Kurdistan-Baghdad talks enter new phase
A Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation arrived in Baghdad on Monday to deliver a response to federal proposals aimed at resolving outstanding issues, including the salary crisis.
According to Shafaq News correspondent, the response addresses Baghdad's proposed framework and opens the door for joint discussions on a mechanism to ensure consistent wage disbursement to Kurdish public employees, as well as other issues of common interest.
Cabinet officials indicated that the Council of Ministers may vote on the agreement during its July 8 session, depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations.
The renewed dialogue comes after months of salary disruptions affecting tens of thousands of civil servants in the Region, amid disputes over oil revenues, federal budget entitlements, and constitutional obligations.
Senior political figures, including Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani, have called for a swift, depoliticized resolution based on legal mechanisms and shared national priorities.
Federal authorities insist that the KRG fully comply with oil export procedures, particularly channeling crude through the state-run SOMO company and depositing revenues into federal accounts, while Kurdish officials argued they have met all requirements, accusing Baghdad of breaching prior agreements by withholding funds.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
Over 1,000 poachers arrested annually in Kurdistan Region
Also in Kurdistan Turkey continues strikes on PKK despite disarmament, says monitor Barzani, DEM Party discuss Kurdish peace process Kurdish fighters burn weapons, signal end to armed struggle against Turkey Masoud Barzani indicates willing to visit Abdullah Ocalan A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Despite annual arrests topping 1,000, poaching remains a persistent problem across the Kurdistan Region, according to the spokesperson for the Forest and Environmental Police. 'More than a thousand poachers are arrested annually. There have been years when arrests reached two thousand poachers,' Fuad Zrari, spokesperson for the Forest and Environmental Police of the Kurdistan Region, told Rudaw on Saturday. The environmental police work out of 66 bases trying to prevent illegal hunting, trapping and poaching. The Kurdistan Region is home to a variety of wild animals including gazelles, leopards, deer, bear, boar, and many species of birds. Zrari said deer are one of the animals most popularly hunted. 'The most deer and mountain animals are in the plains of Erbil and the borders of Garmian and the peaks of Bamo [in Sulaimani province], which is why the most hunting occurs in those areas,' Zrari said. 'There are also poachers and hunting in Halabja, but it's less than in Erbil and Garmian. The fewest poachers are arrested in Sulaimani and Duhok,' he said. Fines for poaching vary significantly based on the animal. Minimum penalties start at 40,000 dinars, but for critically endangered birds the fine can skyrocket to 12 million dinars. Hunting certain types of deer in the Kurdistan Region carries an even steeper penalty of 25 million dinars. According to Zrari, offenders often get off with lenient sentences. Between 2008 and 2010, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) introduced environmental protection laws, including banning hunting, to preserve the region's wildlife and nature. Illegal hunting exacerbates existing environmental pressures in the Kurdistan Region, such as deforestation, habitat loss, and the impacts of climate change like drought. Wildlife trafficking, where animals are caught for sale as pets, for fur, or for food, also contributes to the problem.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
PM Sudani's bloc gains majority ahead of elections
Shafaq News - Baghdad Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's new parliamentary bloc, Reconstruction and Development, has officially become the largest in Iraq's legislature ahead of the parliamentary elections on November 11. According to its spokesperson, Firas al-Maslamawi, the bloc submitted an official letter to the speaker of parliament on Saturday, endorsed by 53 lawmakers. The group aims to push forward legislation related to health, education, infrastructure, and public services. Among its early priorities are laws governing the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Retirement and Service Law, as well as pending legislation concerning national security and intelligence agencies, he pointed out. Al-Maslamawi further indicated that 'the bloc will take the lead in driving parliament's agenda during the current session,' highlighting the need for regular sittings to pass laws directly tied to citizens' needs. Regarding the Khor Abdullah maritime dispute, he affirmed that the previous agreement had been nullified by a binding Federal Supreme Court decision. The case has been referred to parliamentary committees and advisers to determine whether a revised legal framework is required, the MP noted, adding that any future deal must protect Iraq's sovereignty. He also pointed to the bloc's core principles of citizenship and fair wealth distribution, noting that additional lawmakers are expected to join soon, potentially raising its total to 60 members.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
From oil fields to air pollution: Iraq's carbon emissions skyrocket
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq now ranks as the third-largest carbon emitter in the Arab world, with annual emissions exceeding 340 million tons—a figure that has renewed debate over the country's environmental path. The figures were published in a recent report by the Energy Research Unit, but Iraq's Environment Ministry questioned their accuracy. Ministry spokesperson Luay al-Mukhtar told Shafaq News the data was 'unverified and lacking scientific sources,' adding that Iraq is already working to reduce emissions through initiatives like the Carbon Economies Company, launched in 2023. Environmental specialists, however, say the crisis is worsening. Omar Abdul Latif, a local expert, attributed the rise in carbon output to unregulated industrial activity, waste incineration, and the widespread use of private generators, all of which contribute heavily to air pollution. Despite having a smaller population than other top emitters, Iraq's per capita emissions remain among the highest in the region. In 2021, Iraq emitted 177.8 million tons of CO₂. By 2023, that figure had risen to 342.8 million tons—an increase of over 27 million tons and an average annual growth rate of 4.88%. Environmental analyst Khalid Suleiman told Shafaq News that inadequate regulation and underinvestment in green infrastructure have left Iraq behind its Gulf neighbors. 'Unlike Saudi Arabia, Iraq lacks vegetation cover to offset emissions, and it doesn't approach this problem scientifically,' he said. Academic and environmental researcher Manar Majid added that gas flaring at oil extraction sites increased by 7% in 2024 alone. 'If Iraq invested properly in natural gas and clean energy, it could reduce emissions and even benefit economically, like Qatar,' she noted. Though Iraq has hosted its first National Carbon Economies Conference and signed memorandums of understanding with international firms, Majid cautioned that without cross-ministerial coordination, a national strategy, and reliable funding, these efforts are unlikely to succeed. Iraq is already experiencing the harsh effects of climate change. Soaring summer temperatures, prolonged droughts, and rapid desertification have compounded the country's environmental challenges. With highs regularly surpassing 50°C—and an average temperature increase of nearly 1°C since 1990—experts are urging the government to prioritize reforestation, enforce emissions controls, and adopt science-based climate policies.
