For the first time since 2003, the Iraqi government has publicly acknowledged a "serious" financial shortfall that disrupted salary payments for public sector employees in July 2026.

Ali al-Kurdi is now widely described as one of the key fugitives in the sprawling oil refinery contracts case, regarded as one of the largest corruption scandals to hit Iraq's oil sector in recent years.

UAE–Pakistan relations are entering a grey zone driven by financial pressure, deportations, and shifting regional alignments, as Abu Dhabi deepens defense and economic ties with India while Pakistan strengthens security ties with Saudi Arabia and balances between Gulf states and Iran.