STOP ELLIOTT ABRAMS!: No matter what you think of Trump, this must be stopped. Contact the White House and call your Senators. Tell them: No on Abrams!

 February 06, 2017

 

 

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Airstrikes kill dozens of Daesh militants in N. Iraq: Iraqi warplanes struck Daesh positions in the predominantly Turkmen city of Tal Afar, killing 21 terrorists and destroying four vehicles, the ministry said in a statement.

Twelve Islamic State militants killed in Anbar security offensive: Deaths among militants include two suicide attackers, two of them were foreigners, he said, adding that three vehicles belonging to the extremist group were destroyed in the offensive.

ISIS executes 5 civilians in western Mosul for fleeing : ISIS fighters executed five civilians in western Mosul who had been attempting to leave the besieged right bank of the war-torn city, the last ISIS stronghold in Iraq, according to an Iraqi army officer.

Iraqi forces wage psychological war with jihadist corpses: The flyblown corpses of Islamic State militants have been rotting along a main street in north Mosul for two weeks, a health risk for passersby. Suicide bombers' belts beside the fighters can still explode, killing anyone nearby.

13 Daesh terrorists killed, 8 injured by Turkish shelling, airstrikes in n. Syria: According to the statement, 256 targets belonging to the terrorists have been shelled, destroying hideouts, defense positions, command control centers, weapons and vehicles.

Syrian troops, Turkey-backed forces surround Islamic State stronghold: Syrian pro-government forces advanced Monday toward al-Bab, completing the encirclement of the Islamic State-held town which had been partially besieged by Turkey-backed opposition forces

IS 'besieged' in last bastion in Syria's Aleppo; The UN said IS was 'militarily on the defensive' across the region, struggling to attract recruits and facing falling revenues

You go girl! Petition Calls for Gabbard’s Removal From Key US House Posts: Organizers and signers are “infuriated and deeply troubled” by the Hawaii congresswoman’s recent trip to Syria, where she met with Bashar Assad.

Gabbard allies rush to her defense after Assad meeting: "She is absolutely, 100 percent spot-on," Kucinich said Friday by phone. "In Washington, truth is never decided by consensus; truth stands on its own. And she's telling the truth."

War Hawks Jump on Progressives to Push for Intervention in Syria: Since she spoke out against the limited debate schedule set up by former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz during the 2016 Democratic primaries, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been a thorn in the side of the Democratic establishment.

Four soldiers slain as Yemenis attack Saudi military bases : Yemeni army soldiers and fighters from Popular Committees have killed four Saudi troopers during separate attacks on the kingdom’s southwestern border regions of Najran and Jizan

Yemeni rebels say they targeted Saudi capital with missile: Yemen's Shiite rebels said Monday they have "successfully" fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh for the first time, vowing more attacks on the Saudi capital.

Video emerges of suicide boat ramming Saudi frigate: Video - A video that shows the moment a skiff loaded with explosives rams into a Saudi warship in the Mandeb Strait emerged Sunday, providing new details on last week’s suicide attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels

"Taking Down" British Officials: Israel conspires against the Mother of Parliaments: A quite incredible story out of England has not received much media coverage in the United States.

Theresa May urged by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back fresh Iran sanctions; 'Iran seeks to annihilate Israel, it seeks to conquer the Middle East, it threatens Europe, it threatens the West, it threatens the world. And it offers provocation after provocation,' said the Israeli Prime Minister

Russia disagrees with Trump labeling Iran ‘number one terrorist state’: Russia disagrees with a remark recently made by US President Donald Trump’s that branded Iran as “the number one terrorist state,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, citing partnership between Moscow and Tehran.: Russia disagrees with a remark recently made by US President Donald Trump’s that branded Iran as “the number one terrorist state,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, citing partnership between Moscow and Tehran.

Iran to stop using US dollar in response to Donald Trump's ban': It is unclear whether the Central Bank will now pick up the Euro or currencies of trade partners China, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan or Iraq.

600 killed in DRC army, militia combat: People have lost the capacity to meet their immediate food needs, as they have fled their land. Fighting has destroyed crops and food stocks, affecting over 100 000 people.

Al Shabaab executes four men accused of spying for Kenya: Al Shabaab militants in Somalia publicly beheaded four men accused of spying for the country's Western-backed government, the United States and neighbouring Kenya, residents in the south of the Horn of Africa country said.

Libya: Fresh fighting breaks out in Tripoli as kidnappings spike: Fresh fighting has erupted between competing militias in the Libyan capital Tripoli with reports of two militiamen killed and five civilians wounded, one of them critically.

Afghan diplomat killed by his guard in Pakistan: Mohammad Zaki Abdu, the third secretary at the consulate, died of his wounds shortly after the shooting, according to the consulate's spokesman, Haris Khan.

Sharp rise in children killed and maimed in Afghan war, UN report reveals: The UN noted a “considerable increase in civilian casualties caused solely by international military forces in Nangarhar province.”

The U.S. military's stats on deadly airstrikes are wrong. Thousands have gone unreported

Duterte's war on drugs a 'reign of terror', church says: In its most strongly worded attack yet on the crackdown on drug pushers and users, the powerful Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said killing people was not the answer to trafficking of illegal drugs.

In pictures: C919, China’s answer to Airbus A320 and Boeing B737, set to make debut flight: The first Chinese-developed passenger jet, the Comac C919, is Beijing’s answer to the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 and hopes to break Western planemakers’ domination of the aviation market.

Report: 7% of Australian Catholic priests accused of child sex abuse: The 7 percent of priests accused of sexually abusing children belonged to 75 Catholic Church authorities. In the St. John of God Brothers religious order, more than 40 percent of religious brothers were accused of abuse.

Russia: Nothing Justifies Attacks on Donetsk Civilian Population: The Russian diplomat stressed that there were injuries, including children, and she said that bombing a sleeping city at dawn is a barbarian thing.

The blood of Donbass is now on Trump’s hands: The deaths and destruction being carried out by Kiev are war crimes. And the blood is on Trump’s hands just as much as Ukrainian President Poroshenko’s.

‘Unacceptable & insulting’: Kremlin expects apology from Fox News for calling Putin ‘killer’: Moscow expects an apology from Fox News after host Bill O’Reilly called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a killer.”

Berlin to fit suspected jihadists with ankle bracelets: The proposed measure would allow the federal criminal police to electronically track the movements of a person deemed a security threat, even before they have been convicted of a crime.

Romania government under pressure as 500,000 protest; Mass rallies persist nationwide despite scrapping of contentious decree that decriminalised some corruption offences.

Japan Wants to Invest More in Mexico despite Trump; Japan is interested in boosting trade and investments in Mexico, despite the protectionist wave that may come from the United States, Japanese Ambassador Akira Yamada stated here.

Trump: We’re Gutting Dodd-Frank Because My Friends Can’t Get Loans (VIDEO); President Donald Trump told a roundtable of business leaders why his administration was committed to hollowing out some financial regulations in Dodd-Frank: His friends can’t get loans.

Key tech companies oppose Trump immigration order in court: Companies like Apple, Google and Facebook say their operations will be impacted by the executive order of Jan. 27

Here’s the full list of 97 companies that just filed against Trump’s immigration ban; 97 companies including some of the biggest names in tech have banded together to file a legal brief in opposition of Trump’s executive order on immigration.

Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch has sided with businesses on labor issues; Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch has criticized courts for giving too much power to government agencies that enforce the nation's labor and employment laws.

Trump is targeting up to 8 million people for deportation ; People could be booked into custody for using food stamps or if their child receives free school lunches.

Sean Spicer: 'Sad' That Judge Who Blocked Trump Travel Ban Went 'Rogue': "It's a shame that we're not focused more on making sure that we are applauding the decision by the President to make a renewed focus on keeping this country safe."

Donald Trump claims the ‘very dishonest press’ is covering up terror attacks: Trump said that terrorism had gotten so bad that “it’s not even being reported. And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesn’t want to report it.”

Pelosi calls for probe of possible Russian blackmail of Trump; House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi urged the FBI to probe President Trump's finances and personal ties to find out if the Russian government is blackmailing him.

Senate Republican Leader McConnell Distances Himself From Trump Stances: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Sunday was pressed on CNN about Mr. Trump’s recent statements, and repeatedly said he disagreed with them.

Trump rips NYT for ‘total fiction’ report on president’s bumbling White House life: The report claims Trump clocks out at 6:30 p.m. and spends the rest of the evening watching TV alone, often wearing a bathrobe and marking up newspaper stories with a Sharpie.

How far can protesters in the U.S. go before the government steps in?: At least eight states have proposed legislation aimed at peaceful protesters. Here's what you need to know.

Florida Republican Proposes Bill To Abolish the EPA: A bill was introduced last week in the houses of the U.S. Congress, and it has the goal to terminate the Environmental Protection Agency

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Turkey, US-coalition jets 'kill 47 ISIL fighters': Military says a total of 47 fighters killed in northern Syria in clashes and air raids in the past 24 hours.

Warplanes kill 12 fighters in Syria’s Idlib: Unidentified warplanes struck positions for the hardline extremist Jund al-Aqsa group southeast of Idlib city, near the village of Sarmin, the Observatory, a British-based war monitoring group, said.

U.N. refugee chief opposes ‘safe zones’: “Let’s not waste time planning safe zones that will not be set up because they will not be safe for people to go back,” said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Iraq; 9 Islamic militants killed in Anbar artillery shelling: The group has been reportedly sustaining serious losses in personnel, equipment and finances, and reports say it had been ravaged with divisions and infighting, with some fighters also executed or demoted for escaping the battlefield.

Trump's Yemen attack killed civilians including newborn baby: Report: Human rights group Reprieve says as many as 23 civilians, including baby boy, died on Sunday raid in Yemen's Yakla

Military botches release of video seized in Yemen raid: The US military is scrambling to explain an embarrassing mix-up after it released video obtained from Sunday's raid in Yemen that turned out to have already been published online.

Trump regime sends navy destroyer to patrol off Yemen having increased tensions with Iran: officials: The United States has sent a Navy destroyer to patrol off the coast of Yemen to protect waterways from Houthi militia aligned with Iran, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday

Trump says 'nothing is off the table' for response to Iran: Trump made the comment in response to a question about whether he would consider military options to respond to Iran, a day after his national security adviser put Tehran on "notice."

Iran takes reciprocal measures against new US sanctions: Iran has slammed as illegal the recent US sanctions over Tehran’s defensive missile program and spiritual support for Yemen's Houthi fighters, saying that the Islamic Republic will deliver a "proportionate and reciprocal" response to the move.

Netanyahu scandals reflect corruption at the heart of Israeli society: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in danger of being brought down, possibly soon, over what initially appears to be little more than an imprudent taste for Cuban cigars and pink champagne.

'Hundreds of Rohingyas' killed in Myanmar crackdown: Army has carried out mass killings of Muslim minority, UN rights office says, in possible ethnic cleansing.

At least 80 killed in Afghanistan's Helmand: At least 15 civilians and 65 militants from the Taliban movement have been killed in clashes during the large-scale security operation in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province since Wednesday

13 killed in Afghanistan : A police officer and twelve militants were killed in latest incident of violence in eastern Nangarhar province on Friday.

Eight Afghan policemen from one family killed by colleague; Some reports claim their killer was a colleague who was secretly working with the Taliban, while one said he was a Taliban fighter who had surrendered.

3 killed as aid agencies warn of 'humanitarian disaster': Ukraine fighting sparks diplomatic crisis: Shells landed in a residential area of the government-held city of Avdiivka on Thursday night and early on Friday morning, in what was described as the heaviest in fighting for two years.

Kiev’s ‘barbaric’ attack on Donetsk in E. Ukraine violates Geneva convention – Russia : There is no excuse for the recent “barbaric attack on Donetsk,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, adding that Kiev broke “all moral norms” in attacking civilians during the night with Grad missiles.

U.S. Ambassador to U.N. blames Russia for new violence in eastern Ukraine: "I consider it unfortunate on the occasion of my first appearance here I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia," Haley said, making her first public remarks inside the Security Council

Trump gently ‘testing waters’ with sanctions relief amid anti-Russia sentiment – Ron Paul: Further easing or the outright lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia over alleged meddling in American elections won’t be easy for the new US President, since anti-Russian sentiment is very strong

Paris knife attack sparks fresh warnings of French terror threat: A man who attempted a knife attack on soldiers guarding the Louvre Museum in Paris was shot and injured on Friday. French media reported that he was believed to have been born in Egypt.

Romania Has Essentially Made Corruption Legal: Protests started after the current Romanian government passed a law making it almost impossible to convict people in political office for abuse of power.

Norway's ex-PM held & questioned at US airport over 2014 Iran visit: Bondevik, who twice served as a Prime Minister of Norway and is still eligible to a diplomatic travel document, was held earlier this week at a Dulles air hub outside Washington DC.

Australia PM: 'Trump did not hang up': Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull tells Ben Fordham on 2GB Radio he's "disappointed" that details of a call between himself and President Trump were made public.

Trump Ghost Looms Over EU Summit as Leaders Push Back: Trump loomed over a Mediterranean gathering of European leaders, who used the meeting Friday to hit back at the new administration that has upended trans-Atlantic relations by dismissing the European Union’s validity.

Japan readies package for Trump to help create 700,000 U.S. jobs: Japan is putting together a package it says could generate 700,000 U.S. jobs and help create a $450-billion market, to present to U.S. President Donald Trump next week, government sources familiar with the plans said.

House votes to strike rule banning guns for some deemed mentally impaired: The House of Representatives approved its first effort of the new Congress to roll back gun regulations, voting to overturn a rule that would bar gun ownership by some who have been deemed mentally impaired

Trump Regime Will Wave Goodbye To The Dodd Frank Act: Some mid-sized banks felt the weight of Dodd Frank, as firms with over $10 billion in assets and $50 billion in assets were subjected to increased surveillance.

Trump To Take Aim At Dodd-Frank, Investor Protections Rule : Trump is expected to sign two directives on Friday, ordering a review of financial industry regulations known as Dodd-Frank and halting implementation of a rule that requires financial advisers to act in the best interests of their clients

Religious Freedom Order Reveals Sweeping Plans to Legalize Discrimination: The order would create wholesale exemptions for people and organizations who claim religious objections to same-sex marriage, premarital sex, abortion, and trans identity.

“Destroying” the Johnson Amendment is a poor idea, Mr. President: That’s the 1954 law which restricts churches and other tax exempt, non-profit organizations from certain political activities.

100,000 visas revoked amid Trump regime travel ban: reports: More than 100,000 visas have been revoked in the wake of the Trump administrations recent travel ban on citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries, according to media reports on Friday.

Bowling Green massacre: Trump aide cites non-existent attack: A top aide to US President Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway, has cited a "massacre" which never happened while defending the president's controversial immigration ban.

Uber CEO quits Trump’s business advisory group: Uber Technologies Inc Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick, facing criticism from immigration advocates for serving on President Donald Trump’s business advisory group, quit the group on Thursday, the company said.

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Turkish air raids kill 51 Islamic State militants in Syria: Airstrikes on militants' positions are being combined with attacks by ground forces in a campaign to push back militant fighters.

Syrian army dash to al-Bab risks Turkey clash: A rapid advance by the Syrian army towards the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab risks sparking a confrontation with Turkey as Damascus seeks to stop its neighbor penetrating deeper into a strategically important area of northern Syria.

Syrian army advances against IS in Aleppo: Syria's military said Thursday it had captured a string of towns and part of a key highway from the Islamic State (IS) militant group in the northern province of Aleppo.

Iraq; Islamic State executes 5 civilians on charges of spying in Hawija: “The execution was filmed after the so-called Sharia Court of the Islamic State issued the death sentence,”

Iraq: Islamic State kills family while trying to flee from Qaim: “A family of three tried to escape, using their vehicle, from the city of Qaim (350 km west of Ramadi) to the areas held by security forces in Anbar.”

Iraq Won’t Reciprocate U.S. Visa Ban as Premier Defies Lawmakers: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that his country would stop issuing visas to Americans but not bar those who already hold one, describing the U.S. measure as a “great gift to extremists”.

Trump administration: 'As of today, we're officially putting Iran on notice': "Instead of being thankful to the United States for these agreements, Iran is now feeling emboldened," Flynn said. "As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice.”

White House: Iran ‘On Notice,’ US Won’t Rule Out Attack; In practice very little happened to provoke this reaction. Iran’s single test of a medium-range ballistic missile almost certain did not violate the P5+1 nuclear deal’s restriction on testing nuclear-capable missiles,

Fox News and an unbelievable tale from Yemen: Saudi reports of this kind are no more trustworthy than those from the Houthis but it does seem on this occasion that the Houthis are more likely to be telling the truth.

Iran's President derides Donald Trump as too inexperienced for 'the world of politics'; The leader of one of the White House’s seven banned countries dismissed Donald Trump as a political greenhorn in danger of global harm with his controversial executive order.

US military officials: Trump-ordered raid in Yemen that killed 30 people, was approved 'without sufficient intelligence': the attacking SEAL team found itself dropping onto a reinforced Al Qaeda base defended by landmines, snipers, and heavily armed extremists.

US confirms Yemen raid 'likely killed' civilians: "A team designated by the operational task force commander has concluded regrettably that civilian non-combattants were likely killed in the midst of a firefight during a raid in Yemen January 29. Casualties may include children,"

Hundreds of Yemenis with U.S. visas stranded in Djibouti amid Trump travel ban: Hundreds of Yemenis with U.S. visas are stranded in the tiny African state of Djibouti because of President Donald Trump’s entry ban, an American lawyer said Wednesday.

Israel Approves Another Wave of Illegal West Bank Squatter Construction: Israel approved 3,000 more illegal housing units in the occupied West Bank late Tuesday, the largest number in a wave of new construction plans that defy the international community

Israeli police clash with squatters during eviction of residents from illegal outpost (VIDEO) : They were confronted by the groups of radical youngsters, who erected makeshift barricades from smashed tiles, metal bars and large rocks on the hilltop, where the outpost is located.

Senior Israeli Minister Vows Annexation of Entire West Bank: Jewish Home leader on Wednesday hailed the residents of Amona as “heroes” whose campaign to stay in their homes will lead to the annexation of the West Bank and avert future evacuations in the settlements.

Israeli land seizure bill ‘an opening to annexation of occupied West Bank’: A controversial bill that would legalise the stealing of Palestinian private property and cripple hopes for a two-state peace solution is expected to easily pass in a Knesset vote next week.

For hardline West Bank squatters, Jared Kushner's their man: For many in the Israeli settlement of Bet El, deep in the occupied West Bank, Donald Trump's choice of Jared Kushner as his senior adviser on the Middle East is a sign of politics shifting in their favour.

Palestinian Officials Say U.S. Threatens 'Severe Steps' if Leaders Sue Israel in World Court: Palestinian leaders are fuming over new warnings from Trump administration about halting aid and even restoring the PLO to list of terror groups.

Five killed as U.N. says team attacked on Nigeria-Cameroon border.: An armed group attacked a U.N. technical team working along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon, killing five people and wounding several, the United Nations Office for West Africa said on Wednesday.

Five more Libyan soldiers killed as Benghazi siege continues: Holed up inside the building are Islamic State (IS)-affiliated extremists who have been battling LNA forces from inside the building since last week, the Libya Herald reported.

Eastern Libya forces fly wounded to Russia in growing cooperation: Around 70 soldiers from the forces of powerful Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar have been sent to Russia for treatment, first overt signs of cooperation between Moscow and one of Libya's armed factions

U.S. Kills Five Suspected Taliban near Pak-Afghan border: U.S. targeted a vehicle with two missiles in the Ali Sher area, up to 5 kilometres inside Afghanistan, near the Pak-Afghan border in Kurram Agency.

Afghan government controls less than 60 percent of country: watchdog: As of November, the government could only claim to control or influence 57 percent of Afghanistan's 407 districts, according to U.S. military, in a quarterly report to the U.S. Congress.

US-China war increasingly a 'reality,' Chinese army official says: China is preparing for a potential military clash with the United States, according to an article on the Chinese army's website.

Donald Trump's closest advisor thinks there will be war with China in the next few years; “We’re going to war in the South China Sea” Mr Bannon said on his radio show in March 2016.

Steve Bannon: 'We're going to war in the South China Sea ... no doubt': Only months ago Donald Trump’s chief strategist predicted military involvement in east Asia and the Middle East in Breitbart radio shows

China ‘getting ready for war’ over Donald Trump hostility, warns state media; China’s state media has announced it will “step up preparedness for possible military conflict with US”

Beijing’s second aircraft carrier set to be based in South China Sea – Chinese media ; China’s upcoming aircraft carrier, the ‘Shandong’, is to be based near the South China Sea – the area at the center of Beijing’s confrontation with the US and regional neighbors, according to Chinese media.

China tests intercontinental missile with 10 warheads – reports: The development may indicate a shift in China’s nuclear deterrence policy to modify older rockets with new MIRV busses, which could mean China intends to increase the number of warheads it possesses.

At least 12 Ukrainian soldiers killed in disputed east: In the latest deaths, Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Operation said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed Wednesday in the disputed eastern regions.

Putin on E. Ukraine flare-up: Kiev trying to extort US, EU cash by playing the victim : The Kiev government provoked the latest escalation of violence in east Ukraine as it needs money from its Western partners, which is easier to achieve when a nation pretends to be a victim and facing aggression

Protests surge as Romania decriminalises corruption; Late on Tuesday January 31 Romania’s government adopted an emergency decree that officially decriminalises corruption. The decision prompted large protests throughout the country

Minister Quits as Protests Rock Romania; Romania’s political crisis deepened Thursday as a minister pledged to resign amid the largest protests since the collapse of communism following sudden changes to criminal law that undermine a four-year anti-corruption clampdown.

French Political Scandal Fallout: Fillon Would Be Eliminated In First Round By Macron: The poll by Elabe showed rising support for far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, but notably it showed centrist Emmanuel Macron most likely to win the presidency

Theresa May rejects calls to block Donald Trump's state visit : Labour leader Mr Corbyn said the US president has "torn up" international agreements on refugees, praised the use of torture, "incited hatred" against Muslims and "directly attacked" women's rights.

Britain's Brexit bill clears first legislative hurdle: Lawmakers voted by 498 to 114 in favor of allowing the bill to progress to the next, more detailed legislative stage. Earlier they rejected an attempt to throw out the bill, proposed by pro-EU Scottish nationalists.

Trump Disparages 'Dumb' Deal With Australia On Refugees: "Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!"

Donald Trump tells Malcolm Turnbull he will honour deal: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has received Donald Trump's personal assurance that a deal for the US to resettle refugees from Nauru and Manus Island will go ahead

Donald Trump Threatens to Invade Mexico; "You have a bunch of bad hombres down there," Trump told Pena Nieto. "You aren't doing enough to stop them. I think your military is scared. Our military isn't, so I just might send them down to take care of it."

Mexican government says Donald Trump did not threaten to send troops to Mexico: Such a threat “did not happen during that call,” the Mexican government said in a statement, released on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Anti-austerity protest turns violent in Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian riot police used tear gas and stun grenades in Rio de Janeiro Wednesday to break up a protest against austerity measures aimed at rescuing the state from near bankruptcy.

To beat poverty in Latin America, tackle inequality: UN: In the past two years, the number of poor has started to rise again around the region, with UNDP warning that up to 30 million people are at risk of sliding back into poverty.

Trump Threatens To Awaken Anti-American Nationalism And Instability In Mexico: Trump’s hostility threatens to reawaken anti-American, Mexican nationalism and create instability here.

Trump Backlash Turns Mexicans Against Nafta: “They can raise the tallest wall in the world, in fact they should. They can keep their burgers and fast food, their junk culture,”

Trump Regime Will Kill US Citizens Overseas: “U.S. policy regarding the possible targeting of American citizens has not changed. White House official. A weekend counterterrorism raid in Yemen left al-Awlaki’s eight-year-old daughter dead, according to NBC News.

Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch Is a Donald Trump-Style Authoritarian: Gorsuch has a 10-year record of legal opinions, some of which disturbingly echo Trump’s aversion to limits on law enforcement power.

Senate confirms Tillerson as secretary of State: Tillerson was approved in a 56-43 vote. Though Democrats largely lined up against Tillerson, he got some Democratic support.

Some nations affected by U.S. immigration order may stay on list: Seven Muslim-majority countries may be blocked indefinitely, and others might be added to the list, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Tuesday.

Judge orders halt to Trump's ban for immigrant visa holders: A federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered the U.S. government to allow people holding immigrant visas from seven majority-Muslim nations into the United States despite President Trump's executive order banning them.

You’re 55 Times More Likely to be Killed by a Police Officer than a Terrorist:

More Americans approve of Trump’s travel ban than disapprove – poll: A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday found that 49 percent of Americans approved of the executive order to ban citizens from seven mostly Muslim countries from entering the US. Forty-one percent disapproved.

UC Berkeley cancels right-wing provocateur’s talk amid violent protest: A protest at UC Berkeley over a scheduled appearance by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos turned fiery and violent Wednesday night, prompting police to cancel the event and hustle the Breitbart News editor off campus.

Trump threatens UC Berkeley funds over Breitbart protests; Hundreds of students and other protesters chanting "shut him down" smashed windows at the University of California campus, set wooden pallets on fire and threw fireworks and rocks as police in full riot gear responded with tear gas.

Delaware Prison Hostage Situation Reference President Trump: A hostage situation that unfolded Wednesday at the James T. Vaughn Correction Center in Smyrna, Delaware, resulting in the death of a prison worker, is being blamed on fear of President Donald Trump

Senate Awaiting Trump’s Court Nominee Is Riven by Bitter Fights: Donald Trump is casting his newly minted Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch into a bitterly divided Senate where frustrated Democrats vowed a vigorous review of the president’s choice

Trump’s Next Immigration Move to Hit Closer to Home for Tech: His administration has drafted an executive order aimed at overhauling the work-visa programs technology companies depend on to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.

Tech industry denounced Trump's immigration order: Video - In Silicon Valley, immigration is seen as essential to the growth that has made it one of the most innovative places on earth. Thirty-seven percent of employees there are immigrants. John Blackstone reports.

Donald Trump Inauguration Drew More Than 18 Corporate Donors: Exxon gave $500,000 to inauguration fund; Pfizer and Dow Chemical gave $1 million each

Researchers: Fake News Did Not Alter Election Results: NYU economics professor Hunt Allcott and Stanford economics professor Matthew Gentzkow led the research

2016’s Homeownership Rate Was The Lowest Since 1965; The Census Bureau released its measure of homeownership for 2016, and the annual average for 2016 was 63.4 percent. That’s the lowest rate measured since 1965 when the homeownership rate was 63 percent.

Anthony Weiner is trying to negotiate a PLEA DEAL with federal prosecutors as they consider child porn charges: Disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner could face up to 15 years in prison as he negotiates with federal prosecutors over possible child pornography charges.

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30 Daesh terrorists killed in military ops carried out in northern Syria: Turkish airstrikes and shelling have killed 30 Daesh terrorists, and destroyed four vehicles used by the terror group as part of the operation to liberate the northern Syrian town of al-Bab from terrorists

Top ISIS leaders killed fighting Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor [+Video]: According to a military source, the Syrian Army’s artillery targeted ISIS militants in Al-Thardeh Mountain, killing dozens and destroying their vehicles and equipment.

Hama-based rebel group withdraws from Syria ceasefire: statement: A rebel group fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner in northwest Syria has withdrawn from a shaky nationwide ceasefire, blaming the government and its allies for violations.

U.S.-backed Syrian alliance says gets more U.S. support since Trump took office: The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has supplied its Syrian allies with armoured vehicles for the first time, expanding support since U.S. President Donald Trump came to office

Syrian Govt Forces Launch New Push Against ISIS: Video - Following the surrendering of Wadi Barada, militant groups will leave the town of Sirghaya and the areas east of Zabadani.

39 Islamic State fighters killed after foiled attack east of Salahuddin: Thirty-nine fighters from Islamic State were killed on Tuesday after army forces pushed back an attack on troops at Tal Kusaiba, east of Salahuddin, according to a security source.

Iraqi jets destroy IS boats, kill 17 militants in western Mosul: The defense ministry’s War Media Cell said the strike, which targeted the district of Badush, was carried out based on intelligence information. Six vehicles belonging to the group were also burned in the strike, according to the media service.

ISIS claims killing and wounding 20 Egyptian troops in Sinai: The Egyptian affiliate of the Sunni militant group said the fighting took place south of the coastal city of el-Arish and that the militants also destroyed two tanks, a Humvee and two other military vehicles.

U.S. kills 2 "suspected" al-Qaeda militants in Yemen: The officials said the pilotless plane targeted a vehicle travelling in Baihan in the province of Shabwa, in which two suspected al-Qaeda members were travelling. Both men were killed, they said.

Yemen rebel 'suicide boat' attack kills Saudi sailors: Yemeni rebel "suicide" boats attacked a Saudi warship on patrol in the Red Sea, killing two sailors in what the Saudi-led coalition called an escalation of the nearly two-year-old war. The rebels' website said the strike "took place with a guided missile".

20 ISIS loyalists killed by own bomb in Afghanistan: At least 20 loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed in a premature bomb explosion in southern Zabul province of Afghanistan.

9 militants killed, 24 wounded as Taliban attack repulsed in Helmand: At least 19 militants were killed during clashes with the Afghan security forces in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan.

Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte asks China to patrol piracy-plagued waters: Speaking to newly promoted army generals, Duterte said he had sought China's help in dangerous waters in the south to check the activities of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim rebel group sustained by piracy

Chinese Army Commander: War With US Increasing Reality: "Chinese officials are preparing for the worst, and they expect to retaliate decisively in response to any US policies they perceive as against their interests."

China Tests Missile With 10 Warheads: China flight tested a new variant of a long-range missile with 10 warheads in what defense officials say represents a dramatic shift in Beijing's strategic nuclear posture.

Nuclear strike survival chances for Russian, Chinese leadership get new US review: U.S. intelligence agencies and the Pentagon’s Strategic Command are working on a new evaluation of whether the Russian and Chinese leadership could survive a nuclear strike and keep operating,

More than ten killed and dozens injured in surge of violence in east Ukraine: The worst violence has been seen near Avdiivka, an industrial town north of Donetsk, where at least four Ukrainian soldiers were killed on Monday.

Reports: Russian cyber spy treason cases linked to CIA: Russian cybersecurity intelligence officers reportedly detained on treason charges are being accused of passing secrets to the CIA.

EU leader declares Trump a "threat" to European Union: Tusk mentioned the Trump administration as part of an external “threat” to the bloc alongside China, Russia, radical Islam, war and terror. The letter was not sent to Britain, which is poised to leave the bloc.

Trump economic advisor bashes Germany on currency: report: Germany "continues to exploit other countries in the EU as well as the US with an 'implicit Deutsche mark' that is grossly undervalued."

Germany will support those affected by US travel ban, says Merkel: The German chancellor has vowed to do "everything" in support of those affected by controversial ban. A German opposition leader has threatened legal action, saying it could head to the European Court of Justice.

Trump's Attack on Germany and the Global Economy; U.S. President Donald Trump wants to stimulate the American economy, but he has shown no interest in existing trade deals or in the basic rules of economics. It is a dangerous cocktail for German industry.

Donald Trump's likely EU ambassador wants to tame the bloc 'like he brought down Soviet Union': Donald Trump's likely pick for ambassador to the European Union has suggested he wants to bring down the bloc.

Trump 'will definitely pull out of Paris climate change deal': Warning comes from the former head of the US President's transition team at the Environmental Protection Agency

UK Muslim ban protest: Thousands of furious protesters march to Downing Street against Donald Trump's travel ban: Whitehall was brought to a standstill and Westminster station was packed with hordes of angry protesters as they waited in queues to join the demo.

Donald Trump petition: More than 1.5 million call for UK state visit to be axed - but No10 ruled it out : Donald Trump's state visit to the UK is expected to be debated in Parliament after senior Conservatives joined more than one and a half million people calling for it to be cancelled.

UK-based and angry about #MuslimBan? Here’s 5 things to do.: UK people. Are you angry about Trump’s attempts to deport people from the US? Did you perhaps go to the Women’s March, or sign that oddly-worded petition about cancelling Trump’s visit? Well, we’ve got more work to do

Mexico earmarks $50 million to back migrants in US: Mexico's president said Monday his country will spend about $50 million to hire lawyers for migrants in the United States facing deportation.

Calif. To Consider Enacting Statewide Sanctuary: California may prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, creating a border-to-border sanctuary in the nation’s largest state

US military botches online fight against ISIS: An Associated Press investigation found the management behind WebOps is so beset with incompetence, cronyism and flawed data that multiple people with direct knowledge of the program say it's having little impact.

Secret Rules Make It Pretty Easy for the FBI to Spy on Journalists: Rules governing the use of national security letters allow the FBI to obtain information about journalists’ calls without going to a judge or informing the targeted news organization.

Ron Paul: Economic Collapse Imminent — Trump will Get the Blame Instead of the FED: If former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is correct, an Economic Doomsday is here. The second financial bubble is going to soon burst, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

Number of Americans Killed by Terrorists Who've Entered U.S. as Refugees? ZERO.: Donald Trump's poorly designed and xenophobic executive order is attempting to improve on a perfect record. Republicans need to push back.

Fact or fiction? Seven countries in Trump’s travel ban are part of secret military operation: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are also reportedly part of the operation. Trump also holds multi-million dollar business deals in all four of those exempt countries.

Trump fires acting Attorney General over travel ban 'betrayal': The government's top lawyer had ordered Justice Department lawyers not to enforce the executive order which banned travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations.

Trump replaces top US immigration official; The Department of Homeland Security gave no reason for the removal of Daniel Ragsdale, the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Amazon boss Jeff Bezos mounts legal challenge against Donald Trump's travel ban: Amazon and Microsoft are mounting legal action against Donald Trump's controversial travel ban that stops citizens from seven Muslim countries from entering America.

How Trump's immigration order could be struck down: Experts lay out 4 ways the order closing borders to 7 Muslim-majority countries might be challenged

These are the heartbreaking stories of Muslims and Arabs being deported: US President Donald Trump's 'Muslim Ban' is tearing families apart

Trump to name U.S. high court pick on Tuesday as Democrats plan fight: The court is ideologically split with four conservative justices and four liberals, and Trump's pick can restore its conservative majority.

Democrats boycott confirmation hearings for Price and Mnuchin, blocking votes: Democrats intensified their opposition to President Trump on Tuesday by further delaying the confirmation of several of his Cabinet nominees amid strong Republican objections.

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Turkish army says 22 IS militants killed in Northern Syria: Twenty-two Islamic State (IS) militants were killed after targets belonging to terrorists were hit by Turkish army in Al-Bab of northern Syria in last 24 hours, Turkish General Staff stated on Friday.

Syrian Islamist rebels band together to repel hard-line jihadist attacks – report: Infighting between various militant groups in Syria appears to have led to a new alliance. The Islamist group Ahrar Al-Sham says it has merged with six other rebel factions in the northwest of Syria

Geneva talks on Syria postponed, Russia says: Russia announces delay in UN-sponsored Syria talks as it hosts opposition politicians in Moscow.

Russian Attack Planes, Helicopters Return to Daesh-Held Palmyra to Retake City; The Russian newspaper Izvestia reported that Ka-52 Alligator advanced combat helicopters and Su-25 Rook attack aircraft have joined in efforts to liberate the Syrian city of Palmyra from Daesh terrorists.

Dem senator: Trump refugee order 'handed ISIS a path to rebirth': Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) says President Trump’s new policy on refugees will revitalize the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

U.S.-backed Iraqi fighters say Trump's refugee ban feels like 'betrayal': While the proposal is not finalized, it is already drawing outrage among some Iraqis who have taken the lead in the fight against ISIS, a defeat which the new president has said is also his top foreign policy goal.

Turkish aerial attacks kill nearly 60 PKK militants in northern Iraq: Nearly five dozen members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed when Turkish military aircraft carried out a string of aerial attacks against the militants’ positions in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

The UK's century-long war against Yemen: Britain is backing a Saudi invasion of Yemen that has cost thousands of innocent lives. It is providing advanced weaponry to the Saudis, training their military and has soldiers embedded with them.

Police question Netanyahu for third time; Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday for the third time this month as part of a criminal investigation into abuse of office, Israeli media reported.

In case you missed it; Miko Peled Debunking Jewish Myths : Video - When Everything You Know Is Not True: “Miko Peled is a peace activist who dares to say in public what others still choose to deny."

Al-Shabab claims to have killed dozens of Kenyan troops: Armed group says it killed 57 soldiers at an army base in Somalia, while Kenya says "scores" of fighters were killed.

Around 1.8 million Nigerians in Boko Haram region at risk of starvation - WFP; Aid groups entering the region in recent months have warned that shortages of food, shelter and medical care were threatening refugees with widespread famine and disease.

Donald Trump 'committed to NATO', says May in US visit; Donald Trump is "100 percent behind" NATO, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has said, after becoming the first foreign leader to meet the US president since he was sworn in a week ago.

Theresa May shows British poodle can lead the way for erratic new master: The PM paid homage to the patron saints of the special relationship but emphasised the importance of European security

Britain becoming U.S. vassal state, says French presidential hopeful Macron: Britain is becoming subservient to a United States that will be extremely difficult to cooperate with judging by President Donald Trump's "serious and worrying" first acts, French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.

Russian Embassy mocks Theresa May over 'beware Vladimir Putin' speech: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will speak directly for the first time since the US president's inauguration in a telephone call on Saturday, the Kremlin has confirmed.

Theresa May is preparing to abandon plans for a British Bill of Rights, sources suggest : Ministers have confirmed that the Government's plans to scrap the Human Rights Act have been shelved until after Brexit.

Turkey threatens to cancel migrant deal over Greek coup ruling; Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described the ruling as a "political decision" and demanded a retrial.

Europe Proposes "Restrictions On Payments In Cash": With Rogoff, Stiglitz, Summers et al. all calling for the end of cash - because only terrorists and drug-dealers need cash.

Quebec coroner blames aboriginal suicides on Canada's "ancient apartheid system": “I believe and see evidence that the great fundamental problem lies with the ‘apartheid’ system into which aboriginals have been thrust for 150 years or more,” writes coroner Bernard Lefrançois

Cuba's Castro warns Trump to respect country's sovereignty; Trump, before taking office, threatened to torpedo the still fragile detente between the former Cold War foes unless a “better deal” could be struck, without providing details

Fact or fiction? Clinton could have received 800,000 votes from noncitizens, study finds: : Based on national polling by a consortium of universities, a report by Mr. Richman said 6.4 percent of the estimated 20 million adult noncitizens in the U.S. voted in November.

Trump, Pena Nieto Talked by Phone After Wall Feud, Official Says: The call was reported earlier by the Associated Press, which said the two leaders spent an hour on the call.

Mexico says Trump agreed to not debate wall in public: "We are going to renegotiate our trade deals and we are going to renegotiate other aspects of our relationship with Mexico and in the end I think it will be good for both countries," he added.

The peso is surging after Trump speaks with Mexico's president: The Mexican peso is higher by 1.4%, at 20.9218 per dollar, as of 1:37 p.m. ET. The peso was already rising Friday and gained further after news of the phone conversation crossed.

Mexican Government to Launch Anti-Trump Strategy: Representatives from the three branches of the Mexican government meet today at the presidential residence of Los Pinos in Mexico City to coordinate a joint plan of action in response to attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump against Mexico.

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim says a united Mexico will help the government negotiate with Trump: Mexico needs to negotiate from a position of strength, Slim said in a Friday news conference

Mexico wall: Trump condemned over imports tax proposal: "A tax on Mexican imports to the United States is not a way to make Mexico pay for the wall, but to a way make the North American consumer pay for it through more expensive avocados, washing machines, televisions.''

How a 20% Mexico tariff could cost US shoppers: American consumers may have to pay more for products ranging from Toyotas to vegetables to beer if a proposal floated by President Trump to impose a 20% tariff on Mexican imports goes into effect.

The Dangers of a U.S.-Mexico Trade War: This situation could get rather ugly. A recession in Mexico can backfire for the US – including bringing more of what the “great wall” is trying to prevent.

Expecting Trump action, U.S. suspends refugee resettlement interviews: The decision effectively amounts to a pause in future refugee admissions, given that the interviews are a crucial step in an often years-long process.

Liar in chief: President Trump Says Persecuted Christians Will Be Given Priority As Refugees : TRUMP: “They’ve been horribly treated. Do you know if you were a Christian in Syria it was impossible, at least very tough to get into the United States? If you were a Muslim you could come in"

The White House will publish a weekly list of crimes committed by immigrants: The Secretary of Homeland Security will be publishing a weekly list of crimes committed by immigrants, and of the cities that refused to turn them in for deportation.

Sanctuary Cities Have Upper Hand in Legal Battle Against Trump: Silver lining of the week: Lawmakers didn't review Trump's executive orders, making them easy to legally dismantle.

The 2019 #Calexit Independence Referendum: In the Spring of 2019, Californians will go to the polls in a historic vote to decide by referendum if California should exit the Union, a #Calexit vote.

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Syrian troops inflict heavy losses on Takfiri militants: Syrian government forces, backed by fighters from allied popular defense groups, have carried out fresh operations against foreign-backed Takfiri militants across the country, delivering serious blows to them.

Syrian rebels unite against ex-Qaeda affiliate; Five rebel groups joined the powerful Ahrar al-Sham group to fight against the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front last year after breaking ties with Al-Qaeda.

Syria opposition rejects Russian draft of new constitution : It suggests that the country will have a parliament with two chambers and rejects Islamic sharia as the basis for law, the newswire said.

Boris Johnson signals shift in UK policy on Syria's Assad; Foreign secretary says UK accepts Syrian leader should be allowed to run for re-election in event of peace deal

UK could send troops to Syria after peace deal says Boris Johnson: The Foreign Secretary told a group of peers that he could "certainly imagine" British armed forces playing a peacekeeping role in the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.

Trump says he will order 'safe zones' for Syria: Trump is expected to order the Pentagon and the State Department in coming days to craft a plan for setting up the “safe zones,” a move that could risk escalation of U.S. military involvement in Syria’s civil war.

Kremlin says White House did not consult it on Syria safe zone plan: "It is important that this (the plan) does not exacerbate the situation with refugees, but probably all the consequences ought to be weighed up."

Trump to sign executive order banning Syrian refugees from US: Trump also wants to suspend issuing visas for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen for at least 30 days, according to the draft.

Congresswoman defends meeting Assad in Syria, says U.S. engaged in ‘counterproductive regime change war’: Our counterproductive regime change war does not serve America’s interest, and it certainly isn’t in the interest of the Syrian people

Congress should enact a No Presidential Wars statute: Congress should enact a “No Presidential Wars” statute that defines “presidential wars;” declares them contrary to the U.S. Constitution’s Declare War Clause; and, makes presidential wars prospectively impeachable high crimes and misdemeanors justifying removal from office

Iraq: Coalition airstrike kills 5 Islamic State’s members in Anbar: “The international coalition aircraft bombarded a number of terrorists, riding a vehicle carrying mortar shells, north of Qadisiyah Lake in Haditha District, west of Ramadi.”

Israel approves 153 illegal squatter homes in occupied east Jerusalem: Approval is latest in rising number since Donald Trump became president of United States

Gaza’s Infrastructure on Verge of Collapse, Time is Running out: “One fact stands out above all”, Gisha states, namely that “Israel has maintained 50 years of continuous control over Gaza.”

Trump Executive Order Will Defund UN and All Agencies Recognizing Palestinian State: Agencies will also be defunded for supporting reproductive rights or engaging in activities which violate international sanctions against Iran or North Korea.

90 Bodies Found at Site of U.S. Air Strike in Libya: Libyan forces have found some 90 bodies of alleged militants at the sites of recent U.S. air strikes near the former Islamic State stronghold of Sirte, they said in a statement on Thursday.

Boko Haram kill 3 in Nigeria: Boko Haram Islamists raided a village in northeast Nigeria earlier this week, killing three men and abducting seven women, police said Thursday.

Afghanistan: 60 Taliban militants, 11 security men killed in Afghan offensive

Was the Berlin Christmas market attacker an undercover agent?: A report published just over a week ago by the Federal Criminal Office (BKA) raises the question of whether Anis Amri was an intelligence agent.

Seymour Hersh slams ‘crazy town’ reporting on Russia hacks : “The way they behaved on the Russia stuff was outrageous,” Hersh told The Intercept.

George Galloway: ‘Europeans don’t need Russians to tell them the EU isn’t working’ : They talk about state propaganda outfits, the BBC is the most slavish state propaganda outfit anywhere out there

EU looks to finance African camps to cut migrant sea crossings; EU interior ministers are pushing ahead with plans to finance camps in Africa, where the UN refugee agency and aid groups would process migrants to prevent them from trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Theresa May: UK and US cannot return to 'failed' interventions: She said the days of intervening in countries to "remake the world in our own image" were over but warned against standing by "when the threat is real".

Will May sell out the NHS? Theresa May suggests UK health services could be part of US trade deal: Theresa May has left the door open for the greater involvement of US corporations in British healthcare as she arrives in America to lay the groundwork for a future trade deal.

 

Madeleine Albright: "I Am Ready To Register As A Muslim": I was raised Catholic, became Episcopalian & found out later my family was Jewish. I stand ready to register as Muslim in #solidarity.

Mexico stunned by Donald Trump tweet on canceling trip: : Trump tweeted Thursday that “If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting” in Washington D.C.

Trump sends Mexico's peso down again: The peso fell fast, going down as much as 1.4%, a significant decline in just a few hours. It recovered some of its losses, but remained down by more than 1%.

White House: Trump calling for 20 percent tax on imports from Mexico to pay for southern border wall: White House spokesman Sean Spicer says Trump has discussed the idea with congressional leaders and wants to include the measure in a comprehensive tax reform package.

Canceled Ford Plant Adds To Mexico's Economic Frustrations: Ford Motor Co.'s decision this week to cancel construction of an auto plant in Mexico has shocked that country, causing the peso to slump and stirring up outrage toward President-elect Donald Trump

Official: Border Patrol Chief Tells Agents He Was Forced Out: The Border Patrol chief has been forced out a day after President Donald Trump announced an ambitious plan to build a wall at the Mexican border and hire 5,000 Border Patrol agents, a U.S. official

Wave Of State Department Personnel Resign, Are Fired As Tillerson Takes Control: “It’s the single biggest simultaneous departure of institutional memory that anyone can remember, and that’s incredibly difficult to replicate,”

New bill aims to ban Donald Trump from first use of nuclear weapons without Congressional Declaration of War: Mr Trump's “ignorance” of nuclear defence theory “increases the risk” of an accidental nuclear war

Thanks to Trump, the Doomsday Clock Advances Toward Midnight; Never before has the Bulletin decided to advance the clock largely because of the statements of a single person. But when that person is the new president of the United States, his words matter.

International Committee of the Red Cross join in rebuke of Trump's torture remarks: "These practices of torturing detainees and ‘disappearing’ them in black sites are serious crimes which must never be repeated," Ian Seiderman, Legal and Policy Director of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said in a statement.

On Day One, Trump Suspends Obama's Mortgage Insurance Premium Cut: Obama had moved to cut rates for people who take out mortgage insurance from the Federal Housing Administration, primarily first-time home buyers and people with poor credit.

Mad As Hell: Why the public is so pissed off: Once you understand the degree to which the average US family and the entire Gen-X and Millennial generations are being completely hosed economically, everything starts to take shape.

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Coalition airstrike in W. Iraq kills 18 Daesh militants: US-led coalition strikes Daesh concentration in Anbar province, Iraqi army commander tells Anadolu Agency

Ten civilians killed in Baghdad car bomb: Separately, a car bomb explosion targeted a vehicle of Iraqi security forces in the central city of Ramadi in Iraq’s Anbar Province on Wednesday, killing four personnel and injuring five others.

Iraqi troops torture and execute three ISIS fighters in a sickening video : The original video goes on to show the man being shot at point black range by a soldier who continues to fire and stamp on his head after he is dead.

1 Turkish soldier killed, 5 wounded in Daesh attack in Syria's al-Bab; A Turkish soldier was killed and five others were wounded in clashes with the Daesh terrorist group in Kabr al-Mukri region of northern Syria's al-Bab, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said on Wednesday.

Turkey will not hand over al-Bab to Syrian government forces: deputy PM: Syrian rebels, backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes, have been besieging al-Bab since December.

Syrian army, allies push back ISIS near Aleppo: activists: Syrian government forces and their allies drove ISIS militants out of several villages northeast of Aleppo between Tuesday and Wednesday, opposition-aligned activists said, bringing them closer to territory held by Turkish-backed rebels.

Russia, Turkey and Iran agree system to monitor Syria ceasefire: Syrian rebels said they were unhappy with the deal, and blamed Turkey for giving too much ground to Iran

Astana sponsors say no military solution to Syria crisis: The agreement signed by Iran, Turkey and Russia states the war can only be resolved through a political process buttressed by a ceasefire, reduction in violence and more direct talks.

Free Syrian Army faction crushed as former al-Qaeda affiliate turns on allies: Al-Qaeda's former affiliate in Syria has taken over northwestern areas of the country after effectively crushing a faction of the Free Syrian Army, two FSA officials said on Wednesday.

Why Did Tulsi Gabbard Travel To Syria After Meeting Trump? syrian army; She is now one of America’s most effective diplomats who can translate these kinds of experiences into legislative tinder to squelch the machinations of traitors and Saudi stooges like John McCain.

Trump government to 'review' Obama's $220m payout for Gaza; The US State Department is reviewing a decision made in the final hours of former president Barack Obama's administration to release $220m to help Palestinians rebuild the war-scarred Gaza strip.

Torture, Israeli-style - as described by the interrogators themselves: Slaps were the first method that N. listed. He said the force used is moderate, but the goal is to hurt sensitive organs like the nose, ears, brow and lips.

Israel’s shadowy role in Guatemala’s dirty war: The crimes committed by the Guatemalan state were carried out with foreign – particularly US – assistance. One key party to these crimes has so far eluded any mention inside the courts: Israel.

Afghan forces kill over 36 ISIS militants, 20 injured: In an operation targeting the dreaded terrorist group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Afghan forces have killed at least 36 terrorists and injured about 20 in southern Zabul Province, Khaama Press reported.

Somalia: Al-Shabab attack at Mogadishu hotel 'kills 28': Al-Shabab attackers fight their way into a popular hotel in central Mogadishu after ramming a car bomb into its gate.

Libyan forces claim control of long-besieged Benghazi district: East Libyan forces said on Wednesday they had taken complete control of a long contested district in Benghazi after dozens of families and captives trapped by fighting left the area.

Russia's secret plan to back Haftar in Libya: Renegade general will receive armoured vehicles, ammunition and surveillance equipment from Moscow, Algerian sources tell MEE

Libya prime minister to hold talks with Haftar: Al Sarraj said the meeting would be “face to face, without mediation” but warned that the two sides remained far apart

NATO deploys troops from Germany, Belgium to Lithuania: NATO decided to station a multinational battalion in each of the three Baltic countries in response to Russia's "intervention" in Ukraine. Canada is set to lead a multi-national battalion in Latvia and Britain will send troops to Estonia.

Moscow has ‘no naive expectations’ about resetting ties with US – Lavrov: Russia does not have any “illusions” or “naive expectations” regarding a reset in the relationship with Washington under the new US administration, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

German anti-immigrant party calls for end to fundamental right to asylum: The leader of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) has called for the right to asylum that is enshrined in the country's constitution to be replaced by a non-binding right granted by grace.

The Netherlands Pushes Back on Trump’s Abortion Gag Rule; Dutch minister proposes an international fund to replace Trump’s global ban on reproductive health care funding, saying “we must not let this happen.”

Report cites growing corruption, sees link with rising populism: President Donald Trump and French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen regularly drew links between a "corrupt elite" and the marginalization of working people. But anti-establishment parties generally failed to address corruption once in office, the group said.

China warns Donald Trump via US media to stay out of South China Sea dispute; China has sent its strongest message yet to US President Donald Trump that it will not back down on its claims in the South China Sea.

Trump expected to order temporary ban on refugees: Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders starting on Wednesday that include a temporary ban on most refugees and a suspension of visas for citizens of Syria and six other Middle Eastern and African countries.

Challenging A Muslim Ban: Our nation’s legal precedent in cases asserting plenary power paints a grim future for the likelihood that constitutional challenges to a potential ban or registry will succeed.

President Donald Trump is bombing four of the seven countries from where he's restricting immigration: Countries subject to the temporary visa restrictions are said to be Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iran, Sudan and Somalia.

President Trump: Construction of Border Wall Will Begin in 'Months': During the interview, which took place at the White House this morning, Trump said that Mexico would pay the U.S. back "100 percent."

Latin America leaders condemn Trump's Mexico wall at CELAC summit: Heads of state gathered at annual CELAC Latin America summit discuss ways to confront new regional reality.

Mexican Avocados Turned Away at US Border; Five trucks carrying a shipment of 100 tons of avocados from the state of Jalisco, Mexico were halted last Wednesday at the Mexican-U.S. border, by order of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Texas Governor’s office to cut funding for Travis County after immigration policy change: Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez announced she would be scaling back her department’s cooperation with federal immigration agents, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that his office will cut funding “for Travis County adopting sanctuary policies.”

Trump Draft Order Seeks Review on Terror Interrogations: Trump is considering a major review of America's methods for interrogating terror suspects and the possible reopening of CIA-run "black site" prisons outside the United States

Trump team compiles infrastructure priority list : The preliminary list, provided to the National Governor’s Association by the Trump transition team, offers a first glimpse at which projects around the country might get funding

Thousands Take to the Streets Across the Country to Oppose the Dakota Access and Keystone Pipelines: Real News speaks to indigenous leaders and environmentalists who gathered in Washington, DC to oppose Trump's decision to revive two massive pipelines

Two journalists covering inauguration protests face felony riot charges: Evan Engel and Alex Rubinstein face up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 fine. Reporters were on assignment for Vocativ and RT America.

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13 Daesh terrorists killed, 107 targets hit by Turkish military: According to a statement released by the military, shelling by Turkish troops destroyed terrorist hideouts, defense positions, command control centers, weapons and vehicles.

Russian bombers hit IS targets in eastern Syria: The Defense Ministry said that six Tu-22M3 bombers flew from their base in Russia to strike IS facilities in the province of Deir el-Zour on Tuesday.

Syrian rebels battle jihadists in northern Syria: Heavy fighting erupted in northwestern Syria on Tuesday between a powerful jihadist organization and more moderate rebel groups, threatening to further weaken the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad

Sponsors of Syria talks in Astana strike deal to protect fragile ceasefire: Russia, Turkey and Iran to set up trilateral commission to monitor breaches of ceasefire that came into effect last month.

Donald Trump ‘open to working with Moscow’ to fight Isis in Syria: The announcement comes the same day that the Russian Defence Ministry said that a coordinated strike against Isis targets near al-Bab in northern Syria had already taken place

Iraq; 14 killed in eastern Mosul shelling, : Fourteen civilians were killed and 13 others were injured on Tuesday when Islamic State militants bombarded residential areas in eastern Mosul recently recaptured by government forces.

Islamic State recovers 30 members’ bodies from Tigris River: Islamic State group recovered the bodies of 30 members belonging to the group, who were killed by a coalition air strike few days ago, from the Tigris River in western Mosul, Alsumaria reported on Tuesday.

Iraq PM orders probe into abuses reported in Mosul battle: A recording circulated on social media and on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network on Saturday perpetrating to show police officers summarily executing three unarmed men in a district of Mosul retaken from Islamic State.

Iraqi soldiers abuse children near Mosul: Video - More footage has been leaked on social media showing Iraqi soldiers beating and humiliating children who have been attempting to flee the violence caused by the ongoing operation against Mosul.

Iraq army denies taking east Mosul from ISIL: Army retracts earlier announcement that its troops have retaken all of eastern Mosul from ISIL rebels.

PM Abadi says Iraq's oil is for Iraqis, in reaction to Trump: "I've got assurances from President Trump that the assistance to Iraqi will continue and that it will also increase," Abadi told a news conference in Baghdad.

Yemen: Nearly 70 killed by air strikes by Saudi-led coalition; Air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition and fighting near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait killed at least 52 fighters among Shiite Huthi rebels and allied troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the sources said.

Plan approved for 2,500 new illegal, squatter homes in occupied West Bank: The largest recent settlement building plan announced by Israel, which came as the country feels emboldened by US President Donald Trump, who is not critical of illegal settlement activity, as opposed to his predecessor Barack Obama.

Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists: Video documentary

Israeli "Defense" Minister : 'In the next conflict—we will not stop until a white flag is raised'; "I advise the Europeans, Americans and Russians to first of all steer clear of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

US embassy move to Jerusalem a declaration of war: Muqtada al-Sadr: Iraqi cleric and leader of powerful militia calls for 'special division' to liberate Jerusalem if Donald Trump goes through with plan

Tzipi Livni cancels Brussels trip amid threat of arrest: Israels Ex-foreign minister cancels Brussels visit after prosecutors said they would question her over war crimes allegations.

In case you missed it: Jews DO Control The Media: Op-Ed: Let’s be honest with ourselves, here, fellow Jews. We do control the media.

Al-Shabaab fighting kills 5 in Somalia: At least five people including three soldiers were killed Monday in heavy fighting between the Somali army and heavily armed militia belonging to al-Shabaab, officials said.

Afghanistan: Almost 80 Daesh And Al-Qaeda Insurgents Killed In Zabul: Zabul officials said on Tuesday that almost 80 Daesh and Al-Qaeda insurgents were killed in foreign troops airstrikes in the province in the past four days.

Kidnapped Afghan policemen kill 5 alleged Taliban militants in Baghlan: Two Afghan policemen have broken a Taliban cell in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan, leaving at least 5 militants dead.

Taliban to Trump: Pull out troops or face 'shameful defeat': In an open letter to Trump published on one of its official webpages, the group said nothing has been achieved in 15 years of occupation except bloodshed and destruction.

Indian troops kill 3 as fresh violence erupts in Kashmir: "In the ensuing gunfight two militants were killed,” said Ismael, using a reference to people infiltrating the area from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Beijing urges US to exercise caution when dealing with South China Sea issue: “We urge the US side to respect the reality, to be cautious in its remarks and actions, so as to avoid undermining the peace and stability in the region,” she said.

China calls for ban on nuclear weapons; urges leadership at UN treaty negotiations: Massive reinvestments in nuclear warheads, delivery systems, and infrastructure are dangerous and contradictory to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

Turnbull: Potential for China to join TPP after US exit: Australian PM opens door to Beijing amid efforts to recast Trans-Pacific Partnership without the United States.

Chinese court sentences former senior official to life term for graft: A Chinese court Monday sentenced a former top official to life in prison for corruption involving millions of dollars, the latest high-profile conviction in President Xi Jinping's crackdown on graft.

Demonizing Russia?: Russia is targeting French, Dutch and German elections with fake news, EU task force warns: Russia is seeking to influence the outcome of several key elections in European countries this year with fake news, a special task force set up by the European Union has warned.

Supreme Court's Brexit ruling - : The Brexit Secretary faces MPs after the country's top judges rule against the Government over the triggering of Article 50.

Spanish bankers sent to jail in landmark ruling; A Spanish court has jailed five former executives who got millions in severance pay from a struggling bank that later had to be nationalised, a first in a country still reeling from banking bailouts.

Brazil Invites US to Use Amazon Military Base: Defense Minister Raul Jungmann made the announcement following a meeting with U.S. officials at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil in the national capital of Brasilia.

Mexico - Gas price protests are still drawing crowds: An estimated 50,000 marched yesterday in Guadalajara; US border crossings disrupted

Minister: Mexico May Leave NAFTA if Renegotiation Unfavorable : "There could be no other option. Go for something that is less than what we already have? It would not make sense to stay," Guajardo said

Mexico Will Push US for Orderly Repatriation of Migrants: Mexican Presiden said Monday that he will ask that any expulsion of Mexican migrants from the United States take place in an orderly, coordinated manner.

White House begins with English-only website as Team Trump breaks with Obama by nixing all Spanish-language content: 'We have to have assimilation to have a country,' Trump added. 'We have to have assimilation. ... This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish.'

More Californians dreaming of a country without Trump: poll: One in every three California residents supports the most populous U.S. state's peaceful withdrawal from the union, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll

Only Republicans Support Rex Tillerson Secretary of State Bid: Tillerson has already pledged to review or reverse former President Barack Obama's concessions on Cuba and implement regime change in Venezuela.

14 Senate Democrats Fall in Line Behind Trump CIA Pick Who Left Door Open to Torture: Pompeo is a far-right Kansas Republican who has in the past defended CIA officials who engaged in torture, calling them “patriots.”

Trump plans to keep Comey as FBI director -source: Comey, a Republican, drew furious criticism from Democrats for announcing just 11 days before the Nov. 8 election that the FBI was looking at additional emails related to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a private server.

Trump's tea party budget chief on collision course with GOP hawks: “The battle lines are drawn," said Mackenzie Eaglen, a defense analyst at the American Enterprise Institute. “No one should underestimate the deep ideological, commitment Mulvaney has to cutting defense.”

How to Freeze the Pentagon: News analysis: The endless military-spending hikes since 9/11 cannot continue.

Toyota Adding 400 Indiana Jobs in $600 Million Answer to Trump: Toyota Motor Corp. will invest $600 million and add 400 jobs at an assembly plant in Princeton, Indiana, weeks after Donald Trump criticized Japan’s largest automaker for its plan to open a plant in Mexico.

Trump urges GM, Ford and Chrysler to keep jobs in the United States: On Tuesday, President Donald Trump met with the top three U.S. automakers at the White House and urged them to keep jobs and production in the United States.

Trump orders EPA media blackout; Agriculture Department research service bans release of new info to public: The Trump administration has instituted what it described as a temporary media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency and barred staff from awarding any new contracts or grants.

Why The Keystone Pipeline Will Actually RAISE Gas Prices In the U.S.: Big Oil Is Gaming the System to Raise Domestic U.S. Prices.

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Nearly 70 killed in fresh Yemen fighting: Air raids by a Saudi-led coalition and fighting killed at least 52 fighters among Shiite Huthi rebels and allied troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the sources said. Fourteen members of pro-government forces were also killed.

Trumps first US drone strike kills 3 alleged al-Qaida in Yemen: Suspected U.S. drone strikes have killed three alleged al-Qaida operatives in Yemen's southwestern Bayda province, the first such killings reported in the country since Donald Trump assumed the U.S. presidency Friday.

Yemen army claims control of port city of Mokha: The Yemeni army said it has taken full control of Mokha, a port city southwest of the capital Sanaa, that had been taken by Houthi rebels in November 2014.

Turkish Forces Kill 65 Daesh Militants: The Turkish armed forces have eliminated 65 Daesh militants over the past 24 hours as part of the Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria, the Turkish General Staff said Monday.

Syrian Army nears Turkey-backed rebels in new advance: The Syrian Army and its allies on Sunday drove ISIS from several villages east of Aleppo, a military media unit run by Hezbollah and pro-opposition war monitor reported, bringing them closer to territory held by Turkey-backed rebels.

Syria : War of words as peace talks open in Astana: The Syrian government's lead negotiator has denounced what he called his rebel counterpart's "provocative" comments at the start of peace talks in Astana.

US under Trump won't send a delegation to Syria talks: The Trump administration has decided against sending a U.S. delegation to Kazakhstan for talks on the war in Syria, despite receiving a formal invitation from the Kazakh government with the backing of Russia and Turkey

Here’s how and why the US has been helping ISIS take Deir El-Zour; The US has been materially helping ISIS capture the strategic eastern Syrian town of Deir El-Zour because it is a vital link binding together the territories of the Middle East's Axis of Resistance.

Dozens of IS leaders flee toward Syria: “Dozens of vehicles belonging to the Islamic State, carrying leaders and their families, were seen while withdrawing from eastern Mosul toward the Syrian territories,” pointing out that, “The liberation battles of eastern Mosul finished.”

Iraq executes 31 convicts in Speicher Camp massacre: Iraqi judicial authorities executed on Monday 31 convicts linked to a massacre carried out by the Islamic State that left 1700 Iraqi air force cadets dead in 2014.

Mortar shelling kills, wounds 8 civilians in western Mosul; “A civilian was killed, while seven others were wounded by mortar shells in the the old industrial area and al-Zera’i neighborhood in western Mosul.”

Iraqi forces take complete control of eastern Mosul: defense ministry; Iraqi forces have captured all of eastern Mosul, dislodging Islamic State militants from the last pocket they held east of Tigris river, the defense ministry said on Monday.

Suicide bombers blow themselves up in Saudi Arabia: Security forces engaged 'terrorists' in a firefight with suspects who later detonated explosives in the city of Jeddah.

Israel approves permits for 566 illegal squatter homes: Building plan in occupied East Jerusalem approved by local council after being held up until Donald Trump took office in the US.

Israel lifts restrictions on building more homes in occupied East Jerusalem: "We can build where we want and as much as we want," the statement quoted Netanyahu as saying, adding that he also intended to allow the start of building in the West Bank.

1,000s of Israeli Arabs protest against housing demolitions & killing of Bedouin teacher: Several protesters were injured after police deployed stun grenades against the crowd, Haaretz newspaper reported.

Donald Trump ‘to announce US embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Monday': The White House will on Monday announce that the US embassy in Israel is to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to an unconfirmed report by an Israeli news outlet.

Mattis and Iran; Op-Ed: Mattis’ record at Centcom would be less of a concern if he weren’t joining an administration that is already overflowing with vocal Iran hawks.

Three Malian soldiers killed in landmine blast: Three Malian soldiers died Sunday and a fourth was seriously injured when their vehicle hit a landmine in the troubled north, the army said.

Nigeria botched air strike may have killed up to 236 people: As many as 236 people may have been killed in the botched Nigerian air strike against Boko Haram that hit a camp for civilians displaced by the unrest, a local official told AFP

The Gambia: Ex-ruler Yahya Jammeh 'plundered coffers': Exiled former leader accused of 'stealing' state funds as regional troops prepare to secure arrival of President Barrow.

25 killed in Pakistan blast: At least 25 people including two children were killed and more than 50 others injured when a strong bomb blast hit a fruit and vegetable market in northwest Pakistan on Saturday morning, local administrator said.

Air strikes kill 21 ISIS loyalists in Afghanistan's Zabul province

13 Marine Aircraft to Deploy to Australia: The Marine Corps this spring is sending its largest aircraft element to date, all out of Hawaii -- to the next $25 million rotation of Marines to northern Australia as the Corps continues to redistribute its forces around the Pacific.

A police officer has been shot and wounded in north Belfast, police said: The Police Federation which represents rank and file officers said it was a terrorist shooting and added that their thoughts were with the officer and his family.

Donald Trump BATTERS Brussels with order to STOP EU Army plans or lose US Nato support: Despite comments by President Trump calling Nato “obsolete”, new US defence secretary Gen James Mattis affirmed America’s commitment to the Alliance – and reinforced concerns against Russia.

Republican lawmakers sponsor bill to ‘terminate U.S. membership in the United Nations’: A bill co-sponsored by about half a dozen Republicans would force the United States to quit its membership in the United Nations.

Swedish politician resigns after suggesting someone should ‘shoot’ Trump; “I believed that Donald Trump would calm down after he became the president [of the US]. But how wrong I was! He exceeded my worst fears! Could anyone shoot him?”

UK government covered up 'disastrous failure' in nuclear missile test: report: The British government covered up a failed test of a nuclear missile system last year, just weeks before lawmakers voted to renew it, "The Sunday Times" newspaper alleged on Sunday.

Dutch PM Rutte: 'If you don't like it here, then leave': "If you live in a country where you get so annoyed with how we deal each other, you have a choice. Get out! You don't have to be here!"

Pope Francis warns against populism, citing Hitler: Declining to directly pass judgement on US President Trump, the pope condemned border walls being built.

Rex Tillerson Already Talking Regime Change in Venezuela: The new U.S. administration of Donald Trump has made it public that it will seek a regime change policy in Venezuela disguised in “transition to democracy” rhetoric, the country’s potential new Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview this week.

Protesters Take Control of Mexican Border Crossing With US: Protests closed southbound traffic for hours at the San Diego-Tijuana San Ysidro port of entry, the busiest crossing along the 2,000-mile border, and halted southbound traffic at one of two crossings in Nogales, Arizona.

March turns into confrontation in Tijuana: Video

Millions of Americans live in Mexico. Can we continue to coexist? ; With nearly two million Americans living among us, Mexico is the country with the largest community of US citizens living outside the United States

Authorities Resume Repression at Standing Rock, Target Media: Standing Rock demonstrators against the Dakota Access pipeline and journalists covering the resistance are once again facing violence from security agencies emboldened by the North Dakota state legislature's attempts at criminalizing dissent.

Donald Trump protests attract millions across US and world: Larger numbers of demonstrators than expected turned out for more than 600 rallies worldwide.

Anti-trump protesters all over the world : 1 Minute Video

Women protesters swarm streets across U.S.: Hundreds of thousands of women, many with husbands, boyfriends and children in tow, filled the streets of several major U.S. cities on Saturday to protests against President Donald Trump the day after his inauguration.

Ex-WSJ Reporter Finds George Soros Has Ties To More Than 50 "Partners" Of The Women’s March: What is the link between one of Hillary Clinton’s largest donors and the Women’s March? Her answer: "as it turns out, it’s quite significant."

Ex-CIA Boss Brennan, Others Rip Trump Speech in Front of Memorial; "Former CIA Director Brennan is deeply saddened and angered at Donald Trump's despicable display of self-aggrandizement in front of CIA's Memorial Wall of Agency heroes,"

The CIA aren't happy about Donald Trump's first speech at their headquarters: During his speech, the president addressed his hostility towards the media, calling them the “most dishonest human beings”, and tried to brush aside any notion of animosity between him and the intelligence agencies:

Trump places hiring freeze on some federal workers: Also cuts off funding for international groups that perform abortions

Trump to 'massively' cut taxes and regulation: He pledged to lower corporate taxes to 15% or 20% from the current 35% and lift regulations by up to 75%.

President Trump To Immediately Withdraw U.S. From Trans-Pacific Partnership: The president will in the meantime reportedly begin to work on overhauling former President Bill Clinton’s North American Free Trade Agreement.

Sanders praises Trump for nixing TPP, delighted to work with him on pro-worker policies: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), who campaigned hard against the Trans-Pacific Partnership in last year’s Democratic presidential primaries, praised President Trump for an executive order to officially pull the United States out of the deal.

Mexico set to 'mirror' policy on any U.S. trade tax change: minister: Mexico's economy minister said his country was ready to renegotiate trade rules with the United States and that any change in U.S. tax policy that affected imports would have to be countered with a "mirror action" in Mexico.

Mexico's president to meet with Trump amid populist pressure at home: Enrique Pena Nieto and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet at the end of this month to discuss trade, immigration and security issues, as the Latin American leader faces increased populist pressure at home.

Foxconn CEO says investment for display plant in U.S. would exceed $7 billion; Foxconn's proposal to build a display plant, which would be planned with its Sharp Corp unit, depend on many factors, such as investment conditions, that would have to be negotiated at the U.S. state and federal levels

Trump Administration Suspends Insurance Cut for Risky Mortgages: Move effectively ends attempt by Obama administration to lower costs for certain mortgage borrowers.

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Syria: US: killed more than 100 al-Qaeda fighters : A US air strike on Thursday targeting an al-Qaeda training camp in Syria killed more than 100 fighters, a US defence official said on Friday.

Syria: 'Forty jihadists' killed in Aleppo air strikes: Most of those killed are said to have belonged to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which is excluded from the current ceasefire.

Five Turkish soldiers killed near Syrian border town of al-Bab. Turkey announced that it is no longer "realistic" to exclude Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from a solution to the country's five-year civil war. 

Main task in Syrian settlement is to resume talks, involve armed opposition: Lavrov; The main task is to resume these negotiations and involve those who represent the armed opposition in these talks," the minister said.

Iraqi airstrikes kill 88 Islamic State fighters northeast of Mosul: Airstrikes by Iraqi fighter jets killed 88 Islamic State fighters in northeastern Mosul, a statement by the air force said on Friday as a few regions remain to declare the full recapture of the eastern part of the city.

Iraq: Four army soldiers killed in Islamic State attack west of Anbar; Four army personnel were killed on Friday when Islamic State militants attacked their patrol west of Anbar.

Saudi-led air strikes kill 29 Yemen rebels: The strikes hit two military camps, an ammunition depot and an arms transporter in Hodeida province, the sources said. Around 20 fighters and renegade troops were also wounded.

China To Pour $3 Billion in Iran’s Refining Capacity: China has already “opened the financing” for the refinery’s upgrade. Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure has suffered the results of years of neglect because of insufficient maintenance funds during the sanction years

Gambia's Yahya Jammeh 'agrees to step down': Incoming President Adama Barrow says outgoing leader of 22 years has finally agreed to cede and will leave the country.

Gambia army chief recognizes President Barrow as commander-in-chief; "We are going to welcome them with flowers and make them a cup of tea," Badjie said. "This is a political problem. It's a misunderstanding. We are not going to fight Nigerian, Togolese or any military that comes.

UN says 45,000 flee The Gambia amid political turmoil: "It is feared that more people may continue to flee as the situation remains tense," UNHCR said, adding that another "800 people have crossed into Guinea-Bissau."

Afghanistan attack: 16 policemen killed : At least 16 policemen were killed as militants stormed police checkpoints in Kandahar province of Afghanistan on Friday, an official said.

India to Deploy Massive Tank Army Along Border With Pakistan: The Indian Army is set to deploy over 460 new T-90SM main battle tanks (MBTs) along India’s border with Pakistan, senior Indian defense officials told IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly on January 19.

Kremlin hits out at Obama, says was always ready for nuclear arms cuts; Obama said overnight he had told President Vladimir Putin he was ready to proceed with nuclear disarmament, but that Russia didn't want to negotiate.

Morales to Trump: We Want Respect, Not Submission or Blackmail: The Bolivian president asserted that his nation has the right to have agreements with whomever they choose and warned that the Andean nation will not accept blackmail or conditioning from the United States

Chelsea Manning thanks Barack Obama for 'giving me a chance' ; Obama said Manning’s sentence was “very disproportionate relative to what other leakers have received”.

C.I.A. Torture Detailed in Newly Disclosed Documents: Batches of newly disclosed documents about the Central Intelligence Agency’s defunct torture program are providing new details about its practices of slamming terrorism suspects into walls, confining them in coffinlike boxes

The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun; At the moment the new commander in chief was sworn in, a campaign to build public support for his impeachment went live at ImpeachDonaldTrumpNow.org,

Republican Lawmakers in Five States Propose Bills to Criminalize Peaceful Protest: In some states, nonviolent demonstrating may soon carry increased legal risks — including punishing fines and significant prison terms

Trump's Economic Plan: Create 25 Million Jobs, Lower Taxes For All Americans: The statement also announced the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and that he is committed to renegotiating NAFTA

Protesters, police clash in Washington as Trump assumes presidency: Black-clad activists angry about U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration smashed store car windows and blocked traffic in Washington on Friday and fought with police in riot gear who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Anti-Trump protesters are pepper-sprayed by cops : A massive crowd of people who are against the president-elect gathered outside the National Press Club, which was holding the 'DeploraBall' - a celebratory event organized by Trump supporters from the 'alt-right'.

‘It Was Militant and It Was Dark’: Rachel Maddow Says Trump’s Speech Was ‘Hard to Hear’

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U.S. kills 80 in Libya stealth strikes on Isis - US defence chief; US B-2 stealth bombers were used to carry out the air strikes against alleged Islamic State (Isis) camps outside of Sirte.

Barrow sworn in as new Gambia president in Dakar embassy; Gambia's new president took the oath of office in the country's embassy in Senegal Thursday. Barrow was sworn in days after seeking shelter in Dakar with incumbent Yahya Jammeh still refusing to stand down after losing a December election.

Gambia crisis: Senegal troops 'enter' to back new president: Senegalese troops have entered The Gambia to ensure Adama Barrow assumes power as the country's new president, a Senegalese army spokesman has said. West African leaders have threatened to remove Mr Jammeh by force.

Aerial bombing kills 20 members of Islamic State near Mosul; “Iraqi Army Aviation, backed by Imam Ali brigade, managed to kill 20 members of the Islamic State, as well as destroying three machine guns, north of Mosul.”

14 Iraqi police killed or wounded by ISIS, another five abducted: “ISIS launched an attack, at dawn today, on the Federal Police headquarters in Albu Eissa area, northeast of al-Daluiyah, killing six elements of the Federal Police and wounding eight others,” the source revealed

Roadside bomb kills 7 civilians escaping Islamic State in Kirkuk: Seven civilians were killed and eight others were wounded when a roadside bomb killed them in Salahuddin’s northern mountainous region of Hamreen. The group was fleeing Islamic State stronghold town of Hawija, Kirkuk.

Islamic State militants fight over food in western Mosul, one dead; One Islamic State militant was killed and two others were injured in western Mosul as the trio fought over a foodstuff load, yet another indication of growing divisions within the group as it loses more ground

17 Daesh terrorists killed in operations across northern Syria: Turkish jets and armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) bombarded eight Daesh targets in al-Bab and Suflaniyah. Six hideouts, one building used as headquarters, and one bomb-laden vehicle were destroyed in the aerial attacks

Syrian Army within reach of strategic water well in Wadi Barada: The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has been steadily advancing inside the Wadi Barada area of rural Damascus today, capturing several sites from the jihadist rebels of Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra Front) inside 'Ayn Al-Fijah.

Syria against Saudi Arabia, Qatar taking part at Astana talks: The participation of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Syria talks will be discussed once they stop backing militancy, Syria’s deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying on Wednesday, appearing to reject their attendance

Yemen: Two rockets fired by Al Houthis kill nine civilians in Taiz: Two rockets fired by Al Houthi rebels on Wednesday night killed nine civilians, including women and children, and wounded several others in the southern Yemen city of Taiz.

American-Israelis to hold anti-Trump ‘sister rally’ in Tel Aviv: In solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, a local Facebook group is organizing a protest on the day after the inauguration

8 Key Taliban Leaders among 37 Killed in Afghanistan's Operations: According to a statement by MoD, at least 14 militants were also wounded and 3 others including Pakistani nationals were arrested.

Ukrainian president calls for global response to Russian threat; Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for a worldwide effort to counter the threat of Russian cyber warfare and urged the United States to "be great again" by demonstrating leadership on global security.

Germany raises defense spending as it demands clear agenda from US; "We're fighting for something, not against something," Germany's defense minister said during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "We're fighting for democracy, for the rule of law, for human rights."

Wikileaks' founder Assange says stands by US extradition offer; "I stand by everything I said including the offer to go to the United States if Chelsea Manning's sentence was commuted," Assange said in a live online audio news conference.

Martin McGuinness: Ex-deputy first minister will not stand in NI election: Martin McGuinness, former IRA leader turned peacemaker, has confirmed he will not stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election.

The number of bombs our Nobel laureate president dropped in 2016 is stunning: 26,171 bombs were dropped by the United States in these seven countries in 2016.

Leonard Peltier Officially Denied Clemency by Obama: The Native American activist's lawyer said not granting clemency was like a death sentence, given Peltier's poor health.

Judge rules that the US must release photos from Abu Ghraib, where torture and abuse took place: Hellerstein's decision is a victory for the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil and veterans rights groups

CIA unveils new rules for collecting information on U.S. citizens: The new procedures, under development for years, were signed on Tuesday by CIA Director John Brennan and Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Trump retains 50 key Obama aides (for now): President-elect Donald Trump will keep 50 top aides to President Obama on critical issues like the war on the so-called Islamic State, international sanctions and global counterterrorism efforts, his spokesman announced Thursday.