This report examines the often-overlooked lived realities of communities on the frontlines of climate change. It explores the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening local information environments in humanitarian contexts, where communities are suffering from unprecedented climate impacts. Global climate discussions tend to focus on timelines to action and statistical …
Work on a dictionary that promises to improve our knowledge of an ancient civilisation has been completed 90 years after it began, outliving nearly 100 lexicographers who worked on it. The Chicago Assyrian Dictionary decodes the Akkadian language spoken thousands of years ago in what is now Iraq, in parts …
Oil prices rallied more than $3 a barrel on Wednesday, recovering all the losses triggered by last week’s decision by rich consuming nations to release strategic oil stocks. Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped to a peak of $112.48 a barrel, the highest since last Thursday, when the International Energy …
An invasive alien weed, silverleaf nightshade, is threatening cotton and wheat crops in Syria and Iraq and could spread to Lebanon and Jordan, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday. More than 60 percent of the farmland in Syria, growing mainly cotton and wheat, has been …
Frequent dust storms and scarce rains are stifling Iraq's efforts to revive a farming sector hit by decades of war, sanctions and isolation. Wheat and rice production has suffered from a severe drought in the past two years, due in part to rising temperatures, along with a dearth of water …
In her late teens, Huda is beautiful and smart, a combination many parents hope to see in their children. “Having a diploma,” said the young woman from northern Iraq, “is the same as having a weapon.” Huda was speaking at a radio programme, Shabab al-Nahrein. Launched by the international news …
What do US soldiers deployed in Iraq face? Severe mental problems. The dominant one is ptsd. It leads to depression, manic depression, paranoia and other mental health imbalances. The most specific survey I have come across was conducted by the non-profit research institute rand Corporation. Though a bit dated the …
Iraq has given a consortium led by Eni, the Italian oil group, the right to develop its giant Zubair field, in a deal that signals the country's desire to attract more of the biggest oil companies four decades after nationalising its oil industry. Yesterday's breakthrough, which needs cabinet approval, came …
Diverting water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to supply agriculture, alongside a warming climate, means the once-bountiful region is becoming desert.
From rescuing a herd of rogue elephants destined to be shot, to saving the animals in Baghdad Zoo during the Iraq war, maybe it is no surprise that Hollywood is planning a film about maverick conservationist Lawrence Anthony. When Liz Else tracked him down she talked to him about reconnecting …
bauxite mining Vietnam opens door to China Vietnam has invited a Chinese company to mine a massive bauxite reserve beneath its Central Highlands, despite growing opposition to mining and a deep-rooted suspicion of China. Deputy Industry Minister Le Duong Quang said the state-owned Vietnam National Coal would go ahead with …
Turkey has boosted the flow of the Euphrates river passing through its dams upstream of Iraq to help farmers cope with a drought after Iraqi complaints, but it is still not enough, a top Iraqi lawmaker said on Saturday. Iraq is mostly desert and its inhabitable areas are slaked by …
Europe took a surprise step towards reducing its dependence on Russian gas yesterday as two of its oil companies agreed to develop a big gas field in Kurdistan, Iraq's semi-autonomous region. OMV, of Austria, and Hungary's MOLagreed the deal, which will feed the planned Nabucco pipeline. The 3,300km pipeline is …
Iraq's parliament voted on Tuesday to force the government to demand on a greater share of water resources from neighbours upstream of its vital rivers, Turkey, Iran and Syria, in any bilateral deals with them. In a resolution, Iraqi lawmakers agreed to block any agreement signed with the three nations …
A long-awaited United Nations report that was presented Wednesday to senior Iraqi officials proposes several options for Kirkuk Province, including making it an autonomous region as a way to defuse simmering tensions between Kurds and Arabs over its oil wealth. The United States military has long been concerned that the …
Pakistan has urged Iraqi oil and gas exploration companies to enter into joint ventures with Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) to explore oil and gas reserves in this country. Sources said that advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr …
Latha Jishnu / New Delhi April 1, 2009, 0:52 IST In recent days, the multinational force in Iraq has been putting out rather curious news releases. These state that visiting agriculture experts from the US have been helping Iraqi farmers to learn new farming techniques to help them
In the last two months of 2008, the US presidential election and its aftermath took away the spotlight from another major development: three broadcast networks in the country have stopped sending full-time correspondents to Iraq. abc, cbs and nbc declined to speak on record about their news coverage decisions. But …
