Trump, Erdoğan, and obstruction as a way of lifeSaturday, 20 June, 2020 , 18:00

Ahvalnews.com | By David Phillips

Former U.S. national security advisor John Bolton’s new book, “The Room Where It Happened”, is a damning account of Donald Trump’s presidency and kow-towing to authoritarian world leaders. It highlights a pattern of unethical and illegal behaviour, including how Trump gave “personal favours to dictators he liked.” According to Bolton, Trump practiced "obstruction of justice as a way of life”.


  

Iran Silent on Kurdish Activist’s Execution Friday, 19 June, 2020 , 18:00

Voanews.com | By Michael Lipin, Ramin Haghjoo

WASHINGTON - Iran has withheld confirmation of its apparent recent execution of a Kurdish activist, in the latest example of its long-running practice of secretly executing ethnic minority dissidents.


  

In Iraq, a New Prime Minister Takes Stock of His Bloodied LandThursday, 18 June, 2020 , 15:58

Nytimes.com | By Alissa J. Rubin

MOSUL, Iraq — From the moment Iraq’s new prime minister stepped off the Iraqi Army MI-17 helicopter for a tour of Mosul, the city most damaged by the Islamic State’s takeover in 2014, he plunged into a landscape of loss.

 


  

Syria’s Economy Collapses Even as Civil War Winds to a CloseWednesday, 17 June, 2020 , 17:31

nytimes.com | By Ben Hubbard | 15/06/2020

President Bashar al-Assad faces threats he cannot bomb into submission, as protests erupt over living standards and a rift opens among the ruling elite.`


  

Bolton’s book appears to reinforce how Trump views justice as transactionalWednesday, 17 June, 2020 , 16:08

Washingtonpost.com | By Philip Bump

President Trump’s relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has always been unusual.


  

Syrian Kurdish parties agree on 'common political vision'Wednesday, 17 June, 2020 , 08:06

Rudaw.net | Zhelwan Z. Wali 

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region  After years of political wrangling, the main ruling and opposition parties in northeast Syria jointly announced Wednesday that they have reached a "common political vision" on governance and partnership.


  

Twitter removes thousands of Turkish-linked accounts targeting KurdsSaturday, 13 June, 2020 , 00:21

middleeastmonitor.com | June 12, 2020

Twitter has announced that it has taken down 7,340 accounts linked to an information campaign led by the Turkish government which targeted Kurdish parties and sought support for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).


  

Kurdistan Region parliament in Iraq closes after COVID-19 casesSaturday, 13 June, 2020 , 00:09

al-monitor.com | Jun 10, 2020

Some members and staff were found to have COVID-19 after tests as the virus spreads quickly throughout the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.


  

Dr. Fuad Hussein - New Minister of Foreign Affairs of IraqWednesday, 10 June, 2020 , 16:58

The Iraqi Parliament on Saturday June 6, approved the appointment of Dr. Fuad Hussein as Minister of Foreign Affairs and that of Kurdish judge Salar Abdulsatar as Minister of Justice.


  

Killing of Kurd in Turkey sparks discrimination accusationsWednesday, 3 June, 2020 , 17:18

theguardian.com | Bethan McKernan | 02/06/2020

Three arrested over fatal stabbing of Barış Çakan in Ankara in row over music