RT News - January 30th 2023

Asia: Victoria Nuland starts her "Asia Tour" she will be visiting India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Qatar. Whilst in India she is expected to take issue at Russia's substantial exports of oil and arms to India. That's as India reiterates that its ties with Russia are indispensable. (QS - was the BBC documentary AND Washington's commentary on it laying the foundation for digs at India? see below *)
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Italy signs a gas deal worth billions of euros with the North African nation of Libya. It insists it has no intention to have a 'predatory role' in the region, but there is considerable mistrust among local residents.
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Africa: South Africa. In energy rich South Africa power cuts continue making the country hard work to live in. With it's young, enthusiastic and well educated population why is S.A. being held back? The "Green Agenda" and it's backers are causing life to be far more difficult than it needs to be.
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Africa: The southern African nation of Zimbabwe gets a significant economic boost from trade with China, despite crippling Western sanctions for "human rights concerns" which have never been proven. The U.S. said they are about "corruption". RT hears from Zimbabwe's information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, about the possible motivation for those Western policies and all the existential threats they post to Zimbabwe and it's people.
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De-dollarisation: US politicians acknowledge that Ukraine and other policies could result in the U.S. Dollar losing it's dominance as the world's "currency"
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Africa: Burkina Faso citizens continue to protest about the French presence in the country and demand they leave within a month. (catch up on history on previous posts). Central African Republic (CAR) officials welcome Russian security forces in the region to bring stability. France has been accused by many African nations where the have a presence, of encouraging and even aiding terrorists. France blames Russia for anti-French sentiment (QS but the Russians are only there because they've been asked, they didn't invite themselves.)
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Ukraine conflict: A Kharkov building has been hit by an air-defence missile. Donbass: Fierce fighting continues. Pres. Zelensky isn't happy with the progress of Kiev forces. Murad Gazdiev reports from Lugansk.

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* (QS: India: Modi, the BBC, the U.S. and laying the foundations for a "hit piece" at "just the right time")

Below, Via RT website
1) --- Drones attack convoy on Syria-Iraq border – media
Trucks were reportedly hit by airstrikes at the al-Qaim crossing
1a) --- Israel struck Iran with drones – WSJ
1b) --- Israel and US aim to send message with record military drill
2) --- NATO hopeful could be ‘shocked’ by Türkiye – Erdogan
3) --- Civilians killed in another Ukrainian HIMARS strike – governor

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* (QS: India: Modi, the BBC, the U.S. and laying the foundations for a "hit piece" at "just the right time" with Nuland's visit and elections coming up in India. 21 yrs ago Narendra Modi was chief minister of Gujarat when a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was assailed by a "Muslim crowd" before it caught fire, killing 59 people. A wave of retribution followed, with Hindus ransacking mosques and murdering Muslims. After several weeks of rioting, 1,044 people were dead, around three quarters of them Muslim.

A government commission found that the fire was started by the Muslim crowd. Modi was accused of allowing the violence to rage but he was cleared in 2012 of any involvement following a probe by India’s Supreme Court.

I haven't seen the mini-series produced by the BBC because I refuse to buy a licence to watch what is generally rubbish and propaganda with the odd old film and a revamped version of "Come Dancing" chucked in for good measure, but I do have twitter and there is overwhelming support for Modi from Hindus and Muslims alike and serious disdain for what Indians see as a "hit piece" - incidentally Britain held an inquiry into it ! ("colonial mindset") see https://www.firstpost.com/world/pack-of-lies-bbcs-hitjob-on-pm-modi-relies-on-jack-straws-words-but-hes-known-to-have-been-a-liar-himself-12035022.html )

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29 Jan, 2023 22:32

1) --- Drones attack convoy on Syria-Iraq border – media
Trucks were reportedly hit by airstrikes at the al-Qaim crossing

A convoy of trucks was attacked by drones at the al-Qaim crossing on the Syria-Iraq border on Sunday, Al Arabiya reported, citing “opposition activists and a pro-government radio station.” The crossing is purportedly controlled by Iranian fighters.

According to Al Arabiya, 25 vehicles had crossed the border before the attack. Six refrigerator trucks were hit, Syria’s Sham FM and other local media claimed.

The TV channel Al-Mayadeen, however, reported that “three Iranian aid trucks loaded with flour and rice were targeted.” “The convoy did not carry any weapons,” according to the media outlet.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the strike.

The drones allegedly fired a warning shot to allow the truck drivers to abandon their cargo, though there were conflicting reports on whether anyone was hurt. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed ambulances rushed to the area to treat the injured, while the Times of Israel suggested there were no reports of injuries.

While an official with an “Iran-backed militia” in Baghdad confirmed there had been an airstrike, he claimed only one truck had been targeted and did not mention casualties.

The attack comes hours after a drone strike on an Iranian munitions facility in Isfahan province. Israel was reportedly responsible for that attack, according to US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. Tehran condemned it as a “cowardly” assault meant to spread “insecurity,” confirming its air defenses had brought down one drone and blown up two others.
https://www.rt.com/news/570665-iranian-convoy-hit-syrian-border/
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29 Jan, 2023 18:29

1a) --- Israel struck Iran with drones – WSJ

Tehran said that the attack was “unsuccessful”

Israel was behind Sunday morning’s drone strike on an Iranian munitions facility, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing American officials. The strike, which Iran says it thwarted, came after the US and Israel held a series of meetings and military exercises.

One explosives-laden drone was shot down by an Iranian air defense system while two others crashed into a protective mesh above a military workshop in the city of Isfahan in the early hours of the morning, Iran’s Defense Ministry said.

“This unsuccessful attack did not cause any loss of life and caused minor damage to the workshop’s roof,” the ministry stressed, according to state media outlet IRNA. Tehran did not initially blame the attack on Israel.

However, unnamed US officials and other “people familiar with the operation” told the Wall Street Journal that Israel was responsible for the strike. The Israeli military has not officially confirmed its involvement, in keeping with its usual policy of silence following attacks on foreign targets.

The attack came after CIA Director William Burns made an unannounced visit to Israel last week to discuss Iran. While the specifics of his discussion with his Israeli counterparts are unknown, Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Israel Defense Forces’ chief of staff, told the Wall Street Journal last week that the US and Israel were readying “offensive capabilities” for use against the Islamic Republic.

These “capabilities” were demonstrated last week when the two allies held their largest-ever joint military drills, in which they practiced mid-air refueling and strikes against air-defense systems.

Washington has accused Tehran of supporting Russia’s military operation in Ukraine by supplying ‘kamikaze’ drones. While Russia and Iran officially denied this, both nations have drawn closer together since the Ukrainian conflict began, increasing their trade turnover during 2022 and integrating their bank card systems earlier this month.

Gen. Halevi said that the US and Israel are explicitly aiming to “limit the bad actions that Iran is taking all over the world,” including its “negative contribution” to the conflict in Ukraine.

Sunday’s drone strikes happened amid reports on social media of explosions across the Islamic Republic. A blast occurred at an oil production plant in the northwestern city of Azarshahr in the province of East Azerbaijan, while a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the province at the same time. The oil plant explosion has not been blamed on foul play.
https://www.rt.com/news/570658-israel-drone-strike-iran/
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23 Jan, 2023 17:51

1b) --- Israel and US aim to send message with record military drill

Iran will take notice of the joint exercise, which is the largest ever held by the two countries, the Pentagon has claimed

The US and Israeli militaries began their largest-ever joint exercise on Monday, seeking to hone seamless coordination of their forces and prove a point to Iran about their readiness to fight a conflict in the Middle East even as Washington juggles rising tensions with Russia and China.

“I do think that this scale of the exercise is relevant to a whole range of scenarios, and Iran may draw certain inferences from that,” a senior US defense official told reporters. “It would not surprise me if Iran, you know, sees the scale and the nature of these activities and understands what the two of us are capable of doing.”

Dubbed Juniper Oak, the exercise will involve over 140 aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers and F-35 fighter jets, as well as 12 warships and about 7,500 troops, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). It’s designed to improve the “interoperability” of both forces.

“What we think this exercise demonstrates is, we can walk and chew gum at the same time,” the unidentified defense official told NBC News. Despite the Pentagon’s growing focus on China and its efforts to help Ukraine defeat Russian forces, he added, “We still have the excess capacity to be able to flex to another high-priority area of responsibility and conduct an exercise on this scale.”

Juniper Oak (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/juniper-oak/) is an all-domain exercise, meaning it will include naval, land, air, space and electronic-warfare drills. It will run from Monday through Friday in Israel and the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The US will reportedly employ four HIMARS rocket launchers, laser-guided bombs and stealth cruise missiles. The event will culminate with the firing of 180,000 pounds of live munitions while simulating an electronic attack and suppressing enemy air defenses.

“This is a sign that we continue to have Israel’s back at a time when there’s lots of turbulence and instability across the region,” the defense official said. The source added, “If there’s a sense that Americans are distracted, or the Americans are going away from the Middle East, and therefore they have free rein for their malign activities, I think this will disabuse them.”

“I suspect Iran will take note of that, but not only Iran. China will take note of that, Russia will take note of that, other folks will take note of that.”
https://www.rt.com/news/570369-us-israel-hold-largest-joint-military-exercise/
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30 Jan, 2023 00:14

2) --- NATO hopeful could be ‘shocked’ by Türkiye – Erdogan

Ankara may give ‘different responses’ to Stockholm and Helsinki on their membership bids, the president has said

Türkiye may rule differently on the NATO applications of Finland and Sweden, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an audience of youth in the Bilecik province on Sunday, hinting that “Sweden would be shocked when we respond differently to Finland.”

“But Finland should not make the same mistake,” the Turkish leader warned.

The two Nordic nations had both reached an agreement with Türkiye in June on joining the US-led military bloc, pledging not to provide support to groups Ankara has designated as terrorists, to extradite terrorism suspects, and to swear off arms embargoes involving any of the trio. In return, Ankara has been expected to support their NATO membership.

However, that pact fractured earlier this month, when Swedish-Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burned a Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Sweden and vowed to destroy the holy book of Islam every Friday until Stockholm is allowed into NATO.

Erdogan addressed the provocative act in his remarks on Sunday, asking “Did [Sweden] wipe out Islam by burning our Koran?…They just showed how ignoble they are. Denmark did the same.”

Paludan burned additional copies of the Koran on Friday, this time in front of a mosque, the Turkish Embassy, and the Russian Consulate in Copenhagen.

While Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party leader’s actions as “deeply disrespectful,” he stopped short of calling for any official punishment for Paludan, who had police permission for the stunt under Stockholm’s protections for freedom of expression. Türkiye condemned the country’s leniency, arguing the act “clearly constitutes a hate crime.”

While Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed last week that a planned meeting to discuss NATO membership with both Finland and Sweden had been postponed indefinitely, Erdogan told his audience on Sunday that Sweden nonetheless had been given a list of 120 people to extradite as “terrorists” in order to “enter NATO.”

Last week, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto suggested Helsinki might join the military bloc alone if its neighbor were to be blocked – a comment he quickly walked back. Both nations’ foreign ministers confirmed on Saturday that their accession was still underway.

Addressing the two countries’ NATO bids, Russia has said the expansion of the bloc would not make the European continent more stable or secure, and while Moscow noted it “does not have problems” with Stockholm or Helsinki, it has nonetheless pledged to adjust its military posture in its northern region if the organization adds two new members.
https://www.rt.com/news/570663-turkiye-sweden-finland-response-different/
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29 Jan, 2023 20:59

3) --- Civilians killed in another Ukrainian HIMARS strike – governor

The US-made weapons system was used in an attack that left four people dead in Russia’s Zaporozhye Region, Evgeny Balitsky said

Ukrainian forces shelled a railway bridge near the city of Melitopol in Russia’s Zaporozhye Region, the acting governor, Evgeny Balitsky, said on Sunday. A US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher was used in the strike, which killed four civilians and injured another five, he added.

At the time of the attack, repairs were being carried out on the bridge, Balitsky noted in a Telegram post. All of the people killed and injured in the strike were service technicians involved in the repairs, the official stated.

“The Kiev authorities deliberately targeted a civilian infrastructure object, committing another crime against civilians,” Balitsky said, adding that all of those who were injured were receiving the necessary medical assistance.

The attack came just a day after Ukrainian troops hit a civilian hospital in the Lugansk People’s Republic. The strike, which also involved a HIMARS system, killed 14 people and left 24 injured.

The Russian Defense Ministry called a strike on the hospital an “absolutely grave war crime.” Moscow’s first deputy permanent representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, accused the US of being directly involved in that attack by supplying the Ukrainian forces with the weapons, ammunition and reconnaissance data.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukrainian forces of targeting civilian infrastructure, including with weapons supplied by the West. In early January, six people were killed and 37 injured in a strike on the city of Vasilyevka in Zaporozhye Region. Prior to that, a hospital was destroyed in the city of Tokmak in the same region.

Zaporozhye Region was incorporated into the Russian state in early October together with Kherson Region and the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk following referendums in which the populations of those territories overwhelmingly supported joining Russia.
https://www.rt.com/russia/570662-ukraine-strike-himars-bridge-civilians/
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