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Iraq: Muqtada Sadr wins highest Parliament seats
Middle Eastern population has been continuously expressing their anti-foreign intervention feelings through ballot. After giving unprecedented mandate to alliance headed by Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iraqi voters have chosen firebrand Moqtada al-Sadr headed Sa’iroun (Marchers) political block having alliance with communists, as the winner of the country’s parliamentary elections.
Ridah al-Badran, the Chief Electoral Officer announced late Saturday in Baghdad that Sa’iroun alliance has captured 54 parliamentary seats. Sadr himself did not contest the elections. The alliance contested in Iraq’s elections for the first time,
The Conquest Alliance, led by former transport minister and secretary general of Badr Organisation Hadi al-Ameri, came in second with 47 seats while Victory Alliance, headed by incumbent Prime Minister Haider al- Abadi, could achieve the third place with 42 seats.
Read More: Iraq votes for Parliament in first elections after IS defeat
The Conquest Alliance is a new alliance that entered the elections for the first time. It consists of 18 political parties many of which are former factions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) also known by its Arabic name as Hashd al-Sha’abi. PMU played key role in defeating Daesh terrorists last year. Since the end of confrontation with the terror group the main PMU units have handed over their weapons to the state in order to enter the political process.
Former PM Nouri al-Maliki headed State of Law Coalition has won 26 seats, Nechervan barezani led Kurdistan Democratic Party-25, Ammar al-Hakim led National wisdom Movement, also known as Al-Muwatin- 19, Ayad Allawi led Iraqi National Accord (Al-Wataniya)- 22, Kosrat Rasul Ali, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan got 18 and Usama al-Nujayfi could get 14 seats in the Iraqi parliament.
Iraqis voted for electing members of the parliament last Saturday in the first national elections since achieving victory over Daesh in December last
Over 7,000 candidates contested for 329 seats in the parliament that will choose a new president, prime minister and government in Iraq. According to electoral commission 44.5 percent of those eligible had cast their ballots. The low turn-out was caused by government’s ban on vehicle movement on the polling day, it was reported.
However, Aljazeera correspondent Osama Bin Jawed reports about triggering protests among Turkman, Arabs and Kurds who have rejected the election results. Kirkuk governor has reportedly alleged rigging through electronic voting machines. Meanwhile, some 81 newly elected MPs have demanded an emergency session to address the grievances.
This was the fourth parliamentary polls since the 2003 US invasion. In the post Saddam era a sharp rise in sectarian tensions and ensuing terror-related violence were witnessed in the country.
Election of new Prime Minister may take longer time because of the efforts to build new alliance with common minimum program and deliberations on foreign policy to be followed by the next government. Shia cleric Muqtada Sadr, who has begged the largest number of seats in the parliament, has been vocal against interference in country’s internal affairs by US or Iran. Sadr has also visited Saudi Arabia in recent months indicating his priority of being closer to Arabs instead of Shia Iran.
The next government will face the huge task of rebuilding a country destroyed by the foreign sponsored Daesh (IS) terrorists and the 2003 US invasion.
Daesh unleashed a campaign of death and destruction in Iraq in 2014, capturing vast swathes of territories in the country. Iraqi army, supported by Mobilization Units, the Iranian military advisors and Hezbollah fighters, launched operations to eliminate Daesh terrorist group and retake the lost territory.
Last December, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the end of the anti-Daesh campaign. However, the group’s remnants keep staging sporadic attacks across the country.
Parliamentary elections were held in Iraq on 12 May. Elections decided 329 members of the Council of Representatives, the country’s unicameral legislature, who in turn will elect the Iraqi President and Prime Minister.
The elections were originally scheduled for September 2017, but were delayed by six months due to civil war with Daesh (IS) which ended in December 2017, with recapture of the remaining territories.
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Hardeep Nijjar killing row: Canada’s defence minister says ties with India important
The Defence Minister further mentioned that if the allegations are proven true, there is a very significant concern that Canada will have with respect to the violation of our sovereignty.
Canada’s defence minister Bill Blair said that his country’s ties with India are important. HIs statement amidst a diplomatic standoff between both the countries. However, he also added that his country wants a thorough investigation into the allegation.
The escalating tensions between both the countries began after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that his country’s security agencies were investigating a link between the Indian government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Defence Minister Bill Blair noted that they understand this can be, and has proven to be, a challenging issue with respect to their relationship with India. However, at the same time, they have the responsibility to make sure that they carry out a thorough investigation and get to the truth, he added.
The Defence Minister further mentioned that if the allegations are proven true, there is a very significant concern that Canada will have with respect to the violation of our sovereignty. On the other hand, India rejected the allegation as absurd and motivated.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs remarked that Canada has shared no specific information regarding its charges, flagging politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in that country. Furthermore, the foreign ministry has advised its nationals in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise utmost caution.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also claimed that such credible allegations were shared with India weeks ago. He added that they want to work constructively with India and hope that New Delhi engages with them so that they can get to the bottom of this very serious matter.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that Washington is deeply concerned about the allegations and that they want to see accountability in the case.
Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada’s British Columbia in June. He was chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and reportedly one of India’s most wanted terrorists.
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National Daughters Day 2023: History, significance, theme and wishes
The purpose of National Daughter’s Day is to serve as a reminder that girls should be given equal chances, including access to education, practical life skills, and sports participation, among others.
In India, Daughter’s Day is observed on the final Sunday in September, which falls on September 24, 2023. India is the only big nation with a higher mortality rate for females than boys, according to UNICEF.
At birth, there are 900 females for every 1000 boys in the nation. In the world, boys are 7% more likely than girls to die before the age of five. In India, though, the figures are dismal, with 11% more girls dying before turning five.
Given these troubling numbers, it is crucial to invest in the wellbeing of girls in order to empower them. The purpose of National Daughter’s Day is to serve as a reminder that girls should be given equal chances, including access to education, practical life skills, and sports participation, among others.
The first National Daughters Day was observed in India in 2007, which is where the holiday’s origins can be found. Daughters have frequently been overlooked in a society where males have long been regarded with awe. The noble goal of this day is to inspire parents to show their admiration for their daughters.
In certain cultures, having daughters has been seen as more of a burden than a blessing. With the goal of reversing this perception, National Daughter’s Day exhorts parents to acknowledge the extraordinary gift that their daughters are.
The significance of National Daughters Day can be found in our ever-changing society. It’s a day set aside to gleefully acknowledge the daughters in our lives. Falling on a Sunday presents a chance for parents and daughters to spend quality time together, cherish one another, and have intimate life-related dialogues. It’s a day for giving, caring, and fostering the cherished relationship between mothers and daughters.
Wishes
- Daughters are special and highly valued, which demonstrates that they were sent from heaven above
- Daughters are special; once we have them, we can never live without them. Happy Daughters’ Day!
- Daughters are the pride of their parents’ hearts; from birth, they are beautiful
- My darling daughter, my baby you will always be, no matter where you are. You are a little part of me, whether near or far. Happy Daughters’ Day!
- Daughters will soon be married and grown, then they may start a family of their own
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Canadian PM Trudeau wants to work constructively with India, says Canada shared credible allegations with New Delhi weeks ago
India has repeatedly denied claims of receiving any intel regarding the allegations from Canada before Justin Trudeau’s announcement on Monday revealing them.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday asserted that Canada shared credible allegations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar weeks ago, according to reports.
The Canadian Prime MInister added that his country wants to work constructively with India and hope that New Delhi engages with them so that they can get to the bottom of this very serious matter. Meanwhile, India has repeatedly denied claims of receiving any intel regarding the allegations from Canada before Justin Trudeau’s announcement on Monday revealing them.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that there was a potential link between an Indian government agent and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, who was gunned down in Surrey in June. Justin Trudeau made the allegations in the Canadian Parliament.
India has debunked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement deeming the allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada as both absurd and motivated. Issuing a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that they have seen and rejected the statement made by the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament. It added that they also rejected the statement made by their Foreign Minister.
After the allegations by PM Trudeau, the Canadian government expelled a top Indian diplomat. In a tit for tat move, New Delhi also expelled a Canadian diplomat. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also claimed that the Indian High Commission and consulates are facing security threats in Canada and therefore cannot process visa applications temporarily.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was among India’s most-wanted terrorists, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He was fatally gunned down by two unidentified assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, a province of British Columbia in Canada, on June 18, according to reports.
