Category: General

US occupation forces on Sunday looted and smuggled more Syrian resources to their bases in Iraqi territory, taking out a load of about 95 tankers of oil from al-Jazeera fields during the past 24 hours.

Local sources in al-Yaroubia, to the north-eastern side of the country, told SANA reporter that the US occupation forces brought out a convoy of vehicles to Iraqi territory via the illegal Mahmoudiya crossing, including 40 tankers loaded with Syrian oil stolen from al-Jazeera fields.

The sources added that the occupation troops brought out a convoy of 55 tankers loaded with stolen oil and transported it through the illegitimate al- Mahmoudiya crossing.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)

With participation of Syria, The International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDSs) continued its work in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The participating delegations held several interactive sessions on the social and economic impacts of sand and dust storms and the acceleration of regional and international cooperation to combat and anticipate such storms and early warning.

The Syrian delegation gave a presentation on these storms in Syria, during which the National Coordinator of the Convention to Combat Desertification, Amar al-Marai highlighted the reasons and negative effects of the sand and dust storms in Syria and suggestions at the national and regional levels to address them and the difficulties facing Syria in this field.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Syrian delegation met with the Iraqi advisor to the Iraqi Minister of Environment, Dr. Nazir Abboud, and the accompanying delegation to discuss cross-border environmental problems, including sand and dust storms, and how to address and confront them, in addition to enhancing cooperation in the environmental field between the two brotherly countries.

The International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms kicked off in Tehran on Saturday with participation of Syrian delegation, representatives of 50 states,15 world institutions and 250 experts.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Shakhwan Abdullah, stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation mechanisms between the House of Representatives and the Saudi Shura Council.

A statement by his media office stated that Abdullah received, today, Saturday, a delegation from the Saudi Shura Council headed by Ibrahim bin Muhammad Al-Qannas, Chairman of the Saudi-Iraqi Parliamentary Friendship Committee, in the presence of the Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Chairman of the Iraqi-Saudi Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Sheikh Shaalan Al-Karim, and a number of representatives from various political blocs and parliamentary committees.”

During the meeting, according to the statement, topics and issues of common interest were discussed.

According to the statement, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament stressed the depth of the historical relations and the bonds of brotherhood that link the two neighboring peoples and the importance of strengthening cooperation mechanisms between the House of Representatives and the Saudi Shura Council, activating the work of the parliamentary friendship committees, and coordinating positions towards the issues and challenges that the region is going through.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

MPs of various blocs called on the government and the House of Representatives to work together to redraw the Iraqi-Kuwaiti maritime and land borders.

MP Saud Al-Saadi said, in a joint press conference today, Saturday, “We reject foreign interference in Iraq’s affairs regarding the sovereignty of Iraqi lands, waters, and rights,” indicating the need to adhere to the Federal Court’s decision declaring the unconstitutionality of Law No. 42 of 2013 regarding the ratification of an agreement between Iraq and Kuwait to regulate maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah.

For his part, MP Amer Abdul-Jabbar called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deposit a copy of the Federal Court’s decision with the UN Security Council and the United Nations to guarantee Iraq’s rights, while Representative Raed Al-Maliki urged government agencies to draw an Iraqi map with land and sea borders with the neighboring State of Kuwait, and hand it over to international bodies and the entire international community.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The State Administration Coalition will hold a meeting this evening, Saturday, at the government palace, to discuss the situation in Kirkuk after the events that the governorate witnessed in the past days.

An informed political source said: “Most of the political leaders will participate in this meeting and it is expected that decisions will be issued that promote coexistence and integration between the components of the governorate, in addition to discussing the commitments contained in the political agreement.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

A number of Iraqi students demonstrated this morning, Saturday, in front of the Iranian embassy in Karrada Maryam area in central Baghdad, to demand a solution to the problem of their “final” admission to the Iranian University of Religions, despite their completion of all their financial and administrative obligations.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Kingdom of Bahrain has expressed its sympathy and solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco over the victims of the earthquake that struck a number of Moroccan regions and provinces, which led to the death and injury of hundreds of people and major destruction of buildings and property.

In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry extended deep condolences to the Moroccan government and people, as well as the families of the victims, wishing those injured a speedy recovery

Source: Bahrain News Agency (BNA)

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani received today, Saturday, a phone call from the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi.

A statement by his media office stated that at the beginning of the call, Raisi expressed his thanks to the people and government of Iraq; For the care and hospitality they provided to the visitors participating in the commemoration of the Arba’een of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), praising the distinguished efforts made at all levels, he considered it an additional evidence of Iraq’s stability, its path towards national development, and the message of love and peace it represents from Iraq to all parts of the world.”

For his part, Al-Sudani stressed, according to the statement, that the hospitality and care of the Arba’een visitors is an image through which the Iraqis confirm, on an annual basis, their adherence to the virtues and lofty values brought by the people of the House of the Prophet (peace be upon them).

According to the statement, the call included a discussion of the importance of bilateral relations, the contribution they represent to the stability of the region, the cultural and religious ties between the two countries, and Iraq’s ability to bring people closer together and enhance understanding among the countries of the region.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate and Head of the Union of Arab Journalists, Moayad Al-Lami, announced his solidarity with the Moroccan people and the Moroccan journalistic family in the face of the devastating earthquake that occurred in the Kingdom.

Al-Lami said in his tweet on Twitter, “We received with great sadness, sorrow, and regret what happened in the Kingdom of Morocco in terms of a devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of a large number of the people of this dear country.”

He added, “We record our absolute solidarity with the people of Morocco in general and with the Moroccan journalistic family… May God have mercy on the victims and give their families patience and solace, and may God grant those who were injured in this earthquake a speedy recovery.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Border Ports Authority announced today, Saturday, the departure of 300,000 visitors yesterday through land and air ports.

The head of the Border Ports Authority, Major General Omar Al-Waeli, told the official agency, “Based on the Prime Minister’s directives to follow up on the departure of the last visitor, the Ports Authority continues to facilitate the procedures for visitors to leave the border crossings,” pointing out that “the number of visitors departing yesterday, Friday, reached 300,000 visitors who left Iraq via Land and air ports.

He pointed out that “the Ports Authority and all its cadres continue to implement the Prime Minister’s directives by providing all means and facilities for the procedure of foreign visitors through land and air ports.”

The head of the Border Ports Authority, Major General Omar Al-Waeli, announced earlier that more than two and a half million visitors had left for their country after performing the Arbaeen visit.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The 18th summit of the Group of Twenty “G-20” kicked off this morning in the Indian capital, New Delhi, under the slogan “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.

The G20 leaders, in the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are scheduled to exchange views in 3 sessions, hoping to make progress on trade, climate and other global issues.

On the first day, the leaders will attend the “One Earth” and “One Family” sessions, while on the second day, they will lay wreaths at the tomb of the global Indian icon “Mahatma Gandhi” in New Delhi before attending the tree planting ceremony.

After the third session titled “One Future”, the conferees are expected to adopt the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, a commitment to the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial meetings and working groups.

This summit also comes as the G-20 approaches an agreement on accepting the African Union, a bloc of 55 countries, as a member of the group.

The Group of Twenty, in essence, is an intergovernmental forum concerned primarily with economic issues, and it consists of the 20 largest economies in the world, representing 19 countries in addition to the European Union.

The G20 plays an important role in shaping and strengthening the global architecture and governance of all major international economic issues.

The G20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Besides the member states, India also invited to the summit the leaders of Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Egypt, Mauritius, Oman, Singapore, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced today, Saturday, that Iraq’s oil exports to America decreased by more than half during the past week.

The EIA stated: “The average US imports of crude oil during the past week from nine major countries amounted to 5.822 million barrels per day, a decrease of 178 thousand barrels per day compared to the previous week, which amounted to 6 million barrels per day.”

It added, “Iraq’s oil exports to America reached an average of 100,000 barrels per day last week, down by 132,000 barrels per day from the previous week, which averaged 232,000 barrels per day.”

EIA pointed out that “most of America’s oil imports during the past week came from Canada at an average of 3.679 million barrels per day, followed by Mexico with an average of 699 thousand barrels per day, and oil revenues from Saudi Arabia amounted to 567 thousand barrels per day, and then Colombia with an average of 300 thousand barrels per day.”

According to the EIA, “the amount of American imports of crude oil from Nigeria at a rate of 220 thousand barrels per day, from Ecuador at a rate of 99 thousand barrels per day, from Libya at a rate of 90 thousand barrels per day, and from Brazil at a rate of 68 thousand barrels per day, while no quantity was imported from Russia.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency