From left, Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani sit with President of Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani. AFP
From left, Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani sit with President of Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani. AFP
From left, Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani sit with President of Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani. AFP
From left, Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani sit with President of Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani. AFP

Iraq's Kurdish government rejects changes to federal budget


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Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government said on Friday it was opposed to changes in the draft federal budget that it claims infringe on the rights of the Kurdish people.

The KRG's opposition poses a challenge to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani as he attempts to adopt a three-year budget, a flagship policy of his government that came to power late last year, backed by a coalition of Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties.

The KRG said it would not abide by any other decision outside the agreement signed with Mr Al Sudani's government, which appeared to be a reference to a deal between the two governments setting a framework for the resumption of oil flows from the northern Iraqi region via Turkey.

Before Mr Al Sudani formed his government, he struck a deal with the powerful Kurdish Democratic Party, which dominates the administration in Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq.

The agreement included ending a long-running dispute over budget transfers to Erbil and oil revenue sharing between the national government and the Kurdish region, three Kurdish officials said.

Under the Iraqi constitution, the Kurdish region is entitled to a portion of the national budget. But the arrangement collapsed in 2014 when the Kurds began selling crude independently from the Kurdish region.

In 2017, Iraqi forces retook disputed territories including the oil-producing city of Kirkuk. Baghdad resumed some budget payments, but they have been sporadic.

The KRG called the changes in the draft budget, introduced by members of the parliament's finance committee, unconstitutional and “inconsistent with the agreement signed between the regional government and the federal government”.

In March, Mr Al Sudani's cabinet approved the 2023 draft budget of 197.828 trillion Iraqi dinars ($135.6 billion) that would be referred to parliament for approval.

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.

Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.

For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae

 

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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Updated: May 26, 2023, 5:57 PM`