Latest news with #Al-Hassan
Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
UN: Iraq will become a global banking powerhouse
Baghdad – INA The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mohammed Al-Hassan, confirmed that Iraq will become a banking powerhouse internally and externally. In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Friday, Al-Hassan said, "The words spoken during the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism conference indicated that Iraq is facing a regional and international challenge to regain its standing." He added, "The Iraqi economic system cannot be complete without an effective financial sector internally and externally," noting that "Iraq is committed to taking positive steps to restore confidence in the financial and banking sector in Iraq." Al-Hassan emphasized that "the United Nations supports Iraq's approach, which will, in the coming days, become an interactive banking powerhouse internally and externally." He emphasized that "the fight against terrorism is not a scourge that has afflicted Iraq alone, but the entire world, and the sacrifices that Iraq has made in lives and money are not insignificant or small." He noted that "these sacrifices must be completed, extended, and continued to restore Iraq's position in the financial and banking sector."
Iraqi News
5 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
UN: We believe in Iraq's return to its positive role
Baghdad – INA The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) announced on Wednesday that it believes in Iraq's return to its positive role, stressing that legislative compliance is the primary guarantee for the sustainability of the digital transformation. In his speech at the second conference on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, attended by an Iraqi News Agency (INA) correspondent, the UN Secretary-General's Representative in Iraq, Mohammed Al-Hassan, said, "This conference represents an important milestone in Iraq's journey towards transitioning to a state of law and institutions and engaging positively with efforts to combat money laundering and dry up the sources of terrorist financing." He praised the choice of the title of this session, "Challenges of Arab Banks in Compliance with International Laws and Legislation and Ways to Meet the Requirements of Correspondent Banks," which reflects a growing awareness among financial and banking institutions that restoring confidence and the efforts of international companies require adherence to the highest standards of transparency and accountability. He added, "The United Nations believes in Iraq and its return, and believes that good governance, transparency, and international transition are not just slogans, but rather pillars of a transparent economy that interacts with the region and the world." He commended the efforts of the Central Bank of Iraq and the Iraqi Private Banks Association for "leading this positive movement." Al-Hassan called for "strengthening partnerships with international and regional financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Financial Action Task Force, the Economic Commission for Western Asia, and others, to build national capacities that facilitate raising standards to meet global requirements and requirements." He noted that "such partnerships are accompanied by benefiting from the successful experiences of a number of Arab and non-Arab countries that have been able to gain the trust of international institutions and people by adopting profound reforms capable of integrating Iraq into the global banking system, serving its national interests toward sustainable development." He explained that "today's conference serves as a platform for exchanging expertise and reviewing the applications of technology and artificial intelligence as practical tools to strengthen completion organizations." He noted that "in light of the accelerating digital transformation, technology is no longer an option, but an urgent necessity. If properly utilized, it can uncover suspicious patterns, enhance the accuracy of regulatory procedures, and accelerate financial risks." He emphasized the need for "such technological development to be coupled with a transparent legislative and legal system. While digitization offers unprecedented possibilities, legislative compliance remains the primary guarantee for the sustainability of today's transformation."
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Politicians ‘distracted' by inheritance tax changes for farmers
Politicians are being 'distracted' from fundamental issues facing farmers because of the focus on changes to inheritance tax, a Labour MP has suggested. Sadik Al-Hassan said he was growing increasingly concerned that issues regarding the future of farming are not being addressed. This comes as farmers gathered outside the Houses of Parliament on Thursday in a bid to maintain pressure on the Government to reverse the decision to impose 20% inheritance tax on agricultural property and land worth more than £1 million. Mr Al-Hassan told the Commons: 'The farmers of North Somerset have not shied away from expressing to me their wide range of concerns going far beyond merely changes to the inheritance tax regime. 'And from those meetings, I've grown increasingly concerned that the outcry over changes to inheritance tax here in this House, and subsequent time given to the topic, have distracted us from the more fundamental questions regarding the future of farming.' During a farming debate, Mr Al-Hassan went on to describe the 'excessive power of supermarkets in contract negotiations and the raw deal farmers get as a consequence'. He said some farmers had seen 'perfectly edible crops rejected due to minor aesthetic defects, excessive delays in payment' and 'entirely arbitrary cancellation of orders with no reason given'. He added: 'The fear of retaliation keeps many of these instances from seeing the light of day, a fear that has arisen due to the oligopic nature of the supermarket industry. 'In the flow from farm to fork, the supermarkets act as a great gatekeeper, siphoning a cut from the passing traffic.' Conservative former minister John Glen said the impact of changes to inheritance tax on farmers has been 'catastrophic'. The Salisbury MP said: 'The universal feedback that we've had from farmers has been that since this Government have come in they are very, very disappointed with what has happened. 'The changes to the APR (agricultural property relief) and BPR (business property relief) have catastrophic implications for succession planning, and despite making really, I think, sensible suggestions, the NFU (National Farmers' Union) have been completely rebuffed. 'And I think farmers are in absolute despair and that's before we had all the changes to national insurance, to the national living wage and the overall context for operating small businesses, which is what farms are, has been transformed.' He referred to the abrupt closure this week of the sustainable farming incentive (SFI), which pays farmers in England for 'public goods' such as insecticide-free farming, wildflower strips and managing ponds and hedgerows, after it was fully allocated for this year. He said: 'A number of farmers rang me up and said 'this is the end, what are we going to do?'' Mr Glen continued: 'The combined effect of those changes in the budget and what was announced last night have had a massive impact across the industry, across the United Kingdom.' Conservative shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary Victoria Atkins suggested it was the Government which had misplaced its focus, prioritising 'how to carry a chicken' over taxes and incentives. 'In just a few short months, this city-dwelling Government has destroyed families' ambitions for the future, put at risk generations of expertise and custodianship, and less than 48 hours ago, ripped the rug out from business cases immediately,' Ms Atkins told the Commons. She referred to a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) open consultation on poultry catching and handling, which proposes clarifying the law so that farmers can catch chickens by two legs, in line with welfare guidance. 'I can reveal what the Secretary of State (Steve Reed) and the farming minister (Daniel Zeichner) have been prioritising this week,' the Conservative MP said. 'They've issued a consultation not on SFI, not on the family farm tax, not on cuts to delinked payments, but on how to carry a chicken. 'I'm sure everybody thinks that really is the national priority for farming at the moment.' Elsewhere in the debate, DUP MP Jim Shannon asked Mr Zeichner: 'Do you want to be the farmers' friend?' In response to the MP for Strangford, Mr Zeichner could be heard saying: 'I am the farmers' friend.' Mr Shannon then said: 'When (the minister) approaches the Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) and persuades the Chancellor to increase the threshold from £1 to £5 million, you'll be my friend forever, you'll be the friend of all the farmers in my constituency.' Mr Zeichner in his speech told MPs that the Government is 'committed to making farming more profitable', and that this would 'underpin' a 25-year farming road-map and food strategy. He said: 'Food security is national security and our commitment to farmers is absolutely steadfast. 'It's the hard work of the UK's farmers that puts food on our tables and stewards our beautiful countryside, but as we all know, the sector is facing high costs and tight margins.'
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Politicians ‘distracted' by inheritance tax changes for farmers
Politicians are being 'distracted' from fundamental issues facing farmers because of the focus on changes to inheritance tax, a Labour MP has suggested. Sadik Al-Hassan said he was growing increasingly concerned that issues regarding the future of farming are not being addressed. This comes as farmers gathered outside the Houses of Parliament on Thursday in a bid to maintain pressure on the Government to reverse the decision to impose 20% inheritance tax on agricultural property and land worth more than £1 million. Mr Al-Hassan told the Commons: 'The farmers of North Somerset have not shied away from expressing to me their wide range of concerns going far beyond merely changes to the inheritance tax regime. 'And from those meetings, I've grown increasingly concerned that the outcry over changes to inheritance tax here in this House, and subsequent time given to the topic, have distracted us from the more fundamental questions regarding the future of farming.' During a farming debate, Mr Al-Hassan went on to describe the 'excessive power of supermarkets in contract negotiations and the raw deal farmers get as a consequence'. He said some farmers had seen 'perfectly edible crops rejected due to minor aesthetic defects, excessive delays in payment' and 'entirely arbitrary cancellation of orders with no reason given'. He added: 'The fear of retaliation keeps many of these instances from seeing the light of day, a fear that has arisen due to the oligopic nature of the supermarket industry. 'In the flow from farm to fork, the supermarkets act as a great gatekeeper, siphoning a cut from the passing traffic.' Conservative former minister John Glen said the impact of changes to inheritance tax on farmers has been 'catastrophic'. The Salisbury MP said: 'The universal feedback that we've had from farmers has been that since this Government have come in they are very, very disappointed with what has happened. 'The changes to the APR (agricultural property relief) and BPR (business property relief) have catastrophic implications for succession planning, and despite making really, I think, sensible suggestions, the NFU (National Farmers' Union) have been completely rebuffed. 'And I think farmers are in absolute despair and that's before we had all the changes to national insurance, to the national living wage and the overall context for operating small businesses, which is what farms are, has been transformed.' He referred to the abrupt closure this week of the sustainable farming incentive (SFI), which pays farmers in England for 'public goods' such as insecticide-free farming, wildflower strips and managing ponds and hedgerows, after it was fully allocated for this year. He said: 'A number of farmers rang me up and said 'this is the end, what are we going to do?'' Mr Glen continued: 'The combined effect of those changes in the budget and what was announced last night have had a massive impact across the industry, across the United Kingdom.' Conservative shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary Victoria Atkins suggested it was the Government which had misplaced its focus, prioritising 'how to carry a chicken' over taxes and incentives. 'In just a few short months, this city-dwelling Government has destroyed families' ambitions for the future, put at risk generations of expertise and custodianship, and less than 48 hours ago, ripped the rug out from business cases immediately,' Ms Atkins told the Commons. She referred to a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) open consultation on poultry catching and handling, which proposes clarifying the law so that farmers can catch chickens by two legs, in line with welfare guidance. 'I can reveal what the Secretary of State (Steve Reed) and the farming minister (Daniel Zeichner) have been prioritising this week,' the Conservative MP said. 'They've issued a consultation not on SFI, not on the family farm tax, not on cuts to delinked payments, but on how to carry a chicken. 'I'm sure everybody thinks that really is the national priority for farming at the moment.' Elsewhere in the debate, DUP MP Jim Shannon asked Mr Zeichner: 'Do you want to be the farmers' friend?' In response to the MP for Strangford, Mr Zeichner could be heard saying: 'I am the farmers' friend.' Mr Shannon then said: 'When (the minister) approaches the Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) and persuades the Chancellor to increase the threshold from £1 to £5 million, you'll be my friend forever, you'll be the friend of all the farmers in my constituency.' Mr Zeichner in his speech told MPs that the Government is 'committed to making farming more profitable', and that this would 'underpin' a 25-year farming road-map and food strategy. He said: 'Food security is national security and our commitment to farmers is absolutely steadfast. 'It's the hard work of the UK's farmers that puts food on our tables and stewards our beautiful countryside, but as we all know, the sector is facing high costs and tight margins.'
Iraqi News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
UNAMI appreciates the government's launch of the National Strategic Plan for Iraqi Women
UNAMI appreciated the Iraqi government's serious support in launching the National Strategic Plan for Iraqi Women 2023-2030 on Tuesday. "We are honored to extend our highest congratulations and blessings to the Iraqi people on the occasion of Iraqi Women's Day. The roles that Iraqi women have played and are playing and the sacrifices they have made throughout the ages," said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq - UNAMI, Muhammed Al-Hassan in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. He added, "We do not miss the opportunity to emphasize the pivotal role of Iraqi women and their contributions to defending rights, promoting social justice, and preserving the cohesion of society," appreciating "the serious support provided by the Iraqi government in launching the National Strategic Plan for Iraqi Women 2023-2030, forming the Supreme Council for Women's Affairs and the Supreme Committee for Political Support for Women, and launching development and advancement programs for women in various sectors." Al-Hassan called on the government and people of Iraq to "preserve and support the achievements and gains that have been made for the good and interest of Iraq," noting that "the Iraqi woman was and still is an honorable model for women around the world. We look forward to more participation in various sectors within the lofty and noble message of the role of women contributing to the stability, advancement, prosperity and development of Iraq."
