logo
Prime Minister Meets British Ambassador to Baghdad

Prime Minister Meets British Ambassador to Baghdad

Iraqi News20-04-2025
Baghdad-INA
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the new British Ambassador to Iraq, Irfan Siddiq, stressed on Sunday the need to ease tensions and adopt dialogue to resolve issues to establish security and stability throughout the region.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received the new British Ambassador to Iraq, Irfan Siddiq, today, Sunday." The statement indicated that "the Prime Minister expressed his wishes for the ambassador's success in his new duties."
He stressed "the importance of working to strengthen bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed by the Prime Minister and his British counterpart during his visit to the United Kingdom last January."
According to the statement, "The meeting discussed bilateral relations and regional and international developments of common interest. The need to ease tensions and adopt dialogue to resolve issues to establish security and stability throughout the region was emphasized."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Iraq provides poor families with free solar energy systems
Iraq provides poor families with free solar energy systems

Iraqi News

timean hour ago

  • Iraqi News

Iraq provides poor families with free solar energy systems

Baghdad ( – Iraq's Government Communication Team unveiled a new initiative on Monday to deliver free solar energy systems to homes with limited incomes. Head of the Government Communication Team Ammar Monim told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the new initiative is part of the government's strategy to promote the use of sustainable energy and is set to be extended to other Iraqi provinces. The Government Communication Team will spearhead the initiative, in collaboration with donors, to provide low-income families with solar panels, according to Monim. The Iraqi official added that solar energy equipment will be distributed to roughly 2,500 Iraqi homes through several stages. As part of a goal to improve supply reliability and reduce demand on the national grid, Iraq has recently begun carrying out an advanced phase of its renewable energy transition initiative, including the installation of solar energy systems in government buildings. The initiative includes installing solar systems in hundreds of government buildings, with an anticipated completion date in 2026. The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has confirmed the continuation of the first phase of the project, which intends to convert 534 government buildings to solar energy systems. The list contains ministerial buildings, universities, schools, private banks, and health care facilities. In a related development, Iraq's first fully independent residential village powered by solar energy was launched in May, a step that coincided with the inauguration of a solar power plant at Baghdad's government palace, laying the groundwork for further usage of renewable energy on both the public and governmental levels. The Iraqi government intends to diversify power sources and relieve strain on the national system, which is plagued by chronic bottlenecks and government usage that consumes around 30 percent of total production of electricity. The Rwanga Foundation, a non-profit organization located in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, launched last May the country's first completely solar-powered village. The Kulak village, located in the Harir province of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, is currently equipped with 195 solar panels that supply power to 36 homes, along with a mosque, a school, and a community center. Despite recent advancements, achieving solar transformation in Iraq will need long-term commitment, investment-friendly regulations, and legislation that promotes the integration of renewable energy into the public sector. Early signs suggest that solar energy in Iraq is becoming a crucial part of the country's effort to alleviate the electricity issue and offer a more sustainable environment for the next generation.

Iraq faces 'extremely dangerous' drought amid Turkey's water cuts: MP
Iraq faces 'extremely dangerous' drought amid Turkey's water cuts: MP

Rudaw Net

time2 hours ago

  • Rudaw Net

Iraq faces 'extremely dangerous' drought amid Turkey's water cuts: MP

Also in Iraq Iraq car market sees 75 percent spike in Chinese imports: Expert Lawmakers reject US intervention in PMF bill Hezbollah censures Iraqi PM over deadly Baghdad clashes Iraq's reputation at 'risk' if PMF law passes: Former US diplomat A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq is in an 'extremely dangerous' state due to water scarcity, a lawmaker warned Tuesday, blaming Turkey for backtracking on its promise to release more water and citing a broader crisis driven by upstream dams and climate change. Thaer al-Jabouri, a member of the Iraqi parliament's agriculture, irrigation, and marshlands committee, told Rudaw that the country is going through an 'extremely dangerous' situation in terms of drought and water scarcity. He attributed part of the water shortage to Turkey, saying that Ankara 'has not committed to releasing Iraq's water share. It has regretted the decision to release more water to Iraq. The increase in water lasted only a few days and then returned to the same previous situation.' In early July, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani ordered the monitoring of water flows from Turkey, after a meeting between parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to an Iraqi parliament statement at the time, Erdogan approved Mashhadani's 'request to release 420 cubic meters of water per second daily." On Saturday, Ahmed Dubardani, a member of the Nineveh Provincial Council's agriculture and water committee, blamed a massive drop in water levels at Iraq's largest dam, Mosul Dam in northern Iraq's Nineveh province, on a dry winter and reduced releases from Turkey. 'The reduced water releases from Turkey is the main reason,' he told Rudaw, explaining that while the rate should be 600 cubic meters per second from the Tigris River, it is only releasing 100. Iraq is facing a severe water shortage because of reduced precipitation, higher temperatures, mismanagement, and upstream dams in neighboring countries. It ranks fifth among the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change, according to the United Nations. Iraq does not have a comprehensive water-sharing agreement with Turkey and Iran, and this, combined with a drier winter this year, has made the situation more critical. 'The year 2025, due to the continued decrease of incoming water from neighboring countries, especially Turkey, will be one of the most difficult years that Iraq will go through,' Aoun Diab Abdullah, Iraq's water resources minister, Iraqi state media. He said that Turkey's dams on the Euphrates River for electricity generation have caused a reduction in incoming water to Syria and Iraq. According to the minister, the amount of water released from Turkey to the Syrian border is currently about 350 cubic meters per second, but the amount that actually reaches the Haditha Dam - located about 200 kilometers northwest of Baghdad - decreases to less than 200 cubic meters per second. The World Resources Institute places Iraq among 25 countries that face extreme water stress, meaning it is using over 80 percent of its available water supply and is at risk of running out of water in the event of a short-term drought. Water scarcity in Iraq is also pushing families in severely drought-struck regions to the brink. In late July, Migration and Displaced Ministry spokesperson Ali Abbas told Rudaw that over 17,000 families have migrated from the Basra, Dhi Qar, and Maysan provinces in the past decade due to 'drought, water scarcity, and desertification.' Public pressure is also growing. Southern provinces like Basra have seen widespread protests in recent months over severe water shortages and pollution. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.

Iraq's CF presses for election safeguards
Iraq's CF presses for election safeguards

Shafaq News

time6 hours ago

  • Shafaq News

Iraq's CF presses for election safeguards

Shafaq News – Baghdad On Tuesday, Iraq's Shiite Coordination Framework (CF) urged the country's leadership to adopt guarantees aimed at securing the integrity of the upcoming parliamentary elections, set for November 11. In an official statement, the bloc—a key political force backing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani—called on the president, al-Sudani, parliament speaker, and chief justice to swiftly approve the framework. While the statement did not specify the proposed safeguards, similar reform demands in recent years have prioritized stricter ballot oversight, biometric voter verification, and the independence of Iraq's High Electoral Commission (IHEC). Other measures typically included tougher penalties for vote buying, transparency in campaign financing, and greater engagement from civil society and international monitors. The November vote will be Iraq's first national election since the disputed 2021 polls, which saw low turnout and widespread allegations of irregularities. According to the IHEC, over 7,900 candidates are competing for 329 parliamentary seats. More than 29 million Iraqis are eligible to vote, following months of work to update voter rolls and biometric data—marking one of the largest electorates in the country's history. However, early campaigning has revived fears of sectarian polarization, with analysts and civil society organizations warning that without meaningful safeguards, inflammatory rhetoric could aggravate political divides and weaken the legitimacy of the outcome.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store