Mews Summary

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Following is a summary of news reports posted until 10:00 p.m. Baghdad local time Thursday: . Politics: BAGHDAD – Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah that Iraq is an important partner in the region in accordance with its new policy. BAGHDAD – Kuwait’s foreign minister conveyed to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki his country’s wish to end all pending issues with Iraq and usher in a new stage that would serve the two countries’ joint interests, according to Maliki’s media advisor Yassin Majeed on Thursday. . Security: NINEWA – An Iraqi army officer and soldier were wounded in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in western Mosul city on Thursday, a police source in Ninewa said. THI-QAR – The Thi-Qar federal court handed down death sentences against 28 members of the Yamani group, 19 others to life terms and acquitted six who had been charged with affiliation to the outlawed organization, a lawyer for one of the defendants said on Thursady. NINEWA – Iraqi army forces defused three improvised explosive devices and arrested a wanted man in operations in different areas of eastern Mosul city on Thursday, a military source said. . Economy: BAGHDAD – Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday said that his government will soon sign contracts with international corporations to build 100,000-200,000 housing units in the country. ARBIL – President of the Iraqi Kurdistan region Massoud Barazani on Thursday discussed in Rome with Italian Undersecretary for Trade Adolfo Urso Italian investments as well as developing Italian-Kurdish relations, according to a release that was posted on the website of Kurdistan Regional Government Kurdistan RegionG). BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Minister of Planning on Thursday described the ration cards used by Iraqis as a “heavy burden on the Iraqi government” on the grounds that it consumed around $6 billion in 2008. BAGHDAD – Iraq’s national development strategy requires more than $187 billion over the coming three years, an advisor for the Iraq National Investment Commission said on Thursday. BAGHDAD – The Iraqi Federation of Industries on Thursday said 90% of the country’s industries are suspended since 1986, according to the IFI chief. BAGHDAD – Iraq’s water resources minister on Thursday stressed the need to exchange information with Iran regarding the Iranian projects being carried out on joint rivers, according to a ministry release. . Sports: NINEWA – Mosul city’s municipality allocated a plot of land of 500 donums to build a new sports village in Ninewa, the province’s sports & youths director said on Thursday. . Variety: THI-QAR – Thi-Qar’s environment directorate on Thursday received three water desalination units that are operated by solar energy as a donation from a Japanese organization to the province’s marshes, said the directorate’s manager. AmR (I) 1