Die Vertreter der syrischen Opposition, die an den Verhandlungen in Astana teilnehmen, werden das Abschlussdokument der Bürgschaftsstaaten nicht unterzeichnen. Dies teilte die Nachrichtenagentur TASS unter Berufung auf Yahya al-Aridi, ein Mitglied der oppositionellen Delegation, mit. „Die Bürgschaftsländer – Russland, die Türkei und möglicherweise der Iran – werden das Dokument einfach verbreiten“, sagte er.

Iran, Russia and Turkey will establish a trilateral mechanism to observe and ensure full compliance with the ceasefire in Syria, prevent any provocations and determine exactly how the ceasefire will work, the three nations said in a joint statement.

Friedensgespräche, die die UN in Genf organisiert hatte, scheiterten oft daran, dass die Assad-Gegner unüberwindbare Vorbedingungen gestellt hatten. Die Niederlage in Aleppo hat den großteils radikal-islamischen Kämpfern jedoch klargemacht, dass sie immer weniger Möglichkeiten haben, ihre Forderungen durchzudrücken. Da die Unterstützung vonseiten ihrer Verbündeten – Saudi-Arabien, Katar und der Türkei – zusammengebrochen ist, bleiben ihnen nur noch Verhandlungen oder die totale Niederlage.

At least two GOP lawmakers had placed holds on the Palestinian funds. Congressional holds are generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding.

The official and the aides weren‘t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.

The malady, common among political leaders who commit heartless crimes while craving popular adulation as heroes and misunderstood saints, is ‘Political Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy’ (PMSP). PMSP best explains the pathologic drive of politicians and policy makers who inflict relentless, systematic mass destruction and then intervene in a most theatrical manner to save a few victims – thus drawing gratitude from the victim and public support for their ‘humanitarian intervention’ – ignorant of their fundamental role in creating the mayhem in the first place.

On Monday, Abdallah confirmed to Reuters that he had recorded the video on his mobile phone and that his voice was heard on it. He said the discussion had probably taken place on Jan. 6 or 7.

He also confirmed his earlier statement that he had reported Regeni to the police in early January 2016, and denied that he had acted out of frustration with Regeni‘s refusal to give him money. He told Reuters that it had been his „national duty“ to pass on to police his suspicions that Regeni was a spy.

Trump told Sisi in a telephone call he appreciated the difficulties faced by Egypt in its „war on terror“ and affirmed his administration‘s commitment to supporting the country, Sisi‘s spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement.

In a statement, Stoltenberg said, “I had an excellent discussion with Secretary Mattis today — a strong friend of NATO at the Pentagon. Secretary Mattis knows the Alliance’s value well, having been NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation. I look forward to welcoming him back to the NATO family, and to seeing him at our next meeting of defense ministers in February.”

Pompeo, a Republican congressman representing Kansas, was confirmed by a vote of 66-32 after Senate Democrats forced a three-day delay, arguing that the critical post deserved a thorough debate.

Pompeo was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence just after 9 p.m. ET.

The Russian defense ministry said the Russian military had received coordinates of Islamic State targets near al-Bab, Syria from the „American side“ of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the militant group on Jan. 22.