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Iraq: PM Haider al-Abadi and Muqtada Sadr form largest alliance
After having three and a half month long dialogue before formation of government, eleven Iraqi political groups, including those led by firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi have announced formation of largest alliance on Sunday before they form new government.
According to a report quoting a document published by the Iraqi state news agency, the newly announced alliance includes 177 lawmakers out of 329 from 16 electoral lists. It is now in pole position to form the next government.
On Monday, parliament was convened for the first time after election results declared on May 18. It will elect a new speaker and launch the process of forming a government.
The new alliance includes the blocs of Vice President Ayad Allawi and Shiite Muslim cleric Ammar al-Hakim, as well as several Sunni Muslim lawmakers and groups representing Turkmen, Yazidi, Christian and other smaller minorities.
Rad More: Iraq: Muqtada Sadr wins highest Parliament seats
The newly announced alliance does not include Kurdish groups. Since 2003, when Saddam Hussein was toppled by US invasion, country’s power has been shared. The prime minister is a Shiite, the speaker of parliament a Sunni and the president a Kurd.
Iraqis voted for electing members of the parliament on May 12 since the defeat of Daesh (IS) but a contentious recount process delayed the announcement of final results until last month.
Uncertainty over the make-up of the new government has raised tensions at a time when public frantic protests were reported from different cities over poor basic services, high unemployment and the slow pace of rebuilding.
Read More: Iraq audits EVMs, orders manual vote count
The recount of the votes delayed the process of formation of new government by three months. However, it has not changed the initial results, with Sadr, a populist Shiite cleric, retaining his lead of 54 seats. Abadi’s bloc remained third with 42.
The elected members of the 329 members of the Council of Representatives, the country’s unicameral legislature, will elect the President and Prime Minister. The Iraqi parliament ordered a manual recount of the results on 6 June 2018. However, on 10 June, a storage site housing roughly half of the ballots in Baghdad caught fire.
Read More: Iraq’s PM: Burning of election warehouse, a plot against democracy
The parliamentary elections took place six months after a non-binding independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan. Kurds took part enthusiastically and 93% voted in favour of independence. In return, Haider al-Abadi led government closed Erbil International Airport, seized control of all border crossings between Kurdistan and neighbouring countries.
Mobilization Force known as Hashd al-Shaabi seized control oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Nonetheless, Iraqi politicians called for dialogue with the Iraqi Kurdistan government and force them to formally annul the results.
Meanwhile Iraqi News portal reported Haider al-Abadi saying on Sunday that he will attend Parliament session on Monday “as prime minister and a winner of the elections”. However, he added that he will not take oath at the parliament tomorrow (Monday) because that will prevent him from assuming his executive tasks as a prime minister.
Iraqi President Fuad Masum issued a decree last week, ordering the newly-elected parliament to convene Monday under the leadership of oldest lawmaker, a move which precedes the election of the new president and formation of the new cabinet.
Under the Iraqi constitution, 15 days after final election results are endorsed by the Federal Supreme Court, the new parliament must hold its first session during which the speaker will be elected.
New president will be elected within three days of the legislature convening and the president will then ask the largest parliamentary bloc to form a cabinet. President is elected by the parliament by a two-thirds majority and is limited to two four-year terms.
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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.
