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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.