Headline News 15/02/2017

Headlines

• The Trump Regime’s First Casualty

• UAE Aims out of this World

• Idlib Airstrikes as groups continue in-fighting

Details

The Trump Regime’s First Casualty

The Donald Trump regime has had an explosive first few weeks in office. Trump within his first few weeks broke records, including the most unpopular president so soon after taking power. His policies have been divisive, his comments and views have been even worse, but the first victim took less than 3 weeks to fall. Trump National Security Advisor Lieutenant General (retired) Michael Flynn was forced to step down over allegations he discussed US sanctions with a Russian envoy before Donald Trump took office. The retired army lieutenant-general initially denied having discussed sanctions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, and Vice-President Mike Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf. Mr Flynn later said he could not recall whether he discussed the sanctions. It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy, Flynn did this before he was appointed as Trump's National Security Advisor. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates had warned the White House about the contacts and that Mr Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail on 26 January, said Mr Spicer. Acting FBI Director Sally Yates had informed the Trump White House shortly after inauguration day that surveillance of Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak revealed he and Mr Flynn had discussed US sanctions imposed by the Obama administration during their 30 December phone call. This ran directly counter not only to Mr Flynn's public denials, but those of other Trump administration officials. Trump ran on a campaign to clean the swamp and clean up politics, the White House is however in disarray and it remain to be seen how long Trump himself will remain.

UAE Aims out of this World

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled a new project that aims to establish the first inhabitable human settlement in Mars by 2117. The initiative called "Mars 2117 Project" was announced on Tuesday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, on the sidelines of the 5th World Government Summit, currently being held in the Emirate. “The landing of people on other planets has been a long-time dream for humans. Our aim is that the UAE will spearhead international efforts to make this dream a reality," said Sheikh Mohammad Bin Maktoum. In July 2014, the UAE announced it would create a space agency with the aim of sending the first Arab unmanned probe to Mars by 2021. According to a statement released by the Dubai government media office, the project is set to be developed and executed in partnership with major international scientific research institutions.

The UAE has for long squandered its wealth on large projects in order to attract western workers.

Like the other city states in the region, the UAE’s total population is 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates. Rather than spending the money on research into technologies that would make a difference to people’s lives, they continues to spend in areas western nations struggle to raise finance for.

Idlib Airstrikes as groups continue in-fighting

On 7th February Idlib province was hit by several airstrikes supposedly targeting a JFS base subsequently killing 23 people. Since then there have been reports of increasing airstrikes, not covered by the mainstream media.

Russia has come out denying any involvement but it seems that such airstrikes are used by partners of the regime to heighten the already tense situation within Idlib. With the next round of talks due in Cairo Astana coming up which has resulted in a mood swing amongst certain rebels, the different groups are currently locked in an internal dispute amongst themselves with skirmishes between various groups being reported. For now, it seems airstrikes will continue but a continued in-fighting between groups will only strengthen the effects of these airstrikes on the revolution.