Latest news with #SalahaddinUniversity
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Feature: A young Iraqi's journey to top of Chinese proficiency competition
ERBIL, Iraq, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Mohammed Sarkawt Azeez, a freshman at Iraq's Salahaddin University, has claimed first prize in the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for foreign university students in Iraq. Azeez, who goes by the Chinese name Mu Ming, celebrated the win by sharing a photo of his award certificate on WeChat, writing: "I got first place!" His message quickly drew congratulations from friends and classmates. The competition, held on Monday under the theme "One World, One Family," featured three segments: a talent performance, a themed speech, and a Q&A session. Contestants demonstrated a wide range of skills, from Sichuan Opera face-changing and Tai Chi to traditional calligraphy and ink painting. Mu's emotive rendition of the Chinese song "Jin Sheng Yuan" (The Affinities of This Life) drew particular praise from judges and audience members alike. When his name was announced as the winner, Mu stood momentarily in stunned silence before breaking into a wide smile. "I never imagined I could achieve something like this in just seven months," he said, eyes shining with excitement. Mu, a native speaker of Arabic and Kurdish, also speaks English and Turkish. Yet he says learning Chinese has been a completely different experience. "Chinese culture is deep, elegant, and rich in history," he said. "Learning the language has opened my mind. I stay up late practicing pronunciation, memorising characters, and studying Chinese culture." His decision to major in Chinese was driven by a belief that it would "open the door to the world." His parents, he added, have supported him from the start. "They know how passionate I am, and they believe this path will create future opportunities." Now set to represent Iraq at the global finals in China later this year, Mu is preparing for a larger stage. "I know it will be a bigger challenge, but I'm ready," he said. "I want to use this opportunity to grow, to share our culture, and to connect with others." Beyond language learning, Mu's ambitions are broader. He hopes to establish a business platform linking Iraq and China, aiming to introduce more Chinese products to Iraq while promoting Iraqi goods and culture in China. "It's more than just business," he said. "It's a bridge - a bridge of understanding and friendship between our people."
Iraqi News
25-05-2025
- Health
- Iraqi News
Iraqi researcher Dr. Tawana Elias wins award in Sweden for cancer prevention research
Malmo ( – Iraqi researcher Dr. Tawana Hasib Al-Qass Elias has won a Best Poster award at a prestigious international scientific conference on oncology in Malmö, Sweden, held May 22-23, 2025. His work focuses on a groundbreaking approach to breast cancer prevention. Dr. Elias, who earned his PhD from Sweden's renowned Karolinska Institute after graduating from Salahaddin University in Iraq, presented research on an innovative laboratory model that mimics natural breast cell behavior. This model aids in evaluating a potential preventative hormonal drug for women at extremely high genetic risk (up to 75%) of breast cancer, offering a possible alternative to preventative surgeries. The research, involving an initial 50 participants over three months, yielded encouraging results, demonstrating – reportedly for the first time globally – the drug's potential for breast cancer prevention in this high-risk group. Dr. Elias stated work is underway to expand the study. He credits his education, including support from Salahaddin University and the KRG for his studies at Karolinska, and his dedication to science for this achievement, aiming to serve patients and advance human progress.
Shafaq News
08-04-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's water apocalypse: Kurdistan minister demands dams to avert disaster
Shafaq News/ Iraq could lose part of its water reserves due to climate change, desertification, and the diversion of river courses by neighboring countries, along with the construction of dams on river outlets, Kurdistan's Minister of Agriculture, Bekar Talabani, warned on Tuesday. In her opening speech at the international climate changeconference held at Salahaddin University in Erbil, Talabani called for the urgent construction of four new strategic dams in the Region to preserve water resources. "We have taken significant and precise steps with the federal government to coordinate efforts against climate change and to develop a joint plan to mitigate its risks," Talabani said. She noted that the neglect of this issue has led countries, despite having two rivers, to head toward desertification, losing fertile land and facing declining water resources, which in turn leads to population displacement, the spread of diseases, and a loss of food security. The minister highlighted that the situation in the Kurdistan Region is relatively better compared to central and southern Iraq. "However, we cannot ignore the reality that the overall decline in conditions across Iraq will affect the situation in the Region," she said, especially about displacement from other Regions and cities of the country. Kurdistan Region currently has three strategic dams: Dukan, Darbandikhan, and Duhok. The first two provide 30% of Iraq's water reserves. Proposed plans include building new dams in the Greater Zab Region, on the Khasar River, and the Small Zab River, along with additional dams in other provinces within the Region. "Despite our efforts over the past five years and our communication with the President and the Prime Minister on this matter, we have not been able to secure the financial resources needed for these dams, and this is a growing concern for Iraq's water reserves," Talabani stressed. Iraq is among the five countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, according to the United Nations. In late 2022, the World Bank reported that Iraq faces a climate emergency and needs to transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly development model, particularly by diversifying its economy and reducing its reliance on carbon. A report by the World Bank indicated that by 2040, Iraq will need $233 billion in investments to address its urgent developmental needs, particularly in the context of moving toward greener and more inclusive growth, equivalent to 6% of its annual GDP. Iraq has been facing a water crisis for several years, which has worsened in the past four years, with water levels dropping to unprecedented levels due to the ongoing Regional drought. Over the past 30 years, Iraq has lost around 30% of its productive agricultural land due to climate change, according to a report by the Strategic Center for Human Rights in early 2025. In mid-2024, the center reported that climate change had forced more than 100,000 Iraqis to flee their homes in the southern provinces of Maysan, Basra, Dhi Qar, and Wasit in recent years.
Shafaq News
08-04-2025
- Science
- Shafaq News
15 countries gather in Erbil for international climate conference
Shafaq News/ An international conference on climate change, "Action to combat climate change - challenges and solutions," commenced on Tuesday in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, organized by Salahaddin University. The conference has attracted ministers, advisors from the Kurdistan Regional Government, university presidents, and representatives from 15 countries and 29 universities across Kurdistan, Iraq, and several Arab and European nations. The two-day event features 163 researchers from Kurdistan and other countries, including Tunisia, Jordan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Netherlands, Iran, and Syria. Participants will present 54 scientific papers addressing climate change-related issues such as water scarcity, drought, global warming, toxic gas emissions, public health, agriculture, and other environmental challenges.
Rudaw Net
09-03-2025
- General
- Rudaw Net
KRG, Rwanga Foundation launch environmental pact
Also in Kurdistan Women need to part of Kurdistan's decision-making: NGO Leadership shakeup at Erbil football club after loss Kurdish leaders commemorate women's day, highlight resilience Unidentified warplanes target Sulaimani village: Monitor A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region's agriculture ministry and the local NGO Rwanga Foundation launched a joint environmental initiative on Sunday aimed at restoring ecosystems, adapting to climate change, and promoting sustainability across the Region. A statement by Rwanga noted that its director, Hassan Aladdin, and the Kurdistan Region's Agriculture Minister, Begard Talabani, discussed 'accelerating ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation measures, and community-focused sustainability projects across the region.' A key focus of the collaboration is Rwanga's ongoing effort to establish a 20,000-tree olive plantation in the Kasnazan subdistrict, east of Erbil. The initiative is overseen by the organization's founder, Idris Nechirvan Barzani. The Kasnazan forest, developed in 1998 on 840 dunams of land (one Iraqi dunam is approximately 2,500 square meters), contains some 60,000 trees of various types, including pine. Since 2003, Rwanga has planted '18,500 drought-tolerant olive trees… rehabilitating degraded soils and fostering biodiversity in an area once plagued by ecological decline,' the statement added. Rwanga also says that the Kasnazan plantation is part of its wider 'Green Kurdistan' campaign, 'which has planted over 200,000 trees' in the Kurdistan Region since 2020. Future phases will involve partnerships with Salahaddin University 'to monitor wildlife recovery and analyze soil regeneration in reforested areas.' 'A bilateral task force will oversee implementation and explore opportunities in eco-tourism and carbon trading schemes,' the statement elaborated. For her part, Minister Talabani 'announced upcoming policies aimed at attracting private investment in reforestation initiatives and pledged support for Rwanga's proposed rehabilitation of drought-affected areas.' Iraq is ranked the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, including water and food insecurity, according to the United Nations. The country continues to suffer from reduced precipitation, rising temperatures, and poor water management. In 2024, Iraq recorded scorching temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, alongside widespread water scarcity, desertification, and declining rainfall.
