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.