Greece is increasing its order of Dassault-made Rafale jets to 24 from 18, France’s Armed Forces Minister said on Sunday. Greek lawmakers in January approved the purchase of 18 Rafale jets from France for 2.5 billion euros ($3.04 billion). “Excellent news. Greece has just announced its intention to buy six …
Read More »In pictures… The official reception ceremony for Al-Kadhimi in Tehran
An official reception ceremony was held today Sunday, at the International Conference Palace in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, according to the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Media Office. “The reception ceremony witnessed the …
Read More »20 years after 9/11, I no longer recognize my country. The US has become a malignant narcissist, infecting all it encounters: Opinion
It’s said we become stronger in the face of adversity, as the journey back requires a degree of self-reflection that encourages healing. In the two decades after September 11, however, the US has learned nothing about itself. I was raised as a military brat – a special category of American …
Read More »9/11 and Iraq: The Making of a Tragedy
Twenty years after the al-Qaeda attack on Sept. 11, 2001, the United States is still involved in a war in Iraq that it started. President George W. Bush was obsessed with the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and deliberately misled the American people about who was responsible for the 9/11 attack. …
Read More »IAEA will have no access to surveillance camera footage in Iran: Source
There will be no change in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s lack of access to its camera footage at Iran’s nuclear sites during IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s visit to Tehran, an informed source said. “During Grossi’s visit to Tehran, there will be no change in the IAEA’s access to …
Read More »COVID-19: 3,086 new confirmed cases and 51 deaths in Iraq
Iraq recorded 3,086 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said today, Saturday. The daily epidemiological report on the COVID-19 situation stated that 51 COVID-19 deaths were registered today. On the other hand, 6,685 patients achieved full recovery. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Iraq, …
Read More »Senior ISIS commander captured after a 45 day manhunt
Iraq’s Federal Intelligence Agency detained and interrogated two senior ISIS commanders and referred his case to a special court, a press release by the Security Media Cell (SMC) said on Saturday. SMC said that the Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency successfully apprehended the security official of ISIS’ North Iraq province, …
Read More »South Africa approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for teens aged 12 and above
South Africa’s health regulator has approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for use by children aged 12 and older, paving the way for the government to offer vaccinations to teenagers. The South African Health Products Authority (SAPHRA) said the decision came after a review of updated safety and efficacy information submitted in …
Read More »Russia sends military equipment to Tajikistan citing ‘growing instability’ in region
Russia has sent armored vehicles and military equipment to Tajikistan, Afghanistan’s neighbor, against the backdrop of “growing instability” near the southern border, says the defense ministry. The ministry announced in a statement on Saturday it had transferred 12 armored vehicles and an array of military equipment, which includes close combat …
Read More »EU’s Borrell hails Baghdad conference as ‘important diplomatic achievement’
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has hailed the recent Baghdad conference, which aimed at promoting regional de-escalation and dialog, as an “important diplomatic achievement,” said Iraq is key to promoting stability between Iran and Saudi Arabia. In a blog post published on the website of the European External Action …
Read More »‘It’s time we expose the truth’: 9/11 families demand answers on anniversary
As the United States prepares to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, families of the victims and others demand to know the truth about the deadliest strike on American soil and who was responsible for it. Faced with mounting pressure from 9/11 victims and their families, …
Read More »Ukraine President: War with Russia possible, Moscow: He’s ‘divorced from reality’
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday an all-out war with Russia was a possibility, to which Moscow responded by saying he was “divorced from reality.” Asked at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) summit on the possibility of war with Russia he said: “I think it may happen. It’s the …
Read More »Iraqi National Security Service arrest five terrorists in Nineveh
Iraqi National Security Service reported on Friday, that five terrorists were arrested in Nineveh Governorate. The Agency said in a statement that its detachments in Nineveh had arrested five ISIS members. The terrorists were working in different positions within ISIS; one was responsible for harboring terrorists in the so-called Wilayat …
Read More »Lebanon’s PM, President sign decree to form new govt after over a year
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Friday he hoped to stop his country’s collapse and bring back prosperity. In an emotional speech after signing a decree with President Michel Aoun to form the new cabinet, Mikati said the situation in the country was “difficult,” adding that there were no reserves …
Read More »Biden talks to Xi as US-China relationship grows more fraught
US President Joe Biden spoke with China’s Xi Jinping on Thursday amid growing frustration on the American side that high-level engagement between the two leaders’ top advisers has been largely unfruitful in the early going of the Biden presidency. Biden initiated the call with Xi, the second between the two …
Read More »UK’s green and amber lists could be replaced in travel rules shake-up: Reports
British government’s traffic light system for international travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic could be replaced under a shake-up, UK media have reported, citing sources. The BBC has reported that the green and amber categories could be removed and replaced with a new system. A new system would allow vaccinated travelers …
Read More »Taliban’s response to Kabul protests ‘violent,’ used live ammunition, whips: UN
The UN rights office on Friday said that the Taliban response to peaceful marches in Afghanistan has been increasingly violent, with authorities using live ammunition, batons, and whips and causing the deaths of at least four protesters. Protests and demonstrations, often led by women, pose a challenge to the new …
Read More »COVID vaccine creator at Oxford says mass boosters may be unnecessary
Booster shots to extend the protection of COVID-19 vaccines may be unnecessary for many people, a leading scientist behind the AstraZeneca vaccine said on Friday. Oxford University Professor Sarah Gilbert told The Telegraph newspaper that immunity from the vaccine was holding up well — even against the delta variant. While …
Read More »COVID-19: 5,073 new confirmed cases and 59 mortalities in Iraq today
Iraq recorded 5,073 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said today, Thursday. The daily epidemiological report on the COVID-19 situation stated that 59 COVID-19 deaths were registered today. On the other hand, 7,644 patients achieved full recovery. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Iraq, …
Read More »Iraq contacts IAEA about relaunching nuclear activities by 2030
The Iraqi government initiated talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversupplying Iraq with nuclear fuel as a part of Baghdad’s project to build nuclear power plants. A source told Alghadeer News that the Iraqi government contacted the IAEA over the possibility of resuming its nuclear activity and allocating …
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