SYRIA UPDATE

Mikdad: Syria didn’t and won’t use chemical weapons, adhered to international peace and security

Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad stressed that Syria didn’t and will not use chemical weapons and it is adhered to achieving international peace and security despite all threats by terrorist organizations and their backers.

Mikdad’s remarks came during a symposium on a book titled “Syria and the Chemicals With Facts and Documents” by MP Dr. Ahmad Abdul-Salam Mar’ai which was held after the signing ceremony of the book at al-Assad National Library on Sunday evening.

Mikdad heads the National Committee on Implementing Syria’s Commitments according to Convention on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=149366

Rehabilitating infrastructure is underway in areas liberated from terrorism

Local Administration and Environment Minister Hussein Makhlouf said that the reconstruction committee is implementing a number of projects to rehabilitate infrastructure, especially in the areas that have been liberated from terrorism.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=149439

The notion that the US is in Syria for ‘stability’ is just plain nuts

Just in recent days, the Islamic State has seized 700 hostages in a part of Syria controlled by US-backed forces and are executing some ten a day until unspecified demands are met.

How could that be, if the US insists it has IS on the run? Going back to the Obama administration, the US has a history of protecting such jihadi fighters. The intent is to create a Sunni enclave inside Syria to impede any western Iranian or Shia militia advancement into Syria.

Bolton’s fingerprints are all over a more aggressive and ideologically-driven Trump administration foreign policy. It encompasses keeping US troops in Syria; to Iran where he convinced Trump to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear agreement. That action will allow even more stringent US sanctions to kick in, although Tehran was in full compliance with the agreement.

https://www.rt.com/op-ed/441940-us-presence-syria-nuts/

French Forces to Set Up Military Base in Raqqa

The Arabic-language Baladi News website affiliated to the terrorists reported on Thursday that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are busy with drilling operations in an area stretching from the Brigade 17 region to Sahlat al-Banat region in Northeast of Raqqa city and from Sahlat al-Banat region to the North of the Sugar plant in Northern Raqqa.

It added that operations to build the walls and construction of buildings in the area will start after drilling operations, noting that a military base is due to be set up for the French forces with the aim of supporting the SDF in Raqqa.

According to the report, the US military troops are in talks with the SDF to further equip al-Tabaqah airbase in Western Raqqa and turn it into their new military base in the region next year.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/french-forces-to-set-up-military-base-in-raqqa/5657576

Syrian Army Recovers Roman Artifacts Looted By Daesh From Palmyra

A military source told Al-Masdar News the artifacts were packaged and ready to be smuggled out of the country but were seemingly abandoned as Daesh terrorists fled their positions as the Syrian Army advanced on the area.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201810221069105224-syrian-army-palmyra-artifacts/

SYRIAN WAR REPORT – OCTOBER 22, 2018

More than 2,500 settlements have joined the reconciliation process as a result of the Russian reconciliation center’s efforts. According to Shoigu special attention is being paid to resolving humanitarian issues.

On the same day, after long negotiations and as a result of the siege on al-Safa, Syrian authorities freed six hostages, all of whom were abducted by ISIS during an attack in July. The governor the Sweida region Amer al-Ashi said that numerous terrorists were killed in the operation that lasted more than 83 days, following the ISIS attack.

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/#ixzz5Uj9VoqKs

Buy F-16s to Avoid S-400 Sanctions US Tells India

New Delhi isn't keen on the fighter already in service with Pakistan

With India signing a pact with Russia to purchase the S-400 missile defence system, Washington has informally conveyed to Delhi that it could avoid sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) if India were to give an assurance that it would buy the F-16 fighter aircraft from the United States. Not keen on buying an aircraft already in service with Pakistan, India has refused to give any such assurance till date.

The fallout of the Trump administration’s reaction to the S-400 deal featured in the wide-ranging discussion between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US counterpart James Mattis in Singapore on Friday, but sources told The Indian Express that the offer of a CAATSA waiver in exchange for buying F-16 fighter jets was made earlier this month. Sitharaman and Mattis met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus).

https://russia-insider.com/en/buy-f-16s-avoid-s-400-sanctions-us-tells-india/ri25144

Scouts NSW 'by far the most difficult to deal with' over child sex abuse claims

Scouts NSW are the most difficult and stubborn Australian institution to deal with to resolve claims of sexual abuse, a leading Sydney lawyer in the field of child sex crimes has claimed.

Yesterday emotions ran high in Canberra and across the country, as prime minister Scott Morrison issued a national apology to the thousands of victims and survivors of institutionalised child sex abuse. Mr Morrison said sorry for the decades of failures, cover ups and countless times people were not believed.

Two weeks before Mr Morrison's moving address, which left many survivors in tears, the leader of Scouts Australia had gone public and delivered an apology to youngsters betrayed and forever traumatised by sexual abuse they suffered while members of their organisation.

But Maurice Blackburn's Danielle De Paoli has demanded Scouts NSW follow those words with action, and to stop putting up hurdles in the way of settling outstanding civil claims.

De Paoli, who specialises in litigation against large institutions in the field of child sexual abuse, accused Scouts NSW of operating an "aggressive and obstructionist approach" towards sexual abuse survivors.

"From my experience, Scouts have been by far the most difficult to deal with. Other organisations and institutions - be it private organisations or state government departments - have been more cooperative and willing to participate in these claims," De Paoli said.

De Paoli said some of her clients had waited up to 18 months to receive just an initial response from Scouts NSW. Many have been left in limbo for years as they fight for resolution, De Paoli added.

https://www.9news.com.au/2018/10/23/07/39/scouts-nsw-by-far-the-most-difficult-to-deal-with-over-child-sex-abuse-claims