Beyond the Headlines: Jan. 2-8

Kirkuk clashes with NOCKIRKUK -- Provincial leaders are criticizing the Oil Ministry for reneging on an agreement to hire locals and neglecting to build a refinery.A delegation from the Energy and Minerals Committee of the provincial council visited the director of the state-run North Oil Company (NOC), Hameed al-Saeidi, on Jan. 4 to air its grievances.The local leaders charged the NOC with a "lack of commitment in implementing the agreement signed between the provincial council and ...