The government of Iraqi Kurdistan vowed on Thursday to take all measures necessary to ensure its highly contested independence vote will be held on time on Monday.
The Kurdish high referendum council announced that "the vote will take place on September 25" despite international pleas to call off the poll.
Headed by the president of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani, the council reiterated "that as time is running out and no alternative has been offered to replace the referendum and guarantee independence, the vote will be held on time".
The statement also pointed that "if a guarantee for independence is not given to replace the referendum [in the next few days] then the vote will take place on time as planned".
________________
Kurdish referendum opinions
For: A Kurdish bid for independence will never be convenient for Iraq, it must happen now
Against: Iraqis as well as some Kurds oppose a risky independence referendum
________________
Turkey, Iraq and Iran's foreign ministers voiced concerns that the referendum would ignite new conflicts in the region whilst endangering gains Iraq has made against ISIL extremists.
In a joint statement, Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif, along with Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and their Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim Al Jaafari said any conflicts sparked as a result of the referendum would "prove difficult to contain".
In a rare trilateral meeting in New York the ministers threatened to take "counter-measures" if Kurdistan goes ahead with the vote.
They also emphasised that the referendum will not be beneficial for the Kurds and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). The statement, however, gave no details of the possible measures but said the ministers called on the international community to intervene.
Ankara and Tehran fear independence for the Kurds of northern Iraq would embolden their own Kurdish minorities, and Baghdad has bitterly opposed the poll.
The three states reaffirmed their commitment to Iraq's territorial integrity and stated their "unequivocal opposition to the referendum."
Read more: US ‘strongly opposes’ Iraqi Kurd referendum
Iraq's Kurds are determined to go ahead with the vote, which, though non-binding, could trigger the process of separation in a country already divided along sectarian and ethnic lines.
Mr Al Jaafari, released a statement after the meeting, concluding that “Iraq, Turkey, and Iran maintain the unconstitutionality of the referendum whilst agreeing to take countermeasures in coordination with each other.”
Mr Al Jaafari also called for a further dialogue and negotiation between Erbil and Baghdad within the framework of the Iraqi constitution to resolve the disputes.
Mr Barzani insists on holding the vote, stating that the "referendum would only be postponed should the Kurds receive an alternative guaranteeing independence for the Kurdistan region in the coming years."
Read more: Erdogan to discuss 'sanctions' against Iraq's Kurdish region
"The people of the Kurdistan region have the right to peacefully and democratically decide on their future whether they want to remain part of Iraq or seced. Self-determination is the fundamental principle of the international law and the UN charter,” Mr Barzani has previously said.
On Wednesday, the prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, Necirvan Barzani said that the aim of the independence is based on the aspirations of the Kurdish people to attain freedom and to draw their borers.
Mr Barzani urged that a serious dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad is needed,
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to impose sanctions against Kurdish northern Iraq. Turkish troops are also carrying out military exercises near the border.
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
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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pakistan Test squad
Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
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THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
