Latest news with #1993
Iraqi News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraqi MPs back federal court decision on Khor Abdullah
Baghdad ( – Nearly 200 Iraqi parliament members have voiced support for the Federal Court's decision concerning the Khor Abdullah agreement with Kuwait, demanding its implementation and calling for nationwide protests. On Thursday (July 24, 2025), Iraqi MP Amer Abdul Jabbar revealed that he submitted a request signed by 194 lawmakers to the Federal Court, expressing their support for its decision regarding the Khor Abdullah agreement's cancellation. Abdul Jabbar stated to Shafaq News Agency, 'Today, we met with the head of the Federal Court and delivered a request signed by 194 representatives, supporting the court's decision on the Khor Abdullah agreement.' Abdul Jabbar urged Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to implement the Federal Court's ruling, which invalidated the law ratifying the agreement. He called upon Iraqis to participate in peaceful demonstrations on Friday afternoon to support the Federal Court's decision. Shafaq News obtained a copy of the document signed by 194 MPs, which explicitly rejects the 'humiliating Khor Abdullah agreement.' The document demands that the Prime Minister implement Federal Court Decision No. 105 / unified 194 / federal / 2023, issued on April 9, 2023. It further calls for the decision to be deposited with the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as per a Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter dated December 25, 2023. Following this, the document urges re-negotiations with Kuwait, stipulating that the Iraqi negotiating team should consist of specialized experts free from political interference, and that negotiations be held in Baghdad or a mutually agreed upon neutral third country. The Khor Abdullah navigation regulation agreement, signed in 2012 between Iraq and Kuwait, was initially a technical and administrative response to the aftermath of Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent border demarcation under United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 833 of 1993. Article 6 of the agreement explicitly stated that it 'does not affect the borders between the two parties in Khor Abdullah as determined by Security Council Resolution No. 833 of 1993.' The Iraqi Council of Ministers ratified the draft law for the agreement's approval in late 2012, and the Council of Representatives passed it by a simple majority under Law No. 42 of 2013. It was subsequently published in the Iraqi Gazette on November 25, 2013, leading to the agreement's entry into force. The recent Federal Court decision (2023) appears to have invalidated the 2013 ratification law, contending it should have been approved by a two-thirds majority. This contrasts with a prior Federal Court decision (No. 21/federal/2014) dated December 18, 2014, which distinguished between laws governing treaty ratification (requiring a two-thirds majority under Article 61/Fourth of the Constitution) and specific treaty ratification laws (requiring a simple majority under Article 59/Second).
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I was smart and successful - yet a 'harmless' pub game from the '90s turned me into a gambler who almost lost everything
Libby Mitchell was in the mood to celebrate. It was 1993 and she'd just sold her recycled textiles business to a colleague. The pair decided to toast the deal in the local pub.
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I was smart and successful - yet a 'harmless' pub game from the '90s turned me into a gambler who almost lost everything
Libby Mitchell was in the mood to celebrate. It was 1993 and she'd just sold her recycled textiles business to a colleague. The pair decided to toast the deal in the local pub.
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- The Citizen
Bedfordview SPCA takes legal action over false cruelty claims
Germiston Bedfordview SPCA pleads with the public to report cruelty directly to them and not through hearsay, WhatsApp forwarded messages, or online outrage. 'When reports pass through too many hands, facts get lost, emotions take over, and the animals, the ones we're all trying to protect, are the ones who lose,' said the branch's chairperson, Christine Kuch. She added that animal cruelty is no place for rumours, rage, or reckless reposts. According to Kuch, since the start of 2025, the Germiston Bedfordview SPCA has seen a troubling spike in third-party reports of alleged cruelty, often sent via WhatsApp, shared in community groups, or circulated by individuals with no direct knowledge of the situation. ALSO READ: Join the Edenvale SPCA AGM on July 5 'These are not anonymous tips but sweeping accusations, often laced with insults and claims that the SPCA did nothing. 'While community vigilance is vital, the way to report cruelty matters. 'Complaints must be made directly to the SPCA via landline or email,' she explained. Then, a case can be logged, assigned a reference number, and investigated properly. Under the SPCA Act 169 of 1993, SPCAs are legally required to give feedback to the original complainant, and and are audited on their response to complaints within 24 hours, or immediately in the case of an emergency. 'We're seeing more and more cases where people claim they reported something, say we 'did nothing,' and then take to social media to name and shame us. But, when we check our records, there's no complaint, no call or no email. Nothing.' ALSO READ: Brushstrokes and vino to aid Bedfordview SPCA pups Kuch said they have seen a sharp increase this year, with individuals alleging prior inaction from the SPCA but offering no proof when asked for reference numbers, names of inspectors, or dates. 'When asked for the most basic verification, the conversation ends,' Christine added.'In one recent example, a WhatsApp message circulated between several parties, alleging neglect at a local property. 'The SPCA had no record of the complaint ever being submitted. When the SPCA team followed up as they always do, they found the animals were not in distress. 'Yet the complainant verbally abused a staff member and accused us of not doing what we're paid for,' said Kuch. She added that increasingly, complaints are being channelled through so-called 'local rescuers' or concerned intermediaries who then share embellished or inaccurate claims online, shifting attention away from the facts and toward public outrage. She said this often results in a flurry of pressure on the SPCA to defend its name, instead of focusing on the welfare of the animals involved. 'We do not doubt that many of these individuals care deeply. But, care must be paired with responsibility and respect.' The way of raising matters is also a concern. 'It is not acceptable that SPCA staff, professionals committed to animal welfare, are subjected to shouting, threats, or public slander. 'This kind of conduct is not only disheartening, it's damaging. It undermines trust, pulls inspectors away from actual emergencies, and unfairly tarnishes the reputation of an organisation working tirelessly to protect animals. ALSO READ: Edenvale SPCA warns of unusual snake sightings 'More alarming are certain members of the public now demanding confidential information from active cruelty cases – including the contents of criminal dockets – and insist that the SPCA obtain warrants to enter properties, even though these individuals have never personally visited the locations in question. 'This behaviour is not only unlawful, but endangers inspectors, compromises investigations, and undermines justice. 'The SPCA is legally and ethically bound to protect the integrity of investigations and cannot release details or act on such demands simply because someone shouts loud enough online or over the phone. 'We want to be clear; we take cruelty complaints very seriously. But if you don't report it to us directly, our ability to assist in a timely and correct manner is impaired. And more importantly, we cannot help the animals,' stated Kuch. The Germiston Bedfordview SPCA has now instructed attorneys to take formal steps against individuals who continue to spread false or defamatory claims. ALSO READ: Pet owners may face prosecution over animal cruelty – Bedfordview SPCA 'To the many residents who report their concerns properly and respectfully, the SPCA offers sincere thanks. 'Your vigilance saves lives. Please continue to contact us directly, not through someone else, not via a neighbourhood group, but through the proper channels. If you see something, say something — to us, not the internet,' she said. To report cruelty, contact the SPCA on 011 825 5033 or email to [email protected] or after-hours dial 081 399 1781. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
10-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Chief justice asks Mkhwanazi and Masemola to back up allegations
The acting secretary-general of the Office of the Chief Justice has officially requested national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to submit evidence supporting the allegations made by Mkhwanazi on Sunday. Mkhwanazi was also urged to lodge formal complaints with the Judicial Service Commission and/or the Magistrates' Commission, where appropriate. Chief justice Mandisa Maya, said the judiciary stands firm in its commitment to accountability and the rule of law. 'If any person, including Lt Gen Mkhwanazi, has credible evidence of unlawful or unethical conduct committed by a member of the judiciary, they are urged to report such matters to the legally mandated structures of the state. Unsubstantiated allegations, however, regrettably undermine the administration of justice and weaken public trust in our institutions, which are essential to upholding our constitutional democracy,' Maya said. Mkhwanazi made damning allegations against police minister Senzo Mchunu on Sunday. He accused the minister of interfering with police investigations and of being an associate of people with questionable characters. He claimed that in 2024, a request was received from the Gauteng Organised Crime Investigation Unit for help in dismantling an organised crime syndicate operating across the country and controlled from Gauteng. Investigations revealed that the syndicate involved politicians, members of law enforcement (including SAPS, metro police and correctional services), prosecutors and members of the judiciary and was being controlled by a drug cartel in collaboration with certain businesspeople. Reacting to the allegations, the judiciary said it noted the remarks with serious concern. 'Such claims, made without substantiation, are extremely damaging to public confidence in the independence and integrity of our courts — a fundamental pillar of our constitutional democracy,' the Office of the Chief Justice said in a statement. The office said judicial officers were bound by the judicial oath or solemn affirmation of office to uphold and protect the constitution and the human rights entrenched in it, and to administer justice to all people alike without fear, favour or prejudice, as per the constitution and the law. 'As such, any suggestion of impropriety within the judiciary is treated with the utmost gravity. These bodies are constitutionally and statutorily mandated to investigate complaints against judicial officers. The JSC derives its authority from Section 178 of the constitution, read with the Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 (Act 9 of 1994). Furthermore, the Magistrates Commission operates under the Magistrates Act, 1993 (Act 90 of 1993). Both institutions have well-established mechanisms to address allegations of misconduct, ensuring due process and fairness,' reads the statement. Reaffirming its dedication to justice, transparency and the principles enshrined in the constitution, the Office of the Chief Justice said should any judicial officer be found to have acted unlawfully or unethically, appropriate action must be taken without hesitation.
