Diesel Shortage Puts Kirkuk's Private Generators Under Pressure
Private generator owners in Kirkuk say subsidized diesel no longer covers the month, while higher market prices are pushing some offices and neighborhoods toward power cuts.
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Nineveh Villages Ask Whether Reconstruction Funds Will Reach Them
KirkukNow reports that major reconstruction projects are moving in Nineveh, but many rural communities still lack roads, schools, health centers, and other basic services.
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Iraq approves studies for strategic oil export pipelines involving Kirkuk
Iraq’s cabinet authorized preliminary, non-binding studies for new strategic export routes. A consortium involving Capital TI, Chevron and Qatar’s UCC will compare a Basra–Haditha–Kirkuk–Ceyhan route with a Basra–Haditha–Baniyas option, while KBR provides consultancy. The studies aim to diversify export outlets and reduce dependence on a limited number of corridors.
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Iraqi warplanes strike ISIS hideouts in Kirkuk
Iraqi F-16 aircraft carried out three strikes on suspected ISIS hideouts in Kirkuk province. The operation followed a ground inspection of an earlier strike area and came after a clash in which an ISIS member and a Counter-Terrorism Service first lieutenant were killed. The report shows that small insurgent cells remain active despite the group’s territorial defeat.
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Turkey and Iraq discuss energy cooperation before Kirkuk–Ceyhan deal expires
Turkish and Iraqi officials discussed the future of the Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline agreement, which was due to expire on July 27, 2026. Negotiations covered a replacement framework, improved use of the pipeline and possible new connections. The talks reflect both countries’ interest in maintaining a major northern export corridor while updating an aging legal and technical arrangement.
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Kirkuk bazaar shopkeepers reject eviction for redevelopment
Shop owners in the Majidiya Market rejected orders to vacate their premises for a redevelopment project, saying roughly 120 families depend on the businesses. The Kirkuk Investment Commission said agreements had been reached in 2023 and that affected tenants would receive replacement shops or compensation equal to four months’ rent. The dispute centers on livelihood protection, state property and redevelopment terms.
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Council member explains oversight work and status of 7,000 public jobs
Provincial council member Raad al-Saleh described the council’s role in reviewing complaints, investigating officials and approving projects, including the possibility of dismissing poorly performing department heads. He said the file for 7,000 public-sector appointments had moved to executive authorities and the federal Finance Ministry. The update addressed public frustration over delays and uncertainty in recruitment.
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Police prepare to take over Kirkuk security duties from the army
The Interior Ministry planned a phased transfer of city, district and checkpoint duties from the Iraqi army to local police. Police officials said they were ready, while military commanders favored a gradual handover because of ethnic sensitivities and the continuing ISIS threat. Many residents reportedly prefer locally recruited police, but the transition requires careful coordination and political confidence.
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Turkmens Stress the Importance of Participation in Local Decision-Making
Political and administrative participation remains one of the core issues for the Turkmen community in Iraq.
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Iraqi Cities Preserve Their Heritage Amid Urban Transformation
Local heritage in Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk, and Basra remains an essential part of Iraqi identity.
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Turkmen Women Expand Their Presence in Community Initiatives
Local initiatives highlight the role of women in education, culture, and volunteer work and confirm their growing presence.
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Iraqi Public Continues to Support the National Team with Strong Determination
Football remains a unifying space for the Iraqi public at home and abroad and continues to strengthen feelings of belonging.
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Archive 2005: Iraq’s Constitution Opens a New Political Phase
The adoption of the constitution marked a turning point in Iraqi political life after 2003, with direct impact on representation and rights.
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Archive 2014: Displacement Reshapes the Priorities of Nineveh and Tal Afar
The events of 2014 had a major impact on the residents of Nineveh, Tal Afar, and the Turkmen, reshaping local priorities.
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Archive 2017: Kirkuk Enters a New Phase in Governance and Security
Kirkuk experienced major political and security changes during the year, shaping the features of the next phase.
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Archive 2020: The Pandemic Tests Iraq’s Ability to Adapt
The COVID-19 pandemic affected education, work, services, and social life on a broad scale.
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Archive 2021: Elections Reopen the File of Political Representation for Iraq’s Components
The file of political representation for the components returned to the forefront with Iraq’s electoral process.
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Archive 2023: Iraq’s Economy Faces a New Test Amid Oil Price Volatility
The budget and oil prices were at the center of economic debate during the past year, with focus on projects, services, and salaries.
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Iraqi Provinces Follow Service and Development Projects Closely
Roads, water, electricity, and health remain among the core files that citizens pay increasing attention to.
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Turkmen Media Expands into Multilingual Platforms
Digital platforms are giving Turkmen news broader space inside and outside Iraq and expanding its audience.
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Youth and Employment Continue to Lead Iraq’s Economic Agenda
Employment and vocational training opportunities remain recurring issues in Iraqi cities, especially among young people.
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Tal Afar Regains Its Place in Iraq’s Turkmen Memory
Tal Afar is an important point in the historical and Turkmen memory of northern Iraq.
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Kirkuk Seeks a New Balance Between Governance, Services, and Components
The city needs balanced administration that considers representation, services, and social needs at the same time.
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Water and Climate Issues Rise to the Top of Iraq’s Public Debate
Water and climate challenges are pushing the provinces to seek long-term solutions and expand cooperation between institutions.
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The Turkmen Language Gains New Visibility in Local Cultural Initiatives
Civic and cultural initiatives highlight the importance of education and language in preserving Turkmen identity in Iraq.
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The Energy File Remains at the Center of Iraq’s Economic Debate
The energy sector continues to influence the general budget, employment opportunities, and basic services across the provinces.
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Kirkuk Continues to Affirm Its Role in Iraq’s Diverse Landscape
The Turkmen cultural presence in Kirkuk reflects the city’s historical place within Iraq’s diverse social fabric.
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Iraq Prioritizes Public Services as Summer Approaches
As temperatures rise, pressure on electricity, water, transport, and sanitation is increasing across Baghdad and the provinces, while citizens continue to demand improved basic services.
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Iraq asks Turkey to extend Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline agreement by at least one year
Iraq asked Turkey to extend the Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline agreement for at least one year beyond its scheduled July 27 expiry. Baghdad said the extension would provide time to negotiate a modern replacement arrangement while preserving continuity in northern crude exports. The request underlined the pipeline’s importance to federal export strategy and regional energy relations.
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Northern Oil Company appoints new director amid operational challenges
Faisal Hammadi al-Jibouri was appointed director of the Northern Oil Company after about three decades of service. The company manages five fields and has roughly 17,000 employees. The new leadership faces questions over community representation, pipeline attacks, illegal tapping, field security and the transition of wider Kirkuk security responsibilities.
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Kirkuk farmers protest lower wheat purchase price and delayed payments
Farmers objected to a reduced government purchase price of 500,000 dinars per ton for wheat grown outside the official cultivation plan, compared with 700,000 dinars for approved land. They said production costs approached 400,000 dinars per ton and that checkpoint delays damaged crops. Protesters also demanded overdue 2025 payments and equal treatment for roughly 100,000 hectares.
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Kirkuk ends dog culling, but shelter shortages put strays at risk
Kirkuk stopped mass dog culling after opening a shelter in 2023, but the facility lacks a stable budget for food, water and veterinary care. It reportedly holds about 700 adult dogs and 150 puppies and relies heavily on donors and restaurant leftovers. Overcrowding and untreated illness have led to deaths, renewing debate over humane population control.
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Kirkuk expands wheat storage ahead of harvest
Kirkuk prepared to receive wheat from June 1 by expanding storage capacity by about 150,000 tons and coordinating 16 collection or storage sites. Agriculture, security and civil-defense bodies planned continuous operations, with special procedures in areas exposed to ISIS risks. The expansion was intended to reduce congestion and protect the harvest during the peak delivery period.
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Arab council members form unified Kirkuk bloc
Six Arab members of the Kirkuk Provincial Council announced a unified bloc led by former acting governor Rakan al-Jibouri. The move followed internal disagreements and was presented as a mechanism for coordinating political and administrative positions. The bloc seeks stronger collective influence over appointments, services and representation within the province’s divided council.
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Kirkuk police officers detained over alleged bribery and smuggling facilitation
The Interior Ministry detained the police director responsible for security and personnel affairs along with four other officers. Investigators alleged that checkpoint bribes were accepted to allow smuggled goods to move between the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk. The case remained under investigation, and possible charges under Iraq’s anti-bribery provisions had not yet been finally determined.
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Kirkuk council session addresses committees, appointments and land decisions
A Kirkuk Provincial Council session elected heads of security and administrative-balance committees and discussed residency or ration documents for 7,000 new appointees. Members also considered replacing department directors who had remained in the same post for more than four years, allocating land to journalists and supporting volunteer teachers. Absences and political disagreements continued to affect decision-making.
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Kirkuk hopes for return of passenger trains after budget approval
Railway officials said technical assessments and design work had been completed for restoring train services to Kirkuk. If funding is approved, passenger operations could return in roughly 18 months, alongside rehabilitation of the al-Fatha and Canal bridges. The line has been largely inactive since 2003, so reopening would reconnect Kirkuk with the national rail network.
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Kirkuk’s 614-day power struggle ends with a Turkmen governor
After 614 days of boycotts, court disputes and negotiations, the provincial council elected Mohammed Samaan as governor and Taha as deputy governor under a rotation arrangement. The result gave a Turkmen politician the governorship for the first time in roughly a century. The KDP was absent, and the agreement anticipated later rotation to an Arab candidate.
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PUK reportedly agrees to transfer Kirkuk governorship to Turkmen Front
Political sources said the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan had agreed to hand the Kirkuk governorship to the Iraqi Turkmen Front. Mohammed Samaan was identified as the probable nominee, although the exact timing remained unsettled. The reported deal formed part of a broader rotation of provincial offices intended to distribute power among Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen blocs.
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Kirkuk oil helps ease Baghdad–Erbil dispute amid falling national revenues
Oil shipments from Kirkuk to Ceyhan resumed after an interruption of about 35 months, with 2.77 million barrels reported transported in March. The restart helped narrow a long-running Baghdad–Erbil dispute over production and exports. However, Iraq was simultaneously facing severe revenue pressure from wider regional conflict and disruptions to national oil income.
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Kirkuk agriculture authority rejects request to pause land-contract measures
Kirkuk’s Agriculture Department rejected a provincial council request to suspend measures involving unused or disputed agricultural contracts. It argued that the matter falls under the sovereign authority of the federal ministry and intersects with Article 140 decisions. The dispute also relates to a 2025 land-return law that could restore at least 300,000 dunams to Kurdish and Turkmen owners.
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Young father swept away by Kirkuk floods
Mohammed Othman, a 23-year-old father of a three-month-old baby, was swept away while attempting to cross the Shor River near Tarjal and Laylan after his motorcycle stalled. Rescue teams recovered his body two days later. The incident followed heavy rain and civil-defense warnings, underscoring the danger of crossing flooded waterways.
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Projectile hits Kirkuk airbase, causing fire but no casualties
Iraq’s Defense Ministry said a projectile struck the Kirkuk airbase and started a fire that was brought under control. No casualties were reported, and officials said the facility was used only by Iraqi aircraft. The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions, but authorities reported no major operational damage.
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Iraqi parliament backs restoring exports through Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline
Iraq’s parliament called for rehabilitation and renewed operation of the Kirkuk–Ceyhan export pipeline. Lawmakers emphasized protecting export outlets and maintaining federal authority over oil production, transport and distribution. The route passes from Kirkuk through western Mosul, Zummar and Faysh Khabur before entering Turkey, making it strategically important for northern exports.
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Iraq suspends all Kirkuk crude production as a precaution
Iraq temporarily halted roughly 220,000 barrels per day of Kirkuk crude production because of drone and missile risks. No direct damage to facilities had been reported, and the suspension was described as a preventive step to protect personnel and infrastructure. The interruption affected fields whose exports had only resumed in September 2025.
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Arabs field 14 competing lists for Kirkuk’s 12 general parliamentary seats
Fourteen parties and coalitions—seven Arab, five Kurdish and two Turkmen—competed for 12 general parliamentary seats in Kirkuk, plus one minority quota seat. About 960,000 voters and 251 candidates, including 76 women, were involved. The large number of Arab lists raised concerns that vote fragmentation could reduce their ability to convert support into seats.
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KDP expects stronger vote in Kirkuk
The Kurdistan Democratic Party said it expected to improve its vote after returning to active political campaigning in Kirkuk. The party fielded 24 candidates and planned to mobilize an estimated 15,000–20,000 Kirkuk voters living in the Kurdistan Region. Its platform emphasized federalism, Article 140 and a peaceful, competitive campaign.
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Family alleges five traffic police officers assaulted a Kirkuk truck driver
A family alleged that five traffic police officers assaulted a truck driver near the Darman checkpoint. Both sides filed complaints, and the matter was referred to court, while the Kirkuk Traffic Directorate declined to comment. Because the claims had not been judicially established, the report presented them as allegations rather than confirmed findings.
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A Kirkuk parliamentary seat estimated at 74,000 votes
With 958,141 eligible voters and 13 parliamentary seats—including a Christian quota seat and at least three seats reserved for women—an average seat was estimated to require about 74,000 votes. The election attracted 251 candidates, 76 of them women. The calculation offered a rough benchmark rather than a guaranteed threshold because the final allocation depends on list performance and electoral rules.
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Kirkuk International Book Fair struggles with low attendance
Kirkuk’s first international book fair brought together about 60 publishers from nine countries but drew fewer visitors than exhibitors expected. Weak promotion was widely blamed, and at least half of participating sellers reportedly suffered financial losses. Despite the poor commercial outcome, organizers and writers viewed the event as an important first step for the city’s cultural life.
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Twin sisters from Daquq achieve outstanding Grade 12 results
Twin sisters Lana and Ronia from Daquq achieved final-school scores of 99% and 96%. They studied in a public school and said they often worked for around 14 hours a day with support from their family and teachers. Their achievement was highlighted as a positive story amid broader challenges facing public education in the district.
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Iraqi Turkmen Front urges federal intervention to rebalance Kirkuk government
The Iraqi Turkmen Front called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to oversee changes in Kirkuk’s local administration. It sought stronger Turkmen participation and a more balanced distribution of security, service and administrative posts. The party framed the request as necessary for national unity, institutional fairness and confidence among the province’s communities.
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Kirkuk ration-card updates move exclusively to mobile application
Kirkuk’s Food Supply Directorate said ration-card information would be updated only through a smartphone application. Missing the deadline could temporarily suspend a family’s entitlement, and national identification was required for children and other household members. Special assistance was promised for people with disabilities, divorced women and technical cases, while geolocation could block families outside Iraq.
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Kirkuk launches first natural forest project near Khasa Dam
Kirkuk launched a natural forest project covering a planned 6,000 dunams near Khasa Dam. The first phase called for planting 10,000 trees across 100 dunams, with goals including recreation, erosion control and reducing desertification. The project formed part of a wider provincial campaign to plant about 70,000 trees.
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