Barzanis caught up in anti-PKK fight

• IRAQ - PKK renews high command's mandate and reaffirms strategic priorities

• FRANCE - DGSI's role in counterterrorism secured

• RUSSIA/CHINA - Beijing counts on Russia to promote SCO

• USA/GEORGIA - Washington confirms its commitment to Tbilisi

• FRANCE/UKRAINE - Florence Parly sticks to low estimate on Paris's Ukraine spending

Adam Smith International roped in to help with Peshmerga reform 

Adam Smith International has won a contract from the British foreign ministry to help the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to implement "priority reforms" mainly regarding the security forces.

Pentagon concerned about Peshmerga's slow unification 

Washington is keen for the Peshmerga forces to speed up their unification so they can share strategic intelligence against Islamic State. But local alliances continue to hold sway over the need to put up a common front.

Ankara's spymasters squabble over best strategy against PKK 

Still engaged in military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq, Turkey has been suffering heavy losses while failing to eradicate the perceived Kurdish threat. It is now rethinking its strategy while trying to ensure the continued support of the Kurdish KDP, its ally on the ground.

Dynasty case unravels Kurdish clan dispute over oil 

The rivalry between Barzani and Talabani clans is at the centre of a legal battle between oil junior Dynasty and former oil minister of Iraqi Kurdistan's Ashti Hawrami.

Qaiwan, the Iraqi oil firm behind Lebanon swap solution 

So that it can fulfil its commitment to supply Beirut with oil to help ease the country's energy crisis, Irak has called in trader Qaiwan to set up a swap system as Kudistan crude is too high in sulphur to be used in Lebanon's power plants.

Washington weighs up military deployment options in Kurdistan 

The U.S. military footprint in Iraq, greatly reduced in 2020, is now concentrated mainly in Baghdad. But the persistent threats against the "green zone" are causing the US to consider options to shift more troops to Kurdistan.

Delta Crescent serves as relay for Washington's oil interests in Kurdistan 

Although Washington is championing sanctions against Syria, it is letting a US oil company do business there while placing its pawns in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Barzani and Rahmeh take on consultants to do battle with Iraq Telecom 

Accused of embezzlement by the Kuwaiti logistics giant Agility and France's Orange, Sirwan Barzani and his Lebanese partner Raymond Rahmeh are taking measures to defend their reputations.

Orange goes public about spat with Barzani 

Orange kept its corruption dispute with Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling Barzani clan under wraps for a long time. An application for arbitration submitted in October puts an end to the chances of an informal settlement being reached.

Inter-Kurdish talks edge forward 

The two main Kurdish parties, the PYD and the Syrian [...]