The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major industrialized countries, at the conclusion of a videoconference meeting, called on all concerned parties to refrain from taking any steps that could further escalate the conflict in the Middle East. A statement issued by the Italian Foreign Ministry, which holds the rotating presidency of the group, said: "We call on the concerned parties to refrain from any initiative or steps that could hinder the path of dialogue and moderation and lead to a new escalation." The statement added that the foreign ministers "stressed the priority of reaching a positive outcome to the negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip" while intensifying humanitarian aid. After discussing the latest developments in the Middle East, the ministers expressed their deep concern "about the recent events that threaten to turn the current situation into a regional crisis," according to the statement. Source: National Iraqi News Agency
Turkish Foreign Minister announces that his country will submit its file to join the genocide lawsuit against Israel the day after tomorrow, Wednesday
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that his country will submit its file to join the genocide lawsuit filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice next Wednesday. In a press conference today, Monday, with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Ati in the capital Cairo, where he is on an official visit, Fidan expressed his condemnation and denunciation of the crime of killing "chief ceasefire negotiator / Ismail Haniyeh / describing the crime as an act that reflects the vileness of its perpetrators. He stressed that Turkey will submit its file to join the genocide case filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice next Wednesday in The Hague, calling on "Israel's owners to hold its noose" (referring to the United States). The Turkish Foreign Minister stated that Palestine took a "constructive position" during the negotiation process, while Israel was the party that "obstructed the negotiations". He also considered that those who support Israel "unconditionally are the ma in party responsible for shaking the foundations of the international system". He added, "Those who consider the occupation of Ukraine a crime are turning a blind eye to what the Israeli invaders are doing in Gaza". Fidan indicated that his country is making intensive diplomatic efforts led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to prosecute the "perpetrators of massacres" in the Gaza Strip. Pointing out at the same time that "it is no longer acceptable for the United States of America to try to mitigate all the evils committed by Israel." For his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati called on the international community to work to stop the war in the Gaza Strip and to deliver aid "without conditions or obstacles." He said: "I discussed with my Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan the crisis in the Gaza Strip and the situations in Libya, Sudan, Yemen and the Red Sea." He added: "Our message to the world is to work to stop the war in the Gaza Strip and to deliver aid without conditions or obstacles." Sou rce: National Iraqi News Agency
Slight increase in Basra crude oil prices
Basra Heavy and Medium crude prices rose slightly on Monday, with global oil prices stabilizing. Basra Heavy crude increased by 8 cents to $75.84 per barrel, while Basra Medium crude rose by the same amount to $78.96 per barrel. This slight rise in prices comes amid the stability of global oil prices, as fears of a recession in the United States, the world's largest oil consumer, have faded, while concerns are growing about the impact of escalating tensions in the Middle East on oil supplies from the largest producing region. Source: National Iraqi News Agency
Al-Maliki_Iraq is a country of social, religious and national diversity
Head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri Al-Maliki, confirmed that Iraq is a country of social, religious and national diversity. The State of Law Coalition stated in a statement: "Al-Maliki met in his office today with the Patriarch of the Chaldean community in Iraq and the world, His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Sako." At the beginning of the meeting, Al-Maliki expressed his welcome to His Beatitude the Cardinal, expressing his support for all Iraqi components, especially the authentic Christian component. Al-Maliki stressed: "Iraq is a country of social, religious and national diversity, and everyone is proud of this characteristic that distinguishes our dear country, as it represents a source of strength and a factor of stability." The head of the State of Law Coalition also stressed the importance of protecting the rights of Christians and respecting the will of Christian churches and the work of Christian clergy in Iraq, indicating his keenness to consolidate the principle of coexistence and brotherhoo d among the spectrums of Iraqi society. For his part, Patriarch Sako praised Maliki's positions and his support for the issues of Christians and minorities in Iraq, calling on all active forces to work together to serve Iraqis, improve their reality and meet all their needs and requirements. Source: National Iraqi News Agency
Meeting at the Central Bank of Iraq to restructure Rafidain Bank
The Central Bank of Iraq announced today, Monday, that its governor chaired a meeting of the supervisory committee on the restructuring process of Rafidain Bank. The CBI stated in a statement that "the supervisory committee on the restructuring process of Rafidain Bank met under the chairmanship of the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, and in the presence of committee members from the Ministry of Finance and advisors to the Prime Minister and senior staff at the Central Bank of Iraq, in addition to the presence of the global consulting company (Ernst and Young)." He added, "The progress of work on the plan adopted by the government in coordination with the Central Bank was reviewed within the framework of the expanded program to reform the banking sector and improve its performance and services and achieve financial stability," indicating that "the attendees discussed the process of organizing the administrative, financial and technical structure of Rafidain Bank, to move towards t he best global banking practices." It is worth noting that the aforementioned committee holds a monthly meeting headed by the Prime Minister to present a presentation on the steps completed and to monitor the progress of the process and provide guidance on it. Source: National Iraqi News Agency
Al-Araji discusses with the head of Salah al-Din Council ways to sustain security and stability in the province
National Security Adviser Qasim Al-Araji received in his office the Chairman of Salah al-Din Provincial Council, Adel Al-Sumaidaie. According to Al-Araji's tweet, they discussed ways to sustain security and stability in the province, support the security services and community cohesion, and support the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani to achieve reform and provide services to citizens. Source: National Iraqi News Agency
The Ministerial Council for Economy decides to create an electronic platform for all industrial projects
The Ministerial Council for the Economy decided, today, Monday, to create an electronic platform for all industrial projects. The media office of the Council said in a statement: "Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, Fouad Hussein, chaired the twenty-third session of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning, Ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Trade, Labor, Social Affairs, Industry, the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, and the Prime Minister's advisors for economic and legal affairs." The statement explained that "the Council discussed the items on its agenda and took appropriate decisions, as it decided to include vocational training centers in the governorates in the lecturers' wages, to be paid from the allocations of each governorate. The Council also agreed to increase the reserve percentage for the Daquq Bridge Rehabilitat ion Project in Kirkuk Governorate, one of the components of the (Bridge Rehabilitation and Maintenance / Phase II) project." The statement indicated that "the Council decided to adopt the recommendations of the committee formed pursuant to Diwani Order No. 24 of 2024 regarding setting controls to determine the tasks of investment bodies in the governorates by granting investment licenses to industrial projects that have been granted establishment licenses by the General Directorate of Industrial Development, and that the investor may not combine two licenses (industrial development license and investment license) for the same project, with the creation of an electronic platform that is a database for all industrial investment projects to prevent overlap. According to the statement, the Council agreed to include the General Company for Petrochemical Industries affiliated to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals in the subsidized price for propane and liquefied gas products." The statement continued, "The Co uncil decided that the Ministry of Construction and Housing would provide solutions and proposals to address the negatives and convert sewage treatment plants that operate with dual treatment to operate with triple or quadruple treatment and within known time periods and oblige the parties that manage the treatment plants not to dump sewage water into water sources before treating it, and form a committee headed by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and membership of representatives from the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the Ministry of Environment and the Baghdad Municipality to direct and monitor the work of the treatment plants." The Council decided to set the customs duty for containers exceeding (40) feet at four million dinars, and the Council approved the minutes of the meeting of the committee specializing in unifying the customs tariff for whole chicken, cuts and processed chickens." Source: National Iraqi News Agency
The Ministerial Council for Economy decides to create an electronic platform for all industrial projects
The Ministerial Council for the Economy decided, today, Monday, to create an electronic platform for all industrial projects. The media office of the Council said in a statement: "Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, Fouad Hussein, chaired the twenty-third session of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning, Ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Trade, Labor, Social Affairs, Industry, the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, and the Prime Minister's advisors for economic and legal affairs." The statement explained that "the Council discussed the items on its agenda and took appropriate decisions, as it decided to include vocational training centers in the governorates in the lecturers' wages, to be paid from the allocations of each governorate. The Council also agreed to increase the reserve percentage for the Daquq Bridge Rehabilitat ion Project in Kirkuk Governorate, one of the components of the (Bridge Rehabilitation and Maintenance / Phase II) project." The statement indicated that "the Council decided to adopt the recommendations of the committee formed pursuant to Diwani Order No. 24 of 2024 regarding setting controls to determine the tasks of investment bodies in the governorates by granting investment licenses to industrial projects that have been granted establishment licenses by the General Directorate of Industrial Development, and that the investor may not combine two licenses (industrial development license and investment license) for the same project, with the creation of an electronic platform that is a database for all industrial investment projects to prevent overlap. According to the statement, the Council agreed to include the General Company for Petrochemical Industries affiliated to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals in the subsidized price for propane and liquefied gas products." The statement continued, "The Co uncil decided that the Ministry of Construction and Housing would provide solutions and proposals to address the negatives and convert sewage treatment plants that operate with dual treatment to operate with triple or quadruple treatment and within known time periods and oblige the parties that manage the treatment plants not to dump sewage water into water sources before treating it, and form a committee headed by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and membership of representatives from the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the Ministry of Environment and the Baghdad Municipality to direct and monitor the work of the treatment plants." The Council decided to set the customs duty for containers exceeding (40) feet at four million dinars, and the Council approved the minutes of the meeting of the committee specializing in unifying the customs tariff for whole chicken, cuts and processed chickens." Source: National Iraqi News Agency
Mikati inaugurates Pharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory in Baabda
Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday inaugurated the "Pharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory" at the Industrial Research Institute in Baabda. The event was attended by Ministers of Industry George Bouchekian, Public Health Firas Abiad, Agriculture Abbas Al-Hajj Hassan, Director-General of the Ministry of Economy Mohammad Abu Haidar, Director-General of the Industrial Research Institute Bassam Al-Frenn, and other dignitaries. "In recent months, whenever we launched a new project, we were asked, 'Is this the right time?' Despite this, we are committed to moving forward, as despair is not an option,' Mikati said in his address, emphasizing the collaboration between the Institute and the ministries to ensure public health, adding, "The Institute's quality seal provides the necessary confidence for citizens." In turn, Health Minister, Firas Abiad stated, "This laboratory underscores the government's commitment to public health and aligns with our strategy to ensure high-quality medications." He highligh ted the lab's role in supporting local pharmaceutical production and reducing dependence on imports. Minister of Industry, George Bouchekian, praised the Institute's achievements, noting, "Despite challenging circumstances, the Institute has become a leading reference in the region, contributing significantly to Lebanon's economic and industrial growth." Director-General, Bassam Al-Frenn, lauded the Institute's resilience and commitment, saying, "We have consistently supported the economy and public health, ensuring the highest standards of analysis and certification." Following the speeches, PM Mikati and the ministers toured the newly inaugurated laboratory. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon
Iraq and Russia stress the need to sign a land and sea transport agreement this year on the 80th anniversary of the start of relations between the two countries
Iraq and the Russian Federation stressed the need to sign a land and sea transport agreement this year, which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the start of relations between the two countries. A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Iraqi Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Haider Mansour Al-Athari, received the Russian Minister Undersecretary of Transport, Dmitry Stanislavovich Azverev, at the Iraqi Embassy building in Moscow, in the presence of the official in charge of land, air and sea transport at the Russian Ministry of Transport, Alexander Shatalin, and the two sides discussed future steps to sign agreements that enhance the interests of the two friendly countries. The Russian side expressed its appreciation for the approval of the Iraqi Prime Minister's office of the draft agreement, stressing his country's readiness to follow up and study the draft project and move forward towards signing the agreement, noting that Iraq's distinguished geographical location makes it a global transportation corridor. The two sides also discussed, according to the statement, ways of cooperation in the field of transportation in general and land transportation in particular, as the Russian side expressed its readiness to train Iraqi cadres at the Russian Transport Academy, and to receive Iraqi students wishing to study at the academy. The possibility of twinning between Iraqi and Russian universities was also discussed, and cooperation agreements were concluded between them. Regarding cooperation in the field of land transportation, the Russian side expressed its interest in establishing railway lines within the "Development Road" project, and participating in investment opportunities in various fields of transportation in Iraqi cities, especially in the field of railways. The two sides stressed, according to the statement, the necessity of signing a land and sea transport agreement during this year, which coincides with the eightieth anniversary of the start of Iraqi-Russian relations. Source: National Iraqi News Agency