|
Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'big news'.
Found 8 results
-
Oil Minister: Iraq aims for regional leadership and an end to gas flaring Iraqi News Agency Monday, August 10, 2026 Baghdad - INA - 8/10/2026 Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair confirmed on Saturday that the ministry is proceeding with the implementation of the government program plans so that Iraq can take the lead in energy production, while indicating that the government has a vision to end the issue of flared gas. The Minister of Oil stated in a press conference attended by a correspondent from the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "despite the challenges and problems related to the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry has managed to secure petroleum products for citizens," noting that the Ministry is working around the clock in accordance with the Prime Minister's directives." He added that "the Ministry is striving to develop the oil industry, increase production and exports, and build infrastructure, as well as increase investments and attract international companies to invest in oil and gas optimally," pointing out that "Iraq needs to build advanced infrastructure after the country has endured fifty lean years of wars and terrorism." He affirmed that "the government is proceeding with its program and is determined to ensure Iraq assumes a leading role, which will positively impact the economic and living conditions," noting that "the ministry's exploration teams are conducting surveys in several governorates to replenish depleted reserves." He explained that "the ministry is working on two parallel tracks regarding the gas sector: first, eliminating the issue of flared gas, and second, developing gas fields," adding that "Iraq spends significant sums on gas, and therefore we are working to develop it, having awarded 14 contracts to international companies for this purpose." He noted that "the ministry is also working to develop export infrastructure," emphasizing that "the recent visit to the United States represents a new chapter in cooperation with international companies, and the presence of American companies in Iraq reflects the attractiveness of the country's investment environment." He added that "international companies are capable of training Iraqi personnel and contributing to infrastructure development, as well as attracting a large workforce," explaining that "the ministry signed memoranda of understanding and contracts comprising seven articles, including two contracts for developing contracts and investing in associated oil and gas, in addition to signing an addendum to the agreement concerning Qurna-2, the Nasiriyah project, and the four blocks." He noted the signing of three memoranda of understanding with American companies, explaining that these memoranda would unlock significant investment opportunities, and that there was also a step related to the export project via Aqaba. He stated that Iraq exported approximately 3.4 million barrels per day through the Strait of Hormuz before the war, but that export volumes through this route decreased after the war, emphasizing the need to find future solutions to diversify export routes. He clarified that the Basra-Fishkhabur pipeline project would be constructed under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with a company undertaking its construction and operation as an investment, He indicated that current oil exports could not reach previous levels, but that exports could be restored to their previous levels after the war ended. He affirmed that "all oil fields are ready to resume exports to their previous levels," explaining that "the government is working to ensure a safe environment for companies." Regarding the oil agreement with Turkey, the minister stated that "the agreement was renewed and included specific conditions, while Turkey proposed limiting it to oil transport and Iraq's participation in certain projects," noting that "the planned quantity of 700,000 barrels cannot be supplied through Kirkuk." Regarding the oil and gas sector in the Kurdistan Region, the Minister of Oil affirmed that "there is a tripartite agreement between the federal government, the region, and the oil companies, and it can be amended through negotiation," emphasizing that the ministry "does not differentiate between citizens in Kurdistan and any citizen in any other province." He added that "the region's situation requires extensive dialogue," stressing "the importance of continuing negotiations to reach solutions that serve the national interest." He further stated that "one of the Ministry of Oil's objectives is to locate storage facilities in some countries, and there is ongoing dialogue and work on this matter," adding that "Iraq currently produces 2.7 million barrels per day and exports between 1.5 and 1.7 million barrels per day." https://ina.iq/en/economy/51057-oil-minister-iraq-aims-for-regional-leadership-and-an-end-to-gas-flaring.html -
Foreign Policy magazine describes al-Zaidi as "the most powerful man in Iraq": Trump's bet on his leadership to reshape the Iraqi landscape may run into obstacles within the political system Latest News Sunday, July 26, 2026 Foreign Policy magazine describes al-Zaidi as "the most powerful man in Iraq": Trump's bet on his leadership to reshape the Iraqi landscape may run into obstacles within the political system Baghdad - One News - 7/26/2026 Foreign Policy Magazine believes that the warm welcome shown by US President Donald Trump during his reception of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House was not merely a diplomatic courtesy, but rather reflects a new American approach based on supporting leaders capable of consolidating state power, reducing Iranian influence, and opening their countries’ economies to American companies. According to the magazine's report, the Trump administration, led by its envoy to the region, Tom Barrack, is betting on a "strongman" model in Iraq, after previous US administrations focused on political compromises and power-sharing. Washington believes that having a single leader capable of exerting control over state institutions and security services is more effective in achieving its interests than systems of governance based on balances and coalitions. The report indicated that the search for “Washington’s man” in Baghdad began after the 2025 elections, when Trump publicly rejected the nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the US administration considered close to Iran, before Iraqi political forces turned to nominating Ali al-Zaidi, who at the time was a young banker with no political base or government experience. The report argues that al-Zaidi was a consensus candidate for Iraqi political forces, while Washington considered him a figure who could be supported to implement an agenda based on strengthening state authority, restricting weapons to the government, and reducing the influence of armed factions, in parallel with launching a broad campaign to combat corruption. He added that al-Zaidi made Washington his first foreign destination after assuming the premiership, and pledged to proceed with the project of integrating and disarming armed factions, including groups close to Iran, within an American vision that considers these steps part of a broader project to rebuild the Iraqi state. However, the report indicates that this bet faces significant challenges, because the Iraqi political system was designed after 2003 to prevent the monopolization of power by one person, and previous attempts to integrate armed factions have not succeeded in ending their loyalties, as they have retained their leadership and organizational structures despite their members receiving salaries and positions within state institutions. He added that some factions announced their readiness to coordinate with the government, while others, including Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, refused to engage in the weapons control project, making the implementation of this plan more complicated. The report also argues that the recent war has strengthened the presence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard inside Iraq and solidified the ties of some factions to Tehran, which makes it more difficult for any government attempt to impose a state monopoly on weapons within a short period of time. The report stressed that many Iraqi officials want to strengthen state sovereignty and reduce the influence of armed groups, but desire alone is not enough given the political, military and economic influence that these factions possess, as well as the connection of some of them to Iran. The report concludes that the Trump administration's bet on transforming Ali al-Zaidi into a central leader capable of reshaping the Iraqi landscape may face structural obstacles related to the nature of the Iraqi political system, the entanglement of power centers, and internal balances of power. It warns that the pursuit of quick results could lead to an escalation of internal conflict rather than the consolidation of stability. https://1news-iq.net/مجلة-فورين-بوليسي-الأميركية-تصف-الز/
-
The anti-corruption shockwave has led to the dismissal of deputy prime ministers. A leader in the coordination framework told One News: "The reactivation of the Commander-in-Chief's office stemmed from al-Zaydi's conviction that reaching an agreement soon
ronscarpa posted a topic in Iraq & Dinar Related News
The anti-corruption shockwave has led to the dismissal of deputy prime ministers. A leader in the coordination framework told One News: "The reactivation of the Commander-in-Chief's office stemmed from al-Zaydi's conviction that reaching an agreement soon on the Ministers of Defense and Interior was impossible." HOT: Latest News Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Anti-corruption shockwave topples deputy prime ministers' positions... A leader in the coordination framework for "One News": Reactivating the Commander-in-Chief's office came from Al-Zaydi's conviction that it is impossible to reach an agreement soon on the ministers of defense and interior Baghdad - One News - 7/22/2026 A leader in the coordination framework, who preferred not to mention his name, revealed to “One News” a political agreement stipulating that no new positions for deputy prime ministers will be created during the current phase, in a remarkable shift imposed by the anti-corruption campaign led by the government of Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi, and the wide repercussions it has had within the political scene. The leader said that the anti-corruption campaign has reshuffled the cards of the political forces, and has prompted a number of blocs, especially those with armed wings, to back down from demands that they considered part of their electoral entitlement, most notably the creation of positions for deputy prime ministers and obtaining additional executive positions within the government. He added that this decline does not represent a passing political settlement, but rather reveals the magnitude of the shock caused by anti-corruption measures within forces that were seeking to expand their influence in state institutions, before they were forced to recalculate under the pressure of expanding investigations and escalating possibilities of prosecution. Meanwhile, the leader revealed that the Iraqi government's reactivation of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, after nearly 12 years of its abolition, came as a result of a conviction that had taken root in Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi that it was impossible to reach a political consensus soon regarding the candidates for the Ministries of Interior and Defense. He explained that assigning former Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari to the duties of the office director reflects a trend to rearrange the security leadership center, in light of expectations that the two ministries will remain vacant for the coming months due to the continuation of political disputes, the complexity of the nomination conditions, and the failure to reach a final understanding regarding the proposed names. According to the leader, Al-Zaydi is seeking, through reactivating the office of the Commander-in-Chief, to prevent any vacuum in the management of the security establishment, and to concentrate security and military decisions within his office, in order to ensure the continuity of issuing orders, coordinating the work of agencies and forces, and managing sensitive files away from the repercussions of the delay in completing the cabinet. He explained that the delay in deciding on the Ministries of Interior and Defense is due to two main factors: the first is the existence of an American veto on some blocs that are trying to push forward candidates to take over the two security ministries, and the second is the continuation of the conflict between the political forces, especially the Shiite ones, regarding the distribution of portfolios, the names of the candidates, and the limits of influence within the military and security institutions. The leader stressed that reactivating the Commander-in-Chief's office is not a traditional administrative procedure, but rather establishes a broader transformation in the security decision-making structure, by redrawing the leadership pyramid at a highly sensitive stage, and placing the Prime Minister's office at the heart of managing military and security files until the fate of the Ministries of Interior and Defense is decided. https://1news-iq.net/صدمة-مكافحة-الفساد-تُسقط-مناصب-نواب-رئ/ -
Al-Mada: Al-Zaidi intends to request Iranian support for the transfer of ballistic missiles and to finalize Iraq's weapons file before the end of September latest news Tuesday, July 21, 2026 Al-Mada: Al-Zaidi intends to request Iranian support for the transfer of ballistic missiles and to finalize the weapons file before the end of September Baghdad - One News - 7/21/2026 Al-Mada newspaper reported that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, five days after his visit to Washington, is preparing to head to Tehran on July 23, in a visit that will test the government’s ability to implement the pledges he brought from the American capital. She indicated that during his visit to Iran, Al-Zaydi will ask Tehran to exert pressure on the armed factions to release what the sources described as the “ballistic card,” and to hand over the missiles in their possession before September 30, which is the date set by the government to end the issue of weapons outside the state's control. According to the newspaper, the meetings in Tehran will focus primarily on the groups that government circles describe as “rebels,” who refuse to disarm, noting that estimates suggest they possess hundreds of drones, in addition to at least eight ballistic missiles that they obtained from Iran and refuse to hand over. https://1news-iq.net/المدى-الزيدي-يعتزم-طلب-دعم-إيراني-لتسل/
-
Saturday Early Afternoon Opinions @ 3:33 PM MST - 7/18/2026
ronscarpa posted a topic in Dinar Rumors
REMEMBER, no one really knows what will happen, or when. They're simply stating their opinions based on what they perceive to be happening in Iraq... So, take everything with a grain of salt ... RON 7-18-2026 Jeff A lot of people might think the rate change itself brings a lot of money into Iraq. That's not the case. A rate change brings no profit into Iraq. All that the rate change does is get rid of larger currency notes with zeros and increases the purchasing power to small currency notes. That's all it does. It doesn't magically bring money into the country. It does a lot more for their economy. It creates jobs and economic diversification. It does a lot of powerful things but it's not going to give the country of Iraq more money when they do this. 7-18-2026 Clare Press Release Quote: "Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi: We welcome the understanding reached between the Central Bank of Iraq and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which marks an important step toward advancing banking sector reform and strengthening its integration into the global financial system." 7-18-2026 Stephen I am someone who believes 100% the Iraqi dinar will revalue in the near future. That is my belief. That is my speculation. I'm not claiming it as fact. No on knows what's going to happen. -
PM Al-Zaidi Announces the “Energy City” Project Plan in Al-Faw from Houston Iraqi News Agency Thursday, July 16, 2026 Baghdad - INA - 7/16/2026 Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi announced the “Energy City” Project Plan in Al-Faw from Houston. The Media Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement, received by The Iraqi News Agency-INA that “The Bilateral Chamber of Commerce hosted Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi at a joint economic dialogue forum held in Houston, Texas, attended by the Minister of Oil, the Minister of Electricity, a number of advisers, and a large gathering of representatives of U.S. companies, business leaders, investors, bankers, and representatives of investment, financing, and advisory institutions”. At the opening of the forum, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi delivered remarks in which he affirmed the government’s determination to remove all obstacles and barriers to attracting investment. He also announced the plans for the “Energy City” projects on the waterfront of the Al-Faw Peninsula in southern Iraq, which include oil refining and crude processing complexes, gas production and gathering facilities, power generation plants, all connected to the strategic oil pipeline network and the Development Road corridor. The statement said ,"The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to launching a new era of Iraqi-U.S. cooperation in the energy sector, stressing that Iraq today needs partners, not contractors. He affirmed that the government will provide all necessary guarantees to ensure a secure and supportive investment environment, accompanied by financial and banking reforms that facilitate business operations and create more employment opportunities." For his part, David Phillips, Chairman of the Bilateral Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Prime Minister Al-Zaidi’s participation in the forum, affirming the desire of the Texas business community, the broader private sector, and leading U.S. companies from various industries and states to invest in and cooperate with Iraq and seize the promising opportunities offered by the country’s long-term plans to increase crude oil and natural gas production from developed fields, in addition to contributing to the energy sector. https://ina.iq/en/politics/50478-pm-al-zaidi-announces-the-energy-city-project-plan-in-al-faw-from-houston.html
-
Al-Sudani: 10 new residential cities will be announced in Iraq PoliticsIraqHousing CrisisSudaneseNew Residential Cities 2023-12-27 // 03:12 Shafaq News / Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani announced, this Wednesday morning, the launch of work on the new Al-Jawahiri residential city project, in Abu Ghraib district, west of the capital, Baghdad, one of the five new city projects that were announced as part of the government’s strategy to address the housing crisis. Reducing overcrowding in major city centres. This took place during a ceremony held on the occasion, attended by a number of ministers, members of the new cities implementation team, and members of the family of the late great poet Muhammad Mahdi Al-Jawahiri, as well as representatives of the Chinese and Iraqi companies involved in the implementation. Al-Sudani said in his speech on the sidelines of the ceremony, that the government identified, from the beginning of its duties, the flaw in the housing crisis, and prepared thoughtful plans to address it, which included constructing integrated residential cities, not complexes, and choosing locations for them on the outskirts of Baghdad and the governorates, away from overcrowded areas. He stated that the government announced 5 residential cities as a first phase, to be built in the capital, Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Nineveh, and Anbar, and later 10 new residential cities will be announced in other governorates, stressing that the goal is to reach 250-300 thousand housing units, through which the poor classes will be targeted. And there will be a commitment to housing unit prices to remain constant. Al-Sudani also indicated that the New Al-Jawahiri City project will include, for the first time, 25% of the serviced lands, which the government will distribute among citizens according to mechanisms that will be approved. The total area of the New Al-Jawahiri City project is 7,121 dunams, and it includes 30,000 various housing units, 10,000 serviced residential plots of land, universities and commercial centers, and about 70 schools. It will have all other service facilities and urban activity centers, within the framework of designing a smart city that takes into account standards. Environment, modernity and service provision using electronic systems. The media office of Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani announced, earlier today, that the latter laid the foundation stone for the new jeweler city in Abu Ghraib district, west of the capital, Baghdad. Al-Sudani had stated a few days ago that the government had raised the slogan of not keeping any projects delayed, and that the year 2024 would be the year of project completion. It is noteworthy that Iraq is suffering from a stifling housing crisis due to the increase in its population compared to the number of residential complexes, in addition to the inability of citizens with limited income to build their own housing unit due to the high cost of land and construction materials. The Ministry of Construction and Housing estimates that Iraq needs more than three million housing units to meet the housing crisis in the country. https://shafaq.com/ar/سیاسة/السوداني-سيتم-ال-علان-عن-10-مدن-سكنية-جديدة-في-العراق
-
“Neither Abbas nor Hamas.” Netanyahu announces his plan for the future of Gaza Arab And InternationalPalestineBenjamin NetanyahuIsraelGaza War 2023-12-11 // 09:35 Shafaq News / Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed on Monday that his country will be solely responsible for security in Gaza after the war, rejecting the idea of the Palestinian Authority controlling the Strip. During his meeting with the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, Netanyahu said, “The difference between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority is that Hamas wants to destroy us now, and the Palestinian Authority wants to do that in stages.” He added: "Hamas does not allow anyone to leave Gaza, and we will allow that after assuming responsibility for the Strip." Israel pledged to eliminate the Hamas movement after it carried out an attack on Israeli settlements on October 7, killing 1,200 and detaining about 240 Israelis, according to official statistics. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced that more than 18,000 Palestinians had been killed and about 50,000 injured since Israel began bombing the Strip after completely besieging it. https://shafaq.com/ar/عربي-ودولي/لا-عباس-ولا-حماس-نتنياهو-يعلن-خطته-لمستقبل-غزة
