2021-02-11: News Headlines

F. William Engdahl (2021-02-11). Coronavirus Scandal Breaking in Merkel's Germany. False Positives and the Drosten PCR Test. globalresearch.ca First posted by Global Research on December 11, 2020 | The widely-praised German model of the Angela Merkel regime to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic is now engulfed in a series of potentially devastating scandals going to the very heart of …

Ramzy Baroud (2021-02-11). The Russian Alternative: How Moscow is capitalizing on US Retreat in Palestine, Israel. dissidentvoice.org Israeli anxiety was palpable when it was reported that Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was not contacted by the new American President, Joe Biden, for days after the latter's inauguration. While much is being read into Biden's decision, including Washington's lack of enthusiasm to return to the 'peace process', Moscow is generating much attention as a …

news.un (2021-02-11). 'If I can do it, so can you': women scientists on the power of education to reach gender equality. news.un.org Women are extremely under-represented in science, but a UN research centre in The Netherlands is trying to address the gender imbalance, by raising awareness of the leading role that women researchers play in tackling global problems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

yenisafak (2021-02-11). UN sends 71 truckloads of humanitarian aid to NW Syria. yenisafak.com The UN on Thursday sent 71 truckloads of humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria, where millions of people need assistance due to internal conflict.The trucks carrying supplies passed through the Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's southern Hatay province.The aid will be distributed to those in need in Idlib and nearby rural areas.A civil war has ravaged Syria since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and displaced since then.Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone forged under an agreement between Turkey and Russia.*Writing by A…

RT (2021-02-11). #CancelDisneyPlus: Boycott campaign claims 'Mandalorian' star Gina Carano's firing was politically motivated. rt.com Social media users have sharpened their pitchforks after it was revealed that Lucasfilm axed 'Mandalorian' star Gina Carano. Conservatives claim she was wrongfully 'canceled' from the show due to her political beliefs. | No stranger to internet controversy, Carano shared a post from another user on her Instagram page on Wednesday which described how Jews were treated in Nazi Germany, as part of a broader commentary about political persecution.

yenisafak (2021-02-11). Merkel warns of aggressive coronavirus mutations. yenisafak.com New mutations of coronavirus first seen in the UK, South Africa and Brazil are more aggressive and more dangerous, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Thursday.Addressing lawmakers in parliament, Merkel said it was necessary to extend the country's coronavirus lockdown until March 7, as new variants of the virus could lead to a more dangerous third wave of the pandemic."Not all the research has yet been finalized, but we'd be well advised to listen to what so many experts both in Germany and abroad tell us," she told lawmakers, referring to the UK, South Africa and Brazil variants, which were also detected…

yenisafak (2021-02-11). BioNTech, Turkey in talks on opening research center in country. yenisafak.com German-based BioNTech is in talks with Turkey to set up a research center in the country, the Turkish industry and technology minister told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.Ugur Sahin, the Turkish-German co-founder of BioNTech, "wants to work on cancer research in Turkey, and continues to negotiate with the authorities to build a center," said Mustafa Varank."We discussed with Sahin what can be done in Turkey apart from vaccine development work. He's preparing his plans now and wants to set up a cancer research center here."Sahin and Hasan Mandal, head of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TU…

Manlio Dinucci (2021-02-11). "Strategic Dialogue" Between Italy and Saudi Arabia. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | The fact, that Matteo Renzi was received in Riyadh by His …

_____ (2021-02-11). Are the New York Times and Washington Post Fraudulent? strategic-culture.org An article by the Moon of Alabama (MoA) blogger, on February 5th, decimated the credibility of two American newspapers in just that one shot. It was aptly headlined "New York Times Editors Lie, Obfuscate Facts, To Reinforce Their False Russia Narrative". The following commentary will presume the reader has already read it, because this is a commentary upon his commentary, which was a brilliant (though I shall also note, imperfect) analysis. So, that article should be read first, because the following builds upon it.

yenisafak (2021-02-11). 'Turkey favors fair, permanent solution of Cyprus issue'. yenisafak.com Turkey believes in a fair and permanent solution to the Cyprus issue, the country's vice president said during a visit to Northern Cyprus on Wednesday."We stand against injustice and stand by the will for a solution on the Cyprus issue. The Turkish side favors a fair, permanent solution," Fuat Oktay told a joint press conference in Lefkosa, the Turkish Cypriot capital, with Ersin Tatar, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).Stressing that Turkey will never abandon Northern Cyprus, he said there are two separate communities, democracies, and states on the island.Oktay called on the European U…

Online News Editor (2021-02-11). Rublev wins, Tsitsipas, Fognini grind to reach Aussie Open 3rd round. laprensalatina.com Bangkok Desk, Feb 11 (efe-epa).- Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas played a tennis marathon Thursday to defeat local crowd favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis in four hours and 32 minutes at the Australian Open, as Russia's Andrey Rublev faced a tough third set before advancing into the third round. Rublev remains undefeated in 2021 after recently winning the ATP …

yenisafak (2021-02-11). Turkey 'neutralizes' 2 YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Syria. yenisafak.com The terrorists attempted to infiltrate the area of Turkey's cross-border anti-terror offensive Operation Peace Spring to disrupt peace and security in the region, the ministry said on Twitter.Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).In its more than 30-year terror campaign agains…

yenisafak (2021-02-11). Turkey, US conduct joint maritime drill in Black Sea. yenisafak.com Turkish and US naval forces conducted a joint maritime exercise in the Black Sea, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.Turkish frigates TCG Turgutreis and TCG Orucreis were part of the drill along with the USS Porter and USS Donald Cook destroyers of the US Navy, the ministry said in a statement. | Two Turkish Air Force F-16s and one US maritime patrol aircraft also participated in the exercise, it added."The training conducted for the fundamental types of naval warfare has further strengthened cooperation between the Naval Forces of the two countries and has contributed to their interoperability,…

yenisafak (2021-02-11). At least 17 asylum seekers held in northwestern Turkey. yenisafak.com Seventeen asylum seekers were held by Turkish security forces in the northwestern province of Kirklareli, which borders Bulgaria, security sources said on Thursday.The Afghan and Syrian nationals were held by local gendarmerie forces in Kofcaz and Demirkoy districts near the border.According to insiders, the asylum seekers told Turkish forces that they crossed the border but were arrested by Bulgarian police and left on the Turkish side after being beaten and their valuables snatched.After routine medical checks, they were referred to the provincial Gendarmerie Command, and later transferred to the local repatria…

yenisafak (2021-02-11). Armenia says must normalize ties with Turkey to guarantee own security. yenisafak.com Ayvazyan, in an address to parliament, also underscored the need to reopen borders with Turkey, noting that keeping them closed "makes no sense anymore," according to TASS news."Keeping Armenia's borders with Turkey closed serves no purpose," Ayvazyan said as he called on ties with Turkey to be normalized.Ayvazyan also reportedly expressed concern over the joint Turkey-Azerbaijan military exercises as the two nations boost military cooperation.In December 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country could open its borders to Armenia, if Yerevan takes steps toward regional peace."We have no grudge…

104 signatories including Thomas Piketty (2021-02-11). Open Letter: Write off debt, win the future! indybay.org We are fortunate to have a creditor that does not have to fear losing its money: the ECB. Our proposal is therefore very simple: let us conclude an agreement between the European states and the ECB. The ECB writes off the debt it holds (or converts it into perpetual interest-free debt), and in return the European states commit to a social and environmental recovery plan of the same amount.

Global Research News (2021-02-11). Towards A Police State in Germany? Live Video of Police Raid into Home of Dr. Andreas Noak. globalresearch.ca First published on GR on November 24, 2020 | This is what is happening in Germany. It is a matter of concern to people Worldwide. Freedom of Expression is being brutally suppressed. | . | Police break into the home of Dr. Andreas …

teleSUR (2021-02-10). Venezuela to Receive 100,000 Doses of Sputnik V Vaccine. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday announced that 100,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine will arrive in his country next week. | RELATED: | Once the first lot arrives in Caracas, the national vaccination campaign will kick off, prioritizing health workers who are on the front line against COVID-19 and the people most vulnerable to the disease. | The next to be vaccinated will be the country's t…

RT (2021-02-10). 'Mutants are a reality': Germany extends lockdown until March 7 as Merkel urges caution over Covid-19 variants. rt.com Lockdown restrictions in Germany will be extended until March 7, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the country's 16 state governors agreed on Wednesday, in an attempt to stop Covid-19 variants undermining falling infection rates. | Exceptions to the lockdown, which has been in place since December, mean that hairdressers are able to reopen from March 1 and federal states can decide on their own timetables for the reopening of schools. | But German bars, restaurants, hotels, leisure centers and non-essential shops will remain closed until the seven-day virus incidence rate drops from the current 68 new cases per 100…

Gideon Polya (2021-02-10). Letter to the Australian Taxpayer-funded ABC and SBS Media re Anti-Arab & Anti-Jewish Anti-Semitism and False Reportage about Occupied Palestine. dissidentvoice.org Dear ABC & SBS management and staff, I am an anti-racist Jewish-Celtic scientist, humanitarian, artist and writer from one of Hungary's most famous Jewish families (ask any mathematician or surgeon). Only about a dozen of my wider family survived the Jewish Holocaust in Hungary in 1944-1945. For all decent people and in particular anti-racist Jewish …

Aaron Maté (2021-02-10). For Russian leftists, Western favorite Navalny represents same corrupt elitism. thegrayzone.com Western politicians and media pundits portray Alexei Navalny as the leader of the Russian opposition. But Russian leftists see something quite different: a representative of a different faction of the Russian elite, who backs continued neoliberal policies and aligns with destabilizing NATO-backed actors. The imprisoned Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny has been held up in the West as…

WSWS (2021-02-10). Dear Comrades: Russian film about the 1962 Novocherkassk massacre. wsws.org Konchalovsky's film offers a view of the crisis of Stalinism in the Soviet Union, but he does so from the standpoint of the Stalinist bureaucracy itself.

The Tricontinental (2021-02-10). Dawn: Marxism and National Liberation. mronline.org Only at the end of his life did Karl Marx leave the shores of Europe and travel to a country under colonial dominion. This was when he went to Algeria in 1882. 'For Mussulmans, there is no such thing as subordination', Marx wrote to his daughter Laura Lafargue.

MEE staff (2021-02-10). US senators urge Biden to press Turkey on human rights, 'combative' foreign policy. middleeasteye.net US senators urge Biden to press Turkey on human rights, 'combative' foreign policy | Fifty-four senators signed letter sent to Biden, saying Ankara needed to end 'crackdown on dissent' | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 14: 55 | Prior to Joe Biden's inauguration, the then-president-elect did not respond to multiple requests for call with Erdogan (AFP) | A bipartisan majority of the US Senate called on President Joe Biden to…

RT (2021-02-10). Navalny's 'doctor', who never actually treated activist, 'liquidated' in secret Kremlin plot, says conspiracy-loving Western media. rt.com Western media has jumped down the rabbit hole into another Kremlin killing conspiracy after a doctor in the Siberian city of Omsk died suddenly — taking to the grave, they say, secrets about opposition figure Alexey Navalny. | On Monday, a number of outlets, including US state-run media, splashed the explosive claims that the clinician's death had been part of a cover up relating to the anti-corruption campaigner. The Sun, the UK's best read newspaper,

WSWS (2021-02-10). Mass layoffs in Germany as companies restructure in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org Not a day goes by without a corporation or business announcing job cuts and the closure of plants and branches .

Patrick Cockburn (2021-02-10). The Clash Between the UK and EU Over Northern Ireland. zcomm.org The outlook is that Britain will remain obsessed by its relations with the EU — and that those relations will generate continuous friction…

yenisafak (2021-02-10). Multinational military drill 'to give Pakistan diplomatic push'. yenisafak.com Hosted by Pakistan, a week-long multination naval exercise is set to begin in the Arabian Sea from Thursday, a move that could set the tone for its enhanced bilateral relations with many countries, experts said.Naval forces from 45 countries, including the US, China, Russia and Turkey are participating in Aman-2021 from Feb.11-16.Russia will join the military drill with NATO members for the first time in a decade, a development considered significant. The last time Russian and NATO naval forces took part in a joint exercise was at the Bold Monarch 2011 off the coast of Spain.Organized under the slogan, 'Together…

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). WHO backs AstraZeneca vaccine for over 65s. laprensalatina.com Geneva, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- The World Health Organisation on Wednesday said a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University was safe for people over 65 years old, despite some countries like Germany and Austria advising against. It is the second approval from the WHO for a vaccine against Covid-19, after the organisation in December …

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). BioNTech begins Covid-19 vaccine production in German plant. laprensalatina.com Frankfurt, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- German biotech firm BioNTech has started manufacturing its Covid-19 vaccine at its new plant in Marburg, central Germany, which it bought from Swiss company Novartis last year. BioNTech said in a statement Wednesday that the vaccine manufacturing process started with the production of mRNA, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in the Pfizer-BioNTech …

yenisafak (2021-02-10). BioNTech begins COVID vaccine production at new plant. yenisafak.com BioNTech announced Wednesday that it has started vaccine production at its new manufacturing site in the German city of Marburg."We started the manufacturing process at the Marburg facility with the execution of the first step: the production of mRNA, which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine," the German pharma company said in a statement.Once fully operational, the new production site will become one of the largest mRNA manufacturing plants in Europe with an annual production capacity of up to 750 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.BioNTech, which together with the Ame…

RT (2021-02-10). 'Russia has most favorable situation of all Euro 2020 host countries': Organizing committee chief Sorokin to RT. rt.com Alexey Sorokin, Russia's Euro 2020 Organizing Committee chief, says the country has the "most favorable circumstances" of all host nations to hold the football tournament with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic in an interview to RT. | The northern Russian city of St Petersburg was chosen as one of the 12 host cities for the pan-continental tournament, and Sorokin says the decrease in number of infections there and in Moscow, as well as the stadium and city's experience of hosting games at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup, makes it the perfect location to host games. | Sorokin, who also served as Local Organizing C…

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). Bulgarian Orthodox believers offer 'miraculous' honey against Covid-19. laprensalatina.com Sofia, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- Thousands of jars of honey have been "sanctified" this Wednesday in a traditional Orthodox liturgy that has been celebrated for years and which is believed, without any scientific evidence, works as a cure against all diseases, Covid-19 included. This tradition was created 15 years ago in a church located in the …

yenisafak (2021-02-10). 'Turkey supports unity, prosperity, security of Gulf'. yenisafak.com Turkey's foreign minister reiterated on Wednesday that Ankara supports the unity, prosperity and security of the Gulf region."[…]We are ready to work closely with Oman and all other Gulf countries on issues regarding our region," Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint news conference with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood al-Busaidi, in Muscat.Saying that the two countries will further improve political, economic and commercial relations despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Cavusoglu hailed Oman's neutral and independent foreign policy. "Oman is a voice of reason and wisdom in the region.""Turkey is the…

RT (2021-02-10). Russian Communist politician and YouTube star Bondarenko accused of violating corruption laws after attending Navalny protest. rt.com A Russian MP who attended a protest supporting opposition figure Alexey Navalny has been accused of breaking corruption laws after monetizing his YouTube channel. He says he is being targeted to stop him from running in elections. | Nikolay Bondarenko, a Communist politician in the Saratov regional parliament, around 700km southeast of Moscow, runs a channel called 'Diary of an MP', which has over one million subscribers. Some of his videos have garnered multiple millions of views, including one titled 'A fight in Parliament. I was beaten by United Russia deputies. The truth hurts scumbags'. | In September, he…

RT (2021-02-10). Heavy is the head: Khabib says giving up UFC lightweight crown will be 'A RELIEF' — as star plays down Dana White talks (VIDEO). rt.com Khabib Nurmagomedov says he will be relieved to no longer hold the UFC lightweight title as the Russian star doubled down on his retirement stance and urged fans not to read anything into his meetings with Dana White. | Khabib set some sections of the MMA fanbase aflutter again this week when he revealed he was set to meet UFC boss White on his next trip to the US at the end of the month. | The Eagle — as he has done consistently in recent months — reiterated however that he was intent on allowing the 155lbs division to move on in his absence, and that he will stick by the retirement decision he anno…

MEE staff (2021-02-10). Biden supports repatriating foreign nationals from Syria, says US diplomat. middleeasteye.net Biden supports repatriating foreign nationals from Syria, says US diplomat | Several European countries refuse to repatriate adults from Syria, saying they should be tried where they are accused of committing crimes | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 19: 29 | Tens of thousands of women and children have been detained in camps run by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces militia in northeast Syria (AFP) | The Biden administrat…

Kenny Stancil, staff writer (2021-02-10). With Nods to Country's Free Tuition and Paid Maternity Leave, Norwegian University Delivers Epic Response to Will Ferrell's Super Bowl Ad. commondreams.org After the comedian noted that per-capita sales of electric vehicles are higher in Norway than in the U.S., a video from the Scandinavian country pointed out a few more reasons why life is better with social democracy. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/norway_2.png

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). EU chief acknowledges errors in vaccine rollout. laprensalatina.com (Update 1: Provides new angle, adds detail, alters headline, lede). Brussels, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday acknowledged shortcomings in the EU's vaccine rollout. "We were late with the approval. We were too optimistic on mass production and perhaps too confident that what we ordered would …

_____ (2021-02-10). EU Vaccine Chaos: Go Now, Ursula. Just Go Now. strategic-culture.org The European Commission president has to be a failed politician who will be dazzled by the bodyguards, motorcades and photo ops with world leaders, but not really take the lead from the front. | When Ursula von der Leyen became European Commission president in December 2019, many journalists responded with vitriol over how such a German political lightweight could take the top job in Brussels. She literally had no success stories in Germany in previous ministerial positions and many Germans when hearing of her appointment reacted with "Ursula who?". | And yet, with the exception of Jacques Delors, European Commis…

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). EU chief 'regrets' bid to check vaccine exports on Irish-UK border. laprensalatina.com Brussels, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said the EU made mistakes in its hasty effort to control vaccine exports amid a spat with pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca late last month. The EU triggered an emergency article that would have forced controls at the sensitive border between …

Kamal Iranidoost (2021-02-10). EU parl. official says Iran has not violated nuclear deal. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (MNA) — In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Cornelia Ernst, the Chairwoman of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iran has stressed the need to resume talks with Tehran.

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). Djokovic, Serena, Halep into Aussie Open 3rd round, Kvitova, Andreescu out. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australia, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic had to suffer to defeat American Frances Tiafoe under the Wednesday heat at the Australian Open, as Austria's Dominic Thiem offered a tennis masterclass to beat Germany's Dominik Koepfer. The Serbian beat Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7 -6 (2), 6-3 to reach the third round …

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). Djokovic, Thiem, Serena into Aussie Open 3rd round, Kvitova, Andreescu out. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australia, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic suffered to defeat American Frances Tiafoe under the Wednesday heat at the Australian Open, as Austria's Dominic Thiem offered a tennis masterclass to beat Germany's Dominik Koepfer The Serbian beat Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7 -6 (2), 6-3 to reach the third round of the …

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). German Red Cross deploy heated buses to help Berlin's homeless amid cold wave. laprensalatina.com Berlin, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- The extreme cold that has gripped much of northwestern Europe in the wake of Storm Darcy has seen temperatures plummet to their lowest levels in years. Temperatures on Tuesday night in Berlin fell to -11C (12.2F), with lows of -14C forecast for this week. The German Red Cross has stepped in …

Online News Editor (2021-02-10). First plane to fly from Europe to LatAm still gleams 95 years on. laprensalatina.com By Rodrigo Garcia Melero Buenos Aires, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- This capital rolled out the red carpet on Feb. 10, 1926, to welcome the first plane to cross the Atlantic from Europe to South America. Ninety-five years later, the Plus Ultra, donated to Argentina by Spanish King Alfonso XIII, has lost none of its luster thanks …

yenisafak (2021-02-10). Turkish co-production advances to Oscar shortlist. yenisafak.com A Turkish co-production is on the shortlist for the Best International Film at the 2021 Academy Awards, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) announced Wednesday.The film Quo Vadis, Aida? (Where are you going, Aida?), directed by Jasmila Zbanic, takes place in a UN base in the city of Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the days of the genocide when thousands of Bosnians, including women and children, were killed by Serb forces.In the film, Bosnian-born Zbanic uses strong cinematic language to follow the impact of the Bosnian War on its victims and witnesses, especially women and children.In 2…

yenisafak (2021-02-10). Turkish intelligence captures senior PKK terrorist in N.Iraq. yenisafak.com A senior PKK terrorist was brought to Turkey after he was arrested in an operation of Turkish intelligence in northern Iraq, security sources said on Wednesday.Ibrahim Parim, so-called "logistics officer" of the PKK terror group, was arrested in Sinjar in an operation held by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization.The terrorist — codenamed Laser — was operating in Sinjar near the Iraqi border with Syria, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.He is currently being questioned by counter-terrorism police as per the instructions of the Ankara prosecutors.Parim was found to have…

yenisafak (2021-02-10). Syrian youth illustrate peace in Afrin with graffiti. yenisafak.com Young people in Afrin turn the walls of their city, which was largely cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists in 2018 through Turkey's anti-terror offensive Operation Olive Branch, into works of art.The Afrin Local Council and some non-governmental organizations support these efforts of the volunteers, who come together under the name of "The Trail of Peace".Graffiti on the walls of the busiest streets of the city is also admired by the local residents."We decorate the streets with graffiti to show peace among the local people," Beyazit Beyazit, one of the volunteers, told Anadolu Agency."As Arabs and Kurds, we make no dis…

yenisafak (2021-02-10). French military operation in Sahel under fire at home. yenisafak.com France's future plans in Africa's Sahel region were the focus of heated debate among lawmakers on Tuesday, with top ministers fielding scathing questions as they tried to defend the government's strategy.The French government said last month it will reconsider its plans in the Sahel, where some 5,000 French soldiers have been deployed since 2014 as part of Operation Barkhane, purportedly aimed at eliminating armed groups in the region.The indication of a change in strategy came amid growing criticism sparked by the deaths of five soldiers in attacks by an al-Qaeda linked group during the winter holiday season.Of…