Day: 17 July 2023

The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWFM) has chosen the late Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, among other women journalists, as winners of the Courage in Journalism Awards for the year 2023, according to a statement published on their official website. The winners include Maria Teresa Montaño Delgado, a Mexican freelance journalist and director of the investigative portal The Observer, and Iranian journalist Yalda Moaiery. The IWFM said in a tweet that “we are proud to recognize her [Abu Akleh] intrepid reporting through this posthumous #IWMFCourage award.” Abu Akleh was born in Jerusalem in 1971 and has a degree in journalism from Yarmouk University in Jordan. After graduation, she returned to Palestine to work in her field and joined Al-Jazeera in 1977. On May 11, 2022, Abu Akleh was killed this morning during Israeli army assault in the northern West Bank city of Jenin. The Ministry of Health said Abu Akleh was hit by a live bullet in the head. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead. She was one of the most known faces among Al-Jazeera correspondents. Abu Akleh’s importance comes from the fact that she was one of the most influential, prominent, and hard-working women in the field of journalism and media in Palestine who worked for over 25 years for Al-Jazeera, covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. According to the IWMF official website, Abu Akleh’s family reacted to her posthumous winning of the award, ‘We are honored that this year’s IWMF Courage in Journalism Award recognizes Shireen’s career, legacy and bravery. This award is a testament to Shireen’s courageous voice that echoed through every home in Palestine. Her work has inspired generations of young women and girls to pursue careers in journalism, and we hope this award will remind the world of Shireen’s legacy, reporting and contributions to journalism. Most importantly we hope the Courage Award will bring us closer to achieving accountability and justice. While our family continues to grieve this insurmountable loss, these honors bring us comfort and solace. Thank you, IWMF.’

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that Palestine is witnessing unprecedentedly complex situations at all levels that the country hasn’t been seen before, stressing the absence of a political horizon, the financial blockade, and the Israeli piracy of Palestinian money. This came during the PM’s meeting, today in his office in the occupied West Bamk city of Ramallah, with Stephen Hickey, Director of Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the British Foreign Office, in the presence of the British Consul General in Jerusalem, Diane Corner. The Prime Minister added that the Israeli measures that Palestinians are witnessing from the incursions into the Palestinian areas and settlement expansion constitute a re-occupation of the West Bank from cities, villages and camps. Shtayyeh called on Britain to work, alongside the United States and the international community, to pressure Israel to abide by all agreements signed, including holding elections in all Palestinian territories, especially Jerusalem, and to stop all unilateral measures.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, met today in the Jordanian capital Amman, with HE Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Eng. Wajih Azaizeh, During the meeting, they reviewed the existing parliamentary cooperation relations between the State of Qatar and Jordan and ways to enhance them, in addition to discussing a number of issues related to joint Arab action, especially with regard to coordinating parliamentary positions in regional and international forums, in a way that achieves the interests and aspirations of the Arab peoples.

Source: Qatar News Agency

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain pact will strike a blow to people in need everywhere.

He added that Russia’s withdrawal meant that the related pact to facilitate Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports was also terminated, adding that that ignoring his proposal to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative by the Russian president Vladimir Putin is very frustrating.

Guterres pointed out that the agreement between Russia and the United Nations to facilitate grain and fertilizer exports was also terminated, expressing his regret over Russia’s decision to terminate the pact.

Source: Qatar News Agency

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani made today a phone call with HE US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

The call dealt with discussing bilateral cooperation and strategic partnership between the two countries, and a number of regional and international issues of joint interest, especially the Iranian nuclear agreement, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and ways to resolve it peacefully, in addition to developments in Lebanon and Afghanistan and the need for continued humanitarian support for the Afghan people.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Three people were killed and 6 others were injured as a result of a terrible traffic accident that occurred on Al-Kahla Road in Maysan Governorate.

A security source told the correspondent of the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA /: “The accident occurred as a result of the wrong crossing and not paying attention to the empty road, indicating that ambulances rushed to the scene and transported the injured to the hospital for treatment.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The State Administration Coalition held, this evening, its regular meeting at the government palace, in the presence of the Prime Ministers and the parliament, and the leaders and heads of the political blocs represented in the coalition.

The meeting witnessed, according to a statement by the coalition, a study of the current situation at the national level, and a number of files and issues that constitute a challenge and priority within government responsibilities, and the objectives of the government program underway, in order to meet the requirements and aspirations of citizens.

According to the statement, the meeting discussed the map of legislation that has priority for citizens to legislate in the new legislative term of the House of Representatives, including the Information Crimes Law.

During the meeting, the Coalition called for the need to be wise, not to be drawn behind the voices calling, implicitly and publicly, for sedition, and those that are promoted by circles with suspicious aims and starting points, from inside and outside Iraq, and to stand responsibly towards any harm to the societal security and civil peace of our secure Iraqi people.

The meeting also witnessed a review of the executive steps and government efforts in the field of preparing for the holding of the provincial council elections scheduled for next December 18, and the elections for the Parliament of the Kurdistan Region, and the facilities and support provided by the executive bodies to the Independent High Electoral Commission, in order for it to succeed in that task.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Kurdistan Region Presidency announced today, Monday, that the President of the region, Nechirvan Barzani, will go to Azerbaijan on an official visit.

A statement by the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region said: “Barzani will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, in the capital, Baku, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.”

According to the statement, Barzani and the President of Azerbaijan will discuss Azerbaijan’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan region and ways to enhance joint cooperation in various fields.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Jeddah Monday, commencing an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, the President of Turkiye was received by the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Mayor of Jeddah Governorate, Saleh bin Ali Al-Turki, and a number of senior officials.

Earlier, the Saudi-Turkish Business Council convened in Jeddah with the participation of over 200 Turkish investors who are interested in investing in the Saudi Kingdom and a large number of Saudi investors and businesspeople who are interested in investing in Turkiye.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The European Union and Iraq have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation and discussed a number of human rights, democracy and governance related topics in a spirit of partnership, at their 4th Sub-committee meeting on Human Rights and Democracy.

A statement by the European External Action Service Monday said the meeting which was held on 11 July in Brussels, welcomed progress by Iraq on several topics and the commitment of the Iraqi government to remain engaged in the process of implementing the necessary reforms.

The EU welcomed the adoption of the Yazidi Survivors Law, called for the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement and reiterated its position on hate speech, including as regards the recent deplorable burning of a Quran in Europe.

The EU and Iraq also discussed cooperation in multilateral human rights fora, noting Iraq’s constructive stance at the Universal Periodic Review and its candidacy for Human Rights Council membership in 2026-2028.

The EU encouraged the implementation of the Government’s reform program and expressed its continued support to Iraq in building strong institutions and good governance, with solid legal and policy structures.

Exchanges also covered the Iraqi Government’s efforts to fight corruption, a shared priority, identifying the need for a follow-up discussion on the external dimension of the EU anti-corruption package, said the statement.

On its part, Iraq stated its commitment to respecting the principles of human rights and the equality among Iraqis, regardless of gender, race or religion.

In this regard, Iraq reiterated its position on hate speech and considered the burning of the holy Quran as a provocative act. Iraq reaffirmed the right to life, security, freedom, equal opportunities and the right to fair trial.

Iraq stressed the Government’s commitment to implementing its reform program, which focuses on economy alongside security, with the fight against corruption featuring as the key priority across all sectors.

The EU and Iraq agreed to continue strengthening their partnership through the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, it added.

Source: Kuwait News Agency