The largest Shiite parliamentary bloc in Iraq has backed a senior court ruling to dismiss the speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi.
Late on Wednesday, the Co-ordination Framework, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias and parties, said it respects the Iraqi judiciary and “is committed to the decision of the Federal Court regarding the termination of Al Halbousi’s membership,” politician Mahmoud Al Rubaie said.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Federal Court dismissed Mr Al Halbousi, an influential young Sunni politician, over forgery charges. He has rejected the decision as "unconstitutional".
Mr Al Halbousi has been in a months-long legal battle with Sunni legislator Laith Al Dulaimi who accused him of forging his signature on a resignation letter.
The court has also removed Mr Al Dulaimi as an MP.
Mr Al Halbousi challenged his dismissal, saying it is not the Federal Court's jurisdiction to look into the validity of membership of parliament.
The court, he said, determines the constitutionality of laws and regulations, and settles disputes between federal government, regions and provinces, but parliamentary membership and termination are governed by specific constitutional articles, laws and procedures inside the parliament, which are beyond the Supreme Federal Court's jurisdiction.
"The court has no right to look into the legitimacy of the membership of the lawmaker," he said.
Mr Al Rubaie said the Co-ordination Framework “rejects any harm to the reputation, impartiality and objectivity of the Iraqi judiciary”.
Meanwhile, the major Sunni political parties were meeting to find a replacement for the speaker's role.
Two politicians who participated in the talks told The National that two more names have been added to the list of nominees.
They are Muthana Al Samaraie, leader of Azim Alliance and one of Mr Al Halbousi's rivals, and Khalid Al Obeidi from the same party.
Mr Al Obeidi served as defence minister in 2014 but was ousted over corruption accusations. No charges were ever brought against him in court and he strenuously denied the claims.
The other nominees are Ziyad Al Janabi and Haybat Al Halbousi, linked to Mr Al Halbousi’s Taqadum Party, and Salim Al Essawi, who is part of the Siyyada Party led by tycoon Khamis Al Khanjar.
More names could be added, they said on condition of anonymity as discussions were under way.
Shortly after the ruling, Taqadum said its ministers of planning, industry and culture would be resigning, as would MPs on parliamentary committees, in objection to Mr Al Halbousi's dismissal. The MPs will also sit out of parliamentary sessions and Taqadum will boycott political meetings with other parties, it said.
As of Thursday, however, no minister had submitted their resignation, said Husham Al Rikabi, adviser to the Prime Minister.
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
EXPATS
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More on Quran memorisation:
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SPECS
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Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
