, IHSG menguat 0,36% ke level 6.306,19. Pada penutupan perdagangan, apresiasi indeks saham acuan di Indonesia tersebut telah bertambah lebar menjadi 0,64% ke level 6.323,47.Dengan apresiasi pada hari ini, maka IHSG resmi memutus rantai pelemahan yang sudah terjadi selama dua hari beruntun.Walaupun IHSG menguat, patut dicatat bahwa perdagangan di pasar saham tanah air pada hari ini berlangsung dengan sangat sepi. Melansir data RTI, volume transaksi pada hari ini hanyalah sebanyak 8,04 miliar unit saham.Padahal menurut data dari Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI), rata-rata volume transaksi harian di sepanjang tahun 2019 mencapai 14,54 miliar unit saham.Secara nilainya, jumlah dana yang berputar di pasar saham Indonesia pada hari ini hanyalah Rp 5,74 triliun, jauh di bawah rata-rata nilai transaksi harian di sepanjang tahun 2019 yang mencapai Rp 9,11 triliun.Saham-saham yang berkontribusi signifikan dalam mendongkrak kinerja IHSG pada hari ini di antaranya: PT Bank Central Asia Tbk/BBCA (+1,64%), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk/TLKM (+1,79%), PT HM Sampoerna Tbk/HMSP (+2,39%), PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk/CPIN (+4,94%), dan PT Astra International Tbk/ASII (+1,09%).Kinerja IHSG pada hari ini berbanding terbalik dengan mayoritas bursa saham utama kawasan Asia yang justru bergerak di zona merah: indeks Shanghai turun 0,05%, indeks Hang Seng melemah 0,32%, dan indeks Straits Times terkoreksi 0,5%. Untuk diketahui, perdagangan di bursa saham Jepang diliburkan pada hari ini.Bursa saham Benua Kuning melemah selepas pasar saham AS alias Wall Street mencetak rekor pada perdagangan kemarin, Kamis (2/1/2019). Pada penutupan perdagangan kemarin, indeks Dow Jones naik 1,16%, indeks S&P 500 menguat 0,84%, dan indeks Nasdaq Composite terapresiasi 1,33%. Ketiga indeks saham acuan di AS tersebut ditutup di level tertinggi sepanjang masa.Wall Street masih menunjukkan performa yang kuat pasca sudah meroket di tahun 2019. Di sepanjang tahun lalu, indeks Dow Jones naik 22,3%, indeks S&P 500 menguat 28,9%, dan indeks Nasdaq Composite terapresiasi lebih dari 35%.Tingginya ekspektasi bahwa AS dan China akan segera meneken kesepakatan dagang tahap satu menjadi faktor yang memantik aksi beli di bursa saham AS. Menjelang tahun baru kemarin, Presiden AS Donald Trump mengungkapkan bahwa kesepakatan dagang tahap satu dengan China akan diteken di Gedung Putih pada tanggal 15 Januari.Hal tersebut diumumkan oleh Trump melalui akun Twitter pribadinya, @realDonaldTrump. Menurut Trump, pejabat tingkat tinggi dari China akan menghadiri penandatanganan kesepakatan dagang tahap satu. Kemudian, Trump juga mengungkapkan bahwa nantinya dirinya akan bertandang ke Beijing guna memulai negosiasi terkait kesepakatan dagang tahap dua.
Seperti yang diketahui, sebelumnya AS dan China mengumumkan bahwa mereka telah berhasil mencapai kesepakatan dagang tahap satu. Dengan adanya kesepakatan dagang tahap satu tersebut, Trump membatalkan rencana untuk mengenakan bea masuk tambahan terhadap produk impor asal China pada tanggal 15 Desember. Untuk diketahui, nilai produk impor asal China yang akan terdampak oleh kebijakan ini sejatinya mencapai US$ 160 miliar.Tak sampai di situ, Trump mengatakan bahwa bea masuk sebesar 15% terhadap produk impor asal China senilai US$ 120 miliar nantinya akan dipangkas menjadi 7,5% saja sebagai bagian dari kesepakatan dagang tahap satu. Di sisi lain, China membatalkan rencana untuk mengenakan bea masuk balasan yang disiapkan guna membalas bea masuk dari AS pada tanggal 15 Desember.Masih sebagai bagian dari kesepakatan dagang tahap satu, China akan meningkatkan pembelian produk agrikultur asal AS secara signifikan. Trump menyebut bahwa China akan segera memulai pembelian produk agrikultur asal AS yang jika ditotal akan mencapai US$ 50 miliar.Lebih lanjut, kesepakatan dagang tahap satu AS-China juga mengatur mengenai komplain dari AS terkait pencurian hak kekayaan intelektual dan transfer teknologi secara paksa yang sering dialami oleh perusahaan-perusahaan asal Negeri Paman Sam.Jika kesepakatan dagang tahap satu benar diteken nantinya, laju perekonomian AS dan China di tahun-tahun mendatang bisa terus dipertahankan di level yang relatif tinggi.Mengingat posisi AS dan China sebagai dua negara dengan nilai perekonomian terbesar di planet bumi, tentu prospek ditekennya kesepakatan dagang yang semakin nyata menjadi kabar yang baik bagi perekonomian dunia.
Mengunjungi Museum Perang Dunia Kedua, Morotai
- Harga emas melonjak ke titik tertinggi dalam empat bulan terakhir. Pemicunya adalah geger kabar munculnya Perang Dunia alias World War 3.Selain emas, harga minyak dunia juga melonjak, juga nilai tukar Yen. Investor dunia banyak melepas portofolio yang berisiko tinggi, seperti saham di pasar modal Amerika Serikat (AS) dan Uni Eropa."Investor was-was situasi di Iran akan memburuk, karena pasti akan ada imbas setelah serangan AS," kata Direktur Eksekutif UOB Kay Hian, Steven Leung, di Hong Kong seperti dikutip dari Reuters, Jumat (3/1/2020).Di pasar spot, harga emas naik 1% ke US$ 1.543,66. Dalam dua bulan terakhir, harga emas dunia memang sudah dalam tren naik.Seperti diketahui, Presiden AS Donald Trump memerintahkan serangan udara yang menewaskan Komandan Garda Revolusi Iran, Mayjend Qasem Soleimani. Ia pun langsung mengibarkan bendera AS di Twitter tak lama setelah misinya sukses.Garda Revolusi Iran dalam pernyataan terbaru memastikan kematian Mayor Jenderal Qasem Soleimani yang menjabat sebagai komandan Pasukan Quds pada Garda Revolusi Iran dalam serangan udara di Bandara Internasional Baghdad, Jumat pagi waktu setempat."Garda Revolusi mengumumkan bahwa komandan Islam yang agung, Haji Qasem Soleimani, yang mengabdi seumur hidup telah mati syahid dalam sebuah serangan oleh Amerika di bandara Baghdad pagi ini," demikian pernyataan Garda Revolusi Iran.Tak lama, Kedutaan Besar Amerika Serikat (Kedubes AS) di Baghdad, Irak mengimbau seluruh warga AS untuk 'segera pergi' dari negara tersebut."Warga negara AS harus segera pergi dengan pesawat udara selagi mungkin, dan jika gagal, harus pergi ke negara lain via jalur darat," imbau Kedubes AS di Baghdad dalam pernyataan terbaru, seperti dilansir AFP, Jumat (3/1/2020).Departemen Luar Negeri AS dalam pernyataannya, seperti dikutip Associated Press, menyebut 'ketegangan yang meningkat di Irak dan kawasan sekitarnya' sebagai dasar dari imbauan untuk warga AS tersebut."Warga negara AS tidak seharusnya mendekati Kedutaan Besar (AS di Baghdad)," tegas Departemen Luar Negeri AS, sembari menyatakan seluruh operasional konsuler ditangguhkan.
Mendadak kata kunci Wold War 3 trending topic Twitter pada Jumat 3/12/2020).
Tak diketahui pasti apa yang menyebabkan hal tersebut.
Namun ada dugaan munculnya kata World War 3 kemungkinan terkait serangan militer AS di Bandara Baghdaf, Irak.
Serangan rudal itu menewaskan jenderal top yang merupakan komandan pasukan Quds.
Merunut sejarahnya, perang dunia (world war) I dan II memang mengerikan.
Perang tersebut melibatkan beberapa negara terutama di Eropa.
Perang dunia I melibatkan blok sekutu dan blok sentral.
A famous quote from Albert Einstein says, “I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones,” dating back to the 1940s when the first nuclear weapons were being developed. Although the famed physicist didn’t actually develop the atomic bomb, he was well aware of how nuclear weapons could affect the world.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump’s vow to hit Iran and make it ‘pay a very big price’ comes after the fiasco of the attack on 6,000 demonstrators at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. In an equally brutal retaliation, Trump ordered an airstrike that killed top Iranian general Qassim Suleimani in Baghdad. If not anything, the counter-strike is an unveiled threat to unleash America’s most potent weapons of mass destruction onto the Middle Eastern country and has erupted scares of World War III across the globe.
SEE ALSO: US Airstrike Kills Top Iranian Commander, Twitter Reacts With World War 3 Jokes
Considering how close Iran is to developing its own weapon of mass destruction, it won’t even take an educated guess to predict that the next World War, if it does happen between these two countries, will be fought with nuclear weapons. Reportedly, most U.S. weapons are 10 to 50 times stronger than the bombs that brought Hiroshima to a standstill. So, you can just imagine how such a strategic nuclear war would impact the Earth, posing an existential threat to humanity regardless of the scale of its severity.
Take, for example, a relatively new research that models the indirect effects of nuclear detonations on the environment and climate in case of a limited regional nuclear war between India and Pakistan. The combines arsenals of both the nations equal to more than 220 nuclear warheads. Such an event will cause fires to ignite over a large area which would inject large volumes of soot and debris into the stratosphere. This would thus block out the sun and cause a significant drop in average surface temperature and precipitation across the globe, with effects that could last for more than a decade.
SEE ALSO: Researchers Say A Nuclear War Between India And Pakistan Might Kill 125 Million People
According to this particularly convincing report, a bomb can now be manufactured which will be 2,500 times as powerful as the one that destroyed Hiroshima. Such a bomb, if exploded near the ground or under water, could send radioactive particles into the upper air. They would sink gradually and reach the surface of the earth in the form of deadly dust or rain. It was this dust which infected the Japanese fishermen and their catch of fish. No one knows how widely such lethal radioactive particles might be diffused, but the best authorities are unanimous in saying that a war with H-bombs might possibly put an end to the human race.
The culture of war mongering that’s especially endorsed by major world leaders like Trump off late is scary. One just cannot overlook their attitude on the idea of a nuclear war as a dramatic rhetoric of global humanitarian disaster because this a more plausible scenario now than ever, given the time we stand in. Nuclear war is also a war on the environment and its indirect repercussions are to be borne by the generations to come and also the geological space around us. It’s about time authorities realize the gravity of the situation and put our planet before any international conflict.
SEE ALSO: Climate Change Models Have Been Kicking Ass Since The 1970s
The US airstrike ordered by Donald Trump killed Iran general Qasam Soleimani outside Baghdad airport in Iraq (Picture: Reuters/AFP)
The phrase ‘World War 3’ began trending after the killing of the Iranian leader’s second in command in a US airstrike.
Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a bombing ordered by President Donald Trump overnight at Baghdad Airport.
After news of his death broke, the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei sparked fears of war after he promised ‘harsh vengeance’.
Many of those tweeting about the airstrike used memes to bring light to the situation, joking about fears it could spark ‘World War 3’ – a phrase now trending on Twitter.
Searches for ‘World War 3’ also spiked on Google within hours of the airstrike in Iraq overnight.
Google Trends recorded ‘Iran’ as the second most searched term in the United States, with more than 500,000 searches for the topic.
My dad telling me to be brave and make the family proud after getting deployed for World War 3 pic.twitter.com/6U7W53jBqy — Kadet † (@snillo_) January 3, 2020
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Though much of the comments online mock hysteria surrounding a ‘world war’, there are real fears of repercussions following Soleimani’s death.
In a tweet, Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khomeinei said the ‘criminals’ responsible had ‘his [Soleimani] and other martyrs’ blood on their evil hands’.
He added: ‘God willing, his work and his path will not be stopped.’
The dramatic attack came months of tensions between the US and Iran in which Tehran shot down an American military surveillance drone and seized oil tankers.
This week, Mr Trump blamed Iran for a protest in Iraq which saw demonstrators break into the US embassy in Baghdad and torch the place.
A destroyed vehicle on fire following a US strike on Baghdad Airport road in which top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed (Picture: AFP)
Soleimani was Iran’s second most powerful man (Picture: AP)
Pictures of the embassy’s burned out wreck later emerged, with Mr Trump declaring Iran ‘will pay a very big price’.
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The US also blames the country for a series of attacks targeting tankers, as well as a September assault on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry that temporarily halved its production.
The tensions take root in Mr Trump’s decision in May 2018 to withdraw the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, struck under his predecessor, Barack Obama.
Soleimani was the target of Friday’s US attack, which was conducted by an armed American drone, according to a US official.
His vehicle was struck on an access road near the Baghdad airport, killing him and eight others.
Donald Trump had blamed Iran for a demonstration at the US embassy in Iraq this week (Picture: Reuters)
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A senior Iraqi security official said the airstrike took place near the cargo area after Soleimani left his plane to be greeted by al-Muhandis and others.
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The official said the plane had arrived from either Lebanon or Syria.
The US president was holidaying on his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, at the time of the strike, but sent out a tweet of an American flag.
Got a story for Metro.co.uk? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
With Iran proving an alarming threat on the world stage, which countries are considered the most dangerous of all?
Medical and travel security services company International SOS has revealed the top riskiest countries in the world for this year.
Although Iran itself is not high on the list, many of the dangerous countries are in the Middle East, as well as Africa.
International SOS looks at both medical risk and security risk for travel.
“The travel security risk rating evaluates the threat posed to travellers and international assignees by political violence (including terrorism, insurgency, politically motivated unrest and war), social unrest (including sectarian, communal and ethnic violence) as well as violent and petty crime,” explained the company.
“Other factors, such as the robustness of the transport infrastructure, the state of industrial relations, the effectiveness of the security and emergency services and the country’s susceptibility to natural disasters are also considered where they are of sufficient magnitude to impact the overall risk environment for travellers.
As for medical risk: “International SOS assigns travel medical risk ratings by assessing a range of health risks and mitigating factors, including but not limited to: infectious disease burden, environmental factors, medical evacuation data, road trauma data, standard of emergency medical services, outpatient and inpatient medical care, access to quality pharmaceutical supplies, and cultural, language or administrative barriers.”
The following countries are the riskiest destinations for 2020 with a “very high” travel medical risk.
READ MORE: Cruise: Man is saved after jumping from MSC Cruise
Football star Gary Lineker joked this morning about Donald Trump’s air strike finally stopping Liverpool from winning another game in the Premier League (Picture: Backgrid /Getty)
Gary Lineker has made a controversial joke about World War III after fears of mass conflict were sparked by the US assassination of a top Iranian General.
Qasem Soleimani, head of Tehran’s elite Quds Force who spearheaded military operations in the Middle East, was killed in the early hours of Friday morning in a drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump.
The US Defence Department said it targeted Soleimani because he ‘was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region’ and accused him of approving the attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad earlier this week.
However, Supreme leader Ali Khamenei has threatened that ‘harsh vengeance awaits’ and the UK government has urged ‘all parties to de-escalate’.
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Sports broadcaster Gary chose to use humour while discussing the events of this morning in a tweet, writing: ‘Seems @realDonaldTrump is the only man who’s worked out how to stop Liverpool winning the Premier League.’
Liverpool’s victory over Sheffield United means they have a place in history as one of a select group of teams to have gone a year unbeaten in the Premier League.
The team has played 37 games without defeat since losing 2-1 to last season’s eventual champions Manchester City on 3 January 2019.
The former footballer’s joke divided people on Twitter (Picture: PECK / BACKGRID)
He implied Trump ordered the air strike to spur World War III and stop Liverpool winning the league (Picture: Gary Lineker/Twitter)
Soleimani spearheaded military operations in the Middle East (Picture: AP)
The implication that the US president ordered the air strike to spur World War III and stop Liverpool winning the league received mixed reactions on social media.
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Some found it amusing, with Tunde Abanson writing: ‘yeah you wish…ain’t nothing is going to stop them’.
A Twitter used called Lef also quipped ‘I’m with Trump in that case’, while someone called Andy B wrote: ‘It’s the only way out mate. The only way. We must make the ultimate sacrifice. Our lives. All of us.
‘The new generation that rises will never know a think [sic] about this season.’
However, others thought the joke – which received more than 16,000 likes in an hour, was made in poor taste.
Someone called Mark wrote ‘This would be funnier if it wasn’t so scary’, while Tom Salter commented saying: Sorry Gary, I think this banter was made in poor taste to be made public.
‘I normally like your banter, but at present, it does look like @realDonaldTrump has lost it, and the unfortunate thing is, is that he could be driving for WW3.’
A destroyed vehicle on fire following the US strike on January 3, 2020 on Baghdad international airport road (Picture: IRAQI MILITARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death (Picture: EPA)
Twitter user Joaquin added: ‘Please don’t make a trashy joke about this because some of us actually have family members currently stationed near Iran.’
Suleimani, who ran Iranian military operations in Iraq and Syria, was killed while being driven from Baghdad airport by local allies from the Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU).
The phrase ‘World War 3’ began trending on social media after news of his death broke, with several UK and Iran officials warning that the consequences could only be disastrous.
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An advisor to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said ‘through his gamble’ Trump has ‘dragged the US into the most dangerous situation in the region’.
Writing on the social media app Telegram, he added: ‘Whoever put his foot beyond the red line should be ready to face its consequences.’
Prominent Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called an anti-US army to arms, tweeting that he was reactivating the army this morning.
In a statement, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qasem Soleimani.
‘Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests.’
Donald Trump has celebrated by posting an American flag (Picture: SMG/REX)
Jeremy Corbyn also released a statement that read: ‘The US assassination of Qasem Soleimani is an extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict with global significance.
‘The UK government should urge restraint on the part of both Iran and the US, and stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the US.’
However, President Trump has celebrated the results of the drone strike by tweeting a picture of the American flag.
The attack potentially marks a turning point in the Middle East and could represent a massive change for American policy toward Iran after months of tensions in which Tehran shot down a US military surveillance drone and seized oil tankers.
The US also has put blame on Iran for a series of attacks targeting tankers, as well as an assault in September on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry that temporarily halved its production.
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Tension was created by Mr Trump’s decision in May 2018 to withdraw the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, which former President Barack Obama arranged.
It is uncertain what legal authority the White House relied on to carry out the attack and the Pentagon has not yet provided evidence to prove that Soleimani was planning new attacks against Americans.
Got a story for Metro.co.uk? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
During the Sixties, the world came close to all-out nuclear war as the US and Soviet Union tussled over ultimate supremacy both on the ground and in space. These tensions reached their peak in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, after Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to fulfil Fidel Castro’s request to place nuclear missiles in Cuba. Leading up to the incident, both the US and the USSR continued to develop their nuclear weapons, becoming locked in a dangerous arms race, to create the ultimate weapon of mass destruction.
A letter from Harold Macmillan to John F. Kennedy reveals the former Prime Minister’s worries over the escalation. Dated August 3, 1962, it reads: “Dear my friend, I am increasingly concerned about the immense diffusion of so-called tactical nuclear weapons in NATO Europe. “According to my information there are now many thousands of these weapons, and their total capacity amounts to scores of megatons. “If they were used in action, the scale of destruction would be comparable to that from a strategic strike.
Harold Macmillan sent hte letter to John F Kennedy
The Soviet Union fulfilled Fidel Castro's request
We must demonstrate our will to use strategic nuclear strength harold Macmillan
“The idea that the armies in Europe could fight a tactical battle with nuclear weapons of this destructive power seems to me to be wholly unrealistic. “Conditions in the battle area would be such that anything like a war of movement would be virtually impracticable.” Mr Macmillan then went on to make a chilling suggestion. He added: “Moreover, once these weapons were engaged on this scale, escalation would almost inevitably follow and the strategic strength on either side would begin to be deployed. “I believe that we must take a fresh look at this dangerous situation. JUST IN: President's claim US will ‘take initiative’ in nuclear war escalation revealed
Harold Macmillan was close with JFK
“It seems to me that there would be great advantage if we could work towards the concept of a tactical nuclear command directly under Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SAUCER). “It would mean that, instead of preparing to fight a tactical battle with nuclear weapons, we were aiming to make such discriminatory use of those weapons as might be necessary to demonstrate our will to use our strategic nuclear strength if fighting continued." Mr Macmillan then asked whether JFK could keep their conversations private. He continued: “I am convinced that on this point the current NATO strategy is misconceived and I believe that, in the months ahead, we shall try to get it modified along the general lines which I have indicated. DON'T MISS
World War 3: The single ‘greatest threat to democracy’ [REVEALED]
WW3 preparation: Where billionaires are building underground bunkers [PICTURES]
China left scrambling over Taiwan independence: 'We will go to war!' [EXPLAINED]
Location of Soviet ballistic missiles
The Cuban Missile Crisis lasted 13 days
“it would be helpful to me if I could have your thoughts on this and I should be greatly relieved if I could feel that we could move forward together, as soon as circumstances allow. “I have given you this frank indication on this problem – much as you did the other day in your message to me of July 27 on nuclear tests. “The delicacy of this question, especially with the Germans and French, makes it important that we should keep this matter between ourselves until we have jointly decided what course to pursue.” But, on October 16, tensions skyrocketed after Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to fulfil Fidel Castro’s request to place nuclear missiles on the Caribbean island of Cuba.
WW3 flashpoints
Trending
While most enjoyed the memes and jokes that flooded the micro-blogging site, others thought it was quite scary to think that the war may soon become a reality. While most enjoyed the memes and jokes that flooded the micro-blogging site, others thought it was quite scary to think that the war may soon become a reality.
The Pentagon confirmed Friday that US President Donald Trump had ordered the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Major General Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike on the Baghdad International Airport. Hours later, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei said ‘a harsh retaliation is waiting’ for the US. Even as the developments came in thick and fast, people took to social media to share memes, jokes and GIFs about how World War III seemed imminent.
While many said that on the third day of the new year the world was on the edge of conflict, some in the US shared jokes. Others thought it was scary to think that a fresh war may soon become a reality.
Australia is still burning
And now world war 3 is trending
2020 is telling everyone to hold its beer — BossLogic (@Bosslogic) January 3, 2020
it’s the third day of 2020 and #WWIII is trending pic.twitter.com/Nzkw0hnAZH — fay ♡ (@gayforfay) January 3, 2020
me after seeing “World War 3” “World War III” “Before WW3” and “Iran” trending when ive been saying 2020 gonna be MY year#WWIII #WW3 #worldwar3 pic.twitter.com/bXNdbPataz — hoestronomy (@yelyahjennaa) January 3, 2020
2020 is gonna World War 3 is
be my year is trending on
very 2nd Day#worldwar3 pic.twitter.com/NGdu9H71n1 — ᴹirzA📎 (@Suspendedceleb) January 3, 2020
#WorldWar3
US Army: You can’t be drafted if you have a mental illness. Me: pic.twitter.com/TXORXWbHRz — Sean (@seanster06) January 3, 2020
My dad telling me to be brave and make the family proud after getting deployed for World War 3 pic.twitter.com/6U7W53jBqy — Kadet † (@snillo_) January 3, 2020
Me playing dead after the first shot fired in world war 3 pic.twitter.com/hvxqOfjHgO — Anthony (@jamaican_best) January 3, 2020
America Vs Iran **World War 3 begins** Me in Canada #WWIII pic.twitter.com/abbDdfnF6Z — Lérd Chigbo ā (@itschigbo) January 3, 2020
China North Korea and Russia realising it won’t be them causing World War 3 #WWIII pic.twitter.com/THYdLKhRQK — Taylor Swift Facts (@teaandfacts123) January 3, 2020
Me on my first mission at World War 3 #WWIII Iran pic.twitter.com/zlskF6uFDA — Brian Odido 🇰🇪 (@odidoowen) January 3, 2020
Me going Live on Instagram during World War 3 . pic.twitter.com/WZCfAimYHO — Seekthelord1st (@Seekthelord1st_) January 3, 2020
The army barber giving me a fresh fade for World War 3 before I’m off to the front line #WWIII pic.twitter.com/vWIZxmjQgF — Luis 🗡 (@Asvp_luis10) January 3, 2020
Me laughing at all the World War 3 jokes and memes then realizing it could actually happen pic.twitter.com/E4Uu0FpSoY — ً (@babygirlxsinner) January 3, 2020
Everyone on twitter laughing at the world war 3 memes like pic.twitter.com/pTD2hWTqL0 — Karol (@malphhas) January 3, 2020
Issuing a statement on the airstrike, the US Department of Defense said, “General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more.”
The Pentagon said that Gen Soleimani and his Quds Force “were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the move by the US was “an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation.” Gold and oil prices rose, while stock markets across the globe fell due to the escalating tensions.
The drone attack comes after several dozen protesters stormed the United States embassy compound in Baghdad last week, smashing windows and lighting fires, and a crowd of thousands thronged the streets outside chanting “Death to America”.
The US believes the attack on the embassy compound was directed from Tehran, and led by the Kata’ib Hezbollah militia, which is different from Hezbollah in Lebanon but, like the latter, is closely aligned with the Quds Force, the overseas operations wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
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