Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Coffee with MarkZ. 10/04/2023
Tehran Hosts the Islamic Unity Conference: A Beacon of Unity and Solidarity, 4 OCT
Tehran Hosts the Islamic Unity Conference: A Beacon of Unity and Solidarity, 4 OCT
Islamic Unity Conference: An International Endeavor for Unity
The International Islamic Unity Conference is a global conference held annually during the Islamic Unity week in Tehran, Iran. Organized by the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, the main objective of the conference is to devise ways of promoting unity within the Islamic world. With the participation of many scholars, religious thinkers, and prominent figures from various countries, the conference aims to foster sympathy and consultation between scholars and scientists to align their viewpoints in intended fields. The subjects of the conference’s meetings are determined based on the diverging issues/problems of the Islamic world.
Evolution of the Unity Conference
The First International Islamic Unity Conference was inaugurated in 1987 in Tehran, Iran. Following the 4th Islamic unity conference, Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, ordered the establishment of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought. Since then, the conference has been organized by this forum. The conference has seen the participation of numerous well-known figures from across the globe. For instance, the 29th Islamic unity conference saw the participation of over 600 prominent figures from Iran and 70 other countries around the globe.
Recent Conferences and Their Impact
The 30th Islamic unity conference, under the banner of ‘Unity, Necessity of Countering Takfiri movements’, was opened by President Rouhani in Tehran on 15th December 2016. The conference saw the participation of diverse individuals from different countries, including China, Iraq, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, Lebanon, Thailand, Australia, Russia, and more. The most recent conference, the 37th International Islamic Unity Conference, was held from September 28 to October 3, 2023, in Tehran. This conference focused on creating unity and solidarity among Muslims, developing consensus among scholars and scientists to approximate their scientific and cultural viewpoints, and presenting practical solutions to achieve Islamic Unity and Unified Islamic Ummah in the Islamic World.
Islamic Unity Conference: A Platform for Unity and Dialogue
The annual Islamic Unity Conference is held on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad in an effort to lay the groundwork for stronger unity and solidarity among Muslims. It provides appropriate solutions for their problems. The conference is also a platform for dialogue and discussion among the International Union of Muslim Women and the International Union of Resistance Scholars. With the participation of hundreds of thinkers, scholars, and reformers, the conference aims to address the most pressing issues facing the Islamic world and propose practical solutions to them.
Iraqi Council of Ministers Convenes Under Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s Leadership, 4 OCT
Iraqi Council of Ministers Convenes Under Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s Leadership, 4 OCT
Prime Minister Al-Sudani Chairs Council Session
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani, the Iraqi Council of Ministers recently conducted its 26th Regular Session. The session saw the Prime Minister emphasizing the crucial importance of the next six months for the government, following the recent approval of the three-year Federal Budget Bill. He directed ministries and government agencies to reduce delegations, particularly those involving ministers and deputy ministers, which he felt were affecting the efficiency of ministry operations.
Al-Sudani also urged leadership staff to remain dedicated to their roles beyond official working hours, underlining the need for them to be diligently present at their ministries and work stations, irrespective of vacations or the end of working hours. The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of actively listening to citizens, arguing that doing so could enhance ministers’ work programs and expedite progress.
Decisions and Amendments
In addition to Al-Sudani’s remarks, the session saw the Council of Ministers reviewing the agenda’s topics and making several decisions. One of the significant decisions was to amend Cabinet Resolution 119 of 2021, as modified by Cabinet Resolution 283 of 2022. This amendment will add a member from the Ministry of Interior to the Higher Committee for Planning and Operating the Workforce, specifically concerning the residency of foreign workers.
In the sphere of import regulation and administrative reform, the Council endorsed the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Economy No. 230128. The Council of Ministers decided to exclude all foodstuffs from Paragraph 2 of Cabinet Resolution 23055 for the year 2023, reaffirming the approval of pre-examination certificates from authorized bodies within the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning Central Agency for Standardization and Quality Control.
Other Significant Decisions
The session saw several other decisions being made on various topics. The Council approved the Bill for Intellectual Property Protection, which had undergone examination by the State Council. The bill will now be forwarded to the Council of Representatives under constitutional provisions.
The Council of Ministers also approved the donation of fixed assets, including furniture and equipment, from the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works to the road departments of several governorates, namely Diyala, Karbala, Babil, Dhi Qar, and Wasit.
Finally, the Council of Ministers approved a bill ratifying the strategic partnership treaty between the Republic of Iraq and the French Republic. The bill will be forwarded to the Council of Representatives under constitutional provisions.
"RV UPDATE" BY NADER FROM MID EAST & WALGINGSTICK, 4 OCT
Nader From The Mid East
Forex, you’re gonna see all zeros. I called a friend of mine in the banks and she explained the reason for [Sunday] all Forex are in zeros is because the banks were working after hours. 10 or 8 hours of work updated all the currencies of the world.…
Iraqi President Advocates for Local Government in Kirkuk: A Move Towards Resolving Long-Standing Disputes, 4 OCT
Iraqi President Advocates for Local Government in Kirkuk: A Move Towards Resolving Long-Standing Disputes, 4 OCT
President Abdellatif Jamal Rashid of Iraq has proposed a significant solution to the ongoing Kirkuk crisis – the formation of a local government that truly reflects the diversity of the province’s population. This move is seen as a meaningful stride towards peace and stability in the region. Kirkuk, a city located 250 km north of Baghdad, sits atop one of Iraq’s key oil-producing fields, contributing to nearly 13% of the nation’s proven reserves. The city’s demographic composition has been a contentious issue, primarily due to the influx of Arab families under former President Saddam Hussein’s Arabisation policy.
The Kirkuk Dispute
The heart of the Kirkuk dispute lies in its ethnic and political division. The Kurds consider Kirkuk their historical capital and insist that it be part of Kurdistan. Conversely, Arabs and Turkmen demand that the city remain under central government authority. They argue that Kirkuk has been deliberately populated with Kurds to tip the demographic balance in their favor in any potential vote.
This ethnic tension has caused concern in neighboring Turkey, which fears that Iraq’s Kurds could gain control of Kirkuk. Such a development could potentially reignite separatist movements among its sizeable Kurdish population. The United Nations has even dubbed Kirkuk as ‘the mother of all issues’ in Iraq, underlining the need for a peaceful solution to the dispute for the country’s stability.
The Proposed Solution
One potential solution that was put forward was a referendum to decide Kirkuk’s status. However, this was delayed to allow the United Nations to present its proposals. The UN warned against pushing for a vote on whether the Kirkuk oil area should be part of Kurdistan, fearing such a move could ignite conflict. Instead, the UN proposed several potential solutions, including a new political agreement to facilitate the implementation of a constitutional plan for Kirkuk.
President Rashid’s proposal for a new government that embodies all components of the province is seen as a critical development in this complex situation. If successfully implemented, this strategy could pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the Kirkuk crisis, easing ethnic tensions and promoting stability in the region.
A Need for Cooperation
However, the path to resolution may be fraught with challenges. It would require cooperation, compromise, and a shared commitment to peace from all parties involved. This is why President Rashid emphasized the need for transparent elections in the upcoming provincial council polls. He also underscored the importance of maintaining good relations with neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as the United States, expressing gratitude for their support in overthrowing a dictatorial regime.
Thus, the proposed formation of a local government in Kirkuk could potentially resolve longstanding disputes between Baghdad and Erbil, especially if accompanied by fair and free elections. However, the ultimate success of this proposal will depend on the willingness of all parties to cooperate and compromise for the sake of peace and stability.
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Frank26 [Bank story] This time we didn't go down, we just called [the bank]... We said we want to see if we can exchange some cu...
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Bank appointment for Currency EXCHANGE Instructions/Checklist Bank Name_________________________________________ Bank 800#____________...
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Walkingstick All these meetings that the CBI had with all these agencies that were helping them with their monetary reform are done. Al...