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Libya: GNA suspended operations of 40 foreign companies including French Total


Sputnik
Fri, 10 May 2019 03:39 UTC
Oil/Gas terminal
© AFP/MAHMUD TURKIA
Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) has suspended the operations of 40 foreign companies, including France's Total multinational oil concern.

The decision was made by the GNA's minister of economy and industry, Ali Issawi. According to the ministry's statement, the foreign companies' licenses for operating in Libya have expired. GNA's move will also affect French Thales aerospace and Alcatel telecom companies.

The move was reportedly prompted by GNA's anger at French President Emmanuel Macron's reluctance to offer the Libyan prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, more explicit support in Libya's ongoing political crisis.

In April, GNA directly accused France of supporting Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA), who launched an offensive on Tripoli on 4 April. At that time the GNA Interior Ministry announced that it was halting all cooperation with France on bilateral agreements in the field of security.
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Rocket

As US carrier group sails to Gulf, Iran cleric warns one missile can destroy a 'billion-dollar fleet'


RT
Fri, 10 May 2019 12:51 UTC
USNavy
© ReutersUnited States Navy
A senior Iranian cleric has warned the US against displays of power, saying that one missile could destroy a fleet worth billions of dollars. His words come as America sends an aircraft carrier group as a message to Iran.

Ayatollah Yousef Tabatabai-Nejad, who represents the Isfahan Province in Iran's Assembly of Experts, said on Friday that the US' "billion-dollar fleet can be destroyed with one missile," according to the Iranian ISNA news agency. He did not elaborate, though, which particular missile he had in mind.

Earlier, a deputy head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps also made it clear he sees Washington's muscle-flexing as empty bravado. The US "will not dare to launch a military action against us," Yadollah Javani told Tasnim News Agency.

This week the US sent the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group as well as a bomber task force to "send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime," as US National Advisor John Bolton put it. However, the move apparently failed to impress Tehran.

Comment: See also:
Acting US Sec Def: US Aircraft carrier deploys to ME, US to hold Iran to account for unspecified threats

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Footprints

Reports: Yemeni Houthis to withdraw its forces from 3 key ports within 4 days


Sputnik
Fri, 10 May 2019 22:12 UTC
soldier patrol port
© REUTERS Abduljabbar ZeyadSoldier patrols the port of Hodeidah, Yemen.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have agreed to unilaterally redeploy forces out of three key ports between 11 and 14 of May to pave the way for United Nations management of the facilities under a UN-brokered peace deal, a UN committee said on Friday, cited by Reuters.

The Redeployment Coordination Committee said in a press release, cited by Reuters, it was important that the move is followed by "the committed, transparent and sustained actions of the parties to fully deliver on their obligations". The release stated:
"Lollesgaard [the Redeployment Coordination Committee Lt. Gen. Michael Lollesgaard] welcomes the offer and intention of the Ansar Allah (Houthis) to undertake an initial unilateral redeployment from the ports of Al-Hudaydah, Salif and Ras-Issa. The United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) will monitor and report on this unilateral redeployment, which will commence on 11 May 2019 and be completed by 14 May 2019."

Comment: More from Sputnik: Reports of Houthi withdrawal inaccurate, misleading
Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar bin Matthar Iryani: "The decision of the rebel Houthis about the redeployment from the ports of Al Hudaydah, Salif and Ras-Issa beginning on Saturday is inaccurate and misleading and is a play of transferring Al Hudaydah port by the rebels to their militants. Any unilateral redeployment of forces which does not allow for the joint monitoring and control over the provisions of the Stockholm Agreement is an unacceptable equivocation and a trick."

Iryani added that the Yemeni authorities welcomed any moves on the implementation of the Stockholm deal in the area of forces redeployment and warned the Houthis against confusing the international community and the UN Security Council.
See also: Yemeni minister demands Houthis leave Al-Hodeida as settlement talks begin

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Brick Wall

The tussle for the taxes: House chairman issues subpoenas for Trump's returns

Naomi Jagoda
The Hill
Fri, 10 May 2019 16:29 UTC
trump tax returns
© Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the House Ways and Means Committee, as its chairman Representative Kevin Brady (right) and ranking member Representative Richard Neal (left) listen, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, on September 26, 2017. The U.S. Treasury Department again missed a deadline to provide Trump’s personal and business tax returns.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) on Friday announced that he has issued subpoenas for six years of President Trump's tax returns, House Democrats' latest effort to obtain the returns.

Neal said he issued the subpoenas to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig. The subpoenas direct the officials to send the information to the House panel by 5 p.m. on May 17.

"After reviewing the options available to me, and upon the advice of counsel, I issued subpoenas today to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Commissioner of the IRS for six years of personal and business returns," Neal said in a statement.

Comment: Naturally, there are differing views on the matter. Twitter responds:







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Bizarro Earth

Trump observers warn of loss of his base's support at attack on Venezuela or Iran

Steven Nelson
Washington Examiner
Wed, 08 May 2019 16:14 UTC
Trump Bolton Pompeo
© U.S. State DepartmentSecretary of State Mike Pompeo, President Trump and John Bolton during the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Brussels, Belgium, July 2018.
President Trump would destabilize his reelection coalition if he attacks Iran or Venezuela, supporters and outside observers say, as key administration officials threaten war.

Trump is nearly alone inside the West Wing as the voice for military restraint following a phase-out of grassroots backers, five former White House aides say, leaving the often mercurial president with advisers pushing in one direction.

Wars often rally the public around a president, but a Trump-led intervention might hurt him.

Comment:

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Arrow Down

Eurovision ticket sales tanking: Israeli ambassador to Ireland hits out at boycott supporters

Bryan Wall
The Canary
Thu, 09 May 2019 16:01 UTC
eurovision
Israel's ambassador to Ireland has criticised the proposed boycott of the Israeli Eurovision Song Contest. Ophir Kariv attacked the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and others advocating for a boycott, referring to them as "extremists".

His comments come as Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported that ticket sales for the song contest are lower than expected.

Comment:

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Eye 1

Chelsea Manning released after 2 months' detention, might be back in jail in 6 days


RT
Fri, 10 May 2019 07:51 UTC
Chelsea Manning
© Reuters / Hannah McKay
Whistleblower Chelsea Manning has been released from a Virginia prison where she spent the last 62 days for refusing to testify on her 2010 leak of classified military files before a grand jury.

Manning was released from William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center in Alexandria, Virginia on Thursday, after the term of the grand jury before which she was supposed to testify expired, her legal team said in a statement reported by the Sparrow Project.

However, the WikiLeaks whistleblower and activist might soon be locked up again and has already been served with another subpoena requesting her to testify before a different set of jurors.

"Unfortunately, even prior to her release, Chelsea was served with another subpoena. This means she is expected to appear before a different grand jury, on Thursday, May 16, 2019, just one week from her release today," her lawyers said.
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Chart Pie

Beijing: 'Minor twists' will not fully derail trade war talks with US


RT
Sat, 11 May 2019 14:54 UTC
Chinese shipping port
© Global Look Press / Zhang Wenkui
China is "cautiously optimistic" about the future of trade talks with the US, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He has said after the latest round of talks failed to put an end to the trade row between the two parties.

Speaking to the media after the negotiations in Washington, the vice premier, who headed the national delegation, smoothed over the no-deal outcome, saying that the meeting was "candid and constructive." The next consultations are set to take place in Beijing, but the timing is not yet clear.

"I don't think our consultations have derailed," Liu said, according to a video posted by Xinhua. "On the contrary, I think it's quite normal, it's inevitable to have minor twists and turns in negotiations between two countries."
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Rocket

US deploying more missiles to Middle East as Iran saber-rattling reaches fever pitch


RT
Sat, 11 May 2019 14:47 UTC
US Patriot missile system
© Reuters / Osman Orsal
The US is sending a battery of Patriot missiles to join the carrier strike group and bomber task force currently "protecting" American interests in the Middle East from Iran, still insisting the buildup is merely defensive.

The missiles and transport ship USS Arlington are being deployed to the region "in response to indications of heightened Iranian readiness to conduct offensive operations against US forces and our interests," according to a Pentagon statement.

While the Pentagon continues to insist it "does not seek conflict with Iran," it is "postured and ready to defend US forces and interests in the region," according to the statement.
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Snakes in Suits

Giuliani cancels trip to Ukraine because there are 'enemies' of the president surrounding Zelensky


RT
Sat, 11 May 2019 14:34 UTC
Rudy Giuliani
© Reuters / Leah Millis
Rudy Giuliani has canceled his trip to Kiev where he planned to push the probe into "collusion" between Ukrainian officials and the Democratic Party, stating that the country's new president is surrounded by "enemies" of the US.

In an interview with Fox News' Shannon Bream, Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani stated that he believed he would be "walking into a group of people that are enemies of the president, and in some cases, enemies of the United States and in one case, an already convicted person who has been found to be involved in assisting the Democrats with the 2016 investigation."

Giuliani previously told the New York Times that he would travel to Kiev in the "coming days" and possibly meet with newly-elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to persuade him to press ahead with an investigation into cooperation between Ukrainian officials and the Democratic Party during the 2016 election, as well as a corruption case involving the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Comment: For more on this canceled trip:

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