Who are Iraq's new president Abdul Latif Rashid and PM nominee Mohammed Shia Al Sudani?


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More than a year after Parliamentary elections, Iraqi MPs have finally elected Abdul Latif Rashid as the country's new president.

After being elected on Thursday, Mr Rashid nominated Mohammed Shia Al Sudani as prime minister.

The position of president is largely ceremonial and is traditionally held by a Kurd.

Mr Rashid won against incumbent Barham Salih, who was running for a second term.

The US State Department issued a statement welcoming the end of the deadlock.

"As Iraq’s political leaders form a new government, we encourage them to bear in mind the will of the Iraqi people, who voted for a government responsive to their needs. The United States urges all parties to refrain from violence and to resolve differences amicably and peacefully through the political process," it said.

Mr Al Sudani's name had been floated around months before his nomination as a viable potential candidate for the position.

He now has 30 days to form a government.

Who is Abdul Latif Rashid?

The election of Abdul Lateef Rasheed as president may help end the impasse in Iraqi politics. Reuters
The election of Abdul Lateef Rasheed as president may help end the impasse in Iraqi politics. Reuters

Mr Rashid, 78, is a veteran politician, having served in high positions of government throughout his career.

Born in the northern city of Sulaymaniyah, in the Iraqi Kurdish region, he began his political career in his 20s after joining the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party.

Mr Rashid achieved his degree in civil engineering from the University of Liverpool in the UK and continued his education there, earning a master's degree and a doctorate in engineering from the University of Manchester.

He then became Iraq's minister of water resources from 2003 to 2010, before being appointed as a senior adviser in the PUK by the late president Jalal Talabani, who was also the founder of the group and Mr Rashid's brother-in-law.

Mr Rashid was elected with 162 votes in a second round of voting on Thursday.

He had received 156 votes in the first round — short of the two-thirds majority needed to win. Mr Salih received 99 votes in both rounds.

Who is Mohammed Shia Al Sudani?

Mohammed Shia Al Sudani comes from a well-known tribe in the southern province of Maysan. AFP
Mohammed Shia Al Sudani comes from a well-known tribe in the southern province of Maysan. AFP

Now a prominent name among Shia circles, Mr Al Sudani was born in the country's capital, Baghdad, in 1970.

He attended the University of Baghdad, where he studied agricultural science and then project management.

His earliest brush with politics came when he joined the Islamic Dawa Party and took part in the 1991 uprisings against Saddam Hussein, president at the time, following the First Gulf War.

In 2004, Mr Al Sudani was appointed mayor of Amarah city, in south-eastern Iraq.

Mr Al Sudani comes from a well-known tribe in the southern province of Maysan, where he served as governor for a year.

In 2010, he was appointed human rights minister and a year later, briefly served as chairman of the Justice and Accountability Commission, which banned candidates linked to Saddam Hussein's Baath party from holding positions in government.

Mr Al Sudani also ran for election with the State of Law Coalition, which was led by former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki, with whom he has close ties.

The coalition is part of the Co-ordination Framework, that holds almost 40 seats in Parliament.

Last year, Mr Al Sudani created the Al Foraten Movement.

Brief scoreline

Switzerland 0

England 0

Result: England win 6-5 on penalties

Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)

Who is Allegra Stratton?

 

  • Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
  • Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
  • In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
  • The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
  • Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
  • She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
  • Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

Kalra's feat
  • Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
  • Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
  • Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
  • Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
Company%20profile
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Opening weekend Premier League fixtures

Weekend of August 10-13

Arsenal v Manchester City

Bournemouth v Cardiff City

Fulham v Crystal Palace

Huddersfield Town v Chelsea

Liverpool v West Ham United

Manchester United v Leicester City

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton v Burnley

Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Januzaj's club record

Manchester United 50 appearances, 5 goals

Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals

Sunderland (loan) 25 appearances, 0 goals

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

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Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

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Updated: October 14, 2022, 12:02 PM`