Latest news with #MohammedShia'
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraq arrests 11 local officials over deadly mall fire
Also in Iraq Iraqi top court to hear complaints against KRG-US energy deals Iraq parliament to probe drone attacks on Kurdistan Region Duhok crowned Iraq Cup champions Iraq launches security operation after drone attacks A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's integrity commission on Sunday arrested 11 local officials, including the former municipal head of the eastern city of Kut, over a devastating fire that killed 63 people in a shopping mall earlier this week. A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Wasit's provincial capital of Kut late Wednesday killed 63 people and sparked outrage from the Iraqi public over lax safety standards. Most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation, with no emergency exits in place for victims to use. 'The team formed by the Wasit Investigation Office was able to implement the judicial arrest against the former director of the Kut municipality due to violations committed in the construction of the Kut Hypermarket Mall,' the integrity commission said in a statement. Authorities also arrested ten local officials in Kut's civil defense and municipality, including the civil defense director and the head of the violations department in the municipality, 'due to the negligence and violations attributed to them,' according to the statement. The five-story building, spanning about 350 square meters, went up in flames on Wednesday night, with the fire starting on the building's second floor. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani vowed on Thursday to 'not show lenience with any negligent party' after ordering an investigation into the tragedy. The government agreed to provide 10 million dinars (around $7,600) in compensation for the family of each victim. The health ministry was also instructed to cover medical treatment for the injured, both inside and outside the country. Wasit Governor Mohammed Jamil al-Mayahi accused the hypermarket owner of bypassing regulations and opening the business illegally just two days before the fire. 'The investor opened the project fraudulently, without obtaining any official permits,' he told reporters in a press conference on Thursday. Fires are a recurring threat in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, where enforcement of fire and safety regulations is often inadequate. The risk increases significantly during the summer months, when extreme heat exacerbates the potential for electrical faults and other fire hazards. Contributing factors include aging infrastructure, overcrowded public spaces, poor electrical systems, and a widespread lack of basic fire safety measures.
Rudaw Net
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq's three presidencies condemn ‘drone attacks' on Kurdistan oil fields
A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi presidency, premiership and parliament on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent 'drone attacks' on oil fields in the Kurdistan Region, calling them a flagrant assault on national security and stability. In a statement, the Iraqi Presidency vehemently denounced the 'terrorist attacks' on the Sarsang oil field in northern Duhok early Tuesday and the Khurmala oil field southwest of Erbil late Monday. It warned that such attacks threaten the country's 'economy and the security and safety of its citizens,' describing them as 'equivalent to targeting the state's public interests.' The presidency urged "the relevant security authorities' in Baghdad and Erbil 'to take appropriate and urgent measures to identify the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of such terrorist attacks." Echoing the presidency's stance, Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, said on Tuesday that the assaults were carried out using drones, branding them 'criminal acts' and a 'direct threat to national interests.' He added that the Iraqi premier had 'ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation' into the incidents, which reflect a "malicious intent aimed at creating confusion." Baghdad pledged decisive action against the perpetrators and stressed the need to protect vital infrastructure. Meanwhile, Iraqi Parliament's Second Deputy Speaker Shakhawan Abdullah condemned the 'deliberate operations' targeting oil and critical infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region. He confirmed that 'these attacks caused material and economic damages' and called on the federal government to "maintain security and identify the parties responsible." He further tasked the parliament's Security and Defense Committee with investigating the "repeated targeting incidents and breaches that are threatening the security of the [Kurdistan] Region.' Earlier on Tuesday, an explosion hit the Sarsang oil field in the Kurdistan Region's northern Duhok province, operated by the US-based HKN Energy, which holds a 62 percent stake in the field. In a statement posted to its official Facebook page, HKN Energy confirmed that 'an explosion occurred' around 7:00 am local time. 'All personnel have been safely accounted for, and no injuries have been reported,' the company said, adding that 'operations at the affected facility have been suspended until the site is secured and a full evaluation is completed.' Just a day earlier, two explosive-laden drones targeted the Khurmala oil field, southwest of Erbil, late Monday night. According to a security source speaking to Rudaw, the drones were intercepted by US-led coalition forces. No casualties were reported in that incident either. The Kurdistan Region Presidency on Tuesday strongly condemned 'the drone strikes on infrastructure and various locations within the Kurdistan Region,' urging the federal government in Baghdad to take urgent measures to prevent further attacks and bring those responsible to justice. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) natural resources ministry also denounced the incidents as 'terrorist attacks' against the Region's economic infrastructure. Drone strikes in the Kurdistan Region have increased since the outbreak of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13 and ended with a US-brokered ceasefire. While no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, the Kurdistan Region's interior ministry has accused the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - a charge dismissed by Baghdad as 'unacceptable.'
Rudaw Net
01-07-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Baghdad-Erbil oil talks stall over federal refusal to sign written deal: Source
Also in Iraq Three suspected ISIS members killed in Kirkuk operation Three rockets target Kirkuk Iraq president appoints new Federal Supreme Court chief amid judicial turmoil Turkmen Front supporters block Erbil-Kirkuk highway over Kurdish appointment A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad on resuming Kurdish oil exports have stalled, as the two sides have failed to reach consensus on a formal, written agreement, a source familiar with the talks told Rudaw on Tuesday. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, the source said, 'The federal government has not agreed to put the agreement in writing and wants it to remain verbal.' In contrast, 'The Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] insists on a written deal.' According to the same source, Baghdad's reluctance stems from concerns that a formal agreement could be exploited by political rivals of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani ahead of Iraq's legislative elections, slated for November 11. Rudaw learned on Tuesday that a KRG delegation, led by Acting Natural Resources Minister Kamal Mohammed, returned to Erbil earlier this week after three days of talks in Baghdad aimed at resolving long-standing oil disputes. On Sunday, informed sources from both Erbil and Baghdad told Rudaw that the talks had been progressing in a 'calmer environment,' breaking past tensions. However, one of the main sticking points remains the volume of oil that the KRG is required to deliver to Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). While Baghdad insists the KRG must export 400,000 barrels per day (bpd), Erbil has proposed an initial volume of 280,000 bpd, the sources added. Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline have been halted since March 2023. This followed a ruling by a Paris arbitration court that found Turkey had violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to export oil independently of Baghdad's consent. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani stated last week that the suspension of exports has cost the Region over $25 billion in lost revenue. In February, Iraq's parliament amended the federal budget law to include a $16-per-barrel fee to cover production and transportation costs for international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the Region. The amendment also requires both governments to jointly appoint an international consultancy to audit and assess those costs. If they cannot agree on a firm, the Iraqi cabinet will make the selection. These changes were intended to facilitate the resumption of Kurdish oil exports. A technical delegation from Baghdad visited Erbil last Wednesday to discuss revenue-sharing mechanisms and other unresolved issues. Finalizing an agreement is seen as crucial to resuming payments to more than 1.2 million public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region. In late May, Iraq's finance ministry halted all budget transfers to the KRG, accusing the Region of exceeding its 12.67 percent share of the federal budget - a claim rejected by Kurdish political parties, who denounced the decision as unconstitutional and politically motivated. Hastyar Qadir contributed to this piece.
Shafaq News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Al-Sudani targets price gouging amid stable USD
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani ordered official agencies to crack down on price manipulators, targeting food, medicine, bakeries, and flour mills. Highlighting the stable dollar-to-dinar exchange rate, he accused some companies and traders of exploiting prices or refusing to adjust them despite market stability. Al-Sudani urged regulators to work closely with the ministries of Commerce, Agriculture, and Health to enforce steady pricing on essential goods critical to everyday life. The US dollar has seen a gradual decline in recent weeks. As of Monday, it traded at 142,750 IQD per $100 on local currency exchanges.
Iraqi News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Prime Minister: The time has come to launch a unified Arab initiative
Baghdad-INA The Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, confirmed on Thursday, that the upcoming Arab Summit, to be held in Baghdad on May 17th, is a starting point for an effective and comprehensive Arab cooperation system. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, in a press article, stated:"Baghdad hosts the Arab Summit at an exceptional moment in the history of our region—a moment marked by profound transformations, ongoing conflicts, and complex regional challenges. Yet, as Baghdad welcomes Arab leaders, it does not view this merely as a ceremonial gathering, but rather as a pivotal milestone and a historic opportunity to revitalize the vision of joint Arab action, reclaim leadership, and reaffirm the Arab world's position not as an arena of contest, but as an active and influential force on the global stage." He added, 'Our government has navigated through a complex phase marked by significant regional challenges, including the multifaceted pressures imposed by the Gaza war on Arab countries, whether politically, publicly, or diplomatically. We moved from fragility to cohesion through ambitious developmental policies, fueled by widespread sympathy and security considerations.' The Prime Minister highlighted that 'the Arab Summit in Baghdad comes within a transformative context, where the Iraqi national will aligns with the broader Arab hope to overcome differences and embark on building an effective and comprehensive Arab cooperation system,' noting that 'today, we need a responsible Arab discourse, grounded in political realism, and which understands that solidarity does not mean uniformity, but rather respecting particularities within the unity of purpose and destiny.' He continued, 'Iraq believes that enhancing Arab action begins with strengthening relationships between Arab capitals, from the Gulf to the Atlantic, based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, activating frank and constructive dialogue, and unifying positions on international issues.' The Prime Minister further emphasized, 'The Arab world's strategic geographical location, its vast resources, its ambitious youth, and its rich cultural heritage collectively provide it with tremendous potential to transform into an independent and balanced power on the international stage.' He continued, 'The challenges we face, from repeated Zionist aggression on Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, to internal divisions within some Arab countries, to regional and international interventions, threaten not only the security of these peoples but also our collective will as a nation.' He stressed, 'The time has come to launch a unified Arab initiative that transcends the humanitarian dimension to support the building of a national state based on the constitution, dignity, and diversity.' He added, 'At a time when active international engagement on behalf of the region's peoples is lacking, it becomes even more crucial for us to have a comprehensive Arab developmental strategy. Hence, Iraq calls for the adoption of an integrated economic approach to address developmental disparities and enhances the collective ability to confront crises in food, energy, and supply chains.' He reaffirmed that 'the Development Road project, which is nearing completion, is a practical model for this direction and could serve as a cornerstone for genuine Arab partnerships.' He noted that 'Iraq does not see itself as a solitary player but believes that its true role lies in bringing together its Arab brothers, restoring trust in Arab cooperation institutions, and laying the foundation for a new era of political and economic partnership.' He pointed out that 'Arab national security is indivisible and cannot be achieved without genuine cooperation, balanced policies, and strong institutions that protect the supreme interests of the nation.' The Prime Minister clarified, 'Today, we are not only rebuilding Iraq, but we are also participating in redefining the Middle East through a balanced foreign policy, conscious leadership, developmental initiatives, and strategic partnerships.' He extended a call from Baghdad to all Arab capitals: 'It is time for us to begin anew, on a new foundation, with a new methodology, and with a new will.' He concluded by saying, 'Baghdad, the capital of Arab thought and shared history, opens its arms to the Arab Summit, confident that what unites us is greater than what divides us, and that we have a precious opportunity to shape a more cohesive and dignified future for our peoples.'
