Iraq

The Oil Minister indicated that Turkey's decision to continue suspending oil exports from the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk is not connected to purported technical problems with oil pipelines that followed the earthquake

This budget, which the Kurds seem to have reluctantly accepted due to internal pressures may hold a minefield of unintended consequences and conflicts

While Kurdish ambitions have aspired to be a pivotal force in post-2003 Iraq, they have struggled to retain control and influence in Baghdad

Despite its substantial size and significant spending, the budget's ratification has set new precedents and instigated political and structural discord with deep implications

ong the Shiite reactions to the incident of burning the Qur’an in Sweden, al-Sadr was the most insistent when he threatened that “if the government does not take a stand,” he will act in his own way. Indeed, later supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr raided the Swedish embassy (July 20, 2023), which led to The birth of another crisis for Iraqi diplomacy, while the reactions in Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two largest Islamic poles in the region, were more formal and diplomatic. A statement of condemnation was issued by the Foreign Ministry in Saudi Arabia, as well as in Iran, and the two countries summoned the Swedish ambassador to protest. There is no other Islamic and Arab country where the situation has deteriorated as much as the situation in Iraq.

The North Atlantic Treat y Organization (NATO) Global Warming Modeling predicts that "that over the next decade in Iraq, temperatures will rise by 1°C in the short term and 2°C in the medium and long term, while the whole world is now trying not to rise by 0.5°C." .

Considering the late elections, which cover only 15 central and southern governorates, as one of the most important stages both for drawing a map of the political streets in Iraq and for bridging the gap created by the dissolution of local councils after the 2019 demonstrations, legal deadlines and accusations of corruption. . After the formation of the coordination framework government, the elections will be a popular referendum on the position of the current Shiite front alone in power. Within this front, the weight and size of the two opposing poles are pitted against each other

According to GFW, Iraq will lose 137 hectares[1] of wooded land between 2000 and 2022, 22 hectares due to fire alone and the remaining 115 hectares due to various reasons. The year with the highest loss of trees and green space was in 2003 when 7 hectares of wooded land were destroyed by fire.

Alina L. Romanowski, the US Ambassador to Iraq, has asserted that the repositioning of US troops within Iraq constitutes a routine rotational measure, unrelated to the internal dynamics of the country. Romanowski the powerful American woman in Iraq emphasized Washington's dedication to cultivating collaborative ties with Baghdad. In a contrasting perspective, Hashd commander Waad Qaddo, who leads the 30th Brigade, he unveiled that officials in Washington have communicated a clear message to the Iraqi military delegation: their intention to assume control over the Iraqi-Syrian border. As part of this endeavor, they are strategically substituting 2,500 troops with Ohio National guard fighters, In accordance with this, the movement is planned and directed elsewhere.

For instance, a substantial gap of 1 trillion 258 billion dinars is evident in the total expenditures alone. This discrepancy has been identified by multiple entities, including the Ministry of Finance, the Parliamentary Finance Committee, the Iraqi High Economic Council, and 327 Members of Parliament (pp. 60-63). What adds an intriguing dimension to this issue is the variance in expenditures for Anbar province, a matter that should have garnered the attention of the speaker and Sunni members within the finance committee. While the allocated budget for Anbar province was originally set at 466 billion dinars, the actual sum tallies up to just 436 billion dinars. Thus, this stark contrast amounts to a substantial 30 billion dinars in the collection of the allocated budget for this province!

In 2021, Iraq's carbon dioxide emissions surged to a staggering 177.8 million tons, marking an alarming increase of nearly sevenfold compared to a mere 27.1 million tons emitted over the previous five decades.

Intriguingly, a significant number of lists and coalitions, both within and outside the Shiite spectrum, have surfaced as entirely new and unfamiliar entities for this election. This strategic move is aimed at enticing voters and avoiding any lingering consequences from past mistakes. Notably, these Shiite affiliated groups which account for approximately 11 factions, have adopted a dual approach, entering some provinces with a unified list while fielding separate lists in others. Furthermore, they have outlined their intention to initiate a post-election coalition, adding an intriguing twist to the electoral dynamics.

In accordance with a comprehensive report conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, specifically the Yachiyo Engineering Company, pertaining to waste data analysis in Iraq, with a particular emphasis on both the capital cities and the Basra province, as of 2022, it has been clarified that each individual in Iraq generates an approximate daily waste output of 1.36 kilograms. This figure significantly surpasses the global average waste generation per capita, which stands at 0.74 kilograms. Consequently, the cumulative daily waste collection in Iraq amounts to an alarming 20,000 tons, while the Kurdistan Region contributes an additional 6,900 tons to this considerable waste burden.

In the upcoming provincial council elections, a significant development unfolds as the formidable Al-Hassm al-Watani coalition ( National Coalition), one of Iraq's largest political fronts, enters the competition in Sunni provinces, contending against three other major fronts. Notably, the leading contender is Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi's list, known as "Taqaddum."

The growth of industries in Iraq is substantial. The oil sector alone daily consumes 388 million liters, with certain fields sourcing water from the Euphrates River. The cement sector's annual water consumption, largely from rivers and wells, reaches 10.2 billion liters. Steam electricity production uses 114 million liters, and the steel and iron industries require 2.8 billion liters of water annually.

Another pivotal aspect of these negotiations pertains to the complex issue of oil compensation, how to remunerate companies for each barrel of oil produced. In the 2023 budget, the Kurdistan Region has committed to delivering 400,000 barrels of oil daily to SOMO. However, the method of covering the production and transportation costs remains ambiguous.

This visit comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Sudani’s government, which is facing significant pressure. On one hand, the Sadrists have reentered the political arena with heightened enthusiasm, putting pressure on the government over its approach to the war. Following the attack on the Swedish embassy, the Gaza conflict has taken on crucial significance in domestic politics for the Sadrists. They aim to accomplish two goals with this approach: firstly, to take charge of the Palestinian issue and position themselves as heroes within the Shiite world, rather than leaving it to the armed groups of the Iraqi Islamic Resistance.

Within the ongoing research project “The Condition of Life of Women in Iraq and the Kurdistan region”, Dr Ana Cristina Marques analyses the preliminary results focusing on women’s economic empowerment through paid employment.

The ousting of Mohammed Halbousi from the parliamentary speaker's position is poised to directly influence the upcoming provincial council elections scheduled for next month.

We will delve into the intricacies of importing gas from Turkmenistan, the commitment made by Sudani, and the destiny of multibillion-dollar projects designed to eradicate gas flaring and combustion in the oil and gas fields of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

On November 14, 2023, the Iraqi Ministry of Finance published a financial report detailing expenditures and revenues over the past nine months. Notably, no dinars were allocated to the Kurdistan Region; instead, funds were sourced from loans and banks. The report indicates total expenditures of 78.25 trillion dinars and combined oil and non-oil revenues of 95.84 trillion dinars, resulting in a surplus of 17.59 trillion dinars compared to expenditures