News / News Bulletin

Iraqi premier vows to eliminate corruption by 2016

Sunday, 10 January 2016 2:58 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 10 January 2016 2:59 AM ]

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (not pictured) inspect Chinese honor guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 22, 2015. AFP

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

Tehran says it has acted patiently in response to Saudi Arabia’s actions amid the recent diplomatic row. Iran’s foreign minister said the country is not seeking to stir up tensions in the region. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with China’s deputy foreign minister in Tehran.
Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of destabilizing regional countries. Speaking at a meeting of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council the Saudi foreign minister said it is Tehran and not Riyadh that's escalating the tensions. The G-C-C has expressed its full support for Saudi Arabia in its diplomatic row with Iran.
The Iraqi premier vows to eliminate graft in the country in 20-16. Haidar al-Abadi has pledged to continue with reforms and the fight against corruption. Abadi’s remarks came after a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said Baghdad should do more to combat corruption.
Syria says it’s ready to attend the upcoming Geneva peace talks, but needs to know who from the opposition will participate. Speaking at a meeting with the UN envoy for Syria, Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem insisted that a list of terrorist groups in Syria has to be devised before the talks.
In Kosovo, thousands of anti-government protesters have clashed with the police in the capital Pristina. The protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs at the government headquarters to denounce an accord with Serbia. The E-U-brokered deal gives Kosovo’s ethnic Serb minority greater local powers.
Catalonia's pro-independence parties have reached a deal to form a new regional government that will work towards independence from Spain. Under the new agreement, acting regional president Artur Mas will step down. The move will prevent new local elections in Spain’s richest region.
German police have clashed with supporters of the anti-immigrant PEGIDA movement in Cologne. Police used tear gas and made several arrests. Cologne has witnessed rallies over mass sexual assaults on New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed tough expulsion rules for convicted refugees.

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