The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced the sale of 443 federal buildings identified as "non-core assets," including several associated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as part of an initiative to streamline the federal government. Concurrently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing for a significant workforce reduction, aligning with President Trump's administration's priority to decrease the size of the federal government. These efforts aim to reorganize and optimize federal operations, though the impact on affected employees and services remains uncertain.
Posts tagged as “German-Iraqi”
At least 103 people were killed and 141 injured in two explosions that rocked a memorial event for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran on Wednesday. The blasts occurred minutes apart at the Kerman Martyrs Cemetery, with no group yet claiming responsibility. Iranian state media called the attack “terroristic”, though Israel has carried out targeted assassinations in Iran in the past.
On December 25th, the United States accused Iran of being "deeply involved" in a drone attack on an Iraqi military base that left three U.S. service members wounded. In response, President Joe Biden ordered retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed militia groups and the U.S. has long accused Iran of supporting militant groups in the Middle East. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the President was briefed and held a call with his national security team before ordering the strikes.
Key takeaways: BP has suspended all gas and oil shipments through the Red Sea due to a surge in attacks on ships in the region…
The United States has conducted two sets of self-defense strikes in Syria against facilities used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in response to attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes were conducted at the direction of President Biden and were a “precision self-defense strike” to protect U.S. personnel and facilities. This is the first time the U.S. has targeted Iran-linked facilities in Syria and is part of an effort to combat Iran's presence in the region.
The United States military conducted strikes against two facilities in eastern Syria on Thursday in response to recent attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, which have injured 19 U.S. service members. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes were intended to send a message that the U.S. does not seek conflict and will not tolerate attacks on its personnel. The Pentagon has reported 16 such attacks since October 17, and the action is intended to protect U.S. personnel and interests in the region.
At least 100 people were killed and 150 injured in a devastating fire that swept through a wedding hall in Iraq's Nineveh province on Wednesday. The fire was sparked by fireworks inside the hall, trapping over 700 guests and causing part of the ceiling to collapse. Initial reports suggest fireworks at the venue may have sparked the blaze, but the death toll could rise higher as people mourn the loss of life.
On Saturday, a bear escaped from its crate in the cargo hold of an Iraqi aircraft, causing a delay in takeoff and sparking a stir on social media. Iraqi Airways reported that all procedures to transport the animal were followed, and Iraq's Prime Minister has ordered an investigation into the incident. The outcome of the investigation is yet to be determined.