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New York City’s Sexiest Food Market – CITIZENS New York – Times Square Chronicles

Last week in Manhattan a foodie lover’s dream came true.

CITIZENS New York, a new culinary destination from C3 featuring a culinary market with 13 separate kiosks featuring C3’s restaurant brands and elevated dining options Katsuya and Casa Dani, hosted grand celebration for their launch. VIP guests, influencers, and driends were treated to a food-centric experience with performances by DJ’s NEVO, Chopstix Mami and Eli Escobar.

The epic soiree showcased the stunning delights of the venue. From topnotch design to scrumptious bites, the whole affair certainly created many magical memories.  

Citizens culinary market chef partners Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi, Michelin Star Chef Dani Garcia, Chef Alvin Cailan, Cindy Kruse helped the shape the night that was the talk of the town.

Lucky guests got to enjoy great food and sounds, as well as mingle with the likes of Chef Alvin, who was on hand to speak about his new appointment with Umami Burger.

“This is simply an exciting moment in New York City,” said Chef Alvin, “It’s not just a place for people who like food here. It is so much more than that.

Check out the new space this weekend here. You will love all your moments there.

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Iranian Proxies Lose in Iraq’s Elections, Threatening Violence

10/25/2021 Iraq (International Christian Concern) – Following the preliminary results of Iraq’s October 10 parliamentary elections, Iranian proxies lost a significant portion of their seats and influence, inciting accusations of fraud and threats against Iraq’s Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).q

Iraqi Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako responded to the rising political tensions, calling on “all politicians to adhere to national and brotherly values, to give priority to the public interest over partisan agendas, and to sit together in a calm civilized dialogue for understanding and ending the current tension.” He urged restraint for threats to violence and arms and to prioritize the formation of the new government to “avoid the situation slipping to its worst possible outcome”.

Iranian proxies are likely to escalate violence or other forms of coercion against those with a perceived role in their political downturn, according to an article by Katherine Lawlor with the Institute for the Study of War. Those accused include the IHEC, UNAMI, United States, United Nations, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. Iran’s parliamentary proxy, the Conquest Alliance which includes political wings of the Badr Organization and a US-designated terrorist group AAH, only received 16 seats. In 2018, the coalition had a high of 47 seats.

Lawlor continues on to suggest that a quick government formation would be most beneficial to domestic stability and US interests, so long as the leading member Muqtada al-Sadr can efficiently create a coalition. She writes, “In this scenario, Iran will likely tolerate a second Kadhimi government to retain stability but will allow some of its proxies, like Kata’ib Hezbollah, to directly, and sometimes violently, oppose that government. If a newly emboldened, Sadrist-led government elects to crack down on proxy militias, as Sadr threatened to do in his victory…

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US urges all parties to respect the rule of law and the integrity of Iraq’s electoral process

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United States condemned the threats of violence against the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), and other Iraqis in a State Department press statement on Monday.

“We urge all parties to respect the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process,” the statement read. “We join the international community in condemning the threats of violence against UNAMI, IHEC, and other Iraqis.”

The United States also welcomed the UN Security Council’s recent press statement on Iraq.

In that Friday statement, the UN Security Council “welcomed interim reports that the election proceeded smoothly and featured significant technical and procedural improvements from previous Iraqi elections.”

That statement also “thanked UNAMI for its assistance, and commended UNAMI for demonstrating objectivity in its efforts to support Iraq throughout the election process.”

The State Department also extended its congratulations to “the people and the Government of Iraq for a secure, technically sound, and largely peaceful election process.”

“Iraq’s election was an opportunity for Iraqi voters to determine their future through a government that reflects their will,” Monday’s statement said.

Read More: US congratulates Iraqi government on elections; reaffirms right of self-defense against pro-Iran militias

“The United States looks forward to working with the new government once formed to strengthen our strategic partnership on our many shared interests, including Iraq’s stability and sovereignty, economic empowerment, anti-corruption efforts, energy independence, climate, and the protection of human rights,” the statement concluded.

Read More: US denounces threats against IHEC; no change to US troops in Iraq

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EU: UN-led multilateralism contributes to global peace

BRUSSELS — The European Union Saturday stressed that multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, is the most effective way to contribute to global peace, security, human rights and prosperity.

“In a rapidly evolving world, a strong and dynamic partnership between the EU and the UN is more important than ever and it needs to deliver,” said EU High Representative Josep Borrell in a statement to mark the UN Day.

“Together, we must respond to global crises, threats and challenges that cannot be addressed by any country alone, be it climate change and biodiversity loss or the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Borrell noted that the UN Secretary-General’s report on Our Common Agenda represents a timely opportunity to transform the UN system and gear it towards these objectives.

“On the UN Day, we congratulate the UN and its staff for their vital work across the globe, from Afghanistan to Mali,” he added. United Nations Day, on Oct. 24, marks the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the UN Charter entered into force.

The EU also deplored the recent threats of violence against the personnel of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the Independent High Electoral Commission and against others, following the publication of preliminary elections results in Iraq held earlier this month.

“Such violent manifestations have no place in a democracy. The EU recalls that voting on Election Day was largely peaceful, orderly and well-organized, and voters were able to freely express their will,” said EU lead spokesman for foreign relations Peter Stano in a statement.

“Any elections-related appeal or complaint should be addressed through existing legal procedures. It is crucial that all parties use these legal means to address any grievances they may have over the outcome of the polls,” he said.

The EU looks forward to working closely with the…

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Security Council Press Statement: United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, 22 October 2021 [EN/AR]

The members of the Security Council congratulated the Iraqi people and the Government of Iraq on the occasion of their latest elections, held on 10 October 2021. The members of the Security Council welcomed interim reports that the elections proceeded smoothly and featured significant technical and procedural improvements from previous Iraqi elections.

The members of the Security Council commended the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for conducting a technically sound election. They commended the Government of Iraq for its election preparations and for preventing violence on election day.

The members of the Security Council commended the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for providing IHEC the technical assistance and international monitoring team the Government of Iraq requested to strengthen the electoral process and promote transparency. The members of the Security Council thanked UNAMI for its assistance, and commended UNAMI for demonstrating objectivity in its efforts to support Iraq throughout the election process. They welcomed IHEC’s and UNAMI’s efforts to promote women’s political participation.

The members of the Security Council also welcomed the efforts of member states and other international organizations to observe the elections, notably the European Union long-term Election Observation Mission, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and others, as well as domestic organisations.

The members of the Security Council deplored the recent threats of violence against UNAMI, IHEC personnel, and others.

The members of the Security Council reiterated the Secretary-General’s call for all stakeholders to show patience and respect for the electoral timeline. The members of the Security Council stressed that any electoral disputes that may arise should be resolved peacefully through established legal channels. Once the results are ratified, the members of the Security Council look forward to the peaceful formation of an inclusive government that reflects the will…

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Kurdistan Region PM welcomes UNSC statement on Iraq elections

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday welcomed a United Nations Security Council statement on the early Iraqi elections held on Oct. 10.

The premier also said that the technical assistance by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and international teams from the EU and others were “central” to the election process.

“I urge all the parties to quickly form an inclusive govt (government) capable to build a better future for the Iraqi peoples,” he affirmed.

The members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) congratulated the Iraqi people and the Government of Iraq in a statement on Friday.

“The members of the Security Council welcomed interim reports that the elections proceeded smoothly and featured significant technical and procedural improvements from previous Iraqi elections,” the statement said.

The UNSC members commended the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for “conducting a technically sound election.”

Moreover, the UNSC praised the Iraqi government for its election preparations and preventing violence on election day.

The UNSC also thanked UNAMI for providing IHEC with technical assistance and an international election monitoring team to the Iraqi government.

“The members of the Security Council deplored the recent threats of violence against UNAMI, IHEC personnel, and others,” the UNSC statement added.

Pro-Iran parties, such as the Fatah Alliance that performed poorly in the October 10 elections, have protested the election results. As a result, there is a fear of violence, if…

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Q&A: Renegade Tea Estate – Putting Georgian Tea Back on the Map

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia receives remains of missing Saudi national found in Iraq

Today, under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the remains of a Saudi national who went missing during the 1990-1991 Gulf War were handed over by the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) at Kuwait International Airport.

After 30 years of painful uncertainty, the family of the missing Saudi national now has clarity on the fate of their loved one. Throughout this time, the KSA authorities have maintained the case on their missing persons list. The human remains were found in March 2019 at a burial site in Iraq’s Samawa District, with the joint efforts of Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities, assisted by experts from the ICRC within the framework of the Tripartite Commission Mechanism.

The identification of the remains and its subsequent handover to KSA was conducted following conclusive DNA analysis, matching with Kuwait’s database of prisoners of war and missing persons and third-country nationals, led by the General Department of Forensic Evidence in the Ministry of Interior in the State of Kuwait.

The Tripartite Commission and its Technical Sub-Committee were set up in 1991 and 1994 respectively, to help ascertain the fate of people missing in connection with the 1990-1991 Gulf War. They are chaired by the ICRC and composed of representatives of the Republic of Iraq, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of France. In 2014, the UNAMI joined, as an observer.

The members of the Tripartite Commission are committed to upholding the right of families to receive answers about the fate of their missing loved ones. To this end, the Commission places all necessary efforts in the search and…

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Joint Statement on Iraq’s Early Elections

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and the U.S. Secretary of State welcome the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission’s (IHEC) preparations for the October 10 election.  This early election is an opportunity for Iraqi voters to democratically determine their future. 

We recognize the importance of this moment in Iraqi history.  In response to requests from the Iraqi people, substantial resources have been mobilized in support of free and fair elections.

In May 2020, the UN Security Council enhanced the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq’s (UNAMI) electoral assistance mandate. The resulting UNAMI electoral assistance mission, tasked with supporting IHEC, is the largest of its kind in the world, with five times more UN officials than were present during the 2018 election.

In late 2020, Iraqis coalesced around the idea that international monitoring was a prerequisite for electoral legitimacy.  Accordingly, the Government of Iraq submitted a request to the UN Security Council.  On May 27, 2021, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2576, authorizing a UNAMI election monitoring team.  On June 21, 2021, the EU announced a separate election observation mission, which now comprises a significant number of experts from EU member states.  Both missions have already deployed monitors and observers, respectively.  These missions represent a good-faith international effort to fulfill Iraqis’ request and bolster the integrity of the election.

The Iraqi people now have an opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to vote.  We support the Iraqi government’s efforts to ensure a safe, free, fair, and inclusive electoral environment for all Iraqis, including women and youth, who have long faced violence and intimidation in the pursuit of reform.  Likewise, we support the Iraqi government’s efforts to ensure that internally displaced persons can safely participate in…

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UN calls for free, transparent elections in Iraq

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said Tuesday it expects the upcoming Iraqi elections to be free, transparent, and free from foreign interference.

“All our efforts are to ensure that there are no doubts in the elections,” Jeanine Antoinette Plasschaert, the head of UNAMI, told a press conference in the capital Baghdad.

He noted that UNAMI will deploy 877 international and local observers to ensure irregularities of the 2018 polls are not repeated.

“The same things that were done in 2018 will not be repeated. It is important that these elections are different from the 2018 polls,” Plasschaert stressed, in an effort to assure the Turkmen and Arabs in Iraq’s northern Kirkuk province.

Elections in the oil-rich country are scheduled for Oct. 10.

On Friday, prominent Iraqi Shia politician Muqtada al-Sadr warned against external interference in the elections, in reference to Iran.

Plasschaert admitted that elections will not bring miracles or cause radical change but said it will help establish a government that can make concrete changes.

UNAMI also promised to assume a neutral stance in the elections and to treat all Iraqi sides equally.

Commenting on reports that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) candidates who went to Sinjar to prepare for the vote were denied entry by the PKK terrorists, Plasschaert said he supported the candidates’ right to meet voters.

Figures from the Iraqi Electoral Commission in July showed that 3,249 candidates representing 21 coalitions and 109 parties, as well as independent candidates, will run for seats in the 329-seat parliament.

The polls were originally scheduled to be held in 2022, but Iraq’s political parties have decided to hold early elections following mass protests that erupted in the country in 2019 against deep-seated corruption and poor services.

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