Author: Helan Jiwan

The Christian Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party on Thursday held its eighth congress in Duhok, calling for autonomy and demanding increased efforts to prevent the emigration of Christians. Romeo Hakkari, secretary general of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party told Rudaw that there are shortcomings when it comes to upholding the rights of the Christian minority in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. “In this congress, Bet-Nahrain Party demands autonomy, this is a right that is yet to be attained,” he said, adding that the party also has other demands including being represented in the government and the parliament of both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.Thursday’s…

Business was booming in Erbil as bargain hunters took advantage of Black Friday deals. Black Friday falls on the Friday after the American Thanksgiving holiday and traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. Many major retailers run huge sales promotions. Around a hundred people queued in front of Salih Burhan’s electronics shop in Erbil’s famous Kotri Salam bazaar that announced discounts of up to 80 percent on high-end items like laptops, smartphones, and televisions. Burhan said within three hours he sold 75 percent of his stock, amounting to $55,000. “[The discounts] were put on all electronic devices, especially…

Children make up around 40 percent of the victims of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as the overall death toll passes 13,000 people.  Over 30,000 are wounded, with both physical and mental injuries that will take a lifetime to recover from. In an overnight Israeli bombing that targeted their house, Dina Abu Mohsen lost her parents and her right leg. “I was sleeping and my father was awake, and together we heard the first strike on our house, so my father and mother hugged me,” Dina said. “I woke up and hugged my brother,…

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday received Qatar’s inaugural consul general to Erbil, Hussein Ali Saleh al-Fazala. “During their meeting, the President extended his congratulations to Mr. Al-Fazala on his appointment and assured him of the Kurdistan Region’s support,” read a statement from Barzani’s office. Barzani told Fazala of the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to enhancing relations between their countries and the Qatari consul general conveyed the regards of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and expressed his pleasure to be opening the consulate in Erbil, according to the Kurdish statement. Fazala “underscored his dedication to fostering stronger…

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani will visit Erbil on Sunday to meet with the Kurdistan Region’s natural resources minister for discussions about resuming exports of Kurdish oil. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani said that Abdul Ghani’s visit comes following an agreement between Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani for a federal government delegation to visit Erbil and discuss resolving the outstanding oil issues. “The main topic of the meetings will be the issue of the cost of oil production, and the procedures for resuming the Region’s oil exports,” wrote Hawramani…

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday said the recent drone and rocket attacks on the US-led global coalition forces in Iraq are “extremely dangerous” for Iraq and the Region.  A pro-Iran group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claims it has targeted US troops in Iraq and Syria dozens of times since last month. The Pentagon has confirmed 38 attacks since October 17. The militia group has attributed its attacks to Washington’s support for Israel in the fight against the Palestinian Hamas Movement’s military wing. “This is an extremely dangerous development for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” President Barzani told…

Erbil-based Kurdistan counterterrorism on Tuesday reported that a Turkish drone allegedly targeted a car carrying members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Erbil’s Koya district, resulting in casualties. The counterterrorism force said on Facebook that at around 10:50 am local time a Turkish drone targeted a car near Kani Kand village in Koya district, killing one and injuring another. Rojnews, a media outlet affiliated with the PKK, reported on Tuesday that Turkish drones attacked a car in Koya, noting that the passengers of the car were civilians and were all members of one family. Sherwan Jalal, deputy head of…

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday stressed the importance of resolving differences between Erbil and Baghdad on the basis of the constitution in separate meetings with Italian and British ambassadors to Iraq. Barzani received Italian Ambassador to Iraq Maurizio Greganti and the two discussed bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and Italy as well as ongoing issues between Baghdad and Erbil over the Region’s financial entitlements within the budget law. “Both parties emphasised the importance of resolving these matters, particularly concerning the financial entitlements of the Kurdistan Region and the salaries of its public sector employees, in accordance…

Spanish footballer Cesc Fabregas is visiting the Kurdistan Region with a message for young aspiring athletes to keep up their hard work in order to succeed. FIFA World Cup Winner Fabregas, who arrived in Erbil on Friday afternoon, attended a panel where he answered questions from the audience. “Football is very important for young people, because obviously they are the future, and they are the next generation that will give us pleasure when we watch them on TV,” he said. “That is why they deserve and need the right education, to be representing the world in the right manner,” he…

China’s consul general to Erbil on Wednesday said that his country and the Kurdistan Region are “complementary” and expressed his determination to improve Beijing-Erbil business and trade relations. “China and this Region are highly complementary to each other. So we can do a lot for the infrastructure, agriculture, communications [fields], and many more. I am determined to improve the business-trade relation between China and this [Kurdistan] Region,” Liu Jun, Beijing’s consul general in Erbil, told Rudaw’s Dilnya Rahman. Jun voiced his surprise at Erbil’s liveliness and vitality, noting that the numerous ongoing construction projects reflect that “this region is undergoing…