OIC Chief Offers Condolences to Iraq Following Deadly Fire in Kut City
He also expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and the injured.
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Arab News
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Pakistan condoles passing of Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences at the recent passing of Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Monday, noting that his 'courageous' struggle drew admiration and prayers from across the world. Prince Alwaleed passed away on July 19 after spending more than two decades in a coma following a traumatic car accident. As per media reports, the Saudi prince received urgent medical care from specialized American and Spanish physicians but never regained full consciousness. 'Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal,' Sharif wrote on the social media platform X. 'His long and courageous struggle drew admiration and prayers from many across the world.' Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal. His long and courageous struggle drew admiration and prayers from many across the world. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al… — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 21, 2025 The Pakistani premier offered condolences to Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi royal family and the people of Saudi Arabia on the prince's passing. 'May Allah grant him exalted ranks in Jannah,' Sharif concluded. Prince Alwaleed's funeral prayers were held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh on July 20, as per the Saudi Press Agency.
Asharq Al-Awsat
8 hours ago
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Kurdistan Offers to Deliver Oil, Calls for End to ‘Collective Punishment'
Despite weeks of intensive negotiations and multiple official visits between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region, a final resolution to the long-standing oil and budget disputes remains elusive. As a result, hundreds of thousands of public sector workers in Kurdistan have gone unpaid for over 75 days, deepening an already severe economic crisis. While the Iraqi federal government announced last week that an agreement to resume oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan was near, and both sides reportedly reached a 'near-final' deal, tangible progress has stalled. Reuters reported Friday that a restart of Kurdish oil exports is not imminent, citing both ongoing disputes and drone attacks on oilfields in the region that have slashed production by half. Nevertheless, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani reiterated Sunday his administration's readiness to hand over oil to Baghdad on one condition: that the federal government guarantees the region's share of the national budget and secures public salaries. Speaking at the inauguration of a new emergency water project in Erbil, Barzani demanded an end to what he described as 'collective punishment' of the Kurdish people. Addressing public criticism over local revenue use, Barzani said: 'We don't respond to irresponsible claims meant to mislead public opinion. Our projects are the real answer.' Barzani also pushed back against Kurdish voices advocating for Baghdad to directly distribute salaries, asserting the region's constitutional right to manage its own budget. 'We are a federal entity. Kurdistan must have its own budget, and how it is spent should be decided by its institutions and people,' he said. Tensions have grown in recent months as some Kurdish civil servants traveled to Baghdad, demanding the federal government bypass the KRG and pay salaries directly, a move Erbil firmly rejects. Barzani expressed frustration with Baghdad's withdrawal from earlier agreements, despite Erbil agreeing to hand over 230,000 barrels of oil per day to the federal SOMO company, as well as 120 billion dinars in monthly revenue. He warned that recent drone strikes on oil infrastructure could impact output but should not be used as an excuse to delay payments. The federal government counters that the KRG has failed to meet its oil transfer obligations and exceeded its allocated share of the national budget. In May, Iraq's Finance Ministry formally warned that funding would cease, citing overpayments that exceeded Kurdistan's legal 12.67% share.
Asharq Al-Awsat
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‘Oil-for-Salaries' Deal Ends Dispute Between Baghdad and Erbil
The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) reached a landmark agreement on Thursday that ends a years-long dispute over oil revenues and public sector salaries. The deal, announced following an emergency cabinet meeting in Baghdad, covers oil production handover, non-oil revenue sharing, and the resumption of salary payments to KRG employees beginning with May 2025. According to a government statement, the agreement was based on a recommendation by a ministerial committee and aligned with Kurdistan's regional cabinet decision No. 285, issued on July 16. KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani confirmed the breakthrough, stating that the federal government had approved a 'mutual understanding regarding salaries and the region's financial entitlements.' Under the terms of the deal, the KRG will hand over all crude oil production - currently 280,000 barrels per day (bpd) - to Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), with the exception of 50,000 bpd reserved for domestic consumption. This marks the first such commitment in more than two years, during which oil exports were suspended amid ongoing disputes and recent drone strikes targeting northern oilfields operated mostly by US firms. In return, the federal Ministry of Finance will pay $16 per barrel, in cash or in kind, to cover production costs. Revenues from locally consumed oil derivatives will go to the federal treasury after deducting production and transport expenses. On non-oil revenues, the KRG will transfer an initial 120 billion Iraqi dinars (approx. $92 million) to the federal finance ministry, representing an estimate of Baghdad's share for May. A joint audit team from both governments will verify and finalize the figures within two weeks. To resolve long-standing disputes over public salaries, a new joint committee will oversee the localization of KRG employee payrolls, in line with a ruling from the Federal Supreme Court. The committee is expected to complete its work within three months. As part of the agreement's first phase, the federal government will begin disbursing May salaries following confirmation from SOMO that the agreed oil volumes have been received.
