31 January 2019 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

January 30: CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Jan. 13 - 26, 2019 CENTCOM 31 Jan 2019 -- Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to target and pursue the enduring defeat of ISIS.
Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve Monthly Civilian Casualty Report CENTCOM 31 Jan 2019 -- The Coalition has worked by, with and through partners since 2014 to defeat ISIS in designated parts of Iraq and Syria, liberating nearly 8 million Iraqis and Syrians from ISIS's brutal rule and reducing its control of territory to less than one percent of what it had previously held.

Trump: I'd Pull Troops if US, Afghan Taliban Reached Peace Deal VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would bring all American troops home from Afghanistan if there was a peace deal with the Taliban.
Taliban Says Not Looking For 'Monopoly On Power' In Afghanistan RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- A spokesman for the Taliban, which now reportedly controls nearly half of Afghanistan, has said that the group is not seeking to rule Afghanistan alone in any future government structure and wants to co-exist with current institutions, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Trump Vows to Return US Troops From Afghanistan if Peace Deal Signed Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The US and the Taliban have reportedly finalised a deal that will end the 17-year-long war in Afghanistan. The deal will reportedly ensure that terrorist groups are not allowed to use the country as a base of operations and that the US and other foreign countries will withdraw their troops.

US to deploy 'several thousand' more troops to Mexico border: Pentagon Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- Acting US Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan says the Pentagon will be sending "several thousand" more American troops to the US-Mexico border, where about 2,350 active-duty troops were deployed last year.
Pentagon Sending 3,500 Additional Troops to Border VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- The Pentagon is sending an additional 3,500 troops to the U.S. southern border with Mexico to assist with border security measures.

Defense Policy / Programs

U.S. Senate Opposes Afghan, Syria Withdrawals In Rebuke To Trump RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- The Republican-led U.S. Senate approved a mainly symbolic bill opposing plans to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan in a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump.

Navy Awards Contract for Construction of Two Carriers NNS 31 Jan 2019 -- The Navy has awarded a contract for the construction of CVN 80 and CVN 81 to Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS). This contract award delivers significant savings to the government – exceeding $4 billion when compared to the Navy's original cost estimates to procure these CVNs separately.
RDECOM transitions to Army Futures Command Army News 31 Jan 2019 -- The Army Materiel Command (AMC) and Army Futures Command (AFC) held a ceremony on January 31, transitioning the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) from AMC to AFC. The official date of the transfer is Feb. 3 during which RDECOM will be renamed Combat Capabilities Development Command.
DOD Releases Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies, Academic Program Year 2017-2018 DoD 31 Jan 2019 -- Today, the Department of Defense released the Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies, Academic Program Year 2017-2018.
Navy's Newest Outlying Landing Field Open for Training Operations NNS 31 Jan 2019 -- Following a historic land exchange agreement between the U.S. Navy and Escambia County, the Navy's newest outlying landing field opened for helicopter training operations today, after years of collaboration and hard work.
Secretary of the Navy Names Independence Variant Littoral Combat Ship After Capital of Maine NNS 31 Jan 2019 -- Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced today that the next Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship will be named USS Augusta (LCS 34).
Navy to Conduct Annual Force Protection Exercise NNS 31 Jan 2019 -- The Navy will commence its largest annual force protection exercise next week at installations throughout the United States.
USS Porter Arrives in Copenhagen, Denmark NNS 31 Jan 2019 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark for a regularly scheduled port visit Jan. 30.
VP-47 Conducts Joint Maritime Patrol Operations with JMSDF NNS 31 Jan 2019 -- The "Golden Swordsmen" of Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 participated with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) Fleet Air Wing (FAW) 5 in a coordinated maritime patrol operational procedures (CMPOP) exercise, Jan. 29.
'Poor and Unknown Reliability': $13B USS Ford Struggled In Sea Trials - Report Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- An internal Pentagon report questioned the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford's ability to quickly generate aircraft sorties, as data has surfaced suggesting there are reliability questions about some of the ship's key naval aviation systems.
Pentagon Assessment on Troubled F-35 Program Raises Questions, Concerns Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The F-35 program is leaving a lot to be desired for officials at the US Department of Defense, especially after a recently obtained 2018 assessment report indicated that the program is still riddled with various technical setbacks.
Hawaii guardsmen deliver airlift for exercise Southern Strike 19 US Air Force 31 Jan 2019 -- Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard held airlift operations Jan. 13 through 25 during a large-scale joint and multinational exercise in Gulfport.
Airlift unit tests mettle in joint Patriot Palm exercise US Air Force 31 Jan 2019 -- A 315th Airlift Wing unit finished its most recent joint-service training exercise Jan. 29, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Energy Department Statement on Plutonium Shipments to Nevada DOE 31 Jan 2019 -- The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) is committed to protecting the health, safety, and security of the public at all of our sites as we conduct our important national security missions. The recent plutonium shipments to the Nevada National Security Site were undertaken to comply with an order issued by the U.S. District Court in South Carolina.
US secretly shipped plutonium from South Carolina to Nevada Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- The US government secretly shipped a large amount of weapons-grade plutonium from the East Coast state of South Carolina to the Western state of Nevada months ago despite the state's protests.
US Gov't SECRETLY Shipped Deadly Plutonium to Nevada Despite State's Protests Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The shocking revelation has drawn the ire of US politicians from the state of Nevada, who said that the federal government had long sought to store nuclear waste there.
'No First Use': Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Restrain US Nuclear Capabilities Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Previous US administrations were reluctant to adopt legislation that would legally bind Washington to only use its nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack. The new bill is likely to meet opposition as well.

'No Progress' In Talks On Saving Russia-U.S. Missile Pact As Deadline Looms RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- Russia and Washington have failed to bridge their differences over a key Cold War-era arms control treaty at last-ditch talks in Beijing, Russian and U.S. officials say.
Russia, US make 'no progress' in nuclear treaty talks Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- The United States and Russia have failed to make any progress in negotiations on a landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty, with Washington expected to go ahead with a unilateral withdrawal from the key pact this weekend, a senior Russian diplomat says.
Russia Slams US 60-Day Ultimatum on INF Treaty as 'Game' Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday that Moscow would continue working toward a settlement on the disputed INF Treaty, adding that the issue would be more difficult because the 60-day deadline set by Washington is a "game aimed at covering up the decision to quit the agreement".

Joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis at Cotroceni Palace NATO 31 Jan 2019 -- KLAUS IOHANNIS [President of Romania]: NATO Secretary General, dear Jens, it is a great pleasure for me to have met you again today at the Presidential Palace and we've had an opportunity to discuss in depth the various matters that interest us as related to NATO.

War Games, Redeployment, Return of EU-Based Troops: UK MoD on High No-Deal Alert Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- UK Ministry of Defence is scraping for 3000 soldiers to assemble the required number of personnel in preparation for a no-deal Brexit, with contingency plans including use of military to assist at ports and airports.

Defence Minister opens first military airbase to be powered by green energy UK MOD 31 Jan 2019 -- RAF Marham, the home of the UK's F-35 multi role combat jets, is set to become the first military airbase to be powered by green electricity.

India Seeks License Extension from Russia to Manufacture More Su-30MKI Locally Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- India's decision to manufacture additional Su-30MKI for the air force has been taken against the backdrop of a delay in the formal tendering process to acquire 110 fighter jets and upgrades of other existing jets, according to a highly placed official in India's Defence Ministry.

Iran unveils wide body jet drone IRNA 31 Jan 2019 -- The first homegrown Iranian wide-body jet drone was unveiled in an exhibition in the Iranian capital on Thursday.
Iran Air Force unveils first domestically-built wide-body drone Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- The Iranian Air Force has unveiled its first wide-body unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is fully designed and manufactured at home, as the country prepares for celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Okinawa Governor Urges Tokyo to Stop Land Reclamation for US Airfield - Reports Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The governor of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, Denny Tamaki, has called for the immediate suspension of Tokyo-managed land reclamation that is needed to relocate a US military airbase, the NHK broadcaster reported.

Defense Industry

Contracts for January 31, 2019
Huntington Ingalls Industries Awarded $15.2 Billion Block Contract For Two Ford-Class Aircraft Carriers Huntington Ingalls Industries 31 Jan 2019 -- For the first time in more than three decades, Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE:HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division was awarded a multi-ship contract from the U.S. Navy to build two aircraft carriers. The company announced today that it received a contract modification valued at $15.2 billion for the detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers Enterprise (CVN 80) and CVN 81, which has not yet been named.

Other Conflicts

31 January 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 31 Jan 2019

Saudi Coalition Threatens Force to Prod Yemen Rebels to Abide by Cease-Fire VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says it is ready to use "calibrated force" to prod Houthi rebels into abiding by the cease-fire in the port city of Hodeida.
Top envoy to Yemen praises 'flexibility' of chief negotiators as new UN mission chief is named UN News 31 Jan 2019 -- The UN Special Envoy for Yemen said on Thursday that the main negotiators for the warring sides were continuing to show the "necessary flexibility and good faith" to move forward, despite delays in implementing the agreement marking the first steps towards a lasting peace deal, brokered in Sweden last December.
Saudi-led coalition threatens to use 'force' in Yemen to drive Houthis out of Hudaydah Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- The Saudi-led coalition waging war on Yemen has threatened to use "force" to push the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement to withdraw from the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hudaydah under a UN-brokered ceasefire in the flashpoint area.

Syria's UN envoy says anti-Damascus sanctions amount to 'economic terrorism' Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- Syria's mission to the United Nations has vehemently condemned the economic sanctions targeting the country, saying they blight the lives of ordinary Syrians.
US Wants Three Allies to Help Protect Kurds From Turkey - Report Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that a counterterrorist military operation east of the Euphrates would be conducted soon after the completion of the US pull-out from Syria. However, Washington has voiced concern that Ankara could attack its Kurdish allies in the region, suggesting the creation of a buffer zone in northern Syria.
Syria: 'Violence, displacement' and cold kill 11 infants 'in the past two days' UN News 31 Jan 2019 -- "Violence, displacement and extremely harsh conditions" in northern and eastern Syria have killed at least 32 children since December – including 11 infants in the past two days, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) revealed on Thursday.

Lie-Detector Loyalty Tests Proposed For Ukrainians In Separatist-Controlled East RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- Ukraine's chief military prosecutor has called for lie-detector tests to determine the loyalty of residents in the parts of eastern Ukraine that are under the control of Russia-backed separatists.
Volker: Russia May Face More Action Over Detention Of Ukrainian Sailors RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine says Washington and Europe are considering measures against Russia for its detention of 24 Ukrainian crew members captured in the Kerch Strait.

Hamas won't be part of any new puppet Palestinian govt.: Official Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- The deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Mousa Abu Marzouk, says the resistance movement will not take part in any puppet Palestinian government in Ramallah, noting such a government will be "devoid of any national legacy and would strive to promote division" just like its predecessors.

Russia Ordered To Pay $11.5 Million Over 2006 Expulsion Of Georgians RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered the Russian state to pay Georgia 10 million euros ($11.5 million) over the mass deportation of Georgian citizens from Russia in 2006.

India Summons Pakistan's Envoy Protesting FM's Call to Kashmiri Politician Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The Kashmiri politician is head of a political alliance called All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which champions the independence of Jammu and Kashmir under the right of self-determination.

News Reports

Foreign Secretary call with Juan Guaido: 30 January 2019 UK FCO 31 Jan 2019 -- Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt spoke to Juan Guaido President of the National Assembly of Venezuela.
Venezuela: Parliament recognises Guaidó, urges EU to follow suit European Parliament 31 Jan 2019 -- The European Parliament recognised on Thursday Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim President of Venezuela, in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution.
Venezuela Sanctions, Amnesty Promise Attempt to Break Maduro-Military Bond VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- U.S.-imposed oil sanctions on Venezuela, announced this week, are part of a larger strategy to both pressure and entice the country's military to help oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro, according to analysts.
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Accuses Security Forces of Threatening His Family VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido says security forces showed up at his wife's Caracas apartment Thursday in an effort to intimidate him.
Independent UN rights expert calls for compassion, not sanctions on Venezuela UN News 31 Jan 2019 -- The crisis in Venezuela will not be solved by sanctions that "can lead to starvation", a UN-appointed rights expert said on Thursday. Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy, who reports to the Human Rights Council, issued the warning against the background of widespread suffering in the South American country, linked to spiralling economic woes and deep political uncertainty.
UK calls for economic pressure against Maduro, refuses to return Venezuelan gold Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- Britain has expressed support for economic sanctions against Venezuela amid an ongoing political row in the South American country.
EU Stance on Caracas Too Biased for Comprehensive Talks - Venezuelan Envoy Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Positions expressed by EU officials regarding the events in Venezuela were not neutral enough to allow the European Union to participate as a full-fledged mediator in political dialogue, the country's ambassador to Brussels, Claudia Salerno Caldera, told Sputnik on Thursday.
US Rejects Mexico, Uruguay, Vatican Mediation Efforts to Keep Maduro in Power Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- A senior US official told Reuters on Thursday that Washington believes other countries will ultimately see that it is in their interests to recognize Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido and his government.
Guaido: Venezuelan Opposition Refuses to Hold Dialogue With Government Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Previously, Carlos Vecchio, the envoy to the United States appointed by Guaido, stated that opposition forces would not engage "in any dialogue of the type that Maduro is interested in", urging Venezuelan President to stand down.
Britain Calls for EU Sanctions on Venezuelan President Maduro - Reports Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Earlier in the day, the European Parliament announced it is planning to consider a draft resolution on recognising self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido as head of the Latin American country.
Bolivia Says Joins Mexico, Uruguay's Int'l Conference on Venezuela Initiative Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Bolivia hails and joins the initiative of Mexico and Uruguay to hold an international conference on the peaceful settlement of the current political crisis in Venezuela, Bolivia's President Evo Morales said.
Guaido Had 'Clandestine Meetings' With Venezuela's Military, Security - Reports Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido in an opinion article published by The New York Times on Wednesday said that the country's opposition has held secret talks with members of Venezuela's security forces and offered them amnesty in exchange for abandoning President Nicolas Maduro.
Guaido's Envoy Vecchio Asks US Congress Support to End Maduro's Power Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Guaido's representative Carlos Vecchio on Wednesday visited US Congress and requested support from lawmakers to end President Nicolas Maduro's power in order to "recover democracy" in Venezuela.
African Union Supports Maduro Amid Political Crisis - Venezuelan FM Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said that the African Union had expressed its support for President Nicolas Maduro amid the escalating political crisis in the country.
Mexico, Spain Call for 'Dialogue Without Conditions' in Venezuela - Obrador Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Mexico City and Madrid call for a dialogue between the sides to the Venezuelan crisis without setting any conditions, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said.
EU Prioritizes Prevention of Military Escalation in Venezuela - Commissioner Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The European Union currently considers the prevention of military escalation in Venezuela a priority, and it is necessary to create conditions for a peaceful resolution of the situation, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides said on Wednesday.
Guaido's Representative to OAS Says Trump-Guaido Meeting Not Being Prepared Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Gustavo Tarre, told Sputnik that a meeting between Guaido and US President Donald Trump is not currently being planned.

Mueller's Office Says Russian Hackers Stole, Altered Evidence to Discredit Probe RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office says hackers in Russia stole and altered evidence in an attempt to discredit its probe into Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

White House Releases National Drug Control Strategy The White House 31 Jan 2019

American mercenaries used 'Karma' to hack UAE's opponents: Reuters Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- A report reveals that a team of former US government intelligence operatives had been recruited by the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) to help Abu Dhabi spy on perceived opponents by using a sophisticated spyware called Karma.

Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, January 31, 2019 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 31 Jan 2019

FBI Sting Hits N Korea Software That Secretly Links Vulnerable PCs for Hacking Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Users of compromised computers are being notified of a North Korean botnet called Joanap, which creates vulnerable networks for the Pyongyang's hackers, the US Department of Justice said in a press release.

Pompeo says second Trump-Kim meeting to occur "someplace in Asia" People's Daily 31 Jan 2019 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that the second meeting between the leaders of Washington and Pyongyang will take place "someplace in Asia."
US-North Korean Nuclear Talks Making Only Limited Progress, Envoy Says VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- The U.S. has made only limited progress with North Korea on nuclear talks, Washington's North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun acknowledged Thursday.

Europe Starts New Finance Mechanism to Bypass US Trade Sanctions on Iran VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- Britain, France and Germany are launching a mechanism Thursday to ease non-dollar business deals with Iran, an effort aimed at circumventing U.S. trade sanctions against Tehran after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 international pact to curtail Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Joint statement on the creation of INSTEX, the special purpose vehicle aimed at facilitating legitimate trade with Iran in the framework of the efforts to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Germany Federal Foreign Office 31 Jan 2019 -- France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in accordance with their resolute commitment and continued efforts to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) endorsed by United Nations Security Council resolution 2231, announce the creation of INSTEX SAS (Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges), a Special Purpose Vehicle aimed at facilitating legitimate trade between European economic operators and Iran.
New mechanism to facilitate trade with Iran: joint statement UK FCO 31 Jan 2019 -- French, German and UK Foreign Ministers announce INSTEX, a new mechanism for facilitating legitimate trade with Iran to preserve the Iran nuclear deal.
Registration of INSTEX indicates EU's commitment to JCPOA: UK FM IRNA 31 Jan 2019 -- UK Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt described commissioning of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) as a practical symbol of EU commitment to Iran nuclear deal.
Iran: INSTEX registration proves EU resistance against US unilateralism IRNA 31 Jan 2019 -- Registration of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) between Iran and Europe proved resistance of the block against the US unilateralism, said an Iranian foreign ministry official on Thursday.
INSTEX 1st step of EU commitment towards Iran: Tehran IRNA 31 Jan 2019 -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi says registration of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) with Iran will serve as the first step in the series of Europeans' commitments towards Iran.
Iran parliament to mull EU financial mechanism, INSTEX IRNA 31 Jan 2019 -- The National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iranian Majlis (Parliament) will examine registration of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) between Iran and Europe.
Brussels hails INSTEX to help Iran trade IRNA 31 Jan 2019 -- EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has welcomed the Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges, or INSTEX, that is set up by France, Germany and Britain to facilitate Iran global trade.
Defying US, European parties to JCPOA launch payment channel with Iran Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- The European signatories to the 2015 Iran deal formally announce the launch of a long-awaited direct payment mechanism meant to safeguard their trade ties with Tehran in the face of the "toughest ever" American sanctions.
European states set up direct payment channel with Iran: German media Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- The European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal have finalized a much-awaited transactions channel with Iran aimed at protecting trade ties with Tehran against American sanctions, German media say.
Europe Launches Financial Mechanism To Conduct Business In Iran RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- Germany, France, and Britain have launched a mechanism to allow financial flows to be sent to Iran that would not violate U.S. sanctions in an attempt to keep alive the landmark 2015 nuclear deal.
Germany, France, UK Create EU Tool for Trade With Iran Despite US Sanctions Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- On 24 September 2018 the foreign ministers of the remaining signatories to the JCPOA agreed to create a SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to enable European companies to continue legitimate transactions with Iran in accordance with EU law.
Amano: Iran implementing nuclear-related commitments under JCPOA IRNA 31 Jan 2019 -- Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano said on Wednesday that Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA.
US Spy Chiefs Must 'Educate' Trump on Iran, Senate Minority Leader Claims Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- Earlier, the US president condemned reports by top intelligence officials, which said that Iran was not pursuing its alleged nuclear weapons programme. Trump slammed the intelligence chiefs as "extremely passive and naive when it comes to Iran", suggesting that they should "go back to school".
Dem leader Schumer asks US spy chiefs to 'educate' Trump on Iran Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on the country's spy chiefs to "educate" President Donald Trump after his recent attack against the American intelligence community.

China's Chang'e-4 lunar lander and Yutu II rover wake up after long, frozen night on dark side of the moon Global Times 31 Jan 2019 -- China's lunar lander Chang'e-4 and lunar rover Yutu II have woken up after their first night on the dark side of the moon.
China's Chang'e-4 probe wakes up after first lunar night People's Daily 31 Jan 2019 -- The rover and the lander of the Chang'e-4 probe have been awakened by sunlight after a long "sleep" during the first extremely cold night on the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Thursday.

Taiwan calls on WHO to grant full participation CNA 31 Jan 2019 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) called on the World Health Organization (WHO) Thursday to grant the country full participation, saying it should operate without political interference.

Riyadh winds down 'anti- graft' campaign amid Khashoggi scandal Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- After bagging over $100 billion in cash-for-freedom settlements, Saudi Arabia says it has ended the probe of the high-profile figures detained as part of a much-criticized "anti-graft" campaign, as the regime continues to grapple with international pressure over the brutal assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

War on drugs no more a priority: Mexican president Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has declared the end of his country's war on drugs, saying that his government no longer considers the fight against narcotics a priority.

EU Opposes UK's Brexit Deal Revision Despite Theresa May's Readiness for Talks Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The reached draft agreement on the conditions for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union remains the only possible deal on this issue and will not be revised, even despite Tuesday's vote in the UK parliament, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday.
Banks, Businesses React With Mounting Alarm Over Brexit VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- British banking giant Barclays has drawn up plans to shift more than $200 billion worth of assets from London to Dublin amid mounting business alarm that Britain is more likely now to leave the European Union without an exit deal.

Putin Blasts Kyiv For 'Blatant Interference' In Orthodox Church RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine's government of "blatant interference" in the Orthodox Church in Ukraine after a new national institution split from Moscow's patronage.

Lebanon presidency announces new cabinet line-up after months of impasse Press TV 31 Jan 2019 -- Lebanon's presidency has announced the formation of a new national unity government, putting an end to a nine-month stalemate on the political stage, which fueled the Arab country's economic woes.
Lebanon Forms New National Unity Government After Nine Months of Deadlock Sputnik 31 Jan 2019 -- The composition of the new government in Lebanon had been a debated issue since May 2018, with leading political forces arguing over the balance needed in the government to take into consideration the interests of all parties.

Haradinaj Says Tax On Serbian Goods, Relations With Belgrade Shouldn't Be Linked RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says Kosovo's tax on Serbian goods is a sovereign decision and not something that can be tied to negotiations with Belgrade on normalizing relations between the two countries.

Struggling Turkmenistan To Privatize Transport Sector, End Science Funding RFE/RL 31 Jan 2019 -- Turkmenistan says it will privatize much of the state-owned transport system and gradually end funding for the country's Academy of Sciences as it looks to bolster its struggling economy and save money amid a continuing slump in its energy sector.

Sudan's President Says Elections Only Means of Political Change VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- As protesters demonstrated in parts of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Thursday, President Omar al-Bashir visited the northeastern state of Kassala, announcing that the border between neighboring Eritrea and Sudan would be reopened, after a year of closure.

Sultan Abdullah Installed as Malaysia's New King VOA 31 Jan 2019 -- Malaysia's new king formally assumed the throne during a coronation ceremony Thursday in the southeast Asian country.

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