Newsletter: Daily Briefing Why Iran, US are drifting back to conflict Trump hosts Iraqi PM Zaidi; Bahrain sentences 3 to life in prison over ties to Iran's IRGC; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Trump hosts Iraqi PM Zaidi as Iran war intensifies President Donald Trump emphasized Iraq’s “tremendous oil reserves” and possible deals with US companies. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran strikes tankers, US bases as Gulf conflict escalates Lebanon, Israel hold talks in Rome; Iraqi PM Zaidi to meet Trump; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis On first foreign trip, Iraqi PM Zaidi woos Trump but Iran casts long shadow Iraq's new prime minister is in Washington promising business deals and closer ties with the United States, but convincing the Trump administration he can rein in Iran-backed militias may prove his toughest challenge. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Can a UAE-backed Syria-Iraq corridor become Gulf's next trade route? By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Qatar says no direct Iran-US talks in Doha By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Iraqi PM’s anti-corruption drive comes as US pressure mounts on Iran-backed militias By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iraq’s Ports Record Highest-Ever Returns Iraq’s ports are enjoying an unprecedented period of prosperity and the Iraqi government is close to opening a new container port in the south, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Sunni Sheikh Takes Larger Role In Protests Against Maliki Sheikh Abdul Malik al-Saadi has risen over the last two decades from a little-known cleric opposed to the rule of Saddam Hussein to one of Iraq’s most prominent Sunni religious leaders, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
KRG Fails to Combat Violence Against Women in Kurdistan Despite efforts by the Kurdistan Regional Government to reduce violence against women, figures recently made public show that there has been little improvement, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Housing Initiative Fails to Deliver Iraqi investment authorities have misstepped with the country’s largest residential housing project as they attempt to solve the country’s housing crisis, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Opposition Parties Accuse KRG of Mishandling Budget Kurdish oppposition politicians have accused the Kurdistan Regional Government of mismanagement ahead of deliberations on the 2013 federal budget, of which the region will receive an estimated $18 billion, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Oil Contracts Reward Kuwait, Punish Turkey The signing of the latest round of oil contracts in Iraq has been a victory for the Iraq-Kuwait detente, but comes at the cost of deteriorating relations with Turkey, writes Omar al-Shaher. Kuwait
Iraq in Crisis Over Terror Death-Penalty Law There are growing calls in Iraq among the Sunni opposition to annul an article in the Anti-Terrorism Law that Sunnis say discriminates against them, reports Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Maliki Threatens "Division" To Pressure Opponents Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has played the "division" card as a threat in dealing with Iraq’s sectarian and political factions, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Restoration of Iraqi Border Villages Allegedly Tied to Elections Plans to restore and repopulate Iraq’s border villages destroyed during its war with Iran have been met with accusations of electioneering from Kurdish politicians, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Army Clashes With Protesters Spark Tribal Unrest Clashes between Sunni protesters and the Iraqi army in Fallujah in western Iraq have aggravated the demonstrations, with tribal leaders threatening retaliation, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Iraq's Problems Go Beyond Maliki Mustafa Al-Khadimi writes that the problems in Iraq are not solely caused by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, but instead reveal the shortcomings of the entire Iraqi political process. Iraq
Iraqi Agriculture in Crisis Agriculture in Iraq is experiencing a downturn as farmers leave their family trades for more lucrative government positions with steady salaries and government benefits, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq