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Who’s Who in Syria’s Fatwa Council — and Where They Stand on the SDF
While the HTS-led Syrian authorities recently announced the formation of a new government, an equally significant—if not more consequential—development is the establishment of the Syrian Supreme Fatwa Council. This religious…
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Arivan
What Kurdish Flags Reveal About Newroz Celebrations in Syria
For the first time in decades, Kurds were permitted to celebrate Newroz publicly throughout much of Syria, including Damascus. While Newroz celebrations have been commonplace in areas controlled by the…
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Arivan
Two Years After the Pipeline Shutdown: Where Do KRG’s Oil Exports Stand?
On the morning of March 25, 2023, Turkey halted oil exports from the Kurdistan Region to the Ceyhan port, following a ruling by the International Court of Arbitration in Paris.…
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Arivan
Who Gets What in the Next KRG Cabinet? Inside the Stalled KDP–PUK Talks
More than six months have passed since the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, yet the formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet remains uncertain. Despite recent meetings between the Kurdistan…
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Arivan
Iraq’s 2024 Import Profile: UAE Leads with $31B, Gold Tops Commodity List
Iraq in 2024 imported goods and commodities valued at approximately $65.293 billion from the United Arab Emirates, China, Turkey, India, Brazil, and the United States. The highest value of imports…
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Arivan
Shiite Factions Clash Over PMF Legislation Amid U.S. Pressure and Iraq’s Election Year
In an election year marked by mounting pressure from the new Trump administration, internal rifts among Iraq’s Shiite factions over legislation governing the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have escalated. Ostensibly,…
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Arivan
Why Iran is Suddenly Embracing Kurdish Newroz Celebrations?
Newroz 2025 marks the first time in decades that Kurds across the region have been able to celebrate their traditional new year holiday on a massive scale and largely without…
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Arivan
What Does the Barzani–Waltz Call Reveal About US Strategy on KRG Oil?
Masrour Barzani with Mike Waltz and three other members of the U.S. Congress, March 2024.
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Arivan
Kurdistan Region Marriage and Divorce: The Data Behind a Decade of Change
New data from the Kurdistan Region Judicial Council shows Sulaimani province leading in both marriages and divorces, with divorce rates continuing to climb region-wide over the past decade. The comprehensive…
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Arivan
Peace with PKK, Crackdown on CHP: The AKP-MHP Strategy to Rule Past 2028
Yesterday’s arrest of the popular opposition Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu appears contradictory when viewed through the lens of recent peace talks with the PKK and its leader Öcalan—talks that emphasize…
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