Shiite ruling power accused of imposing pick for Sunni-allocated Iraqi speakership

Almost a year after Halbousi was ousted and the Iraqi parliament was left without a speaker, the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework has pushed for appointing a new speaker in an upcoming parliamentary session, strongly backing one of the candidates despite not being a unanimous pick among the Sunnis, for whom the position is allocated.

Oct. 23, 2024

Features

Abundance of factories; another economic revolution in Kurdistan Region led by PM Barzani

From July 2019 to September 2024, a total of 977 factories, with a budget of 1.1 billion dollars, have been licensed across the Kurdistan Region. They have altogether helped create 15,245 jobs, a strategic achievement for the ninth KRG cabinet, led by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, to reduce the unemployment burden on the government’s shoulders. 

Oct. 09, 2024

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Federal investigation into drug lab in Sulaimani obstructed by PUK, allied Iraqi armed groups: sources

Influential politicians in Sulaimani are obstructing an Iraqi investigation into a narcotics lab seized nearly five months ago in Darbandikhan, sources told The New Region.

Oct. 09, 2024

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Middle east turmoil; Iraq faces internal strife, Axis of Resistance may drag it into war

A year after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the ensuing war with Israel, Iraq has found itself embroiled in significant political, economic, and media turmoil.

Oct. 08, 2024

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How Iraq’s integrity chief made the political system in Baghdad tremble

A press conference from Iraq's integrity chief last week shook the Iraqi political system, leading to an urgent meeting by the country's ruling Shiite leaders, during which tensions rose between the Iraqi prime minister and several other Shiite leaders.

Sep. 10, 2024

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Sudani’s bid for second term entangled with Shiite powers’ interests

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's attempts to secure a second term are entangling with deepening disputes between Iran-backed Shiite forces, who Sudani decides to align with in the coming months could either make him or break him.

Aug. 27, 2024

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Electing Iraq’s parliamentary speaker; an intra-Shiite conflict

Iraqi parliament’s speaker position has been vacant for months, while many see the vacancy as a Sunni issue, sources told The New Region that the conflict is deeper than it looks and has brought even Shiite powers into conflict with each other.

Aug. 20, 2024

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How Iran-backed Khazali dominated the status quo in Iraq’s disputed areas

The process in which the local governments in Kirkuk and Diyala were elected was masterminded by no other than Asaib Ahl al-Haq’s Qais al-Khazali, who brought together several parties in return for adopting his influence that could eventually lead to yet another contentious deal in electing parliamentary speaker, sources told The New Region.

Aug. 15, 2024

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EXCLUSIVE: Iraq, US reached deal to withdraw troops in two years

Iraq and US have reached an agreement on a two year plan to withdraw US troops from the country, several Iraqi sources have confirmed to The New Region, adding that the announcement of the agreement has been postponed after initially being scheduled for this week.

Aug. 08, 2024

Features