Newsletter: Daily Briefing Qatar says no direct Iran-US talks in Doha Saudi FM visits Beijing; Iraq’s premier expands anti-corruption crackdown; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Here's what to know about Iraq's corruption as Zaidi launches crackdown Watchdogs and financial institutions regard Iraq as a significantly corrupt country as the new prime minister works to recover public funds. Iraq
Analysis Iraqi PM’s anti-corruption drive comes as US pressure mounts on Iran-backed militias Iraq’s new prime minister has launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign ahead of key talks in Washington, but analysts say the real test will be whether it reaches Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed actors. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Explainer After UAE and Qatar, could Iraq be next to leave OPEC? Iraq is seeking a higher production quota as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has slashed oil revenues and plunged the country into a fiscal crisis. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Region welcomes US-Iran deal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Exclusive Barrack heads to Iraq as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iranian media stunned by Iraqi PM's compliance with US sanctions Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's decision to cooperate with US sanctions has surprised a number of analysts and media in Iran. Iraq
Genocide still haunts Iraq's Yazidis Four years after the genocide against them, Yazidis mark its anniversary without a noticeable improvement in their situation. Iraq
As Iraq wraps up election recount, is a new government in sight? In the midst of intensive negotiations by the winning parties in the elections to form a new government, the Independent High Electoral Commission has completed the process of manual counting, without expecting a significant change in the results. Iraq
Iraq's Basra plans dam on vital river After angry demonstrations against the government in Basra about the lack of potable water, the southern Iraqi province is preparing to tackle the problem by building a dam on the Shatt al-Arab River. Iraq
Will Riyadh-Tehran rivalry kill Iraqi Kurdistan's investment drive? A visit to Erbil by a Saudi trade delegation in late July has the potential to bear fruit in advancing economic cooperation and investment in the region, helping ease its current financial crisis, but the Saudis' move has raised eyebrows in Tehran. Saudi Arabia
As protests rock southern Iraq, Basra calls for autonomy Amid the ongoing protests in Iraq's southern province of Basra, an old demand for autonomy has re-emerged. Iraq
Dismissal of electricity minister fails to quell protests in Iraq After a month of protests in Iraq over the lack of electricity and other public services, the Iraqi prime minister dismissed the minister of electricity, without any clear vision for a solution to the crisis. Saudi Arabia
Will Iraq's Sunni provinces join in on protest movement? While the southern part of Iraq is witnessing a major protest movement, people in Sunni areas in the west and north — despite expressing support for the demonstrations — have fears about going out into the streets. Iraq
Iranian Sunni leader makes appeal to Iraq's top Shiite cleric Iran’s prominent Sunni leader, Molavi Abdul Hamid, sent a letter to Iraqi Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani requesting that he act as a mediator between Iran's Sunni community and the government. Iraq
Explosions at arms depot dent peshmerga's confidence in leadership Recent explosions at several weapons and ammunition depots have deepened mistrust between rank-and-file peshmerga forces and their leadership in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Iraq
Terrorist attack on Erbil government building raises concern in Iraqi Kurdistan An attack on an Erbil government building highlights homegrown terror networks and reveals dangerous security fissures in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Iraq
Iraq's Salahuddin province launches war on alcohol The ban on alcohol shops in Salahuddin, which was recently liberated from IS control, shows the growing influence of clerics and tribal leaders. Iraq