Author: An Nasifar

Israeli PM’s office holds Iraq responsible for wellbeing of Elizabeth Tsurkov, who went missing months ago. Israeli-Russian academic held by militia in Iraq, Netanyahu saysIsraeli PM’s office holds Iraq responsible for wellbeing of Elizabeth Tsurkov, who went missing months ago. An Israeli-Russian academic who went missing in Iraq a few months ago is alive and being held there by the Shia militia Kataib Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said. A statement from Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday named the woman as Elizabeth Tsurkov. It said she had gone to Iraq for research purposes on behalf of Princeton University…

Colombia will step up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a double header of friendlies against Iraq and Germany, the South American country’s football federation said on Monday. The Cafeteros will face Iraq in Valencia on June 16, and Germany in Gelsenkirchen four days later, the entity said in a statement. The matches will be one of the last chances for Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo to test his squad before South America’s World Cup qualifiers begin in September. Colombia are unbeaten in six matches since Lorenzo replaced Reinaldo Rueda as head coach last June. The Cafeteros are…

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, called on Arab Leaders on May 19 to hold the 2025 Arab League Summit in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, during his speech at the 32nd Arab League Summit held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s press office. “Many countries built successful economic blocs, where members do not share common elements,” Al-Sudani stated. “Therefore, we must review economic interdependence and integration between our countries,” Al-Sudani added. The Iraqi Prime Minister explained that Iraq would host several conferences, including the ‘Baghdad 2023’ conference, for economic integration and…

BAGHDAD — Nearly 20 years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein by U.S.-led forces, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid wants the world to know his country now is at peace, democratic and intent on rebuilding economic life while maintaining a government that serves the whole country and the region. Rashid told The Associated Press on Sunday that after overcoming the hardships of the past two decades, Iraq is ready to focus on improving everyday life for its people. Those hardships included years of resistance to foreign troops, violence between Sunnis and Shiites, and attacks by Islamic State group extremists who…

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani in Paris, where the two leaders signed a series of strategic agreements aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations. During the meeting, the two countries signed an agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in areas such as anti-corruption, security, renewable energy and culture, the Elysee Palace confirmed. “The summit discussed the bilateral relations of the two countries, some regional and international issues of common interest and joint cooperation documents in some important fields,” the Iraqi news agency said. Iraqi Minister Al-Sudani is looking for partners to…

In 2002, Australia was on the cusp of joining the United States-led invasion of Iraq and had already committed troops to Afghanistan — but previously secret cabinet records released make very few references to what would become a decades-long engagement in the Middle East. Around 240 previously secret Cabinet records from the year 2002 have been released by the National Archives of Australia. The trove of documents is a time capsule of sorts, which gives an insight into the issues that were being considered at the highest levels of government and transport us back into the room where it happened.…

Regional powers in the Middle East have underscored their solidarity with Iraq at the French-mediated Baghdad II summit in Jordan – an event designed to help Iraq rebuild after nearly two decades of war. Tuesday’s meeting, which was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, sought to “provide support for the stability, security and prosperity of Iraq”, the French presidency said in a statement. Iraq only recently arrived at a fragile compromise government after a year of political stalemate. Co-hosted by Iraq and Jordan, 12 countries took part including France, Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Iran. They stressed the…