Mediaboss Marketing

The Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein yesterday called on his German counterpart Heiko Maas to support Baghdads removal from the European list of high-risk countries for money laundering and terrorism financing.

In a statement, the Iraqi Foreign ministry said Hussein received a telephone call from his German counterpart, during which they discussed bilateral and regional affairs.

According to the statement, the German minister said that his country will work hard to protect Iraqs sovereignty and will continue its work within the international coalition fighting Daesh.

The Iraqi minister has also called on Germany to use its political and economic influence with regional countries to prevent interference in Iraqs internal affairs, pointing out that Baghdads new foreign policy depends on creating balanced relations with all neighbouring countries based on achieving common interests, solving problems by peaceful means, and distancing Iraq and its people from international and regional tensions.

READ: Germanys ban on Hezbollah bows to Zionist pressure but is of little real importance

Here is the original post:
Iraq calls on Germany to help remove it from EU terror financing list - Middle East Monitor

TEHRAN An informed source at Irans Foreign Ministry has said that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif plans to visit Iraq on July 19.

Zarif will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, President Barham Salih and Mohamed al-Halbousi, the speaker of the National Assembly, IRIB reported.

Zarif and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Mohammed Hussein had a phone conversation in June.

Zarif highlighted the significance of the issues being pursued in bilateral relations and the necessity of implementing the agreements reached between the two sides during the Iranian presidents visit to Baghdad.

President Hassan Rouhani said in May that Irans principled policy is expanding relations and cooperation with Iraq in various areas.

In a phone conversation with Iraqi President Barham Salih, Rouhani attached great importance to expansion of economic relations, saying, Expansion of relations in various areas among the friendly governments and nations can help us pass the problems.

Elsewhere, he said that Iran attaches great importance to stability in Iraq.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will stand beside the Iraqi government and people and seeks to maintain Iraqs sovereignty and prevent foreign intervention, the president pointed out.

Salih, for his part, said cooperation of friendly countries, such as Iran, is required to establish stability in Iraq.

NA/PA

Read the rest here:
Zarif to visit Iraq on July 19 - Tehran Times

In one of the most serious abuses of the judicial system since the legalization of cannabis over the past decade, a Pickens County, Alabama judge has sentenced an Arizona man to five years in prison following the revocation of his probation for a 2016 cannabis arrest.

Iraq War Veteran Sean Worsley was arrested in the town of Gordo for marijuana possession following a routine stop by officers for what was initially a noise complaint. The couple was accused of playing their music too loudly in their car when they stopped for gas, according to the Alabama Political Reporter.

When Officer Carl Abramo said he smelled cannabis, Worsley allowed him to search the vehicle, leading to his arrest.

However, Worsley, who is from Arizona, legally used cannabis for post-traumatic stress disorder. According to APR, he was wounded in an IED attack and suffered from back and shoulder pain. Arizona is one of 33 states where medical cannabis is legal. Alabama is not.

The result, according to The Washington Post, was a years-long legal fight that cost Worsley thousands of dollars and eventually caused him to go homeless, all the while, the legal cannabis industry continued to rake in billions of dollars. At one point, Worsley missed a court date in Alabama when the VA rejected his application for a substance abuse program.

According to APR, Worsleys medical cannabis card expired in Arizona. He was then extradited back to Alabama by state authorities, where he is now awaiting a spot in an Alabama Department of Corrections facility.

Its the sixth circle of hell of this countrys cannabis laws.

I feel like Im being thrown away by a country I went and served for, Worsley wrote in a letter from the Pickens County Jail to Alabama Appleseed, which is a criminal justice organization that has published a detailed account of his case, according to the Washington Post. I feel like I lost parts of me in Iraq, parts of my spirit and soul that I cant ever get back.

Worsleys story is a prime example of not only the terrible discrepancy in state cannabis laws but both the racial disparities of the criminal justice system and Americas lack of appreciation for the men and women who serve this country in uniform.

The Alabama Cannabis Industry Association has seen the need to bring clarity to the laws related to the medical marijuana issue facing our citizens, said Michael Fritz, the general sel for the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association in a statement to APR.

Alabama District Attorney Andrew Hamlin has doubled-down on Worsleys conviction, however. In a letter sent out on Tuesday, he ignored Worsleys service and the legality of cannabis in Arizona, instead choosing to focus on the veterans history of possession arrests. While it is true that Mr. Worsley is a decorated veteran of the United States military, it is also true that he is a criminal that has habitually broken the law in numerous states, wrote Hamlin, who tried to make every excuse he could for arresting and throwing the book at Worsley.

In the meantime, a bill to legalize medical cannabis has passed the Alabama Senate, though that wont help Worsley at this time.

Its time to permit medical cannabis in our state, as our sister states have done and avoid needlessly jamming our already over crowed prisons with marijuana arrests, said Chey Garrigan, the executive director of the ACIA, to APR.

Continue reading here:
Alabama goes full drug war in sentencing Iraq War veteran to five years in prison for cannabis possession - PotNetwork

The memory of a teenage Black Watch soldier has been honoured with the unveiling of a mural 16 years after his death in Iraq.

Private Paul Lowe, 19, was one of three members of the regiment from Fife who were killed by a bomber in Falluja in November 2004.

Sergeant Stuart Gray, 31, from Dunfermline and Private Scott McArdle, 22, from Glenrothes, also died along with an Iraqi interpreter.

Now, following a fundraising campaign by Pauls family, his image has been recreated on the side of the ex-servicemens club in his home town Kelty.

The 30 foot high mural is the work of Glenrothes-based artist Donna Forrester and was commissioned after the soldiers brothers raised 6,000 to make the project a reality.

Family, friends and club members were on hand to see its unveiling on the gable end of Kelty & Blairadam Ex-servicemens Club.

Stuart Lowe said: It really is outstanding and the perfect tribute to Paul who was well known and still remembered in the town.

Paul made the ultimate sacrifice and weve wondered for a few years now as to what the best way would be to pay tribute to his life.

Stuart said the inspiration for the artwork came after the completion of the Connor Law mural which was created in memory of the 26-year-old Kelty boxer who tragically died in 2019.

We approached the artists responsible for that mural and we hatched a plan to create a similar one of Paul, he said.

Donna has created something very special indeed, not just for the family, but for the town as a whole, we are so grateful.

Donna took two weeks to complete the painting, which depicts the soldier in uniform playing a bugle.

She said: As an artist you are always looking at how you could improve it but Im pretty happy with the outcome and just pleased for the family who can now see Paul remembered in such a way.

Duncan Graham, club treasurer and Black Watch veteran, said it was an honour to pay tribute to Paul, who was a club member.

He added: Kelty has traditionally been a strong recruiting ground for the Black watch so its especially fitting to see this mural in Pauls honour.

Its a stunning piece of work reminding people of the bravery shown by all service men and women.

Its even more poignant as the Kelty club celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Read more from the original source:
Giant artwork is fitting tribute to Fife Black Watch soldier killed in Iraq - The Courier

About the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative

Does theZero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiativefocus on certain types of flaring?

Yes. The Initiative pertains to routine flaring, defined as flaring that occurs during the normal production of oil, and in the absence of sufficient facilities to utilize the gas on-site, dispatch it to a market, or re-inject it. The typical example this Initiative addresses is long-term continuous flaring for gas disposal where a gas market or injection capacity does not exist. The Initiative does not include non-routine flaring events. These can include: exploration and appraisal; initial well flow-back; well servicing; process upset; safety or emergency situations; equipment or gas handling infrastructure malfunction; or de-pressuring equipment for maintenance. The Initiative also excludes purge and pilot flaring necessary for safe flare operation, combustion of hazardous or polluting emissions, such as volatile organic compounds and hydrogen sulphide. Some flare gas sources (e.g. glycol treatment facilities, produced water treatment facilities) are so small and at such low pressure that it is environmentally more beneficial to utilize resources to reduce other flaring sources and other types of emission.

Why wait until 2030 to stop routine flaring, why not stop flaring right now?

The Initiative asks oil companies and governments to end ongoing routine flaring as soon as possible, and no later than by 2030. The actions needed to stop routine flaring are far-reaching and take considerable time and resources to plan and execute properly.

Why haven't the largest major international oil companies endorsed the Initiative?

Almost all of the largest international oil companies have already endorsed the Initiative, and more of them are expected to join over time. In total, 39 oil companies have endorsed the initiative, with the total number of endorsers at 86: accounting for about 60% of global gas flaring. Occidental became the first U.S. oil and gas company to endorse the initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and utilize a valuable energy resource.

Isn't theGlobal Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership(GGFR) doing the same as this new Initiative?

The Initiative sets clear targets for the future. GGFR's role is not to set such targets, but to facilitate flaring reduction activities to help meet the 2030 target. GGFR has an active work program in developing countries to reduce routine gas flaring, while deploying the associated gas for productive use, for example for energy access.

In some instances, this also means working with governments to develop the fundamentals, such as proper flare measurement practices, before the new policies and regulatory measures are developed.

Why isn't GGFR in the list of endorsers of the Initiative?

GGFR is a global partnership and it is up to the individual members to decide whether or not to endorse the Initiative. Almost all partners have already done so; those that have yet to endorse are still engaged in internal deliberations and assessment.

What are some common reasons why governments would NOT endorse the Initiative?

A majority of major oil producing countries are expected to endorse the Initiative, but it takes time and dialogue to explain the consequences and nature of the commitment, and many governments need to follow a rigorous due diligence process before committing to the Initiative. As of the end 2019, over half the global flaring volume is within government jurisdictions covered by the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative.

What are the common reasons why oil companies would NOT endorse the Initiative?

Most major oil companies are expected eventually to endorse the initiative, but they also follow a rigorous due diligence process before committing to the Initiative.

Besides the positive environmental and climate change impacts of abiding by the Initiative, what other positive impacts could endorsing the Initiative have for governments and oil companies?

Instead of being flared, associated gas can be used in many different ways for the benefit of the local population. It can provide energy access to those who need it most; fuel power generation; provide liquid petroleum gases (LPGs) for heating or cooking; be used as feedstock for petrochemicals; and generate revenue through export.

Is "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030" a realistic goal?

Yes, it is. There will still be some flaring for safety reasons and in non-routine situations.

What will oil companies and governments do differently after they have endorsed the Initiative?

Oil companies and governments will ensure that new oil fields are developed without routine flaring. In addition, they will proactively address the ongoing "legacy" flaring to reduce or eliminate it at earliest opportunity. The initiative also reinforces the idea that governments, oil companies, and institutions all need to work together to eliminate routine flaring on a global scale.

Are you forcing governments and oil companies into uneconomic investments under the Initiative?

The Initiative does not force governments or oil companies to invest in uneconomic projects. The Initiative aims to stimulate and create the right environment of cooperation between all stakeholders so that economic solutions are found through appropriate regulation, application of technologies, and financial arrangements.

What would it cost to eliminate routine flaring by 2030?

A desktop study by GGFR in 2018 estimated the cost to eliminate routine flaring of between US$60 and US$100 billion. This estimate is in line with studies from Iraq, Russia, and Nigeria, albeit few in number, which indicate an average cost of around 6-9 US$/ft3/day (85 - 125 US$/t CO2/day) for onshore projects. (Note: This is the cost to install sufficient capacity to utilize 1 ft3of flared gas). It is important to note this estimate does not include revenues from utilization of the gas.

How will we know that endorsing entities abide by the Initiative and that we can trust the reported flaring volumes?

Endorsing governments and oil companies will annually report their flaring and progress towards the Initiative. The World Bank will report the same, including the aggregated volumes on this website. (2017 will be the first year reporting will be published.) This is not to say it is an easy task; in part because the volume of most flaring is still estimated rather than metered. In addition, satellite monitoring will continue to provide estimates of flaring volumes for every country.

Is the Initiative legally binding?

The Initiative is not legally binding, but it establishes a clear public commitment verified through flare monitoring and using a variety of means, including government and company reports and satellite observations. Endorsers have repeatedly communicated they take the commitment very seriously and is why it can take some time to reach a decision.

What will the consequences be for an endorser not abiding by the commitments under the Initiative?

The initiative is voluntary and does not include any enforcement measures or penalties. However, its visibility and high global profile encourage continuing commitment to the initiative.

What does the World Bank do to support the Initiative?

The World Bank (i) monitors the progress of the endorsers, (ii) continues to promote the Initiative and seek additional endorsements, and (iii) aids the implementation of the Initiative, including considering the use of financial instruments and other measures, particularly in developing countries. The World Bank is an active GGFR partner and continues its efforts to end routine flaring worldwide.

Do endorsing governments have gas flaring regulation in place that is consistent with the Initiative?

Many have regulations with the same objective, but not always in a manner that has proved effective. One of the objectives of this Initiative would be to support governments in development of effective regulations. But for new oil field developments it is simple: the government makes it clear in bidding rounds and concession documents that oil field development plans require utilization (or re-injection) of the associated gas.

Why doesn't the Initiative address flaring at other locations than oil production sites?

Flaring at oil production sites represents by far the largest share of global flaring. Efforts are therefore focused there, rather than being diluted on all flaring sources.

Why doesn't the Initiative also address non-routine and safety flaring?

Safety flaring is both small in volume and essential for the safe operation of oil and gas production facilities. Non-routine flaring is often unforeseen in nature. For example, it could be due to issues with the operation of the facility, and as such is hard to mitigate. Oil companies are, of course, strongly encouraged to take measures to minimize all types of flaring.

How much of global flaring do the current endorsers of the Initiative represent?

Based on satellite estimates and publicly reported flaring data, togetherthe endorsersrepresent more than 60% of global flaring.

More:
Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 - World Bank Group