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TASS reports that three blasts have occurred on a gas pipeline in Dagestan.
TASS reported?on?Tuesday, citing the regional ministry of emergency, that three?explosions?hit a gas pipe in 'the town 'of 'Kizilyurt, in Russia’s Dagestan Region in the North Caucasus. However, emergency crews managed to control the resulting blaze. Three explosions were reported by the?ministry on a trunk 1,200 mm gas pipeline. No injuries have been reported. TASS?quoted?officials in the?region who said that emergency crews brought under control flames which had risen 15 metres (50 feet). It said that grassy areas were burning near the explosion site. Russian news agencies reported that residents who were ordered to evacuate from 300 homes are now returning. Interfax reported that the mayor's office in Kizilyurt said a fire had occurred within the industrial area of the town and was believed to have engulfed the gas distribution station. Joe Bavier, Sanjeev MIglani and Joe Bavier reported; edited by Sanjeev miglani.
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Foreign visitors to Cuba's once-bustling tourist sites are becoming increasingly rare
Ramiro Escobar, a Colombian, had always dreamt of visiting Cuba. Last week, the 68 year-old finally made the trip after putting it off for decades. He visited the island's most famous sites including the Varadero beach resort with its white sands. Escobar raved about his trip despite Cuba's struggling economic situation and fuel shortages. He said, "It is true that the country is in crisis but there are still many services available and my experience has been excellent." "I have had a wonderful time here." Escobar, a foreign tourist from Latin America, was the only one out of six to be able find him during a morning spent in Old Havana earlier this week. The once bustling city streets, hotels, restaurants and museums are now almost entirely devoid of tourists. Cuba's tourism sector, which is plagued by power outages, shortages and an economic crisis, has never recovered from COVID-19. The number of international visitors has barely reached half the peak of 4,75 million that was recorded in 2018. This year has been even worse, as the U.S. has hinted at possible military action and imposed fresh sanctions on the communist-run island government. Washington has warned that foreigners doing business with sanctioned people will be penalized. As a result, the majority of top tourism and travel firms on Cuba have fled or drastically reduced their activity. The two biggest foreign hotel chains in Cuba, Spain's Melia & Iberostar, have announced that they will reduce the number of hotels on the island. Blue Diamond, a Canadian hotel company, has completely pulled out. Spanish airlines Iberia, World2Fly, and Russian airline 'Rossiya, along with Canadian airlines WestJet, and Air Canada have all suspended their flights to the island. The reason given was unreliable jet fuel supplies. Visa and Mastercard also suspended their operations in Cuba as of last week. TOURISTS ARE FEARFUL All-inclusive resorts offer hotel rooms for as low as $50 per night to those who are willing to take the plunge and can travel to the country. Some guests are surprised to find that the elevators have broken down, their rooms are shoddy and there is no choice at the buffet. Many people don't even try. Adianet Labrada, a representative of the?Cubatur travel agency said that tourists are scared to visit. "I used have a lot of groups visiting us from around the world, but after the sanctions and threat of military invasion, I lost almost all of them." Cuba's ONEI national statistics agency reported that 328 608 international visitors had arrived in the first six months of the year. This is less than half of the previous year, and well below the pre-pandemic level. The administration of the?U.S. The administration of?U.S. Cuba claims that decades of U.S. economic sanctions are the cause of its economic woes. Valerio Bispuri is an Argentinean photographer who visited Cuba this week. He said he was struck by the solidarity he saw amongst people on a recent road trip to Santiago – 12 hours away from Havana – despite the obvious shortages and difficulties. Bispuri, who praised the Cuban culture and people, said: "There's hunger, but based on what I've seen in these past few days, it seems they will be able to pull through." Many small, privately-owned?hotels and restaurants have closed down because they say that they can't survive. Jairan Lombira is the manager of La Vitrola Cafe in Old Havana. He has offered a 50% discount for passers-by, whether they are foreigners or not, to avoid having to close his business. Lombira stated, "We now focus on attracting the local market while we wait for things to improve." (Reporting and editing by Dave Sherwood, Rosalba o'Brien, Ayose Naranjo)
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US House advances $70 billion immigration enforcement bill
Tuesday, the U.S. Congress moved closer to ending a stalemate over funding for immigration enforcement. Republicans in Congress voted on party lines to start a debate on a $70billion bill. The House was expected to vote later Tuesday on the measure, which would then be sent to the White House to be signed by President Donald Trump. The bill was also passed along party lines by the?Senate early Friday morning. The bill funds U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol over the next three-year period, putting the issue beyond the reach of partisan differences in Congress. Democrats refused to support funding for immigration enforcement after agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January. This led to a disruption in funding for the Department o Homeland 'Security. It caused long?airport security lines. Until lawmakers agreed to fund portions of?the sprawling department that were not involved in Trump's immigration crackdown. Reporting by Nolan D. McCaskill, David Morgan and Alistair Bell; Editing by Mark Porter & Alistair Bell
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Germany's new 15-year aviation strategy aims to boost the sector
According to a draft document that was seen on Tuesday, the German government wants to "make Germany a leading hub" for sustainable, safe, and competitive aviation. This will be achieved through a 15-year plan which includes cutting costs, increasing research, and accelerating the use of cleaner fuels. Wednesday the German cabinet will approve the aviation strategy, which outlines short- and mid-term plans for civil and military aviation. The aim is to give greater planning certainty to policymakers, companies, military personnel and the general public. The strategy is based on four pillars, including economic competitiveness and technological 'competitiveness. The aim is to make aviation climate-friendly and prepare it for future crises. The draft states that Berlin wants to support the production of these fuels in Europe and the United States, as well as infrastructure. According to the document, German aviation faces "challenges" including weak passenger growth in comparison with Europe, rising costs and international competition, as well as geopolitical tensions. The draft mentions 'the government coalition plans to reduce air traffic tax and control fee?and streamline security of aviation,' while adding that?implementation of?the strategy depends on the availability of budgetary funds. Reporting by Klaus Lauer, Writing by Maria Martinez, Editing by Paul Simao
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Emirates is optimistic about Boeing 777X but there has been no progress on the Airbus A350 engine dispute
Dubai's Emirates president says that the company expects to get its first Boeing 777X, which has been delayed for years, by June next year. However, it is still waiting on progress in Rolls-Royce engine improvement, which would allow them to order Airbus A350-1000. Emirates, the largest buyer of wide body jets in the world, has complained a lot about the long delays with Boeing's biggest?model and the durability of the engines on Airbus's own biggest model. Tim Clark, Emirates President, said on the sidelines a Berlin industry conference that the 777X was in "good shape". The airline anticipates receiving its first 777X by May or June of next year. This is 14 years after Emirates was the leader in the initial wave?of orders for this 400-seater jet. The development of the GE powered plane has been stalled for years due to certification delays. Questions about the Remuneration Package Clark reiterated concerns over the wear and tear of the Trent XWB-97 engine for the slightly smaller Airbus A350-1000. Emirates said that it would not order the aircraft until the issue was resolved. The story of the (XWB)97 is what it was. He said: "I know (Rolls-Royce is) working hard to fix it." Clark, who had publicly clashed with Rolls-Royce before, questioned a possible remuneration of?more? than PS100million ($134million) given to Rolls-Royce's CEO Tufan Erginbilgic. Erginbilgic is credited for a radical overhaul of the Group, resulting in a dramatic turnaround in profits. SCAM OVER DELAYS AND PRICES INSIDE THE INDUSTRY Rolls-Royce refused to comment on Clark's pay package. However, a spokesperson for the company said that its Trent XWB-97 upgrade program was improving engine durability and time spent on wing. The spokesperson stated that "These improvements will double the durability and improve the flying experience in benign environments by 50%." They added that the company will also invest to expand its maintenance and overhaul capacity by 2030 in order to meet growing customer demand. The industry is embroiled in a spat between airlines and engine manufacturers over high prices and delays. Clark showed little sympathy to engine manufacturers who failed to meet demand and left some planes idle. "I couldn't tell my government that I couldn't fly because of this. They would kick me out. It's brutal, but it's how it is. "You need to improve, but not just him (Erginbilgic), all of them as well." IATA, the global airlines'?group, accused engine manufacturers of "gouging" airline parts prices at the weekend. Engine makers claim they have taken on significant financial risk to improve fuel efficiency and blame some delays on supply-chain issues. Clark told engine makers that the supply shortage was not his problem.
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CMA CGM Chief says it's 'unwise to assume' that Hormuz would return to pre-war conditions
The head of French shipping group CMA CGM stated on Tuesday that it would be "unwise to assume" that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will return to the way it was prior to the Iran War. CMA CGM is the third largest container line in the world. Its vessels are stranded within the Gulf, where the conflict has closed it off. The waterway carries about a fifth the global supply of oil and LNG. Rodolphe Saade, the CEO and Chairman of CMA CGM, told a French parliament hearing that "even if a peace solution is implemented in coming weeks there's no guarantee?there won't a crisis later and we can't become prisoners to Hormuz." He said: "I will not be fixated by the idea that?the Strait of Hormuz will reopen?and?everything will return?to what it was," "Unfortunately, it seems unwise to act in such a way." Saade said that CMA CGM could continue to offer alternative routes to clients as it adapts itself to a volatile geopolitical environment. CMA CGM, based in Marseille, has also rushed to bypass the Hormuz Strait?to get to the Gulf. It hauls cargo via road and rail, from ports further away. Saade, a family member who controls CMA CGM, stated that the company was sending a third of the number of containers into the Gulf as compared to before the war. Ramon Fernandez, the Chief Financial Officer of the group, said that the alternative routes would cost the group an additional $300 million during the first half of the year. CMA CGM was stranded with 14 ships in the Gulf when the Iran War began. Two of the ships have left, but one was hit last month by an attack in which eight seafarers were injured.
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FedEx pilots union ratifies new wage agreement
After nearly five years, FedEx pilots ratified "a new agreement" that would increase their wages by 40% in this year. The Air Line Pilots Association, International reported that 83 percent of FedEx's pilots have voted for the new collective bargaining agreement, which will provide a 3% annual increase?from 2030 through 2028. Since May 2021, FedEx management and ALPA are in discussions. FedEx and pilots' union reached a tentative agreement in April. First officers could receive up to $102,500 in retroactive pay for negotiations. Captains can also get up to $150,000. FedEx has the largest cargo air fleet in the world, with 391 cargo planes and 317 turboprops. The contract comes into effect on June 29. ALPA stated that the contract will be amendable by December 2030. (Reporting and editing by Tasim Zaid, Leroy Leo, and Nandan Mandayam from Bengaluru)
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Emirates is optimistic about Boeing 777X but there has been no progress on the Airbus A350 engine dispute
Emirates' president stated that Dubai expects its first Boeing 777X to arrive in June of next year. However, the company has not seen any progress with Rolls-Royce engines, which would allow them to order Airbus A350-1000. Emirates, the world's biggest buyer of wide-body jets, has complained repeatedly about Boeing's 'long' delays and Airbus's engine reliability on its own largest model. Tim Clark, Emirates President, said on the sidelines a Berlin industry conference that the 777X was in "good shape". The airline anticipates receiving its first '777X' in May or June of next year. This is 14 years after Emirates was the leader in a wave that led to initial orders for this 400-seater?jet. The development of the GE powered plane has been stalled for years due to certification delays. Questions about the Remuneration Package Clark?reiterated his concerns over the wear and tear of the Trent XWB-97 engine for the slightly'smaller Airbus A350-1000 in the hot and sandy Gulf. Emirates said that it would not order the aircraft until this issue is resolved. The story of the (XWB-97) is what it was. "I know that they (Rolls-Royce), are working very hard to fix it," he said. Clark, who had publicly clashed with Rolls-Royce before, questioned the remuneration of more than PS100,000,000 ($134,000,000) given to Rolls-Royce's CEO Tufan Erginbilgic. Erginbilgic is credited for a radical overhaul of the Group, driving a sharp turn around in profits and share prices. SCAM INDUSTRY WIDE OVER DELAYS AND PRICES Rolls-Royce declined to comment on Clark's comments about engine durability and the pay package. The industry is embroiled in a spat between airlines and engine manufacturers over high prices?and delivery delays. Clark showed little sympathy towards engine manufacturers who failed to meet demand and left a number of planes idle. "I cannot say to my Government that I can't travel because I don't have this. They would kick me out. It's brutal but that's how it is. "You need to be better than what you are doing, but not just Erginbilgic. It's also all the other people." IATA, the global airline group, accused engine manufacturers of "gouging' airlines over parts prices at the weekend. Engine makers claim they have taken on significant financial risk to produce?fuel improvement and blame some delays on supply-chain issues. Clark told engine makers that the supply shortage was not his problem.
Special Report-Iran consolidates control of Hormuz through island checkpoints and diplomatic deals, as well as sometimes 'fees.'
The crew of the tanker gathered courage and navigated carefully along the route designated by Iran. They hugged the coast and manoeuvred their massive vessel between island checkpoints in the Strait of Hormuz.
Agios Fanourios 1, a 330 metre long vessel, loaded with Iraqi crude and bound for Vietnam had been bottle-?up near the coast of Dubai, since late April. On May 10, the tanker set out for the Strait of Hormuz after an agreement with Iran, overseen by Iraq’s Prime Minister. The Iranian orders to the tanker are part of the complex multi-tiered system that Iran has used for clearing vessels across the Strait of Hormuz. With Iran now in de ?facto control of the strait, the system can involve government-to-government arrangements, intense vetting by the Iranian government and sometimes fees in exchange for safe passage, has found. The ship's progress in Vietnam, Iraq and Greece was closely monitored by two people, who were interviewed by. The transponder would go dark periodically, but I was still able to sail on the Agios Fenourios. A projectile struck another ship nearby that day and caused a small fire.
The Agios Fanourios 1 icon was displayed on screens late May 10. According to an Iranian official, speedboats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stopped the tanker as it passed?Hormuz Island.
The IRGC soldiers who were initially letting the ship through the strait now order the ship to stop. The Iranian official stated that there was a suspicion of smuggled goods and they wanted to inspect the vessel.
The vessel was given Iranian permission to continue a few hours later. This turned what would normally be a five-hour journey through the Strait into a two day ordeal.
One of the people who was monitoring the trip said, "Once we heard that Agios had passed Hormuz we breathed a huge sigh,"
Eastern Mediterranean Shipping, the manager of the ship, and six other people who knew about the passage confirmed that no payments had been made.
Konstantinos Sakellaridis wrote that he had "reasons to believe" that Iranians were oblivious to the transit Agios Fanourios I due to pressure from Iraq and Vietnam.
The Iranian government has not responded to requests for comments about the new mechanism, or the voyage of the Agios fanourios I. Iran’s grip on Strait of Hormuz - the conduit for a fifth of global oil supply - has caused the world economy to be in turmoil. In order to reveal how Iran has been consolidating its control over the strategic chokepoint, we interviewed 20 people who had knowledge of this evolving mechanism. These included Asian and European shipping officials and Iranian and Iraqi official, as well as Iranian and Iraqi officials. We also reviewed Iranian documents relating to the vetting procedure and analysed the movements of ships. Together, these documents provide a rare glimpse into the Iranian scheme, in which the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps plays a key role.
The sensitive nature of the topic made all sources request anonymity. Some details about the Agios fanourios I's journey could not be independently confirmed, but they matched the accounts of multiple maritime officials who were involved in managing the same route and navigating it for cargo ships as well as tankers.
According to the U.S. Military, by early May, there were around 1,500 vessels in the Gulf with 22,500 sailors on board. This bottleneck is caused by Iran's ability, from the coast of the Gulf, to hit ships in the strait. The conflict has become the worst energy crisis in history, according to the head of the International Energy Agency. The U.S. Navy responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ships and their cargo, with a cordon around the Strait.
A trickle of ships have made it through the waterway. According to an unpublished analysis from the U.S. company SynMax Intelligence, between April 18 and may 6, less than 60 ships passed through. In the days before the war, 120-140 ships would pass through the strait every day. About half were oil tankers.
U.S. laws prohibit American citizens from transacting with the Iranian government. Non-Americans who deal with Iranian entities may also be subject to "secondary sanctions". Many Western governments also maintain their own restrictions and sanctions relating to Iran. The U.S. Treasury Department released a statement May 1 warning about the risks associated with making payments to the Iranian regime or obtaining guarantees from them for safe passage.
The new Iranian mechanism includes a tiered system giving preference to ships linked to its allies Russia and China, followed by countries such as India and Pakistan with close ties to Tehran, and then government-to-government agreements that let vessels like the Agios Fanourios I pass, found.
The U.S. Department of Treasury responded to questions about the system by saying that it was prepared to take action against foreign companies supporting illicit Iranian trade.
It is not possible to determine independently how many ships have used this scheme. Iran said that ships connected to the United States and Israel, who launched aerial attacks against Iran in late-February, may not be allowed to cross the Strait.
Two European shipping sources said some vessels that aren't covered by government-to-government deals are paying Iranian authorities upwards of $150,000 to secure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Two senior Iranian officials said that security and navigation fees are charged to ships, but the amount varies depending on the cargo. Two senior Iranian officials did not provide specific figures but said that "not all countries pay these fees."
Could not independently confirm whether the amount levied against vessels or the total amount flowing into Iranian coffers was accurate.
"THE NEW NORMS" Under international maritime law governments are not allowed to charge for the safe passage of a strait. As long as all ships are treated equally, fees can be charged for security or service. Secrets are kept about these payments and the names ship owners who paid Iranian authorities for their vessels to be retrieved, because such payments would violate U.S. sanctions against Iran's government. Could not determine the method of transfer or which Iranian entity received the money.
According to two maritime insurance specialists, in addition to being charged, violators will also lose their insurance coverage if they make payments to the IRGC that would benefit it, as?it is a terrorist organization internationally designated.
Danny Citrinowicz is a former Israeli Intelligence officer who specializes in Iran research and analyses.
Citrinowicz said that the Iranian regime's approval was required to open or close the Straits. He is currently working at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies. "Some will pass through due to political alliances. Others will pay a fee, and others will be sent back. "This is the new normal."
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to Iran's findings regarding its new control system, called for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and expressed concern about "future arrangements" for the strait.
The statement from the Ministry said that "such arrangements should comply with the law and practice of international law, and take into consideration the legitimate security concerns and demands of coastal states as well as the legitimate claims of regional countries and international community."
Checking for affiliation
According to three Iranian and one European source, outside of government agreements the process for securing Iranian permission to transit includes a detailed vetting by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's elite combat force. According to the sources, the IRGC examines a document called an affiliation that is provided by a ship operator or owner and submitted via an intermediary.
The European shipping source said that the affiliation check was to determine if there were any connections between the vessel and the U.S. The Guards review documents for about a week, and they may also want to inspect the ship during this time, according to the source.
According to documents sent by Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority to sources in the shipping industry, the IRGC requires shipowners to disclose information including the value and origin of the ship's cargo as well as the nationalities of its crew. In recent weeks, the authority was established to tax and approve vessel transits.
According to three senior Iranian officials, the vetting of ships is done by Iranian state institutions, including the Ports and Maritime Organization, Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, national shipping organization, and security overseer of Supreme National Security Council. Officials said that the IRGC which oversees Iranian security is also involved in evaluating the vessels.
The countries must also contact Iran's Foreign Minister to ask for permission. One of the officials stated that the minister then forwards them to the Supreme National Security Council which includes representatives of Mojtaba Khamenei and the IRGC.
The official added that "a decision is made and then communicated to all relevant bodies, including the IRGC," he said. The official added that the IRGC gives the necessary coordinates and instructions for safe passage.
According to two sources familiar with the deal, the Iraqi government and its state-owned oil marketer SOMO worked together to negotiate a deal with Iran for the Agios Fanourios I under the supervision then-Iraqi Premier Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
Three Iraqi officials from the oil ministry said that they had sent the Iranians the crew and manifest information for the Agios fanourios I before the passage.
The Iraqi government has not responded to a question about its arrangements with Iranian officials or details about Agios Fanourios.
Other countries have negotiated different agreements. India is one of them. It imports 90% of its oil and 50% of its natural gas. A large portion of this passes through Hormuz.
According to an official in the Indian shipping ministry, New Delhi uses its embassy at Tehran to communicate with Iranian authorities including the IRGC, the Iranian navy and other Iranian agencies. These entities vet the ships India wants to leave the Gulf.
"Once all is verified, the captain of the ship is given a course to follow and the ship leaves the area under the guidance of the Iran Navy. Officials said that captains were strictly instructed to adhere to the "given route". He added that ships are instructed to turn off location transponders, and to not use satellite communication.
An Indian source familiar with the process said that after Iran gives permission, the Indian Navy contacts the shipmasters of Indian flagged vessels in the Gulf directly and provides them with waypoints.
The Indian navy told us, too, that you should stop if they ask you to. The source stated that "if they tell you to move you should move," and we have been following these instructions.
India's Shipping Ministry announced on May 14 that 13 Indian flagged vessels had cleared the Strait of Hormuz while another 13 remain west of the waterway.
India, Russia Pakistan and Vietnam didn't respond to our requests for comments about Iran's control of the Strait.
FRAUGHT?
According to three Iranians and two sources from the shipping industry, clearing multiple Iranian waypoints is a common requirement for many ships as they leave the Gulf of Aden and enter the Strait of Hormuz. These are often manned by armed personnel.
The Agios fanourios I passed through the Iranian military checkpoints in Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Larak. These coordinates were verified using the publicly available location data of the ship and other sources that knew about similar journeys.
According to an Iranian official who was familiar with that incident, when the vessel approached Hormuz Island at the mouth of the strait it was briefly halted by the IRGC speedboats. He claimed that there was some information on possible smuggled goods aboard.
He said that the information was incorrect. After a short period of confusion, the Agios fanourios I resumed its journey.
The Indian shipping industry source stated that a similar chaotic communication was likely the cause of an attack on two Indian flagged ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz in the last month. Indian sailors trapped in the Gulf are scared by these incidents.
The Indian shipping source said that these ships do not have any armor or other protection. "The bullets penetrate through." He added that the only targets for shooters are the crew quarters. "They cannot shoot at the tanks, because they are carrying flammable liquids."
A bulk carrier sailed by an Indian sailor through the Strait of Hormuz. The ship waited for permission from the IRGC before it left the Gulf. The Iranian navy then established contact and instructed the ship to proceed towards Larak Island. The naval officials then ordered the captain of the ship to reveal the details about the ship and display its flag. They began talking with the shipping company. The Iranians asked repeatedly about the crew's nationality.
He said that "after a few hours, the IRGC gave the captain a route." The ship, escorted by smaller Iranian navy vessels, was instructed to steer with caution for fear of mines. He said, "It was an incredibly frightening sight." "I cannot even imagine in my wildest fantasies going to sea during a conflict."
Even if vessels make it to the other side of the Strait of Hormuz the ordeal may not be over. The Agio Fanourios 1 was caught in the U.S. Navy blockade a day after leaving Iranian waters. The tanker was tethered to a triangle for six days as the American military processed its paperwork.
"U.S. "U.S. forces ordered the Malta-flagged ship to turn around in order to enforce the ongoing blockade," Capt. Tim Hawkins is the spokesperson for U.S. Central Command.
Sakellaridis said that Vietnam had pressured the United States into letting the ship through. He said there was no reason to stop it in the first place because "the vessel and cargo did not have any Iranian involvement."
It is not possible to determine how many ships the Americans have stopped since the blockade began on April 13th. The Agio Fanourios I, which was seized on April 13, was released without explanation on May 16. The ship is loaded with 2,000,000 barrels of crude oil and will be heading to Vietnam. Reporting by Devjyot Sharma in New Delhi, Gavin Finch, Gavin Finch, Gavin Rasheed, Parisa Hafezi, Ahmed Rasheed, in Baghdad. Florence Tan, Jonathan Saul and Nerijus Adomatis contributed additional reporting. Rene Maltezou, Sunil Kataria, Sunil Adomaitis and Florence Tan also provided editing. Lori Hinnant edited the article.
(source: Reuters)