The photo of two contestants for Miss Universe has generated widespread reactions online. Sarah Eedan, Miss Iraq, posted her selfie with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman on her social media.
Gandelsman shared their selfie on her Instagram as well and said Miss Iraq is amazing, attracting over 3,000 likes and mixed views.
Some Arabic netizens criticized Israel, while some Iraqi activists said the photo does not imply a stance on Israel’s foreign ministry.
Miss Iraq, who previously studied in the US, said the Israeli contestant approached her for a photoshoot and both of them agreed to advocate love and peace. She added that she was honored to be the first Iraqi contestant in Miss Universe in 45 years.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's parliament on Monday elected a new speaker following overnight talks to break a political deadlock.
Haibet Al-Halbousi received 208 votes from the 309 legislators who attended. He is a member of the Takadum, or Progress, party led by ousted speaker and relative Mohammed al-Halbousi. Twenty legislators did not attend the session.
Iraq has been walking a tightrope to maintain close ties with the United States and neighboring Iran as tensions continue in the Middle East.
Iraq held parliamentary elections in November but didn’t produce a bloc with a decisive majority. By convention, Iraq’s president is always Kurdish, while the more powerful prime minister is Shiite and the parliamentary speaker is Sunni.
The new speaker must address a much-debated bill that would have the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units — an umbrella group of Iraqi Shiite militias largely backed by Iran — become a formal security institution under the state. Iran-backed armed groups have growing political influence.
Al-Halbousi also must tackle Iraq’s mounting public debt of tens of billions of dollars as well as widespread corruption.
Babel Governor Adnan Feyhan was elected first deputy speaker with 177 votes, a development that might concern Washington. Feyhan is a member of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, a U.S.-sanctioned, Iran-backed Shiite group with an armed wing led by Qais al-Khazali, also sanctioned by Washington.
Associated Press journalist Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
Newly elected lawmakers attend the first parliament session, in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Iraqi Parliament Media Office via AP)
The new speaker of parliament Haibet Al-Halbousi, center, looks on before the start of their first legislative session in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Newly elected lawmakers attend the first parliament session, in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Iraqi Parliament Media Office via AP)
Members of the new Iraqi Parliament are seen before the start of their first legislative session in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
