A legal expert settles the debate: There is no law criminalizing the sale of pork in Iraq.
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Legal and constitutional expert Habib Al-Quraishi confirmed on Thursday that there is no explicit penal provision in Iraqi legislation that criminalizes the sale of pork itself, explaining that the prohibition of pork in Islamic law does not mean, from a criminal standpoint, that every act related to it automatically becomes a crime, unless there is a legal provision that specifically Read more…
Interior Minister: Partial resumption of oil production in the Kurdistan Region and its protection from drones is a condition for companies
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Erbil
The Interior Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Rebar Ahmed, confirmed on Thursday that some oil companies operating in the region have resumed crude oil production in Kurdistan’s fields, while others remain shut down due to not receiving the security guarantees they are demanding.
Ahmed told reporters in Erbil, including a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that the companies did not receive Read more…
The Kurdistan Regional Government details the results of its negotiating delegation’s talks with the Ministries of Finance, Planning, and Oil in Baghdad.
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Erbil
The Kurdistan Regional Government announced on Thursday that its high-level negotiating delegation, which is currently visiting Baghdad, began its work program and meetings with the relevant ministries in the federal government on September 9, with the aim of participating in the preparation and drafting of the draft federal budget law for 2027, and establishing the region’s constitutional and financial Read more…
No loans or advances… Government banks have no liquidity.
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Thursday that most government banks have stopped granting loans and advances of all kinds, attributing this to the lack of financial allocations and the lack of sufficient liquidity in those banks .
The source told Shafaq News Agency that the decrease in the volume of deposits and the decline in liquidity levels have directly affected the ability of government banks to provide loans and advances, as well as Read more…
The first official Iraqi stance on the weapons of the factions: “It will be resolved quickly after September 30th.”
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Sabah al-Nu’man, confirmed on Thursday that restricting weapons to the state is an “Iraqi sovereign matter,” indicating that the government is dealing with armed factions on this issue through dialogues taking place at the highest levels, while expecting the matter to be resolved after the end of the international coalition’s mission. Read more…
After the “pork” incident, Al-Sadr demands stricter oversight of Najaf markets and threatens action.
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Najaf
On Thursday, the leader of the Shiite National Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, demanded stricter control over the markets of Najaf Governorate, following the discovery of pork in a butcher shop, and threatened to take action if his demand was not met.
Al-Sadr said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Najaf is the capital of Shiism in the entire world… and there is no doubt about that. Hence, no actions should be taken that Read more…
The Badr bloc expects the completion of the cabinet to be finalized after al-Zidi’s tour to Europe.
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Baghdad
MP Qusay al-Shabaki, from the Badr parliamentary bloc, predicted on Thursday that the issue of completing the cabinet would be resolved after the tour that Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi is expected to conduct to Europe in mid-September.
Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi announced in late August that al-Zaidi would be heading to France and Germany on an official visit in the middle of this month, explaining that Read more…
MP: The 2027 budget will include regularizing contracts and daily wages, with the exception of Kirkuk and Salah al-Din.
2026-09-10
Shafaq News – Baghdad
MP Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, from the Al-Azm Alliance, announced on Thursday that next year’s budget will include a clause regarding the permanent employment of contract and daily wage workers, while holding the Kirkuk and Salah al-Din governments responsible for the shortcomings in this matter.
Al-Nuaimi said during a press conference held at the Parliament building, which was attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that a delegation from the Al-Azm Alliance visited Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 9-9-2026
9-9-2026 Newshound Guru Sandy Ingram Finance Committee discussions with the central banks’ governor include three subjects: printing new currency, deleting the zeros and introducing new denominations…A finance committee member reportedly said there is discussion about introducing currency denominations smaller than Iraq’s existing 250 dinar note…This does not mean Iraq has approved a 100-dinar…50-dinar…25-dinar notes or any small denominations are about to be released. At this point no values below 250 dinars have been officially announced and there has been no official announcement that these smaller denominations have been approved for circulation. Read more…
International crises: The Iraqi financial system’s entanglement with the political elite hinders reform.
2026-09-09
Shafaq News – Washington
Mustafa Hashim
Lehib Higel, senior Iraq researcher at the International Crisis Group, ruled out on Wednesday the ability of external pressures to bring about fundamental changes or structural reforms in the Iraqi financial system, given the lack of internal political will and the deep entanglement between financial institutions and the ruling elite in Baghdad.
Hagel told Shafaq News Agency that “the close link between the financial systems in Iraq and the political elite makes it unlikely that substantial reforms will be achieved,” stressing that “external pressure will not produce tangible Read more…
Faihan for Integrity: No immunity for the corrupt, and Parliament supports measures to protect public funds.
9-9-2026
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Adnan Faihan Al-Dulaimi, affirmed on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) that no corrupt person is immune from the law, stressing the full support of the legislative authority for the efforts of the Integrity Commission in preserving public funds.
The media office of Faihan stated in a statement that the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives received the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Muhammad Ali Al-Lami, in Read more…
Political consensus pushes oil law to parliament
2026/09/09
Parliamentary and political pressure is mounting to pass the oil and gas law during the current legislative session, after nearly two decades of obstruction and ongoing disputes. This momentum follows the State Administration Coalition’s insistence on the necessity of submitting the draft law to the House of Representatives, amidst a consensus that the legislation represents the cornerstone for regulating the management of oil wealth and ending conflicts between the federal government, the Kurdistan Region, and Read more…
A highly anticipated summit between the presidents of Russia, China, and the United States.
2026-09-09
Shafaq News – Moscow
The Kremlin announced on Wednesday a possible trilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, his American counterpart Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to be held in November.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is scheduled to hold its summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19.
The Kremlin indicated that Putin would participate in the summit, while the White House Read more…
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The budget is knocking on parliament’s doors…threatened revenues and regional tensions are complicating Baghdad’s calculations
9-9-2026
The fact that the budget is still scheduled to be sent to Parliament does not inspire much optimism, especially given the regional tensions and rapidly changing events whose nature is unpredictable. Iraqis are awaiting the budget law to benefit many segments of society, most notably government employees who are still waiting for delayed bonuses and promotions. Contractors, project owners, and farmers are also waiting to receive their payments. Meanwhile, observers believe that Iraq’s continued Read more…
Source: Shia and Sunni groups are working to weaken Maliki by preventing his nominees for the Interior and Education ministries from being approved.
9-9-2026
Information / Baghdad…
A parliamentary source revealed on Wednesday a political movement led by prominent Shiite and Sunni figures aimed at undermining the influence of Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, by obstructing the approval of his nominees for the Interior and Higher Education ministries.
The source told the Information Agency that “political entities (Shiite and Sunni) are working systematically to weaken al-Maliki politically, as they see his presence and political stature as a real obstacle to their emergence as Read more…
Wisdom: The ministerial portfolios will be completed early next week.
9-9-2026
Information/Baghdad…
MP Ahmed Salem, from the Hikma Alliance, revealed on Wednesday the date for completing the cabinet, stating that the government formation will be finalized early next week.
Salem told the Information Agency, “The cabinet will be completed in the coming days,” noting that “the government formation process is witnessing progress towards finalizing the remaining ministries and completing the cabinet.” Read more…
What’s going on behind the scenes? Iraq has 22 days until the deadline for restricting weapons.
2026-09-09
Shafaq News – Baghdad/London
Iraq is only 22 days away from September 30, the date set by the government to end the military presence of the international coalition, at a time when the issue of restricting weapons to the state remains stuck between the positions and conditions of the armed factions, and between increasing political pressure to implement the principle of the state’s monopoly on force.
In its latest statement, the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, one of the armed factions in Iraq led by Abu Ala al-Walai, affirmed that the issue of restricting weapons cannot be separated from achieving what it described as “full sovereignty” for Iraq. Read more…
Exclusive – The US State Department presents Baghdad with a crucial financial obligation regarding Iran.
2026-09-09
Shafaq News – Washington/ Mustafa Hashim
The US State Department on Wednesday threatened a broad economic campaign to cut off funding to Tehran, demanding that Baghdad fully engage in pursuing illicit financial activities to ensure its financial stability and protect its partnership with Washington.
This came in direct response to questions posed by Shafaq News Agency to the ministry regarding how to spare Iraq the repercussions of US sanctions in light of warnings from the State Administration Coalition about a “critical financial situation”. Read more…
Kurdistan begins exporting surplus wheat from farmers to Türkiye
2026-09-09
Shafaq News – Erbil
The Kurdistan Region Investment Authority announced on Wednesday that it has begun exporting surplus quantities of wheat from the region’s farmers outside of Iraq, noting that the largest portion of these quantities was exported to the northern neighbor, Turkey.
The spokesperson for the authority, Berkesht Akre Yi, told Shafaq News Agency that “after completing the registration of the specialized companies and receiving the remaining wheat from Read more…
Iraq aims to increase its oil quota: 6 million barrels per day on the “OPEC+” table
2026-09-09
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Iraq is seeking a significant increase in its oil production quota, coinciding with a review by OPEC and its allies of member states’ capabilities, aimed at determining production levels that can be adopted for next year, according to informed sources.
Bloomberg quoted sources as saying that Iraq, the second largest producer in the OPEC+ alliance, wants to calculate its future production targets based on a baseline of 6 million barrels per day, a move that would represent a significant Read more…
