Category: Politics & Legal

Oman’s Foreign Minister Bader Al-Busaidi and his Bahraini counterpart Doctor Abdullatif Al-Zayani, affirmed Wednesday the importance of a ceasefire and putting effort into avoiding further conflict in Gaza.

This came in a statement from the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs after receiving Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs during his official visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

During the meeting the ministers discussed recent developments and the need for a ceasefire, as well as reaching a just solution for the Palestinian cause as per International resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Both sides stressed the depth and history of the relations between the two countries, and touched on the programs of the joint committee, whose next session will be held in Oman during this year, and signing a new number of agreements and memorandums of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation.

Al-Busaidi expressed Oman’s confidence in the success of the 33rd Arab Summit to produce constructive results that s
erve everyone in the region with security and peace, it will be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on May 16.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, received today the head of the organizations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Sarkout Zaki, and the member of the political bureau of the PUK, Rizgar Hama Amin.

At the beginning of the meeting, according to a presidential statement, the President of the Republic blessed the opening of the headquarters of the political office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Baghdad, considering this a positive step towards strengthening cooperation and coordination between all political and social forces in order to consolidate the gains achieved at various levels, especially related to the needs of citizens and improving their general conditions. livelihood and services, and consolidating security and stability in the country.

The President stressed the importance of strengthening dialogue between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to resolve outstanding issues in accordance with the Constitution and the law and taking into account
the rights of all citizens in the federal government and the Kurdistan Region.

For their part, Zaki and Hama Amin expressed their thanks to the President of the Republic for the congratulations on the opening of the headquarters of the Political Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, appreciating his proposals to consolidate stability in the country and enhance cooperation between political forces to serve the citizens./End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Saudi Royal Court announced, Wednesday, that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud left the King Faisal Hospital in Jeddah after completing routine medical checkups.

The Saudi Royal Court wished King Salman everlasting wellbeing.

Earlier, the Royal Court stated that King Salman was admitted Wednesday afternoon to the King Faisal Hospital for routine medical checkups that are expected to take only a few hours.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The United States on Wednesday lambasted the Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s announcement about plans to legalize 68 illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank as dangerous and reckless.

“These reports about directives to support illegal outposts in the West Bank, we believe that to be dangerous and reckless,” US State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press briefing.

“Our policy, US policy remains that settlements are counterproductive to the cause of peace and the government of Israel’s program is inconsistent with international law.” Patel added that the US continues to urge Israeli officials to refrain from taking actions to fund outposts that have long been illegal under Israeli law.

She warned that actions or announcements seeking to expand outposts will only move the goal of peace and stability in the region further away.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The National Security Advisor, Qasim Al-Araji, met today, on the sidelines of the twelfth meeting of senior officials on security issues, held in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, with the Secretary-General of the Russian Security Council, Patrushev Nikolai Platonovich.

The meeting discussed, according to a statement by the Chancellery, the latest security and political developments at the international and regional levels, and ways to enhance cooperation relations between the two countries, especially cooperation in the field of combating terrorism and exchanging experiences and information.

During the meeting, Al-Araji also reviewed the development of the capabilities of the Iraqi security services in all their specializations, stressing the importance of exchanging experiences and information with friendly and brotherly countries to achieve sustainable security that serves the region and the world. /End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

EU Parliament adopted on Wednesday, the first-ever EU rules on combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The directive calls for stronger laws against cyber violence and better assistance for victims, said the Parliament in a press release.

The new rules prohibit forced marriage and outline particular guidelines for offenses committed online, such as the disclosure of private information and cyber flashing, it added.

It also noted that the new legislation would include a longer list of aggravating circumstances for offenses that carry more severe penalties.

The press release also noted that due to Parliament’s insistence, the Commission will report every five years on whether the rules should be revised.

Co-rapporteur from the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee, Frances Fitzgerald (EPP, IE), said “Today Parliament has taken the first steps to make Europe the first continent in the world to end violence against women.” This is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that will prevent v
iolence against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators, she added.

The new rules will come into force twenty days after their publication in the EU Official Journal

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The U.S. Senate passed a USD 95 billion aid package that includes military assistance for Ukraine and support for Israeli occupation, alongside humanitarian aid for Gaza and other parts of the world.

The senate voted on Tuesday with a majority of 79 votes in favor and 18 against the package, following months of waiting and political disagreements, particularly among the Republicans, some of whom opposed sending new American funds to Kyiv.

This package includes more than USD 26 billion assistance to Israeli occupation, and USD nine billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza as well as conflicted regions like Sudan and Haiti.

It also includes USD 61 billion allocated for Ukraine, currently engaged in a war with Russia since late February 2022, as other aid designated for securing allies in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions.

On another note, this package contains a provision that might result in the ban of the TikTok app in the United States if its Chinese owning company refuses to sell it to other owners.

Pre
sident Joe Biden wasted no time in welcoming the passage of this package, confirming that he will sign it on Wednesday.

In a statement, Biden described the passage of the aid package as “responding to the call of history at this critical inflection point.” He emphasized that Congress had passed legislation to enhance national security and send a message to the world about the strength of American leadership.

In his statement, he added that the message underscores the United States’ firm stance in support of democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression.

The House of Representatives approved last Saturday, the passage of this package, amidst American efforts to expedite the delivery of military aid to the Israeli occupation.

This comes in the wake of Iran’s recent attack in response to the bombing of its consulate in Damascus by Israel occupation.

Over the past few months, political disagreements within Congress have prevented the passage of this aid package, meanwhile, the White House continu
ed to urge for its passage as Russian forces make steady advances at the expense of Ukrainian forces.

In October, Biden asked Congress for more than USD 100 billion, which included USD 61 billion in aid for Ukraine, as well as military assistance for the Israeli occupation, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and security assistance for allies in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The head of the Integrity Commission, Haider Hanoun, called on countries around the world to help Iraq recover its smuggled money and assets.

A statement by the Integrity Commission stated: ‘Hanoun met with Swiss anti-corruption officials, and during the meeting it was agreed to intensify cooperation between the two countries and exchange experiences, information and training.’/ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Israel war on Gaza Strip led in catastrophic results and unprecedented numbers of victims.

He strongly denounced the Western countries for siding with the Israeli occupation in the genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank.

President Erdogan, speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Ankara on Wednesday, said the atrocity being perpetrated in Gaza Strip over the past 200 days is unparalleled.

He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of jeopardizing the regional security for the sake of his own political career.

He expected the friends of Germany to look objectively at the horrific scene in Gaza where more than 34,000 Palestinians, including women, children and elderly people, were killed by the Israeli occupation forces.

He affirmed that Turkiye has no longer intensive trade relations with Israel.

President Erdogan noted that his country jointed the international mediatio
n efforts aiming to resume hostage and prisoner swaps between Israel and the Palestinian groups.

He voiced hope that the efforts will succeed in stablishing ceasefire, release the hostages on both sides and ensure unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

On the trade volume with Germany, the Turkish leader said his country seeks to expand it from the current USD 50 billion to USD 60 billion.

He expressed hope that Turkiye and Germany, two NATO allies, would start discussing joint ventures in the defense industry.

On his part, the German president, now on a visit to Turkiye, said it’s unlikely to guarantee the security of Israel without a political perspective for the Palestinian people.

The two-state solution is the only way to ensure peace and security for both sides, Steinmeier explained.

Regarding the German-Turkish relations, he said both sides need each other and have to deepen cooperation and solidarity. Earlier today, Erdogan and Steinmeier held talks on the bilateral re
lations, the Turkish-European relations, and the latest developments of the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The Heads of Parliaments of the European Union countries, in their meeting in Spain, supported the idea of establishing a joint rapid reaction force in the Union of 5,000 soldiers aimed at rapid response to emerging crises.

The Spanish News Agency ‘EFE’ reported: Quoting what was stated in the final document of the meeting: ‘The heads of parliaments consider that the European Union’s initiative on its military tool, which would ensure the protection of the security of the Union’s citizens, its interests and its democratic values, is of particular importance, and in this regard, we affirm the a need for about 5,000 soldiers to deploy quickly in the event of a crisis of any kind.

The heads of parliaments also noted in the document that the European Union has already developed several tasks and operations aimed at stabilizing the situation in neighboring countries and regions.

The idea of creating a unified European army has continued to be raised for at least the past ten years, and the matter has become mor
e important during the period in which Donald Trump served as US President, as he made it clear that his country was no longer prepared to provide a ‘defensive umbrella’ for Europe within the framework of NATO.

In November 2023, EU Foreign Policy Commissioner Josep Borrell announced that the bloc would raise the 5,000-military rapid reaction force to full operational readiness by 2025.

Yesterday, Tuesday, a meeting of the heads of parliaments of European Union countries was held on the Spanish island of Mallorca./End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani received members of the House of Representatives from Anbar Governorate.

During the meeting, Al-Sudani stressed the government’s keenness and interest in following up on all files that concern the citizens of the governorate, especially the service aspect, indicating the importance of integration in work between all authorities in order not to delay the laws and projects that the people need.

He added: ‘The government launched a package of programs and completed many projects that had been stalled for years.’/ End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The European Parliament has adopted on Wednesday a reformed Schengen Borders Code.

The reform, adopted by the plenary with 311 votes in favor, 267 against, and 53 abstentions, aims to strengthen free movement within the Schengen area, clarify rules, and reduce the amount of temporary reinstated border controls inside the zone, said the Parliament in a press release.

Under the new rules, Schengen states can respond to a serious threat to public policy or internal security, such as terrorism, organized crime, or sudden large-scale unauthorized movements of third-country nationals.

In the case of a public health emergency that concerns several members at a time, and puts at risk the functioning of the entire Schengen area, the Commission can authorize border controls in several states for six months.

Before deciding to re-introduce border controls, the member state needs to assess the effectiveness, proportionality and side effects of such a decision, and after six months, draw up a risk assessment. As an al
ternative to border controls, the new rules would promote police cooperation in border regions. Where third-country nationals with irregular status are apprehended during joint patrols and there is evidence they have arrived directly from another EU country, these people may be transferred to the other EU country if they participate in joint patrols. In negotiations, MPs successfully pushed for additional safeguards for transferring minors, whose best interests need to be considered by both parties to the transfer.

The provisional agreement still needs to be formally approved by the Council. Once published in the EU’s Official Journal, it will enter into force twenty days later.

Source: Kuwait News Agency