http://www.newsbharati.com/ Ramadi Battle- Iraqi Troops Advancing amid Heavy Coalition Airstrikes.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/151cc791c8e3dd68?compose=151ccc4152cb41e4 Iraqi Forces Fighting for Ramadi Push Toward City Center BAGHDAD — An assault by Iraqi forces to wrest control of Ramadi from the State reached the edges of the city center Tuesday night in a battle that was months in the making and a critical test for the Iraqi government. Accompanied by heavy American airstrikes, the push into the city by a mix of Iraqi soldiers, police officers and Sunni tribal fighters began overnight. Iraqi officials described the assault as a fierce urban battle, with their forces facing car bombs, sniper fire and explosive traps. Around 300 State fighters are believed to be hunkered down in the northern reaches of the city. If Iraqi forces manage to reassert control over Ramadi — the provincial capital of Anbar Province, in the Sunni Arab heartland — it would be the most important of a series of military setbacks for the State since its explosive expansion across Iraq that began with the capture of Mosul last year. Continue reading the main story RELATED COVERAGE Mourners carried the body of one of the soldiers killed in the strike near Falluja on Friday.U.S. Airstrike Killed Iraqis by Accident, Officials SayDEC. 19, 2015 Carries Out First ‘Serious’ Attack in Northern Iraq in Months, U.S. Says DEC. 17, 2015 A member of the Iraqi counterterrorism forces inspected an arms depot in the Tameem district of Ramadi that belonged to State members.Iraqi Forces Advance in Campaign to Retake Ramadi From DEC. 11, 2015 In early April, Iraqi forces and Shiite militias drove the State out of the city of Tikrit, and in October retook control of the northern city of Baiji and its oil refinery. Last month, Kurdish and Yazidi forces assaulted the northern city of Sinjar, driving out fighters with the State, also known as The capture of Ramadi, 60 miles from Baghdad, would give the government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi a badly needed morale lift, and a successful cooperative effort with the country’s alienated Sunnis. But more important, it would allow his often disparaged military to reverse a humiliating loss. Ramadi fell to the State in May, in a sudden collapse after a long battle that exposed multiple weaknesses in the government’s ability to fight the militants, including stark military shortfalls and disorganization, and an unwillingness by the government to arm or send reinforcements to help Sunni tribesmen who were fighting the militants. The rapid advances on Monday and Tuesday held out hope that after months of preparation, the government had finally marshaled a large enough force to prevail in Ramadi and begin a wider operation to fight the State in other areas of Anbar Province. “I think the fall of Ramadi is inevitable,” Col. Steven H. Warren, the United States military spokesman here, said Tuesday. But he added, “That said, it’s going to be a tough fight.” Other crucial battles, like the ones for Tikrit and Baiji, dragged on for weeks or months, and it remained to be seen whether the State would quickly melt away. Over the past month or so, Iraqi security forces and tribal fighters have encircled Ramadi. Two weeks ago, they seized a large neighborhood, Tamim, on its southwestern outskirts. “We went into the center of Ramadi from different axes, and we started clearing residential areas,” Gen. Sabah al-Numani, a spokesman for the army counterterrorism unit in charge of the offensive, said in a statement Tuesday. He predicted that “the city will be cleared within the coming 72 hours.” Six hundred to 1,000 State fighters were said to have been in Ramadi when the offensive began two weeks ago, but several hundred of them have been killed in heavy fighting since then, according to Iraqi and Western officials. Those remaining did not appear to be giving up easily. They destroyed three bridges over the Euphrates River to prevent security forces from entering the city, according to Gen. Ahmed al-Belawi, the leader of a battalion of Sunni tribal fighters. Colonel Warren said that Iraqi forces had crossed the river by deploying “floating bridges” capable of moving fighters and heavy equipment across the water, as American troops had trained them to do. Al Jazeera reported that 14 soldiers and 17 tribal fighters were killed by a suicide car bomber in Albu Diab, northwest of the city center, and that at least 12 militants had been killed. MSNBC released a video that it said showed an State counterattack on the eastern edge of the city, and it quoted a tribal fighter saying that at least seven State militants had been killed. Those casualty numbers could not be independently confirmed. Iraqi airplanes dropped leaflets on Sunday urging residents of Ramadi to evacuate
http://www.newsbharati.com/ South China Sea- China Accuses US of 'Provocative' B-52 Bomber Flypast.
Two US B-52 bombers flew close to islands in the flashpoint South China Sea last week in a "serious military provocation", Beijing said today, as tensions simmer in the disputed waterway.
China insists it has sovereignty over virtually all of the resource-rich sea, conflicting with the various claims of several neighbouring nations, and US activity in the area has provoked Beijing's ire several times in recent months.
"In the morning of 10 December, two US B-52 bombers entered air space over the Chinese Nansha islands and nearby areas without authorisation," Beijing's defence ministry said, using the Chinese name for the Spratly Islands.
"This behaviour is a serious military provocation which complicates the general situation in the South China Sea, (contributing) to the militarisation of the region," the ministry said in a statement.
During a mission by the two B-52 bombers last week, one of the aircraft unintentionally flew within two nautical miles of an artificially constructed island, the Wall Street Journal quoted Pentagon officials as saying yesterday.
This may have been because of bad weather conditions, according to officials quoted in the newspaper.
Beijing's defence ministry added: "The United States has continuously sent military ships and planes to make a show of force and create tensions in the waters and airspace" of the South China Sea.
"The Chinese army will take all necessary measures to defend the sovereignty and the security of the country."
The US is critical of China for building artificial islands in the disputed sea, and has flown other B-52 bombers and sailed a guided-missile destroyer near some of the constructions in recent months.
Washington has said China's transformation of the geographical features in the Spratly Islands poses a threat to freedom of navigation in the critical body of water.
China's military conducted war games in the area this week, with warships, submarines and fighter jets deployed over a "range of several thousand kilometres", the People's Liberation Army Daily said.
Beijing insists it has sovereignty over virtually all of the resource-rich South China Sea, conflicting with the various claims of Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei.
Delhi CM- PM battle turning sharper and angrier, as Delhi CM Kejriwal grilled PM Modi for misusing CBI for “intimidating” Delhi government by raiding Delhi Principal Secretary's office fot corruption case., While BJP letits all guns blazing, retaliating Kejriwal for his "Modi-phobia" and hypocrite behavior. “Modiji couldn’t tackle me politically, he is following coward practices," said Kejriwal. "PM Modi has became psychopath and coward,” Kejri tweeted. BJP's Venkaiah Naidu fired, Kejriwal showing symptoms of Modi-phobia, Arun Jaitley rebbished Kejriwal quotes as rubbish. CBI has filed a FIR against IAS Rajender Kumar for allegation abusing his position to favour particular company. The investigating agency revealed that foreign currency equivalent ot
Rs. 3 lakh recovered in a raid at IAS's residence.
Naidu thundered at Kejriwal's reaction saying hypocrisy is at its worst. Naidu reminded CM Kejriwal that AAP's resolution mentioned no prior permission needed from incumbent government, before raiding guilty and corrupt officer. Naidu explained that CBI acted on complaint filed in 2007. The CBI explained Kejriwal office neither searched not raided. “Media Reports about raid at Delhi CM office are totally baseless,” told CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh.
Rajender Kumar is not co-operating with CBI according to media reports. CBI may request interrogation in custody of IAS Rajender Kumar. 14 bottles of costly whisky recovered from IAS possession isclear violation of excise law. CBI team ceased 14 bottles of liquor, two Blue Label, three Black Label, five Chivas Regal, one each Glenfiddich & Black Dog, two Teacher’s in raid.
"CM Kejriwal statement on raid is totally rubbish. I don't think it is necessary to comment on rubbish." "Kejriwal should immediately tender unconditional apology to the PM Modi for using unparliamentary words like coward. It is shameful, condemnable too," reacted Communication Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad stressed that CM office not just touched by raiding CBI teamd at the Delhi government headquarter.CM Kejriwal dismissed tha claims as a bundle of lie, the CBI and Central government clarification that the CBI raid was not targeted at Kejriwal but IAS Rajender Kumar.
Russia Warship fired warning shots at Turkish ship in Aegean Sea to 'avoid collision'
A Russian warship said to be opened fire at a Turkey boat when two vessels sailed in closed vicinity threatening
collision.
It occurred on Sunday, about 22 kilometers (13 nutical miles) north north of of the Greek island Limnos in waters of
Aegean Sea, as per statement of Russian Defense Ministry.
Russia and Turkey experiencing tense relations as Russian Sukhoi jet has been downed in Syria by the Turkey air force.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Turkish media crew on aboard Turkey fishing boat said no warning issued
before firing shot. "We won't escalate the tension, we will try to de-escalate tensions "
Russian soldiers was recorded on video on the deck of a warship rockets in hand
A naval treaty between Russia and Turkey allows Russian naval Black Sea fleet the access to sail Aegean Sea.
"It is act of provocation that Russian soldiers displaying rocket launcher while crossing," said Cavusoglu.
"If we think that situation is threatening, we will issue appropriate response."
Vladimir Putin Says Russia Backs Free Syrian Army Alongside Bashar al-Assad Troops President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia is supporting the opposition Free Syrian Army, providing it with air cover, arms and ammunition in joint operations with Syrian troops against Islamist. His statement appeared to be the first time Moscow said it was actually supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's opponents in the fight against State forces. Putin said last month the Russian air force had hit several "terrorist" targets identified by the Free Syrian Army. A few hours later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin had been talking about weapons supplies to the armed forces loyal to Assad. But Peskov did not say Putin had been mistaken or misquoted about supplies to the Free Syrian Army and did not deny weapons were going to the opposition force. Western and Arab states carrying out air strikes against State for more than a year say that Russian jets have mainly hit other rebel forces in the west of Syria. "The work of our aviation group assists in uniting the efforts of government troops and the Free Syrian Army," Putin told an annual meeting at the defence ministry. "Now several of its units numbering over 5,000 troops are engaged in offensive actions against terrorists, alongside regular forces, in the provinces of Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Raqqa," he said, referring to the Free Syrian Army. "We support it from the air, as well as the Syrian army, we assist them with weapons, ammunition and provide material support." When asked if Putin had been speaking about the Free Syrian Army, Peskov replied: "Please do not cling to meanings in this case. Such an interpretation is possible." "Russia supplies weapons to the legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic," he said. Putin said strikes by Russia's air force and navy had inflicted heavy damage on the infrastructure of State, which controls large areas of eastern Syria and western Iraq. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said, however, that the influence of State was increasing in Syria, where militants control roughly 70 percent of the country. The number of State fighters in Iraq and Syria is about 60,000, Shoigu said, and there is a threat of violence spilling over into post-Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus. Talking to his generals, Putin issued a veiled warning to Turkey, whose downing of a Russian bomber jet near the Syrian-Turkish border last month sent bilateral relations to a freezing point and led Moscow to impose economic sanctions to Istanbul. "I want to warn those who may again try to stage provocations against our troops," he said. "I order you to act in an extremely tough way. Any targets threatening Russia's (military) group or our land infrastructure must be immediately destroyed," Putin told the generals. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday called on Russia for calm, but said Turkey's patience is not unlimited.
In latest warning to Saudi Arabia which is at war with Russia over oil market share race Russia is preparing for collapse in oil sell revenues, as chances are high that oil could plunge to as low as $40 a barrel for at least next seven years. Russian deputy finance minister Maxim Oreshkin told that Russia is preparing scheme based on oil's fluctuating price. If it continues for long time, then it might prove devastating for OPEC nations. Also it would be disastrous for North Sea producers,to off shore oil exploration of Brazil and cash strapped Western oil producers. but Russia lives in different business climate, he said while talking to Vedomosti, a Russian newspaper. The latest shocker came from Russia, at the time when US crude prices collapsed to $35.56, due to continuing mistakes from hegemonic Organisation of Petroleum Exporting nations. Bank of America warned about risk of all out price war between OPEC nations itself as Iran and Saudi Arabia are fighting
bloody strategic rivalry using oil market. Brent crude prices dropped to $37.41, though marginally growing demands. This price is lowest after collapse of the Lehman Brothers in early 2009. Though it is positive for world economy facing crisis. The International Energy Agency categorically mentioned that OPEC has ceased to work as umbrella organization and every producer producing oil at its will, without regulations, to settle the scores with others. OPEC oil revenues may fall to about $400bn (£263bn) current year if present oil prices continues, it was $1.2 trillion during 2012. $40 warning by Russia is the latest outbreak in a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, which are already in confrontation mode over Syria. The Russian emergency plans convey strong and unambiguous message to Saudi and other OPEC members that the Russia can thrive well even with very low crude oil prices for long time, as a result of floating rouble, which safeguards internal budget. Saudi Arabia is dragged in by a fixed currency exchange rates, pushing it to loose precious
foreign currency reserves to cover up a fiscal deficit, which are 20pc of its GDP. Russia enjoys strategic depth to sustain very long siege. It is pushing an import-substitution policy to give fillip to its engineering and industrial sector. Russian deputy PM Arkady Dvorkovich, earlier said that OPEC will be forced to correct track. They can sustain just for few months.
Kremlin officials smells that ultimate goal of Saudi Arabian policy is to drag Russia to OPEC. Russia termed it as OPEC bluff, and warned that Russia have greater endurance. Russia won't cut output as its big producers are globally listed companies, which are answerable to stakeholders. Mr Dvorkovich flatly said that they are not going to slash oil supply artificially. Crude Oil companies will work out their own plans. They
will decide on invest more or less as per market conditions. If prices remains low, oil companies will act to stabilize production or to cut crude production. The latest crude oil war may witness exhausted foreign currency stocks in Russia and economy may take nose dive and on the other hand it may show the world totally bankrupted gulf nations.
After assorting to burst of anti BJP noise and disturbing Parliament over National Herald Matter, a group of Congress MPs are thrashing Congress strategy of disrupting the proceedings over an NH issue which is sub judicial. Tough Mamata Banerjee's TMC is gearing up to ally with Congress and left Parliament to support Congress. Congress blamed “political vendetta”, but many Congress MPs think that it is not political maturity take a legal fight in Parliament terming it revenge. Venkaiah Naidu led BJP agitations against congress stalling Parliament proceedings. BJP led NDA preparing for massive campaign to deface Congress after the winter session for stalling Parliament to save legal process against Congress mother-Son duo. Leader of the Congress in Loksabha Mallikarjun Kharge led offensive after question hour, “Two laws exists in this country separate for Opposition and another for the ruling,” “BJP chief ministers involved in corruption and scams, no case filed against them. If BJP wants to suppress opposition voices by suppressing us, you cannot threaten us.” Congress Game plan The Congress has strong idea after the National Herald case dealt a severe blow to party No.1 & 2, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi , convert it in to emotional mode. This is not simple case, it's linked to honor, it's vendetta against a mother and son devoid of power. A Delhi court ordered Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi and five accused in the National Herald Matter to physically appear before court on December 19, 2015. The NH case hit headlines in the US newspaper Wall Street Journal. Court bitterly ordered, to make it confirm that all accused in NH case be appear on December 19. Today I am exempting from personal physical appearance only." Said Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen Singh of Patiala House Courts. After over a week of civil legal debates in Parliament, both Upper and Lower Houses returned to chaotic scenes, hurdles and disruptions. As Delhi High Court scrapped a plea challenging the personal summons issued to Congress high command Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case. The initial reaction of Congress was drafted by their legal team, was quintessentially legal one. But drawing and invoking Indira Spirit converted the legal attle and legal matter to political and emotional rather than legal, triggering political Tamasha in and out of Parliament. Ambitious GST indirect Tax bill by BJP might suffer lethal blow with Congress pledged to shot it in lieu of National Herald Case. As Gandhis are under attack and the NSUI and Youth Congress cadres are out on streets,most likely Parliament session will vapored away, uselessly. Congress leaders consistently claiming that Subramaniam Swamy, complainant in National Herald case just puppet main conspirator is at 7, RCR, i.e. PM Modi. With possibility of India's prominent first political family likely to physically appear in court, the accusations of corruption and embezzlement are creating a political fire. It has shadowed magnificent performance of Congress in Bihar and Gujarat elections. Main facts of the National Herald case, which has put the Gandhi family in legal spot -The National Herald newspaper which India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru helped establish before Independence of India in the 1938. It was venture of company named Associated Journals Limited, funded by the Congress Party. National Herald newspaper formally closed in April 2008. -As per Enforcement Directorate- ED sources private non-profit organization cum company 'Young Indian' was founded in March 2011, with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul possessing nearly 38 percent holding each, allegedly aimed at specific goal of taking over the assets and liabilities of AJL. In the year 2012, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy registered legal complaint before a Patiala House court, accusing Congress leaders for involvement in fraud and cheating through the acquisition of company AJL by Young Indian Pvt Ltd. Company YIL paid just Rs 50 lakh aimed at recovering amount of Rs 90 crore that AJL owed to Congress Party. The present value of the properties in possession of National Herald, the scam could be near about Rs 1,600 crore to Rs 5,000 crore. -The case witnesses many turns and shift. In August 2015 reports suggested that the ED coming to close the case, for lack of substantial evidences against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Though ED director Rajan Katoch axed from service as reports surfaced. In September 2015, ED once again decided to reopen the NH case. The Delhi High Court now rejected the petition filed by the Gandhi mother son duo challenging court summons. It means they must have to appear before the Patiala House court.
London- Petition demanding UK entry ban on Donald Trump attracted more than 3,00,000 signatures.It is enough for a parliamentary committee to think upon moving motion for debate in parliament. The petition to resist front runner Republican presidential candidate from arriving in UK launched official British government website for petitions as response to Donald Trump's demand for banning Muslims from U.S. entry as a measure to thwart terror threat. "Earlier UK had banned entry of many figures for hate speeches. The same rule must be applied to all those attempting to enter UK," says the petition, created by Aberdeen (Scotland), woman Suzanne Kelly, who earlier campaigned against Donald Trump's business and political activities. "As United
Kingdom is continuing using unacceptable behavior to people entering UK borders, it should be applied equally to rich and poor, to weak and powerful without discrimination" the petition mentions. By Wednesday, the petition attracted more than 3,00,000 signatures and numbers shooting up with high pace. Any independent petition that have more than 1,00,000 signatures receives consideration by Parliament Petitions Committee, which judges whether to forward the petition for parliamentary debate by Member of Parliaments. The Petitions committee will think upon what to do with it by January 5, 2016, revealed PR office of House of Commons. The Office said, home secretary enjoys power to include or exclude people, though this
might not happen with Donald Trump. Suzanne Kelly, writer for website of citizen journalist , Aberdeen Voice, had written reports in the past documenting issues with Trump's construction of a huge, rich golf resort in Aberdeen- Scotland, which triggered Trump conflict with local people. Kelly had launched petition requesting Aberdeen Robert Gordon University to strip off Donald Trump of an honorary degree which conferred on him. Petition attracted more than 38,000 endorsements, argued that Donald Trump's behaviour and rhetoric is detrimental for University's glory. She wrote, current petition will offer chance to British people to firmly stand against those committing hate speeches. Trump remarks triggered outrage in US and worldwide. White House PRO Josh Earnest lashed out at Trump saying his comments qualitatively
disqualifies Trump from serving as US president." Trump's quote next day mentioning, that few parts of London city were so radicalized, that agencies and British police don't dare to enter and feared for their lives," sparked row in the UK. UK PM David Cameron generally don't comment on American presidential candidates, denounced Trump's comments as useless. London Metropolitan Police Department invited Donald Trump for briefing on the reality check of policing activities in London, also London Mayor Boris Johnson gave sharp response to Trump, as sheer nonsense. Though Trump got few supporters in a UK which are wary of the prospects of ISIS inroads. A petition on the UK government website urged British leaders to halt and bar all immigrants and shut UK borders until IS is totally defeated." The petition, drew more than 4,40,000 signatures since September was rejected by the UK government.