From Foreign Waters

  The recent signing of three 20-year agreements between Crescent Petroleum, a leading energy company based in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ), and Iraq's Ministry of Oil to appraise, develop, and produce oil and gas from two blocks in Diyala governorate and one in Basra governorate is a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations between both nations. However, the benefits of this collaboration extend beyond mere diplomacy and can be felt in the economic growth and job creation opportunities it provides to Iraq. The agreements are expected to deliver much-needed natural gas to fuel nearby power plants and improve government services, particularly in Diyala and Basra. The power plants in these regions have suffered from fuel shortages, which have led to electricity outages, causing significant disruptions to essential services such as hospitals, schools, and businesses. By providing a reliable source of natural gas, these agreements will help to address the electric...

  In a close encounter that went into extra time, Iraq took the lead through midfielder Ibrahim Bayesh in the 24th minute. Ten minutes into added time in normal time, Omani midfielder Salaah Al Yahyaei equalised from the penalty spot, sending the match into extra time. Midfielder Amjad Attwan put Iraq ahead after 116 minutes with another penalty but Omani striker Omar Al Malki pulled level three minutes later with a header. Iraqi defender Manaf Younis scored the winning goal two minutes into added time of extra time. فرح العراق اليوم بعد طول صبر وانتظار وفرحت معه الشعوب والقلوب ..كلنا اليوم عراقيين في الفرحة.. كلنا اليوم عراقيين في الانتصار ..مبروك كأس الخليج العربي يا أهلنا وأحبابنا .. وشكراً أهل البصرة وأهل العراق على حسن التنظيم والاستضافة .. pic.twitter.com/X6SfEOebqp — HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 19, 2023

  Flying from Dubai to Iraq's Kurdistan Region at night, the geography below is written in distinctive yellow-orange flames. Blazing lines of unwanted gas trace the Rumaila and West Qurna oil fields in southern Iraq, and then the historic Kirkuk field to the north. Driving from Erbil to the northern city of Dohuk, another large torch crowns a mountain in Shaikan Field. This wasteful burning vividly illustrates how Iraq and its Kurdistan region are simultaneously united and divided by   oil and its mismanagement. Last October's elections were followed by a year of disputes, protests, outside pressure and a mix of sporadic and calculated violence before Iraq finally confirmed a new prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, on October 27. The Kurdish parliament has postponed its own elections by a year to the end of next year. The new government brings together the pro-Iranian Coordination Framework, the Sunni parties, represented by Parliament Speaker Mohammed A...

  Iraq has filed a complaint with Interpol as it seeks to increase pressure on several states to return looted artifacts, the culture ministry said. The country, the birthplace of the world's oldest recorded civilization, is home to artifacts. Some have been lost over the years and have yet to be found. "The case is ongoing and we have had excellent results in favor of the return of Iraqi antiquities," said ministry spokesman Ahmed Al Alawi. The Ministry informed that it had a plan to recover the stolen artifacts. "There is a group of recovery operations including some foreign states cooperating with the ministry," Mr. Al Alawi said. For decades, the war-torn country has battled widespread theft of its antiques and old paintings. The looting began when the government lost control of the South in 1991 after the First Gulf War and continued during the security vacuum created after the US-led invasion of 2003.

  An Iraqi -American excavation team has unearthed a monumental rock-carving relief in a major  archaeological   site in the northern city of Mosul. The carvings were found at Mashki Gate, or Al Maska in Arabic, one of the monumental gates for the old city of Nineveh, the imperial capital and most populous city of the Assyrian Empire. The reliefs date back to the era of the Assyrian King Sinharib who reigned from 705 to 681 BC, Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage director Dr Laith Majid Hussein said  The eight marble relics show war scenes as well as palm, grape, pomegranate and fig trees, said Ali Shalgham, head of the excavation team. The Mashki Gate is one of several set up at the nearly 12km stone and mud brick wall of the archaeological site of Nineveh in the heart of Mosul. The “water carriers' gate” is believed to have been used to lead livestock to nearby Tigris River or to bring water to the city.

    Roads leading to the Green Zone, the seat of key government offices, Parliament and foreign embassies as well as residences of senior politicians , were also blocked. Concrete blast walls were erected on Al Jumhuriya Bridge leading to the fortified zone, with security personnel stationed top, behind sand bags. On Friday, security forces conducted door-to-door search operations in the nearby Karrada neighbourhood where many activists live and operate. Posters of politicians with crosses on their faces and flyers were confiscated. Protesters waved Iraqi flags or draped them over their shoulders as they gathered on Saturday, with many carrying photos of loved ones who were killed by security forces during the protests. “Whether you kill ten or one hundred we will not abandon our cause,” they chanted, repeating one of the popular slogans of 2019 protests. "We are out today against the agents who have been ruling Iraq for more than 20 years now without any l...

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the  Iraq ’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Friday ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit.  #Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with #Iraq ’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Jeddah. https://t.co/zxjUmhcGzY — Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 16, 2022 The meeting was also attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and Iraqi Oil Minister, Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismail, who signed an electrical interconnection agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

  Here’s something g reat that I want to share with what I read today. The visit of Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi to the UAE could demonstrate a defining moment in the Arab country's endeavors to reestablish dependability, modify its economy and foundation and in the long run recapture its legitimate spot in the Arab overlay. It was seen that the nation is the support of civilisation where there is a great deal Iraq can offer this locale past legislative issues. Its exceptionally taught individuals have been important for the improvement interaction in numerous nations in this locale, including the UAE.   Luckily, the Iraqi public today understand that their predetermination exists in the Arab crease. Executive Al Kadhimi has been vocal about this as he more than once encouraged Arab states to stretch out their assistance to his country. For me, that is a significant advance in the long method of restoring the country. Looking at it, Iraq will in the long run rec...

After over two weeks of violence clashes over gasoline price hike in Iran, the President Hassan Rouhani has asked for the release of innocent unarmed civilians. Iran has been reeling under dissatisfaction over bad governance.   On November 15, Iran government increased the prices of gasoline by 300 percent sending waves of fears over almost 100 cities. Most of Iran is a poor country, where people are finding it difficult to make ends meet.   Most youth do not have jobs and there is virtually no self sustained economy. Civilians have been asking for the clerical leaders to step down. However, the Iranian clerical rules have comfortably pinned the blame of the outburst on “thugs” linked to its opponents in exile (Qatar for example) and the country’s main foreign foes like the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia to name a few. Speaking through its own channels, chief commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Hossein Salami spoke out words of wisdom. He has be...