Latest news with #MohammedShia'al-Sudani
Iraqi News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq ranks third in the world in combating drugs, Says Interior Ministry
Baghdad-INA The Ministry of Interior announced that it ranked third in the fight against drugs among 138 countries in the World Police Summit (WPS) rankings. "The Iraqi Ministry of Interior continues its work in combating drugs and psychoactive substances, and has become one of the ministries that competes with its counterparts in developed countries in this field,' Interior ministry stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). "It ranked third among 138 countries and 205 governmental and non-governmental organizations, after India, which ranked first, Montenegro ranked second in WPS, organized by the Dubai Police in its fourth edition,' It added. "On this occasion, we affirm our commitment to continue combating this scourge and dismantling the international and local networks that trade in these drugs, through the strong support of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, and the continuous follow-up by the Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, as well as the support of the Iraqi judiciary, the Drug Enforcement Directorate will be vigilant against anyone who dares to enter the dark tunnel of drugs,' It continued.
Rudaw Net
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rudaw Net
Kurdish-directed ‘Said Effendi' to make historic debut at Cannes Festival
Also in Iraq More than a decade on, 2,500 Yazidis still missing after ISIS attack Iraqi university to launch AI programs Iraqi ministry says over 2,200 prisoners released under general amnesty law Iraq welcomes India-Pakistan ceasefire A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Sunday announced the selection of the 1956 film 'Said Effendi' to be featured in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival's classic section. The film, a landmark of Iraqi cinema, was directed by renowned Kurdish filmmaker and screenwriter Kameran Hosni. A statement from the prime minister's office noted that the al-Hasan Ibn al-Haytham Committee for Iraqi Visual Memory, operating under Sudani's office, declares the film's participation at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. 'This historic selection - the first of its kind for Iraqi cinema - is the result of the Iraqi Cinematheque project, which seeks to revive Iraq's cinematic heritage and share it with the world,' the statement added. 'Said Effendi' is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Iraq's film history. Set in 1950s Baghdad, the social drama follows a humble and principled schoolteacher who, after moving to a new neighborhood with his family, encounters tensions and misunderstandings with his neighbors. The film explores themes of class, coexistence, and changing societal values in a rapidly modernizing Iraq. The film's inclusion in Cannes was made possible after its restoration by the French National Audiovisual Institute, in collaboration with the French Embassy in Iraq and the Cinémathèque Iraq project - a national initiative focused on digitizing, restoring, and preserving Iraqi cinema. 'Said Effendi is one of 104 Iraqi feature films, produced between the 1940s and early 2000s, that the Iraqi Cinematheque project aims to preserve and restore,' the statement noted. According to Hassan al-Sudani, an advisor to the Iraqi premier, the Baghdad government plans to expand the initiative beyond cinema to include restoration of Iraq's television and radio archives in upcoming projects.
Rudaw Net
16-04-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Sudani confirms re-election bid ahead of November elections
Also in Iraq Efforts intensify to restore 900,000 dunams of confiscated lands in Kirkuk: MP Dust storm hospitalizes over 3,700 in Iraq Over 1,300 suffocation cases reported in southern Iraq amid dust storm Iraqi parliament passes bill to make Halabja the 19th province A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Sunday confirmed he will run in Iraq's upcoming federal elections, set for November 11, touting his government's achievements and evolving relations with the Kurdistan Region. The announcement came during the ninth Sulaimani Forum, held at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS), which brought together high-level leaders, diplomats, and policy experts to discuss the evolving role of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Last week, Iraq's Council of Ministers set the election date following pressure from the Shiite-led Coordination Framework, which had rejected calls to postpone the vote. The coalition, which includes parties backing Sudani's cabinet as well as the Kurdistan Region's ruling parties, Iraqis 'to seize this constitutional opportunity to elect their representatives.' At the forum, Sudani highlighted the achievements of his cabinet, now approaching its third year in office. He said that providing government services, enacting economic reforms, combating corruption, and addressing unemployment and poverty have remained key priorities. 'We are a government of services, and this is a coordination between the citizens and the government,' he said. In September, Sudani detailed a number of social support and development milestones, stating that around 961,000 new households became eligible for the Social Safety Net, over 7.5 million monthly food baskets were distributed, and more than two million students received grants. Additionally, about one million new job positions were announced, and over 372,000 caregivers for people with disabilities received salaries. In the energy sector, Sudani said local power production had reached 27,000 megawatts, 67 percent of associated gas was being utilized, and gasoline production had increased to 28 million liters per day, resulting in reduced imports The premier also emphasized that health and education projects, as well as the development of Iraq's electrical grid, continue to be top priorities for the government. Improving the energy sector, particularly the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in gas and ending imports by 2028, remains central to his cabinet's agenda. Sudani acknowledged the environmental and public health impact of gas flaring in Iraq. The country is one of the world's largest gas flarers, a practice that contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. It also poses serious health risks for communities near oil fields and flaring sites, including refugee camps in areas from Basra to the Kurdistan Region. Both the federal and regional governments have vowed to end the practice. 'It is our responsibility not to delay projects,' Sudani stressed, adding that project completion rates across Iraq have improved compared to previous years. 'We have reached a stage where the Iraqi people have faith in the system,' he said. 'I confidently say that this government, with the support of the nation and the [Shiite-led] Coordination Framework that backed it, was able to carry out its task - a program of reform.' Baghdad-Erbil relations 'For the first time, the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil is shifting from [one marred with] political disputes to a technical, political dialogue,' Sudani said, referring to the evolving ties between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The comment followed his visit to Erbil on Saturday, where he met with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani to discuss regional and national developments. The trip came amid ongoing tensions between the two governments over oil exports and the delayed payment of salaries for the Kurdistan Region's civil servants - issues that have strained relations for more than a decade. In 2014, the federal government cut the Kurdistan Region's share of the national budget. In response, Erbil began independently exporting oil and relied heavily on the revenues to fund its public sector. However, declining oil prices and the costly war against the Islamic State (ISIS) severely impacted its finances, forcing austerity measures. Civil servants faced frequent salary cuts and delays, with Baghdad now covering those payments. Sudani addressed the stalled oil and gas legislation, saying, 'The oil and gas law, based on the constitution, stipulates that this wealth is a national wealth for Iraqis,' but added that 'unfortunately, the conditions that the parliament went through' have prevented the law from being developed. The unpaid salaries crisis worsened after Kurdish oil exports were suspended in March 2023. That move followed an international court ruling in favor of Baghdad, which found that Ankara had violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by permitting Erbil to export oil independently. Talks between federal and Kurdish officials, along with international oil companies operating in the Region, have so far failed to yield a resolution. The companies seek payment guarantees and contractual stability, Baghdad demands federal control, and Erbil continues to push for a deal that protects its economic autonomy. PMF law 'The [Popular Mobilization Forces] law concerns an important security institution that achieved great strides in the fight against terror,' said Sudani, referring to a proposed bill that aims to regulate the structure, salaries, and retirement policies of the PMF and integrate the group into Iraq's state security forces. In early March, Iraqi factions - such as Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) - boycotted a parliamentary session in protest of the law's exclusion from the agenda. The bill has been a source of political contention. Later that month, Iraq's parliament completed the first reading of the proposed legislation. The PMF was formed in 2014 in response to a fatwa by Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, following the Islamic State (ISIS) takeover of large swathes of northern and western Iraq. The force began as an umbrella group of roughly 70 predominantly Shiite factions, with around 250,000 members. A 2016 law passed by parliament offered a basic legal framework for the PMF, but it contained only three articles, leaving crucial issues unaddressed, especially regarding the force's legal integration into Iraq's official security apparatus. The force has also been a source of controversy, particularly over the ties of some factions to US-designated terrorist groups. In late March, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told Rudaw that for Iraq to strengthen its sovereignty, the government 'must ensure it has command and control of all security forces within its borders.' She added that the PMF 'must respond to Iraq's commander in chief, and not to Iran.' 'Security institutions would not function without laws [regulating their work], and so would intelligence agencies,' said Sudani. He emphasized that his cabinet is working to end the proliferation of weapons outside state control. 'I believe that there are no rejections from the political parties regarding the importance of developing [Iraq's] security institutions and implementing laws,' he said. 'We must move forward with proposals to develop these [security] agencies.' Commenting on Iraq's ties with the US-led coalition to fight ISIS, Sudani said, 'Our friends from the Global Coalition play an advisory role.' He noted that the partnership was included in the government's program. While Baghdad has signaled that a commission was formed to conclude the presence of coalition forces, Washington has described the process as a 'transition.' Sudani said Baghdad told the coalition that 'Iraq in 2023 and 2024 is not the same as it was in 2014, when it requested assistance from the coalition.' He added, 'We confirmed on many occasions that this relationship is a security relationship and that Iraq is serious about developing this relationship. We are transitioning to a bilateral security partnership.'
Rudaw Net
12-04-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi PM Sudani meets Masoud Barzani in Erbil
Also in Kurdistan Purebred Kurdish horses on show at Sulaimani festival General amnesty bill ready for Kurdistan parliament vote: official English-language books increasingly popular in Kurdistan Region Iraqi PM Sudani to visit Erbil Saturday A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani visited Erbil on Saturday and met with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani to discuss regional and national developments. 'The meeting focused on the political situation and recent developments both within the Kurdistan Region and across the broader area. The two also emphasized the importance of coordination among Iraqi parties to overcome crises, address instability, and resolve ongoing issues,' read a statement from Barzani headquarters. 'Relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Federal Government were another key topic of discussion,' it added. Strengthening cooperation between the federal and regional governments was an issue discussed, according to a statement from Sudani's office. Sudani called for the swift formation of a new regional government, the statement added. There is still no new government in place and the parliament has convened only once since the October 20 election. In its sole session on December 2, the legislature did not elect a speaker, deputy speaker, or secretary. No other sessions have been scheduled while they await a result from government formation talks between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who came first and second in the election. Sudani's visit comes amid strained ties between Erbil and Baghdad over oil exports and often delayed payments of salaries for the Kurdistan Region's civil servants. Their financial disputes have been ongoing for more than a decade. The Iraqi government cut the Kurdistan Region's share of the federal budget in 2014, after which Erbil began to export crude oil unilaterally and relied on these funds as its primary income. Low oil prices and the war with the Islamic State (ISIS), however, hit the government's finances hard. Civil servants have borne the brunt of the government's austerity measures. Their monthly salaries were frequently delayed or reduced and are now being paid by Baghdad. The unpaid salaries crisis in the Kurdistan Region has been aggravated the past two years following the suspension of Kurdish oil exports in March 2023 as the result of a court ruling in favor of Baghdad that Ankara violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to export oil independently. Negotiations between Iraqi and Kurdish officials, along with international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region, have yet to reach a conclusion. The oil companies demand payment guarantees and contractual security, Baghdad insists on federal oversight, and Erbil seeks a resolution that safeguards its economic interests.
Rudaw Net
11-04-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraq to offer low-interest loans for solar panels
Also in Iraq Party registration for Iraqi election begins Tuesday Iraq's ruling coalition welcomes vote with no changes to electoral law Talabani, Sudani discuss delayed Kurdistan Region salaries Iraqi court issues arrest warrant for prominent Yazidi activist A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's Central Bank announced it will offer low-interest loans for people and businesses wanting to install solar panels, as part of government efforts to reduce emissions and promote renewable energy, according to a letter sent to its licensed banks on Wednesday. Under the new guidelines, as seen by Rudaw, banks will receive an initial advance of 300 million Iraqi dinars (about $207,000) from the Central Bank. Further funds could be released if the banks provide proof that the loans have been disbursed to customers. The loans will be available for both residential and commercial projects, in amounts ranging from seven million to 30 million dinars (approximately $4,800 to $20,700). The repayment period will be seven years, with the possibility of a six-month extension. The interest rate charged by the Central Bank to the banks is set at 0.5 percent, while banks are not allowed to charge loan recipients more than 2.5 percent interest. People can apply for the loans through the platform or any other approved electronic platform. The banks will provide the loans to companies specializing in solar panel systems, which will handle the installation, maintenance, and upgrades of the systems. Iraq is working to diversify its energy sources and address chronic electricity shortages that have long plagued the country, especially during the scorching summer months when temperatures soar above 50 degrees Celsius, driving up power consumption. In September 2024, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani approved plans to introduce solar energy into Iraqi households. Improving the country's energy sector has been a key priority of his cabinet, and efforts to boost its energy independence have recently gained momentum. On Wednesday, Baghdad signed a memorandum of understanding with American energy firm GE Vernova to produce 24,000 megawatts of electricity. The agreement was signed during a visit by an American delegation, according to a statement from Sudani's office. In March, Washington rescinded a waiver that had allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from neighboring Iran - a longstanding source of power for Baghdad. Following the decision, the US State Department said Iraq's transition away from Iranian energy provides an opportunity for American companies, which it described as 'world-leading experts,' to assist Baghdad in developing its energy sector.
