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Egypt calls on Russia for help fighting Islamic militants in Libya and Sinai


RFE/RL
Tue, 30 May 2017 14:09 UTC
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) met with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry
© TASSRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) met with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, on May 29.
Egypt called on Russia to help it fight Islamist militants that have staged a series of devastating attacks in the Arab country as senior officials of the two countries met in Cairo on May 29.

Egypt has been conducting air strikes against militant training camps in eastern Libya since a May 26 attack on Coptic Christians traveling to a monastery killed 29 people. The extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility.

Comment: Meanwhile: Egypt and Libya create operational headquarters for anti-terrorist airstrikes

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Attention

Venezuela's National Assembly threatens to stop Goldman Sachs from making 'a quick buck' off its suffering people


RT
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:53 UTC
People line up to buy basic food and household Caracas, Venezuela.
© Ronaldo Schemidt / AFPPeople line up to buy basic food and household items outside a supermarket in the poor neighborhood of Lidice, in Caracas, Venezuela.
The leader of Venezuela's National Assembly has said the country might refuse to repay $2.8 billion for bonds that Goldman Sachs recently bought from the country's central bank.

"It is apparent Goldman Sachs decided to make a quick buck off the suffering of the Venezuelan people," Julio Borges, the leader of the opposition-controlled Congress, said in a letter to Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein.

"Given the irregular nature of this transaction and the absurd financial terms involved that are to the detriment of Venezuela and its people, the National Assembly will soon launch an investigation into the matter. I also intend to recommend to any future democratic government of Venezuela not to recognize or pay on these bonds," Borges wrote.
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Star of David

Netanyahu says no 'blank check' from US, tells party time for a peace deal is now


Sputnik
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:46 UTC
Trump and Netanyahu
© REUTERS/ Ariel Schalit/Pool
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Monday that while the current US administration is friendly toward the Middle Eastern country, Jerusalem does not have a "blank check" from Washington to do as it pleases.

During a weekly speech given by the Israeli prime minister to his right-wing Likud political party, Netanyahu suggested that in setting his sights on a new peace agreement between Jerusalem and Ramallah, US President Donald Trump expects Israel to be prepared to make as-yet-unnamed concessions.

"We don't have a blank check on the political level," Netanyahu was reported by Channel 2 to have told Likud party members during the weekly closed-door gathering in the Knesset in Jerusalem.

"This president is determined to get a deal," added the prime minister, the Times of Israel reported.
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Attention

Egypt and Libya create operational headquarters for anti-terrorist airstrikes


Sputnik
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:40 UTC
Libyan air force repairing MIG-23 fighter jet
© AFP 2017/ ABDULLAH DOMA
The Libyan National Army and the Egyptian Defense Ministry have created an operational headquarters to coordinate airstrikes against Al-Qaeda terrorist group in eastern Libya, Libyan National Army spokesman Ahmed Mismari said Monday.

"The coordinated strikes of the Libyan and Egyptian air forces against terrorists are under the direct control of the head of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar, who is in the joint operational headquarters," Mismari said as quoted by Sky News Arabia.
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Blackbox

Team Trump & Russia allegedly 'close' to reaching agreement on ending Syrian War

Samer Hussein
Fort Russ
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:25 UTC
Putin and Trump on phones
The Trump administration is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the Russian government, regarding a comprehensive ceasefire as well as a post-war political deal for Syria.

According to the sources close to the Syrian government, the Russian side allegedly has an interest to reach a new agreement with US, given that survival of the Syrian government is now assured, while at the same time the jihadists, particularly ISIS, are are on the verge of collapse.
The American side has not yet made any official announcements, regarding the latest proposal made by Russia.

Tensions between Russian and American side soared after the alleged "chemical attack" on the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun back on the 4th of April and for which, the US side immediately blamed the Syrian government, despite lacking all credible evidence.
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Bad Guys

ISIS seeks foothold in Philippines to inflict destruction like in Iraq & Syria


RT
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:25 UTC
Marawi City Philippines soldiers ISIS
© Erik De Castro / ReutersGovernment soldiers advance their position in Marawi City, Philippines May 28, 2017.
As Islamic State-linked militants besiege a city in the southern Philippines, the local military says the terrorist group wants to establish a branch in the country and "inflict the kind of violence" jihadists have used in Iraq and Syria.

"They wanted to show the world that there is an ISIS [Islamic State/IS] branch here which can inflict the kind of violence that has been seen in Syria and Iraq," Gen. Eduardo Ano, military chief of staff, told AP.

Since May 23, armed forces have been clashing with Maute jihadists linked to IS, who have taken over large parts of the city of Marawi on the island of Mindanao.

Comment: Further reading: Philippines' Duterte facing 'same ISIS dynamic' as Assad in Syria
At the end of the day [Duterte] is in the exact same situation, very similar situation that Bashar Assad in Syria was in early on in the sort of the terrorist takeover of that country in the early days of the FSA, and then Al-Nusra Front, and then later ISIS. So, he has to balance out this public relations issue - is he too heavy-handed? Most people would say looking at Syria that you can't be heavy-handed enough when it comes to dealing with ISIS. So, we'll see how much progress he makes on the island in the next few weeks.


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Jet5

Libyan National Army confirms Egypt carried out new airstrikes in Libya


RT
Mon, 29 May 2017 21:35 UTC
Smoke rise after an airstrike on the District 3 of Sirte, on September 28, 2016
© Fabio Bucciarelli / AFPSmoke rise after an airstrike on the District 3 of Sirte, on September 28, 2016
Egypt has continued airstrikes in Libya targeting the Islamist-controlled city of Derna, Libyan commanders have said, confirming witness accounts. Cairo earlier sent warplanes to Libya in retaliation for a deadly gun attack on Coptic Christians.

Witnesses in Derna told Reuters on Monday that at least three airstrikes hit the city. One of the attacks targeted the western entrance to the city and two others hit Dahr al-Hamar, an area in the south of the city.

The Egyptian military spokesman declined to comment on the airstrikes, but the spokesman for the Libyan National Army, a faction in eastern Libya allied to Egypt, has confirmed the bombardment.
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Info

S. Korean president 'shocked' to find 4 'unaccounted' THAAD launchers in his country


RT
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:04 UTC
US-built Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense
© US Forces Korea / AFPThe first elements of the US-built Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Pyeongtaek, Seoul March 6, 2017.
The newly-elected president of South Korea ordered a probe into why the country's defense ministry failed to report to him the import of four more rocket launchers for the US anti-missile system in addition to the two confirmed publicly.

"President Moon said it was very shocking," to hear the four additional launchers had been installed without being reported to the new government or to the public, presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan told a media briefing on Tuesday.

The deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was approved by the previous conservative government in Seoul, which fell after then-President Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party was impeached under the corruption charges. Moon Jae-in, a Democrat, won the May 9 election and is in the process of power transition. A promise to review the controversial THAAD deal was part of his campaign.
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Chess

Trump advances his pawns on the West's geopolitical chessboard

Thierry Meyssan
Voltaire
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:03 UTC
Donald Trump
© AFP 2017/ JIM LO SCALZO / EPA POOL
From the 3rd conference of the Friends of Syria, on 6 July 2012 in Paris, to the investiture of President Trump, on 21 January 2017 in Washington, the United States, France and the United Kingdom never ceased organising the war against Syria, while constantly pretending to be negotiating a political resolution.

Over the last 16 years, and particularly during his Presidential electoral campaign, Donald Trump has presented himself as a militant anti-imperialist. Contrary to what is claimed by his detractors, the fact that he is a billionaire in no way compromises his political convictions.

Since he arrived at the White House [1], President Trump has had to fight against his own administration, of which 98% of the senior civil servants voted Hillary Clinton, and also against the allied governments of his predecessor.
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Eye 1

US looking to increase spying capabilities in Europe


Sputnik
Tue, 30 May 2017 13:03 UTC
US soldiers troops army
© AFP 2017/ ARMEND NIMANI
The US government is looking for a private contractor ready to provide intelligence technical support services throughout the US Army Europe area of responsibility, which includes Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Sputnik considers whether this means that the US is going to be upping its spy game.

The opening appeared on the US government's website for contract opportunities Federal Business Opportunities FBO.gov.

"This requirement is for US Army Europe/7th Army for a non-personal services contract for intelligence technical support services (ITSS) throughout the US Army Europe (USAREUR) Area of Responsibility (AOR) which includes but is not limited to Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Africa," says the description.
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