(2020-01-17). Pompeo to join Libya conference in Berlin, Greece threatens to veto any solution after Tripoli-Ankara deal. rt.com 
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will take part in this weekend's Libya peace conference in Germany and voice support for truce efforts, the State Department has said. | Pompeo will call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the war-ravaged nation, and a resumption of the UN-backed peace process, AFP quoted a US official as saying on Thursday. | On Thursday, Commander of eastern Libyan forces Khalifa Haftar paid a surprise visit to Athens, which is angered that it was not invited to Berlin and is engaged in a dispute with Turkey over energy claims involving Libya. | PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed on Thu…
(2020-01-17). Migrant entries from Turkey to Europe on the rise, Frontex chief says. rt.com 
The number of migrants entering Europe from Turkey rose significantly last year as people fleeing Syria and Afghanistan flooded into the country and then set out for Greece, the head of the EU's border agency said on Friday. | More than 82,000 migrants tried to enter Europe without authorization in 2019, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year, Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri said in Brussels. | "This was mainly due to the situation in Syria, but also instability in Afghanistan, and changing policies towards Afghan nationals by Iranian and Pakistani authorities," Leggeri said. He refused to…
(2020-01-17). Greek offer to send peacekeeping troops to Libya could spark 'indirect' conflict between Ankara and Athens. rt.com 
Greece's proposal to send forces to observe a fragile truce in Libya could lead to an indirect conflict between Ankara and Athens, analysts told RT, warning that the NATO allies could soon lock horns over the issue. | Nikos Dendias, the Greek foreign minister, announced that his government was willing to deploy forces to the war-torn North African nation in order to monitor the ceasefire between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). The offer was put forward after Dendias met with LNA leader General Khalifa Haftar, who has been fighting forces loyal to Tripol…
(2020-01-17). "They Must Conduct a Full and Fair Trial": Senators Sworn In for Historic Trump Impeachment Trial. democracynow.org 
For just the third time in history, the U.S. Senate has opened a trial to determine if a sitting president should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached President Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the impeachment trial in the Senate, later swore in senators who will serve as jurors when the trial officially begins on Tuesday. This comes as more information is coming to light about the actions of President Trump and his associates. On Thursday, the nonpartisan Governmen…
(2020-01-17). Ukraine's Zelensky gives 'another chance' to PM taped saying president clueless on economy. rt.com 
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk. | "I decided to give you and your government a chance if you'll be able to fix some issues that are very important now and really worry our society," Zelensky said, explaining his decision. | The President also demanded that the security agencies find out those responsible for the leak, which forced Honcharuk to file his resignation, in two weeks' time. | Earlier, an audio recording from a meeting between the governme…
(2020-01-17). Ukrainian PM submits resignation letter amid leaked audio recordings controversy. rt.com 
Ukraine's PM Oleksiy Honcharuk has submitted a letter of resignation and President Volodymyr Zelensky will consider it, the presidential office in Kiev said on Friday. | "I came to the position of fulfilling the program of the president. He is for me a model of openness and decency," Honcharuk said on Facebook. "However, in order to take away any doubts about our respect and trust in the president, I wrote a letter of resignation and handed it to the president with the right to submit it to parliament," the PM added. | Honcharuk earlier commented on leaked audio recordings allegedly with his voice recorded dur…
(2020-01-17). 'Remember the past & honor the dead': Former president Walesa slams Poland's failure to commemorate Warsaw's WWII liberation. rt.com 
While the anniversary of Warsaw's liberation is largely overlooked in modern-day Poland, it's worth paying respect to the sacrifice of the Red Army, former president and democracy hero Lech Walesa acknowledged on RT. | It's been exactly 75 years since the Soviet Union's 1st Byelorussian Front and the allied Polish 1st Army defeated the last remaining pocket of Nazi resistance, ending the five-year occupation of Warsaw. But the milestone event, in which 22,000 Soviet and 3,100 Polish soldiers lost their lives, is no longer an occasion for Poland to celebrate, it seems. | While local press maintained a deafening…
(2020-01-17). Polish Senate rejects govt's judicial reform bill allowing politicians to fire judges. rt.com 
The opposition-dominated Senate in Poland on Friday rejected a new law that would allow judges who criticize the government's judicial reforms to be disciplined. Warsaw and the EU are at loggerheads over the reforms, and the opposition is trying to use its control of the Senate to highlight the dispute, Reuters said. | The 100-member Senate voted by 51 to 48 to reject the law. The lower house, controlled by the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), still has the power to make the bill law, assuming that President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the PiS, signs it. | The PiS says the bill, which has been passed by the lo…
(2020-01-17). 'We wanted to be Red Army soldiers': Polish veterans recall childhood memories of Warsaw's liberation. rt.com 
It is often said that truth is the first casualty of war — and, indeed, when the bombs have stopped falling, the blood has been shed and the troops have stood down, another kind of war begins: A war of memories.
(2020-01-17). 'Nobody in Poland cares about WWII anymore': Warsaw ignores 75th anniversary of its liberation from fascism. rt.com 
The Polish people aren't interested in the events of the past, being fully consumed by their daily hassles, and the country's authorities are using this to their advantage, freely rewriting WWII history, academics told RT. | Warsaw was taken from the Nazis on January 17, 1945, after a large-scale offensive by the Red Army and the Polish forces. The 75th anniversary of the historic victory is marked on Friday, but the capital of Poland isn't preparing for any celebrations. | The fact that the USSR liberated Warsaw from the Nazis is "diminished" in schoolbooks and ignored by Polish media "because we live in coun…
(2020-01-17). UK's Treasury designates entire Hezbollah organization as terrorist group. rt.com 
Britain's Treasury has designated the entire Hezbollah organization as a terrorist group under its Terrorism and Terrorist Financing rules, and its assets will be frozen, Reuters reports. | Previously it was only Hezbollah's military wing which was subject to asset-freezing under UK government rules. | The German parliament on December 19 approved a motion urging Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to ban all activities by the Hezbollah group on German soil. | The parliamentarians then said Germany should ditch its current policy of distinguishing between Hezbollah's political arm and military units.
(2020-01-17). Putin to take part in Libya peace conference in Berlin — Kremlin. rt.com 
Russia's President Vladimir Putin will be participating in the conference on a peaceful settlement in Libya, to take place in Germany's capital, Berlin, on Sunday, the Kremlin has said. | The Berlin summit will become the continuation of the peace effort that started in Moscow earlier this month when the warring parties set behind the table for the first time. | The Sunday's conference will bring together the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and the Libyan National Army (LNA), headed by general Khalifa Haftar, as well as representatives of Germany, Algeria, Great Britain, E…
(2020-01-17). US military says 11 troops injured & flown out of Iraq for medical checks after Iranian strike on base. rt.com 
US Central Command has revealed that 11 personnel stationed at an Iraqi airbase which incurred a retaliatory attack by Tehran earlier in January had to be sent out of the country after displaying concussion symptoms. | "While no US service members were killed in the January 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad airbase, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed," Navy Captain Bill Urban said in a statement on Thursday. | Upon initial examination, eight troops were flown out of the war-ravaged country to a medical facility in Germany for further checks, while three others we…
(2020-01-17). The bombs of the last war and preparations for the next rattle Germany. peoplesworld.org 
BERLIN—"ALARM! Twelve thousand residents must immediately leave their homes! All hospital clinics must be evacuated! No exceptions! Hasten!" Not in burning Australia nor a besieged town in Syria or Afghanistan were those words heard, but rather on Jan. 12, 2020 in the otherwise peaceful if no longer prosperous Dortmund, in Germany's Ruhr Valley. Once again, unexploded …
(2020-01-17). Manned Mars mission isn't science fiction & could have 'reconciliatory' effect on the world — Russian cosmonaut Ryazansky. rt.com 
Sending humans to Mars isn't as far-fetched as it might sound, Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryazansky told RT, noting that a joint mission to the Red Planet would serve as a unifying triumph for people of all nations. | In an interview with SophieCo, the Russian cosmonaut and biochemist explained that manned space travel to Mars probably wouldn't be any more dangerous, from a health perspective, than current space missions. He pointed out that "the total amount of radiation an astronaut gets these days exceeds what a Mars mission crew would get," while stressing that more research on the matter was needed. | Ryaza…
(2020-01-17). America's Long History of Meddling in Russia. counterpunch.org 
Russia — OK, not the actual Russian government but a private click-farm company located in Russia — bought $100,000 worth of political ads on Facebook designed to change the outcome of the 2016 election. Except that only a small fraction of those ads were political. Also except that that small fraction was divvied up between More
(2020-01-17). The Rumbling Methane Enigma. counterpunch.org 
The northern continental shelves of Russia, inclusive of the Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea (ESAS) are some of the least researched yet most controversial subjects in climate science today. It's the one region that has the biggest potential to trigger runaway global warming because of sizeable subsea methane deposits, thereby More
(2020-01-17). DOJ investigating Comey over role in classified leaks during Clinton email drama — report. rt.com 
The US Department of Justice has opened a probe into whether former FBI Director James Comey leaked details about classified intelligence to reporters covering the Hillary Clinton email server scandal. | Led by federal prosecutors, the inquiry is focused on two 2017 news stories for which Comey is suspected to have been a source, divulging the contents of a classified intelligence document, according to a Thursday New York Times report. | The pair of stories, published in the Times and the Washington Post in 2017, cited an alleged Russian intelligence document obtained by Dutch security services, which earlier…
(2020-01-17). Ruble strong, stocks surge after Russian government reshuffle. rt.com 
The appointment of a new prime minister has boosted the Russian stock market to new record highs on Friday, with the national currency holding on to gains reached over the past 18 months. | The ruble continued gaining against major currencies on Friday, after accelerating growth on the news of the appointment of Mikhail Mishustin as Russia's new prime minister earlier in the week. | It was up 0.2 percent against the US dollar at 61.39 rubles, while gaining slightly on the euro at 68.29 rubles.The stock market posted solid gains at the beginning of the trading session. The dollar-denominated RTS index added mor…
(2020-01-17). UN envoy for Syria Pedersen to visit Russia next week. rt.com 
UN Secretary-General's special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen will visit Russia next week, acting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. | Pedersen also plans to visit Damascus, Lavrov said. "I expect that these talks and his upcoming trips and contacts with the Syrian leadership will help us determine the further schedule of the [Syrian] Constitutional Committee," TASS quoted him as saying. | The minister also said that Syria should return to the Arab League after its exclusion in 2011. "Syria needs to return to the Arab family," he added.
(2020-01-17). It's a step forward that ceasefire in Libya is holding, even though rival leaders 'not ready' for direct talks — Russian FM. rt.com 
The warring sides in Libya are sticking to their truce, though their leaders haven't yet begun direct talks, Sergey Lavrov confirmed. It's crucial, he added, that they don't set additional demands after a peace summit in Berlin. | The ceasefire between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) "is nevertheless respected," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow, describing it as "a definite step forward." | General Khalifa Haftar, who leads the LNA, and Fayez al-Sarraj, the GNA prime minister, failed to reach an agreement at recent talk…
(2020-01-17). Neymar 'opens discussions' with PSG but HUGE new deal could hinge on Champions League success. rt.com 
Neymar is discussing a new deal worth more than $40 million a year to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in France, suggesting the Brazil striker could reverse his decision to quit the Ligue 1 giants. | The 27-year-old was booed by his own fans at the Parc des Princes after missing the first five matches of PSG's season in an apparent attempt to engineer a move to Barcelona, who he has been continuously linked with a return to this season. | His world-record move from the Camp Nou to Paris for €222 million (US$245 million) in 2017 symbolized the French champions' ambition to win the Champio…
(2020-01-17). World Jewish Congress Slams Gaza Protest by Finnish MP as Anti-Semitic. sputniknews.com By Anna Kontula's own admission, she wanted to protest the "humanitarian crisis" caused by embargoes against Gaza, as well as Finland's arms trade with Israel.
(2020-01-17). Hundreds of thousands protest pension cuts in France. wsws.org Support for the strike and opposition to Macron continue to grow even after the government made a few minor, insincere changes to its proposed cuts.
(2020-01-17). As Senators Are Sworn In, Calls for a Full for Impeachment Trial Intensify. truthout.org For just the third time in history, the U.S. Senate has opened a trial to determine if a sitting president should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached President Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the impeachment trial in the Senate, later swore in senators who will serve as jurors when the trial officially begins on Tuesday. This comes as more inf…
(2020-01-17). The Maldives Seek Financing to Manage Climate Change Impacts. telesurenglish.net The Republic of Maldives' Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulla Shahid Thursday indicated that his country, a small island nation located in the Indian Ocean, is struggling to find financing that will allow it to build infrastructure to mitigate the risks of sea-level rise. | RELATED: | Germany Agrees on Plan to Phase out Coal Power by 2038 | "For the Maldives, and, for the world over, climate change can be best described as a security and human rights challenge," said Shahid at the Raisina…
(2020-01-17). Assassination of Congolese independence leader and revolutionary Patrice Lumumba. peoplesdispatch.org On January 17, 1961, Congolese independence leader, Patrice Lumumba was assassinated by counter-revolutionary forces, backed by the US and Belgium. He was the first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo). He played a significant role in the transformation of the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic. Ideologically an African nationalist and Pan-Africanist, he led the Congolese National Movement (MNC) party from 1958 until his assassination.
(2020-01-17). US Withdrawal From Open Skies Treaty to Blow European Security — Russian Foreign Ministry. sputniknews.com The Treaty on Open Skies, established a programme of unmanned aerial surveillance flights over the territories of its 35 participants and entered into force in 2002, but Washington is now mulling the possibility of withdrawing from the agreement.
(2020-01-17). Government Crisis Brewing in Norway Over Daesh Widow. sputniknews.com As the right-wing Progress Party is threatening to leave Prime Minister Erna Solberg's centre-right coalition, this may spell the government's downfall.
(2020-01-17). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Thousands of Northern Ireland nurses struck for five days staring January 10 while Zimbabwe public sector workers have rejected a derisory pay offer.
(2020-01-17). Soviet army liberates Warsaw from Nazi forces. peoplesdispatch.org The operation was part of the Vistula—Oder Offensive, which was a successful Red Army operation on the Eastern Front in the European Theatre of World War II in January 1945.
(2020-01-17). Ukrainian Prime Minister Announces Submitting Resignation Letter to Zelensky. sputniknews.com KIEV (Sputnik) – Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said on Friday he has written a letter of resignation and submitted it to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
(2020-01-17). Ex-FBI Chief James Comey Probed Over Allegations He Leaked Classified Paper to Media — Report. sputniknews.com The former FBI director, who stepped down amid the alleged Russian meddling turmoil, has already faced accusations of passing information and has repeatedly been trashed by US President Donald Trump as a "leaker". A new investigation purportedly concerns some classified Russian government paper on ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
(2020-01-17). Acting Russian FM Sergei Lavrov Holds Annual Press Conference – Video. sputniknews.com Sergei Lavrov has just returned from Uzbekistan, the last leg on his Asian tour, which also included stops in Sri Lanka and India, where he addressed issues related to economic, political, and cultural cooperation.
(2020-01-17). Russian Foreign Policy Won't Change After Cabinet Reshuffle – Foreign Ministry. sputniknews.com Russia's foreign policy will remain unchanged following a cabinet reshuffle since it is determined by the president, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said in an interview with Sputnik.
(2020-01-17). Johnson's Statements on JCPOA Future Derail Effort to Save Deal – Russian Deputy FM. sputniknews.com VIENNA (Sputnik) – UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's statements on the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) derail efforts to save the Iran nuclear deal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.
(2020-01-17). Iraq Set to Buy Russian S-400 Air Defense System and Assert Its Sovereignty. globalresearch.ca Iran attacked US forces stationed at two bases in Iraq with 15 missiles on January 8th, but it does not appear missile defense systems were used to counter them. Eric Gomez, a missile defense policy analyst at the Cato …
(2020-01-17). Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum 'far from reality'. yenisafak.com "If the purpose of this forum was really cooperation, of course, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots would be invited to the forum as well," spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.Aksoy stressed that the forum
(2020-01-17). France to deploy aircraft carrier to Middle East. yenisafak.com France will deploy its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Middle East to back its military operations in the region, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday.The nuclear aircraft carrier will be deployed to support Chammal operations until April, Macron said at a New Year speech to the French military in the city of Orleans.It will also be used in joint operations with European countries, he said, highlighting the increasing threat of Daesh/ISIS.Following Daesh/ISIS-linked terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Paris in 2015, the Charles de Gaulle, with an air wing that typically includes 24 Rafale fig…
(2020-01-17). Free trade agreement 'very difficult if UK does not comply with EU standards'. thecanary.co A free trade agreement will be "very difficult" to secure if Britain does not sign up to honouring Brussels' rules on standards, according to Guy Verhofstadt. | The European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator said the scope of a trade deal during the upcoming negotiations would depend on Boris Johnson's "willingness to comply with a number of standards of the European Union". | The prime minister has previously ruled out following stipulations set by the EU after the transition period is over at the end of 2020. | Former Belgian prime minister Mr Verhofstadt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think both sides h…
(2020-01-17). Could Meghan Markle's and Prince Harry's Son Archie be Forbidden From Moving to Canada? sputniknews.com An announcement by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex saying that they want to be "financially independent" from the Royal Family and balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America from now on, has reportedly led to real turmoil among Britain's Royal Family. Now, however, the fate of their royal son is in limbo.
(2020-01-17). Iranian students call for a new revolution amid government crackdown. greenleft.org.au 
anti-war Steve SweeneyIssue 1249 Iran anti-government protests US aggression against IranJanuary 17, 2020IRANIAN authorities blocked internet access on January 14, with pressure continu…
(2020-01-17). France: Protests, ports shut down against pension attacks. greenleft.org.au 
anti-austerity Susan PriceIssue 1249 France pensions anti-government protestsJanuary 17, 2020On January 14—17, fresh strikes and demonstrations took place across France. | According to media…
(2020-01-17). France: Macron makes more concessions to strikers but the battle continues. greenleft.org.au 
anti-austerity John MullenIssue 1249 France pensions anti-government protestsJanuary 17, 2020Millions of people on the streets around France on January 9 and 11 showed the determination of the move…
(2020-01-17). Feline friendly: Small cat & huge tiger make unlikely companions in Russian zoo (VIDEO). rt.com 
A small tabby cat and a huge tiger proved that size is no barrier to the purr-fect friendship when the pair were recently spotted hanging out together at a zoo in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. | Separated by a glass barrier, the unlikely duo clearly warmed to each other, rubbing their heads against the dividing pane in a show of friendship and mimicking each other's movements, all to the audible delight of onlooking staff. | Despite the obvious difference in strength and size, the striped pair looked extremely comfortable kicking back together on a sunny day. | Think your friends would be interested? Share this st…
(2020-01-16). Who's this guy? Jeopardy contestants fail to recognize impeachment 'hero' Adam Schiff & Twitter ROFLs. rt.com 
Rep. Adam Schiff might be leading an impeachment drive in the US, but it seems not everybody is familiar with the 'resistance' hero. At least, his photo did not ring any bells for contestants on the latest Jeopardy episode. | Schiff, a prominent Russiagater whose fame among the anti-Trump resistance camp reached new heights amid the ongoing Ukrainegate saga, might be a household name on Capitol Hill, but the question remains: Is the same true for the rest of the country outside of the Washington political swamp? If the classic trivia game show is any indication, it is not. | Just a reminder we live in a bubble…
(2020-01-16). Pelosi wants new impeachment witnesses, says Trump broke the law in withholding Ukraine aid. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has accused US President Donald Trump of breaking the law by delaying military aid to Ukraine. One day after submitting articles of impeachment to the Senate, Pelosi now wants to call more witnesses. | Her calls come on foot of a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which claims Trump broke the law by temporarily withholding military aid to Ukraine last year. According to the report, Trump held up the aid based on "his own policy priorities," in violation of the Impoundment Control Act. | Pelosi, who on Wednesday announced her team of prosecutors who will lead t…
(2020-01-16). 75 years later: Newly-released wartime docs debunk myths about WWII's liberation of Warsaw. rt.com 
Warsaw was liberated by Soviet forces 75 years ago today — and Polish officials have cloaked the pivotal event in myths ever since. Yet, newly-released historical documents help shed some light on the truth. | Official Warsaw had no plans to celebrate this date — but it is not the first time that Poland has ignored the liberation of its state capital. Since the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in the early 1990s, politicians across Eastern European have pushed the notion that the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany were equally …
(2020-01-16). How Soviet books brought literacy and socialist culture to the Third World. peoplesworld.org 
After the triumph of the Bolshevik Revolution, John Reed, famed author of Ten Days that Shook the World, wrote, "The thirst for education, so long thwarted, burst with the Revolution into a frenzy of expression. From Smolny Institute alone, the first six months, went out everyday tons, car-loads, train-loads of literature, saturating the land. Russia …
(2020-01-16). Putin Proposes Sweeping Changes to Russian Constitution, Possibly Prolonging His Grip on Power. democracynow.org 
In Russia, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned Wednesday along with his entire Cabinet in a move that surprised many in Moscow and abroad. The move came as Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes to expand the power of the parliament and the State Council while weakening the presidency. Critics of Putin say the proposals could help him keep power after his final presidential term ends in 2024. The Russian parliament is expected to vote today to confirm Putin's pick for new prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, a bureaucrat who runs Russia's tax service. The Russian newspaper Kom…