U.S. President Trump Leaves White House For Last Time
Calling it “the honor of a lifetime,” U.S. President Donald J. Trump left the White House for the final time as leader of the free world.
Military
Syrian and Israeli officials reportedly had a Russia-brokered meeting last month
The Asharq Al Awsat Arabic international newspaper reported Sunday that Russia hosted a meeting for Syrian and Israeli officials at the Russian airbase in Hmeimim, Syria last month, Jewish Press reports. Neither Damascus nor Jerusalem has confirmed the report.
Dozens of Pygmy citizens slaughtered by Islamist militia in DR Congo: “Impotent government does nothing”
Forty-six Pygmies were slaughtered by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) Islamist militia group in Ituri province in eastern DR Congo on Thursday, the Defense Post reports. Described as a “terrorist group” by International Christian Concern (ICC), the ADF is accused of slaughtering over 1000 Congolese citizens in the last year.
B-52 bombers patrolling over Middle East
For the second time in as many weeks, the Air Force has flown B-52 bombers over the Middle East in what are known as “presence patrols,” officials said Sunday.
Russia follows US to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty
Russia said Friday it will withdraw from an international treaty allowing observation flights over military facilities following the U.S. exit from the pact.
Russia Detains Returning Kremlin Critic Navalny
Russia’s prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was detained at a Moscow airport Sunday after returning from Germany, where he received medical treatment for nerve agent poisoning.
Europe Warns Iran Over Nuclear Ambitions Amid Missile Launches
European powers urged Iran to observe a nuclear deal after the Islamic nation test-fired long-range missiles and planned uranium metal production.
Indonesia Earthquake Kills Scores Of People
Indonesian rescuers retrieved more bodies of a massive earthquake that killed scores of people in a nation already coping with a string of disasters.
E.U. Suspends Aid To Ethiopia Over Conflict
The European Union has suspended some 88 million euros ($107 million) in support of Ethiopia, citing reports of ethnic-targeted killings and possible war crimes in the Tigray region.
U.S. Investigating Claims That Capitol Mob Tried To Capture and Kill Elected Officials
Federal authorities are investigating claims that some within the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington last week intended to “capture and assassinate elected officials,” including the Vice President.
Ex-Intel Chief Yadlin: Recent Israeli Airstrikes in Syria Broader, More Deadly
Israeli airstrikes in eastern Syria early Wednesday were “extensive, deep in Syrian territory, targeting a wide variety of targets connected to Iran and its proxies,” explained Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin on Twitter after the attacks.
National Guard DC presence will swell to 21,000 for Biden inauguration
U.S. officials say the number of National Guard troops who will pour into the nation’s capital to assist law enforcement with security surrounding the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden has grown to about 21,000.
Both the US and Russia bolster military presence in Syria ahead of Biden inauguration
Both the US and Russia have sent military reinforcement to Syria in recent days, in separate moves apparently timed to coincide with the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden on January 20, AMN reports.
Washington Bracing For Huge Military Operation
Thousands of troops are stationed in Washington D.C. amid mounting tensions ahead of Joe Biden’s “virtual” inauguration as the 46th president of the United States.
Iranian lawmakers debate bill seeking destruction of Israel by 2041, “decisive act of revenge” against US
Iranian lawmakers have begun debating a bill which includes the goal of destroying Israel in 20 years. Introduced to Iran’s parliament on Dec.30 2020, the bill describes Israel as the “aggressor Zionist regime” and states the Jewish nation constitutes a threat to Iran.
China stages military activity near Taiwan before high level US official visit to Taipei
China has staged military activity near Taiwan ahead of a Jan. 13 official visit to Taipei by US Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, Just the News reports.
Newly public document shows US has intensified spying operations against China
A formerly-secret National Security Council strategy document publicly confirms that the CIA and other US agencies have increased their intelligence and spying activity against China in an effort to counter Beijing’s global network of spying operations, the Washington Times (WT) reports.
US military leaders blast ‘insurrection’ at Capitol
The highest-ranking military general in the US, Mark Milly, along with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, released a statement on Tuesday condemning the violence in the Capitol on Wednesday.
Report: IDF Dropped Warning Leaflets Addressed to Syrian Officer Ahead of Strike
One day after Syrian state media outlets reported Israeli airstrikes in the south of the country, a website aligned with Syrian opposition forces published an image of a warning leaflet ostensibly dropped by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan hold talks on reopening regional transportation routes
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Kremlin Monday, to discuss the reopening of transportation routes that were shut down amid the decades-long regional conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Associated Press reports. The meeting follows the November 10, 2020 peace deal brokered by Russia which ended 44 days of renewed hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.