Syrian army encircles Aleppo as talks falter: A Syrian military offensive backed by heavy Russian air strikes threatened to cut critical rebel supply lines into the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, while the warring sides said peace talks had not started despite a U.N. statement they had.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0VB1CQ
Syria : UN suspends peace talks in Geneva:
The UN has suspended peace talks aimed at ending Syria's five-year civil war, the organisation's special envoy has said. Staffan de Mistura called the temporary halt, saying there had been a lack of progress in the first week. The talks are due to resume again on 25 February.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35488073
Syria says Saudi, Qatar, Turkey told opposition to quit Geneva talks: The head of the Syrian government's delegation on Wednesday accused the opposition of wanting to withdraw from peace talks under pressure from regional powers, and the United Nations of suspending the talks until Feb. 25 to avoid such a walk-out.
http://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-jaafari-idINKCN0VC2DL
Pentagon plans more money and troops for Iraq, Syria operations: The Pentagon plans to sharply increase spending on the fight against the Islamic State group and potentially put more American troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria later this year, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday.
http://tinyurl.com/zarepda
ISIS attacks kill 31 Iraqi soldiers in two days: The Islamic State (ISIS) has shelled Anbar provincial capital Ramadi on Wednesday and killed 13 Iraqi soldiers. According to Al Jazeera in the village of Abu Risha north of Ramadi ISIS artillery killed four soldiers.
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/030220161
US 'to quadruple defence budget for Europe': The Pentagon is to propose quadrupling its budget for European defence in 2017 in the light of "Russian aggression", US Defence Secretary Ash Carter says.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35476180
Britain top dog in unregulated shadow world of mercenaries - report: Britain has become the world's post-9/11 "mercenary kingpin" with hundreds of firms employing thousands of ex-military freebooters in a shadowy industry worth billions, a report by charity War on Want claims.
https://www.rt.com/uk/331158-britain-global-mercenary-industry/
David Stockman-We Are Nearing the End: Video - Former White House Budget Director David Stockman contends, "We are nearing the end. I think the world economy is plunging into an unprecedented deflation recession period of shrinkage that will bring down all the markets around the world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5exbO-Ros2Q
80% of firearms deaths in developed world happen in US - study:Americans are 10 times more likely to be killed by a gun compared to people living in other developed nations around the world. This is according to a new study highlighting the "US has an enormous firearm problem."
https://www.rt.com/usa/331127-usa-gun-violence-rate/
Sarah Palin says Cruz is a liar: Ted Cruz was spot on when he once noted that "millions of Americans are asking for accountability and truth." Which is why it's so curious - and saddens us - this lack of accountability with the lies of Cruz's own campaign.
https://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin/posts/10153929150093588
