The EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, on Sunday announced that the bloc will monitor the November 11 parliamentary elections in Iraq.
Speaking alongside Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein before an EU meeting in Luxembourg, Ms Kallas called for “peaceful, inclusive and transparent” elections.
“You have elections coming up, and you have also requested EU support as independent observers of these elections, which we are also confirming,” Ms Kallas said. The November 11 Iraqi elections are the sixth since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which toppled the long-time dictator Saddam Hussein.
Campaigning has already been marred by incidents, including the killing in a car bomb of Baghdad councillor Safaa Al Mashhadani, who was a candidate for the Sovereignty Alliance, one of Iraq's largest Sunni Muslim coalitions.
“We are hoping for a stable region, so that means also democratic developments in different countries that we are trying to also observe,” Ms Kallas said.
Before the meeting, EU officials said they remained concerned about the influence of outside actors on Iraq – in an apparent reference to neighbouring Iran. The majority of Iraq's 329 MPs represent Shiite parties aligned with Iran. Several parties are linked to paramilitary armed factions.
“There are issues about the sovereignty and the outside influence over Iraq that we would like to discuss with them,” a senior EU official said ahead of the meeting. In September, the EU, alongside France and Britain, restored sanctions on Iran's trade, finance and transport sectors over its nuclear programme.
Responding to a question from The National about Iran's influence on Iraq, Mr Hussein said that it was up to Iraqis to decide. “The decision and decision-making process is in Baghdad, so the Iraqis are taking the decision,” he said.
“Of course, we follow the situation and the tension between Iran and other countries, but we are not going to be part of any conflict or any movement.”
In Luxembourg, topics discussed between Ms Kallas and Mr Hussein included migration, democracy, human rights, development co-operation, trade, energy, regional affairs and security, according to the EU council.
Addressing Ms Kallas, Mr Hussein said: “You are right that we passed the stage of talking only about security. We are now playing an important role in the region and in the area.”
EU officials have said they support Iraq moving away from security challenges to economic reforms. “For the first time, the focus of our discussions is shifting away from security towards more public services and economic progress,” Ms Kallas said.
“Looking ahead, it's crucial that the government's broader reform agenda delivers tangible results for the Iraqi people and addresses their legitimate demands for better governance and opportunities,” she added.
Iraq has, in the past decades, failed to break free from dependence on oil exports. Fiscal reforms have been blocked by politicians who benefit from a sectarian political system that favours corruption.
Earlier this week, The National revealed that the appointment of 93 new ambassadors revealed a pattern of nepotism and political quota-trading. Appointees appeared to include relatives of senior officials, political loyalists and figures linked to armed groups under sanctions.
Among the new envoys are Qais Al Amiri, brother-in-law of the US-sanctioned Popular Mobilisation Forces chief Faleh Al Fayyad, and Rahman Al Amiri, a relative of Hadi Al Amiri, leader of the Iran-backed Badr Organisation. For years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs avoided naming new envoys because it could not balance the demands of Iraq’s competing political blocs.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
Result:
1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds
4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds
6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Racecard:
2.30pm: Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoun Emirates Breeders Society Challenge; Conditions (PA); Dh40,000; 1,600m
3pm: Handicap; Dh80,000; 1,800m
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Mile Prep Rated Conditions; Dh110,000; 1,600m
4pm: Handicap; Dh95,000; 1,950m
4.30pm: Maiden; Dh65,000; 1,400m
5pm: Handicap; Dh85,000; 1,200m
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
THE SPECS
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Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
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