Al-Zaydi’s government responds to parliament: We have no knowledge of the Saudi bombing.

The Iraqi government, headed by Ali al-Zaidi, confirmed on Monday that it had no prior knowledge of the targeting of Popular Mobilization Forces sites, denying claims that it had prior information about the attack and failed to take the necessary measures.

Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi said during a press conference attended by a Shafaq News Agency correspondent that “the targeting and attack on the Popular Mobilization Forces sites was not with the knowledge of the government,” indicating that there are those who are trying to stir up public opinion in this direction. MiddleEast news

He explained that the Prime Minister and the government delegation were on a visit to Türkiye when the attack occurred, noting that the targeting coincided with the government delegation’s return to Baghdad.

Al-Aboudi’s statements come after the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament , Adnan Faihan, directed yesterday, Sunday, the formation of a committee to investigate and find out the truth about the government’s prior knowledge of the date of the American-Saudi targeting of Iraq, and whether it had taken the necessary measures, with the committee to submit its report within a week.

The Popular Mobilization Forces had also previously denied the accusations leveled against its head, Faleh al-Fayyad, regarding his having prior information about the targeting of the PMF headquarters and his failure to inform the military units, describing them as “baseless claims.”

Shafaq.com

Iraq advances 5 places in the list of the world’s richest countries for 2026

Iraq ranked 109th globally out of 189 countries in the list of the world’s richest countries for 2026, according to the American magazine Global Finance, recording a gross domestic product per capita according to purchasing power parity of $15,359.60 internationally. Dailynews reports

According to the ranking seen by Shafaq News Agency, Iraq has advanced 5 places compared to 2025, when it ranked 114th globally.

In the Arab world, Qatar topped the list, followed by the UAE, then Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Algeria and Libya, while Iraq came in tenth place in the Arab world, followed by Tunisia, Lebanon and Jordan.

The ranking is based on per capita GDP according to purchasing power parity, a measure that takes into account differences in inflation and the costs of goods and services between countries, with the aim of making a comparison between living standards and purchasing power in different economies.

Globally, Singapore topped the list with an international output of $156,755.35 per capita, followed by Luxembourg with $152,966.48, then Ireland with $152,632.06, while Macau Special Administrative Region came in fourth, Qatar fifth, Norway sixth, and Switzerland seventh.

The report noted that a high per capita GDP based on purchasing power parity does not necessarily mean that all residents enjoy the same level of well-being, as levels of inequality in income distribution, as well as the nature of economies and tax havens, can affect the accuracy of using this indicator to measure the standard of living of the population.

Shafaq.com

The Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank discuss the financial and economic situation.

Finance Minister Faleh Sari and Central Bank Governor Nizar Nasser Hussein discussed the financial and economic situation in the country on Sunday (August 9, 2026).

The Ministry of Finance stated in a statement that “Finance Minister Faleh Sari received Sunday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Nizar Nasser Hussein, where the financial and economic situation was discussed in light of the current challenges.”

The minister stressed, according to the statement, that “the current circumstances require continuous coordination between fiscal and monetary policy, which will help to manage financial flows efficiently and ensure the fulfillment of the state’s obligations, while continuing to work on reforming the financial system and developing public finance management tools.”

The minister pointed to “the importance of enhancing data exchange between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank, and accelerating digital transformation, which will raise the efficiency of financial institutions and support their ability to respond to economic changes.”

The governor of the Central Bank explained that “the Central Bank operates according to a methodology that focuses on supporting monetary stability, developing banking operations, and keeping pace with the needs of the national economy,” stressing “the importance of coordination with the Ministry of Finance on economic and financial issues.”

According to the statement, both sides agreed to “continue joint work on measures to enhance financial and monetary stability and ensure the regularity of the state’s basic obligations.”

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Iraq adopts Apple as a trusted platform to promote electronic payments

he head of the executive body of the Media and Communications Commission, Baligh Abu Kalal, announced on Thursday that Apple has been approved as a verified digital platform to operate in Iraq, after completing all the requirements and procedures stipulated in the framework regulations for digital platforms and services. Iraqeconomy updates

Abu Kalal said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the accreditation includes classifying Apple as a trusted digital service provider for its services represented by ( App Store , Apple Music , Apple Podcasts , Apple Arcade , and Apple Ads ), after it has met the technical and legal requirements approved by the Media and Communications Commission, which allows the provision of these services within an official regulatory framework that is consistent with the laws and regulations in force in the Republic of Iraq.

He pointed out that the adoption of global digital platforms falls within a strategy aimed at aligning the services of international companies with Iraqi legislation, ensuring the protection of users’ rights, supporting the digital economy, and developing the investment environment in the information technology sector.

He added that the commission continues to work with major international companies and platforms to complete licensing and accreditation procedures, which will contribute to expanding the scope of digital services, regulating electronic payment operations, and enhancing Iraq’s presence in the global digital economy.

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The minister is in charge of two ministries… Disarray and confusion threaten Al-Zaidi’s incomplete government!

The leader in the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Muhammad al-Mutalibi, confirmed today, Thursday, that completing the ministerial cabinet is one of the sensitive and thorny issues, and requires a great deal of political intervention to resolve it, due to the thin line separating competence and professionalism on the one hand, and the electoral entitlement of the political blocs on the other, especially with regard to the sovereign ministries, specifically the security ministries.

Al-Mutalibi told Al-Maalouma that “candidates for security ministries must have experience, competence, and professionalism, as well as national acceptance,” explaining that “security ministries cannot be assigned to figures who represent the political ideology of the party to which they belong.”

He added that “the political blocs are seeking to mature the dialogues regarding the completion of the vacant ministries, in preparation for reaching understandings that will end this issue,” noting that “the next stage carries great challenges, especially in the files of sovereignty and combating corruption.”

Al-Mutalibi pointed out that “the challenges that Iraq is going through at the present stage also have an impact on completing the government cabinet,” stressing that “the Prime Minister cannot succeed in managing a government in which most ministers are responsible for two ministries, because this distracts the minister’s work, reduces his efficiency, and negatively affects the level of attention given to his ministry.” MiddleEast news

He continued, “The Prime Minister is the one paying the price for the delay in completing his cabinet formation, as this affects the government’s work at this sensitive stage, which requires intensive work to resolve many issues, especially those related to sovereignty, in addition to the salary issue and the oil export issue, which has been disrupted due to the war on the Islamic Republic and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Almaalomah.me

Iraqi electricity company brings good news to citizens regarding power supply hours.

The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity confirmed on Thursday that the national grid has witnessed a relative improvement in supply hours, indicating that this improvement came as a result of the combination of several factors. Iraqeconomy updates

The ministry spokesman, Ahmed Al-Turki, explained to Shafaq News Agency that “the factors that helped improve electricity include, first and foremost, the improvement in fuel supplies, whether through increasing the quantities of Iranian gas, and resuming part of the gas supplies from the Kurdistan Region fields.”

Al-Turki pointed out that “the entry into service of the electrical interconnection line with Türkiye, as well as the technical efforts made by the staff of the Ministry of Electricity in raising the readiness of the generating units, contributed to this improvement.”

He added that “the combination of these factors contributed to strengthening the stability of the electrical system and improving the level of equipment, as the total production of electrical energy exceeded 24,500 megawatts.”

Iraqi Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Wahib confirmed during his appearance in Parliament last Saturday that completing electricity interconnection projects with neighboring countries, along with addressing losses in the electricity grid, will contribute to raising energy production rates and improving supply hours in the coming phase.

The Ministry of Electricity attributes the decline in power supply hours to several factors, including reduced gas supplies and violations on the electrical grid, at a time when most governorates are experiencing widespread power outages, reaching the point of complete blackout in some areas.

Iraq has suffered for decades from a chronic electricity crisis that worsens during the summer with rising temperatures. Despite the implementation of successive government plans and the expenditure of large sums on the sector, supply levels remain below the citizens’ expectations.

Shafaq.com

80% of money is outside banks… Former MP calls for a new strategy to attract hoarded funds

Former MP Abbas Sarout confirmed on Thursday that 80% of Iraqi money is hoarded in homes, away from banks, noting the need to reconsider the strategy for attracting funds to the banking system.

Sarout explained to Al-Maalouma that “Iraq is suffering from a liquidity crisis that has begun to affect salary distribution, given that 80% of the money is hoarded outside banks. This requires serious attention to adopt a strategy that creates incentives to encourage citizens from all walks of life to deposit their money in banks and adopt electronic payment methods, a strategy used in most countries worldwide.”

He added that “this mechanism ensures the government’s ability to distribute salaries, grant loans and advances, and conduct financial transactions,” pointing out that “the majority of financial transactions in Iraq still rely on traditional methods, and this has many drawbacks.”

He stressed “the necessity of citizens having confidence to deposit their money in banks, as this will create balance, sustain the flow of funds, and foster greater flexibility, particularly in ensuring the financial capacity to meet obligations.” MiddleEast news

Almaalomah.me

The National Union and the New Generation are leading a movement to prevent the Democrats from seizing power.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan revealed on Thursday that negotiations to form the Kurdistan Regional Government are still ongoing between the political alliances and the forces that won the elections, which are striving with all their might to undermine the Democratic Party’s monopoly on power and prevent it from monopolizing all government positions.

Burhan Sheikh Marouf, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), stated that the new alliance comprising the PUK and the New Generation Movement now holds 38 seats out of 100, compared to 39 seats for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He added that negotiations are ongoing among the winning parties to form the government.
He explained that the new alliance is making significant efforts to persuade the winning blocs to convene the first session of the new parliament to elect a leadership and distribute government positions. He noted that more than two years have passed since the Kurdistan Region elections without any political agreement being reached to resolve the allocation of government posts.

He added that the alliance, which includes the PUK and the New Generation Movement, is striving to prevent the KDP from monopolizing power and seizing all positions within the region.

Almaalomah.me

Exclusive: Factions set four conditions for freezing their response to Saudi Arabia

An informed source revealed on Thursday that the armed factions have “temporarily” frozen their decision to respond to Saudi Arabia, and have put forward their demands, which include an official apology and compensation from Saudi Arabia, otherwise they will proceed with a response. Dailynews reports

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the factions that threatened to respond to the Saudi bombing that targeted a number of Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters in some provinces have frozen their decision to respond, and have made its implementation or non-implementation contingent on the extent of Saudi Arabia’s response to the event.”

He added that “the demands of the factions include Saudi Arabia acknowledging that it made a mistake in the bombing and paying financial compensation to the families of the victims, in addition to granting compensation for the damages inflicted on public property, and calming the Saudi media discourse against the factions in general, otherwise the factions will respond.”

This afternoon, the Security Media Cell announced on Thursday that it had raised the security readiness and combat preparedness in Iraq.

The cell said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency: “Under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, it was decided to raise the level of security readiness and combat preparedness of the security and military forces, including the implementation of training exercises and troop movements.”

She added, “This is within the framework of maintaining the high level of readiness of all security forces formations and enhancing their ability to perform their duties, which contributes to consolidating security and stability and protecting citizens and public interests.”

Regarding the position of the factions and their conditions, political researcher Ghaleb Al-Daami believes that “there is an Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement, and a genuine desire between the two countries to improve political, economic and security relations, including that Iraq should control weapons and not allow them to be directed against any Arab country.”

Al-Daami continues, during his interview with Shafaq News Agency, that “the conditions of the factions are not governmental, but rather they are from parties outside the state system and have no relation to the political system, and therefore they are not acceptable, because such matters are resolved only through the state, and Iraq has economic relations and common interests with Saudi Arabia in addition to oil and energy files, which the Prime Minister will discuss with Saudi officials during his upcoming visit.”

Prior to the official statement, a security source told Shafaq News Agency that orders had been issued by senior leaders to raise the level of readiness among the various branches of the security and military forces throughout Iraq.

The source said the orders included cancelling the leave of commanders and officers and keeping them on high alert.

She added that the precautionary measures coincide with the end of a deadline set by armed factions for the Iraqi government to take a position on Saudi Arabia, as well as preparations to carry out new arrests of those accused in corruption cases.

According to the sources, raising the level of preparedness is also linked to the decision taken by the State Administration Coalition regarding restricting weapons to official institutions and ending the activity of armed factions by September 30.

On Wednesday evening, the State Administration Coalition declared that entities engaging in behavior that threatens the country’s security outside the framework of official institutions are “outlaws and must be fought,” warning that any armed activity after September 30, 2026, will be subject to the provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

On July 29, groups calling themselves the “Iraqi Resistance” announced that they had given the Iraqi government a deadline, ending this Thursday, to take action against Saudi Arabia, following accusations that it had targeted headquarters belonging to armed factions, threatening to retaliate if Baghdad did not take a stand.

Shafaq.com

Iraq declares “war” on armed groups outside the state

On Wednesday evening, the State Administration Coalition declared that entities engaging in behavior that threatens the country’s security outside the framework of official institutions are “outlaws and must be fought,” and warned that any armed activity after September 30, 2026, will be subject to the provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Law. Dailynews reports

This came during the 37th periodic meeting of the coalition, which was held at the Government Palace in the presence of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, and the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, along with the leaders of the forces affiliated with the coalition.

The State Administration Coalition was established on September 25, 2022, as a political umbrella that brought together the Coordination Framework, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Sovereignty and Determination Alliances, and the Babylon Movement.

The coalition paved the way for the formation of the government headed by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in October of the same year, before it turned into a coordinating framework for the forces participating in running the country, holding periodic meetings to discuss political, security and economic issues and to follow up on the implementation of agreements and the government program.

The coalition said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the meeting discussed the political, security, economic and service conditions in the country, in addition to regional developments and their repercussions on Iraq.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed efforts to enhance security and stability, improve services, and implement the ministerial program, as well as government measures to address economic and financial challenges, stressing that the interests of citizens are at the forefront of priorities.

The attendees affirmed their support for efforts to maintain security and stability and to restrict weapons to the state in accordance with the ministerial program that was voted on by the House of Representatives and became an effective law, and to prevent the use of Iraqi lands as a launching pad for attacks on neighboring countries or to drag Iraq into conflicts that do not serve the interests of its people, considering those who engage in behavior that threatens the security of the country as outlaws who must be fought in accordance with the articles of the constitution that prohibit the use of weapons outside the will of the state or the formation of any armed organization outside the official armed forces.

The attendees condemned the attacks on Iraqi armed forces units that resulted in the killing of a number of its members, calling for adherence to the deadline set for the confiscation of weapons, which ends on September 30, 2026.

The statement added that any armed activity outside the framework of the state after this date “will be dealt with in accordance with the counter-terrorism law.”

On the economic front, the meeting discussed the measures necessary to ensure the continuity of essential services and projects, diversify oil export outlets, enhance non-oil revenues, and combat waste, smuggling, and corruption.

The coalition affirmed Iraq’s support for efforts to promote calm and dialogue, and rejected the use of force in settling disputes, expressing Baghdad’s readiness to play a role in bringing together the views of the parties to regional conflicts in a way that preserves the security of the region and common interests.

The meeting also discussed developments in neighboring countries and ways to enhance border security, combat terrorism, drugs and organized crime, and develop Iraq’s foreign relations on the basis of mutual interests, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the State Administration Coalition called for expediting the formation of the government and sending the government program to the House of Representatives for discussion and approval.

Shafaq.com