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Iraq votes for Parliament in first elections after IS defeat

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Iraq votes for Parliament in first elections after IS defeat

In an exercise to strengthen democratic set up in non-GCC Arab country without having much US influence and “growing Iranian influence”, Iraqi people have started polling their votes for the fourth parliament after removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003 on Saturday morning.

The landmark parliamentary elections in the country are being held for the first time after defeating Daesh (IS) terror group with the help of Iranian military advisors, intelligence sharing and weapons supplies along with Mobilization Forces raised after landmark fatwa of Ayatollah Siestani, comprising all sections of the country.

However, US led coalition also claim of fighting against Daesh (IS) which has never attracted appreciation by Iraqi government.

According to media reports a total of 6,990 candidates from 87 lists (parties) are contesting for 329 seats with nearly 2,011 female candidates who are guaranteed 25 percent, or 83, of the seats. Nine seats will be allocated to minorities.

There are 18 provinces in the country with different population ratio in different areas. Shia majority community dominates in the southern provinces, Sunnis are more in the central region while Kurds are in majority in several north-eastern provinces.

Iraq votes for Parliament in first elections after IS defeat

Political observers don’t expect a dramatic government shake-up in the country. However, this is expected to be considered as a referendum on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s tenure and his pledge to be more inclusive during the next tenure, if elected.

On May 4, Iraq’s most revered religious leader Grand Ayatollah Siestani, through his representative Ayatollah Mehdi Karbalai in holy Karbala city, had urged voters not to re-elect “corrupt” Members of Parliament during the elections.

Ayatollah Karbalai, while addressing the Friday sermon, had suggested that voters should “avoid falling into the trap of those who want to fool you”, including- “those whom you have known”- a reference to outgoing MPs running in the polls.

The most important issues dominated throughout the campaign included corruption, security, poverty, the influence of Iran and the future of US forces currently in the country.

The main lists (parties) can be divided into Shia, Sunni and Kurdish coalitions, with Shia parties being the most prominent due to their greater number in the overall population which is considered to be over 70%. Two major Sunni coalitions and four Kurdish ones are contesting the elections.

Read More: Referendum in Iraq’s Kurdish North Sets Cat Among Pigeons

The main Shia lists contesting the elections include: Nasr Coalition headed by current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Dawat al-Qanoon, headed by current Vice President and former PM Nouri al-Maliki, Fatah Coalition, led by Hadi al-Amiri, Hikma Coalition headed by Ammar al-Hakim and al-Saidoon Coalition, also known as Sadrist movement, led by Muqtada al-Sadr, allied with Iraqi Communist Party.

Iraq votes for Parliament in first elections after IS defeat

Recently Saudi Arabia has also indicated interest in the internal Iraqi politics with an objective of curbing Iranian influence in Iraq. Muqtada al-Sadr, was the important visitor to Saudi Arabia holding meeting with most powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin-Salman in July last year.

However, during a summit with US President Donald Trump in May 2017, Saudi Arabia did not invite Shia Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Instead Iraq’s Sunni president Fuad Masum participated in the meeting when more than 50 heads of Muslims states met Trump under Saudi auspices.

Observers believe that no single group is expected to win 165 seats required for forming next government. Instead the bloc winning the highest number of seats will have to bring together smaller groups.

Read More: Kurdistan dream collapses, Barzani not to remain President

Some analysts, probably influenced by Saudi Arabia led GCC, has been talking of the possibility of  spending months before selection of new prime minister. Until the new prime minister is chosen, Haider al-Abadi, the current PM will continue to officiate.

Political power is traditionally divided along sectarian lines among the offices of prime minister, president and parliament speaker. Since the first elections following 2003 Saddam Hussein’s fall, Shia majority has held the position of prime minister, while the Kurds have held the presidency and Sunnis have held the post of parliament speaker.

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World Earth Day 2024: Google Doodle showcases aerial view of planet’s natural beauty

Google celebrated Earth Day 2024 with a special doodle featuring an aerial view of our planet’s biodiversity.

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Google shared a doodle today to celebrate World Earth Day 2024, which showcased aerial photos of the planet’s biodiversity and natural beauty. Google reminded us of the importance of protecting planet earth for future generations with the help of this doodle.

The Google letters depict specific locations across the globe where people, communities, and governments work every day to help protect the planet’s natural beauty, biodiversity, and resources, according to the explanation of the annual Earth Day 2024 doodle on their website.

It said, these examples remind us that there’s much more to do to address the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, but also offer the promise of hope and optimism.

The islands of Turks and Caicos are represented by the letter “G.” The islands’ conservation efforts are concentrated on protecting important regions for biodiversity and addressing persistent environmental problems.

The largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico and a UNESCO biosphere reserve, Scorpion Reef National Park, is represented by the letter “O” in the Mexican flag.

The letter “O” features Iceland’s Vatnajokull National Park, which was designated as a national park in 2008 following decades of advocacy. The ecology within and surrounding the biggest glacier in Europe is safeguarded by this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The letter “G” has the Jau National Park in Brazil on it. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the biggest forest reserves in South America.

The Great Green Wall of Nigeria is represented by the letter “L,”  and the Pilbara Islands Nature Reserves of Australia are represented by the letter “E.”

Meanwhile, Earth Day is a worldwide event that promotes protection of the environment every year. April 22 serves as a reminder of the importance of conservation efforts and sustainable practices to guarantee a healthier world and a brighter future.

The occasion inspires people across the world to come together and take action to protect the environment, strengthening our bonds with nature and promoting good change.

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Bigg Boss 14 contestant Rahul Vaidya struggles walking in knee deep water, compares Dubai rains with Mumbai floods

Singer and TV personality Rahul Vaidya was recently stranded in the Dubai rains.

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Rahul Vaidya, who was in Dubai ahead of his show which was scheduled to take place today, left the country due to heavy rains and reached Kolkata. The artist shared on social media his encounters in the UAE city, including challenges like walking through knee-deep water. Rahul provided an update regarding the heavy rainfall in Dubai on his Instagram profile.

The Bigg Boss 14 contestant revealed that he was in Kolkata and prepared to do an evening performance. Recalling the terrifying period he went through, Vaidya said there was a lot of confusion and panic in Dubai. The situation was similar to that when heavy floods hit Mumbai in 2005.

Vaiday also posted seval other images and videos of cars that were underwater and flooded roadways. The Bigg Boss 14 contestant, who shared his ordeal, claimed that even though it had just rained for two hours, the situation was dire.

In one of the video, which went viral he can be seen struggling in walking in knee-deep water. He can be also seen holding his sneakers in one hand and with other hand he was seen managing other things.

This is the result of the two hours of rain that it had, he can be heard saying in the video. Vidya also said he dosen’t believe Dubai is accustomed to a lot of rain. Everything had stopped working, he remarked.

After taking part in the first season of the singing reality show Indian Idol, Rahul Vaidya gained widespread recognition. In addition to Bigg Boss, he took part in Khatron Ke Khiladi 11.

Meanwhile, heavy rains that triggered flooding in the UAE and Bahrain, which left 18 people dead in Oman on Sunday and Monday, have paralyzed the financial hub of the Middle East, Dubai.

A lot of incoming flights were diverted from Dubai’s international airport because of the rain. At 7:26 p.m., the busiest airport in the world for foreign visitors stopped accepting new arrivals; a gradual resumption was announced for more than two hours later.

Images of planes navigating flooded tarmacs are making the rounds on social media.

According to pictures shared on social media, the flagship malls Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates both experienced heavy floods, while at least one Dubai Metro station had water up to the ankles.

There were several road collapses, severe flooding in residential areas, and numerous reports of leaks from windows, doors, and roofs.

Due to the unfavourable weather, schools around the United Arab Emirates were forced to close, and as more storms are predicted, the closures are anticipated to last until Wednesday. The government of Dubai allowed its staff to work remotely till this Wednesday.

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Dubai sky turns green during storm in UAE, video goes viral

The UAE witnessed record-breaking rainfall on Tuesday and the National Centre of Meteorology recorded 254 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hrs in the Khatm Al Shakla area in Al Ain.

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1 person was killed in UAE as it witnessed heavy rainfall on Tuesday, stranding commuters, flooding roads, disrupting trains and flights and resulting in water leakage from mall ceilings. The UAE witnessed record-breaking rainfall on Tuesday and the National Centre of Meteorology recorded 254 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hrs in the Khatm Al Shakla area in Al Ain. It is being said that the rainfall was the highest documented since the start of data collection in 1949.

The heavy rainfall in UAE came days after a similar situation in neighbouring Oman, where 13 people were killed in flash floods. Many parts of Oman saw torrential rains, which caused students to be trapped in buses and swept away motorists and trapped people in their homes.

Videos from Dubai circulating on social media showed widespread waterlogging on roads in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other important cities. This left daily commuters in cars and other vehicles struggling to get back home. Dubai metro station too was seen flooded and closed.

One such video circulating on social media shows the aerial view of the city of Dubai from the top of a building. In the video the stormy winds are seen blowing over the city of Dubai. As the storm intensifies the Dubai sky turns green and ultimately gets covered by heavy rainfall. The video has gone viral on social media with more than 1.1 million views.

Another video showed water leakage from the ceilings of shopping malls, flooding the floors and destroying goods. A video which was shot in the famous Mall of the Emirates, showed pieces of ceiling falling as the rainwater gushed inside. Videos from many outlets of the Deira City Centre mall chain showed escalators being rendered unusable. Majid Al Futtaim, the company which owns the Mall of Emirates, said that the shopping complexes have been kept open and the customers are being sent away from the flooded areas. 

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