Latest news with #al-Saadi
Shafaq News
27-07-2025
- Climate
- Shafaq News
Record heat strains Iraqi economy
Shafaq News – Baghdad A record-breaking heatwave is imposing growing economic costs on Iraq, disrupting power supplies, reducing crop yields, and cutting labor productivity, an Iraqi expert reported on Sunday. Speaking to Shafaq News, Nawar al-Saadi, professor of international economics, explained that the country is already facing tangible financial losses, weighing heavily on public finances and slowing growth. 'The cost of extreme heat is no longer theoretical — it's draining the federal budget, reducing productivity, and limiting the government's ability to respond to development needs,' al-Saadi noted. Temperatures in some Iraqi cities topped 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) over the past week, driving electricity demand to record highs. With Iraq's power grid operating at roughly 60 percent capacity and struggling with poor distribution, authorities have increasingly relied on importing electricity and fuel — usually paid for in dollars — adding to fiscal pressure amid declining oil revenues. Significant setbacks have also hit the agricultural sector. Reduced water flows from Turkiye and Iran, combined with rapid evaporation, have lowered crop yields by an estimated 15 percent in some regions. This shortfall has increased reliance on food imports, raising demand for foreign currency and further straining the Iraqi dinar. 'The climate crisis is no longer just an environmental threat; it's becoming a financial crisis, driving up food imports and putting the dinar under growing pressure,' he added. At the same time, the health system is under strain as it manages a surge in heat-related illnesses such as sunstroke, dehydration, and waterborne infections. Medical facilities are also facing rising costs amid shortages in equipment and staff. Weather monitoring platform Play Weather reported that eleven Iraqi cities ranked among the 15 hottest locations globally over the past 24 hours. In response, provinces including Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Wasit, Al-Diwaniyah, Karbala, and Babil suspended or shortened official working hours. Similar measures were implemented in Saladin, Diyala, and Al-Muthanna. Health officials have also urged residents to avoid direct sunlight during peak hours, maintain hydration, and follow medical advice to prevent heat-related complications.
Saba Yemen
21-06-2025
- Science
- Saba Yemen
Education ministry opens registration for gifted student exams
Sana'a – Saba: Minister of Education and Scientific Research Hassan al-Saadi, on Saturday officially launched the admission and registration process for competitive exams for the first secondary grade at Jamal Abdulnasser High School for Gifted Students. This marks the start of registration for the upcoming 1447 AH academic year. During the launch, Minister al-Saadi, joined by Deputy Minister Dr. Hatem al-Duais and Undersecretary Hadi Ammar, highlighted the ministry's dedication to supporting exceptional students. He emphasized providing them with an optimal learning environment, recognizing their potential as future scientists. The minister noted that this registration period extends beyond Abdulnasser High School. It also includes Martyr al-Sammad High School for Girls in Sana'a, Martyr al-Sammad High School in Ibb governorate, and Martyr Taha al-Madani High School in Hajjah governorate. He commended the efforts of the staff at these institutions. Director of Abdulnasser Secondary School Dr. Mohammed al-Qasimi provided details on the competitive exam registration. Applications will be accepted until next Thursday. Students must have achieved a minimum GPA of 80 percent in their ninth-grade studies for the 1446 AH academic year. He further clarified that applicants must be Yemeni citizens, no older than 17 years of age, and successfully pass an entrance exam covering core ninth-grade subjects (Arabic, English, Mathematics, and Science), in addition to an IQ test. Required documents for the exam include a copy of ninth-grade results (with seat number), the original seat number for verification, and two recent 4x6 personal photos. For inquiries, the school can be reached at 01/274889 or 777111860. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Shafaq News
18-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq faces growing economic strain due to Israel-Iran conflict
Shafaq News/ Iraq's economy is already showing signs of strain as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its sixth day, despite the country's non-involvement in the fighting, a leading economic expert told Shafaq News on Wednesday. Dr. Nawar al-Saadi, a professor of international economics, told Shafaq News that Iraq's geographic location, heavy reliance on oil, and integration into a sensitive regional network leave it vulnerable to the fallout of the escalating hostilities. 'So far, we're seeing three immediate economic consequences,' al-Saadi explained. 'First, the Iraqi dinar is weakening as the dollar exchange rate rises. This reflects fears that the conflict could spread, affecting oil exports or state revenues, which in turn fuels inflation through higher import costs.' The second impact, he said, is market stagnation. 'Uncertainty is freezing investment and commercial activity. Wars interrupt economic planning and scare off capital, especially when Iraq is seen as part of a high-risk geopolitical zone.' According to al-Saadi, the increase in food prices is another impact, 'Concerns over supply chain disruptions have already prompted speculative behavior and hoarding among traders. This poses a direct threat to Iraq's food security, which is already fragile due to high import dependence.' The professor warned that if the conflict intensifies or persists, the consequences could become 'far more severe.' 'Iraq's oil exports rely almost entirely on the Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. If that route is disrupted, even briefly, Iraq could lose billions in revenue and plunge into a financial crisis its oil-dependent budget cannot withstand.' Al-Saadi also highlighted the risk of domestic instability, pointing out that the longer the war drags on, the greater the chance that regional power struggles will spill into Iraq. 'If foreign interests or US assets are targeted, or southern cities become flashpoints, it could erode what's left of Iraq's economic stability.'
New York Times
04-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Israel Says It Killed Local Hamas Commander in West Bank
The Israeli military said on Tuesday that its forces had killed a Hamas military commander in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank as it expanded on a series of raids that have displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians. Israeli soldiers killed Aysar al-Saadi, the head of a local group of Hamas militants, in a shootout, the Israeli military said in a statement. The raid took place as Israeli forces 'expanded the counterterrorism operation" in the northern West Bank 'to additional areas in Jenin,' the military said. Hamas mourned Mr. al-Saadi's death, calling him a commander in its armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. It was unclear how far his killing would go to subdue the militants: The Israeli military said late last year that its forces had killed one of his predecessors, Waseem Hazem, only to see the groups persist. In late January, Israel launched a major operation targeting Palestinian militants, storming neighborhoods in cities like Jenin and Tulkarm. About 40,000 Palestinians have fled their homes, according to the United Nations, often to nearby towns and villages where they have been sheltering for weeks, in the largest wave of displacement in the territory in decades. The Israeli military has said that it did not intend to displace Palestinians. But Israel Katz, the Israeli defense minister, said last month that he had ordered the military not to allow those who fled to return home. Mr. Katz said the Israeli military was preparing to remain in the areas it had captured for at least several months. Israeli leaders have said the campaign targets Palestinian armed groups like Hamas. The militants grew in power in recent years as the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, which has limited governing powers in the West Bank, largely left the fight to Israel. After the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, ignited the war in Gaza, Israeli military leaders feared that another front could open in the occupied West Bank, leading them to tighten their crackdown on the militant groups. Palestinian Authority forces also launched their own operation in January, albeit with limited success. But the raids have also further embittered ordinary Palestinians, who are coming some off the deadliest years in memory in the occupied West Bank. More than 800 Palestinians — including hundreds of civilians — have been killed in the territory since the Oct. 7 attacks, according to the United Nations.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli forces kill West Bank Hamas commander
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed a Hamas commander in the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday as they pushed ahead with a weeks-long operation against militant groups in the area that has sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing their homes. The military said it had mounted a raid to arrest Aysar al-Saadi, the head of the Hamas network in the area and killed him in a gunfight in which another Hamas operative was also killed. Three other Hamas members were arrested, it said. The Gaza-based militant group, which has also built up a powerful presence in the occupied West Bank, confirmed the death of al-Saadi but said it would not affect its commitment to fight Israel. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The West Bank operation, which began in January as fighting was halted in Gaza following a ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar and Egypt, has been one of the biggest mounted in the area in years and followed a surge in violence since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023. Thousands of Israeli troops have swept through refugee camps in Jenin and other cities in the northern part of the West Bank, including Tulkarm and Tubas, demolishing houses and infrastructure and forcing tens of thousands to leave taking only what they could carry with them. On Tuesday, the military pushed out of the now-deserted Jenin refugee camp and into eastern areas of the city of Jenin itself, cutting off power supplies and digging up roads. The military says it does not forcibly evacuate Palestinians but has allowed residents who want to leave combat areas to go out through designated crossings. Palestinians say the Israeli operations, which have cut water and electricity supplies and demolished dozens of houses, leave them no choice but to leave.
