Mediaboss Marketing

A boy and his brother receive treatment for suspected food poisoning at a medical tent in the Hassan Sham U2 camp for displaced people near Mosul, Iraq, June 13, 2017. Balint SzlankoAP

(HASSAN SHAM U2 CAMP, Iraq) Food poisoning at a camp for displaced residents of Mosul has made more than 700 people sick, with hundreds hospitalized, Iraqi officials said Tuesday.

The incident at the Hassan Sham U2 camp, about 13 miles east of Mosul, has become part of the ongoing dispute between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Saudi media accused a Qatari charity of supplying tainted food to the residents of the desert camp.

Iraqi Health Minister Adila Hamoud told The Associated Press that 752 people in the camp became ill following a Monday night iftar the meal breaking the dawn-to-dusk fast by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. At least 300 people remain in serious condition, he said.

The Health Ministry reported that no one had died from food poisoning. Two deaths cited earlier were from other causes. The provincial governor said there had been one death. The U.N. refugee agency at first reported one death but later said nobody had died. The conflicting reports could not immediately be reconciled.

Amira Abdulhaliq of the UNHCR said it was unclear when the meals had become contaminated, whether it was during its preparation, packaging, transportation or distribution.

"So far, we have received around 800 cases. Around 200 have been transported to the hospitals in Irbil," she said.

Irbil Gov. Nawzad Hadi said the food was prepared in an Irbil restaurant by a local NGO, Ain el Muhtajeen, and funded by a Qatari charity known as RAF. In Saudi Arabia, which has been leading a recent campaign to isolate Qatar, state media quickly seized on the issue with coverage that implied Qatar was poisoning refugees deliberately.

On Twitter, Saudi state television accused RAF of supplying tainted meals and posted images it said showed the camp's children "poisoned by the terrorist Qatari RAF organization."

An Iraqi lawmaker who visited the camp overnight also accused the Qatari charity of providing the tainted food.

At midday Tuesday, medics were treating patients in a large tent at the edge of the camp. About 20-30 patients, mostly children, lay on blankets on the floor as several more serious cases were taken away in ambulances. Most were suffering from stomach cramps and dehydration resulting from vomiting and diarrhea.

Raad al-Dahlaki, chairman of the Iraqi parliament's immigration and displacement committee, visited the camp overnight and said the meal contained rice, a bean sauce, meat, yogurt and water. He put the number of sick at 850.

Al-Dahlaki said the food was distributed by RAF, adding that Iraqi officials were to meet those from the organization later Tuesday. The Doha-based charity did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

At a joint news conference in the camp, Irbil Police Chief Abdulhaleq Talaat said seven people were arrested in connection with the incident.

Since a diplomatic crisis between Qatar and other Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia began June 5, Arab media across the greater Persian Gulf have unleashed a daily barrage of reports highly critical of Qatar. Those reports include stories that alleged Qatar has tried to undermine regional security, often presented without attribution or evidence.

RAF is the acronym for the Qatar-based Thani Bin Abdullah Al Thani Foundation for Humanitarian Services, a charity that collects donations for aid work around the world, including meals for needy families during Ramadan.

RAF is also among 12 organizations and 59 people put on what Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini officials described Friday as a list of terrorist entities and individuals.

On Qatari state television, a repeatedly aired program has discussed how the ongoing diplomatic dispute has stopped it from providing meals to Syrian refugees at a major camp in Jordan.

The Hassan Sham U2 camp houses thousands who have fled their homes in and around Mosul after a U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive was launched in October to dislodge the Islamic State group from Iraq's second-largest city. According to the U.N. refugee agency, it is home to 6,235 people.

Mosul fell to IS in the summer 2014 as the militants swept over much of northern and western Iraq. Weeks later, the head of the Sunni extremist group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, announced the formation of a self-styled caliphate in Iraq and Syria.

Months after the start of the offensive, IS militants control only a handful of neighborhoods in and around the Old City, located west of the Tigris River, which divides Mosul into western and eastern sectors.

Go here to read the rest:
Hundreds of People Have Been Hospitalized as Food Poisoning Strikes a Displacement Camp in Iraq - TIME

Human rights groups have criticised theuse ofthewhite phosphorus chemical byUS-led coalition troops in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

New Zealand Brigadier General HughMcAslanadmitted the potentially lethal substance had been used as they attempted to free civilians trapped in neighbourhoods controlled by Isis.

He said thataround 28,000 civilians have travelled out of Isis strongholds in the city over the last few days.

Iraqi troops assisted by US-led coalition forces were in control of 90 per cent of the western area of Mosul, he added. But Isis is still holding out and using people as human shields, according to the United Nations.

Brigadier General McAslantoldNPR: "We have utilised white phosphorous to screen areas within west Mosul to get civilians out safely".

However, the deployment of the chemical was criticised by Human Rights Watch.

No matter how white phosphorus is used, it poses a high risk of horrific and long-lasting harm in crowded cities like Raqqa and Mosul and any other areas with concentrations of civilians, said Steve Goose, arms director at Human Rights Watch. US-led forces should take all feasible precautions to minimise civilian harm when using white phosphorus in Iraq and Syria.

In early June, an internet caf in Raqqa was hit by white phosphorus, killing approximately 20 people, a local resident told The New York Times.

Use of white phosphorus has been called into question, as it puts civilians in danger, but Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) claimed on 4June that it was used to create a smoke screen.

AUS-led coalition statement said: While protecting civilians fleeing from the Jamouri Hospital the Coalition used smoke and precision munitions to suppress the enemy and provide cover for fleeing civilians.

"In conjunction with Iraqi Security Forces, the Coalition used appropriate munitions to suppress and obscure ISIS snipers so that the civilians could reach friendly forces.

White phosphorus is known by the military as WP or Willie Pete and used to create a smokescreen for hiding troop movements. It can also be utilised to target enemy positions.

But if the chemical lands on skin, it can cause horrific injuries, burning deep into the muscle and bone, according to Amnesty International.

If particles of ignited white phosphorus land on a person's body, they can continue to burn through flesh to the bone. Toxic phosphoric acid can also be released into wounds, risking phosphorus poisoning. Inhaling the smoke can cause damage to the heart, liver and kidneys.

Under military law, it is not illegal for the military to use white phosphorus, although its use in populated areas is prohibited by international legislation.

See the article here:
White phosphorus use by US-led coalition forces in Iraq condemned by humanitarian groups - The Independent

Iraq is driving up crude oil exports to the U.S., the worlds second-biggest import market, just as there are signs Saudi Arabia is honoring a pledge to restrict such deliveries, according to tanker-tracking data.

The most important market news of the day.

Get our markets daily newsletter.

The second-largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries loaded 12 million barrels of crude for the U.S. in the first 13 days of this month, the tracking shows. Thats about 50 percent higher than the same period in either April or May. Comparable Saudi Arabian flows slumped by about half. Iraq isnt fully complying with pledges to OPEC to curb production, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.

Its like the IEA report said, some members have been less than wholly diligent, Giovanni Staunovo, a Zurich-based commodity analyst at UBS Group AG, said of Iraqs early June shipments. The fact that Iraq contested parts of the plan to cut output when the accord was implemented in November mean its no surprise to see flows rising now, he said.

While Iraq is among OPEC nations that pledged to restrict production to eliminate a global glut, there are signs that it may nonetheless be gaining a share of key import markets. The countrys crude flooded into the U.S. in late May and early June, just as Saudi Arabias flows diminished, weekly Energy Information Administration data show. Iraq also passed Saudi Arabia as the number one supplier to India, the fastest growing oil consumer.

Read how Iraq is gaining a foothold in India, the fastest growing market

The flow surge should show up in U.S. imports data sometime in late July. Tankers loading in the Persian Gulf take about 45 days to reach either the Gulf of Mexico or refining centers on the U.S. west coast. Equally, shipments could now decrease making the monthly tally lower than the near 1 million barrels a day average over Junes first 13 days.

The IEA said Wednesday that Iraqs rate of compliance with OPEC, non-OPEC curbs is about 55 percent, while Saudi Arabia is among nations conforming in full.

As well as eight tankers that left Iraqs Basra Oil Terminal and signaled U.S. destinations, there are seven more that either arent indicating where theyre going, or theyre bound for Egypts Suez Canal. Some of those could go still to the U.S.

The tracking data, which are for a relatively small time-span, show Saudi Arabian shipments in retreat. Three tankers were observed heading to the U.S. after departing the worlds biggest exporter in early June, hauling about 6 million barrels between them. Thats down from 14 million barrels in the same period in May.

Decreased Saudi Arabian shipments would be consistent with comments from the countrys Energy Minister, Khalid Al-Falih. He said at OPECs meeting in late May that there would be a marked decrease in the kingdoms shipments to the U.S.

Saudi Arabias oil allocations to customers will be cut for July from their June levels, a person with knowledge of the matter said June 12, asking not to be identified because the information is confidential. About half of a 600,000 barrels-a-day nominations cut will fall on U.S. customers, the person said.

Thats a bit of a new signal that the Saudis are willing to give up a bit of market share, Michael Poulsen, analyst at A/S Global Risk Management, said of the relative changes in Saudi Arabia and Iraqs shipments.

Go here to see the original:
Iraq Sends Millions of Barrels of Oil to US While Saudis Cut - Bloomberg

SHOOTING AT CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM PRACTICERep. Steve Scalise shot during congressional baseball team practice | 0:46

A gunman opened fire on a Republican congressional team practice Wednesday, and at least one congressman was among the five wounded, authorities said. The Enquirer

1 of 4

Residents in the Virginia Alexandria neighborhood that was the scene of the shooting recounted to reporters the massive police presence in its aftermath. (June 14) AP

2 of 4

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot Wednesday at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., congressional officials say. (June 14) AP

3 of 4

File video: Freshman Rep. Brad Wenstrup talks about his toughest vote, his partys future, and other issues with Enquirer Washington correspondent Deirdre Shesgreen. Deirdre Shesgreen

4 of 4

Rep. Steve Scalise shot during congressional baseball team practice

Virginia residents recount shooting aftermath

Steve Scalise, officers shot at congressional baseball practice

Freshman Rep. Brad Wenstrup talks about his toughest vote

A person is treated by emergency workers as members of the Republican congressional baseball team look on following a shooting in Alexandria, Va 14 June 14, 2017. The Republican House majority whip Steve Scalise and at least four others have been shot shot at a congressional baseball game practice session, according to media reports(Photo: Shawn Thew, European Pressphoto Agency)

Rep. Brad Wenstrup's combat surgeon instincts kicked in after a fellow congressman was shot at a baseball practice Wednesday.

Wenstrup, ofColumbia Tusculum,used some kind of scissors to cut through Rep. Steve Scalise's pant leg to get to the Louisiana congressman's wound, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama told CNN.Wenstrup, a podiatrist, served as a U.S. Army surgeon.

"I felt like I was back in Iraq," Wenstrup told CBS News.

Scalise was among five wounded in the morning shooting, officials told news outlets. All are receiving medical attention. Scalise was undergoing surgery Wednesday morning after being shot in the hip, his office said in a statement.

For a time, "the field was basically a killing field," Sen. Rand Paul, of Kentucky, told CNN. Fifteen to 20 U.S. representatives and two senators were on the field, Paul said. "I saw Scalise go down on second base," but gunshots were still hitting the dirt in left field, Paul told CNN.

"I dont think anyone would have survived without the Capitol Police, said Paul, who is uninjured.Nobody else had a weapon. ...It would have been a massacre without them.

Brad Wenstrup(Photo: Provided)

After police had the shooter "down," Brooks said, members of Congress deferred to Wenstrup.

"I did what I did in Iraq," Wenstrup told ABC News.You assess their wounds, and you cut down their clothes and look for the wound and make sure that you stop the bleeding.

He made sure Scalise was conscious by asking him where he was and asking him to count. Scalise was in pain and "was losing a lot of blood," Wenstrup said.

Medics arrived, and they bandaged Scalise. Wenstrup said they gave him Gatorade and water to replenish his fluids.

"I'm glad I was there," Wenstrup told Fox News, "but it's a sad day in America."

Sen. Jeff Flake, of Arizona, told CNN it took at least 10 minutes until shooter was down. During that time, Scalise lay alone on the baseball field. "We couldn't get to him" because of the shots," Flake said.

I got Steve Scalises phone and called his wife, Flake told CNN. He said he didnt want her to hear Scalise had been shot via the news.

Gabby Giffords on baseball practice shooting: 'My heart is with my former colleagues'

Officials were practicing for a charity baseball game between Republicans and Democrats, which was set for Thursday. Money from the game goes to groups such as theWashington Literacy Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Read or Share this story: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/06/14/report-rep-brad-wenstrup-helped-congressman-shot-virginia/395411001/

Go here to see the original:
'Like I was back in Iraq,' Cincinnati congressman says after colleague shot - Cincinnati.com

HIGHLIGHTS

From 27 April to 30 May 2017:

As of 30 May 2017, the DTM has identified 3,020,034 internally displaced persons (503,339 families) displaced after January 2014, dispersed across 106 districts and 3,577 locations in Iraq. For the same period, DTM has identified 1,813,680 returnees (302,280 families).

Overall, the total number of identified IDPs remained stable during the reporting period, with a decrease of approximately 1% (7,513 individuals). The general decrease is to be attributed to return movements across all governorates, particularly in Anbar, Ninewa, Baghdad and Kirkuk governorates. At the same time, the governorate of Ninewa alone recorded an increase of 3% (20,958 individuals) because of the military operations in the city of Mosul.

The returnee population increased by 4% (76,542 individuals). The two governorates that reported the highest increase of the returnee population were Anbar by 7% (59,538) and Ninewa by 6% (15,030). Considering the available information and the DTM methodology, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) has revised the planning figures for the humanitarian response at 3 million internally displaced persons.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

During the reporting period, between 27 April and 30 May, Ninewa was the only governorate that recorded an increase in IDPs, while all other governorates recorded a reduction. However, this should not be interpreted as an absolute decrease of displacement trends: it is rather due to returning movements reportedly outweighing new displacements in some governorates.

This was the case of Salah al-Din and Kirkuk governorates, where the ongoing military operations in Baiji, Shirqat and Hawija districts have not escalated further, prompting return movements from Kirkuk and Salah al-Din to retaken areas in Salah al-Din, and from Kirkuk to Anbar as well. Meanwhile, the steadily growth of IDPs in Ninewa is due to the military operations to retake the city of Mosul, currently focusing on the western side of the city. The operations to retake west Mosul were launched on 19 February and have caused large waves of displacements to camp and out-of-camp locations.

According to the DTM Emergency Tracking, which reports only IDP and returnees records whose locations have been verified, as of 1 June the total cumulative number of identified IDPs reached 517,650 individuals, of whom 378,120 are still in displacement and 139,530 have already returned, particularly to east Mosul, Baashiqa, Tilkaif and Hamdaniya.

Based on flow-monitoring data tracked at Hammam al-Aliel screening site, as of 1 June almost 590,000 individuals had left west Mosul and mainly headed towards camps in Southern Ninewa or east Mosul. In particular, during the reporting period the DTM has recorded an average displacement of over 6,000 individuals per day from west Mosul through this screening site, with peaks of 17,000 or 16,000 around mid-May depending on the progress of the military operations.

Furthermore, during the reporting period this identified IDP population from Mosul grew by 17% (75,930 individuals), while the number of IDPs crossing Hammam al-Aliel screening site grew by 53%, corresponding to approximately 200,000 individuals. The DTM is currently working on validating the displacement locations of IDPs in out-of-camp settings and aims to provide updated figures by location as soon as possible.

Continue reading here:
Iraq: Displacement Tracking Matrix | DTM Round 72 - May 2017 [EN/AR/KU] - ReliefWeb