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Attention

Fallujah full liberation


FARS News Agency
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 17:19 UTC
Map of Fallujah, Iraq
Iraq's Police Chief on Friday declared full liberation of Fallujah after the two-year-long ISIL control over the strategic city.

Commander of Iraq's Federal Police Major General Raed Shaker Judat appeared on the country's national TV in an interview carried out at the center of Falluja minutes ago, declaring that the city has been completely purged of ISIL terrorists.

Meantime, Fallujah Liberation Operation Commander Abdol-Wahhab Saedi told the state-run TV that his forces are in control of the entire city and state buildings now.

Iraqi government troops continued their advances in the city of Fallujah on Friday by winning back new strategic regions. The police and security forces seized back al-Arsan and al-Nazal regions as well as the governor's building of Fallujah city earlier today. The ISIL terrorists had planted bombs in Fallujah governor's building.

The government forces also purged terrorists from the entire Western bank of the Euphrates River.
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Network

You're so vain: Diva Bibi Netanyahu spent $3350 on hair and makeup for UN trip - total was $1.7 million of taxpayer money


Sputnik
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 17:14 UTC
netanyahu
© Sputnik/ Sergey Guneev
The expenses of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to New York for the UN General Assembly last fall totaled more than $1.7 million, including hairstyling that cost Israel $1,600, and make-up $1,750, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure after revelations that Israeli taxpayers footed a bill of over 6.7 million shekels ($1.73 million) after his trip to the 70 Session of the UN General Assembly in New York last fall, including $1,600 spent on hairstyling.

The information came to light following a lengthy legal challenge to the Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Office from lawyer Shahar Ben-Meir, who petitioned the Jerusalem District Court under the Freedom of Information Law, the Haaretz newspaper reported.

Netanyahu and his wife visited New York between September 29 and October 4 2015, and the bills were paid by the Israeli consulate and the Israeli mission to the UN.
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Shoe

Three US officials expelled from Nicaragua for anti-terrorism activities


PressTV
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 17:07 UTC
John Kirby
© week.watch"No they walk around in socks...of course they wear boots and walk on the ground, but they are not boots on the ground!"
The United States says three of its officials operating in Nicaragua have been expelled from the country, warning that the move could harm trade relations between Washington and Managua.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the American officials, who had only recently arrived in Nicaragua, were kicked out of the Central American country on Tuesday.

Kirby told reporters that the action was "unwarranted and inconsistent with the positive and constructive agenda" it seeks with Managua.

"Such treatment has the potential to negatively impact US and Nicaraguan bilateral relations, particularly trade," Kirby said.


Comment: Trade relations means control by big US corporations.


"We've conveyed our strong displeasure," Kirby said, referring specifically to Francisco Campbell, Nicaragua's ambassador to the United States.

"We believe it was unwarranted and inconsistent with the positive and constructive agenda that we seek with the government of Nicaragua," he said of the expulsion.
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Passport

Turkey has failed to meet EU's conditions for visa-free travel

Jennifer Rankin
The Guardian
Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:28 UTC
Turkey EU visas flags
© Murad Sezer/Associated Press
European commission says Turkey has not met conditions of possible deal including border security and human rights issues

Turkey has missed an EU deadline that would have allowed its citizens visa-free travel through most of Europe, amid ongoing tensions over a controversial migration deal.

EU leaders promised the Turkish government that 79 million Turks could have access to Europe's 26-country border-free Schengen travel zone by June, as part of a hotly disputed bargain on migration. But this was always conditional on Turkey meeting 72 EU conditions on border security and fundamental rights. The European commission announced on Wednesday that Turkey had still failed to meet some of the conditions, including changes to its counter-terrorism legislation.

In a separate decision, EU ambassadors are expected to approve the opening of negotiations on one part of Turkish membership talks later on Wednesday. The decision to open talks on budget is a symbolic gesture that was promised under the migration deal.

The prospect of Turkey's membership of the EU has inflamed the UK EU referendum debate even though Turkey is unlikely to join for decades, if ever. The visa deal does not apply to the UK or Ireland, which are outside the EU's Schengen area.

Comment: Unfortunately, despite the diplomatic posturing, Erdogan holds the high cards in this game. All he has to do is threaten to re-open Turkey's borders and send another flood of refugees into Europe.

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Snakes in Suits

Putin's short comment to Sarkozy says it all: "You can now speak with frankness"


RT
Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:48 UTC
putin sarkozy
Russian President Vladimir Putin and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy
Vladimir Putin hopes for a frank chat with his former French colleague, Nicolas Sarkozy, who arrived in Russia to participate in the international economic forum. Ahead of the meeting, Sarkozy spoke in favor of lifting of anti-Russian sanctions.

"You are in a very nice position now - you can speak with frankness," Putin half-jokingly told Sarkozy, who was France's president from 2007 until 2012, as their informal meeting on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) was about to begin late on Wednesday. The politicians have a vast agenda to discuss, Putin said.

The two are expected to touch upon bilateral relations, as well as the current situation in Syria, Putin's aid Yuri Ushakov said on Tuesday.

Comment: Translation: "While in office, elected leaders are barred by various forces from speaking their true thoughts and feelings, or even common sense. They are kept in check by individuals and groups who threaten, blackmail, or otherwise coerce them into following the 'official' policies. If they disobey, they will be assassinated, slandered, or otherwise ruined." It's remarkable how many world leaders suddenly gain a remarkable degree of common sense after they leave office.

Further reading: Former French president Sarkozy: Russia is the strongest player in battle of sanctions, should be first to lift them

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War Whore

Fodder for war: House rejects effort to ban young immigrants from serving in military

Christina Marcos
The Hill
Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:46 UTC
U.S. Military
© Getty Images
In a break from previous votes on the issue, the House on Thursday rejected two GOP proposals to prevent the Obama administration from enlisting young illegal immigrants to serve in the military.

Lawmakers voted down two measures offered by immigration hard-liners Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) that would have prohibited the use of federal money to enlist young illegal immigrants who have been granted work permits under President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

More than 30 Republicans with more centrist views on immigration joined all Democrats in opposing the two amendments offered to a Defense Department spending bill. The amendments failed narrowly with votes of 207-214 and 210-211, respectively.

Certain young illegal immigrants qualify for DACA if they came to the U.S. as minors and have worked toward at least a high school education, among other requirements.

The Obama administration has already enlisted some DACA recipients through a program, Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), that recruits immigrants with valued foreign language or medical skills to serve in the military. Gosar said the Pentagon confirmed to his office that it had recruited 141 DACA recipients as of April.
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Star of David

Flashback May 22: Israeli minister threatens G4S - will "pay a price" for BDS, revoking Israeli contracts

Gil Hoffman
Jerusalem Post
Sun, 22 May 2016 14:20 UTC
gilad erdan
© Flash 90Gilad Erdan
Public Security and Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan admitted at Sunday's Jerusalem Post Conference in New York that G4S, the world's largest security company, stopped doing business in Israel because it caved in to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

In March, the company revoked its contract with Israel following a campaign asking the United Nations to drop its contracts with the firm. The company has claimed that the decision was among many it had taken around the world, but Erdan disputed that claim.

"While almost all companies ignore the intimidation, a tiny minority give in," Erdan said.

"For example, BDS was a factor in the decision of security company G4S to sell their operations in Israel. The company is now trying to convince everyone that BDS was not a factor. Don't listen to them. Giving in to BDS was a mistake, both morally and financially. Companies that take such politically-motivated decisions must pay a price, and they will."

Comment: From Haaretz:
News that a G4S employee was the gunman who killed 50 people at a packed gay nightclub in Florida wiped almost $282.80 million off the value of the world's largest security firm. ... G4S recently announced that it was winding down its operations in Israel and the occupied West Bank. It insisted that the move was due to financial issues and denied that the move was related to its being targeted by anti-Israel campaigners. Some pro-Israel organizations responded by threatening to scrap contracts with G4S if it did not stay in the Jewish state.

When trading opened in London on Monday, shares in G4S lost 6.6 percent to 175 pence to hit their lowest level since 2009. An analyst who declined to be named said the incident could cause more damage to G4S after a long line of issues. "It doesn't help having their name in the press against something like that," the analyst said.

Mateen was employed at a gated retirement community in South Florida. He underwent two instances of company screening and background checks - once when he was hired in 2007, and again in 2013. At that time, the company learned that Mateen had been questioned by the FBI but that the inquiries were then closed.


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Chess

Russia's new hypersonic glider can penetrate any missile defense systems


Sputnik
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 14:19 UTC
Hypersonic glider
© AP/DARPA
Russia's new Yu-74 ultra-maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles may become yet another response to the deployment of NATO's missile installations in Eastern Europe, according to analytical website Ostkraft.

Going head to head with the United States and China, Russia has been developing its own hypersonic weapons during the past few years.

A hypersonic weapon usually has a speed between 3,840 miles per hour (Mach 5) and 7,680 miles per hour (Mach 10). Furthermore, these systems use sophisticated technologies for maneuvering and allow the rapid delivery of warheads, precise targeting and survivability against a wide range of missile defense systems.

Last year Russia conducted a series of tests of the Yu-71 hypersonic attack aircraft. The Yu-71 is part of secret missile program codenamed "Project 4202." The glider was said to reach speeds of up to 7,000 miles per hour. Due to its outstanding maneuverability and high speed the system can overcome any defense shield, Ostkraft noted.

But that is half the story. According to analytical website Ostkraft.ru, this year Russia successfully tested its experimental Yu-74 hypersonic glide vehicle. The Yu-74 was carried by the intercontinental-range RS-18A (NATO codename: SS-19 Stiletto) ballistic missile system. The glider was launched from the Dombarovsky missile base in the Orenburg region and hit a target located at Kura Missile Test Range in northern Kamchatka region, the Russian Far East.

Comment: See also: Weaponizing the crosshairs: Putin foiling NATO plans to protect Romania, Poland from Iran

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Eye 1

Another nail in the torture coffin: Declassified CIA file reveals Bin Laden aide stopped providing intel after being tortured


Sputnik
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 13:18 UTC
11. September 9/11
© Flickr/ Cyril Attias
A damning new report written by the CIA's Office of Medical Services at the time of Abu Zubaydah's 'enhanced interrogation' sessions found that the senior al-Qaeda official was willing to cooperate, but clammed up after agents began torturing him.

Recent declassified documents throw water on the CIA's position that enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, which have been condemned worldwide as an act of torture, encouraged cooperation from detainees and led to actionable information.

Medical personnel who aided the CIA's first simulated drowning reported that detainee Abu Zubaydah likely would have cooperated more with officials prior to undergoing torture.

For years, the intelligence community has maintained that waterboarding was a necessity during the first days of the War on Terror in order to obtain intelligence necessary to prevent another 9/11-style attack. But a heavily redacted document from the CIA's Office of Medical Services (OMS) details that Abu Zubayadah's willingness to cooperate with interrogators in 2002 "did not correlate that well with his waterboard sessions."

Comment: See also:

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Cowboy Hat

Vladimir Putin addresses St. Petersburg International Economic Forum


Sputnik
Fri, 17 Jun 2016 13:13 UTC
Russian President Vladimir Putin
© Sputnik/ Mikhail Voskresenskiy
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his address at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

President Putin has shared his vision on Russia's role on the global arena.

The world is undergoing a major transformation that affects all fields of life, he said.

"The St. Petersburg forum traditionally serves as a platform for the discussion of strategic issues and challenges. Such a talk is even more important today, when the world is undergoing a major transformation, when deep changes affect almost all areas of life," Putin said addressing the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
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