Latest news with #Erbil
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Erbil Threatens Boycott as Baghdad Freezes Salaries, US Urges Calm
Tensions are high between Erbil and Baghdad after Iraq's Federal Finance Minister, Taif Sami, ordered the suspension of salary payments to employees in the Kurdistan Region starting May 2025. In response, Shakhawan Abdullah, the second deputy speaker of Iraq's parliament, has called on Kurdish representatives to consider withdrawing from Baghdad, a move that could deepen political rifts within the fragile federal system. Abdullah made the remarks following a meeting with leaders of Kurdish blocs in the Iraqi parliament. He described the finance ministry's decision as a 'deliberate violation' designed to starve the Kurdish people. In a statement posted to Facebook, he said: 'After extensive discussion, we unanimously agreed to demand the federal government immediately halt these violations and resume salary disbursements.' He added that a formal letter had been sent to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, urging him to take responsibility and resolve the issue. Abdullah warned that, if no action is taken, the Kurdish political leadership is prepared to implement a boycott 'within one hour.' Meanwhile, Ali Hama Saleh, a senior figure in the Kurdistan-based National Stance Movement, called for a high-level delegation led by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister to visit Baghdad after Eid al-Adha. He urged both sides to seek a long-term resolution to the budget dispute and reopen negotiations over oil exports through the Türkiye pipeline. Speaking in a televised interview, Saleh emphasized that the federal budget is calculated annually, and a legal and financial resolution for Kurdistan's 2025 share is still possible. He called for calm and constructive dialogue, warning against inflammatory rhetoric and urging the KRG to ease some of its conditions on resuming oil exports, considering Iraq's economic strain and projected declines in global oil prices. The finance ministry justified its decision by claiming the Kurdistan Region exceeded its allocated 12.67% budget share. According to ministry data, the region generated 19.9 trillion Iraqi dinars in oil and non-oil revenues since 2023 but transferred only 598.5 billion dinars to Baghdad. This shortfall, the ministry argued, breaches budget agreements. Kurdish leaders, however, view the move as punitive and ill-timed especially with the Eid holiday approaching. KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani accused Baghdad of continuing a 'policy of starvation and extermination' against the Kurdish population. Vian Sabri, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's bloc in parliament, said Kurdish parties will submit an official protest to the prime minister. She also demanded full disclosure of the federal government's spending, stating that only one financial report has been shared this year. As tensions escalate, the US has reportedly stepped in, urging both sides to resolve the crisis. A senior US State Department official, speaking anonymously, told local media that quickly resolving the salary issue would demonstrate Iraq's commitment to its citizens and create a more stable investment climate. The official also suggested that progress could help reopen the suspended Iraq–Türkiye oil pipeline, a vital export route that has remained closed amid ongoing disputes.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Tensions Rise Between Erbil and Baghdad after Kurdistan Salary Payments Halted
A sharp dispute has erupted between Erbil and Baghdad following Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami's decision to halt salary payments to public employees in the Kurdistan Region, citing violations of the federal budget law. The move has prompted intense backlash from Kurdish officials and increased contacts between US officials and Kurdish leaders, with Washington stepping up pressure on the federal government. On Wednesday, Sami sent an official letter to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), stating that the Finance Ministry could no longer continue disbursing funds to the region, stating that it exceeded the allocated 12.67% share of the national budget. She noted that Kurdistan had surpassed its entitlement by 13.5 trillion Iraqi dinars, which made continued payments legally untenable. According to the ministry, from 2023 through April 2025, Kurdistan generated 19.9 trillion dinars in oil and non-oil revenues but delivered only 598.5 billion dinars to the federal government. The decision to halt funding comes at a particularly sensitive time, with Eid al-Adha approaching, further fueling outrage among Kurdish leaders. KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani issued a strong response, saying that the 'problems with Baghdad will be resolved, and the truth will prevail.' He accused successive governments of pursuing policies of 'starvation and genocide' against the Kurdish people and warned that 'those who abandon the defense of their people's rights will be condemned by history.' Kurdish lawmakers are expected to meet soon with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to address the implications of the finance minister's decision. Meanwhile, Vian Sabri, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc in the Iraqi parliament, announced that Kurdish factions would submit a formal protest to the prime minister. She stressed that salary payments should be separated from political disputes, referencing an agreement between Baghdad and Erbil to that effect. Amid the internal tensions, the United States has increased its diplomatic engagement. According to a statement from Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani's office, he received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which both sides discussed the importance of maintaining coordination to promote stability in Iraq and the wider region. The call came shortly after KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani visited the US, where contracts were signed with American oil companies to operate in Kurdistan, an act that angered Baghdad, which insists that oil agreements must comply with constitutional provisions governing federal-regional relations. Public policy professor Ihsan al-Shammari at the University of Baghdad said Washington is now applying 'maximum pressure' on the Iraqi government. He noted that US demands have taken multiple forms, including calls to dismantle militias and curb Iranian influence in Iraq.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Cristal Group to launch Grand Cristal Erbil Hotel in landmark deal with Qalhat Al Batra
IRAQ – Cristal Hospitality Group, a leading hotel management company based in the United Arab Emirates, has announced an official agreement with Qalhat Al Batra to develop the flagship Grand Cristal Erbil Hotel in Erbil, Iraq. Scheduled to open in 2028, this prestigious development has been conceived in collaboration with the world-renowned architectural and engineering consultancy Arif & Bintoak. The acclaimed firm has an impressive track record in high-profile hospitality projects across the UAE and the wider region and is widely recognised for its visionary contributions to some of the country's most iconic developments including Burj Khalifa. Set to become one of the most iconic properties in Iraq, the five-star Grand Cristal Erbil Hotel will feature a distinctive, curving architectural design destined to be instantly recognisable, not only to discerning travellers, but also on the local, regional, and international architectural stage. Fusing landmark aesthetics with an innovative service approach and exceptional brand promise, this luxurious destination will offer a refined guest experience, setting a new benchmark for opulent accommodation in the region. Ideally located in the heart of Erbil, the Grand Cristal Erbil Hotel will be positioned within close proximity to the English and Italian villages, Royal City, and the 200-hectare Samî Abdulrahman Park with its expansive lawns, lakes, and entertainment complexes. Providing exceptional comfort and convenience for both business and leisure travellers, the property will comprise of 210 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, including a lavish Presidential Suite. Two levels of dedicated indoor and outdoor dining and Iraq's largest banqueting venues will offer unrivalled culinary and event experiences, while wellness and leisure facilities, including a luxury spa, state-of-the-art gym, and swimming pool, will ensure every guest's needs are met. 'Having operated in Iraq since 2013, we are proud to be expanding our luxury portfolio through this landmark collaboration with Qalhat Al Batra at the heart of Erbil,' said Kamal Fakhoury, Chief Executive Officer of the Cristal Group. 'This pioneering development further strengthens our position as Iraq's foremost hotel management company and redefines what is possible for refined, personalised hospitality in the region.' Construction of the Grand Cristal Erbil Hotel is expected to be completed within three years, with the property set to open its doors in late 2028. As a new global landmark, the hotel will embody architectural brilliance and timeless elegance, welcoming the world to Erbil and reaffirming Cristal Group's commitment to excellence.
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Türkiye Says in Talks with Baghdad, Erbil on PKK Weapons Handover
Türkiye is in talks with authorities in Baghdad and in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil on how Kurdish militants of the PKK will hand over their weapons, President Tayyip Erdogan said following the group's decision to disband. "Talks are being held with our neighbouring countries on how the weapons of terrorists outside our borders will be handed over," Erdogan said, according to a transcript of remarks he made to journalists on his return flight from Albania overnight. "There are plans regarding how the Baghdad and Erbil administrations will take part in this process," he added. The PKK , which has been locked in bloody conflict with Türkiye for more than four decades, has decided to disband and end its armed struggle, group members and Turkish leaders said earlier this week on Monday.
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
In Photos: See The Full ‘Flower Moon' Light Up Skies Worldwide
A beautiful full moon — the flower moon — rose into twilight skies on Monday, May 12, casting its bright light across landscapes far and wide. However, it was technically smaller than most full moons — a 'micro moon.' Here are all the best images from around the globe. The full moon is seen behind a silhouette of a man doing gymnastics in Erbil, Iraq on May 12, 2025. ... More (Photo by Ahsan Mohammed Ahmed Ahmed/Anadolu via Getty Images) On Monday, May 12, the full flower moon appeared on the eastern horizon during dusk as seen around the world, having turned officially full at 12:57 p.m. EDT. It was the second full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and of fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Photographers timed their shots carefully to image it as it appeared beside buildings and mountains while close to the horizon. May's flower moon is named after spring flowers in the Northern Hemisphere, though it's also called the planting moon, hare's moon and milk moon. The name milk moon is an old English name. According to NASA, an English monk, the Venerable Bede, wrote in 703 AD that what we now call May was the 'Three-Milkings Month' because cows could be milked three times a day. May's full moon is the fifth of 12 full moons in 2025, three of which will be 'supermoons' (in October, November and December). September's full moon will be a 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse, though it won't be visible in North America. The full moon rises beyond artwork atop the Kansas City Convention Center, Monday, May 12, 2025, in ... More Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Beyond the full flower moon, there are plenty of chances to see our natural satellite in the night sky. After dark on Tuesday, May 13, the waning gibbous moon will pass within a third of a degree of Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, 'the scorpion.' On Monday, May 26, there will be a new supermoon as it stays out of the night sky but comes closest to Earth for the whole month while lost in the sun's glare. It could mean higher tides than usual. Artwork atop the Kansas City Convention Center is silhouetted against the rising full moon Monday, ... More May 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) In the northwest after sunset on Tuesday, May 27, a slender crescent moon will shine just above bright Jupiter, while at the same time, on Thursday, May 29, a slightly larger crescent moon will help create a 'smiley face' with bright stars Castor and Pollux — the bright twin stars of Gemini — as the eyes. The full moon sets behind the St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia, early Tuesday, May ... More 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) The next full moon will occur on Wednesday, June 11. Known as the strawberry moon, it will be the final full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern Hemisphere, astronomical seasons that will come to an end on Saturday, June 21, when the solstice occurs. The full moon, also known as the Flower Moon, rises over St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the ... More north east coast of England. Picture date: Monday May 12, 2025. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images) A proposal by the White House earlier this month would reduce NASA's current budget of $25.4 billion — around 0.3% of federal spending — to $18.8 billion. That would greatly affect NASA's plans to explore the moon. NASA's funding peaked at 4% of the federal budget during the Apollo missions to the moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Full moon rises behind Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkiye on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Isa ... More Terli/Anadolu via Getty Images) Although the proposals underscored 'returning to the moon before China and putting an American on Mars,' they will entail slashing NASA's Artemis missions to the moon. In April 2026, NASA's Artemis II mission will see four astronauts launch in its Orion capsule on its Space Launch System rocket and travel beyond the moon. The follow-up in 2027 or 2028, Artemis III, will see two astronauts land on the moon, though future missions are now in jeopardy. The full moon is pictured from the MAS Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on May 12, 2025. (Photo by ... More Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
