Turkish objections to NATO expansion find Hill skepticism - Roll Call U.S. lawmakers say they won't sweeten the pot with things like more weapon systems to convince Turkish officials to allow NATO expansion. Roll Call · Jun 28, 2022
Sweden’s Kurds Fear They May Pay Price for NATO Bid as Turkey Fumes Kurds in Sweden's large diaspora are worried they will become a pawn in the negotiations over Stockholm's ambition to join NATO if the West makes concessions to win Turkish support. Sweden, along with Finland, applied for NATO membership in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with their bids warmly welcomed… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 28, 2022
Sweden's Kurds fear they may pay price for NATO bid as Turkey fumes Kurds in Sweden's large diaspora are worried they will become a pawn in the negotiations over Stockholm's ambition to join NATO if the West makes concessions to win Turkish support. Reuters · Jun 28, 2022
Schlumberger Says It Will Not Apply for Iraqi Kurdistan Oil, Gas Tenders US energy company Schlumberger has said it will not apply without Baghdad's consent for any tenders in the oil and gas sector of Iraq's Kurdistan region, according to a letter sent to the Iraqi oil minister and seen by Reuters. Schlumberger said it would comply with a February ruling by… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 27, 2022
Scottish journalist to be honoured in new BBC Scotland documentary on war photography David Pratt is a Scottish journalist, who is known for his war reporting and photography which was featured in a 2020 documentary - now he is at the forefront of a brand new show on BBC Scotland. Glasgow Live · Jun 23, 2022
With an eye on re-election, Turkey’s Erdogan risks the ire of Western partners Between stalling Sweden and Finland’s bids for NATO membership and threatening a fresh military offensive against Kurds in northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to be capitalising on the world’s focus on Ukraine to strengthen Ankara’s geopolitical standing – even at the expense of NATO and Western partners.… France 24 · Jun 22, 2022
‘Honour killings? It should be called the devil’s work’: Bekhal Mahmod on the murder of her sister After Banaz Mahmod was killed by her father, uncle and three other men in 2006, it was her sister’s testimony that helped bring them to justice. Before the release of her memoir she tells of her rage at what happened and why she is still living in hiding The Guardian - UK · Jun 22, 2022
Raqqa Hosts First Book Fair in 10 Years After a 10-year hiatus during which all publishing houses, libraries, and newspaper kiosks closed, and all cultural activities and events were suspended under the terrorist rule of ISIS, the first book fair in Raqqa, Syria, has been opened by the cultural authority of the Autonomous Administration of North and East… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 22, 2022
Direct Threat from Iran Preceded Sadr Bloc's Resignation from Iraq Parliament Head of Iraq's Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr had received "direct threats from Iran" to reach an agreement with the pro-Tehran Coordination Framework over the formation of a new government, revealed Iraqi and Lebanese sources. These threats were made days before his bloc resigned from parliament last week. Iran has… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 21, 2022
Russia Presses SDF to Merge with Syrian Regime Forces Russia has been pressuring the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to merge with the Syrian regime government forces. The revelation was made as more military reinforcements continued to be deployed to northern Syria amid Turkey’s threat to carry out a new offensive against the Kurdish SDF. Commander of the SDF Mazloum… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 18, 2022
SDC’s Ahmed: Washington Rejects Any Turkish Attack Inside Syrian Territory Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is once again threatening to launch a new cross-border military operation in Syria against the remaining areas of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). US armed forces, Russian forces and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are deployed… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 16, 2022
Turkey jails 16 Kurdish journalists over propaganda charges A Turkish court imprisoned pending trial 16 Kurdish journalists and media workers who were arrested after being detained last week accused of spreading terrorist propaganda, the Media and Law Studies Association and local media said on Thursday. Reuters · Jun 16, 2022
As Ukraine crisis rages, Erdogan trains his sights on Kurdish northern Syria With international attention focused on the war in Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be in a good geopolitical position to launch a new military operation against the Kurds in northern Syria. Despite US warnings, Erdogan has threatened an offensive on two strategic Syrian towns near Turkey’s southern… France 24 · Jun 16, 2022
Russia Considers Turkey’s Possible Military Operation in Syria Unwise Russia considers Turkey's possible military operation in Syria unwise as it could escalate and destabilize the situation, the RIA news agency cited Russia's Syria envoy Alexander Lavrentyev as saying on Wednesday. Lavrentyev also said Moscow no longer considered Geneva a suitable venue for talks between Syrians, according to the TASS… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 15, 2022
The Independent UK · Jun 14, 2022 Former Kurdish rebel has key role in Sweden's NATO bid A former Kurdish rebel fighter turned Swedish lawmaker has emerged as a central figure in the drama surrounding Sweden and Finland’s historic bid to join NATO
The Guardian - UK · Jun 14, 2022 Turkey threatens year’s delay to Swedish and Finnish entry to Nato Issue may derail alliance summit as Ankara digs in on accusation that Nordic countries harbour terrorists
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 12, 2022 NATO Chief: Turkey Has ‘Legitimate Concerns’ over Terrorism NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday that Turkey has "legitimate concerns" over terrorism and other issues that need to be taken seriously. Turkey has accused Finland and Sweden of supporting Kurdish militants and says it will not back the two Nordic nations joining NATO until they change their policies. Speaking…
Al Jazeera · Jun 12, 2022 Iraq’s Kurdish female entrepreneurs overcome barriers to succeed Businesswomen say Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government needs to work harder to create the conditions for entrepreneurs.
Al Jazeera · Jun 11, 2022 Turkey’s ‘culture war’: Anger grows as string of events cancelled As AK Party-run cities and districts cancel events, critics say the gov’t is waging a ‘culture war’ ahead of elections.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 10, 2022 Sweden to Seek Constructive Progress with Turkey over NATO Bid Sweden will look to make constructive progress in talks with Turkey on Ankara's objections over the Nordic country's application to join the NATO defensive alliance, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Friday. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO last month in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine but face…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 10, 2022 Kurdistan Accuses Kataib Hezbollah of Involvement in Erbil Drone Attack The security council of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region accused the pro-Iran Kataib Hezbollah militia of involvement in the drone attack that targeted the town of Barda on the outskirts of the capital, Erbil, on Wednesday. This is the first time Kurdish authorities openly accuse the militia of carrying out such…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 9, 2022 No Way Out as Iraq's Dangerous Post-election Impasse Deepens Eight months after national elections, Iraq still doesn’t have a government and there seems to be no clear way out of the dangerous deadlock. Political elites are embroiled in cutthroat competition for power, even as the country faces growing challenges, including an impending food crisis resulting from severe drought and…
The Independent UK · Jun 9, 2022 No way out as Iraq's dangerous post-election impasse deepens Iraq still doesn’t have a government, eight months since national elections took place, and there seems no clear way out of the dangerous deadlock
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 7, 2022 Turkey Tells Russia it Will Respond to Destabilizing Moves in North Syria Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in a call on Tuesday that Turkey would respond to moves aimed at disrupting stability in northern Syria, his office said, as Ankara gears for talks with Moscow ahead of an expected offensive in the region. President Tayyip Erdogan announced…
The Independent UK · Jun 7, 2022 Swedish government survives key vote amid troubled NATO bid Sweden’s justice minister has narrowly survived a no confidence vote in parliament over surging crime