From Baghdad: The Arab Media Conference Redraws the Map of Environmental Awareness to Confront Climate Change
Baghdad - INA
The capital, Baghdad, continues for the second consecutive day hosting the fourth session of the Arab Media Conference. This exceptional event confirms Iraq's strong return to the Arab and international arenas as a center for dialogue and coordination on the crucial issues facing our nation.
This conference comes at a crucial time, following two Arab summits that addressed political and economic issues and challenges. It represents a strategic extension of those discussions, focusing on the pivotal role of the media in keeping pace with and analyzing these challenges, as well as providing space for the most important issue at the conference related to the challenge of climate change and guiding Arab public opinion towards comprehensive environmental awareness. The conference, organized by the Iraqi Media Network, is attended by broad participation from Arab and international experts and media decision-makers.
This reflects the genuine national desire to consolidate Iraq's position as an effective center in formulating contemporary media policies, particularly in the areas of the environment, security, and public health.
This conference embodies a shared Arab aspiration to redefine the role of media as a tool for development and to provide solutions to address climate change. It also demonstrates Iraq's natural role at the heart of the Arab world, culturally, politically, and media-wise.
Priority to Discussing the Challenge of Climate Change
Basil Al-Zoubi, Director of the Technology Department at the Arab Broadcasting Union, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Holding the Arab Media Conference in Baghdad aims to discuss important topics in which the media plays a significant role in raising awareness of the dangers of climate change. This is a topic that affects all segments of society and the state, and is a sensitive issue that concerns national security, whether health, the environment, or society." He pointed out that "the Iraqi Media Network was keen to host the conference and focus on this topic," explaining that "holding the conference in Baghdad is part of the activities and interests of the Iraqi state after hosting the Arab Summit. This strengthens Iraq's role on the Arab and media scene in general in the field of environmental conservation and addressing environmental issues, thus preserving the security of individuals and citizens, both in Iraq and at the regional and Arab levels." He added, "The conference will certainly produce a set of recommendations, especially since there is a group of experts in various specialties and orientations from various countries around the world specializing in environmental, media, economic, and other fields. Therefore, the recommendations emerging from the conference must be highly applicable and implementable."
An agenda with important topics
For his part, Raed Al-Jubouri, Director of the Department of Arab Organizations and Federations in the Economic Affairs Sector at the League of Arab States, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The importance of holding the Arab Media Conference in Baghdad stems from its being held after two Arab summits: the regular summit and the development summit."
He pointed out that "the Iraqi Media Network's hosting of this conference is very important, especially given the importance of the topic being discussed, related to climate change. Furthermore, it is the first time that it is being held outside the headquarters of the Arab Broadcasting Union, in Baghdad, and hosted by the Iraqi Media Network." For his part, Abdulrahman Nasser Al-Obaidan, media advisor to the office of the Chairman of the Qatar Media Corporation, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The agenda of the Arab Media Conference is very important because of the topics it raises that are of interest to Arab citizens." He explained, "We are in our country today, among our brothers, and we have visited Baghdad several times, but there is a vast difference between yesterday and today." He continued, "We are witnessing clear progress in Iraq, and we congratulate the officials and wish Baghdad and the people of Iraq progress and development." He explained, "The Arab Media Conference is an important conference and one of the issues we focus on through the Arab League, whether through the Permanent Committee for Arab Media or through the Executive Council, to hold such conferences, given their importance, especially in light of the current situation in the region and the events taking place in the region and Gaza. We wish all our brothers success in this conference, and hope that it will yield recommendations that are of interest to Arab citizens in general and Arab media in particular."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
25 minutes ago
- Iraqi News
Mogadishu refinery find triggers Iraq's hunt for $100B in lost global assets
Baghdad ( – A startling revelation at the Arab Summit in Baghdad this May has jolted Iraq into confronting a forgotten legacy: a sprawling international portfolio of properties and investments, potentially worth at least $100B, that has languished in neglect and obscurity for two decades. The unexpected news of a large, Iraqi-built oil refinery still standing in Mogadishu, Somalia, has served as a dramatic wake-up call, triggering a renewed effort to trace and potentially reclaim these vast, squandered national assets. The ghost refinery in Mogadishu, constructed in 1978 under a bilateral agreement and largely forgotten by Iraqi officialdom since 2003, was brought back to Baghdad's attention by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He informed Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani that the facility merely requires technical rehabilitation to become operational – a timely prospect as Somalia begins exploring offshore oil. This single revelation underscored a much larger, more complex issue: Iraq's dozens of lost properties scattered across three continents. During its oil-boom years in the 1970s and 1980s, Iraq strategically invested its wealth globally, acquiring an estimated 50 significant assets. These included luxury palaces and real estate in prime European locations like Cannes, France, Spain, the UK, and Italy; agricultural ventures such as tea, rice, rubber, and tobacco farms in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam; and diverse holdings in Africa, from tourist islands and agricultural factories in Mozambique and Nigeria to the aforementioned Somali refinery. This was a policy of extending economic and diplomatic influence. However, following the 2003 regime change, this global portfolio fell into disarray. Iraq's Parliamentary Integrity Committee previously revealed to news agencies that crucial ownership documents were stolen or destroyed. Some properties were illicitly transferred to individuals or shell companies linked to the former regime, while others simply vanished from official oversight, becoming a forgotten treasure. Early attempts at recovery highlighted the dangers. In 2012, an Iraqi Foreign Ministry delegation dispatched to Mozambique to inspect a state-owned asset, believed to be a palace on a tourist island, received direct threats from an armed group controlling the site, forcing their immediate withdrawal. The incident underscored the formidable challenges beyond mere legal claims. The Mogadishu refinery news has now spurred the Iraqi government into decisive action. Specialized legal and technical committees have been formed, and the Ministries of Oil, Foreign Affairs, and Justice are tasked with a coordinated global effort. This includes attempting to re-register properties, settle outstanding tax issues, and verify any remaining documentation. Legal experts suggest Iraq could pursue claims through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or negotiate bilateral agreements with host nations. They also stress the necessity of pursuing individuals and entities involved in the illicit appropriation of these assets, potentially through international arrest warrants via INTERPOL if sufficient evidence is available. For a nation facing ongoing economic challenges and heavily reliant on oil exports, the potential recovery or proper investment of these assets, valued around $100B, represents a monumental financial opportunity. Economists believe even partial success could generate sustainable revenue streams, offering a vital diversification away from almost exclusive dependence on crude oil exports for its budget. However, the path to reclamation is fraught with obstacles. Experts caution that some assets may now be subject to statute of limitations in their host countries, or may have been legally acquired by other parties during Iraq's two-decade absence from active management. Furthermore, concerns exist about potential internal political interference derailing recovery efforts, especially if assets are now linked to influential figures or complex, decades-old contracts that would be difficult to unwind without triggering intricate legal disputes. Despite these challenges, the surprise rediscovery of the Mogadishu refinery has ignited a new sense of urgency and hope. The Iraqi government's renewed commitment, if pursued with transparency, international cooperation, and persistence, could potentially unlock billions in national wealth that has lain dormant across the globe for far too long, offering a much-needed boost to its economic future. 5. Image Alt Text Suggestions: * 'Archival photo of the Iraqi-built oil refinery in Mogadishu, Somalia' * 'Map highlighting locations of potential lost Iraqi assets across Europe, Asia, and Africa' * 'Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud' * 'Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani' * 'Graph or visual representing the estimated $90 billion value of Iraq's forgotten assets' * 'A dilapidated historic building representing a neglected Iraqi asset abroad'
Iraqi News
25 minutes ago
- Iraqi News
Halabja's new dawn: Governorate status brings hope and challenges to the historic city
Baghdad ( – After nearly four decades scarred by the horrific 1988 chemical attack and a subsequent 12-year political struggle, the Iraqi Kurdish city of Halabja has officially become Iraq's 19th governorate, and the fourth within the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. The Iraqi Parliament's decision in mid-April 2025 grants this city, synonymous with one of the modern era's most heinous crimes, a new administrative status. This is seen by many as long-overdue recognition and a potential catalyst for development, yet it also heralds fresh political and security complexities. The name Halabja is seared into global memory by the Ba'athist regime's chemical bombardment in March 1988, during the final months of the Iran-Iraq war, which killed an estimated 5,000 civilians, mostly women and children, and injured up to 10,000 more. The long-term effects on health and the environment have plagued the city for generations. The journey to governorate status began with a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) decision in 2013, followed by a KRG parliamentary vote in 2015. However, federal recognition was repeatedly stalled by intricate political bargaining in Baghdad, often linking Halabja's case to demands for creating other new governorates in disputed or ethnically mixed areas like Tel Afar and Tuz Khurmatu. During these years of political limbo, Halabja suffered from economic decline, high unemployment, and significant out-migration as residents sought opportunities elsewhere. The new governorate status unlocks significant potential: dedicated annual budgets, thousands of new administrative and security positions, direct federal allocations for resources like medicine and fuel, and enhanced prospects for investment across various sectors including housing, industry, commerce, entertainment, and vital services. In a groundbreaking development, Ms. Nukhsha Saleh has been appointed as Halabja's governor, making her the first female governor in Iraq's modern history. However, these new entitlements are expected to intensify internal Kurdish political competition. Traditionally, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) holds sway in Erbil and Duhok, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) dominates Sulaymaniyah. Halabja, previously administered under Sulaymaniyah, now joins it as a PUK-influenced governorate, potentially recalibrating the power dynamics between the two main Kurdish parties. Furthermore, Halabja's strategic location bordering Iran, with key trade crossings like Shushmi-Tawila and Bashta, positions it as a potential new arena for regional influence—a common feature across Kurdistan, which navigates Turkish military presence and Iranian political interests. Developing its tourist areas will also require careful management to avoid political corruption. The elevation of Halabja to a governorate is undoubtedly a momentous occasion, offering a chance for healing, development, and empowerment. Yet, its future will be shaped by how these new opportunities are managed amidst existing political rivalries and complex security undercurrents. True progress will require genuine commitment from both federal and regional governments, robust local governance, and continued international support to ensure this city of martyrs not only remembers its painful past but builds a resilient and prosperous future, free from the shadows that have long loomed over it. The hope is that Halabja's new beginning truly places it on the map of recovered and thriving cities, rather than entangling it further in escalating power struggles.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi airstrike kills 6 ISIS militants in Kikuk
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi army killed six ISIS militants in an airstrike in Wadi al-Shay, a mountainous area in Kirkuk, the Joint Operations Command (JOC) announced on Friday. The JOC revealed in a statement that the strike destroyed the site where the militants had taken shelter. The Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency tracked the group continuously and provided targeting data to the Joint Operations Command. A source clarified to Shafaq News that the airstrike hit a rugged area within the Daquq district of Saladin province, approximately 50 kilometers south of Kirkuk province. Earlier this month, a security source reported to Shafaq News that Iraqi Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes bombarding Islamic State (ISIS) positions in the Baiji district of Saladin province. Although Iraq declared victory over ISIS in 2017, remnants of the group continue to operate in remote regions, particularly in Saladin, Kirkuk, and Diyala provinces. Security forces frequently launch targeted operations to prevent the group from regrouping.
