Latest news with #MohammedShiaal-Sudani
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Finance Minister: Iraq's 2025 Budget Law under committee review
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami informed lawmakers on Sunday that a special committee, formed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, is currently drafting the tables of the 2025 Federal Budget Law. Saad al-Tobi from the Parliamentary Finance Committee explained to Shafaq News that the draft tables will be sent to the Cabinet for approval before heading to Parliament. 'Information on revenues and expenditures remains limited,' he added. 'The documents will be ready for submission next month.' Earlier today, Parliament hosted Sami to discuss the delay in submitting the budget tables to the legislature. The appearance followed a formal request by Finance Committee Chair Atwan al-Atwani and, according to a parliamentary source, covered the implementation of the government program and the execution of the 2023–2025 Budget Law.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi PM inspects Baghdad Forest Project: 500,000 tons of waste removed
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani conducted a field visit on Saturday to the Baghdad Sustainable Forest Project, revealing that half a million tons of waste have already been removed from the site. Launched in December, the initiative aims to transform more than 12 million square meters of the former al-Rasheed Military Camp into a sprawling ecological and recreational zone. Planned features include an artificial lake, green spaces, walking paths, sports facilities, restaurants, wellness centers, and a hotel, according to a statement from al-Sudani's media office. During the visit, al-Sudani ordered full soil decontamination and the removal of encroachments and industrial activity, while urging authorities to provide resettlement options for displaced families. More than 500,000 tons of accumulated waste have already been cleared—a step the prime minister described as vital to easing congestion and improving Baghdad's air quality. The project comes amid growing alarm over Iraq's declining green cover. Environmental studies show vegetation has dropped from nearly 50% in the past decades to just 17% today, with forests covering less than 2% of the country's land. Rapid urbanization, climate change, and years of weak enforcement have driven widespread desertification and farmland loss. Experts say projects like the Baghdad Forest are critical to restoring Iraq's ecological balance —and provide much-needed environmental and social relief in densely populated areas.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
KRG to start salary payments Sunday
Shafaq News – Erbil The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will begin distributing public sector salaries on Sunday as part of the first phase of a new revenue-sharing agreement with Baghdad. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source from the KRG Ministry of Finance and Economy told Shafaq News that the KRG will transfer 120B IQD (about $85.3M) in local revenue to the Federal Ministry of Finance via the Central Bank's Erbil branch. In exchange, Baghdad is expected to release 960B IQD ($682.3M) on Monday to cover May salaries, which will be disbursed between Tuesday and Thursday. The same process, the source noted, will apply to June wages: another 120B IQD will be sent to Baghdad next Sunday, triggering a second 960B IQD transfer to fund that month's salaries later in the week. Regarding July payments, the source confirmed the KRG aims to begin partial disbursements in early August, pending the outcome of further talks with Baghdad on long-term revenue transfers, oil exports, and salary scheduling. The agreement follows a high-level meeting last Thursday between Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid, where both reviewed plans to end the financial standoff with the Kurdistan Region.
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq uncovers source of drone attacks, vows legal action
Shafaq News – Baghdad A high-level Iraqi investigation has identified the source and perpetrators of a series of suicide drone attacks that targeted key military radar sites across the country, confirming that the drones were launched from within Iraq using foreign-made equipment. According to a statement issued Friday by Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the findings came after a directive from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to form a committee of senior officers and technical experts to examine the recent attacks on multiple air defense systems. The investigation revealed that "the origin of the drones used in the attacks was identified," and that they had been 'equipped with warheads of varying weights and manufactured outside Iraq.' However, their launch points were located within Iraqi territory, the statement said. 'All the suicide drones used in the attacks were of the same type, clearly indicating a single executing party,' the spokesman added. Security and intelligence services also analyzed the drones' control and communication systems, allowing them to gather detailed technical data and confirm the operational methods behind the assaults. The statement noted that 'the entities involved in planning and carrying out these hostile operations were identified,' though no specific group or actor was named. 'These cowardly acts of aggression represent a blatant violation of national sovereignty,' the statement read. 'No party, whether domestic or foreign, will be permitted to undermine Iraq's security and stability.' The spokesman stressed that legal measures will be taken against all those involved, and that the case will be referred to the Iraqi judiciary. 'The security and military leadership affirms that it will not tolerate any threat to the safety and security of the Iraqi Armed Forces or the assets of the Iraqi state,' he said. The wave of drone attacks began in June and included strikes on radar stations located at several military bases and airports, including facilities used to monitor Iraqi airspace. Some attacks also targeted oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Rep. Congressman warns al-Sudani: Freeze on oil funds looms
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Washington US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson called for preventing Iraq from accessing its oil revenues held at the Federal Reserve, as a means to pressure Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to stop attacks on foreign oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region. Posting on X, Wilson wrote, 'Attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi militias against US forces and American oil companies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will not be tolerated. ' urging al-Sudani to take decisive action, or 'face serious consequences.' Attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi militias against US forces and American oil companies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will not be tolerated. Iraqi oil funds must no longer use the @federalreserve and Iraqi PM @mohamedshia must take decisive action or risk severe consequence. — Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) July 17, 2025 Meanwhile, A recent wave of nine drone attacks has dealt a serious blow to the Kurdistan Region's oil sector, triggering shutdowns and placing vital infrastructure under growing strain. Following UN Security Council Resolution 1483 in May 2003, Iraq's oil and gas export revenues have been deposited in a special account at the US Federal Reserve known as the Development Fund for Iraq. Five percent of these revenues were allocated to compensate Kuwait for damages from the 1990 invasion — a process that concluded in 2022 after Iraq completed payments totaling approximately $52.4 billion.
