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{ gatestoneinstitute.org } ~ Russia's refusal to reach an agreement with Saudi Arabia on global oil quotas could ultimately have a disastrous impact on the Kremlin's long-term ambitions of extending its influence in the Middle East... Last week's dramatic fall in the value of global stock markets was prompted, in part, by Moscow's decision at the end of last week to end its cooperation with the Saudis to agree to new oil production targets, a measure designed to maintain global oil prices at a sustainable level. The Saudi response, to launch an oil price-war against Moscow, was clearly not the outcome the Russians had been anticipating. Thus, instead of guaranteeing Russia's market share in the global oil market, which had been Moscow's primary objective at last week's meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC producers in Vienna, the Russians now find themselves involved in a bitter price war with Saudi Arabia, the world's second-largest oil producer and largest oil exporter. The consequences of the fall-out between Moscow and Riyadh could have a profound impact not only on the Russian economy, but also on Russian President Vladimir Putin's wider ambitions to promote Russian influence throughout the globe, especially in the Middle East. The Russian economy is heavily dependent on revenues from the country's vast energy resources. But a combination of increasingly effective US sanctions, as well as the general slowdown in the global economy caused by the coronavirus epidemic, has resulted in dramatic falls in the value of the rouble, with Moscow's finances now coming under increased pressure as a result of Saudi Arabia's decision to launch an oil war against Russia. The primary motivation behind the Saudi move is to protect its own share of the global oil market, which is under threat from a combination of softening demand and the renewed strength of the American oil industry. Because the Saudis enjoy low oil production costs of around $6-7 a barrel, they are able to cope with lower oil prices, while countries like Russia, which have much higher extraction costs, need global prices to be at least $50 a barrel to make a profit. Thus the Saudi price cut, which saw oil prices fall to around $31 a barrel, will hit the Russian economy hard...  https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15707/oil-price-russia  

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{ foxnews.com  } ~ The head of U.S. forces in the Middle East says an Iranian-backed militia likely launched the attack killing the two Americans and a British soldier in Iraq  Wednesday night... "The Iranian proxy group Kata'eb Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq," Gen. Kenneth McKenzie told Senate lawmakers Thursday morning. Despite adding over 10,000 U.S. troops to the region since May, McKenzie says Iran continues its attacks against U.S. forces. “What has not changed is their continuing desire to operate through their proxies indirectly against us,” McKenzie added. Iranian-backed Shia militia launched 18 Katyusha rockets at Camp Taji, located 17 miles north of Baghdad -- the largest attack on U.S. troops since Iran fired ballistic missiles in early January, days after a U.S. drone strike that killed Iran's most powerful general Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad's airport. Wednesday would have reportedly been Soleimani's 63rd birthday, the same day as the attack. U.S. Central Command says 12 additional coalition troops were wounded in the rocket attack. Iraqi forces found a truck rigged with rocket-launching tubes a few miles from the base. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to his British counterpart after the attack. "Today’s deadly attack on Iraq’s Camp Taji military base will not be tolerated. @DominicRaab  and I agree – those responsible must be held accountable," Pompeo said in a tweet. Ben Wallace, Britain's defense secretary, said Thursday: “Last night’s attack on UK and coalition personnel was a cowardly and retrograde act. The men and women of the UK armed forces are in Iraq to help that country establish stability and prosperity. The people that did this are not friends of Iraq."...   https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-likely-launched-attack-that-killed-americans-in-iraq-us-general  

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{ foxnews.com } ~ The Trump administration will suspend travel between  European countries and the United States for 30 days as the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic continues to grow... The measure will go into effect at midnight Friday, Trump said during a nationally televised message from the White House on Wednesday. He said the "strong but necessary" restrictions would not apply to the United Kingdom. After his address, Trump also stressed the travel restriction applies to people and will not impact trade. "The restriction stops people not goods," he tweeted. As the coronavirus continues to spread worldwide, the U.S. and many other nations have enacted tough measures to contain the illness, including barring foreign visitors from countries ravaged by the outbreak. "I'm confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and we'll ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus," Trump said. The Trump administration so far has barred travelers from mainland China, where the virus originated last December, and Iran, which also has seen a spike in infections, from entering the United States. The restrictions covered any foreign nationals who visited those countries within the past 14 days. “We made a lifesaving move with early action on China," Trump said. "Now we must take the same action with Europe.” American travelers returning from China and Iran have been screened for symptoms in one of 11 airports. The virus has killed over 4,200 people and sickened nearly 120,000 others globally. Some 1,200 cases have been reported in the U.S. In addition to travel restrictions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to multiple countries, including Italy, which largely has been in a lockdown state amid a surge in coronavirus infections...   https://www.foxnews.com/world/coronavirus-us-travel-restrictions-countries   

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{ foxnews.com } ~ Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement posted by Hanks to social media on Wednesday evening... “Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive," the 63-year-old actor wrote in a statement on Twitter. He continued, "Well, now. What to do next?  The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!”Hanks and Wilson, 63, were in Australia filming an untitled Elvis Presley biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann. Hanks plays Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker. Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, offered a statement to Deadline. "We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus)." The statement continued, explaining that the company is working with professionals to "identify and contact" those exposed to the virus." The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world," said the statement. In the message, Warner Bros. confirmed that "the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment."...   https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tom-hanks-rita-wilson-coronavirus  

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{ foxnews.com } ~ The NBA has suspended its entire season until further notice after a player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus... The test result was reported shortly before the Utah Jazz were to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The game was immediately canceled and the affected player was not in the arena, according to an NBA statement. “The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the statement read. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.” This came after the NCAA president announced Wednesday that all Division I men's and women's basketball tournament games will be played in arenas without fans. Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James said last week that if he showed up to an arena and there weren’t fans, he wouldn’t be playing. Little did he know he might not have the option. James walked back those comments earlier Wednesday after he learned that was a real possibility in talks with the NBA. On Monday, the NBA, along with the NHL, MLB and MLS, announced that they would be closing locker rooms and clubhouses to the press in order to limit COVID-19’s exposure. "Obviously, I would be very disappointed not having the fans, because that is what I play for -- I play for my family, I play for my fans," James said. He added: "If they feel like it's best for the safety of the players, the safety of the franchise, the safety of the league to mandate that, then we all listen to it."

{ freebeacon.com } ~ The Trump administration will fight efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate American personnel for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan...according to top U.S. officials who described the court's efforts as a dangerous sham. The ICC ruled on Thursday that it has jurisdiction to investigate and potentially prosecute American service members for alleged war crimes perpetrated in Afghanistan during America's 18-plus years in the country. The decision marks a reversal of the court's initial findings on the matter and prompted fierce pushback from the Trump administration, which maintains the ICC is conducting a politically motivated stunt meant to undermine America's efforts to foster peace in the war-torn nation. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ripped the court's decision in comments to reporters at the State Department. "I received word this morning that the ICC Appeals Chamber authorized an investigation into the activities of the Taliban and U.S. and Afghan personnel there," Pompeo said. "This is a truly breathtaking action by an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body." The United States is not a member of the ICC and will fight efforts to target American military members, Pompeo said. He added that the timing of the decision showed disregard for ongoing U.S.-led peace efforts with the Taliban. "It is all the more reckless for this ruling to come just days after the United States signed a historic peace deal in Afghanistan, which is the best chance for peace in a generation," Pompeo said.  "Indeed, the Afghan government itself pleaded with the ICC not to take this course. But the ICC politicians had other goals." "I will reiterate one more time: The United States is not a party to the ICC, and we will take all necessary measures to protect our citizens from this renegade, unlawful, so-called court," the secretary added. Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at the Lawfare Project, an independent organization that litigates cases on behalf of the pro-Israel community and others, told the Washington Free Beacon that the court's decision could endanger American military members serving abroad...  https://freebeacon.com/national-security/trump-admin-rips-international-criminal-court-decision-to-probe-u-s-conduct-in-afghanistan/   

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