Agriculture & Food Security: Iraq’s Cabinet banned agricultural imports until the end of the domestic production season and approved a draft law to create a Food and Drug Authority, aiming to tighten food security and regulate quality. Industrial Policy & Infrastructure: The government also approved restructuring of World Bank-funded water and sewage projects in Baghdad and pushed a plan for one million serviced residential plots, while energy-sector workers protested higher electricity tariffs and demanded permanent jobs and 2027 budget funding. Oil & Gas Expansion: Iraq’s PM Ali al-Zaidi called for boosting oil output to 10 million bpd by 2030, including expanding Kurdistan production, ramping exploration, and recovering associated gas to cut waste and imports. Security & Trade Logistics: The US approved up to $800m in Bell helicopter sales to Iraq for reconnaissance and air-to-surface targeting, supporting rotary-wing transport and sensors. Regional Digital Economy: Ooredoo and UNDP, with Iraq’s participation, convened Arab digital and AI policy leaders in Doha to accelerate inclusive digital economy implementation across the region. Energy Market Pressure: Coverage also highlighted how Iran-US escalation is reshaping shipping and energy flows around the Strait of Hormuz, keeping regional costs and risks elevated for oil and logistics.