Latest news with #Nineveh
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Iraq-Turkey power line capacity to be doubled to 600 MW
Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has signed a contract with Turkish company Alifrin to double the capacity of the Iraq-Turkey power line from 300 megawatts (MW) to 600 MW. All technical requirements for the interconnection, including the necessary stations and lines, as well as fulfilling all contractual obligations, have been completed, the Iraqi News Agency reported, citing a ministry statement. The new contract includes equipping the grid with 300 MW as a first phase via the Jazara-Kask 400 kV interconnection line in Nineveh Governorate. The capacity increase will be completed within less than one month. The project will directly contribute to increasing the hours of supply to the northern regions and is part of the government's strategy to diversify energy sources. The Iraq-Turkey interconnection line will link the Iraqi grid to the European power grid, the statement said. GCCIA awards $220mln contracts for Iraq interconnection project (Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Iraq eyes mining sector to support economic diversification efforts
Iraq is planning to develop its untapped mining sector as part of its broader economic diversification strategy, a top government official said. Mudher Muhammad Saleh, financial advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) the government has signed memorandums of understanding with international companies to explore and develop key mineral resources, including phosphate, sulfpur, lithium, and copper He said the total value of Iraq's natural resources is estimated at more than $16 trillion, adding that the mining sector is expected to contribute at least 10 percent to Iraq's GDP during its initial development phase. Key mineral resources Phosphate: Iraq ranks second worldwide, holding over 10 billion tonnes of phosphate reserves, located mainly in the Akashat area of Anbar province. Sul ph ur: The Mishraq area in Nineveh Province is home to one of the world's largest free sulphur fields. Silica: Najaf and western Iraq have high-purity silica deposits. Iron, manganese, copper, and gold deposits in the Kurdistan Region, western Iraq, and central Iraq. Rare minerals in southern Iraq (Writing by Majda Muhsen; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
The National
16-05-2025
- General
- The National
Long lost to time, northern gate of Mosul's Al Nuri Mosque restored to its rightful place
It's not merely a gate. It's a threshold to a memory restored at last. Beneath the dust and shadow of war, remnants of the lost gate from the 12th-century Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq have been lying in storage for nearly half a century. Years after it was bombed by the terrorist group ISIS, new pieces have been unearthed amid reconstruction efforts led by a Unesco project partly funded by the UAE. The gate has eventually risen again, breathing life back into a lost chapter of Mosul's soul. 'The gate was first discovered during the 1980s but the fragments were kept in storage rooms since then,' Abdul Rahman Emad, an archaeologist at Nineveh Antiquities Department, told The National. 'During recent excavations we did at the site, we discovered the two lost pieces, so we decided to retrieve the fragments from storage and to put them together with the new ones to reconstruct the gate,' Mr Emad said. The stone gate, about 2.6 metre high and 2.4 metre wide, dates back to the Atabeg period nearly 850 years ago when the mosque was built by Nureddin Al Zinki, a Seljuk ruler of the Syrian province who famously unified Muslim forces against the Crusaders, Mr Emad added. It has now been reassembled and placed back in its original position in the mosque's wall. Though it no longer serves as a functional doorway, it stands as a powerful symbol – an enduring reminder of Mosul's deep-rooted history. 'Its historical significance compels us to restore it and place it in the exact same location,' he said. 'We want to return the mosque to its former state, with all its original details, because over the years it has undergone changes, developments and modifications,' Mr Emad added. During reconstruction, teams made an exceptional archaeological discovery in 2021. When workers were examining the site to ensure the foundations were safe, they noticed gaps underneath which led them to a room that was largely buried. They discovered four rooms, now thought to have been used for ablutions, and the original prayer hall, dating back to the 12th century, unearthing coins, jars, pottery fragments and carved stone from the Atabeg era. The extent of excavations was limited due to the fragility of the site. However, the older layers discovered have been integrated into the reconstruction design of the mosque, where visitors can see the original stones through a glass ceiling from the prayer hall. Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, was the first in the country to fall into the hands of ISIS during their takeover of 2014-2017. From the pulpit in Al Nuri Mosque, ISIS declared its self-proclaimed "caliphate' in parts of Iraq and Syria in mid-2014. The extremists blew up its famous leaning minaret in June 2017 as they retreated from the last urban stronghold they held for almost three years of a ruinous war. In February, Unesco celebrated the completion of the restoration of the 45-metre minaret, as well as two nearby churches, as part of the $115 million Revive the Spirit of Mosul project. The UAE donated $50.4 million to restore the mosque and its Al Hadba minaret, as well as Our Lady of the Hour Convent, its House of Prayer and Al Tahera Church. Today, more than 90 per cent of Al Nuri complex has been restored and handed over to Sunni Waqf in Nineveh before the official inauguration ceremony, said Sheik Ahmed Rakan Al Ebadi, spokesman for Sunni Waqf. The restored complex radiates grandeur. Its gardens are lush with neatly manicured lawns and flowers, as the minaret, decorated with ornamental brickwork featuring floral and geometric designs, once again dominates the Mosul skyline with a gleaming copper crescent placed on the top. The mihrab, a niche indicating the direction of Makkah, has been largely repaired using its original stones but the minbar, from where sermons are delivered, had to be predominantly rebuilt using new materials. Intricate patterns of geometric and floral designs are etched into the walls and pillars. 'The mosque is an identity for the city of Mosul and it is a source of pride not only for every Mosuli citizen but for every Iraqi citizen,' Sheik Al Ebadi said. The inauguration ceremony date will be determined soon. 'Al Hadba minaret today touches the sky and the mosque has been restored to its former glory – truly an indescribable feeling,' he added.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Rare stone carving depicting Assyrian king surrounded by gods unearthed
Archaeologists have unearthed a peculiar ancient stone slab in Iraq depicting an Assyrian emperor from the seventh century BC surrounded by deities worshipped in the Mesopotamian civilisation. The giant slab, measuring about 5.5m (16ft) long and 3m (10ft) wide, was discovered in the throne room of the North Palace of King Ashurbanipal in the ancient city of Nineveh, located near Mosul. The ancient city is considered to be one of the most important parts of North Mesopotamia, becoming the capital of the Assyrian empire in the late eighth century BC under King Sennacherib. Researchers who were part of the latest excavation found the stone slab 'extraordinary', not only for its size, but also for the scenes it depicted. This is mainly because until now, religious relief images from the Assyrian Empire have not contained many deities. 'Among the many relief images of Assyrian palaces we know of, there are no depictions of major deities,' said Aaron Schmitt from the Institute of Prehistory, Protohistory and Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology. Since 2022, excavations have been underway at a core sector of the North Palace built by King Ashurbanipal. The newly uncovered slab was found to contain at its centre Ashurbanipal, the last great ruler of the Assyrian empire, flanked by two supreme deities: the gods Ashur and Ishtar, the patron goddess of Nineveh. It also contains a fish-like deity, who grants the gods and the sovereign salvation and life, as well as a supporting figure with arms raised, most likely to be restored as a scorpion-man. 'These figures suggest that a massive winged sun disk was originally mounted above the relief,' Dr Schmitt said. Over the coming months, researchers hope to study the slab in detail, find the context behind its depictions, and publish the results in a scientific journal. The slab was originally located at a site across from the main entrance to the throne room, which researchers say could be the most important place in the palace. Fragments of the slab were uncovered in an earth-filled pit behind this niche. Researchers suspect it was dug out during the Hellenistic period in the third or second century BC. 'The fact that these fragments were buried is surely one reason why the British archeologists never found them over a hundred years ago,' Dr Schmitt said.
Iraqi News
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Masafi Al-Shamal maintains slim lead over Al-Shorta in Iraqi Volleyball League after R10
Baghdad ( – The results of the 10th round of the 2024–2025 Iraqi Men's Premier Volleyball League kept the fight for the championship close, particularly between leaders Masafi Al-Shamal and Al-Shorta, who were separated by just one point. With a crucial 3-1 victory over Al-Peshmerga, which included winning a lengthy first set 33-31, Masafi Al-Shamal effectively maintained their lead and increased their point total to 26. Al-Shorta gained two vital points after defeating Nineveh 3-2 (15-10 in the tie-breaker) after a grueling five-set match. They are now within 25 points of the leader as a result. Erbil SC defeated Al-Muqdadiya 3-0 in Round 10 as well, securing third place (20 points) despite hotly disputed 26-24 scoreline in all three sets. Ghaz Al-Junoob (South Gas) defeated Al-Daghara 3-0 on the road to solidify their hold on fourth position (18 points). Following these outcomes, the top rankings—first Masafi Al-Shamal (26 points), second Al-Shorta (25 points), third Erbil (20 points), and fourth South Gas (18 points)—confirm the close battle. Now, attention turns to Round 11, which is set for Thursday, April 10. Prior to their much-anticipated Round 12 matchup, leaders Masafi Al-Shamal go to Nineveh, while second-place Al-Shorta travels to Al-Daghara. A crucial matchup between third-place Erbil and fifth-place Al-Peshmerga is also included in the round. The Iraqi Volleyball League promises more exciting combat with just one point separating the leaders, increasing anticipation for the pivotal Round 12 matchup between Masafi Al-Shamal and Al-Shorta.
