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Iraqi Parliament approves electoral districts amid disputes

Earlier this month, 329-seat Parliament decided to set 83 electoral districts in the country, based on the women’s 25 per cent quota….reports Asian Lite News

The Iraqi Parliament has approved most of the country’s electoral districts amid disputes among political blocs.

On Saturday, Parliament voted by a majority of 176 lawmakers, who attended the session, on the electoral districts in 16 out of Iraq’s 18 provinces, “while the voting on the remaining provinces of Nineveh and Kirkuk was postponed to next Monday’s session”, reports Xinhua news agency citing an official statement as saying.

Ahmed al-Jubouri, a lawmaker from the northern province of Nineveh, told Xinhua that “the reason for postponing voting is due to the deep differences among representatives of the two provinces”.

Al-Jubouri believes that the differences among the lawmakers will be resolved before the coming session on Monday.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

Earlier this month, 329-seat Parliament decided to set 83 electoral districts in the country, based on the women’s 25 per cent quota.

Late last year, Parliament passed most of the elections draft, but differences remained on the number of electoral districts due to political row among the political blocs.

The new electoral law came in response to the anti-government protests and was designed to make it easier for independent politicians to win a seat in the upcoming parliament.

On July 31, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi set June 6, 2021 as the date for early elections.

Also read:Iraq PM Al-Kadhimi arrives in the UK

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-Top News Arab News

Israel says it won’t oppose selling ‘certain’ weapons to the UAE

Israel will not oppose the sale of “certain weapon systems” to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in light of a promise by the US to upgrade Israel’s military edge in the Middle East, a joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Benny Gantz said.

The “certain weapon systems” is an apparent reference to the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets, Xinhua news agency reported citing Israeli media reports as saying.

The joint statement was published upon Gantz’s return from US where he met with US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper and signed a deal “to secure Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge”.

The understandings reached by Gantz and Esper “will allow the procurement of advanced weapon systems that will significantly upgrade Israel’s military capabilities, maintain its security and its military advantage in the region as well as its qualitative military edge in the coming decades”, said the statement.

It added that Israel was notified by US administration of its plans to notify Congress of its intention to provide certain weapon systems to the UAE.

Netanyahu and Gantz both agree that since US is upgrading Israel’s military capability and is maintaining the military edge, the country will not oppose the sale of these systems to the UAE, said the statement.

Netanyahu made a statement saying Israel opposes any sale of F-35 war jets to the UAE on August 18 after Yediot Aharonot, one of Israel’s largest daily newspapers, reported that the White House plans a “giant” deal to sell F-35 war jets to the UAE.

The UAE signed normalization deal with Israel at the White House on September 15.

It is the first Arab nation in 26 years to establish formal ties with Israel, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

Also Read: Sudan, Israel normalise ties, third such accord since August

Also Read: UAE, US, Israel set up ‘Abraham Fund’

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-Top News Arab News

Israel strikes Gaza military sites

The sources said the Israeli army war jets struck with missiles military sites and facilities that belong to al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement …reports Asian Lite News

Israeli war planes on Friday attacked military sites that belong to the Islamic Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, according to security sources.

The sources said the Israeli army war jets struck with missiles military sites and facilities that belong to al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement that rules the besieged Gaza Strip, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to an Israeli army spokesman’s statement, the airstrikes targeting the movement’s weapon manufacturing sites and an underground military infrastructure were a response to rockets fired from Gaza at southern Israel on Thursday night.

No injuries or damage were reported from the rockets attack and no one claimed responsibility for it.

During the past two weeks, unknown militants had fired four rockets at southern Israel.

On Tuesday, a rocket was fired from Gaza hours after the Israeli army discovered “a terror tunnel” that goes from the southern Gaza Strip into Israel.

The current escalation between Israel and the Gaza Strip’s militants is a new violation of the calm understandings brokered by Egypt, the UN, and Qatar last year.

Also read:Israeli airline to fly Dubai directly

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Saad Hariri named Lebanon’s New PM

Three-time Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri was named to the post for a fourth time Thursday and immediately promised a government of technocrats committed to a French-backed reform plan, reports Arab News.

Hariri said he would “form a cabinet of non politically aligned experts with the mission of economic, financial and administrative reforms contained in the French initiative roadmap.”

“I will work on forming a government quickly because time is running out and this is the only and last chance facing our country,” he added.

President Michel Aoun named Hariri to form a new cabinet to lift the country out of crisis after most parliamentary blocs backed his nomination.

Hariri, who has previously led three governments in Lebanon, stepped down almost a year ago under pressure from unprecedented protests against the political class.

Also Read: Lebanon: Thousands gather to mark year of anti-govt protests

Also Read: Lebanon: Former PM Hariri calls to restore French plan

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Asian Lite Daily Digital – October 22, 2020 – UAE To Cement Ties With US

UAE To Cement Ties With US; Emirates Wins Best Airline Worldwide Award; Expo 2020 Dubai calls for action against climate change; OCT 22 BLACK DAY: Hoardings Across Kashmir Condemn Pakistan; Sindh Police in Open Revolt Against Pakistan Army – all in Asian Lite Daily Digital – please click here to read.

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Kuwait airport recommends lifting travel ban

Currently, the travel ban is imposed on 34 countries, after the government added France, Argentina, Afghanistan and Yemen to the list, and removed Singapore….reports Asian Lite News

.Authorities at the Kuwait International Airport have submitted a proposal to end the travel ban and enforce a mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine in the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it was reported.

Saleh Al Fadaghi, the airport’s Director of Operations, said that if the proposal was accepted, it would require the coordination of three governmental entities: the General Administration of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior, Gulf News reported on Monday.

The new proposal comes after authorities realized that many expats were quarantining for 14 days in neighbouring Gulf countries before coming to Kuwait, which according to the official has posed as an obstacle to many.

This is not the first proposal that the airport had presented to the government.



Last month, a similar proposal was submitted that called on the government to allow travellers arriving from the 34 banned countries to quarantine in facilities in Kuwait instead of abroad.

Nationals from the barred countries are able to enter Kuwait but are required to quarantine 14 days in a non-banned country before arriving in Kuwait.

It has been over two months since Kuwait enforced a travel ban on a number of countries the government has deemed as “high risk”, Gulf News reported.

The travel ban was first announced on August 1, hours after the Kuwait airport resumed commercial travel, and originally included 31 countries.

Currently, the travel ban is imposed on 34 countries, after the government added France, Argentina, Afghanistan and Yemen to the list, and removed Singapore.

Also read:UN mourns loss of late Amir of Kuwait

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Asian Lite Daily Digital – October 21, 2020 – Dubai Reopens Top Attractions

Dubai Reopens Top Attractions; UAE among top global commodity trading hubs; UNICEF Prepares For Efficient Delivery of Covid Vaccine; Pakistan, Turkey Meddling Disrupts Armenia-Azerbaijan Ceasefire; COVID-19: Modi Alerts Nation To Remain Vigilant – all in Asian Lite Daily Digital – please click here to read.

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Arab News UAE News

UAE ambassador to Bahrain partakes in ‘Zayed Ambitious Mission’

The UAE ambassador underscored the privileged relations binding the two countries across all fronts, noting that the bilateral relations are steadily growing thanks to the support of the two nations’ leadership…reports Asian Lite News

The UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan took part in a virtual session, themed “Zayed’s Ambitious Mission”, which was organised by the UAE Embassy, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and Bahrain’s National Space Science Authority (NSSA).

The Bahraini King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa participated in the session along with Emirati astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi in addition to over 300 attendees.

The UAE ambassador underscored the privileged relations binding the two countries across all fronts, noting that the bilateral relations are steadily growing thanks to the support of the two nations’ leadership.

Sheikh Nasser stressed the importance of the session which he said would usher in future horizons for space science, commending the UAE strides which “represent a source of pride for Arab and Islamic nations.”

He underscored the significance of investing in youth and in future sciences, and pursuing scientific excellence and space exploration.

Sheikh Nasser praised the UAE success in overcoming difficulties, despite the current circumstances the world is going through, hailing its successful space strides, encouraged by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Also read:Asian Lite Daily Digital October 20, 2020 – UAE Ratifies Abraham Accord

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Asian Lite Daily Digital October 20, 2020 – UAE Ratifies Abraham Accord

UAE Ratifies Abraham Accord; Dubai Reaffirms Commitment For Green Economy; WHO Cautions Against Complacency; India, Taiwan Boost Business Ties; Pulwama boy Basit becomes J&K topper despite challenges; NY Foundation’s Grant to Boost Testing in India – all in Asian Lite Daily Digital – please click here to read.

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Asian Lite Daily Digital October 19, 2020 – Expo 2020 Climate Week to Draw Global Attention

Expo 2020 Climate Week to Draw Global Attention; Etihad supports Frontline Heroes; ‘3 Billion People Lack Handwashing Facilities’; Pak Anti-Government Campaigns Gain Momentum; ‘Al-Qaeda Maintains Close Ties With Taliban’ – all in Asian Lite Daily Digital – please click here to read.