Iraq’s parliament elects a new speaker
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s parliament has elected a new speaker following overnight talks to break a political deadlock. Haibet Al-Halbousi is a member of the Takadum, or Progress, party led by ousted speaker and relative Mohammed al-Halbousi. Iraq is trying to maintain close ties with the United States and neighboring Iran as tensions continue in the Middle East. The new speaker must address a much-debated bill that would have an umbrella group of Iraqi Shiite militias largely backed by Iran become a formal security institution under the state. Mounting public debt and widespread corruption are other challenges.