Breaking News, January 31, 2018

After a brief lull in the West Bank, clashes again broke out: east of Nablus, near the Tomb of Joseph and Tel Balat, the Palestinians attacked Israeli security forces, using stones and smoke bombs. Protests of the population of the West Bank of Jordan are connected with the statement of the US President on the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

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During the past day, the AFU shelled the positions of the People’s Militia of the LPR four times. This was reported by the defense department of the Republic. The areas of settlements Lozovoye, Veselaya Gora and Kalinovka were subjected to shelling by means of mortars, various types of grenade launchers and weapons of the APCs.

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During the past day the AFU violated the ceasefire seven times in the DPR, releasing almost 190 units of various ammunition in the front-line territories of the Republic. During the shelling mortars, weapons of the APCs, various types of grenade launchers and small arms were used. The front-line settlements in the Donetsk direction were subjected to the most intense fire. According to the representative of the Joint Center for Monitoring and Coordination of the cease-fire regime, the intensity of fire from the Ukrainian side has more than doubled in a day.

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Following the results of the Congress of National Dialogue of Syria, which just finished in Sochi, a constitutional commission was set up, which will be engaged in amending the Constitution of the country. According to Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian president’s special representative for Syria, the commission will be comprised of the supporters of the opposition and the supporters of the government in a 1:2 ratio. The created constitutional commission will operate within the framework of the Geneva peace process under the United Nations aegis. Russia, Turkey and Iran have acted as guarantors of work on the Syrian constitution, pledging to help the work of the commission in every possible way.

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Amid the militant statements from the US, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, following the talks with Dmitry Medvedev, said that the European Union has decided not to tighten sanctions against Russia. According to him, despite disagreements, the only way to overcome the cold snap between Brussels and Moscow is a constructive dialogue. This is not the first such statement by representatives of the European Union. Since the beginning of 2018, many European politicians have raised the issue of reviewing current relations with Russia.

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Motorized rifle divisions of the Central Military District will be equipped with Upgraded BMP-2M by the end of the year. Apart from a 30-mm automatic cannon with a 7.62 mm machine gun, BMP-2M has a more advanced fire control system and a strengthened armament complex. The armored personnel carier is reinforced with the Ataka anti-tank missile system, which makes it possible to combat armored vehicles and low-flying targets, «the military stressed. In addition, the car is equipped with an inhabited module «Berezhok» for two soldiers.