Iraq
Egypt’s Petromaint wins $121mn Iraqi oilfield maintenance deal, eyes operations in Algeria
Petromaint, a unit of Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum, has secured a $121mn contract to provide full maintenance services at Iraq’s Zubair oilfield, and is mulling establishing a specialised maintenance and construction services plant in Algeria.
Britain tightens controls on Iraqi migrants with new returns agreement
Britain signs new agreement with Iraq to return illegal migrants as Home Secretary Dan Jarvis announces formal repatriation process following previous £800,000 anti-smuggling deal.
More than 300,000 Syrians may have gone missing under Assad's rule, new investigations reveal
Syria's National Authority for the Missing estimates up to 300,000 people disappeared under Assad rule from 1970 onwards, with 63 documented mass graves mapped across the country.
Four million pilgrims from 140 nations converge on Iraq for Arba'een
At least 4.1mn people have attended the 2025 Araba'een pilgrimage in Iraq, according to local officials.
Gulf region sees temperatures spike above 52°C (125.6°F) as electricity grids buckle
Iraq forecasts seven provinces to exceed 52°C on Friday as extreme summer heat continues with temperatures reaching half the boiling point across southern regions.
Iraq launches $2bn dairy and food industry projects in Karbala
Iraq launches $2bn food industry projects in Karbala including dairy factory with 3,000-tonne daily capacity and meat facility processing 1,500 cattle daily, operated by Etihad Food Industries.
Iraq greenlights pharmaceutical factory and power projects in reconstruction push
Iraq approves pharmaceutical factory in Mosul and new power projects as part of reconstruction drive. Committee chaired by PM Al-Sudani endorses housing, electricity and industrial investments.
European Union allocates €1.1mn to address urgent water crisis in Iraq
The European Union is allocating €1.1mn million in humanitarian funding to address the escalating water crisis in Basra, southern Iraq, as climate change continues to dry out the country.
English Channel migrant arrivals exceed 25,000 in record time
The number of migrants entering British waters via English Channel crossings has surpassed 25,000 arrivals at the earliest point in any year since records began.
300-MW solar energy project underway in Iraq’s Karbala desert
Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel announced the continuation of work on the Karbala solar power plant project, which represents the first solar project to actually enter Iraq's national electricity grid
Iraqi PM launches Turkish-Lebanese joint bridge project in Baghdad reconstruction
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani launched construction of the Krayat Bridge over the River Tigris as part of Baghdad's long-delayed reconstruction campaign.
Iran faces new heatwave as 12 stations record temperatures above 50°C
Iran is experiencing a new heatwave beginning July 29, with more than 12 weather stations recording temperatures above 50°C (122°F) in the past 24 hours, according to the country's meteorological service.
Extreme heat slams Middle East amid growing regional climate emergency
Summer 2025 has turned the Middle East into a furnace. Across Syria, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, temperatures have surged past 50°C, prompting power cuts, water shortages and silent protests in some of the world’s hottest cities.
Iraq repatriates 15,000 citizens from Syria’s al-Hol camp
The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced that it has repatriated 15,000 Iraqi nationals from the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, with 10,000 already returned to their home regions across the country.
Iraq shuts down as temperatures soar above 53°C
Iraq has topped the list of countries with the world's highest temperatures, with several Iraqi cities recording temperatures exceeding half the boiling point.
ASH: Türkiye – geopolitical opportunity knocks
Potential for big wins, but also new headaches for Erdogan.
Iraq turns to solar energy with 535 government projects and citizen incentives
Iraq's National Team for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects confirmed that the Baghdad government has decided to implement 535 projects in government institutions to generate electricity through solar energy.
Egypt, other Arab states condemn Israeli airstrikes on Syria
Several Arab countries have strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, which targeted key sites linked to Syria’s Interior and Defence Ministries.
Iraq plans ten new dams as "El Niño" worsens water crisis
Iraq's water resources Minister Awn Dhiab Abdullah said that “El Niño's negative impact” on Iraq is increasing, with 12 provinces now relying exclusively on groundwater.