In a bold move, Iraq has prohibited transactions in US dollars. This surprise announcement last week was an effort to stabilise the Iraqi Dinar. But increasingly, the US dollar’s dominance is being challenged in West Asia. Palki Sharma tells how the de-dollarisation trend is catching on.

The United States is widely monitoring one of the western regions of Iraq's Al-Anbar to build its second military base in the province after the Ain Al-Assad base, an Iraqi security source revealed, as cited by local media outlets.

The media suggested that the US chose Al-Jazira area to construct its military bases due to its large oil and gas fields, as well as other mines.

According to the reports, the area is one of Iraq's completely safe regions and has not witnessed any attacks for a long time.

As the final days of the holy month of Ramadan approached, Muqtada al-Sadr busied himself with preparations for his annual itikaf, a period of reflection to be spent in the great mosque of Kufa.

To those around him, it seemed clear he was trying to divert his attention away from events in the world outside the walls of his home in central Najaf's Hanana.