Scorching heat and a crippling drought are threatening Iraqi farmers with unprecedented hardship, as temperatures regularly soar above 50 degrees Celsius.
Recent official data has shown at least five Iraqi cities ranking among the world's hottest cities every day.
Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture has ordered a major reduction in cultivated areas during this summer's planting season -- a clear indicator that extreme weather now threatens both environmental stability and food security.
"Even ordinary citizens know remedies, including reducing vehicle and generator emissions, securing more water releases from neighboring countries such as Iraq, and crucially expanding green infrastructure," said Ali Jawad, an Iraqi environmental activist.
Iraq's severe drought stems from two immediate causes: diminished rainfall and reduced water flow from countries upstream on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, according to experts.
This year marks the driest year in Iraq in over nine decades, said the country's Ministry of Water Resources.
The abnormal temperatures are just one facet of climate change's profound impacts on Iraq where a multidimensional crisis is developing, encompassing environmental, agricultural, and economic factors, compounded by drought and declining water levels.
Crippling drought threatens Iraq’s fragile agriculture
Crippling drought threatens Iraq’s fragile agriculture
The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.
The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.
The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.
The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.
The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.
Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.
The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.
ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges
ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges
