Sanaa airport runway in flames after Israeli strike
The attack on the Yemeni capital comes as Houthis continue to fire rockets at Israel
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
UN envoy hails Iraq's commitment to fair and inclusive elections
Iraq is committed to holding credible and inclusive parliamentary elections this year, the UN envoy to the country said, a vote that will test the nation's democratic resilience amid regional instability. Mohammed Al Hassan, head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (Unami), said Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission and Unami 'are making notable progress in preparing for this election' scheduled for November 11. 'Yes, there are challenges, including logistical concerns,' Mr Al Hassan told the UN Security Council. He said the commission was working "towards a free, fair and transparent election, with the participation of all Iraqis without fear and intimidation". He said Unami would 'spare no effort in providing the most professional technical support towards this end, including efforts to promote the widest participation of women, youth and minorities'. The electoral commission has completed the registration of political parties and coalitions that will take part. Voter registration is set to conclude in the coming days, with about three quarters of the electorate having completed biometric registration. Iraq's sixth parliamentary election since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein 's regime is not expected to bring radical change to the structure of the political system that turmoil created. The powerful Shiite cleric and political leader Moqtada Al Sadr insists he will not be taking part. His candidates won 73 of the 329 seats in parliament in the 2021 election but he ordered them to resign after failing to form a majority government with Sunni and Kurdish parties. There are calls to boycott the coming election from some parties. Mr Al Hassan called on political parties in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region to overcome their differences and form a new government after elections to the region's parliament last October. 'After the successful parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq last October, the formation of a regional government is still pending,' he said. 'Needless to say, a spirit of compromise, focusing on shared objectives rather than partisan divisions, is the key to overcome this protracted impasse.' The UN envoy said Iraq is progressing towards further "stability, prosperity and regional integration", more than two decades since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein unleashed an unprecedented wave of violence and social, economic and political instability. It is only in recent years that Iraqis have seen political and security stability, allowing the nation to gradually regain a sense of normality. That has encouraged authorities to launch a series of infrastructure projects and introduce reforms to improve the business environment and public services. "I would like to mention the most notable developments, at the forefront of which is Iraq's drive towards more stability, prosperity and regional integration," Mr Al Hassan told the Security Council. Reaffirming his confidence in the resilience of Iraqis, he added: 'Iraq is a nation of profound history, strength, potential and pride. By working together, Iraqis can continue to make meaningful strides towards stability, prosperity and human rights for all." Speaking about the winding up of Unami by the end of the year, as requested by the Iraqi government, Mr Al Hassan said 'the mission continues to pursue a structured transition according to schedule and in close co-operation with the government of Iraq transition team'. Unami has closed its offices in Mosul and Kirkuk and is reducing staffing levels gradually, while still carrying out its mandate. This is taking place 'in a context of serious financial constraints impacting the United Nations as a whole', Mr Al Hassan said.
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE sets new Emiratisation goal: 50%-60% quota for insurance sector by 2030
A new Emiratisation strategy for the years 2027–2030 targets Emiratisation rates of 50 per cent to 60 per cent at insurance companies, depending on company size. It also mandates the employment of at least one Emirati annually in occupations with two to 19 employees, as well as a 30 per cent localisation rate in occupations with 20 or more employees, 45 per cent in critical roles, and 30 per cent in direct leadership positions such as CEOs or general managers. The announcement by UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed Al Husaini was made during the Federal National Council (FNC) session on Wednesday, in response to a question raised by FNC member Adnan Al Hammadi on the role of the Central Bank in enforcing Emiratisation compliance in the insurance sector. The minister confirmed a noticeable improvement in Emiratisation within the insurance sector. As of June 1, 2025, Emiratis comprised 2,159 out of a total of 9,773 employees, representing 22.09 per cent. This marks an increase from 13.34 per cent in 2022 and 21.64 per cent in 2024. "The 2022–2026 strategy aims to raise the localisation rate to 30 per cent by 2026, with an annual increase of around 3 per cent,' said the minister in a statement. To ensure compliance and prevent fraudulent Emiratisation practices, the Central Bank established a dedicated Supervision and Inspection Unit. The unit is authorised to impose fines of Dh60,000 against companies found missing Emirati employees, calculated at Dh20,000 per point. The statement also highlighted the Central Bank's investments in human capital development. A total of 6,138 Emiratis have participated in advanced professional training programmes in collaboration with prestigious international educational institutions. These programmes covered areas such as accounting, finance, auditing, anti-money laundering, artificial intelligence, and data science. In 2023, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the Emirates Institute of Finance to offer 100 annual scholarships in actuarial science. So far, nine Emiratis have been selected to pursue their studies in the United States and Australia under this initiative. Further collaborations are underway with national and international universities, he added, including the Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University, and the American University in Dubai, to launch a bachelor's degree programme in actuarial science. Scheduled to begin in September 2025, the programme will be supported by insurance companies to cover tuition fees for 25 to 30 students each year.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
UK puts sanctions on Israeli cabinet members, and Zohran Mamdani's race for New York
The UK has imposed sanctions on two senior members of the Israeli cabinet. Iran says it could strike back in the event of an Israeli attack. A candidate for New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, could become the first Muslim to hold the office. On today's episode of Trending Middle East:
