Politics

Political disunity clouds KRG fiscal and energy outlooks

Deadlocked talks over forming a new regional Cabinet highlight a bitter rivalry between two ruling parties that poses risks to Kurdistan's economy and energy sector.

PUK President Bafel Talabni (left) meets with KDP President Massoud Barzani (right) on Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo credit: KDP presidency office)

Jul 24, 2014

UPDATE: Parliament elects new president, prioritizes budget

After selection of Fuad Masum as president, the all-important budget must compete with political and security crises for politicians' attention.

Jul 23, 2014

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: July 22, 2014

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jul 18, 2014

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: July 17, 2014

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jul 11, 2014

UPDATE: KRG takes Kirkuk, Bai Hassan fields

When the Oil Ministry gave orders to dismantle a key pipeline, the Kurds took over the NOC's fields, and post-2003 relations between Baghdad and Erbil have never been worse.

Jul 10, 2014

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: July 10, 2014

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jul 8, 2014

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: July 6, 2014

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jun 28, 2014

UPDATE: Kurdistan sidesteps Baghdad legal challenge to exports

Baghdad failed to secure a temporary ban on Kurdistan's independent pipeline exports from Iraq's highest court, but the Oil Ministry's international legal efforts continue.

Jun 25, 2014

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: June 24, 2014

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jun 20, 2014

Q&A: Falah Mustafa Bakir

Kurdistan's top ambassador says KRG territory now irreversibly includes the Kirkuk oil field, in a "new reality" of almost total Kurdish independence.

Jun 19, 2014

Kurdistan forms government as President calls veterans to arms

As Kurdistan inaugurated its new Cabinet, President Barzani called retired Peshmerga to re-enlist and help defend the region's southern border against insurgents.