Asia Iraq Real non-oil GDP is expected to rebound by 12% as the economy recovers from last year's sharp contraction, helped by higher oil prices and the easing of containment measures
Asia Iraq The 1.400-year-old Arch of Ctesiphon, the world's largest brick arch located about 30 km south of Baghdad, is undergoing restoration work as part of efforts to bring back to former glory a number of historical sites
Asia Iraq The country has said it will "voluntarily" repatriate its citizens who are stranded on the Polish-Belarus border; the ministry says it has put together a list of more than 570 Iraqis willing to return, the first flight is scheduled for today
Asia Iraq The government has recently approved a plan to reduce cultivated areas by 50% next winter due to a severe drought that is forcing a restriction on irrigation
Asia Iraq Lake Milh, once a tourist attraction with thousands of visitors a day, is now severely polluted and the fauna is disappearing, due to drought and a decrease in the flow of the Euphrates for dams built in Turkey
Asia Iraq Despite being scheduled to vote next year, elections were held yesterday in the country due to a strong popular uprising; airspace and land border crossings were closed and more than 250.000 security personnel were tasked with protecting the vote
Asia Iraq Hundreds of Iraqi protesters, including a significant number of women, marched in Baghdad a week before early elections; the first protests calling for such reforms broke out in 2019
Asia Iraq The Digital Media Center recommended to establish an Iraqi independent organization specialized in cybersecurity
Asia Iraq Interior minister arrived in Babil to oversee security plans for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, the world's largest annual public gathering held in Karbala; only 40.000 foreigners will be allowed this year
Asia Iraq Nearly 3 in 5 children can't access safely managed water services and less than half of all schools have access to basic water, putting children's health, nutrition, cognitive development and future livelihoods at risk
Asia Iraq An initiative by UNICEF Iraq will provide 3.000 schools with Internet service; the fund stressed that the next step is to extend Internet connectivity to all schools
Asia Iraq Dozens of farmers staged a demonstration in Wasit yesterday to demand the payment of their financial dues that have been delayed this year, announcing an escalation of protests if they fail to do so
Asia Iraq Prime Minister al-Kadhimi, visiting Washington, signed an agreement with US President Joe Biden ending the combat mission in the country by the end of this year, through a gradual reduction in military personnel