Airstrikes in northern Syria kill 10 militants;
Idlib Media Centre, a local opposition group, said the airstrikes killed 15, all but one were member of Fatah al-Sham.
http://tinyurl.com/z9qd8k9


Russia sends more fighter jets to Syria despite announcing draw-down ;
12 Su-25s were reported to have arrived at Moscow's base in the coastal city of Latakia on Monday, signalling its intention to remain deeply involved in the conflict.
http://tinyurl.com/zrdouxn


Fresh Syria raids as Moscow sets date for peace talks:
The negotiations, to be held in the Kazakh capital Astana, are intended to build on a ceasefire in effect since late December, brokered by government ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/fresh-syria-raids-moscow-sets-date-peace-talks-1245870910


Iraq: Car bomb blast kills 7 IS members in central Hawija ;
"This morning, a booby-trapped vehicle exploded, while members of the Islamic State group were trying to prepare it with explosives, inside one of the houses near the City Hall building, in central Hawija, killing seven members of the terrorist group."
http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/car-bomb-blast-kills-7-members-central-hawija/


Militia leader threatens to use force against Turkish troops in iraq;
Senior leader of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said in press statements on Wednesday that the PMU are "capable of forcing out the Turkish occupiers if diplomacy and political negotiations fail to".
http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/shia-militia-leader-threatens-use-force-turkish-troop-iraq/


Iraq's Abadi calls for Turkish forces' withdrawal;
Iraq's prime minister says relations with northern neighbour Turkey could "not move forward one step" without a withdrawal of Turkish forces from a camp in northern Iraq.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/abadi-iraq-turkey-relations-move-170110180125210.html


Turkey to Iraq: No troop withdrawal until Mosul Op ends :
Turkey is not planning an immediate withdrawal of its troops from the camp, the prime ministers of both countries stressed in a joint statement that Iraqi sensitivities regarding sovereignty will be respected, Iraqi Alsumaria News reported.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170111-turkey-to-iraq-no-troop-withdrawal-until-mosul-op-ends/


PLO threatens to revoke recognition of Israel if US embassy moves to Jerusalem;
The Palestinian leadership is also calling for protests in mosques and churches on Friday and Sunday to object to the move.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/10/israel-palestine-dispute-us-embsasy-jerusalem-oslo-peace


Palestinians of Israel strike in protest at home demolitions:
Palestinians across Israel closed businesses and schools on Wednesday in a one-day strike to protest against the demolition of Palestinian homes built without the required - but hard-to-get - permits.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/arab-israelis-strike-protest-house-demolitions-815664263


Israel lobby infiltrates UK student movement;
Israel is influencing student, activist and parliamentary groups in the UK, offering financial and strategic assistance in order to gather support among young organisers and shape British politics.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/exclusive-israel-lobby-infiltrates-uk-student-movement-170110140117749.html


Libyan general Khalifa Haftar visits Russian aircraft carrier:
Libyan strongman welcomed aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov in Mediterranean, speaks via video link with Russian defence minister
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/east-libya-strongman-visits-russian-aircraft-carrier-mediterranean-1462353774


36 Afghan parliament staff killed in Kabul attack;
The Afghan parliament confirmed that 36 employees of the parliament including secretariat of the Lower House of the Parliament, Wolesi Jirga, and some workers of the Upper House were killed in yesterday's coordinated suicide attack.
https://www.khaama.com/36-afghan-parliament-staff-killed-in-kabul-attack-02655


United Arab Emirates says 5 diplomats killed in Afghan blast:
Federation orders flags to be flown at half-staff for 3 days; bomb, likely hidden inside sofa at guesthouse, killed 11.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/united-arab-emirates-says-5-diplomats-killed-in-afghan-blast/


Tillerson: Russia Had No Right to Take Crimea; Video - :
Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, speaks with Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, about Russia's "annexation" of Crimea.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2017-01-11/tillerson-russia-judged-u-s-crimea-response-as-weak


Russia's London embassy: UK preparing anti-Moscow witch-hunt;
Foreign secretary tells incoming US administration that Russia and Putin have been 'up to all sorts of very dirty tricks'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/10/putin-moscow-boris-johnson-hacking-democratic-national-committee-russia


American charged with attempted murder of U.S. diplomat in Mexico;
A U.S. citizen was charged with the attempted murder of an American diplomat stationed at the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-violence-diplomat-idUSKBN14U2HU


Barack Obama's farewell speech:
President ends his leadership with urgent and fearful warning about the state of American democracy
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/11/barack-obamas-farewell-speech-president-declare-faith-power/


Glenn Greenwald; Watch How Casually False Claims are Published:
We have a perfect example of how this happens from the New York Times today
https://theintercept.com/2017/01/10/watch-how-casually-false-claims-are-published-nyt-and-nicholas-lemann-edition/


Claims the Russians 'filmed Donald watching prostitutes in degrading sex acts':
It has been alleged a secret recording of Trump was made in a Moscow hotel room as he watched Russian escorts urinating on themselves on a suite bed
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4108364/Donald-Trump-golden-opportunity-advertisement-resurfaces-Russia-claims.html


FBI Sought Surveillance of Trump Campaign Officials:
The Guardian "has learned that the FBI applied for a warrant from the foreign intelligence surveillance (FISA) court over the summer in order to monitor four members of the Trump team suspected of irregular contacts with Russian officials.
http://tinyurl.com/zz2kw2b


Trump, Russia Both Hit Out at Claims in Intelligence Dossier:
Mr. Trump, criticized the news media, American intelligence and unspecified "crooked opponents" over the reports that surfaced Tuesday.
http://tinyurl.com/z2joyw7


It was me: Sworn Trump enemy John McCain admits HE handed smear dossier to FBI :
Details surface of document's bizarre journey from British former spy and diplomat
http://tinyurl.com/zlbv46c


4Chan Claims To Have Fabricated Anti-Trump Report As A Hoax:
In a story that is getting more surreal by the minute, a post on 4Chan now claims that the infamous "golden showers" scene in the unverified 35-page dossier, allegedly compiled by a British intelligence officer, was a hoax
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-10/4chan-claims-have-fabricated-anti-trump-report-hoax


Torture Allegations Shadow Donald Trump's Secretary of State:
As Tillerson seeks to become America's top diplomat, another aspect of his past should come under scrutiny: his former company's troubling ties to allegations of torture and other grave human rights abuses in Indonesia.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/trumps-pick-secretary-state-rex-tillerson-linked-human-rights-abuses-indonesia


Tillerson says Russia poses a 'danger' to U.S., and more testimony highlights:
Trump's secretary of state nominee testifies NATO 'right to be alarmed' by Russia
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tillerson-says-russia-poses-a-danger-to-us-and-more-testimony-highlights-2017-01-11


Did defense secretary nominee James Mattis commit war crimes in Iraq?;
Retired Gen. James Mattis earned the nickname "Mad Dog" for leading U.S. Marines into battle in Fallujah, Iraq
https://www.revealnews.org/article/did-defense-secretary-nominee-james-mattis-commit-war-crimes-in-iraq/