Celebratory gunshots rattled the warm evening air as night fell on the Kurdish capital of Erbil, following Monday’s referendum vote. Cars raced through the narrow streets of the Christian neighbourhood of Ainkawa, blasting Kurdish music as residents braced themselves for what is expected to be a resounding “Yes.”
Voter turnout was 72% according to the Kurdish High Referendum Commission with more than three million of the more than 4.5 million eligible voters casting their ballots in a process that international observers called “free and open.” Results were not expected before 48 to 72 hours after polls closed.
But while widespread nationalistic pride has uplifted many of Iraq’s war-weary Kurds, the sense of euphoria that was carefully cultivated by President Massoud Barzani over weeks of campaigning and stirring speeches may be short-lived if no tangible changes are made.
Members of the controversial “No for Now” campaign — a Kurdish-run campaign that called for a “No” vote — are adamant that the referendum would not bring change or improve the lives of Kurds in Iraq. If anything, said one of their members, things could get worse if President Barzani refuses to step down, isolating the Kurds from the international community.
“We think that [Barzani] has used the referendum as a smokescreen to hide internal issues and as a pretext to extend his post as president without elections,” said Shaswar Abdulwahid, head of the “No for Now” campaign.
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Read more:
Kurdish referendum: Excitement at polls contrasts with silence on streets
Iraq parliament demands troops be sent to Kirkuk amid Kurdish referendum
Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum: Seven key points
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Critics argue that in a landlocked, semi-autonomous region lacking the basic prerequisites for statehood, including a stable economy and a united military force,a swift and positive shift in the status quo is unlikely, even after the referendum.
“Mr. Barzani was very clear with the beginning of negotiations that it will not change overnight,” warned Bernard Kouchner, a French politician and longtime supporter of the Kurdish cause. Mr Kouchner formed part of the delegation of international observers overseeing the referendum voting.
According to Shivan Fazil, a Kurdish analyst at the American East-West Center, things are not set to change in 2017, with series of provincial elections coming up.
“Iraqi provincial elections were postponed until April, when Iraqi parliamentary elections are due. We’ve entered the election cycle in Baghdad and in November we have elections in Kurdistan,” he said. However, this string of elections is likely to maintain the flurry of populism that prevailed during the referendum campaign.
Whether this will help to increase Mr Barzani’s legitimacy in the eyes of his people remains to be seen. But just one day after the vote, Kurds remain optimistic and confident that things are set to improve.
“I believe everything will change for the better,” said voter Haani Jamil Shaboo.
Many voters in Erbil echoed a similar sense of hope and what appeared to be a collective feeling of trust in Mr Barzani, despite his shortcomings — including economic mismanagement of the Kurdish enclave and his refusal to step down from his overdue mandate.
“I think there’s a bright future for my children and they will say: I’m from Kurdistan,” said government employee Rebwar Ahmed, 62. “They’ll be proud that we achieved this independence for them.”
For some who voted "yes," nationalism overcame their initial scepticism of President Barzani. Meriwan Mohammad had a last-minute change of heart and voted “Yes” because of the external backlash against “Kurdistan’s right to an independent state.”
Change was possible if the international community decides to stop supporting Iraq, in his view. “But if the leaders stand for what we voted for, independence, then I believe the people are prepared to bare the hardship ahead,” he said.
In the disputed city of Kirkuk, 29-year-old Khogiyar Wirya is proud to have voted. “I feel very much fulfilled since I think I have carried out an important duty that we Kurds have been trying to get to for years and years,” he said. Despite his enthusiasm, he understands that change is not likely to come soon. In fact, he said, there is potential for a return to square one, with full-blown conflict over disputed territories.
“This may mean that the conflict between the two [Baghdad and Erbil] can be to the detriment of the people of Kirkuk,” said Mr Wirya, a researcher at the Middle East Research Institute in Erbil and a Kirkuki born and bred. “Baghdad can practice some temporary punitive measures to generate reactions against the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] and I am not sure the KRG has studied this well.”
Yet Mr Wirya has no doubt that those who cast their ballots so enthusiastically on Monday, as he did, understand the importance of what they did. “I think people understand that the process they have just embarked on can be risky. Anxiety over the near future is very much apparent among the population and I think it is now up to the political elite to inform the people about how they want to take it forward.”
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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Company%20profile
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EXPATS
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'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
Company%20profile
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
MANDOOB
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Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
Company%20Profile
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
INFO
What: DP World Tour Championship
When: November 21-24
Where: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Janet Yellen's Firsts
- In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve
- In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
3%20Body%20Problem
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UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Bob%20Marley%3A%20One%20Love
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