Halabja’s Governorate Status Triggers Battle to Redraw Iraq’s Map

The Iraqi Parliament’s vote on April 14, 2025, to officially recognize Halabja as the country’s 19th province has triggered a…

Why Is Nechirvan Barzani Meeting with Macron in Paris?

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has met today with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The meeting comes on the…

Interior Ministry and Judiciary Emerge as Battlegrounds in KDP–PUK KRG Cabinet Negotiations

A month after the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—the two main victors in the…

US Secretary of State Urges Resumption of KRG Oil Exports in Call with Masrour Barzani

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to press for the resumption of the KRG’s suspended oil exports. While Washington has…
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Spheres of Influence: Turkey, Israel, and the Future of Northeast Syria

During the Trump–Netanyahu press conference yesterday, President Trump made it clear he intends to accommodate Erdogan’s demands. He even claimed that Turkey had effectively “taken over Syria,” something he said…
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Turkish Actor, Seized Christian Land, and the KRG PM’s Real Estate Empire

Yesterday, amid extensive coverage by media outlets affiliated with KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani—such as Kurdistan24 TV and AVA Media—famous Turkish actor Burak Özçivit arrived in Erbil. His visit received…
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Why International Oil Companies Are in No Rush to Resume KRG Oil Exports

Despite the KRG agreeing to a $16-per-barrel production cost and increasing U.S. pressure for exports to resume, and despite repeated promises by Iraq’s oil minister that exports would restart “in…
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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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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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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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