Military Believes Trump’s Afghan War Plan Is Working, but Spy Agencies Are Pessimistic
8/31/2018, 9:40:47 AMAmerican military and intelligence officials are at odds over the direction of the war in Afghanistan, creating a new source of friction as the president and his national security team seek a way to end the 17-year-old conflict. ✔ U.S. troops on patrol at an Afghan National Army base on Aug. 7, 2018 ✔ The Afghan government has control over about 65 percent of the population, with the rest either under the control of the Taliban, other insurgents, or contested, according to a Pentagon report issued in June
Ex-envoy: Trump ignored State Department over North Korea
8/31/2018, 10:12:28 AMWASHINGTON--Joseph Yun, the U.S. diplomat formerly in charge of negotiations with North Korea, resig ✔ WASHINGTON--Joseph Yun, the U.S. diplomat formerly in charge of negotiations with North Korea, resigned in March because the Trump administration was totally ignoring the U.S. State Department, he revealed in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun ✔ Q: How do you view what has been described as the brinksmanship style of negotiating by North Korea
Syria rebels destroy bridges in anticipation of offensive
8/31/2018, 11:29:55 AMBEIRUT (AP) — A Syria war monitoring group says opposition fighters have blown up two bridges linking areas they control to government-held territories in northwestern Syria in an ✔ Rami Abdulrahman, the head of the Observatory, said the explosions rocked the area and came after rebels detected troop movement in the area ✔ 19, 2013, file photo, smoke rises after a TNT bomb was thrown from a helicopter, hitting a rebel position during heavy fighting between troops loyal to president Bashar Assad and opposition fighters, in a neighbouring village to Kafr Nabuda, in the Idlib province countryside, Syria
Maimed army hero slams 'far right, racist douche bags' for using photo in meme
8/31/2018, 8:43:03 AMMark Ormrod, 34, who lives in Plymouth, lost both legs and his right arm in a bomb blast in Afghanistan and won a silver medal at the Invictus Games last year ✔ However, Mark has taken to social media, where the meme has been shared many thousands of times, to say it was made and is used by far right, racist, hate inducing douche bags ✔ P.S for those who were wondering my life’s actually pretty awesome #noLIMBits #NoLimits
Israel sees slowdown in long-term Iranian deployments in Syria
8/31/2018, 11:03:59 AMIsrael's defense minister described Iran on Friday as having slowed down its long-term force deployment in Syria, attributing this to Israeli military intervention as well as an economic crisis gripping Tehran as U.S. sanctions are restored. ✔ The main reason for why this has stopped is the result of our daily, hard work in Syria ✔ Iran, Israel’s arch-enemy in the Middle East, has been a core supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad throughout the 7-year war, sending military advisers as well as materiel and regional Shi’ite militias that it backs ✔ Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
REVEALED: Incredible COLOUR pic of 18-year-old Queen serving during World War II
8/31/2018, 10:43:34 AMTHIS incredible colourised photograph of an 18-year-old Queen Elizabeth shows the monarch serving during World War Two. ✔ She then served as an Honourary Brigadier in the Women's Royal Army Corps from 1949 until she was coronated in 1953 ✔ But his bid to fight on the front line was scrapped about it emerged ISIS fighters were thought to have learned crucial details about the prince’s deployment location
America's Economic Wars Will End in Disaster Same as Its Military Adventures
8/31/2018, 10:54:56 AMIt seems that the Chinese leadership has concluded that the Trump Administration is determined to use its full spectrum radical leverage to hobble China as a rival, and to resurrect its own global domination – Xi seems to foresee a long struggle for position in the global future: one that will be played out geo-politically (in the jostling in the South China Sea, over North Korea, Taiwan and the BRI), as much as in the economic domain. ✔ China has always been wary of disrupting markets – that is true ✔ It will either soon exhaust itself, or will result in a contagious credit crisis (with Europe likely the prime victim), triggered precisely by the liquidity-drought engineered to give Trump more leverage
Oil slips as trade war worries outweigh Iran sanctions
8/31/2018, 8:40:02 AMOil prices slipped on Friday as concerns over the impact of a global trade war depressed sentiment, although impending U.S. sanctions on Iran and falling Venezuelan output limited losses. ✔ However oil markets are tightening with a recent surplus draining, trade figures show ✔ Brent prices will exceed $80 per barrel before the end of the year, U.S. bank Jefferies forecast on Friday ✔ Crude oil futures trading volumes: tmsnrt.rs/2P2ZZJz Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
NK blames US for deadlock in denuke talks
8/31/2018, 9:11:22 AMundefined ✔ The U.S. should play its role in carrying out the historic joint statement reached between the U.S. and North Korea, not focus on military gambling, which does more harm than good, it said ✔ The outlet also referred to the U.S. resuming sanctions on Iran after leaving the Iran nuclear deal
Fishermen in Hodeidah reportedly targeted by Saudi-UAE attacks
8/31/2018, 11:11:45 AMSaudi-UAE coalition says boats targeted were being used to smuggle weapons. ✔ No one can get to the location to verify the number and the exact details of the incident ✔ It added that a blockade of Yemeni ports and airspace may have violated international humanitarian law ✔ A US official called for an investigation into attacks by the Saudi-UAE coalition in Yemen and for perpetrators to be held accountable
Iran rejects French call for further negotiations
8/31/2018, 10:10:17 AMIran's foreign ministry on Friday dismissed a French call for more negotiations with Tehran over the international nuclear accord and said some of France's partners are "bullying and excessive," a seeming reference to the United States. ✔ French and international officials know well that Iran’s regional policy is in pursuit of peace and regional and international security and combating terrorism and extremism, Qassemi said ✔ (Corrects spokesman quote to refer to US, rather than France, being bullying and excessive) Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
Iran reportedly moves missiles to Iraq in warning to enemies
8/31/2018, 9:48:23 AMIran has given ballistic missiles to Shi'ite proxies in Iraq and is developing the capacity to build more there to deter attacks on its interests in the Middle East sources tell Reuters. ✔ STRINGER/AFP | AFP | Getty Images Zolfaghar missiles (R) are displayed during a rally marking al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day in Tehran on June 23, 2017 ✔ The areas are controlled by Shi'ite militias, including Kata'ib Hezbollah, one of the closest to Iran ✔ However, Iran still has a clear hand in coordinating the PMF leadership, which frequently meets and consults with Soleimani
'US urged to offer concessions to NK'
8/31/2018, 8:12:34 AMundefined ✔ Washington wants to see something more concrete and tangible on the North's denuclearization and the point is that the North is being prepared to go forward its commitment ✔ But the two sides don't want to walk away from the negotiating table with no results ✔ Any further escalation will make the situation worse, said an attorney at a local law firm that offers legal services for businesses in North Korea
N. Korea slams US for ‘hostile’ steps & ‘covert operations’ behind curtain of dialogue
8/31/2018, 8:17:12 AMIn the best traditions of pre-talks rhetoric, North Korean media accused Washington of hostility, claiming that the US and its allies in the region are gearing up for a “covert operation” against Pyongyang. ✔ Indeed, Pyongyang has always condemned any maneuvers on its doorstep, considering them a threat to its national security ✔ In an apparent attempt to soften the impact of this decision, the president sent his warmest regards and respect to Kim, and said that Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, once the current row with Beijing is resolved
5 big victims of the emerging market meltdown
8/31/2018, 11:23:02 AMEmerging market currencies have taken a battering amid a cocktail of concerns from rising US interest rates to political turmoil. ✔ India's economy isn't showing many signs of weakness just yet, though ✔ Investors fear that more sanctions could be on the way, including measures targeting banks and energy companies ✔ However, some analysts say the rise in oil prices this year should offset much of the damage from the weaker ruble
Readers’ travel photography competition: August winners
8/31/2018, 10:25:36 AMSpontaneity, subtle colours and excellent composition permeate this month’s selection. Scroll to see the winner – chosen by Mick Ryan of fotoVUE – who receives a £200 voucher for an i-escape holiday property ✔ Simon Morris This guy shines shoes from morning to night in Havana ✔ Krzysztof Madej A monk at Bagan, Myanmar, where there are over 2,200 Buddhist temples ✔ MICK RYAN, JUDGE: Iceland is popular for photography, especially the south coast ✔ Alan King, winner New Year in south-east Asia is celebrated by mass water fights
Perspective | America’s forgotten military families
8/31/2018, 10:15:30 AMInstead of ceremonies, we need more resources for helping military families cope with trauma. ✔ By the end of 2008, the Army had nearly doubled the budget of the Family, Morale, and Welfare command and hired 1,079 new Family Readiness Support Assistants ✔ It might also help us think more deeply about the consequences of the military adventurism the country is often all too willing to embrace
Africa's fiercest football derbies [Sport]
8/31/2018, 9:27:49 AMGreat football derbies are not only found in Europe and the Americas. The African continent is also the home of fabulous football rivalries. ✔ The Nairobi Derby, in the capital of Kenya, also known as the Mashemeji Derby, can be described as the oldest rivalry in the history of football in the country ✔ According to Africa.com, Asec Mimosas football academy has produced some of the country’s best talents such as Kolo Toure, Didier Drogba, and Gervinho among others
UK funds lift equity exposure, favor EMs after shake-out
8/31/2018, 11:52:09 AMBritish investors increased their equity exposure in August from July's nine-month lows, favoring emerging markets after a shake-out in the sector, but cut UK assets as the risk of a no-deal Brexit grew. ✔ The lira TRY= is now down over 40 percent year-to-date, crushed by Turkey's loose monetary and fiscal policy and a diplomatic rift with the United States ✔ But poll participants who answered a question on the currency’s travails were split over whether the lira had troughed ✔ Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
Danger to oil demand from trade wars may offset price boost from...
8/31/2018, 10:10:12 AMOil analysts cut their price forecasts for 2018 for the first time in almost a year in August, given growing concern over the impact on crude demand from escalating trade tensions, although falling supply, particularly from Iran, would likely limit losses, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. ✔ The United States wants to force buyers of Iranian oil to cut their imports from OPEC’s third-largest producer to nothing, after an international nuclear deal between the two nations was dissolved ✔ However, there is a concern among analysts that global trade disputes could undermine economic growth, which in turn may mean Asian importers’ demand for crude oil declines ✔ Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
Germany to boost funds for Palestinians after U.S. cut
8/31/2018, 9:41:49 AMThe German government has pledged to significantly increase its funding for the U.N. agency that supports Palestinian refugees after the United States cut its aid. ✔ It is part of a broader push by Maas to take a more assertive stance in disagreements with the United States on a range of issues including trade, military spending and climate change ✔ Jordan said on Thursday it would lead a campaign to raise funds to help the U.N ✔ Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
Review: In 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan,' the big-screen hero makes his small screen debut
8/31/2018, 10:46:47 AMRobert Lloyd reviews "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan," a new series featuring the much-franchised action hero, starring John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce. ✔ Here, he is forced to spend much of the middle episodes in a kind of balled-up funk as Ryan stews indignantly over the moral compromises he encounters in the field ✔ ‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ Where: Amazon When: Any time, starting Friday Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17)
Robin Wright reveals House of Cards was 'very close to being axed'
8/31/2018, 11:54:09 AMThe actress, 52, who portrays First Lady-turned-president Claire Underwood in the series - said she fought to save the drama amid fears thousands would have been left unemployed. ✔ Robin Wright has revealed 2,500 people were almost left jobless when House Of Cards came 'very, very close to cancellation' in the wake of the Kevin Spacey scandal ✔ It's called growth.' Away from her work on the small - and big - screen, Robin spends time putting effort into her socially conscious fashion collection, Pour Les Femmes
How Macron won Trump's friendship, failed to influence him
8/31/2018, 9:27:51 AMPARIS (AP) — For over a year, French President Emmanuel Macron has cajoled his counterpart Donald Trump, convinced he could make him change his thinking on climate change, the Ira ✔ PARIS (AP) For over a year, French President Emmanuel Macron has cajoled his counterpart Donald Trump, convinced he could make him change his thinking on climate change, the Iran nuclear deal and world trade ✔ The president looks forward to continuing to work closely with President Macron to advance our shared economic and security interests
US cancels funding for UN program for Palestinian refugees
8/31/2018, 10:02:03 AMPalestinian refugees will no longer receive aid from the US as part of a major reshaping of Middle East policy under President Donald Trump. ✔ The move is part of the administration's determination to put its money where its policy is as it seeks a recalculation of US foreign aid spending and prepares its own Israeli-Palestinian peace plan ✔ Early this year, the administration cut a scheduled UNRWA payment of $130 million in half to $65 million ✔ Under the new decision, that will be the last donation ✔ Our new podcast series from the team behind Phoebe's Fall View episodes
>>> Open This Series
Comments
Post a Comment