Page 6 - Al-Rashed Newsletter March 19

IRAQ MUSINGS
IRAQ NEWS

Death toll rises to 102 after ferry capsizes in Iraq's Tigris River
An overcrowded ferry capsized in the Tigris River near Mosul, killing at least
102 people during Nowruz and Mother's Day celebrations on Thursday,
officials said.
Among the victims were at least 12 children, officials have said.
Of the nearly 150 people who were on board, about 60 are missing, said
Mosul Mayor Zuhair al-Araji. The ferry was transporting people from a bank
of the river to a small tourist island called Umm al-Rabeein.

Iraq Prepares to Evict U.S. Troops
Momentum is building among deputies in the Iraqi parliament to oust U.S.
troops entirely from the country—an outcome that would leave Iraq’s
political future in the hands of neighboring Iran and leave its citizens more
vulnerable to the Islamic State.Today, the United States fields an estimated
5,200 troops in Iraq. They are there as part of a security agreement with the
Iraqi government to advise, assist, and support that country’s troops in the
fight against the Islamic State. But the Iraqi parliament is expected to vote
soon on draft laws calling for a full withdrawal. For now, things don’t look
good for the troops.

Women in Iraq push to criminalize domestic violence
Domestic violence has been on the rise in Iraq, with women's groups
blaming instability and the break down of law and order. For almost a
decade, women have been encouraging their parliament to pass a law that
would criminalize domestic violence and they hope this year will be
different.
INSPIRATION COMES

FROM WITHIN
YOURSELF. ONE HAS
Source: NY Times, Al Jazeera, CNN, Foreignpolicy.com
TO BE POSITIVE.

WHEN YOU'RE
POSITIVE, GOOD
THINGS HAPPEN.