Day: July 29, 2024

Turkish intelligence announced the killing of two female leaders of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a security operation carried out in Hakurk region in northern Iraq. The Turkish intelligence stated in a media circular today that the two leaders, Wasila Duran, nicknamed "Ronahi Delhevin", and Dilan Oklu, nicknamed "Arin Tolhildan", were preparing to attack the Turkish forces stationed in the Hakurk region in northern Iraq after receiving instructions from their leadership to carry out those attacks. The Turkish intelligence indicated that it had tracked the two leaders in the PKK on the background of crimes related to terrorism, and a decision was made to neutralize them, through an operation by the intelligence service that directly targeted them, after they headed to a meeting point to convey instructions to other militants, where they were able to kill them in the Hakurk region. It explained in its circular that the so-called "Duran" joined the PKK organization in 2014, and moved to norther n Iraq in 2015 and worked on the outskirts of Sulaymaniyah Governorate after receiving armed and ideological training, while the so-called "Oklu" joined the terrorist organization in 2014 also and she was only 15 years old, and she also underwent compulsory armed and ideological training in northern Iraq. The Turkish intelligence stated in its circular that it is monitoring the activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which targets its forces and citizens, and is active in countries in the region, including Syria, Iraq and Iran, and the organization's militants use the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq as a stronghold, and are active in many cities, regions and valleys, and launch attacks from them on the Turkish interior. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Manama, Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment, and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, received Renu Sharma, General Manager and Country Chairperson - Middle East Aviation and Joint Ventures at Chevron. The meeting discussed topics of common interest and reviewed means to boost the energy sector. The minister affirmed the Kingdom's keenness to continue adopting more innovative solutions that support the growth of the energy sector and boost its competitiveness and contributions to economic development. This commitment is particularly evident through the development of partnerships and investments with various leading international companies. He praised Chevron's efforts to advance the energy sector, pointing to the mutual commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation and investment in this promising sector. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Babylon Police arrested an accused of smuggling antiquities and seized 6 pieces and antique coins in his possession. Brigadier General Adel Al-Hussaini, Media Director of Babylon Police, said: "A joint security force arrested the accused who was hiding behind a transportation company, in a tight ambush through intelligence information." He added: "The accused was transferred to the competent authorities for investigation, and the seized items were preserved." Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Abu Dhabi, President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile arrived in Abu Dhabi today on an official visit to the UAE. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the Chilean President arrived at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi and was received by Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation and Head of the Honorary Mission accompanying the President; Mohammed Saeed Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to Chile; and several officials. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Security forces arrested a man and his second wife for killing a child (juvenile) after torturing her in Baghdad. The spokesman for the Interior Ministry, the Security Media Cell, Brigadier General Muqdad Miri, said in a statement: "The Baghdad Criminal Investigation Directorate detachments arrested a man and his second wife for killing a child (juvenile) after torturing her in Al-Hussein neighborhood in Baghdad." He added that: "When they were investigated, they explicitly confessed to torturing the child until she died, and their investigation papers were presented to the investigating judge, who decided to detain them according to the law. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad Operations Command forces arrested two wanted persons, and seized weapons and ammunition in their possession in Tarmiyah district, north of Baghdad. The command stated in a statement: "A force from the 6th Infantry Division and detachments (Baghdad Emergency Regiment, Karkh 6th and the National Security Service), in coordination with the Intelligence and Security Department of the Command, carried out an arrest warrant against two wanted persons in (Al-Baghdadi) area in Tarmiyah district and arrested them." It explained that: "Through inspection and investigation, various types of weapons, ammunition and other materials were found, and the accused and the seized materials were handed over to the competent authorities to complete the legal procedures against them." Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Jerusalem - Ma'an - The Volunteer for Hope Association congratulated our children who excelled in high school in general and students in the capital, Jerusalem, in particular, due to the difficult circumstances and challenges they went through, stressing that this opportunity remains incomplete in light of the deprivation of 40,000 of our students in the Gaza Strip from taking the exam due to the brutal Zionist aggression. The association called on the Palestinian government to work on providing student grants inside and outside the country, as this would ease the burden on families. The chairwoman of the association's board of directors, Sylvia Abu Laban, said that the announcement of the results of this year's high school exams came with incomplete joy and exceptional circumstances that our people in the Gaza Strip are going through. We pray for the martyrs and wish a speedy recovery for the wounded and an end to this aggression. Abu Laban continued, "We call on Palestinian universities to take into acco unt the difficult economic and social conditions of Palestinian families so that they can register their children, especially the people of the capital, Jerusalem, to strengthen their steadfastness." She also called on students and their families to search for the specializations required by the labor market and to head towards vocational education. Source: Maan News Agency

Western media reported today, Monday, that two people were killed and three others were injured, including a child, after an Israeli drone bombed a car and a motorcycle in the vicinity of Shaqra town, southern Lebanon. The operation comes amid escalating tensions between the Lebanese "Hezbollah" and the Israeli army, against the backdrop of Majdal Shams incident, where 12 children were killed when a missile fell on a football field they were attending in the town, and 40 others were injured. Southern Lebanon has been witnessing clashes at an escalating pace since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah announced that the Lebanese front would be a "support front" for Gaza. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Ramallah - Ma'an - Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Amjad Barham, met today with the new UNESCO Representative to the State of Palestine, Leila Naistani, to discuss supporting education in Palestine in light of the challenges, specifically in light of the ongoing aggression by the occupation on the Gaza Strip, and the obstacles of various kinds in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation to develop general and higher education, and providing the necessary support to Palestinian universities. During the meeting, Barham stressed the need to improve the educational environment and provide the necessary support, pointing to the efforts made to rebuild damaged educational institutions and develop the educational system to be more flexible and responsive to the difficult circumstances experienced by students, especially in the Gaza Strip. Ways to enhance e-learning and ensure the continuity of education in times of crises were also discussed, noting the great efforts made by the Ministry to provide distance education to students in the Gaza Strip. In turn, Naistani stressed the organization's commitment to supporting education in Palestine and strengthening international partnerships to provide the necessary resources and expertise to improve the quality of education and enhance the capabilities of Palestinian students, stressing that UNESCO puts its expertise at the disposal of the Ministry regarding the development of the strategy for the general and higher education sectors. Source: Maan News Agency

Baghdad Al-Rusafa Police detachments, represented by the First Al-Rusafa Emergency Regiment, carried out a large-scale campaign to arrest violators of residency conditions in Al-Krayat area, north of Baghdad. A statement by the Al-Rusafa Police Command stated that: "During the operation, 49 people of different nationalities were arrested in violation of residency conditions. They were detained to complete the legal procedures against them. Source: National Iraqi News Agency