Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi on Wednesday announced a “special amnesty” after meeting with notables from the Arab-majority city of Raqqa in northern Syria.

A landmine blast on Monday killed a 35-year-old tradesman in the mountainous areas of the Soran independent administration, a local witness said.

Autism is becoming increasingly prevalent in the Kurdistan Region and the government must provide greater support for affected families, an autism association said on Wednesday, on World Autism Awareness Day.

Approximately 200,000 tourists from Iraq’s central and southern provinces visited the Kurdistan Region during the three-day Islamic Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to official figures.

British-Iraqi doctor Mohammed Tahir Abu Rgheef, honored by Baghdad as a “humanity ambassador” for his volunteer work in the Gaza Strip, said on Tuesday that his fourth mission to the Palestinian enclave has been blocked.

Five people were killed and one was injured in a tribal dispute in Iraq’s southern province of Diwaniyah, local authorities reported on Tuesday. The incident follows a similar conflict a day earlier in the southernmost Basra province, where one person was killed and eight others were injured.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday urged Turkish authorities to release detained foreign reporters, warning that recent arrests reflect a deteriorating press freedom climate in the country.

Canada said Monday that it closed its office in Erbil months after announcing plans to end the mission citing changes in Iraq’s security landscape and the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) amid ongoing progress toward stability.

Jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan on Monday received his cousin, Omer Ocalan, at Turkey’s Imrali prison, where he shared messages for Kurdish New Year, Newroz, and Eid al-Fitr messages.

The European Union on Monday welcomed the formation of Syria’s new transitional government and expressed “steadfast readiness” to cooperate with it, while urging the new Damascus leadership to uphold commitments of a “a peaceful and inclusive transition."

Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Swiss embassy in Tehran to protest “the threats” made by US President Donald Trump and any potential “wickedness” by Israel, according to a statement from the ministry.

Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed attended the Border Security Summit in London on Monday to discuss combating organized immigration crime, particularly human trafficking and illegal migration.

Iraq’s National Security Service (NSS) on Sunday announced the arrest of one the most notorious drug dealers in Baghdad.

Sulaimani’s district administration on Sunday declared the city the “cleanest in Iraq” in terms of health after inspecting restaurants and popular tourist spots. The inspections conducted during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, found no health violations.

A tribal conflict in Iraq’s southernmost Basra province on Monday left one person dead and eight others injured, local sources told Rudaw.

The mission of the global coalition forces to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq will conclude without any extension, the head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell told Rudaw on Monday.

A young Peshmerga fighter and father of three on Saturday won a brand new 2025 Toyota SUV, courtesy of the Pashivi Rudaw program. The competition, which encouraged participants to comment on Rudaw’s Facebook posts, received over 574 million comments during Ramadan.

Iraq’s Defense Industries Commission (DIC) announced on Sunday that it saved $700 million over the past two years by locally producing weapons and ammunition instead of relying on imports.

A devastating fire at a poultry farm in Baharka’s sub-district, north of Erbil, killed 100,000 chicks ready for transport on Sunday, causing around two million dollars in damage, according to the farm owner.

Around 18,000 tourists visited the historical and natural sites of Mahabad in western Iran’s Kurdish-majority region (Rojhelat) during the Newroz holiday, marking an increase compared to previous years, an official said on Sunday.

A senior official of northeast Syria’s (Rojava) ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) on Sunday said that there are “serious efforts” for a ceasefire between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey in the region.

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday announced his new cabinet. The interim leader is under international pressure to ensure an inclusive, democratic government.

With calls for peace, Kurdish leaders on Saturday wished Muslims around the world a joyful Eid al-Fitr, the celebration of the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

A Kurdish member of the Turkish parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Saturday said it was an “international disgrace” that some Turkish politicians desecrated the Kurdistan Region flag, creating controversy.

A Kurdish musician in Germany sings in five languages, embracing global influences while remaining deeply committed to her Kurdish roots, drawing inspiration from the heritage passed down by her artistic family.

The Turkish budget airline AJet announced on Saturday that they will start offering flights to Damascus in April.

Seven people from the Kurdistan Region who unsuccessfully tried to reach European shores through Libya will arrive in Baghdad on Saturday, Iraq’s acting ambassador to Tripoli told Rudaw.

A Kurdish candidate is running in Finland's municipal elections on a platform to amplify Kurdish voices in governance and improve social services.

Kurdish officials in Kirkuk expressed concern on Friday about ethnic imbalances in recent police recruitment and urged Baghdad to ensure fair representation of the city's diverse communities in future hiring.

The leaders of France, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon and Syria met via video conference for a presidential summit organized by Paris to discuss regional challenges and opportunities for cooperation in the Middle East, the Syrian presidency said in a statement on Friday.

The head of the Van Bar Association on Friday called on the Kurdistan Region to file a lawsuit against Turkish officials for insulting the Kurdistan flag and referring to it as a “rag.”

Lebanon and Syria signed a border demarcation and de-escalation agreement on Friday, Beirut’s defense ministry announced. The deal was brokered by Riyadh, following deadly skirmishes earlier in March.

Erbil’s transport ministry on Thursday denied reaching an agreement with the Iraqi federal government on the Development Road Project that currently bypasses the Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Friday they captured an Islamic State (ISIS) member in Hasaka province accused of smuggling people out of al-Hol camp.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington is concerned about Turkey’s crackdown on people protesting the removal of Istanbul's mayor, but remains committed to its broader partnership with Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday said he supports integration of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Damascus administration.

Almost all civil servants in Duhok and Erbil provinces are receiving their salaries through the bank, the deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Friday.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani has been invited to attend the opening of a Peshmerga park in Paris, the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) representative in Paris said on Thursday.

A leadership dispute within the Change Movement (Gorran) has escalated as the party’s two rival factions disagree over the timing and legitimacy of a planned congress, deepening internal divisions ahead of Iraqi elections expected to be held in October.

UK-based oil and gas company Genel Energy on Wednesday reported a notable growth in their oil production and investments in the Kurdistan Region.

Iraqi Shiite cleric and politician Muqtada al-Sadr announced on Thursday that the National Shiite Movement he leads, formerly known as the Sadrist Movement, will sit out the 2025 legislative elections in protest of "corruption."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Thursday that Iran has responded to US President Donald Trump’s letter through Oman, reiterating that Tehran will not engage directly with Washington as long as the US maintains its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday expressed skepticism regarding the United States' “political overtures” to Iran, following the accidental disclosure of war plans by top officials from the Donald Trump administration in a group on the commercial messaging app, Signal.

Iraq’s planning minister announced on Wednesday that the 2025 budget does not allocate funds for new investment projects and only funds ongoing ones.

The Syrian health ministry on Wednesday rang the alarm about the critical shortage of cancer medications in the country, warning that the current stockpile will only last for 15 more days, which could lead to a humanitarian crisis affecting thousands of patients.

Nadam, Arabic for “regret,” is a new film produced by Kurdish filmmakers in Erbil province, starring A-list Iraqi actors. The movie follows the story of a young child who defies cultural constraints to pursue their dream of becoming an artist.

The Armenian Social Council and the Armenian Women's Union in the northeastern Syria (Rojava) met with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) on Wednesday to extend their congratulations for Newroz and discuss the challenges facing Syria and the region.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday warned that Syria’s newly-approved constitutional declaration consolidates power in the hands of the president and risks entrenching “authoritarian control.” The global human rights monitor urged the new leadership in Damascus to revise the declaration to better safeguard human rights.

A senior Druze cleric from Syria’s southern Suwayda province highlighted his community’s “harmonic” relationship with the Kurdish “brothers” in northeast Syria (Rojava), emphasizing their shared political vision for Syria’s future and alignment in demands and efforts.

Istanbul's municipal council elected Nuri Aslan as the interim mayor on Wednesday, following the jailing of elected mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is held pending trial on corruption charges. Both Aslan and Imamoglu are members of the main opposition, People’s Republican Party (CHP).

Ukrainians and Russians living in the Kurdistan Region are eagerly awaiting positive results from the ongoing peace talks between their countries, hoping they will bring an end to years of devastating war.

Germany's envoy to Syria on Wednesday expressed deep concern over reports of civilian casualties following a suspected Israeli shelling on Daraa province, southwest of the country, stressing that foreign attacks on Syrian territory threaten its stability and violate international law.

Four Kurdish pilgrims who traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan have died, the Kurdistan Region’s endowment ministry said on Wednesday.

Voters will not be allowed to change their polling location in the disputed territories between Baghdad and Erbil, Iraq’s electoral commission said on Wednesday, as the country prepares for its October parliamentary elections and voter registration gets underway.

Kurdish security forces (Asayish) in northeast Syria (Rojava) announced on Tuesday that they seized over 2.7 million Captagon pills in Qamishli.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemned Tuesday a suspected deadly Israeli shelling on Syria’s southern Daraa province, which Israel said was in response to incoming fire.

The Syrian leadership on Tuesday condemned Israel's deadly bombardment of targets in the southwestern province of Daraa, calling for an international investigation into the attacks, according to a statement from the Syrian foreign ministry.

Some 95 testimonies and 30 written and audio reports have been recorded thus far, as part of an ongoing investigation into recent human rights violations in Syria’s western coastal areas, while the final findings are yet to be disclosed, the spokesperson for the investigative committee announced on Tuesday.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi in Doha on Tuesday to discuss energy relations and investment opportunities. The meeting is part of PM Barzani’s ongoing visit to the peninsula state to hold talks with senior Qatari officials.

Authorities have suspended water distribution in the district of Koya east of Erbil, after the detection of crude oil contamination in the Little Zab River, affecting over 100,000 people, local officials said Tuesday.

The salaries of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s civil servants are expected to be deposited by Baghdad on Wednesday, the KRG ministry of finance announced on Tuesday.

The Kurdistan Region Refugee Association says that migration rates have seen a decline with only 30,500 citizens migrating since 2023.

At least four people have been killed and several others injured in an Israeli shelling on Syria’s southwestern Daraa province on Tuesday, according to local reports.

An offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Tuesday said the group cannot lay down arms or dissolve unless political and legal reforms are made.

Water levels in the Kurdistan Region’s Raparin administration are already declining with summer yet to come and an official on Tuesday warned of major shortages, especially for drinking water.

Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday criticized Washington’s reasoning to exert pressure against Tehran as “baseless” and part of a broader effort to undermine the Islamic republic’s ties with other countries.

Iraq's parliament held its first hearing on the contentious Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law on Monday, with the goal of integrating the organization into state forces. On the same day, US officials told Rudaw that Baghdad must ensure the groups operating under the PMF answer to the commander-in-chief of armed forces, the Iraqi premier, rather than Iran.

The bill to elevate Halabja to provincial status is likely to be passed following its inclusion in the Iraqi parliament's agenda for Tuesday’s session, according to Second Deputy Parliament Speaker Shakhawan Abdullah.

Istanbul police have arrested 12 suspects in connection with the armed attack on Iraq's consulate general in the city, Turkish media reported on Monday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will kick off a two-day visit to the United States on Tuesday to discuss Kurdish armed groups in Syria, counterterrorism cooperation, and broader regional issues, Turkish state media said on Monday.

This year’s Newroz celebrations in Istanbul were among the largest in recent history, with hundreds of thousands gathering at Yenikapi Square to mark the Kurdish New Year.

Nearly 150 Lebanese refugee families are still in Iraq, with most of them having returned home following last year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah, Iraq’s migration ministry told Rudaw on Monday.

President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani on Monday extended his congratulations to Iran’s top officials on the occasion of the Kurdish New Year (Newroz), and the Persian New Year (Nowruz), hoping that the shared celebrations will bring peace and stability in the region.

Russia on Monday extradited a former representative of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Erbil to Turkey after denying his asylum request.

A Yazidi woman holding the Armenian passport on Sunday received the prestigious Jemal Nebez Award in recognition of her significant contributions to the Kurdish language and the Yazidi community, according to a statement from the award commission.

One person was killed and several others injured during a knife altercation at a Kurdish New Year, Newroz, celebration in Parsberg, a town in southern Germany's Bavaria, local police said.

Efforts are underway to rebuild the ancient city of Nimrud in northern Iraq which was destroyed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2015, Iraq’s culture minister told Rudaw on Sunday.

Iranian authorities on Sunday said they arrested seven Kurdish individuals accused of participating in “anti-regime propaganda activities” under the guise of Newroz celebrations in Kurdistan Province, west of the country.

Iraq plans to boost its oil and gas production capacity to over six million barrels per day before 2029 as part of a new five-year development plan, a senior oil ministry official said on Sunday.

Iran will not engage in direct negotiations with the United States unless Washington recalibrates its policy towards Tehran, the Iranian foreign minister said on Sunday.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and prominent opposition figure was “temporarily suspended” from his position on Sunday, following a court order for his formal arrest on corruption charges, according to the Turkish interior ministry.

Residents of the Kurdish city of Afrin in northwest Syria were able to freely celebrate Newroz (the New Year) for the first time since the enclave was invaded by militia groups seven years ago.

A Kurdish psychologist and regular contributor to Rudaw was awarded Germany’s highest government honor at the foreign ministry in Berlin on Friday, recognizing his 25 years of service in psychotherapy, particularly his work in treating the trauma suffered by Yazidis.

Iraq’s foreign ministry stated on Friday that its Consulate General in Istanbul came under gunfire attack by unknown assailants and called for enhanced measures to protect its diplomatic missions.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani had a phone call with United States National Security Advisor Michael Waltz on Friday to discuss resuming Kurdish oil exports and speeding up formation of the regional government, five months after the vote.

Turkey’s energy minister on Friday announced that daily crude oil production in the Gabar field in the province of Sirnak has reached 80,000 barrels, marking a steady increase in the overall production capacity.

A member of the Turkish parliament from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) said on Friday that Turkey needs a new constitution that better resembles its reality.

Turkey’s president on Friday urged the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to seize the “historic opportunity” to end the 40-year-old conflict, but warned that Ankara would proceed with “destroying terrorism” if the group does not lay down its arms.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock led a high-profile delegation to Damascus on Thursday to hold talks with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and reopen her country’s embassy in the country after a 13-year shut down.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said that the letter sent by US President Donald Trump to restart nuclear talks with Tehran contained both threats and opportunities. He stressed that his country would respond in due time but would not negotiate directly, in light of the ongoing pressure and sanctions.

Iraq’s president, prime minister and parliament speaker on Thursday congratulated the Kurdish people on the occasion of the Kurdish New Year, Newroz, hailing it as an opportunity to strengthen unity.

Leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Bafel Talabani on Thursday congratulated Kurds on the occasion of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, emphasizing that it conveys a message of unity to achieve independence.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday congratulated the Kurdish nation and people on the occasion of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, urging unity among them to safeguard Kurdish rights and elevate the Kurdish cause on the global stage.

Russian lawmakers on Wednesday said that recent outreach from US President Donald Trump stems from fears over Russia’s nuclear capabilities, saying the conflict with Moscow cannot be resolved through phone calls alone and requires direct negotiations.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said on Wednesday that the latest high-level meetings between the ruling parties have accelerated the formation of the upcoming government cabinet, expecting a final agreement soon.

A man from Sulaimani province’s Said Sadiq district tragically killed himself and five members of his family late Wednesday, Sulaimani police spokesperson told Rudaw on Thursday. He had recently returned from Europe.

Two ISIS militants, including a suicide-bomber who self-detonated, were killed during clashes with Iraqi security forces in northern Iraq on Wednesday, according to Baghdad’s Security Media Cell.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received Italian Ambassador to Iraq Niccolo Fontana in Erbil to discuss Italy’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The meeting touched on the latest political developments in the region, including the events in Syria and the peace talks between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Syria’s Electricity Minister Omar Shaqrouq on Wednesday said the country’s power supply has seen a “significant improvement” following the delivery of one million cubic meters of gas from Kurdish-controlled fields in northeast Syria (Rojava).

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi on Wednesday received the committee formed by Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss the implementation of a landmark deal signed between the SDF and Damascus. The agreement aims to integrate the Kurdish-led forces into Syria’s state institutions.

Renovations at Erbil’s historic Qaysari bazaar were completed on Wednesday and shops were returned to their owners after a blaze last year incurred significant damage.

Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday condemned the renewed Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip which have killed more than 400 and injured hundreds, warning that Israel aims to eventually reach Iraq.

The Iraqi foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned the renewed Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip, which have led to the killing of more than 400 Palestinians and injury of hundreds others.

A garbage truck driver alleged on Tuesday that children under the age of ten are working as informal waste pickers and scavengers at the Kani Qirzhala sub-district landfills, west of Erbil.

Senior officials from the ruling and opposition coalitions in northeast Syria (Rojava) stated on Tuesday that the Kurdish parties’ participation in Syria’s upcoming government is contingent upon the roles allocated to them, emphasizing their openness for dialogue with the new Syrian leadership.

The office of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister and senior Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official, Qubad Talabani, said on Tuesday that the PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have reached an agreement on the final draft of an accord to form the Kurdistan Region's upcoming cabinet.

A boat carrying 25 asylum seekers from Syria capsized off the coast of Cyprus on Tuesday morning. Only two people are confirmed to have survived so far, a Kurdish migrants association told Rudaw.

A rare hybrid foal known as a zebroid was born on Sunday at Erbil Zoo, a zoo veterinarian said on Monday.

China’s consul general to Erbil, Liu Jun, said on Sunday that Beijing plans to start issuing tourist visas in the Kurdistan Region in the near future, expanding its visa services beyond the current business visa offerings.

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) on Monday called for “fundamental amendments” to Syria’s recently-adopted constitutional declaration, stressing that it falls short of meeting the aspirations of the Syrian people in all its constituents.

The European Union on Monday pledged nearly €2.5 billion (around $2.7 billion) in aid for Syria, as global powers and regional countries convened in Brussels to drive donations and address the country’s humanitarian crisis caused by years of war.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Monday emphasized his country’s commitment to nuclear safeguards following a meeting he held with the United Nations’ nuclear chief Rafael Grossi in Vienna.

Kurdish farmer Mohammed Amin was released on bail Monday after being questioned over allegedly insulting an Iraqi soldier. The incident stemmed from a viral video in mid-February, where the soldier was seen forcefully removing Amin from his tractor in Kirkuk. Amin, who is also the head of the farmers' defense committee in Kirkuk’s northwestern Sargaran district, had filed a complaint against the Iraqi soldier for forcibly removing him.

A delegation from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) met with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Monday to discuss jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for disarmament and efforts for a peace process.

A journalist and a photographer were injured on Monday amid clashes between Syrian security forces and alleged Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, Syrian state media reported.

The European Union is hosting a donor conference on Monday for Syria to contribute to a peaceful transition after Bashar al-Assad was toppled with the German foreign minister announcing €300 million in additional humanitarian support.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani received Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar in Baghdad to discuss a range of topics including the resumption of Kurdish oil exports and the possibility of exporting Basra oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, his office said on Monday.

Syria’s Ministry of Defense on Sunday stated that a group from the Lebanese group, Hezbollah, ambushed, abducted and executed three Syrian army soldiers in border regions between Lebanon and Syria, while Hezbollah has denied involvement.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday received a call from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to discuss the strategic partnership between Baghdad and Washington, the ongoing fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), and the US’s latest military operations in Yemen.

A humanitarian organization linked to the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) announced on Sunday that it is preparing an aid convoy to the Alawite-majority regions in west Syria, which recently witnessed deadly violence.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with French Ambassador to Iraq, Patrick Durel, in Erbil on Sunday to discuss domestic and regional issues, including the latest developments in Syria.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday received Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar in Erbil to discuss boosting energy cooperation between the two sides and the resumption of Kurdish oil exports via Turkiey.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar visited Baghdad on Sunday to discuss expanding Turkey’s electricity and gas supplies to Iraq. The visit comes amid Baghdad’s push to diversify its energy sources following the recent US decision to revoke a waiver that allowed Iraq to import electricity from Iran.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister and senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) figure, Masrour Barzani, met with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani at Erbil’s northeastern Pirmam subdistrict on Sunday to discuss the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) upcoming cabinet.

Iraq on Sunday announced the seizure of some 1.1 tons of Captagon flowing in from Syria, with the help of the Kurdistan Region and Saudi Arabia. The capture is part of an ongoing counter-narcotics effort that saw Baghdad seize some 2.86 tons of illicit substances since the beginning of 2025.

Iraq is set to launch a five-year plan aimed at combating poverty, after the results of a recent census showed that over seven million Iraqis live below the poverty line, a spokesperson from the planning ministry told Rudaw.

The Sunday meeting between the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) Masrour Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) Bafel Talabani on government formation efforts is among the last with most issues resolved, the PUK’s spokesperson said.

Iraq has the highest number of palm trees and ranks fourth in date production globally, a ministry official said on Sunday.

The Kurdistan Region’s leaders on Sunday honored the victims of the 1988 Halabja chemical attack and called for the compensation of victims on its 37th anniversary, saying the attack was part of a broader campaign to erase Kurdish identity.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday announced the launch of 14 infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in Shingal (Sinjar) and Nineveh.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani will meet in Erbil on Sunday to discuss the formation of the new government as well as regional developments.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron where they discussed Macron visiting Baghdad.

Turkey’s defense minister on Saturday demanded the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) surrender its weapons after the group said it was committed to its founder’s call to disband, but the PKK leadership said a one-sided ceasefire is not enough.

The wife of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) second-in-command was captured in the same operation that killed her husband, the United States military said on Saturday.

In cities across the country, Syrians on Saturday celebrated the 14th anniversary of the revolution that last December succeeded in toppling the Baathist regime.

The number of people killed by exploding war remnants in a shop in the Syrian city of Latakia on Saturday has risen to eight.

Five people have been arrested in Turkey accused of links to Iranian intelligence and gathering information on Turkey’s military bases, state media reported on Friday.

Nuxsha Nasih, the mayor of Halabja, has been appointed acting governor of the province, a well-placed source in the province told Rudaw on Friday.

A Christian political party on Friday rejected the constitutional declaration adopted by the interim authority in Damascus, calling it a tool to entrench the “exclusion and marginalization of Syrian components.”

A delegation from Iraq's Ministry of Electricity will soon visit Turkmenistan to finalize an agreement to import 14 million cubic meters of natural gas, an official from the ministry told Rudaw on Friday as Baghdad is looking for alternatives to Iranian gas to ensure its energy security.

What happened last week on Syria’s western coast was a “free-for-all” of indiscriminate killing in predominantly Alawite neighborhoods, a religious freedom advocate told Rudaw on Wednesday.

Kurdish organizations in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Friday rejected the constitutional declaration adopted by the interim government. The political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) demanded it be redrafted.

Qatar will assist Syria in boosting its electricity generation by 400 megawatts as the country faces power shortages, Syria’s oil minister announced on Friday.

Erbil security forces on Thursday arrested a doctor accused of killing at least four members of his family.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Thursday condemned the reported assaults on Syrian workers in Iraq, which occurred following the recent violence in Syria’s Alawite-majority western coast.

The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) strongly rejected the new interim constitution signed by Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday, as perpetuating policies of ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Iraq’s upcoming elections could mark a turning point in regional dynamics as Iran’s influence wanes with early signs of flexibility shown among Iran-backed militias, a prominent Middle East analyst said Tuesday, expressing hope for a unified Kurdish front in Baghdad and progress in government formation efforts.

A Kurdish politician on Thursday said that the number of Kurds returning to Afrin in northwest Syria has significantly increased after the agreement between the new Syrian administration and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as Arab settlers continue to leave the city.

Baghdad’s al-Rusafa Police Command on Wednesday stated that the controversial killing of Iraqi journalist Laith Mohammad Ridha in broad daylight was the result of a personal dispute, not an assassination.

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Rawa Majid, the Kurdish leader of Foxtrot Network, a transnational criminal organization based in Sweden over his reported involvement in arms and drugs trafficking and cooperation with Iran in “attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe.”

Erbil authorities on Wednesday denied responsibility for a viral video showing dogs being abused and stopped accepting stray dogs from Duhok’s Bardarash district in response.

Iraq’s General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage announced on Tuesday the recovery of 27,000 looted relics from within Iraq and abroad, confirming their return to the National Museum of Iraq.

Germany's foreign minister said on Tuesday that the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a crucial step towards achieving a unified Syria and that the killing of civilians is a crime that must be investigated.

An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale jolted Erbil on Tuesday evening. The tremors were felt across several areas in the Kurdistan Region.

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) stated on Tuesday that the recent violence in west Syria accelerated the landmark agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the new leadership in Damascus, emphasizing that the deal was mediated by international actors, namely the United States.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed the landmark deal between the new leadership in Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a win for “all our Syrian brothers.”

A seven-member Syrian investigation committee will conduct an on-the-ground probe into the deadly violence that erupted in coastal areas west of Syria, expressing openness to international cooperation while emphasizing its independence.

China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday urged Syrian authorities to adopt a more inclusive approach during the country’s transitional phase and find a reconstruction plan through dialogue.

The Iraqi prime minister’s advisor on water affairs stated that Iraq is experiencing a “phase of water scarcity,” exacerbated by dire climate conditions, unregulated groundwater management, and heavy dependence on neighboring countries for water inflows.

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) in northeast Syria (Rojava) said on Monday that it was unaware of a recent landmark meeting between Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi.

A Sweden-based Christian human rights watchdog on Monday reported that at least four Christians have been killed and several Christian villages evacuated due to recent violence in western Syria.

Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji received Sweden’s Chargé D’affaires, Jorgen Lindstrom, on Monday to discuss reopening Stockholm’s embassy in Baghdad following, marking a key step toward easing relations that had been strained between the two countries for almost a year.

Iraq’s deputy finance minister stated on Monday that he cast his resignation in protest of Baghdad's failure to pay the salaries of civil servants in the Kurdistan Region on time.

Iraq’s oil ministry on Monday signed a landmark deal with British energy giant BP to develop four key oil fields in Kirkuk.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla met with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria (Rojava) to discuss the ongoing fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).

Syria’s defense ministry said on Monday its forces have pushed “remnants of the former regime” away from the center of the coastal Latakia and Tartous provinces and claimed victory in their military operation despite mass killings sparking widespread condemnation.

A campaign has been launched in Duhok province’s Bardarash to collect stray dogs and send them to an Erbil shelter one week after a two-year-old child lost his life in a dog attack.

US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz on Monday urged the Iraqi government to work with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to pay the debts of US energy companies and called on Baghdad to encourage greater American investment after a waiver for importing Iranian gas was rescinded.

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein issued a stark warning on Sunday about the growing threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS), stressing the increasing danger it presents to Iraq, Jordan and Syria.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday accused Syria’s new rulers of “massacring” their own people and urged European nations to stop legitimizing the interim government in Damascus.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Sunday called for an “immediate” end to the killing of civilians in western Syria, as tensions continue.

Syrians gathered in Damascus’s al-Marjeh square on Sunday to demonstrate against the unrest that has rocked the country’s western coastal regions, calling for holding perpetrators of civilian killings accountable and urging “inclusion and freedom for all” in the transitional phase of governance.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday looked into ways to increase the country’s electricity production, hours after the United States rescinded a key waiver allowing Iraq to import energy from Iran.

Germany’s envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, on Sunday described as “deeply worrying” the deadly clashes in west Syria between loyalists of ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and security forces aligned with the new Damascus leadership.

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) stated on Sunday that anyone urging Israel to support the Kurds in Syria is an "enemy" of the Kurds. The remarks come only days after Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi expressed openness to accept Israeli support.

The Kurdistan Region’s agriculture ministry and the local NGO Rwanga Foundation launched a joint environmental initiative on Sunday aimed at restoring ecosystems, adapting to climate change, and promoting sustainability across the Region.

On International Women’s Day, March 8, a human rights researcher warned about the concerning state of women’s rights in Iraq, especially following controversial amendments to the personal status law.

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who initiated peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said on Sunday that the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) is not exempt from Abdullah Ocalan’s call to dissolve.

Iraq’s justice ministry said on Sunday it has begun releasing some of the 67,000 detainees in Iraqi prisons after a recently passed general amnesty law entered implementation.

A Kurdish politician on Saturday said that more than 600 settler families have left Afrin, while 400 Kurdish families have returned to their homes.

Two Kurdish women from northeast Syria (Rojava) have been collaborating as beauty influencers in Germany after connecting on social media.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the head of a Kurdistan-based NGO said that true progress comes when women are empowered and have a voice, and she urged women's participation in decision-making in the Kurdistan Region.

Two influential Shiite factions in the Iraqi parliament, the State of Law Coalition and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, boycotted Saturday’s parliamentary session in protest of the exclusion of the contentious Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law from the agenda, forcing the session’s postponement.

Syria’s Christian leaders on Saturday called for an “immediate end” to the violence on the western coast that has left hundreds of people dead and urged reconciliation.

Iraqi government officials said on Saturday that gas imports from Iran are continuing despite the expiration of a waiver from the United States, adding that they have alternative plans prepared in case the gas supply is cut off.

Compensation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) who return to their homes has been paused because of a lack of funds, leading to fewer people leaving camps in the Kurdistan Region, the spokesperson of the Iraqi ministry of migration told Rudaw on Saturday.

There is a large wage gap between native Germans and those with immigrant backgrounds, according to a Kurdish researcher who urged people to stand up for their right to fair pay.

The interim management team of Erbil SC resigned on Saturday, including the president, after the football club’s loss against Mina in a tense game that saw a fight among spectators.

Syria’s coastal region is witnessing escalating violence, with at least 340 Alawite civilians killed in documented field executions, and 120 combatant deaths reported among rebels and remnants of the former regime, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Rudaw on Saturday.

When oil was discovered in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority province Sirnak two years ago, local residents hoped they would see some economic benefits, but that has not happened, a member of parliament said on Saturday after visiting the country’s biggest oil field.

Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday accused the ousted leader Bashar al-Assad’s loyalists of committing “an unforgivable crime” and warns them to hand over their weapons “before it is too later” following deadly clashes in several areas.

Baghdad is hoping to avoid an electricity crisis when it is no longer able to import energy from Iran after a United States sanctions waiver expires. It is looking to other gas sources and boosting the production of renewable energy, the spokesperson for Iraq’s ministry of electricity told Rudaw on Friday.

A member of the committee drafting Syria’s constitutional declaration said that a federal system is not being considered.

German and European Union envoys to Syria on Friday called on state forces and armed groups to reach a “peaceful solution” and exit “cycles of violence and hatred” after deadly clashes in the west of the country.

The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi announced on Friday that they have a "mutual agreement" with Damascus ruling out a military solution to the Syrian crisis, after deadly clashes in the south and west of the country between state security forces and armed groups.

Iraqi forces along the western border have been placed on high alert following clashes in Syria, a military spokesperson said on Friday.

A member of the Iraqi parliament on Friday ruled out passage of the long-delayed oil and gas law during the current parliamentary term, citing disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government over natural resource management.

The foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday condemned Bashar al-Assad loyalists for attacking security forces in western Syria and expressed support for the new authorities in Damascus.

Jordan will host a meeting on Sunday of Syria’s neighboring countries to discuss cooperation in combating terrorism and smuggling.

A Kurdish student was killed during overnight clashes between the new Syrian authorities and armed groups loyal to former president Bashar al-Assad, a family member told Rudaw on Friday.

Kurdish farmers have appealed a court ruling that handed over land to Arab settlers in the disputed Tuz Khurmatu district of Salahaddin province, according to an official.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has confirmed that the 34th Arab League Summit will be held in Baghdad on May 17, marking a significant moment in Iraq’s broader efforts to enhance its regional and international standing.

The British government on Thursday announced the removal of sanctions of two dozen Syrian entities, including the country’s central bank, marking a milestone in the western diplomatic relations with Syria following the downfall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

An elderly Kurdish couple was tragically killed inside their home in Damascus earlier this week, their son told Rudaw on Thursday.

At least 15 people, including security personnel, civilians, and armed militants, were killed in violent clashes between government forces and armed groups in Syria’s southern Daraa province on Tuesday, the governor’s office said on Thursday.

Iraq’s oil minister said on Thursday that Baghdad is exploring the possibility of exporting oil from the southern Basra province to Turkey through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, with discussions to resume Kurdish oil exports also ongoing.

Turkey’s defense ministry on Thursday called on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliates to immediately disband and surrender their weapons, asserting that the group has reached the "end of its lifespan."

Nineveh Provincial Council on Wednesday ousted its head Ahmed al-Hasud, accusing him of forging his educational credentials and committing several legal violations. Hasud rejected the decision, questioning the validity of the council’s procedures.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday hosted senior officials from the Iraqi Turkmen Front and Sunni Arab officials from the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk in Ankara, to discuss political and security developments in the region, as well as in Iraq and Kirkuk.

An Iraqi border ports official said on Wednesday that more than 400 vehicles deemed “unfit for import” have been seized in southern Iraq over the past two months.

The spokesperson of a Kurdish organization operating in Iran told Rudaw that they strive to protect the rights of Kurds in the country through democratic principles.

A Syrian economist on Wednesday criticized the country's interim government for failing to deliver a promised 400 percent salary increase for civil servants, saying many remain unpaid nearly four months after the decision was announced.

Iraq’s migration and displaced ministry said on Wednesday that the repatriation of nationals linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) from al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava) has been suspended.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday commemorated the 34th anniversary of the Region’s uprising against the former Iraqi regime, calling for protecting the achievements that Kurds gained through unity and solidarity.

The prolonged conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has reached a point where negotiations are unavoidable, stated veteran Kurdish politician Mala Bakhtiar, describing Abdullah Ocalan’s recent call for the PKK to abandon armed struggle as a rare opportunity for peace.

The Kurds are an important factor in the region and can no longer be ignored, stated a professor from Tehran University during an interview with Rudaw.

There have been no clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region in the last two days amid a unilateral ceasefire by the PKK, a conflict monitor said on Tuesday.

Iraqi anti-narcotics forces on Tuesday said that nearly two tons of illicit substances have been seized since the beginning of the year, with 2,000 arrests made in the process.

Erbil authorities have captured 14,000 stray dogs as efforts to control the city’s stray dog population intensify, with officials requesting additional trucks to accelerate the collection process.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Monday reiterated its commitment to facilitating the implementation of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for his group to disarm.

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) on Monday criticized Syria’s new leadership for making unilateral decisions while excluding ethnic and religious communities in Syria. The group warned that such actions could jeopardize Syria’s future.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday launched an airstrike on a military site in northwestern Syria, stating that the target belonged to the ousted Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid arrived in Cairo on Monday to attend the Arab Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, which will focus on the “developments in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian territories,” according to a statement by the Iraqi presidency.

Thousands of people gathered near the Kremlin in central Moscow this weekend to celebrate Maslenitsa, a traditional festival marking the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

A renowned professor at Tehran University has emphasized that Iran’s economy, foreign relations and security are in a precarious position due to ongoing regional and international developments.

Two people have been killed and 25 others injured after a car drove into a crowd in the western German city of Mannheim on Monday, according to Rudaw reporter on the ground.

A Kurdish official in Kirkuk said on Monday that they have submitted over 3,000 cases of land seizures to the Iraqi justice ministry for compensation, marking the first step in the recently passed property restitution law that seeks to return lands to their original owners.

Syrian forces have entered a majority Druze and Christian suburb on the outskirts of Damascus and stabilized the situation, a local source said on Monday, after deadly clashes with Druze gunmen.

Iran will establish diplomatic relations with the new Syrian government if it holds fair elections and its authorities “change their nature,” a Tehran University professor said.

The Kurdistan Region witnessed a 13 percent rise in protests for the month of February, a civil rights watchdog reported on Monday.

Nearly 3,000 Yazidis kidnapped during the Islamic State’s (ISIS) brutal rule in Iraq remain missing with an unknown fate over a decade after jihadists invaded their heartland, an official affiliated with the Kurdistan Region Presidency said on Sunday.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and British Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer are set to hold talks on Syria’s future on Monday, focusing on security, stability, and reconstruction.

Iraqi security forces have largely eradicated the Islamic State (ISIS) from the country, with only a few hundred militants remaining in remote areas, the head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell told Rudaw.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday urged Syria’s new rulers to respect minority rights, including those of the Druze, Kurds and Alawites.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday addressed land disputes in the Sargaran subdistrict northwest of Kirkuk, approving solutions that allow Kurdish farmers to cultivate their lands, which had previously been confiscated, a representative of the Sargaran farmers told Rudaw.

The main Iranian opposition group based in the Kurdistan Region on Saturday welcomed the call by Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), for his group to disarm and pursue a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue with Ankara after nearly four-decades of conflict.

Iran cut around half of the electricity it provides to Iraq’s eastern province of Diyala on Saturday for unknown reasons, causing a partial blackout, a local official said.

A boat carrying around 20 Kurds from Sulaimani province is leaking in the English Channel, a relative of some of the passengers told Rudaw on Sunday. Hours later an activist said the French police rescued the asylum seekers.

Authorities shut down over 25 pharmacies in the course of four days as part of a campaign targeting expired or unauthorized medicines in Erbil province’s northeastern district of Soran, according to health authorities.

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who initiated peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), on Saturday welcomed Abdullah Ocalan’s call for the PKK to disarm and disband.

A delegation from the Austrian foreign ministry visited the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Friday to discuss the humanitarian and security situation, as well as the latest developments in Damascus, and promised European support after Washington made dramatic cuts to its foreign aid.

Expressing support for a sustainable peace process following Abdullah Ocalan’s call for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disarm, a human rights researcher said that for sustainable peace, the “root causes” of the conflict must be addressed.

Three journalists were detained this weekend in Sulaimani, according to a media advocacy group.

The Iraqi ministry of interior announced on Friday that it will begin issuing electronic visas for select nations instead of visas on arrival.

The United States military said on Saturday it killed a senior leader of the al-Qaeda affiliate Hurras al-Din (HaD) in a precision airstrike in northwest Syria.

Two Kurdish women are running in Hamburg state elections for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) after their party won the recent German federal parliament vote.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said they have made good progress in government formation talks with their historic rival, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), but are looking for guarantees of power sharing, including the ability to collapse the cabinet.

The leader of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) on Friday said he is concerned about the state of governance in the Kurdistan Region and confirmed his party will not take part in the next cabinet, arguing that they can be more effective in opposition.

The Islamic State (ISIS) is still capable of supporting terror attacks around the world, the global coalition against ISIS said on Friday, urging vigilance.

An energy executive on Friday criticized the Iraqi oil ministry’s legal action against international oil companies contracted by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and warned that the move casts further doubts on the swift resumption of Kurdish oil exports, which Baghdad had said would begin in a matter of hours after nearly two years of suspension.

Russia will deepen its engagement in the Middle East despite losing its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad, experts said at the Erbil Forum 2025 on Friday.

Kurdish political parties are looking to strengthen their footholds in Baghdad through upcoming Iraqi elections to resolve “tangled issues” such as disputed areas and federal budget shares, a Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament said at the Erbil Forum on Thursday.

As Turkey stands on the brink of peace between the state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a co-founder of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said on Friday that Kurdish identity and rights must be considered in any peace process.

Iranian gas is more competitive than other options, a former electricity minister said at the Erbil Forum on Friday. Baghdad is under pressure from Washington to end its energy dependence on its neighbour.

Iraq has lost 95 percent of the fish in its marshes and nearly 30 percent of its buffalos due to climate change, the head of an environmental non-governmental organization said on Thursday.

Kurds in Turkey expressed hope and joy after Abdullah Ocalan called on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms and disband, in a historic move that could reshape the security and political landscape of the region.

An association of oil producers operating in the Kurdistan Region on Friday welcomed efforts by the United States secretary of state to restart Kurdish oil exports.

A Syrian Kurdish political representative and the chief of their armed forces on Thursday said the United States military needs to remain in Syria to continue countering the threat of the Islamic State (ISIS) and to support Kurds in northeast Syria (Rojava) until they reach an agreement with Damascus.

Iraq’s foreign ministry on Saturday said it welcomed Abdullah Ocalan’s call for his Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms and disband.

Officials and political leaders in the Kurdistan Region on Thursday welcomed the long-anticipated letter from the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, who urged the group to disarm and disband. The move is being hailed as a significant step toward lasting peace in Turkey and a democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue.

Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister and senior Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) member, Qubad Talabani, on Thursday stressed the need for genuine partnership between his party and the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), amid talks to form the upcoming Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Former United States assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs stated on Thursday that the US might acquiesce to Turkey’s request to leave Syria and draw Iraq into the “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, but resume “conditioned” support to the Kurdistan Region.

Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq on water stated on Thursday that Iraq is among the top 15 most impacted countries globally by climate change but hoped that the country will have sufficient water resources this year.

The Middle East has been experiencing the highest levels of misinformation and disinformation, particularly after the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, panelists said on Thursday during Erbil Forum 2025.

Iraq is not currently experiencing a drought; however, it requires 90 billion cubic meters of water annually. Amid rising climate change risks, predicting future water availability has become increasingly difficult, placing women at higher risk of harm, panelists discussed on the second day of the Erbil Forum 2025.

As global powers reduce their involvement, regional players are shaping the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape, with rising risks of escalation and growing competition, said a retired French Navy admiral and analyst on Wednesday.

Germany’s ambassador to Iraq on Wednesday said that Berlin’s stance on new Syria remains flexible, while Kurdish representatives have accused Damascus of exclusion and insisted on the establishment of a decentralized system.

Iraqi oil minister confirmed on Wednesday that Baghdad has recently struck an agreement with Erbil to restart the Kurdistan Region's oil exports after nearly two years of suspension. The Kurdish government announced the deal earlier this week.

The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is expected to call on the group to lay down arms, a move a Kurdish politician believes will not only benefit Turkey's Kurds but also those living in the Kurdistan Region and northeast Syria (Rojava).

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said that the authorities in Damascus should respect their pledge of an inclusive government in action, adding that the rebel groups that rule new Syria include foreign fighters.

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) on Wednesday condemned the exclusion of Kurds from the National Dialogue Conference in Damascus, describing it as a “bad sign” and urging further inclusivity.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss enhancing bilateral ties and regional and international cooperation.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani on Wednesday stated that while Iraq has chosen a neutral stance in some regional affairs, it continues to face interference from its neighbours.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received prominent Iraqi Shiite politician Hadi al-Ameri on Wednesday, to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and ways to enhance dialogue between the country’s various components.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said on Wednesday that Baghdad wants to open a “new page” with the international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region as the two-year suspension of Erbil’s oil exports appears to come to an end soon.

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid delivered a speech at the 2025 Erbil Forum on Wednesday, addressing the pressing political and security developments in the region and highlighting Iraq’s role as a regional stabilizer.

The German consul general to Erbil said on Tuesday that they have been active in supporting both the federal and regional governments in facilitating the return of Yazidis to their hometowns.

The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Tuesday censured the National Dialogue Conference in Damascus as “closer to exclusion and marginalization” than the aspirations of the Syrian people.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Tuesday received a phone call from the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing the overall bilateral relations and ways to bolster them, according to Sudani’s office.

The final results of Iraq’s general census will take another three to four months to be complete, according to Gohdar Mazuri, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Statistics Board population department, told Rudaw on Monday. The figures released so far are preliminary, Mazuri told Rudaw on Monday.

Iraq’s Council of Ministers approved a new bill for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) on Tuesday, referring it to the Iraqi legislature for final approval. The move comes amid growing concerns that Washington may impose sanctions on some of the PMF-affiliated armed groups.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday welcomed the new Japanese ambassador to Iraq Akira Endo, where they discussed strengthening collaboration across various sectors.

An offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Monday rejected the Turkish authorities’ “preventing” PKK leader Abdulla Ocalan from delivering his long-awaited message in video form and offering a written version instead.

The Greek Consul General in Erbil on Monday expressed gratitude for the launch of direct flights between the Kurdistan Region and Greece, highlighting their significance in advancing bilateral relations.

Clashes broke out between truck drivers and protesters along the Sulaimani-Arbat road on Monday, after demonstrators blocked oil tankers in a bid to pressure Erbil and Baghdad to address the ongoing crisis of unpaid civil servant salaries.

British energy giant BP signed an agreement with the Iraqi government on Tuesday to rehabilitate four oil and gas fields in Kirkuk province, just weeks after reaching an initial deal.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit Jordan on Wednesday to meet with King Abdullah II, according to Jordan’s state media.

The Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal budget from Iraq is expected to increase after the 2024 census confirmed its population makes up 15 percent of the country, officials said Monday, though adjustments will not take effect until next year.

Iraq is set to increase its electrical output by 3,000 megawatts after signing a contract to import liquified natural gas, the electricity ministry said on Tuesday, noting that the added electricity will meet the country’s electricity demands during the winter season.

German politicians reacted on Monday to the preliminary results of the federal parliamentary elections, in which the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), won by securing 29 percent of the votes.

The Kurdish National Council (KNC/ENKS) on Monday criticized the organization of Syria’s upcoming National Dialogue conference as “rushed,” and censured the “marginalization” of some of the country’s key components as a “violation” of national partnership.

Iraq's Oil Minister confirmed on Monday that the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, designated for the resumption of the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports through Turkey's Ceyhan port, is ready to use.

A European Union official on Monday urged Syria’s new leadership to form an inclusive government, warning that EU sanctions would be reinstated if the situation does not progress in the “right direction.” The statement came just hours after the EU Council suspended a number of restrictive measures on key economic sectors in Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a trip to Ankara on Monday where he met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss the evolving events in Syria as well as an end to the war in Ukraine.

Seven out of twelve Kurdish candidates have won seats in Germany’s federal parliament, the Bundestag, revealed the preliminary results from the country’s snap elections on Monday.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with a delegation from the Iraqi diaspora in the United States at his Erbil headquarters on Monday, where discussions centered on investment and economic cooperation.

Iraq reiterated on Monday its commitment to an OPEC+ agreement on production cuts and the gradual phase-out of voluntary reductions, ahead of the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.

A delegation from Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party is set to visit jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan in prison “in the coming days” after concluding a visit to the Kurdistan Region, a party MP said on Monday.

A Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) representative on Monday said that its members have declined an invitation to attend the Syrian National Dialogue Congress, saying the event is poorly structured and excludes Kurdish political representation.

Iraq’s planning ministry on Monday released the official results of the country’s first nationwide census since 1987, revealing a nearly equal gender distribution and a majority urban population.

Iraq is awaiting a response from Turkey “within the next 24 hours” regarding the readiness of the pipeline designated for the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports, an official from Iraq’s oil ministry said on Sunday.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received the outgoing British ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Charles Hitchen, on Sunday for a farewell visit, according to a statement by the Kurdistan Region’s presidency.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani expressed on Sunday that the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will be complicated, but noted that talks with the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) are progressing "very well."

Kurds in Germany are well known in politics and play an active role in society, according to Kamil Bazrgan, a social consultant who spoke to Rudaw on Sunday, just hours before polls closed in the country’s federal elections.

A group of teachers and public sector employees on Sunday blocked oil trucks from passing through the Sulaimani-Arbat road, protesting the ongoing unpaid salary crisis. The protest aimed to pressure both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad to resolve the issue.

A former Kurdish member of Germany’s federal parliament is running for re-election in the country’s 2025 parliamentary elections, following a weakening of his party, the Left Party (Die Linke), against extreme far-right factions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday honored British-Iraqi doctor Mohammed Tahir Abu Rgheef, a renowned “humanity ambassador,” in Baghdad, rewarding him with a diplomatic passport and a housing unit in central Baghdad.

A former Kurdish politician in Germany on Sunday called on the country’s Kurdish community to establish their own associations and institutions, stressing that such initiatives are vital for preserving the Kurdish heritage and securing the rights of future generations.

Tens of thousands gathered in Beirut on Sunday to attend the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his cousin and top aide, Hashem Safieddine, nearly five months after their assassination.

The Kurdistan Region’s traffic police on Sunday said that motorcycles used by food delivery companies must be registered and meet safety requirements to avoid fines and penalties.

The Kurdistan Region’s two ruling parties met on Saturday to continue government formation talks. The negotiating sides have made progress, including agreeing that a 2026 budget be passed by the regional parliament, according to the deputy prime minister.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said on Saturday that before oil exports can resume, two points still need to be resolved, including one that requires approval from the Iraqi prime minister, after the federal oil ministry had said everything was ready to restart selling Kurdish oil through the pipeline to Turkey.

The interim government in Damascus has begun receiving over 15,000 barrels of oil daily and as much as one million cubic meters of natural gas from Kurdish-controlled fields in the northeast, an official told Rudaw on Saturday.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani’s planned visit to Baghdad on Saturday has been postponed, but he is expected to make the trip this week, according to officials in Baghdad.

Baghdad’s oil ministry on Saturday announced the “completion of procedures” to resume oil production and exports from the Kurdistan Region, a few hours after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani called for accelerating the resumption of Kurdish oil production in a meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday confirmed an agreed end to the mission of the United States-led Global Coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) and emphasized a shift toward bilateral relations with coalition member states.

A Kurdish candidate running in Germany’s federal elections criticized the country’s anti-immigration policies and failures to integrate newcomers, and urged continued migration to address labor shortages.

The head of the United Nations mission in Iraq on Saturday lauded Baghdad’s push to establish security and stability, build state institutions, and diversify the economy, especially through the Development Road transit corridor, but said this progress must be built on equality.

Germany’s Green Party has given Kurds in the country a political voice, a Kurdish member of the party told Rudaw on Thursday.

The United States killed a senior leader of an al-Qaeda affiliate in an airstrike in northwest Syria on Friday, the military announced on Saturday.

Iraq’s Development Road has Erbil’s “complete support,” President Nechirvan Barzani said in Baghdad on Saturday, despite objections that it bypasses the Kurdistan Region.

An advisor for Yazidi affairs to the Kurdistan Region Presidency on Saturday criticized authorities at Syria’s al-Hol Camp for their “lack of collaboration” in facilitating the release of the large number of Yazidis being held in the camp that houses suspected Islamic State (ISIS) family members.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to attend the Baghdad International Dialogue.

Eleven people have been arrested in Sulaimani province this week, part of a campaign against inappropriate use of social media platforms, a security official told Rudaw on Friday.

Two Sunni factions announced on Thursday that they have formed an alliance in preparation for Iraq’s next parliamentary election, expected to take place in October 2025.

On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Kurdistan leaders highlighted the importance of promoting the Kurdish language that is central to Kurdish culture and “existence.”

Following the exhumation process and identification, the remains of 32 Yazidi victims of the Islamic State (ISIS) will be returned to Shingal (Sinjar) on Friday for burial.

Individuals from Hasaka appointed to represent their province in Syria’s National Dialogue Conference do not represent Kurds, Kurdish activists and politicians said as discontent grows over their exclusion from discussions about the country’s future.

A union on Thursday accused Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) of joining an “economic war” against the Kurdistan Region through its plan to cut off internet services for Korek Telecom.

Saifulla Hussein, whose whereabouts were unknown for more than 20 years, returned safely to the Kurdistan Region on Wednesday after he was released from a Kenyan jail.

Joint-stock companies make up just two percent of Iraq’s gross domestic product (GDP), the lowest percentage in the Middle East and North Africa, Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) Ali al-Alaq said on Thursday.

Peshmerga forces said Wednesday they thwarted an attack by the Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells in Salahaddin province’s disputed town of Tuz Khurmatu earlier in the day. Several shepherds were targeted by the armed individuals in the assault but were rescued by the Kurdish force. One of them recounted the attack.

Turkey has not yet received an update from Iraq regarding the resumption of the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports, Ankara’s energy minister stated on Wednesday, just days after Kurdish and Iraqi officials indicated the process would restart soon.

Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, reaffirmed his support for the peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Wednesday.

Iraq’s foreign ministry on Tuesday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s hosting of talks between the United States and Russia regarding the ongoing Ukraine war.

The United States Navy and Coast Guard rescued seven mariners from a sinking Iranian vessel in the Persian Gulf, the US Central Command announced late Tuesday.

A delegation from the Kurdish blocs in the Iraqi parliament visited villages northwest of Kirkuk province on Tuesday, to express solidarity with Kurdish farmers who were forcibly prevented from accessing their confiscated lands the previous day.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani on Tuesday announced his party's support for the peace efforts between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday received the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Berris Ekinci, in Erbil where they discussed cooperation on oil exports, water management, and enhancing ties between the Region and Iraq. Ekinci asserted Ankara's full support for Kurdistan’s oil exports.

Mazloum Abdi, the commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday congratulated Ahmed al-Sharaa on his appointment as interim president of Syria, reported the pro-SDF North Press Agency (NPA).

Iraq’s ministry of immigration and displacement confirmed on Monday the repatriation of over 12,500 Iraqi nationals linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) from the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria’s (Rojava) Hasaka province.

The deadlines for the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq remain unchanged, a spokesperson for the Iraqi government stated on Monday.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi met with senior Kurdistan Region officials on Monday to discuss developments in Iraq and the region as well as means to enhance ties between Erbil and Tehran.

The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) announced on Sunday that American forces delivered a second batch of humanitarian aid to displaced persons from areas northwest of the enclave.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday expressed the need to maintain foreign troops in Iraq, Syria amid the evolving events in the region and the potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS).

A senior Iraqi commander from the Islamic State (ISIS) was captured in Syria, accused of being responsible for foreign fighters who joined the group and plotting terrorist attacks, state media reported.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the Munich Security Conference where they discussed regional stability.

Hundreds of Iraqi children die annually from cancer, most commonly leukemia, according to statistics from the Iraqi Cancer Board on International Childhood Cancer Day.

The Kurdistan Region’s two ruling parties say they have made good progress in government formation talks ahead of a key meeting expected later this week.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday asked the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Kingdom to continue enhancing the defensive capabilities of the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani thanked France for its friendship in a meeting in Munich on Saturday with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on Saturday and highlighted the strong partnership between Erbil and Washington and their shared commitment to regional stability and security.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Syria’s new foreign minister in Munich on Saturday amid concerns that Kurds are being excluded from discussions in Damascus about the country’s future.

A delegation from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Saturday for meetings with top officials and ruling parties amid a renewed push for peace between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has accused actors in the Iraqi government of benefiting from an expanding drug trade and suggested that economic and political motives may be hindering measures to combat the scourge.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Friday held multiple meetings with European, Gulf, and Arab officials, discussing developments in Syria and Erbil’s regional influence on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC).

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consul in Erbil welcomed a technology agreement signed this weekend between Erbil and Abu Dhabi and said he hopes this will be followed by stronger cooperation in many other fields.

Armed thieves broke into the home of a 65-year-old man in Afrin, beating him and stealing cash, a human rights monitor said on Thursday, adding that incidents like this are happening more frequently and going unpunished.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish opposition parties on Thursday slammed the exclusion of Kurds from a top committee tasked by the new Syrian leadership with laying the groundwork for a National Dialogue Conference that will shape the country’s future. ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish opposition parties on Thursday slammed the exclusion of Kurds from a top committee tasked by the new Syrian leadership with laying the groundwork for a National Dialogue Conference that will shape the country’s future.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani attended the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday, meeting European defense ministers to discuss combating terrorism and Syria, where the Kurdistan Region plays a role in efforts to strengthen unity among Kurdish parties.

Iraq signed five memoranda of understanding with Czechia on Thursday to enhance cooperation in oil, transportation, and security, as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani invited Czech companies to participate in Iraq’s Development Road project and enter its energy market.

Families of Peshmerga who disappeared a decade ago are hoping that they may finally get some closure after Iraqi forensic officials uncovered the remains of 17 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters killed by the Islamic State (ISIS).

A senior commander in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Thursday said that their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan wants to shift the Kurdish issue “out of the realm of war and into the realm of democratization,” but accused Turkey’s ruling parties of trying to “sabotage” a nascent peace process.

Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha announced on Wednesday that BP’s agreement with the Iraqi government to operate in the province will boost the local economy and generate job opportunities for residents.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has arrived in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC), where he is set to hold meetings with world leaders and discuss regional developments, said his spokesperson on Thursday.

At least 28 people were injured after an Afghan national rammed his car into a demonstration in Munich, southwest Germany on Thursday.

Erbil governor on Wednesday announced that this year’s Newroz celebrations will be held at the main building of the Paris municipality.

The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday met with the Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) to discuss bilateral ties. He further signed a landmark technology agreement with Abu Dhabi.

Iraq’s interior ministry on Wednesday rejected reports claiming the country is temporarily sheltering dozens of soldiers affiliated with the former Syrian regime for “humanitarian reasons.”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the key topics being discussed at the 2025 World Governments Summit in Dubai, where heads of state, government delegations and experts from around the world are gathered.

The teachers in Sulaimani on Tuesday announced that they were temporarily suspending their two-week-long hunger strike over unpaid salaries after “understanding the situation.”

The Kurdistan Region’s Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani stated on Sunday that the negotiations to form a new Kurdistan Regional Government are progressing well and expressed optimism that the civil servants’ salary crisis would be resolved.

A Kurdish woman was among the victims of a school shooting in Sweden earlier this month that left 11 people dead. Her family described her as a dedicated teacher who took pride in her Kurdish heritage and helped fellow immigrants.

Iraq’s air force has targeted an Islamic State (ISIS) position in Salahaddin province, marking another strike in what seems to be an ongoing campaign by Baghdad against jihadist remnants in the country.

The head of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) on Monday visited the Syriac Orthodox Bishop of northeast Syria’s (Rojava) Hasakah province to discuss Syria’s path forward.

Armed factions in Syria are reacting to a recent decision by the new leadership in Damascus to dissolve all armed groups.

The Kurdish language is in decline among the younger generations of Kurds in northeast Turkey, where education is primarily conducted in Turkish.

Syria’s oil ministry stated on Sunday that all oil agreements and contracts signed by the toppled regime of Bashar al-Assad, including those with Iran and Russia, will be reviewed to assess their legal validity. The ministry added that sanctions remain the most significant challenge to the country’s oil sector.

Every day, Mera Warti rides his vending bike up the snowy mountains of Zini Warte to sell comfort foods to tourists who flock there during the winter season.

The Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has led a delegation to Dubai on Monday to participate in the World Government Summit in Dubai.

Domestic goods in the Kurdistan Region lack investment and face increasing costs, factory owners and experts told Rudaw, urging for better protection for local industries.

Iraq’s interior ministry said on Sunday that the country’s border with Syria is “completely secured” from movements of the Islamic State (ISIS) as Baghdad continues efforts to bolster border security against the backdrop of the events in Syria.

The Sunni Azm Alliance on Sunday called for the inclusion of prisoners held in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-administered prisons in Kirkuk under the recently passed general amnesty law.

The leader of the Kurdish Islamist Free Cause Party (Huda Par) on Sunday criticized the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) for its lack of transparency regarding the renewed peace talks between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

A natural hot spring in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province is attracting tourists keen to escape cold winter temperatures in its warm water.

The freshly snow-covered landscape and stunning winter scenery of Mount Gara in Duhok province has attracted visitors not only from across the Kurdistan Region, but also from Baghdad.

A Kurdish football club in Austria has one stage left to make it to the highest league in the country, but they say they need a lot of financial support that they do not currently have. Another struggling Kurdish team in Sweden is at risk of bankruptcy if they do not get funding soon.

Dozens of people have been abducted in northwest Syria’s Kurdish enclave Afrin in just over a month, a local watchdog said on Saturday.

Iraqi armed groups are hoping they can ward off an effort by a group of United States members of congress to slap terror labels on ten Iranian-backed factions, three sources told Rudaw English on condition of anonymity on Saturday, with one from the prime minister’s office saying such a designation would cause “chaos.”

Many Kurdish families were among the Syrians who visited the Tadamun area of Damascus after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad with the hope of finding the bones of their loved ones brutally killed by the regime.

One of the 11 Kurdish candidates running in the German parliamentary election highlighted the importance of a strong Kurdish voice in Germany in an election where immigration is a pivotal issue.

The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Saturday demanded “formal clarification” from the new Syrian leadership about the entry of Damascus-affiliated security forces into Afrin, after which four Kurds were arrested.

More than 63,000 trees were illegally cut down in the forests of the Kurdistan Region in the past year, an official told Rudaw on Friday.

In the two months since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, 270,000 Syrians have returned home, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.

Washington’s decision to suspend foreign aid is worsening conditions in camps holding thousands of people with links to the Islamic State (ISIS) in northeast Syria (Rojava), Human Rights Watch said on Friday.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have no intention of “surrendering their arms to any side,” but they could “play a key role in rebuilding Syria’s future army," the spokesperson for a brigade that falls under the SDF umbrella said in an interview with Rudaw on Thursday.

The United Arab Emirates-based Dana Gas on Friday reported a five percent increase in its revenues for 2024, bringing in $445 million from its operations in the Kurdistan Region and Egypt.

Counterfeit alcohol is being blamed for the deaths of 33 people in Turkey’s capital city. Another 20 people remain hospitalized and under observation, an official said on Friday.

An umbrella group of Kurdish opposition parties on Friday announced its withdrawal from a coalition of Syrian revolutionary forces.

The government in Damascus envisions a “peaceful” path to exerting power over the Kurdish northeast and not a military one, Syria’s defense minister told the Washington Post in an interview published on Thursday.

Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court will sit this week to hear four different complaints against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) about polygamy rules, traffic fines, and the dissolution of two ministries.

A Kurdish teenager has earned a UEFA B coaching certificate and become the head coach of an under-15 Norwegian women’s football team.

Kurdish composer Karzan Mahmood on Thursday spoke to Rudaw about his nomination for a Hollywood Music in Media Award for his work in an Iranian film, describing it as deeply political and one that reflects the current situation in Iran.

The Norwegian oil firm DNO on Thursday said that 2024 amounted to a year of “stellar production” with an increase in profits from the Kurdistan Region’s oil despite the Iraq-Turkey pipeline remaining closed.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday held a phone call with Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to congratulate him on assuming his position and invited him to visit France, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Wednesday received Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov in Baghdad to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. According to the prime minister’s office, the talks focused on “regional and international developments" and efforts aimed at strengthening stability in the region.

China’s consulate general in Erbil is constructing a new park in the city that is expected to be completed within 90 days, an official said on Wednesday, with the park already 40 percent complete.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received Mohamed al-Hassan, head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), discussing Erbil-Baghdad ties and the mission’s role in the country.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani on Tuesday visited the tent of teachers on a hunger strike in Sulaimani protesting unpaid salaries, with the strike entering its eighth day.

Three Sunni-majority provinces have declared Wednesday holiday in protest to the federal supreme court’s ruling to temporarily halt the implementation of three crucial laws, including one which could lead to the release of many Sunnis who have been jailed for terror charges.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday received the commander of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Erbil, discussing the groups “activities and dangers to regional peace,” according to the Kurdish presidency.

Iraq's Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily suspended the implementation of three laws concerning general amnesty, personal status, and the return of land confiscated under the Baath regime to its original Kurdish owners, following recent amendments, as reported by state media.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday inaugurated the third and fourth infantry divisions of the Peshmerga forces under the Peshmerga ministry as a part of an ongoing unification process.

The US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday denounced the recent drone attack on Sulaimani’s crucial Khor Mor gas field, urging Iraqi authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.

Halabja province on Monday received over 1.5 tons of medical aid from India for victims of chemical attacks.

Oil producers in the Kurdistan Region on Monday welcomed the Iraqi parliament’s approval of a budget amendment that increases compensation for their production costs, a move seen as crucial for restarting oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.

A lawmaker from Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party said on Sunday that the Kurdish issue is not limited to the laying down of arms by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) amid renewed peace process talks between Turkey and the Kurds.

The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Sunday condemned the new authority in Damascus for recently holding an “illegal” conference with the participation of “terrorists.”

Authorities in Duhok province have permitted farmers to dig wells and construct artificial ponds to preserve their crops as the Kurdistan Region faces a low rainfall season, an agriculture official said on Sunday.

United States President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he ordered airstrikes on a senior Islamic State (ISIS) militant in Somalia.

Three people were killed and six were injured in a car bombing in northern Syria on Saturday, according to reports.

A young Kurdish-German woman competed on the Voice of Germany, attracting millions of listeners with her unique style and voice.

A Yazidi woman running a thriving online cosmetics business in Germany is encouraging other women to pursue online careers.

Ongoing talks with the federal government over budget amendments and salary payments for the Kurdistan Region’s civil servants are expected to wrap up soon, the Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry said on Saturday.

The joint deployment of Iraqi and Kurdish forces has curtailed Islamic State (ISIS) activities in the Kurdistan Region’s southernmost reaches, once a hotbed of jihadist activity because of a security gap, the local mayor said on Saturday.

An international press freedom watchdog on Friday urged Kurdistan Region authorities to release a journalist who was sentenced to six months imprisonment for defamation.

EBRIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish music took center stage in Erbil on Thursday at a concert featuring performances from across the Kurdistan Region - Erbil, Sulaimani, Kirkuk, Garmian, Duhok, Halabja, and Hawraman.

The United States military announced early on Friday that its forces killed Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, a senior operative of an al-Qaeda affiliate, in a precision airstrike in northwest Syria.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday night. Both expressed support "for the protection of Kurdish rights in Syria," as the Kurdistan Region takes on a greater role in mediating between factions in northeast Syria (Rojava).

Iraq on Thursday repatriated an additional 360 nationals from the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava) as part of efforts to return all Iraqis held in the camp, said the Kurdish security forces (Asayish).

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday attended a forum in Baghdad, while overseeing the signing of 12 new agreements between both countries to strengthen cooperation.

Several Kurds are learning barbering at a small barbershop in Ranya, Sulaimani, in preparation for their migration to Europe.

The Iraqi parliament is set to convene on Sunday to vote on an amendment to the budget law proposed by the federal government which could lead to the resumption of Kurdistan Region’s oil exports.

The unification process of the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces could be completed before 2026, a ministry official said on Thursday, emphasizing ongoing reforms and international support for the effort.

A camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) north of Erbil city has been emptied as all residents have returned to their hometowns, the migration and displaced ministry said on Thursday.

Iraq remains unable to meet its electricity demand despite increasing power production, officials said at a conference in Baghdad on Wednesday, citing mismanagement, reliance on Iranian gas, and delays in infrastructure development as key challenges.

Iraq has deployed security forces to some of the disputed areas in Diyala province to facilitate the operations of foreign companies working to explore oil and gas.

Five people lost their lives in a refugee camp just outside Damascus on Monday after a failed operation to rescue a drowning person in a metal fuel storage at a gas station.

The new authorities in Syria on Wednesday held an unprecedented conference in Damascus, dissolving all armed groups and the country’s parliament and abolishing the country’s constitution.

Iraq sits atop vast oil reserves but fails to fully exploit them, a former oil minister said Wednesday, criticizing the country’s energy policies and OPEC-imposed restrictions.

The British ambassador to Baghdad said on Wednesday that BP will engage the Kurdistan Region regarding its controversial agreement with the Iraqi government to redevelop oil fields in the disputed province of Kirkuk.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received Daniel Rubinstein, Charge d’Affaires at the US embassy in Baghdad, to discuss bilateral relations and ongoing talks over the formation of a new cabinet in the Region.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is set to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in mid-February, the conference’s chairman said, calling the Kurdistan Region’s representatives “important actors” in the region.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Tuesday that at least 11 civilians were killed in two separate attacks in northern Syria in one day. Nearly 30 others were injured in both attacks.

A delegation from the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) on Tuesday visited Syria’s southern Druze-majority Suwayda province and met with Sheikh Hikmat Salman al-Hijri, the Druze spiritual leader, to discuss the country's political future.

The Indian consul general to Erbil on Monday praised his country’s “strengthening” cooperation with the Kurdistan Region and highlighted available scholarship opportunities for the Region’s students.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Tuesday outlined Iraq’s plans to enhance its energy sector, boost economic development, and strengthen regional connectivity at the Iraq Development Platform conference in Baghdad.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is in ongoing meetings with Iraq’s finance ministry to discuss budget issues and oil exports, with the two set to meet again on Friday.