Day: January 12, 2023

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Late Pentagon Chief Ash Carter to Be Honored at Service

President Joe Biden and past and present U.S. officials are honoring the late Ash Carter, who as defense secretary opened the way for women to fight in combat and for transgender personnel to serve, at a memorial service Thursday at Washington National Cathedral.

Carter, 68, died in October of a heart attack. He served under President Barack Obama from 2015 to January 2017.

Carter immediately saw his tenure challenged by the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and China’s rapid militarization of islands in the South China Sea, even as the administration tried to shift its aircraft and warships to the Pacific to meet a rising Beijing.

During a 35-year career in a variety of Pentagon roles, Carter, a Philadelphia native, pushed through what he would continue to cite as one of his proudest accomplishments: the effort to speed the design and production of a new up-armored vehicle to better protect troops against roadside bombs. More than 24,000 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles were manufactured and shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan.

But it was two personnel policies as secretary that would mark Carter’s legacy: opening all combat roles to women in 2015 and allowing transgender personnel to serve.

In the years since, female troops have broken through a variety of combat roles that were previously unavailable to them, including the first women to graduate U.S. Army Ranger School, the first Army female infantry officer, the first Army female Green Beret and the first female to graduate Naval Special Warfare training.

In June 2016, Carter ended the ban on transgender troops.

“Our mission is to defend this country, and we don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who can best accomplish the mission,” Carter said at the time.

President Donald Trump reinstated a ban against transgender troops in 2017, which resulted in a yearslong legal battle as some troops who had come out under the previous policy found themselves in limbo. Biden overturned Trump’s policy in 2021, again allowing transgender troops to serve openly.

Source: Voice of America

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Al-Hakim congratulates our national team and the Iraqi people for their victory over Yemen

Baghdad, The Head of the National Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, blessed our national team and the Iraqi people for their victory over Yemen in the Gulf 25 Cup.

Al-Hakim said in a tweet on Twitter: Another victory that our national football team adds to its record in the Gulf 25 Championship after defeating its Yemeni brothers team… Congratulations to our team and our people for this victory, and good luck to all the participating teams.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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Ministry of Immigration: (1800) displaced families express their desire to integrate in Baghdad and the central and southern governorates

Baghdad, The Minister of Migration and Displacement, Evan Faeq Jabro, directed the employees of the Ministry’s branches in Baghdad and the central and southern governorates, to continue receiving and registering families wishing to integrate and settle in the host governorate.

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A statement by the Ministry stated: The branches of the Ministry registered during the past week (241) families who wanted to integrate and settle in the governorates of (Baghdad, Wasit, Diyala, Karbala, Diwaniyah, Basra, Maysan, Dhi Qar and Muthanna).

The statistics of the Ministry’s branches indicate that the number of families registered with total integration reached (1,787) families, and this came after direct awareness of the Ministry’s field teams for displaced families and in cooperation with local governments.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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The President of the Republic, the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Governor of Basra, and the Head of the Federation, in the players’ changing room, to congratulate our national team

Baghdad, The President of the Republic, Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, the Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed Al-Mubarqa, the Governor of Basra, Asaad Al-Eidani, and the Head of the Federation, Adnan Darjal, visited the players’ changing room after the end of the Yemen match to congratulate our national team.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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Mandalawi calls on the government to expedite the submission of the budget law to the House of Representatives

Baghdad, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, called on the government to expedite the completion of the draft budget law for the current year and send it to Parliament.

A statement by his media office stated that Al-Mandalawi met with the Prime Minister, Muhammad Al-Sudani, to discuss a number of files and priority issues.

Al-Mandalawi called, according to the statement, the government to expedite the completion of the draft budget law for the current year and send it to the House of Representatives to include it in the agenda and read it first reading and make amendments to it before submitting it to the vote, and to emphasize the inclusion of contract holders, lecturers, holders of higher degrees, first students and others from various segments society within its provisions.

The statement indicated that Al-Mandalawi discussed with Al-Sudani the visit of the Jordanian Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al-Safadi and his accompanying parliamentary delegation to Iraq, as well as discussing mechanisms to enhance coordination between the legislative and executive authorities to complete the approval of important projects, and steps to combat corruption.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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Al-Araji assures the Romanian Ambassador that cooperation between the two countries in security and information exchange is important for the security and stability of the region

Baghdad, The National Security Adviser, Qassem Al-Araji, discussed with the Romanian Ambassador in Baghdad, Radu Octavian Dobri, the strengthening of bilateral relations.

A statement by the National Security Adviser said that Al-Araji discussed with the Romanian Ambassador strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation between Iraq and Romania, in areas that serve the interests of the two friendly countries and peoples, stressing that the government of Mr. Al-Sudani enjoys great political and parliamentary support, which helps it implement its government program.

Al-Araji assured the Romanian Ambassador that the Iraqi government adopts a policy of distancing itself from axes and seeks real partnerships with countries that stood by Iraq in its war against terrorism, noting that Romania’s presence within NATO and its assistance to Iraq is an affirmation of the commonalities that unite the two countries.

He explained that cooperation between the two countries in security and information exchange is important for the security and stability of the region, noting that the terrorist ISIS still poses a threat to the region and the world, and everyone must cooperate to eliminate it.

Al-Araji concluded that Iraq is a sovereign country and refuses to be with one party against another, and that it has the right to move away from the arena of conflict and think about its interests, stressing that Iraq is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, and it wants to be a region of reassurance for all.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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Oil prices rise with expectations of an increase in Chinese demand and the impact of sanctions on Russian supplies

Baghdad, Oil prices rose in early trading, today, Thursday, continuing the gains of the previous session, with improved demand expectations in China and growing concerns about the impact of sanctions on Russian supplies.

Brent crude rose 50 cents, or 0.6%, to $83.17 a barrel by 01:35 GMT, and US West Texas Intermediate crude also rose 50 cents, or 0.7%, to $77.91 a barrel, according to Reuters.

Both benchmarks rose 3% in Wednesday’s session, to settle at their highest levels since December 30.

China, the world’s largest oil importer, is reopening its economy after the end of strict restrictions to combat the spread of the Coronavirus, which reinforces optimism that fuel demand will grow in 2023.

The market is preparing for additional restrictions targeting sales of Russian fuel products set to take effect in February, as the European Union continues to work to impose further sanctions on Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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A security meeting to activate the intelligence effort and implement pre-emptive operations against terrorism

Baghdad, The Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Abd al-Amir Rashid Yarallah, and the Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Qais Khalaf al-Muhammadawi, chaired today, Wednesday, an expanded security meeting at the headquarters of the Joint Operations Command.

The meeting, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defense, discussed plans to reopen some operations and Baghdad commands.

The concerned leaders gave a detailed explanation of the plan to open up the various security sectors, according to the challenges and in a manner that secures the sectors of the operations concerned.

The Chief of Staff of the Army and the Deputy Commander of Joint Operations directed that caution be exercised to miss the opportunity for terrorist gangs, activate the intelligence effort, and intensify the work on the incubators of terrorism by constantly updating plans and implementing preemptive operations.

The meeting was attended by the Commander of the Ground Forces, the Commander of Baghdad Operations, the Commander of the Federal Police, the Commander of the Advanced Headquarters for Joint Operations / Kirkuk, the Commander of the Eleventh Infantry Division, the Commander of the Fifth Federal Police Division, the Directors of (Intelligence-Planning-Training) at the Joint Operations Command, and the Director of the Planning Authority led by Land Forces, Director of Planning, Baghdad Operations Command, and Director of Operations of the Ministry of Interior.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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The Popular Mobilization finds 25 war projectiles in Anbar

Baghdad, The 54th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces found 25 war projectiles belonging to the terrorist ISIS in Anbar Governorate.

A statement by the Authority stated that a force from the 54th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization carried out, in cooperation with the army, a security duty, during which it found 25 war projectiles belonging to ISIS elements, and they were safely detonated in the first Shehabi area in the Karma district.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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The PMF seize 84 stores of weapons, equipment and explosives belonging to ISIS in Diyala and Salah al-Din

Baghdad, The Director General of the General Directorate of Security and Discipline in the Popular Mobilization Forces, Lieutenant General Hussein Faleh Al-Lami, announced a major operation carried out by the Popular Mobilization against ISIS terrorist groups in Salah al-Din and Diyala, which resulted in the seizure of 70 % of terrorist stores in the region.

Al-Lami confirmed, according to the media of the PMF, that this major qualitative operation, which lasted for days, resulted in the destruction of the military structures of terrorist groups in Salah al-Din Governorate, where 68 stores were found, and 16 stores in Diyala.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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The first cybersecurity forum – risks and threats held in Kirkuk

Kirkuk, The Department of Computer Engineering Technologies at the Northern Technical University, in cooperation with media and government communication, held a forum on cybersecurity – risks and threats and the role of the university in finding solutions for the first time in the province after the establishment of the Department of Cybersecurity Engineering.

During the forum, lectures, interventions, and information were presented on practices and technologies that aim to protect electronic devices, networks, computer systems, and data from being exposed to any kind of malicious attacks, as well as an explanation of types of cybersecurity, which includes network security, applications, data, and operational security.

The Governor of Kirkuk, Rakan al-Jubouri, stressed the priority and importance of the administration’s support for educational institutions, including the Northern Technical University, directing to give importance within the 2023 budget.

He praised the organization of the forum and its importance in supporting state institutions and serving the citizen, calling for the importance of awareness and education and explaining the nature of cybersecurity.

The President of the Technical University, Dr. Alia Abbas Al-Attar, confirmed that the establishment of the Department of Cybersecurity Engineering came within the plans for development and upgrading and keeping pace with global progress.

She called for cooperation between government institutions and the private sector in protecting information and data.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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The head of the Integrity Commission and the French ambassador discuss ways of cooperation in the field of combating corruption and recovering smuggled assets

Baghdad, The head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Haider Hanoun, and the French ambassador, Eric Chevalier, discussed strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the field of combating corruption and recovering the proceeds of corruption smuggled abroad.

Hanoun stressed, according to a statement by the Commission, the importance of legal assistance between countries in the field of combating corruption and recovering smuggled assets, which comes in line with the contents of Chapter Four of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, including assistance in the field of prevention, investigation, prosecution of perpetrators, transfer of judgments of persons and criminal procedures, and cooperation in field of law enforcement.

He explained the commission’s need to benefit from the French experience in preventing and combating corruption and recovering the revenues derived from it, pointing to the importance of concluding bilateral cooperation agreements and memorandums that include development, training and transfer of expertise, as well as the extradition of suspects and smuggled funds.

Hanoun called on French companies to invest in Iraq, after which it is an arena and a safe for investors, especially after the new government and the judiciary provide an appropriate atmosphere to fight corruption with sincere intentions, which represents one of the points of attraction for investment that is hindered by security and political tensions, in addition to the spread of corruption. And the possibility of obstructing and blackmailing investing companies.

For his part, the French ambassador expressed his country’s readiness to cooperate with Iraq in the field of combating corruption, praising the development in the work of the Iraqi oversight bodies and the achievements made at this stage.

He pointed out the need to follow certain mechanisms and procedures in order to cooperate with Iraq to recover smuggled assets, especially the funds of the former regime, noting that the French legislator approved a law in the year 2021 regarding “unknown-owner” funds, and that one of its requirements is the issuance of a decision in this regard by the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council to complete the requirements stipulated in this law, and then addressing the French judiciary, which will lead to fulfilling Iraq’s desire regarding its money during the era of the former regime.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency