Puppet MastersS


Attention

Change of plans: Lavrov says Kerry finally presented proposals on Aleppo in line with Russia's stance


RT
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 14:04 UTC
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
© Gregorio Borgia / ReutersRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) attend a bilateral meeting in Rome, Italy December 2, 2016.
At a meeting in Rome, US Secretary of State John Kerry made suggestions on Aleppo in line with those of Russian experts, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

Russia is ready to immediately send military officials and diplomats to Geneva to work out a joint plan of action for Aleppo in line with US proposals, Lavrov said, as quoted by Russian news agencies.

"Moscow is ready to immediately send our military experts and diplomats to Geneva to work out joint actions with our US colleagues in line with the [new] American proposals, which would ensure the withdrawal of all militants without exception from eastern Aleppo, and would provide unimpeded humanitarian supplies to the city's residents and ensure the establishment of normal life in eastern Aleppo," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday.
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Attention

UK 'did not send a gram of flour': Moscow refutes criticism over aid for Syria


RT
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 13:21 UTC
Syrians evacuated from eastern Aleppo
© Omar Sanadiki / Reuters Syrians evacuated from eastern Aleppo, rest inside a shelter in government controlled Jibreen area in Aleppo, Syria November 30, 2016.
The UK has not sent even one gram of flour or a single blanket to Aleppo since the Syrian conflict began, the Russian Defense Ministry said responding to a spokeswoman for Downing Street, who said Russia is stopping aid deliveries to the besieged city.

"It seems that the UK government has lost an objective view of what is happening in Syria, including Aleppo, due to Russophobia," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday, noting that the UK has not sent "a single gram of flour, any medicine or blankets to help" civilians in Aleppo during the whole Syrian conflict.

"If the UK government really wants to send humanitarian aid to residents in the eastern neighborhoods [of Aleppo], it has all conditions for doing this, just tell us where it [the aid] has been held up."

"If there is no such British humanitarian aid for Aleppo, then don't obstruct others from helping," he added.

Comment: Also note: Russian MoD: UN stopped offering aid after 40% of east Aleppo liberated from militants so Theresa May isn't being truthful here.

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Life Preserver

Russia provides over 5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Syria


Sputnik
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 13:25 UTC
Russian humanitarian aid to Syria
© Sputnik/ Ali Abrahim
Russia delivered more than 5 metric tons of humanitarian aid to the Syrian provinces of Aleppo and Damascus, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website on Friday.

"Within last 24 hours, two humanitarian events have been held, in course of which civilians had received aid: in the Hananu 3 area of the Aleppo city and al-Mahalej camp for refugees in the Aleppo province - about 4 tons; in the Seid Naya area in the Damascus province - about 1 ton," the bulletin said adding that points with hot meal and necessities continued their work for civilians fleeing parts of Aleppo controlled by various armed groups.
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Jet3

Denmark to withdraw fighter jets against ISIL from Syria & Iraq


Sputnik
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 10:22 UTC
Danish F-16 fighter jet
© AP Photo/ Janus EngelOne of the seven Danish F-16 fighter jets takes off from military airport Flyvestation Skrydstrup in Jutland, Denmark
Danish foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen confirmed on Friday reports on the country's decision to pull seven F-16 fighters participating in an operation against the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) terror group in Iraq and Syria.

Earlier on Friday, media reported that Denmark decided to withdraw its fighter aircraft from military operations in Syria and Iraq due to their involvement in a US-led coalition airstrike, which accidentally killed Syrian army servicemen in September.

"Denmark offers a new form of cooperation to the coalition, so about 150 specialists will provide consultative help. Today we also informed the [parliament's] foreign policy committee that in 2017 the government will continue to support the coalition but, as it was earlier planned, will pull aviation," Samuelsen said, as quoted by the Foreign Ministry's press service.

Denmark is also going to provide areas liberated from Daesh, outlawed in Russia, with necessary aid, he said.

Comment: See also:

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Light Sabers

Turkish soldiers fighting with Free Syrian Army taken captive by ISIS militants

Chris Tomson
Al Masdar News
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:06 UTC
turkish tank
In a remarkable raid, two Turkish soldiers were taken captive by ISIS militants on the outskirts of al-Bab earlier today. Although details are vague, the Turkish troops were embedded with Syrian rebels fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

The incident took place near the village of Dana (northwest of Al-Bab) and was first alleged by Amaq Agency on Tuesday afternoon but later confirmed by Ankara. According to Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, the Turkish Armed Forces have "lost contact" with the two soldiers who's fate is now in the hands of the Islamic State.

At least 17 Turkish soldiers have been killed during operation 'Euphrates Shield', a rebel offensive which has seized large swaths of territory along the Turkish-Syrian border from ISIS and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Yesterday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) also conducted a major push en route to Al-Bab, an Islamic State stronghold which is now threatened by several belligerents.

Comment: The whereabouts of the two Turkish servicemen recently abducted by Daesh have finally being confirmed as both men, injured but alive, currently reside in the terrorist group's so called 'capital' in Syria.
Sputnik Türkiye has it on good authority that the two men - petty officer Kıvanç Kaşıkçı, 24, and petty officer Muhammed Duran Keskin, 28 - currently receive treatment in the city of Raqqa. Their interpreter, a Syrian Turkman, was also transported to the city for medical assistance but died due to injuries sustained during the capture.

While the exact location where the prisoners are being held remains a secret, it is known that they receive medical attention in one of the special underground shelters built for Daesh leadership, because hospitals and infirmaries located above the ground are constantly being bombed.


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Dominoes

China, grappling with Trump, turns to 'old friend' Kissinger to defuse tensions

Keith Zhai
Bloomberg News
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 05:22 UTC
Henry Kissenger and Xi Jinping
© Pool/Getty ImagesHenry Kissenger and Xi Jinping on Dec.
As he's done for decades, Henry Kissinger is again shuttling between the U.S. and China to defuse tensions, this time as President Xi Jinping tries to figure out how much of President-elect Donald Trump's China-bashing will follow him to the White House.

The 93-year-old former secretary of state, who secretly brokered President Richard Nixon's watershed visit in 1972, returned to Beijing to meet with state leaders Friday, just two weeks after huddling with Trump in New York. While little about Kissinger's closed-door talks has been disclosed, Chinese officials are trying to assess whether the incoming administration will prompt greater confrontation over trade and territory disputes, as Trump promised on the campaign trail.

"We are now in a key moment. We on the Chinese side are watching the situation very closely," Xi said Friday, as he welcomed the retired diplomat at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. "Dr. Kissinger, I am all ears to what you have to say about the current world situation and the future growth of China-U.S. relations."

Comment: See also: Kissinger: Trump has 'absolutely no baggage'

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Info

Trump invites Duterte to US during 'animated' phone talk, makes other diplomatic 'missteps'


RT
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 00:26 UTC
Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte
© Manman Dejeto, TY Wright / AFP
President-elect Donald Trump invited controversial Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte to the White House next year during a "very engaging, animated talk," an aide for Duterte revealed. It's not the first time Trump has clashed with existing US foreign policy.

Duterte's special advisor Christopher Go announced the seven-minute conversation to media via text message on Friday, Reuters reported.

It is hoped that Duterte's approval of Trump will help mend the relationship between the Philippines and US, which has become strained in recent months over what Duterte calls Washington's "hypocrisy."

Comment: Trump is certainly unconventional but that could be a breath of fresh air or could hurt his relations with some of the puffed up politicians. Time will tell.

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Question

Unknown Syrian opposition group asks Israel to help topple Assad


Sputnik
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 00:21 UTC
Israeli soldier standing on tank
© AFP 2016/ JACK GUEZ
An obscure Syrian opposition group of unclear origin called Israel to help them overthrow the Syrian government.

A Syrian opposition group called Halas Watani issued a statement to Tel Aviv, offering to join forces in order to overthrow the Syrian government and topple Bashar Assad.

However, it remains unclear exactly whom this group represents and how much popular support it enjoys.
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Info

Austria's frontrunner Hofer: 'I'm middle right, not far-right and I don't like extremes'


RT
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 00:13 UTC
Austrian presidential candidate Norbert Hofer
© Leonhard Foeger / ReutersAustrian presidential candidate Norbert Hofer.
Norbert Hofer, the Austrian presidential candidate for the Freedom Party who is often described as "far-right" by opponents, has dismissed the idea in an interview with RT, saying that he is "a normal man, who does not like extremes."

"That's not true," Hofer told RT's Egor Piskunov when asked about opponents accusing him of spreading nationalist ideas.

"Yes, I'm right side, but I'm not far-right. I'm middle right and if you compare things members of the government say here in Austria and things I say, I'm not more right than the government," Hofer said.

"I'm a pretty normal man, a family man and I don't like extremes," he stressed.

Comment: More analysis on Austria and Italy: Significant events in Austria and Italy on December 4th

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Quenelle

UK MP asks for advice on fighting 'Fake News' and regrets it

James Wright
The Canary
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 21:47 UTC
Tom watson mp
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson took to Facebook to ask for advice on his inquiry into stopping 'fake news'. But looking at the responses, he probably wishes he hadn't.

Canaryimage1
The MP for West Bromwich East's team targeted The Canary - which often criticises Watson and the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) - in an article about the inquiry on Buzzfeed News. For the record, he offered no evidence as to why a single Canary story could amount to fake news.

Considering the attack on alternative online news that is outside of corporate control, many of those who commented seemed to feel that Watson's inquiry may really be a witch-hunt to censor his critics.

canaryimg2
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