The Iraqi Parliament voted on Wednesday night to approve the government of Mustafa Al Kadhimi, ending weeks of political deadlock.
More than 250 members attended the session in Baghdad and voted in 15 ministers while rejecting five – those for trade, justice, culture, agriculture and migration.
"My Cabinet has earned Parliament’s support and we will work to earn the trust and support of the Iraqi people," Mr Al Kadhimi tweeted.
"I am grateful to those who worked with us to form the government."
"I urge all political actors to come together around a national programme to serve Iraq's interests."
During his address to Parliament he pledged to hold transparent and early elections, to restrict access to weapons and to curb corruption.
"This is a government that will provide a solution, not add to the crises," Mr Al Kadhimi said.
"This government has come as a response to the social, political and economic crisis our country is facing."
Members voted in Juma Anad, the land forces commander, as defence minister, and Othman Al Ghanmi, the chief of staff for the armed forces, as interior minister.
Ali Allawi, a historian and politician, was approved to become the finance minister.
Mr Al Kadhimi's government must tackle an economic crisis brought on by oil price crashes, and cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
His government pledges to fight corruption by promoting integration among institutions, to “provide them with the powers to implement necessary laws” and to start auditing financial records.
Mr Al Kadhimi's other priorities are allowing weapons only under the government’s control and returning people displaced by Iraq's conflicts to their homes.
He said his plan would be to end foreign interference and “not allow any country to violate Iraq’s national sovereignty”.
The plan also aims to check the power of armed militias operating outside the state.
President Barham Salih said the process of forming a government "must be completed as soon as possible to meet Iraq's health, economic and security challenges".
Before the session, Mr Al Kadhimi tweeted that he secured “the best candidates for each portfolio, who are able to create consensus and work together to benefit all Iraqis".
Several members of Parliament representing the oil-rich city of Basra boycotted the session.
They claim that Mr Al Kadhimi’s Cabinet “does not represent them”, after their request to be given the oil and transport ministries was turned down.
The members said their city contributed to "95 per cent of government revenues" but they had no real Cabinet representation.
Some Kurdish politicians also boycotted the session.
"It seems that he doesn't understand Kurdish politics," Sarkwat Shams, one of the Kurdish politicians who left the meeting, told The National.
"Kadhimi has no idea what he is doing. We met him and felt he has no real strategy to tackle the current issues."
Martin Huth, the EU ambassador to Iraq, said he was following the session with “great interest”.
"We wish all the best for Iraq – sovereignty, prosperity, stability and progress,” Mr Huth said.
For almost six months, Iraqi politicians have wrangled over the shape of their new government.
Mr Salih proposed Mr Al Kadhimi, a former intelligence chief who does not belong to any political party, for the position in early April.
He is the third nominee in 10 weeks to try to form a government as the country struggles to replace departing prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who resigned last November after months of deadly street protests.
Mr Al Kadhimi’s proposed government had reasonable prospects of securing approval after weeks of political negotiations.
But the interests of the country's ruling political blocs have stood in the way of several of his nominated candidates.
Pro-Iranian parliamentary blocs withdrew their support for Mr Al Kadhimi a fortnight ago after they reversed their initial position of no objection to his appointment and chosen ministers.
Mr Al Kadhimi indicated at the end of April that he was facing serious difficulties in forming his Cabinet. He urged the political blocs to unite and put their differences aside.
Mr Al Kadhimi said the government he was trying to form “has to be up to the crisis” and that he rejected “any pressure aimed at undermining the state”.
Wednesday's session was the first to be held since the country imposed a nationwide curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Politicians were urged to wear masks and gloves and were checked when entering the building.
Seating for members was arranged to follow social-distancing regulations, with a seat left vacant in between.
Sweet%20Tooth
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Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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THE%20SPECS
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
Brief scores:
Southampton 2
Armstrong 13', Soares 20'
Manchester United 2
Lukaku 33', Herrera 39'
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
Results
STAGE
1 . Filippo Ganna (Ineos) - 0:13:56
2. Stefan Bissegger (Education-Nippo) - 0:00:14
3. Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:21
4. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:24
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) - 0:00:30
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 4:00:05
2. Joao Almeida (QuickStep) - 0:00:05
3. Mattia Cattaneo (QuickStep) - 0:00:18
4. Chris Harper (Jumbo-Visma) - 0:00:33
5. Adam Yates (Ineos) - 0:00:39
Masters%20of%20the%20Air
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cary%20Joji%20Fukunaga%2C%20Dee%20Rees%2C%20Anna%20Boden%2C%20Ryan%20Fleck%2C%20Tim%20Van%20Patten%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Austin%20Butler%2C%20Callum%20Turner%2C%20Anthony%20Boyle%2C%20Barry%20Keoghan%2C%20Sawyer%20Spielberg%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
How Beautiful this world is!
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
