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Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Climate
- Shafaq News
Unreal contrast: Mount Sakran's snow vs. Iraq's burning cities
Shafaq News Iraq is enduring one of its hottest summers on record—but on a remote northern mountain, the heat feels worlds away. Mount Sakran, located in the Juman district of Kurdistan Region's Erbil Province, remains snow-covered and brisk even into late July. While Iraqi cities like Baghdad, Basra, and al-Nasiriyah swelter under temperatures exceeding 50°C, Sakran holds steady between 10 and 20°C. The contrast is so dramatic, it's drawing waves of visitors chasing cold air and cascading waterfalls. 'We arrived today, and it's unreal—the air is icy, and snow still blankets the ground, while it's 48°C back home,' Jassem, a visitor from Baghdad, told Shafaq News. However, Sakran is more than a seasonal refuge. It represents one of the country's last surviving microclimates, shaped by high altitude, rugged geography, and the shelter of the Zagros Mountains, a major range spanning parts of Iraq, Iran, and Turkiye. Its endurance stands in stark counterpoint to much of the north, where snow cover has steadily vanished over the past two decades. Visit Kurdistan: Erbil Citadel gathers history and tourism According to the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology (IMOS), rapid snowmelt is disrupting river flows and putting downstream agriculture under increasing pressure. A 2023 report from the UN Environment Programme flagged snowpack loss as one of Iraq's most urgent climate risks. So far, Mount Sakran resists that trend—its resilience underscoring just how rare such stability has become in Iraq's changing climate. The sharp temperature divide is sparking more than fascination. Families from the south are making the trek north, desperate for relief from blistering heat and bone-dry cities. 'It's beautiful and freezing here,' Mustafa Ahmed from al-Sulaymaniyah told our agency. 'The weather is so much different from the city.'
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
What the jury didn't hear in the Giammichele trial
From additional murders connected to the hit man and the notorious drug lord who is alleged to have provided the 'shooter,' to fighting between the lawyers and judge, there was much the jury in the first-degree murder trial of Alessandro Giammichele didn't hear as they considered his fate. Giammichele was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Marko Bakir by the jury of eight men and four women Tuesday at the John Sopinka Courthouse. Marko Bakir was killed outside his west Mountain home in November 2018. Bakir, 31, was gunned down in the driveway of his west Mountain home on Nov. 22, 2018 . He was pronounced dead at the scene. Giammichele, nicknamed Gino, pleaded not guilty. Assistant Crown attorney Elise Quinn told the jury the case was about money, motive and murder . She said Bakir, who had recently received a $362,000 settlement from a motorcycle accident, had lent Giammichele $100,000 to invest. The money came with a contract that laid out repayment terms, but Giammichele stopped paying. Crown and defence both agree Bakir was shot by hit man Abdelaziz Ibrahim , who is now dead. Abdelziz Ibrahim, the hit man the Crown and defence agreed killed Marko Bakir. But while Ibrahim may have fired the shots, Quinn told the jury Giammichele was the one who ordered the trigger to be pulled. ' Marko's murder only happened because Gino wanted Marko dead ,' she said in her closing. Defence lawyer Kendra Stanyon, in asking the jury to find her client innocent, said the Crown's theory is 'not the only reasonable scenario.' The case involved a lot of technical testimony about cellphone records, cellphone tower data and banking statements. But there is much the jury didn't hear. Marko Bakir and Alessandro Giammichele. The jury heard Salloum (Sal) Jassem was a 'major drug supplier' in Brantford and the area with a 'network of subordinates and access to firearms.' They saw text messages showing Jassem negotiating to buy numerous handguns and illegal drum magazines — and they heard he had 'a lot of shooters.' But the jury didn't hear Jassem had been charged in four other murders. When he died, Jassem was awaiting trial for first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Coby Carter in Brantford in July 2019. Salloum (Sal) Jassem. Jassem had also previously faced a conspiracy to commit murder charge, along with trafficking fentanyl and cocaine and firearm charges in Project Platinum — a multi-agency police investigation into a violent turf war in the tow-truck industry . The probe included the murder of Soheil Rafipour in Richmond Hill , in which Ibrahim was also charged. However, the charges against Jassem were stayed in May 2022. Jassem was also accused of ordering the murder of Roger Van Every, which went horribly wrong on July 18, 2019, when gunmen instead killed Roger's parents, Lynn Van Every and Larry Reynolds , outside their Park Road South home in Brantford. Jassem was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, but was found not guilty following a trial in 2023. Jassem died at Maplehurst Correctional Facility in Milton in 2024. A cause of death has not been released. Meanwhile, the jury in Giammichele's trial heard the Crown and defence agree that Ibrahim is the person who shot Bakir. They also heard Ibrahim was a 'close associate' of Jassem. But they didn't hear that Ibrahim was charged with first-degree murder in two other killings, in addition to Bakir's. When Ibrahim was charged in Bakir's killing alongside Giammichele in 2022, he was already in custody and charged with the Christmas Eve 2018 shooting death of Rafipour in Richmond Hill and the July 2019 shooting death of Carter. Before his arrest, Ibrahim was not known to police. He died in August 2022 at Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay. An inquest into his death concluded he died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. While the jury saw cellphone data and messages from Giammichele's time in the Dominican Republic — including messages that appeared to show him in conflict with unidentified individuals — they did not hear about any legal issues, including what assistant Crown Amber Lepchuk said was 'arguably fraud' in the Caribbean nation. During an exchange when the jury was out, Justice Skarica said during pretrial motions in January the Crown said they were aware Giammichele was accused of fraud in the Dominican Republic, but did not plan to introduce that evidence. Lepchuk later sought to have the full context of Giammichele's conversations in the island nation included, as the jury was left with the impression Giammichele was 'not afraid to return' to Canada. While Skarica said he thought the entirety of the conversations would have been better as it showed 'the whole picture' — the judge denied the application, telling the Crown 'you had your chance' during pretrial motions. Meanwhile, Stanyon objected to the Crown's references to a $10,000 payment from Giammichele to Marena Leachman following Bakir's murder , as she said the Crown had indicated they would not lead with the payment, adding the defence was 'very surprised.' However, Skarica said the defence 'opened the door' to discussing the payment by introducing Leachman's phone records in their evidence. 'I was shocked when I saw the exhibit,' he said. Defence Susan Pennypacker asked Skarica to stop 'audibly sighing' during cross-examination — something he denied doing. 'That will be easy for me to do because I am not sighing,' the judge said. Pennypacker also raised concerns about 'interventions' Skarica made during defence cross-examination, citing case law that said a 'trial judge ought not to descend into the arena.' She asked Skarica to 'refrain from interfering' with and questioning further witnesses. However, Skarica, citing case law, said a 'trial is an examination into the truth of what happened,' and a judge's responsibility may require him to ask questions. 'If counsel doesn't ask questions they should have, I will ask them,' he said. During a break in cross-examination of Hamilton police Staff Sgt. Rich Wouters, Stanyon asked Skarica to address what she called 'disparaging' comments by Quinn about the defence. Stanyon suggested Quinn saying the whole timeline from Giammichele's Dominican Republic phone was not included as evidence 'at defence's request' suggested to the jury the defence was 'trying to hide something.' However, Quinn argued the defence is '100 per cent' the reason the full timeline was not included. In response, Quinn said throughout the proceedings Stanyon's tone was 'unprofessional,' 'rude' and 'consistently condescending.' However, Skarica declined to get involved in reprimanding or chastising one counsel or the other in front of the jury, arguing it would be 'tipping the scales.' The judge added, in his opinion there were 'way too many objections' in the case from both sets of counsel over 'minutiae.' 'I've never seen anything like it,' he said. However, Skarica did make pointed comments to Stanyon while the jury was out during an argument about what to include in the judge's charge to the jury. After Skarica made a decision to not include a sentence the defence wanted in the charge and Stanyon continued to argue, the judge told Stanyon he had made his decision. 'You don't like to accept it, you've done it since January,' he said, adding earlier in the trial Stanyon 'literally yelled' at him that she knew the evidence better than him. When Stanyon retorted that in the end she was correct but they would have to 'agree to disagree,' the judge told the defence lawyer her 'arrogance is astonishing.' Skarica added she has 'no respect for this court' as she was late several times with no apology. Before and during the trial there were several legal arguments by defence to exclude pieces of evidence from the trial. Mark Buzzelli — who testified at the trial — was originally charged with accessory after the fact to murder when he was arrested in October 2022. The following May, however, he pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of obstructing police for lying to a homicide detective about his connection to Giammichele. The Spectator was the only media to report on the plea, which included a detailed agreed statement of facts that outlined the police theory that Giammichele hired a gunman to kill Bakir over a debt. Marko Bakir, 31, was shot five times in the driveway of his west Mountain home around 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2018 and was pronounced dead at the scene. Court also heard that Buzzelli told police Giammichele confessed to the shooting and details about texts and phone calls between Buzzelli and Giammichele, including just before the murder. More than two months later, Stanyon sought an application to have an after-the-fact publication ban imposed on Buzzelli's plea. The Crown took no position and The Spectator opposed. She argued that the information could impact the jury pool and Giammichele's fair trial rights. Specifically, she pointed to the confession and phone records that she said may not be heard at Giammichele's trial as the defence was looking to challenge admissibility. The jury later heard from Buzzelli about the alleged confession and gun that was left by Giammichele at the witness' home — as well as a multitude of cell data and text message evidence between the two. On Oct. 5, 2023, Ontario Court Justice Amanda Camara dismissed Giammichele's application, agreeing with The Spectator that the defence had not proven a ban was justified. Media are the 'eyes and ears of the public' and it is often 'only through the press that most individuals can really learn about what is happening in the court,' she said. By that point the Buzzelli article was already four months old and the 'toothpaste is out of the tube.' —With files from Nicole O'Reilly Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. 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Days of Palestine
29-05-2025
- Days of Palestine
Israeli Troops Kill Youth in Bed During Pre-Dawn Raid into Qalqilya
DayofPal– 20-year-old Jassem Al-Sada was shot while sleeping during a raid on his village in Qalqilya. Locals say Israeli forces left him bleeding to death during their pre-dawn raid. Grief and outrage swept through the village of Jit, east of Qalqilya, as hundreds of mourners filled the streets late yesterday to bid farewell to Jassem Al-Sadda. According to family members, Israeli soldiers stormed the Al-Sadda home while Jassem was asleep in bed. He was shot multiple times and left bleeding on the floor, witnesses said, without receiving medical care from the soldiers. His body was later handed over to Palestinian medics at the village entrance and transported to Darwish Nazzal Hospital in Qalqilya, where he was pronounced dead. Jassem, the youngest member of his family, worked on a street cart to support them. His killing has sparked widespread anger and deepened fears across the occupied West Bank. His funeral began at the hospital and proceeded through the streets of Jit, where villagers chanted against Israeli actions. Final prayers were held at the village's old mosque before his burial in the local cemetery. The Israeli military raid on Jit included searches of multiple homes, including the al-Sadda residence. Locals described the operation as violent and unprovoked. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces continued arrest operations. In Bethlehem, two men, 40-year-old Shadi Ali Hassasneh and Ibrahim Walid Sabah from Tuqu', were detained. In Al-Mazra'a Al-Gharbiya, northwest of Ramallah, three more were arrested, including two 15-year-old boys: Abdulrahman Hanoon and Mohammad Dadawyeh. Residents reported that homes were ransacked during the arrests. Violence also erupted from Israeli settlers, who carried out attacks in several villages. In Ramon, east of Ramallah, settlers reportedly torched multiple vehicles and spray-painted racist slogans on Palestinian homes. In Qaryut, south of Nablus, settlers burned seven cars and vandalized crops in the nearby village of Al-Mughayyer. In another incident, undercover Israeli forces reportedly assaulted a Palestinian man, Mohammad Al-Khatib, outside his home in the Shu'fat refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem. Witnesses said the man was beaten in front of his family. The recent wave of military raids, arrests, and settler violence has intensified fears among Palestinians. For many, the killing of Jassem Al-Sadda has become a stark and painful symbol of the dangers facing young Palestinians under military occupation. Shortlink for this post:
Middle East Eye
28-05-2025
- Middle East Eye
West Bank: Israeli forces kill Palestinian sleeping in his home
Israeli forces shot dead a 20-year-old Palestinian man while he slept in his home in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. Jassem al-Sadda was killed in the village of Jit, east of Qalqilya, according to medical workers who confirmed his death. His family said soldiers opened fire on him without warning and prevented ambulance crews from reaching him. A wave of grief and shock swept through the village as hundreds gathered at the family home to witness the aftermath of the raid, including the bloodstains that covered the floor of Sadda's room. His mother, Haifa al-Sadda, told Middle East Eye that at around 1am, dozens of soldiers stormed the house without knocking. They immediately broke down the door and entered. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'They rushed straight to Jassem's room, where he was asleep, and shot him four times without any warning,' she said. 'He was left bleeding, and no one was allowed to approach him.' Haifa added that the soldiers 'jumped over the wall surrounding the house, stormed in, and killed Jassem. They then prevented us from seeing or reaching him before vandalising the adjacent room.' 'Jassem was diligent in his work, and everyone loved him' - Haifa al-Sadda, Palesitnian mother After confirming his death, the soldiers carried Jassem's body and handed it over to a Palestinian ambulance crew. His room remained stained with his blood. 'Jassem was diligent in his work, and everyone loved him. He was helpful and obedient to us and to everyone who knew him,' his mother said through tears. Family sources confirmed that the Israeli army held Sadda's body for several hours before eventually transferring it to Palestine Red Crescent teams at the village entrance. His body was then taken to Darwish Nazzal Governmental Hospital in Qalqilya. Sadda was the youngest son in his family and worked as a vendor at a small stall in the village. On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Jit to mourn Sadda, chanting slogans demanding justice for what they called a 'heinous crime.' Settlers arson attacks Elsewhere, Israeli settlers escalated their attacks on Palestinians and their property across the West Bank. On Tuesday, the village of al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, suffered two major assaults. Settlers first burned 60 dunams of wheat in the town's western plains before setting fire to 80 dunams of olive, almond, and fig trees in the eastern plains. Sinjil: Palestinian town besieged by settler violence and Israeli army wall Read More » Marzouq Abu Naim, a resident, told MEE that villagers were preparing to harvest their wheat when settlers from the nearby Adi Ad outpost attacked them, physically assaulting several people. The Israeli army then arrived and reportedly joined the settlers, firing tear gas at Palestinians to disperse them. The settlers continued to burn the crops, destroying most of the wheat. Later that night, settlers returned and set fire to the eastern plain, where the trees were planted. Firefighters were prevented from reaching the fires to put them out. 'The Israeli army stormed the village after the fire and fired tear gas canisters between the houses to terrorise the residents,' Abu Naim added. The Palestinian News Agency reported that at dawn on Wednesday, settlers infiltrated the village of Rammun, east of Ramallah, setting fire to two vehicles and the wall of a house. They also spray-painted racist slogans on Palestinian homes and raised Israeli flags. On Tuesday, settlers attacked homes in Qaryut, south of Nablus, setting fire to and destroying seven vehicles. According to data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers carried out 231 acts of vandalism and theft of Palestinian property in the West Bank during April. These attacks affected large areas of land, resulting in the uprooting of 1,168 olive trees. Additional reporting by Mohammad Nazzal in Qalqilya
Iraqi News
14-03-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq seeks gas imports from Arab Gulf countries
Baghdad – Iraq is exploring alternatives to Iranian gas imports, including options in the Gulf, a government official said, as it seeks to reduce dependence on its sanctions-hit neighbour. The administration of US President Donald Trump announced at the weekend its decision to end a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iraq to buy electricity from Iran, though it has yet to bar gas imports. Iran's gas and electricity supply accounts for a third of Iraq's energy needs. 'Previously, we only had imports from Iran, but there are government directives and a political will to rely on multiple sources of imports,' said Saad Jassem, an official at Iraq's electricity ministry. 'We have not yet stopped Iranian gas imports,' the director of the ministry's fuel department told AFP in an interview on Wednesday. His remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, after Iran rejected a US offer of talks on its nuclear programme. 'The administration has made clear to the Iraqi government that it needs to make swift progress in eliminating all Iranian natural gas purchases,' a US diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. Despite its vast oil wealth, Iraq has been ravaged by decades of conflict, suffers from crumbling infrastructure and is plagued by daily power cuts. 'We must consider the worst-case scenario — if there is an interruption, we have prepared alternatives,' said Jassem. 'In the region, Qatar is the largest natural gas producer — we have made several visits, and they are ready to help Iraq with preferential rates,' the official said, adding that 'Oman is also an option'. Negotiations were also underway to buy gas from Turkmenistan to be delivered via pipelines across Iran, he added. Iraq is setting up two floating liquefied natural gas terminals in the southern Khor al-Zubair region, Jassem said, expressing hope they will be operational by June. The facilities could be used to process 14 to 19 million cubic metres (500 to 700 million cubic feet) a day, he said. 'If we manage to set up a third unit we could hit 800 to 900 million cubic feet,' he added, saying this would help offset the shortfall of Iranian gas that southern Iraq depends on. 'The question of energy is vital for citizens: cutting off gas would mean a significant reduction in electricity supply,' Jassem said. Iraq faces the challenge of balancing relations with Iran and its strategic partner, the United States. In a bid to make Iraq self-sufficient, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government wants to stop gas flaring in Iraq's oil fields by 2028, and to use it instead to supply power stations. Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has called for a new nuclear deal with Tehran while reinstating his 'maximum pressure' policy of sanctions. Even before the United States ended its sanctions waiver, Iran's gas supply to Iraq had already started to become erratic, with Baghdad falling behind on payments while Iraqi domestic consumption increased. Iran has regularly cut its deliveries, exacerbating life for Iraq's 46 million people, especially during climate change-driven heatwaves. In 2024, Iraq and Iran renewed for five years their gas import agreement for the purchase of up to 50 million cubic metres a day. But Iraq currently receives no more than 15 million cubic metres, sharply down from the agreed amount. For Iraq, electricity shortages remain a sensitive issue, as power cuts have sparked protests, particularly during the summer months.
