An airstrike on the central region of Iraq

1 Iraq

The ’Al Mayadeen’ TV reported while citing their sources that an area of the city of ​​Jurf al-Nasr, located in the north of the central Iraqi province Babil, was hit with an airstrike. The striked area is under control of the Iraqi forces. The sources of the ’Al Mayadeen’ reported that the US Air Force planes were spotted overnight above the city of Al Qaim, near the border with Syria. The ’Fox News’ reported with a reference to a senior Pentagon official that the US military did not launch air strikes in central Iraq that night. The ’Al Arabiya’ TV reported that 3 explosions took place at the positions of the pro-Iranian ’Kataib Hezbollah’ group, near Jurf al-Nasr. According to the sources from the ’Al Arabiya’ TV — the Iraqi servicemen were not harmed.

2 Russia — Armenia

During a telephone conversation, the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Armenia, Sergey Lavrov and Ara Ayvazyan, discussed possible solutions of the humanitarian issues, and the establishment of a cooperation in Nagorno-Karabakh. «Discussion continued on the implementation of the agreement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia from 9th of November, 2020, as well as the agreements, reached at the Moscow summit on 11th of January, 2021, including the matters aimed to resolve the humanitarian issues, and establish a cooperation in the region» — the Russian Foreign Ministry stated. It was reported that the parties discussed a number of issues on the two-sided and international agenda.

3 The USA

The ’Washington Post’ reported that on 20th of January, the US President-elect Joe Biden will submit legislative proposals to Congress on a migration reform. It was reported that immediately after the inauguration, Joe Biden will launch a complete reform of the migration law. It is planned to introduce an 8 years long period for obtaining the US citizenship for migrants without legal status, as well as to increase the quotas for refugees. The proposed package is intended, among other things, to eradicate the causes of the migration flow from the Central America.

4 Russia

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with the UN Secretary General’s High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos. «The negotiations were centered on the preparations for the holding of the ’World Conference of Heads of States, Parliamentarians, and Leaders of World Religions on the Inter-cultural and Inter-religious Dialogue for the Benefit of Peace and Humanity’ in Russia in May 2022, via the Inter-Parliamentary Union and under the UN flag» — the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. It was noted that the parties discussed the efforts of the Alliance in the field of enhancement of the inter-civilizational and inter-religious dialogue, contributing to the prevention of conflicts on civilizational, ethnic, and confessional grounds.

5 Russia

The head of the Russian parliament’s defense committee, Vladimir Shamanov, stated that the decision to legally secure the exit of Russia from the ’Open Skies Treaty’ will be based on the dialogue with the new administration of the US President-elect Joe Biden. «An expert assessment is taking place at the moment. We must wait for a while» — the TASS news agency quoted his words. Vladimir Shamanov explained that the Biden’s administration should get in power first. «The final decisions will be made on how the dialogues will develop further. The transition period can be expected from 1 to 3 months» — Vladimir Shamanov concluded.

6 Germany

The head of the Bundestag’s Committee on the Economics and Energy, Klaus Ernst, stated that the sanctions against the participants of the ’Nord Stream 2’ are unacceptable, and the USA impose them strictly for their own interests. «It is unacceptable how the USA are promoting the economic interests of their own gas industry, and how they seek to ensure that their so-called ’allies’ degrade and become subordinates» — the TASS news agency quoted Klaus Ernst. «I urge the federal government to summon the US ambassador and clearly explain the governmental position. It is necessary to introduce penal duties on the gas imports from the USA’’ — Klaus Ernst stated and added that he is certain that the US President-elect Joe Biden won’t change the aggressive US economic policy. Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.