Day: February 13, 2023

Baghdad, The House of Representatives voted, in its sixth session of its first term for the second legislative year, within the fifth electoral session held today, headed by Muhammad al-Halbousi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and in the presence of 189 deputies, to amend the law for implementing irrigation projects, and finished reading three laws.

At the beginning of the session, the Speaker stressed the need for the parliamentary committees to take their actual role in order to expedite the procedures for legislating the laws they owe.

The House of Representatives voted on the draft law of the third amendment to the Law of Executing Irrigation Projects No. (138) of 1971 submitted by the Agriculture, Water and Marshes Committee to regulate the process of compensation for the value of fixed installations and plants in the lands included in the implementation of irrigation projects and to address cases of delay in the implementation of irrigation projects in lands declared frozen, according to the freeze declarations, in a manner that leads to not depriving the concerned parties from continuing to exploit their lands until the actual implementation of the project reaches them, and obliging the concerned departments to file expropriation claims within a specified period.

The Council finished the first reading of the proposed law for the third amendment to the Provincial and District Council Elections Law No. (12) of 2018 submitted by the Legal Committee and the Regions and Governorates that are not organized in a region in order to implement Federal Court decisions No. (43/federal/2021) and (159/federal/2021) And (103 / Federal / 2019) and for the purpose of holding free, fair and fair elections for the Iraqi Council of Representatives and provincial councils that are not organized in a region, promoting them and the participation of all segments of society.

During the session, which was presided over by the Deputy- Speaker of the Council, Shakhwan Abdullah, the first reading of the draft law on the management of animal genetic resources submitted by the Agriculture, Water and Marshes Committee was completed to organize the process of collecting, preserving, maintaining and exchanging animal genetic resources and ensuring their sustainable use because they are the strategic storehouse for the diversity and protection of animal genetic resources in Iraq from extinction and loss.

The Council postponed the first reading of the draft law, the first amendment to the General Population and Housing Census Law No. (40) of 2008, submitted by the Strategic Planning and Federal and Legal Service Committees, based on a request from the government to withdraw the draft.

The Parliament decided to adjourn the session until further notice.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad, The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accused the US army of training terrorists to attack Russian targets.

It said in a statement that it had received information that the US military was training “militants” to attack targets in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

It added that it has information that 60 of those militants from groups affiliated with ISIS and Al-Qaeda have been recruited and are undergoing training at an American base.

It continued, “They will be assigned the task of preparing and carrying out terrorist attacks against diplomats, civil servants, law enforcement personnel and the armed forces.”

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, which was part of the KGB during the Soviet era, is headed by Sergey Naryshkin, who met CIA Director William Burns in Ankara last year.

Earlier, the United States advised its citizens to leave Russia immediately because of the war in Ukraine and the possibility of their exposure to “arbitrary detention” or “harassment” by Russian law enforcement agencies.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad, The Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia’a Al-Sudani, received today, Monday, a number of artists and creators who have won awards in various artistic fields.

Al-Sudani was briefed on a presentation of the reality of the artistic movement and its current contribution to social and cultural development and societal peace.

He stressed that the art and culture sector has a prominent importance in government plans, and that the government takes into account the implementation of a number of artistic projects and support for cultural activities as a means to present the authentic cultural identity of our Iraqi people.

The Prime Minister listened to the artists’ proposals, their speech, their opinions, and a review of their conditions, and the best ways to do justice to this distinguished segment for their giving, then he directed to honor them in gratitude for the national achievement that they presented.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad, The Minister of Justice, Dr. Khaled Shwani discussed today, Monday, with the Director of the German Agency for International Cooperation in Iraq, Christoph Feld kotter, and his accompanying delegation, joint cooperation.

Shawani stressed, according to the Ministry’s statement, that the government attaches great importance to the rights of juveniles and permanent follow-up to them. In this context, the project to support stability and prevent extremism adopted by the agency was discussed in order to support the Ministry of Justice in rehabilitating juvenile inmates to be positive elements in society.

Shawani appreciated the efforts exerted by the German National Agency for International Cooperation to prepare a rehabilitation program for juvenile inmates, especially with regard to deradicalization, post-care for the released juvenile, and helping him to integrate into society.

For his part, Kotter praised the role of the Ministry of Justice in implementing international human rights standards in correctional services and in cooperating with the Agency in implementing their rehabilitation program for inmates and developing the capabilities of prison administration workers.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The first round of political consultations between the Bahrain and Vietnam was held.

Bahrain’s side headed by Foreign Affairs Ministry Undersecretary for Political Affairs Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and Vietnam’s side by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu.

The meeting reviewed cooperation in various political, economic, scientific, technical and cultural fields.

The two parties discussed regional and international issues to ensure the consolidation of international peace and security, and support sustainable development goals.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received a cable of thanks from the President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel in reply to HM’s congratulations on his country’s Liberation Day.

Source: Bahrain News Agency