Latest from Shafaq News
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Israeli and Syrian officials hold talks in Azerbaijan
Shafaq News – Baku/Damascus On Sunday, Israeli and Syrian officials held a rare face-to-face meeting in Baku, on the sidelines of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan, a diplomatic source in Damascus told AFP. According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, al-Sharaa did not personally attend the meeting, which focused on Israel's recent military activity in Syria. Ahead of the meeting, Israeli media outlets reported Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and senior security liaison Ahmed al-Dalati were participating, along with a special envoy from Prime Minister Netanyahu and top Israeli military and intelligence officials. The talks were expected to cover Iran's influence in Syria and Lebanon, Hezbollah's weapons stockpiles, armed Palestinian factions, and the future of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Gaza, and the possible establishment of an Israeli coordination office without formal diplomatic status in Damascus. Damascus recently acknowledged indirect talks with Israel focused on restoring the 1974 disengagement agreement that created the Golan buffer zone. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar indicated a potential policy shift late last month, saying Israel is open to pursuing a peace and normalization agreement with Syria. Israel, a key arms supplier to Azerbaijan and a prominent diplomatic actor in the Caucasus, has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. Israeli forces also entered the UN-monitored buffer zone on the Golan Heights, conducting further operations in southern Syria.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Credibility crisis engulfs Iraq's parliament ahead of elections
Shafaq News Iraq's fifth parliament has come under 'scathing criticism' from politicians who described it as one of the most dysfunctional in the country's post-2003 history, just months before the November parliamentary elections. According to Zuhair al-Jalabi, a senior figure in the State of Law Coalition (SLC -led by Nuri al-Maliki), the parliament lost popular legitimacy after the withdrawal of the largest Shiite bloc -the Sadrist, with mounting concerns over election fraud and executive interference in parliamentary affairs. The prolonged vacancy following the dismissal of former Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and the appointment of what many consider a 'weak replacement' (Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani) have deepened the crisis. Sunni blocs, he added, have also been accused of functioning more like "business entities than genuine political actors." Since January 2022, lawmakers have held only 132 of the 256 sessions required by internal regulations. This underperformance, amounting to about 51% of the expected legislative workload, has weakened both legislative and oversight functions, according to MPs and observers. Political efforts to delay amendments to the electoral law and stall budget implementation have disrupted essential services such as salary adjustments and staff promotions, a member of the Shaabaniya Uprising bloc said, stressing that these obstructions have exacerbated public dissatisfaction with the government's performance. Unresolved divisions among Iraq's major ethno-sectarian components fuel institutional gridlock. Former MP Kamel al-Ghurairi linked the institutional paralysis to persistent rifts among Iraq's main ethno-sectarian blocs. He emphasized that chronic absenteeism among MPs had severely disrupted legislative momentum, predicting that voter participation in November would be diminished by the chamber's poor record on socioeconomic legislation. The ongoing deadlock is widely viewed as a symptom of deeper structural flaws within Iraq's consensus-based power-sharing system. Analyst Mujashaa al-Tamimi explained that 'party rivalries and lack of coordination are central reasons for legislative paralysis, including on critical issues like budget approval and anti-corruption reforms.' Without urgent political and institutional reform, he cautioned, 'the widening gap between the public and the state threatens to further destabilize Iraq's already fragile governance.' The Iraqi High Electoral Commission has officially set November 11 as the date for parliamentary elections following earlier delays caused by incomplete legislation and logistical issues. As the elections draw near, Iraq's parliament resumed sessions on July 12, marking the start of its final legislative year.
Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Erdogan to Iraqi PM: We aim to uproot terrorism for good
Shafaq News – Ankara/Baghdad On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani that Ankara remains committed to permanently eliminating terrorism from the region. According to a statement from Turkiye's Communications Directorate, Erdogan reiterated his government's goal of achieving a 'terror-free Turkiye,' and would continue to take all necessary steps to prevent any setbacks to that strategy. The two leaders discussed bilateral ties and regional developments during a phone call. Erdogan emphasized expanding cooperation with Iraq across various sectors under the framework of mutual benefit, particularly through the joint 'Development Road' infrastructure initiative. The call comes one day after dozens of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters burned their weapons in northern Iraq, marking the symbolic beginning of the PKK's disarmament and transition toward non-violent political engagement in Turkiye. On Wednesday, imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan declared that the group's long-standing armed struggle had come to an end and that the organization had abandoned the goal of establishing a Kurdish nation-state. Speaking in a pre-recorded video message from prison, Ocalan stated, 'Turkiye has recognized the Kurds, and our main demands have been met.' He added that disarmament marked a 'historic victory' and that the era of armed resistance had given way to one focused on legal and political processes. Ocalan clarified that he had never demanded his release and emphasized the importance of civil peace and political participation over continued armed conflict. The PKK formally announced its dissolution and surrender of arms on May 12, in response to Ocalan's February appeal from his cell on Imrali Island. The move ends a four-decade insurgency that claimed more than 40,000 lives.
Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Dream deferred: Soaring costs drive Iraqi exodus from Turkiye
Shafaq News Hanine Jabbar packed her bags and took one last look at the street she had lived on in Turkiye before deciding to return to Iraq. Living quietly in Istanbul since 2015, Jabbar cited soaring living expenses as the reason behind her departure. 'The situation in Turkiye has changed. Securing residency, paying rent, and finding adequate housing have become increasingly difficult,' she explained to Shafaq News. 'The financial situation is unbearable. What we earn no longer covers basic needs,' she continued. 'The cost of living in Turkiye is now comparable to Dubai, but without the same level of services.' Jabbar's account reflects a broader reality. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), consumer prices in Turkiye increased by 71.6% year-on-year as of June 2025. The inflation rate had peaked at over 85% in late 2022 before stabilizing, but prices of essentials—particularly food, housing, and transportation—remain substantially higher than pre-2020 levels. According to a May 2025 report by the Turkish Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, average residential rents in major Turkish cities have surged by more than 140% over the past two years, outpacing wage growth and deepening the cost-of-living crisis for both citizens and foreigners. In 2023, thousands of Iraqis who had spent years in Turkiye began returning home due to mounting difficulties in obtaining or renewing residency permits—despite owning property or running businesses. The trend continues. Official data from Turkiye's Presidency of Migration Management shows that over 17,800 Iraqi nationals left Turkiye voluntarily in 2023, many of them citing economic hardship and bureaucratic hurdles. Stalled Progress Tamara Faiq, who lived in Turkiye for six years, explained she was unable to achieve her goals and chose instead to immigrate to the United States. 'In the US, one can study, work, and eventually get citizenship. In Turkiye, there is no path for immigrants to advance. Time passes without progress,' she reflected. Faiq pointed to additional obstacles beyond living costs, including delays or denials in issuing residency permits. 'Many Iraqis spent years trying to secure legal residency in Turkiye, but most applications were rejected. The approval rate now is around 1%." Her experience aligns with legal reports indicating that by mid-2024, Turkiye rejected approximately 98.7% of residency renewal applications submitted by Iraqi nationals, particularly in cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya. Analysts point to policy changes aimed at limiting foreign residency, especially in regions classified as 'saturated.' Economic Strain Iraqi journalist Mustafa al-Wasiti, who works in Ankara as a correspondent for an Iraqi TV channel, recounted that his $1,500 monthly income was sufficient in his first year but no longer covers expenses. 'I worked for several media outlets just to cover rent, utility bills, and communication costs,' he noted. 'The apartment I once rented for $200 now costs $500. Financially, it's become extremely difficult.' Al-Wasiti, tied to his job and accustomed to life in Turkiye, indicated that returning to Iraq is not an option. 'The amount I earn would be considered high in Iraq but is barely enough to survive here.' He estimated that only a small number of Iraqis remain in Turkiye, most of them unable to leave and exploring other options such as immigration to the US. Mazطn al-Maamouri, another Iraqi resident, shared that he used to get a monthly remittance of $700 to $800 from Iraq, which was once sufficient. 'Early this year, workers received wage increases, but prices rose even more. Rent, public transport, and food costs all surged—prompting many Iraqi families to return home,' he remarked. Tightened Rules Turkish economist Jalal al-Bakkar attributed the Iraqi exodus to stricter rules on tourist and property-based residency. 'Authorities imposed new financial conditions on property-related residency permits and placed tighter controls on tourist visas. This pushed out long-time residents,' he observed. He added that the Turkish Lira's depreciation further raised costs. 'Iraqis were the top foreign buyers of real estate in Turkiye until 2023, but now property ownership no longer guarantees residency—putting their status at risk.' According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, Iraqis purchased more than 10,000 properties annually between 2018 and 2022, making them the top foreign investors in the Turkish housing market. However, property-based residency rules were amended in early 2023, requiring higher property values and longer holding periods to qualify for legal status. Turkiye's economy has been hit by a series of crises, Bakkar outlined, including the 2023 earthquake, national elections, and global inflation. 'The Russian-Ukrainian war drove up prices of essential goods. Turkiye relies on Russian gas and has economic ties with Ukraine. All of this has weighed heavily on the Turkish economy,' he explained. The 2023 earthquake in southern Turkiye caused economic damage exceeding $34 billion, according to World Bank estimates, straining public resources and prompting the government to tighten social spending and migration controls. Over the past two decades, conflict and instability forced thousands of Iraqis to seek safety in neighboring countries, with Turkiye becoming a major destination. But rising costs and tighter regulations have driven many to return—while others wait, hoping for a chance to resettle in Europe. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 11,000 Iraqis currently residing in Turkiye are actively seeking asylum in Europe, with Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands being the most sought-after destinations.
Shafaq News
6 hours ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan issues 'final warning' to Baghdad over salary crisis
Shafaq News – Erbil On Saturday, the Barzani Headquarters gave Iraq's federal government what it described as a 'final opportunity' to resolve long-standing disputes with the Kurdistan Region, particularly the delayed disbursement of public salaries. In a statement, the headquarters said the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) political bureau held a meeting to determine its stance amid the ongoing deadlock over budget allocations, salary payments, and other financial entitlements owed to the Region. According to the statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein returned to the Region today after holding talks with several key Iraqi political figures. He reportedly informed the KDP leadership that federal officials and political forces had pledged to resolve the dispute and release Kurdistan's financial entitlements 'within the coming days.' 'In light of these assurances, and in the interest of preserving calm dialogue and the broader national interest, we have decided to grant the Iraqi federal government in Baghdad a final chance to resolve this crisis,' the statement read. The party emphasized its belief in dialogue as the best path forward, reiterating that 'mutual understanding is key to settling all outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad.'
