Meteorologists warn that this December will mark the beginning of one of the harshest winters in recent years, with heavy snow, hail, and strong cold waves. Groundwater levels and dried wells are expected to recover as rainfall and snowfall increase significantly.
SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazlum Abdi said they no longer need war and have chosen dialogue as their main approach, emphasizing peaceful solutions to Syria’s crises. He called on neighboring countries to support the March 10 agreement, which he says prevented a major conflict with Damascus.
New generation movement MP Akbar Gharib warned of severe environmental and health risks caused by toxic waste and unregulated factories near major water sources. He also accused the government of cutting payments for low-income hospital workers through companies linked to political parties.
The outgoing government has transferred 120 billion dinars in non-oil revenues for September to Baghdad. The amount has been officially deposited into the federal Ministry of Finance’s bank account.
Baghdad is set to receive 120 billion dinars from the KRG as part of September’s domestic revenue. Sudani stresses that payments for November and December depend on a final agreement over non-oil revenues.
Sudani said Iraq needs a constitutional timeframe to form the next government and will open dialogue with all parties to protect their rights. He affirmed that Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region are resolving remaining technical issues and that the Region’s needs will be treated equally to all Iraqi provinces.
Rebaz Hamlan says Baghdad will send the September payment soon but wants to resolve all four remaining payments of the year at once. He confirmed that the issue will be finalized in coordination with Prime Minister Sudani.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani arrived in the Kurdistan Region to attend the Middle East Peace and Security Conference. The event brings together Iraqi and international figures to discuss political and security developments.
The Zet–Darajik International Gateway in Sherwan Mazen has been closed due to a technical problem on the Turkish side. Management apologized to travelers and said the crossing will reopen once the issue is resolved.
Prime Minister Sudani phoned Sirwa Abdulwahid to discuss election results and inquire about Shaswar Abdulwahid’s condition after five months of detention. He emphasized the need for political cooperation to form the new government.
Nechirvan Barzani expressed hope that Iraq and the Kurdistan Region will enter a new and better phase following the parliamentary elections. His meeting with the Italian Ambassador focused on the political process and efforts to form the next cabinet.
Cloudy to partly cloudy weather is expected today and tomorrow across the Kurdistan Region, with slight temperature changes. Fog is possible early tomorrow, especially in mountainous areas.
The Election Commission will announce the final results of the parliamentary elections today after confirming a 100% match between manual and electronic counts. The appeals period will open for three days once results are published.
More than 10,000 people visited Sulaimanyah Children’s Hospital in 15 days due to a seasonal epidemic, with over 1,500 children admitted. The hospital confirms the outbreak is not dangerous and no child deaths have been recorded.
Heavy rains in Zakho caused flooding that damaged several homes, according to residents. More than 20 mm of rain fell in just 12 hours, with locals criticizing the lack of preventive measures.
Rainfall amounts in the Kurdistan Region have decreased this year, with Sulaimanyah recording 36.6 mm compared to much higher levels last year. The highest rainfall in the past 24 hours was in Sarwchawa with 64.1 mm, while several areas recorded very low amounts.
The KDP’s Hoshyar Zebari says Iraq’s complex post-election landscape may delay forming the next government. He notes that while complications could slow negotiations, they might also push parties toward quicker agreements.
The first wave of rainfall has reached several provinces in the Kurdistan Region and is expected to continue until Monday. Weather forecasts warn of up to 70 mm of rain in some areas.
Heavy rain caused major technical failures in the outdated government’s power network, cutting electricity in parts of Erbil, Sulaimanyah, and Duhok. Many neighborhoods remain without power as authorities warn of continued shortages.
Citizens from several tribes in Duhok protested on Thursday, blocking the Duhok–Erbil road and accusing the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of altering election results in favor of its candidates.