RIYADH — The Council of Ministers on Tuesday approved an agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to facilitate the employment of Saudis in the private sector.

The agency will discharge the functions and missions of the now defunct Job Creation and Unemployment Control Commission.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman chaired the weekly session of the Cabinet at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.

Minister of Culture and Information Awwad Al-Awwad said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session that the Cabinet reiterated its keenness to restore stability in Iraq.

The Cabinet also noted the Kingdom’s announcement of an allocation of $500 million for reconstruction projects in Iraq during the recent Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq.

Al-Awwad said the Cabinet hailed the statement of the foreign ministers of the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh with regard to the progress made in crushing the terror outfit, and their pledge to continue efforts in fighting the menace of terrorism.

It also condemned the suicide attack in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri and the shooting incident in front of a church in the city of Kizlyar in Dagestan. It offered condolences to the bereaved family members of the victims as well as to the governments and people of Nigeria and the Russian Federation.

The Cabinet authorized Al-Awwad, who is also the chairman of the board of directors of SPA, or his deputy, to discuss and sign memoranda of understanding with the authorities concerned in Algeria, Portugal and Albania for cooperation and exchange of news between SPA and news agencies of these states.

After reviewing the report of the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and recommendation of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Cabinet determined the appropriate distances for setting up poultry projects from villages and communities as well as the distances separating these projects from those areas characterized by natural barriers such as mountains.

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