Briefing Room: Iraqi Kurdistan Breaks Up and More.
Simon Whistler · November 13, 2026 · 19 min video · Middle East

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What this episode covers
Erbil's two ruling dynasties now run parallel administrations, Baghdad and Ankara carve out influence, and the region's autonomy is dissolving from within rather than by decree.
From the transcript
Welcome back to the Briefing Room, the weekly show that takes us all across the globe to trawl for stories that are at risk of slipping under the radar.
This week, we're checking in on affairs across three continents, starting with a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan, where a new political schism there threatens to undo the Middle East's last autonomous Kurdish region.
Then we'll be checking in on France, where not one but two global rivals have chosen their moment to escalate hybrid attacks and interference as the nation's all-important 2027 elections draw closer.
This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.
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