Latest news with #KurdishRegion
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Iraqi small boat migrant wins appeal to stay in Britain because he's the divorcee of a 'prominent politician'
An Iraqi migrant who entered the UK illegally by boat has won an appeal after arguing he can't be deported because he's a divorcee. The migrant won the appeal at the immigration court after saying he can't return to Iraq because of a divorce he went through in his home country. In claims that are disputed by the Home Office, he said he divorced a 'prominent' politician's daughter and brought 'dishonour' upon their family. The Iraqi says it would violate his human rights to send him back to Iraq because he is at risk of an 'honour feud'. He even alleges he was ambushed by four armed men who stabbed him '17 times' - however there are question marks over the claim due to a lack of medical evidence. The Iraqi, who has been granted anonymity, won an appeal at the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber to have his case reheard. The tribunal was told the Iraqi is of Kurdish ethnicity and Sunni Muslim faith and is from Sulaymaniyah City, in the Kurdish region. A tribunal judgement said he entered Britain 'clandestinely' in 2020. The judgement said: 'He departed Iraq on July 26, 2019, initially travelling by air to Turkey, and subsequently continued his journey through Greece, Italy, and France, ultimately entering the United Kingdom clandestinely by boat on August 7, 2020. 'He submitted an application for asylum the following day. '[The Iraqi's] claim for asylum is based upon a claimed risk of being a victim of an honour-based crime. 'He alleges that he fled Iraq due to threats from his former father-in-law, a prominent and influential politician affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). 'According to the [Iraqi], he was accused of bringing dishonour upon [his ex-father-in-law's] family by divorcing his daughter.' It was accepted he was married and went through a divorce, but the Home Office 'did not accept that he had experienced problems from his ex-father-in-law'. The Home Office issued a deportation order but the Iraqi, who had a child with his ex-wife, appealed it at the First-tier Tribunal last year. The First-tier Tribunal dismissed his appeal, with the judge at the time 'questioning the credibility of the marriage itself'. The First-tier Tribunal said there was a 'disparity in social status' between his ex-wife - the daughter of a powerful politician - and him, a 'minimally educated taxi driver from a marginalised tribe'. In response to the Iraqi's claims that he was the victim of a 'violent' attack linked to the honour feud and stabbed 17 times, the judge also said there were 'credibility issues'. The First-tier Tribunal judge said the account was 'implausible and unsubstantiated by any hospital records or medical evidence'. The judge at the time said his 'asylum claim was entirely lacking in credibility and determined that it was a complete fabrication'. The Iraqi appealed the case again at the Upper Tribunal and it has now been found that the First-tier Tribunal judge made mistakes in law. Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal Sara Anzani said the judge was wrong to question the marriage and divorce certificates and said the judge did not give the Iraqi a chance to respond to their doubts. Judge Anzani said: 'These concerns about the reliability and authenticity of the marriage and divorce certificates were not previously raised by the [Home Office], nor were they put to the [Iraqi] during the hearing. 'I find that the Judge's failure to raise his concerns about the authenticity and reliability of the marriage and divorce certificates, concerns not previously identified by the [Home Office], deprived the [Iraqi] of a fair opportunity to address the Judge's doubts. 'The Judge's findings on the marriage and divorce certificates contribute to his overall assessment of the [Iraqi's] credibility, and the ultimate finding that [his] claim was fabricated. 'Consequently, this procedural error is material and permeates the entirety of the Judge's decision.'
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Iraq considers broader energy agreement with Turkey
Iraq is considering a proposal from Turkey to establish a broader energy agreement that covers oil, gas, petrochemical industries and electricity, Iraq's Oil Ministry has said. On Monday, Ankara announced it would not be renewing a decades-old agreement that allowed Baghdad to export its crude oil to the international market through Ceyhan in Turkey. In place since 1975, the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline deal will expire on July 27, 2026, a ruling published in the Turkey's official gazette said. All protocols or memorandums relating to the deal will also stop. The Turkish Energy Ministry of Energy sent a letter to Iraq's Ministry of Oil expressing its desire for a new agreement, the oil ministry said late on Monday. 'Along with it is a draft of a new agreement for co-operation in the energy sector, more comprehensive than the previous agreement,' it cited an unidentified official as saying. That draft suggests 'co-operation in the field of oil, gas, petrochemical industries and electricity, with the aim of expanding the horizons of co-operation between the two countries". The Oil Ministry is 'in the process of reviewing the draft agreement' before negotiations to 'reach a formula that serves the interests of Iraq and Turkey", the official said. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has been offline since 2023 after an arbitration court ruled that Ankara had breached the agreement when it allowed Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region to pump crude without Baghdad's consent. The ruling also stipulated Ankara should pay $1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised Iraqi exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkey is appealing the ruling. Iraq and Turkey have been working to resume oil flows from the pipeline. Ankara said in late 2023 that the pipeline was ready to receive Iraq's oil but Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government and independent oil producers were unable to agree on the terms. The Iraqi Cabinet approved a long-anticipated agreement with Kurdistan that could reset their strained relationship over oil exports and public sector salaries. Relations between Baghdad and Ankara have improved significantly in recent years with the two neighbouring countries working on expanding co-operation in many fields, including security, economy, trade and investment opportunities. Top among these plans is a major economic integration project known as the Development Road – a $17-billion project that will connect Iraq's southern Gulf ports to Turkey. Iraq, Turkey, Qatar and the UAE have signed a preliminary agreement for joint co-operation on the project. As part of the initiative, a high-speed road and rail link, running from Iraq's port city of Basra on the Gulf to the Turkish border and later to Europe, will also be extended. Iraq is the second-largest producer of oil in the Opec group after Saudi Arabia, with an output of about 3.9 million bpd, according to the latest Opec data.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Concerns of a Global Crude Oil Glut Undercut Prices
August WTI crude oil (CLQ25) on Friday closed down -0.20 (-0.30%), and August RBOB gasoline (RBQ25) closed down -0.0170 (-0.78%). Crude oil prices gave up an early advance on Friday and settled lower, amid concerns that Iraq will soon boost its crude exports after approving a plan for its semi-autonomous Kurdish region to resume crude exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. More News from Barchart Forecasts for Hot US Temps Boost Nat-Gas Prices Crude Oil Prices Erase Early Gains on the Outlook for Iraq to Boost Crude Exports Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! Crude prices initially moved higher on Friday due to a weaker dollar. Also, Friday's action by the European Union to ramp up sanctions on Russian crude exports may curb global oil supplies and is supportive for crude prices. In addition, Friday's stronger-than-expected US economic news indicates a robust economy that supports energy demand and crude prices. Weighing on crude is the outlook for Iraq to boost crude exports from its northern Kurdish region through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, where oil exports have been halted since March 2023. The Iraqi government approved a plan for the semi-autonomous Kurdish region to resume oil exports. Kurdistan expects to supply Iraq's crude market with 230,000 bpd of crude once exports resume. Iraq is OPEC's second-biggest oil producer. Crude prices found early support Friday after the European Union approved fresh sanctions on Russian crude exports and its energy trade over its war in Ukraine. The sanctions package includes cutting off 20 more Russian banks from the international payments system SWIFT, as well as restrictions imposed on Russian petroleum refined in other countries. A large oil refinery in India, part-owned by Russia's Rosneft PJSC, was also blacklisted. Additionally, 105 more ships in Russia's shadow fleet were sanctioned, bringing the total number above 400 ships. Signs of strength in the US economy are bullish for energy demand and crude prices. Friday's news showed Jun housing starts rose +4.6% m/m to 1.321 million, stronger than expectations of 1.300 million. Also, Jun building permits, a proxy for future construction, unexpectedly rose +0.2% m/m to 1.397 million versus expectations of a -0.5% m/m decline to 1.387 million. In addition, the University of Michigan US July consumer sentiment index rose +1.1 to a 5-month high of 61.8, stronger than expectations of 61.5. Concern about a global oil glut is negative for crude prices. On July 5, OPEC+ agreed to raise its crude production by 548,000 barrels per day (bpd) beginning August 1, exceeding expectations of a 411,000 bpd increase. Saudi Arabia also stated that additional similar-sized increases in crude output could follow, which is viewed as a strategy to reduce oil prices and penalize overproducing OPEC+ members, such as Kazakhstan and Iraq. OPEC+ is boosting output to reverse the 2-year-long production cut, gradually restoring a total of 2.2 million bpd of production by September 2026. On May 31, OPEC+ agreed to a 411,000 bpd increase in crude production for July, following the same 411,000 bpd hike for June. June crude production rose +360,000 bpd to a 1.5-year high of 28.10 million bpd. In a supportive factor for oil prices, Bloomberg reported last Thursday that OPEC+ is discussing a pause in further production increases from October, following its next monthly hike in September of 548,000 barrels. OPEC+ may be concerned about a slowdown in global oil demand in the second half of this year that could lead to a supply glut if the group keeps boosting production. The International Energy Agency said inventories have been accumulating at a rate of 1 million bpd and that the global crude oil market faces a surplus by Q4-2025 equivalent to 1.5% of global crude consumption. A decrease in crude oil held worldwide on tankers is bullish for oil prices. Vortexa reported Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least seven days fell by -4.6% w/w to 78.03 million bbl in the week ended July 11. Wednesday's weekly EIA report showed that US crude inventories in the week ended July 11 fell by -3.859 million bbls, the first draw in three weeks. Gasoline inventories rose +3.399 million bbls, and distillate inventories rose by +4.173 million bbls. The EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of July 11 were -8.0% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -0.1% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -21.1% below the 5-year seasonal average. US crude oil production in the week ending July 11 fell -0.1% w/w to 13.375 million bpd, modestly below the record high of 13.631 million bpd posted in the week of 12/6/2024. Baker Hughes reported Friday that the number of active US oil rigs in the week ending July 18 decreased by -2 rigs to a new 3.75-year low of 422 rigs. Over the past 2.5 years, the number of US oil rigs has fallen sharply from the 5.25-year high of 627 rigs reported in December 2022. On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Iraq investigates drone attacks on military radars and Kurdish oilfields
Iraq said on Friday that it was investigating a series of attacks on Kurdish oilfields, while a separate search determined that drone strikes against military radar systems last month were launched from within its borders. Oilfields, military bases, airports and a camp for internally displaced people in the Kurdish Region of Iraq have been targets of a spate of drone attacks this month. The attacks cut production from several foreign-owned oilfields. Iraqi security forces announced an operation in the western Nineveh and Salah Al Din provinces to find the saboteurs. 'The recent attacks on oil installations and fields, along with attempts to target military bases and camps, are considered sinful and dangerous acts that undermine all efforts towards Iraq's stability, reconstruction, and development campaigns,' Iraq's Security Media Cell said in a post on X. The operation is being carried out by several units and groups, including the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). No group has claimed responsibility but the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on the PMF, an umbrella of Iran-backed groups. The Iraqi government has denied the accusation against 'an official Iraqi security institution'. The former paramilitary groups are now integrated into Iraq's armed forces. The US embassy in Iraq condemned the attacks, urging the Iraqi government to 'investigate who is behind these attacks and hold them accountable'. It said in a statement that Baghdad 'must exercise its authority to prevent armed actors from launching these attacks against sites within its own territory, including locations where Iraqi and international companies have invested in Iraq's future'. The latest series of drone attacks come at a time of heightened tension between Baghdad and Erbil on resuming oil exports, halted since 2023 over legal disputes, technical issues and Kurdistan's share in the federal budget. The last attack was on Thursday morning, hours before the Iraqi cabinet approved a long-anticipated agreement with the KRG that could reset their strained relationship over oil exports and public sector salaries. Erbil's airport has been hit by rockets and drone attacks over the years. Iraq has been a battleground for such attacks, often linked to regional proxy struggles. Last month, drones struck military radar systems in Iraq in the backdrop of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. On June 24, the Iraqi government said that several small suicide drones targeted Iraqi military sites and bases, including the radar systems at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar Province in southern Iraq. Sabah Al Numan, the military spokesman for the prime minister, said that Iraq identified 'the origin of the drones used in the attacks,' adding that they were 'equipped with warheads of varying weights and were manufactured outside Iraq.' The drones were also launched from several locations inside Iraq. They were all of the same type, which indicates 'a single executing party,' he said, adding that the government had identified 'the entities' involved in the attacks.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Crude Oil Prices Erase Early Gains on the Outlook for Iraq to Boost Crude Exports
August WTI crude oil (CLQ25) today is up +0.02 (+0.03%), and August RBOB gasoline (RBQ25) is down -0.0114 (-0.53%). Crude oil prices today gave up an early advance and are little changed, amid concerns that Iraq will soon boost its crude exports after approving a plan for its semi-autonomous Kurdish region to resume crude exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. More News from Barchart Crude Oil Prices Jump on Signs of a Tightening Supply Outlook Nat-Gas Prices Erase Early Gains as Weekly EIA Inventories Build Crude Oil Prices Climb on Supply Disruptions in Iraq Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. Crude price today initially moved higher due to a weaker dollar. Also, today's action by the European Union to ramp up sanctions on Russian crude exports may curb global oil supplies and is bullish for crude. In addition, stronger-than-expected US economic news today indicates a robust economy that supports energy demand and crude prices. Weighing on crude is the outlook for Iraq to boost crude exports from its northern Kurdish region through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, where oil exports have been halted since March 2023. The Iraqi government approved a plan for the semi-autonomous Kurdish region to resume oil exports. Kurdistan expects to supply Iraq's crude market with 230,000 bpd of crude once exports resume. Iraq is OPEC's second-biggest oil producer. Crude prices found support today after the European Union approved fresh sanctions on Russian crude exports and its energy trade over its war in Ukraine. The sanctions package includes cutting off 20 more Russian banks from the international payments system SWIFT, as well as restrictions imposed on Russian petroleum refined in other countries. A large oil refinery in India, part-owned by Russia's Rosneft PJSC, was also blacklisted. Additionally, 105 more ships in Russia's shadow fleet were sanctioned, bringing the total number above 400 ships. Signs of strength in the US economy are bullish for energy demand and crude prices. Jun housing starts rose +4.6% m/m to 1.321 million, stronger than expectations of 1.300 million. Also, Jun building permits, a proxy for future construction, unexpectedly rose +0.2% m/m to 1.397 million versus expectations of a -0.5% m/m decline to 1.387 million. In addition, the University of Michigan US July consumer sentiment index rose +1.1 to a 5-month high of 61.8, stronger than expectations of 61.5. Concern about a global oil glut is negative for crude prices. On July 5, OPEC+ agreed to raise its crude production by 548,000 barrels per day (bpd) beginning August 1, exceeding expectations of a 411,000 bpd increase. Saudi Arabia also stated that additional similar-sized increases in crude output could follow, which is viewed as a strategy to reduce oil prices and penalize overproducing OPEC+ members, such as Kazakhstan and Iraq. OPEC+ is boosting output to reverse the 2-year-long production cut, gradually restoring a total of 2.2 million bpd of production by September 2026. On May 31, OPEC+ agreed to a 411,000 bpd increase in crude production for July, following the same 411,000 bpd hike for June. June crude production rose +360,000 bpd to a 1.5-year high of 28.10 million bpd. In a supportive factor for oil prices, Bloomberg reported last Thursday that OPEC+ is discussing a pause in further production increases from October, following its next monthly hike in September of 548,000 barrels. OPEC+ may be concerned about a slowdown in global oil demand in the second half of this year that could lead to a supply glut if the group keeps boosting production. The International Energy Agency said inventories have been accumulating at a rate of 1 million bpd and that the global crude oil market faces a surplus by Q4-2025 equivalent to 1.5% of global crude consumption. A decrease in crude oil held worldwide on tankers is bullish for oil prices. Vortexa reported Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least seven days fell by -4.6% w/w to 78.03 million bbl in the week ended July 11. Wednesday's weekly EIA report showed that US crude inventories in the week ended July 11 fell by -3.859 million bbls, the first draw in three weeks. Gasoline inventories rose +3.399 million bbls, and distillate inventories rose by +4.173 million bbls. The EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of July 11 were -8.0% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -0.1% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -21.1% below the 5-year seasonal average. US crude oil production in the week ending July 11 fell -0.1% w/w to 13.375 million bpd, modestly below the record high of 13.631 million bpd posted in the week of 12/6/2024. Baker Hughes reported last Friday that the number of active US oil rigs in the week ending July 11 decreased by -1 rig to a new 3.75-year low of 424 rigs. Over the past 2.5 years, the number of US oil rigs has fallen sharply from the 5.25-year high of 627 rigs reported in December 2022. On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
