Iraq Sovereignty & Security Transition: Iraq’s armed forces say the US-led coalition mission ends Sept. 30, with a planned pullback that includes removing US air-defense systems in Erbil—raising the stakes for how Iraq handles drones and missiles. Air Defense Modernization: Iraq has ordered a faster three-year plan to modernize integrated missile and radar networks, aiming to improve early warning and protection of key infrastructure. Nineveh Legal Ruling: Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court upheld a Nineveh Provincial Council decision lifting construction restrictions in Qaza Fakhra and Jliyokhan on the Nineveh Plains, ending years of limits tied to Mosul expansion permits. Heritage & Science: Restoration has started on the 3,400-year-old Aqarquf Ziggurat temples west of Baghdad, with an Italian team reinforcing damaged brick and mud-brick walls using conservation methods aligned with international standards. Tech/Business in Iraq: Ford appointed Shamal Al Jazeera Auto-Trading and Commercial Agencies (SAT) as its Iraq distributor partner from Oct. 1, covering vehicle sales, parts, and aftersales. Mental Health Tech/Healthcare: Vermont opened the Asha Clinic, a specialized outpatient suicide-care program led by Dr. Craig Bryan, expanding access to proven therapies. Culture & STEM-adjacent Learning: Baghdad’s International Book Fair drew record participation from 28 countries, with hundreds of publishers and thousands of new titles.