Iraq Studies Strategic Gas Pipeline Linking South And North
2026-11-10 13:15 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq's Oil Ministry has called for a feasibility study on a proposed national pipeline to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the south to northern provinces to improve domestic supplies, the ministry said on Tuesday.
Deputy Oil Minister for Gas Affairs Ezzat Saber Ismail discussed the proposal with oil company representatives and ministry officials. The pipeline would serve Nineveh and Kirkuk, easing distribution bottlenecks while providing the option to export surplus LPG.
Read more: PM Al-Zaidi seeks gas investment to end imports
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-studies-strategic-gas-pipeline-linking-south-and-north
Netanyahu: Iran Working To Renew Nuclear Threat
2026-11-10 12:07 Shafaq News- Middle East Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his call for a national unity government on Tuesday, telling the newly sworn-in Knesset that Israel would soon face international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran.
Netanyahu said Iran was working to revive its nuclear program and argued that toppling the “Ayatollahs’ regime” was the only way to remove what he called an existential threat permanently. He also predicted that Israel would face pressure to accept the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank under Iranian auspices.
The 26th Knesset opened with a swearing-in ceremony attended by President Isaac Herzog, Speaker Amir Ohana, and Netanyahu. The October 27 election left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, Gadi Eisenkot and his allies with 48, and the two Arab-led factions with 19. An outright majority in the 120-seat parliament requires 61 seats.
Herzog gave Eisenkot, a former military chief and leader of the Yashar party, 28 days from November 8 to form a government. The initial deadline is December 6, and Herzog can extend it by up to 14 days. Eisenkot called Netanyahu’s speech divisive and urged the swift formation of a national emergency government.
After parliament opened, Eisenkot and his allies submitted bills to establish a state commission of inquiry into the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks and impose prime ministerial term limits. They also proposed repealing a judicial overhaul and other laws enacted under Netanyahu’s government.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Netanyahu-Iran-working-to-renew-nuclear-threat
Syria Eyes Wider Trade And Investment Ties With Iraq
2026-11-10 11:35 Shafaq News- Damascus Iraq is an important market for the Syrian economy, reflecting Iraqi consumers' trust in Syrian products and offering significant opportunities to expand trade and investment ties between the two countries, Ghassan Sukkar, first deputy chairman of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce, told Shafaq News on Tuesday.
Sukkar identified transit trade, domestic industries and agricultural products as key areas where Syria could contribute to stronger economic cooperation with Iraq. He noted that Syrian industrial products are trusted by Iraqi consumers and have strong potential in the Iraqi market.
"The coming period could mark a new beginning for economic relations between the two countries by expanding cooperation and creating opportunities for businessmen and traders on both sides," he said.
Beyond bilateral trade, Sukkar highlighted Syria's potential role as a bridge between Syrian producers and Iraqi consumers, helping expand access to the Iraqi market for Syrian products.
He also called for more economic meetings, seminars and conferences, alongside direct discussions between traders and businesspeople from both countries to establish commercial partnerships, exchange expertise and explore joint investment opportunities.
On November 2, the Syrian Federation of Chambers of Commerce announced that the Iraqi government had agreed to facilitate entry visas for Syrian traders in the first, second and third business categories, provided they submit recommendation letters issued by the federation.
The federation urged chambers of commerce to coordinate with it to obtain the required recommendation letters and complete visa procedures. It said the measures followed a series of economic meetings and discussions between the two sides.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Syria-eyes-wider-trade-and-investment-ties-with-Iraq
Nineveh Press Union Warns Of Blackmail, Defamation
2026-11-10 10:00 Shafaq News- Nineveh Media platforms and social networks are being used for blackmail, defamation, and abuse; the Nineveh branch of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate warned on Tuesday, describing this conduct as a “serious affront” to journalism and a breach of its professional standards and ethics.
In a statement, the branch said it had recently observed such conduct by some bloggers and publishers and, in some cases, by people affiliated with journalism or the media.
Those involved used the platforms for defamation and blackmail and to direct abuse at individuals, institutions, and national, religious, and social figures, damaging their reputations and standing, according to the union. They also “distorted facts, presented information selectively, and misled the public to advance personal aims or secure personal gains.”
The union urged journalists, media workers, publishers, and content creators to adhere to media ethics, carefully verify information with reliable sources before publishing, and avoid taking statements out of context or distorting facts for improper gain.
Read more: Iraq’s media and the price of false credentials
https://www.shafaq.com/en/society/Nineveh-press-union-warns-of-blackmail-defamation
Flooding Disrupts Truck Traffic At Iraq-Syria Border Crossing
2026-11-10 11:54 Shafaq News- Nineveh Mud and floodwater have disrupted truck traffic at the Rabia (Al-Yarubiyah) border crossing between Iraq and Syria, Nineveh Provincial Council member Khalaf al-Hadidi told Shafaq News on Tuesday.
Al-Hadidi called the conditions “embarrassing and unacceptable” for Iraq and Nineveh. Truck drivers have been forced to rely on privately operated heavy machinery to pull their vehicles through the crossing.
He also criticized the contrast between the two sides, noting that the Syrian side appeared well-organized despite years of war, while the Iraqi side remained in poor condition.
The Provincial Council's Planning Committee will ask the council leadership to formally request urgent funding from the governor and provincial administration. If funds are unavailable, the rehabilitation project will be included in the province's 2027 regional development plan to establish a modern, fully equipped border crossing.
Read more: Analysts: Iraq-Syria talks boost economic, security prospects
https://www.shafaq.com/en/society/Flooding-disrupts-truck-traffic-at-Iraq-Syria-border-crossing