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Ten Months On, KRG Cabinet Talks Deadlocked as ‘September Parliament Session’ Floated Under Western Pressure
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) politburos met yesterday in Erbil to discuss the stalled formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet and…
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Arivan
‘KRG, Baghdad Finalize Oil Handover Deal’ as Talks with Turkey and Companies Continue
The KRG Ministry of Natural Resources announced that it has finalized an agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Oil on resuming Kurdistan Region oil exports. Context: Under the deal, the KRG…
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Arivan
Duhok as Sulaimani’s Polar Opposite: Why Only 3% of Kurdistan’s Protests Have Been in Duhok Despite Its 27% Share of the Population
In the Kurdistan Region, the stark differences in civic and cultural dynamics between Sulaimani and Duhok are well known. Public comparisons, however, are more often drawn between Erbil and Sulaimani—a…
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Arivan
New Generation Leader Shaswar Abdulwahid Detained in Sulaimani Ahead of Iraq’s November Elections
Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the largest opposition group in the Kurdistan Region, was arrested last night in Sulaimani under Article 431 of the Iraqi Penal Code, pursuant to an arrest…
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Arivan
Syria and Iraq Revive Talks on Dormant Oil Pipeline As Turkey Presses Iraq for More Favorable Pipeline Deal
Syria’s Energy Minister Muhammad al-Bashir arrived in Baghdad today for talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Oil Minister Hayan AbdulGhani, with the main focus on reviving the Kirkuk–Banias oil pipeline, as…
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Arivan
As the Turkish–PKK Peace Process Advances, Makhmour Refugee Camp Set for Evacuation
The Iraqi government has intensified its pressure on the Makhmour refugee camp amid reports that, as part of the ongoing Turkish–PKK peace process, a tripartite mechanism comprising Turkey’s National Intelligence…
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Arivan
PUK Launches First Major US Lobbying Push with $1M Ballard Partners Deal
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has signed a nearly $1 million contract with the U.S. lobbying firm Ballard Partners to bolster its political and economic engagement with the US…
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Arivan
Northeast Syria Conference Courts Druze and Alawite Leaders to Build ‘Decentralisation’ Coalition Ahead of Paris Talks
An SDF-organised conference in Hasakah city aimed at bringing together cross-ethnic and cross-sectarian representatives marked a significant step, particularly as it featured video addresses from the most prominent Druze and…
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Arivan
The Competition Between al-Sudani and al-Maliki for the Iraqi Elections Splits the Kurds
As Iraq’s political arena gears up for the November parliamentary elections, the intensifying rivalry between current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is directly impacting…
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Arivan
The Pentagon’s Iraq Budget and Inspector General Report Suggest a Shift in Priorities
The Pentagon’s requested budget for Iraq in 2026 reflects a significant realignment of priorities. The total allocation has dropped by 44% compared to 2025 and by 12% compared to 2024.…
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