Latest news with #Iraqi
Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Health
- Shafaq News
Rwanga Foundation rescues ailing Erbil Kolbar with furnished house
Shafaq News – Erbil The Rwanga Foundation in Erbil has donated a fully furnished home to a young Kolbar* suffering from kidney disease, honoring his resilience and daily struggle to support his family amid severe economic and health challenges. In a statement on Friday, the foundation said its team, under the direction of its President Idris Nechirvan Barzani, visited Aland Hamid Rashid, a young man whose story went viral this week after he appeared in a video speaking about the high cost of living and his fight against illness. Despite suffering from a serious kidney condition, Rashid works from 7 am until nightfall, earning just 5,000 Iraqi dinars (about $4) per day to help provide for his family. The foundation described Rashid as a symbol of 'hope, dignity, and strength,' and said the gift of a home reflects Rwanga's broader mission to support vulnerable Iraqis facing extreme hardship. 'This initiative embodies our core values of compassion, solidarity, and empowerment,' Rwanga said in its statement, reaffirming its commitment to uplifting individuals who demonstrate courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. Rwanga, a non-governmental organization based in Erbil, has been active since September 2013 and operates across Iraq in four main sectors: education, youth, environment, and vulnerable communities.
Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's elections: Al-Nasr Coalition pulls out, backs State Forces Bloc
Shafaq News – Baghdad Al-Nasr Coalition (The Victory), led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, announced on Friday that it will not field its candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections, opting instead to support the National State Forces Alliance. In a statement, the coalition affirmed its commitment to remaining part of the National State Forces Alliance. However, it said it would refrain from direct participation due to concerns over the integrity of the electoral environment. "Al-Nasr refuses to participate in elections dominated by political money and lacking firm enforcement of legal safeguards against manipulation, vote-buying, misuse of public funds, foreign financing, and exploitation of state resources," the statement read. The coalition argued that a political entity's credibility and ethical standing are defined by its conduct, not by its electoral size. 'True political weight comes from values, effectiveness, and national roles — not from flawed electoral metrics,' it added. Al-Nasr emphasized the need to reform the electoral process to ensure broader participation and the selection of competent leaders, urging a shift away from unethical influences that could distort election outcomes. 'A conscious, free, and fair vote is what produces leaders truly deserving of public office,' the statement said. The coalition also stressed the importance of preserving Iraq's democratic political order, warning against any attempts to undermine the system or promote instability. The parliamentary vote is set for November 11. Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission has finalized registration for political entities and continues to update the voter database, which now includes roughly 30 million registered voters.
Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Hakim to US: Iraq won't fight others' wars
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi political leader Ammar al-Hakim said Friday that Baghdad has repeatedly informed the United States of its firm stance against being drawn into regional conflicts, stressing that Iraq seeks peace and will not serve as a proxy in Middle East wars. Speaking during a speech marking the first day of Muharram (the beginning of the Islamic New Year), al-Hakim, head of Al-Hikma (Wisdom) Movement, stated, 'Iraq has conveyed to the US administration multiple times that it is a sovereign state that advocates peace in the region and does not wish to be part of any war or conflict, nor a source of threat to any country.' He added that Iraq rejects external pressures or mandates that contradict its national will and the interests of its people. Turning to Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, al-Hakim urged Iraqi youth to participate actively, emphasizing that the country 'is in urgent need of their engagement.'
Dubai Eye
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
UAE, Iraqi Presidents discuss regional security
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has discussed the latest developments in the Middle East during a call with Iraqi President Dr Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid. The leaders underscored the importance of promoting dialogue and diplomacy as a means to foster peace and safeguard regional security, national news agency Wam reported on Friday. They also explored opportunities to further strengthen the ties between the UAE and Iraq. The two sides exchanged greetings on the occasion of the Hijri New Year and expressed hopes that it brings peace, security and stability to the region and the world.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Raindance Film Festival: ‘Nawi' Wins Best Int'l Feature and Debut Performance Awards
The 33rd Raindance Film Festival is wrapping up on Friday and has unveiled its jury awards. Nawi: Dear Future Me, which tackles child marriage and was Kenya's submission for the 2025 international feature film Oscar race, was honored as the best international feature. Its young star Michelle Lemuya Ikeny won the best performance in a debut feature award. The Kenyan-German coming-of-age drama was directors by the brothers Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, as well as Apuu Mourine and Vallentine Chelluget. The best documentary feature award went to Immortals, directed by Maja Tschumi, about 'strong-willed feminist Milo and ambitious filmmaker Khalili who, in the aftermath of the 2019 revolution, are the faces, eyes, and voices of an Iraqi youth that is relentlessly fighting for abetter future.' More from The Hollywood Reporter Polish Indie Kino Swiat Names New CEO 'Action Item' Treats Burnout as "Collective Condition, Silenced Crisis" (Exclusive Karlovy Vary Trailer) Comcast to Sell Sky Deutschland to Bertelsmann's RTL Group Matthew Losasso's Row won the best U.K. feature honor, while the discovery award for best debut feature went to Srishti, directed by Paul Antar. The Spirit of Raindance Award was presented to Alaa Aliabdallah's Palestine Comedy Club. Check out the full list of winners below. Best international featureNawi: Dear Future Me (directors Vallentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler, Kenya)Highlighting the plight of child brides in Africa, and acclaimed at multiple film festivals and at theAfrican Movie Academy Awards, Nawi: Dear Future Me follows a 13-year-old whose father is sellingher to a much older man for a herd of goats, and so she embarks on a journey to reclaim her dream ofjoining high school. Honorable mention: The Party's Over Best documentary featureImmortals (director Maja Tschumi, Switzerland/Iraq)An insight into a new generation that has known nothing but war since the US-led occupation,Immortals follows strong-willed feminist Milo and ambitious filmmaker Khalili who, in the aftermath ofthe 2019 revolution, are the faces, eyes, and voices of an Iraqi youth that is relentlessly fighting for abetter future. Honourable mention: Children In The Fire Discovery award for best debut feature (The Elisar Cabrera Award)Srishti (director Paul Antar, India)The story of a photographer, haunted by childhood guilt, who travels to remote Himalayan Sector K toinvestigate a mysterious phenomenon – this mystery/drama highlights the plight of children forced towork trawling through giant rubbish heaps in search of things that can be monetized. Best debut directorAlissa Jung, Paternal Leave (Germany/Italy)A champion at Berlin and BCN film festivals, Paternal Leave follows a teenage girl's journey to Italy'snorthern coast, seeking her unknown biological father. Best performance in a debut featureMichelle Lemuya Ikeny, Nawi: Dear Future MeHaving previously won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Promising Actor for herperformance in Nawi: Dear Future Me, teenage actress Michell Lemuya Ikeny now wins Raindance's'Best Performance in a Debut Feature' for her debut acting role, playing a schoolgirl in north-westernKenya forced to marry an older man. Best performance in a U.K. featureEdward Hogg, The Lonely MusketeerNominated for Most Promising Newcomer at the BIFAs in 2009 for his first film lead role in WhiteLightnin', and with further credits including A Good Woman Is Hard to Find and Imagine, English actorEdward Hogg now wins Raindance's best performance in a U.K. feature for his role in unique closed-room thriller The Lonely Musketeer. Best U.K. featureRow (director Matthew Losasso, UK)Shot on the open sea, and with a cast including Bella Dayne (Humans) and Sophie Skelton (Outlander),Row sees a woman wash ashore on a blood-stained rowing boat after a failed trans-Atlantic worldrecord attempt. With all her crewmates missing, presumed dead, she must piece together fracturedmemories of the ordeal to prove her innocence. Best director of a U.K. featureChristopher M. Anthony, HeavyweightStarring Nicholas Pinnock, Jordan Bolger and Jason Isaacs, Heavyweight follows a wildcard boxingcontender and his support team ahead of a title fight he doubts he can win. An intense & visceralexperience exploring a side of elite sport rarely seen. Honorable mention: Helena Berndl and Francesco Maria Gallo, In Symbiosis Best U.K. cinematographyBruce Jackson, The Lonely MusketeerShot in monochrome in one claustrophobic main location, The Lonely Musketeer is a taut, stripped-back mystery thriller and a masterclass in low-budget filmmaking. Spirit of Raindance AwardPalestine Comedy Club (director Alaa Aliabdallah, UK)When six Palestinian comedians hit the road to tour a stand-up show, their search for humour amidstthe injustice of everyday Palestinian life becomes a plea for humanity in the face of brutal war. Thisdocumentary feature is directed by Alaa Aliabdallah and produced by Raindance alumni CharlotteKnowles, previously CEO of the Independent Film Trust. SHORTS PROGRAMBest live-action shortLittle Rebels Cinema Club (director Khozy Rizal, Indonesia)Set in 2008, Doddy, a 14-year-old boy, tries to recreate an iconic scene of a zombie film with three ofhis best documentary shortThe Final Copy of Ilon Specht(director Ben Proudfoot, USA)From two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot comes this intimate deathbed account of the unsungadvertising genius Ilon Specht who coined L'Oréal's iconic 'Because I'm Worth It' slogan in 1971, afour-word feminist manifesto that, against all odds, changed advertising animation short Larval (director Alice Bloomfield, UK)Living life in isolation, a girl dreams of luxury and beauty, fantasizing about possessing the looks ofher celebrity idol and winning the heart of her unrequited UK SHORT: THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS (dir: Elham Ehsas, UK)Haunted by rising sea levels, a daughter digs up her father's grave to move his body to higher ground. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
