Day: 11 July 2023

An agreement was signed in Baghdad today, Tuesday, between Iraq and Iran, according to which the imported Iranian gas that operates electric power plants will be exchanged for Iraqi crude oil.

The agreement was signed on the Iraqi side, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Media Office, by Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, Ihsan Yassin Al-Awadi, while it was signed on the Iranian side by the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Baghdad, Muhammad Kazem Al Sadeq.

The statement added, “The agreement was reached after negotiations that lasted for several days, in which delegations and technical committees from both sides participated,” noting: “This agreement comes within the framework of the government’s effort to address the crisis of supplying gas that operates power stations, and avoid financing problems and the complications of US sanctions, which prevented the continuity of payment of import requirements, and the agreement will contribute to providing more flexibility for the process of supplying gas, operating stations, and stabilizing the production of electric power.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

A member of the House of Representatives for Diwaniyah Governorate, Noor Nafeh, reported, on Tuesday, that an armed force stormed the headquarters of the Journalists Syndicate branch in the province and seized it.

Nafeh said in a statement, “An armed force that says it is affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces stormed this morning the headquarters of the Journalists Syndicate branch in Diwaniyah, which is under renovation.”

She explained, “The force was carrying medium and light weapons, accompanied by military vehicles, and forcibly entered the branch’s headquarters,” indicating that “the force seized the headquarters and says it wants to occupy it.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani announced, this evening, Tuesday, the end of the gas supply crisis that operates electric power stations, after a bilateral agreement with Iran.

Al-Sudani said, according to a statement by his office: “The government has already diagnosed, from its first day, the reasons behind the electricity crisis over the past years, and has put in place immediate, medium and long-term solutions, in addition to a package of measures that will positively affect the levels of electric energy production, along with other measures.” It is in the path of enhancing national energy production, self-sufficiency in gas, and flexibility in meeting the fuel needs needed to operate the stations.

He added: We have adopted the principle of disclosure with our people in everything related to the electricity crisis file, since the first day of the government, and we have identified the reasons behind the electricity crisis that has been going on for years, and we have developed immediate, medium and long-term solutions to end it.

He continued: “From day one, we started with immediate solutions to the electricity crisis, which we expected to occur with the onset of the summer season, and we moved strongly towards maintenance work for all electric power generation units, which we completed before the start of the summer season, unlike what was previously happening where maintenance is carried out at the height of summer.”

The Prime Minister pointed out: “The contract with Siemens to install cooling systems provided energy around 797 megawatts without additional fuel.”

He added: “We rushed to work to complete the unfinished stations, and we opened a station in Salah al-Din that added about 600 megawatts to us, indicating; and we accomplished a great job in removing bottlenecks in the distribution system and completing transformer stations in Baghdad and the provinces.”

Al-Sudani stated, “The quick measures that we have taken have provided us with between 4-5 thousand megawatts of electrical energy, in addition to the actual production that ranges between 20-21 thousand megawatts, and our production of electric energy has reached 26 thousand megawatts thanks to the solutions and procedures that we have taken.” We took it to solve the electricity crisis, without which the problem would have been even greater.”

He stated, “During the past six months, we moved to intermediate solutions, which are the real solution to the electricity crisis and the import of gas approved in power plants. We rushed strongly towards concluding the agreement with Total, and before today we witnessed the signing and implementation of the agreement.”

He explained: “The agreement with Total includes 4 contracts, one of which is related to associated gas investment, which will provide up to 600 million standard cubic feet of gas,” noting: “The signing of the fifth round is one of the most important decisions regarding gas investment within the medium-term plan; and companies of the UAE has started investing in gas fields within the fifth round, and Chinese companies are in the process of starting, and this round will provide us between 550-600 million standard cubic feet.

He went on to say: “We went towards completing the Basra Gas Company project, which opened, a while ago, the first part of which amounted to 200 million standard cubic feet, and before the end of this year, the second part of it will be completed with 200 million standard cubic feet as well.

He pointed out that “these projects will spare us any imported gas within two or three years, and represent real and final solutions to the crisis, by relying on Iraqi gas, which will provide us with what we need to operate electric power stations.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that among the medium and long-term solutions is completing the interconnection with the Gulf Interconnection Authority, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, which are projects that will provide integration in electricity services and raise electric power.

He continued: We started the connection designs with Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and we are now in the initial contracting phase, and a contract was signed with the Gulf Interconnection Authority after completing surveys and designs, and there was an agreement in 2018 that included a mechanism to provide humanitarian and food materials to the Iranian side in exchange for the price of gas, and it faltered due to procedures of the US Treasury Department and tightening sanctions against Iran.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Border Guard forces arrested (3) foreign infiltrators who tried to cross the border, in northern Iraq.

A statement by the Border Command stated that, based on accurate information, the second regiment in the 19th Brigade within the Sixth Region Border Command arrested (3) foreign infiltrators who tried to cross the border in northern Iraq.

The statement added: “They were handed over to the competent authorities to take legal measures against them.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

167 pilgrims returned through Sana’a International Airport, coming from Jeddah, after completing the rituals of Hajj and Umrah.

During the past few days, Yemeni Airlines transported 1,537 pilgrims from Medina and Jeddah to Sana’a International Airport after completing the rituals of Hajj and Umrah.

Sana’a International Airport provided all ground services for the civil flight coming from Jeddah with all the professionalism and high technical standards applied in international airports and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

It is worth noting that the aggression coalition and its mercenaries impose an air blockade on Sana’a International Airport, with the exception of only one destination, to Jordan, with three flights per week, and flights of the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen.

The aggression coalition and its mercenaries in Aden recently prevented the addition of three additional flights to Jordan, despite the approval of the Jordanian Aviation Authority to increase the number of flights to the Jordanian airports of Sana’a and Queen Alia.

Source: Yemen News Agency

An official source in the office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abdulaziz Saleh bin Habtoor, denied what was reported by a website of the Sheikhdom of the Emirates about submitting his resignation as prime minister.

The source confirmed in a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that what was published on that site is completely untrue and falls within the campaigns of lies and fraud that the traditional and electronic media of the aggression countries , Saudi Arabia and the UAE, their agents and mercenaries, have practiced over the past years, and did not exclude any of the national leaders Sana’a, including Dr. Bin Habtoor.

The source pointed out that all the leaders in Sana’a are united by a great lofty national goal, which is to resist aggression , siege and confront its continuous conferences, and in the forefront are those targeting the home front and seeking to undermine it after it failed in its military and security battle.

The source pointed out that the prime minister carries out his duties and tasks, relying on the powers and tasks vested in him under the constitution and the law, including his relations with all other constitutional institutions and all state leaders, which are dominated by the spirit of national and historical responsibility related to the current exceptional circumstance and mutual respect

Source: Yemen News Agency

Head of the Qatari delegation participating in the 15th edition of the Arab Games Nasser Al Mudahka emphasized that the Qatari participation was positive and exceeded the expectations, applauding the efforts made by all athletes participating in this event.

In his special remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Mudahka added that the Qatari sports aspire to top the general classification of the Medal schedule after Qatar has elevated its tally to 14 color medals since the launch of the competitions reaching (5 gold, 2 silver and 7 bronze), stressing that all athletes were keen to achieve the distingupartiched results to promote the reputation of Qatari sports and make achievements at the Arab level in all games and sports.

He outlined that hopes are now on handball and basketball teams to strongly compete in the Arab games, wishing them the best to achieve new medals to be further added to Qatar’s record and shine in this edition.

Al Mudahka told QNA that such Arab sports forum is an opportunity to gain expertise and evaluate the level in light of the participation of many Qatari athletes for the first time to enter the atmosphere of competition with an elite of Arab champions, pointing out that Qatar’s participation with over 100 athletes comes within its keenness to have a successful tournament organized by Algeria, as Qatari mission is the second largest participation in these games after Algeria, emphasizing that the levels demonstrated by the participating missions from various Arab states were far better.

In conclusion, Al Mudahka thanked the Algerian government and people for the good reception and hospitality, along with all facilitations and potentials Algeria has provided to the Qatari mission, lauding the distinguished organization and provision of everything needed by Arab athletes.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Public Security Directorate (PSD) reported Tuesday that following the death of Brigadier General Abdul Razzaq Dalabeh and three other PSD personnel, Investigations have started into the Husseiniya terrorist cell, whose members planned and carried out terrorist acts. The investigations identified 11 members of the terrorist cell. The PSD media spokesman said most of the members of the cell had been “dealt with or arrested and referred to the State Security Court” with the exception of two brothers who had gone into hiding: the first was killed during the armed clash a few days ago with a special security force, accompanied by his brother, and another who had fled from a detention centre. The last member of the cell turned himself in this evening to the Preventive Security and investigation is underway with him in preparation for his referral to the judiciary. The media spokesman added that with the completion of the investigations and the arrest of all members of the cell,” the PSD remembers the martyrs of duty and the best youth of Jordan who were martyred and gave their lives in defence of the homeland’s security and stability.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory cable on Tuesday to the President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on national day.

In the cable, His Highness wished the president long healthy life and his country further prosperity.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The forced eviction of an elderly Palestinian couple today from the family home they have lived in since 1953 shines a bright light on discriminatory forced evictions and the threat of forcible transfer that hangs over more than a thousand Palestinians in Occupied East Jerusalem, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the State of Palestine (OHCHR) said today.
‘Palestinian Gheith-Sub Laban family was forcibly evicted from their home by Israeli police in the Old City of Jerusalem early this morning. Twelve Israeli activists, seven women and five men, protesting the eviction were arrested. Concerted efforts to evict Palestinians from their homes in Occupied East Jerusalem may amount to forcible transfer. Forcible transfer is a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime,’ said Ajith Sunghay, Head of Office of OHCHR OPT.
The eviction followed a decision by the Israeli supreme court that the protected tenancy of Nora Gheith (68) and Mustafa Sub Laban (72), would be terminated making way for the property to be seized by Galicia Trust, a settler organization that has been seeking to evict the Gheith-Sub Laban family since 2010. International humanitarian law prohibits Israel from imposing its own laws in occupied territory, including East Jerusalem, which includes the use of Israeli laws to evict Palestinians from their homes. Furthermore, the laws in themselves are inherently discriminatory against Palestinians in flagrant violation of Israel’s international human rights obligations.
‘This eviction follows decisions made by Israel’s courts applying discriminatory laws that violate international human rights and humanitarian law. Israel must repeal these laws that have facilitated and allowed settler organizations to target Palestinians such as Nora Gheith and Mustafa Sub Laban and end the practice of forced evictions targeted at Palestinians in East Jerusalem’, said Ajith Sunghay.
The forced eviction of the Gheith-Sub Laban family is part of a wider pattern of evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem. For example, the Salem family from the Um Haroun portion of Sheikh Jarrah were served a demolition order in mid-March 2023. The Shehadeh family from Batan al-Hawa, Silwan, are trying to appeal to the Supreme Court an order evicting them from their home, issued at the beginning of March. And the Dajani, Daoud, and Hammad families from the Kerem al Jaouni section of Sheikh Jarrah are all engaged in ongoing legal battles to prevent their forced eviction. These families are among some 150 Palestinian families – totaling around 1000 people – across East Jerusalem and its surrounding Palestinian neighborhoods who are living under the threat of eviction and forcible transfer due to discriminatory laws and state collusion with settler groups.
Not only do these acts of forced eviction constitute a gross violation of human rights; they also form part of an overarching oppressive environment of fear and insecurity that these families have to live under for months, years, and decades. The Gheith-Sub Laban family has been embroiled in a 45-year legal battle against persistent attempts by the Israeli State and settler groups to displace them and take over their home for Jewish settlement. Moreover, these forced evictions contribute to the forcible transfer of Palestinians, altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Occupied East Jerusalem.
The UN Human Rights Office in the OPT reiterated that international law requires Israel to end all forced evictions and forcible transfers. The UN Human Rights Office in the OPT urged the Israeli Government to end all discriminatory evictions of Palestinians in Occupied East Jerusalem and to urgently provide an effective remedy to the Gheith-Sub Laban family for the human rights violations they suffered today.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

The State of Qatar ranked third in the Arab world in the Global AI Index issued by Tortoise Media.

The Global AI Index benchmarks nations on their level of investment, innovation and implementation of artificial intelligence due to the fact that the artificial intelligence revolution will transform business, government and society.

Tortoise Media said that the rise of ChatGPT and the ensuing arms race between big tech companies to develop their own generative AI models has led to a very public debate about how best to manage the risks of this new technology.

The Global AI Index is based on seven sub-pillars: Talent, Infrastructure, Operating Environment, Research, Development, Government Strategy, and Commercial.

Tortoise Media is a global company includes an advisory board and experts in artificial intelligence from around the world.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The aggression forces committed 98 violations of the ceasefire agreement in Hodeida province over the past 24 hours, an official at the operations room to monitor the violations said on Tuesday.

The official in the operations room told the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that among the aggression forces violations was six raids by spying warplanes.

He indicated that the aggression forces also committed eight violations with artillery shell, and 74 violations with various gunshots.

Source: Yemen News Agency