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Erdogan's votes would decrease in Turkey quake-stricken Kurdish areas: university professor
Dr. Mehmet Ozalp, a professor at Charles Sturt University, believes the criticism against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government providing aid to the earthquake-stricken areas, which are mainly Kurdish, may cause a sharp drop in his vote in these areas.
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Syrian Kurds are hoping for, but not banking on, continued US partnership
The massive earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northwestern Syria has given the Syrian Kurds a reprieve from a possible Turkish military invasion of areas under their control in northeastern Syria, but anxieties remain high. The Kurds’ dream of holding onto their autonomous entity in a future, federated Syrian state is threatened not only by Turkey but by a resurgent Syrian regime backed by Russia, which is opposed to any autonomous zones in Syria. Consequently, the Syrian Kurds are clinging to their partnership with the United States, which they see as their protector after several years of joint military operations against the so-called Islamic State (IS). But while the Biden administration has indicated that it has no plans to exit from northeastern Syria, a future US administration may not be so inclined to stay. Hence, the Syrian Kurds are exploring ties with Damascus, but the results so far have been deeply disappointing.
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Artistic heart of Iraq's Kurdistan thrives, but wants more public engagement / Winthrop Rodgers
Paintings with messy lines of black and grey with splashes of green and red cover the walls of Tara Abdullah’s studio on the top floor of Sulaimaniyah’s old tobacco factory. Kurdish lettering and motifs of femininity and masculinity are prominent. More delicate pencil portraits peek from an alcove in one corner.
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Syrian crisis negatively affects reality of languages
February 21 marks the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) which is celebrated all over the world except for Syria where the reality of education and language is different from one region to another as a result of the of the military control of different forces.
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Ali Shamkhani to visit Iraq to sign security deal
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani will visit Iraq to sign a security cooperation document, according to the Iranian foreign minister on his Baghdad visit.
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Uproar in Turkey as religious body greenlights marriage with quake orphans / Nazlan Ertan
A ruling by Turkey’s top religious body that it is permissible to marry one’s adopted children created a new flashpoint between the state and Turkish citizens in the wake of a series of earthquakes that left one-seventh of the country under rubble.
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North and East Syria political parties urge Damascus to hold serious national dialogue
The political parties of the autonomous administration of North and East Syria demanded the start of a serious and responsible national dialogue by the government of Damascus to reach a political solution in Syria.
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Iran, Syria, Turkey and Russia presidents to hold quadrilateral meeting on Syria
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Thursday that the foreign ministers of Iran, Syria, Turkey and Russia would hold a meeting to seek a solution for the Syrian crisis without specifying a date.
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Turkey issues earthquake rebuilding rules for devastated region
Turkey issued rebuilding regulations on Friday for a region devastated by earthquakes this month to enable companies or charities to help in the urgent task of building new homes for the millions who need rehousing after the devastating tremors.
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Iranian FM meets Iraqi party leader meet in Baghdad
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Secretary-General of the Iraqi Islamic Party, Rashid Al-Azzawi, met in the Iraqi capital on Thursday.
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Turkey’s Central Bank slashes interest rates after devastating earthquakes
Turkey’s Central Bank delivered a fresh interest rate cut on Thursday as the Turkish government scrambles to offset the economic impact of the twin earthquakes that killed more than 43,550.
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Quakes led to worsening of human rights situation in Syria, Turkey: Amnesty International
Devastating earthquakes have led to a worsening of the human rights situation in both Syria and Turkey by exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities, Amnesty International said on Thursday in a new publication outlining human rights concerns and obligations of the authorities, the Stockholm Center for Freedom reported.
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Iran FM, Iraqi PM discuss bilateral issues
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in a meeting in Baghdad on Wednesday, reviewed issues of bilateral importance.
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Turkey bans layoffs amid mounting earthquake failures
Facing public anger over the slow earthquake response, organizational failures and tent shortages, the Turkish government introduced on Wednesday a series of new measures aimed at offsetting the killer earthquakes’ impact on working-class families.
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Turkish FM ignores KRG in message of appreciation to countries for post-quake relief
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu released a thank you message for countries that sent search and rescue teams or assistance to Turkey in the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes earlier this month but failed to mention the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), an early contributor to relief efforts.
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Erbil, Baghdad to start drafting oil and gas law
The Kurdistan Regional Government delegation concludes their discussions with the Iraqi Government and a team of law experts would draft the oil and gas law in the federal budget.
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Honor killings in Iraq rekindle efforts to criminalize domestic violence / Shelly Kittleson
A number of high-profile cases of women and girls killed by family members across Iraq in recent months are attracting attention once again, leading to a resurgence of calls for Iraq to enact laws against domestic violence.
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US dedicates $100 million aid for quake-hit Syria and Turkey
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced on Sunday $100 million as earthquake relief aid for Syria and Turkey.
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Germany to raise quake-related aid fund to Syria to €50 million
Germany has pledged to increase life-saving aid by about €22 million to northern Syria the worst to be hit by the Feb. 6 earthquake.
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UN says 8.8 millions affected by earthquake in Syria
According to the latest UN statistics, 8.8 million Syrians have been affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake. An additional 1.75 million refugees, mostly Syrians, were affected by the earthquake in Turkey.
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Double blow: Syria braces for historic drought after earthquake
The double earthquake that shattered thousands of lives across northwestern Syria this month was not the first natural disaster to strike the country this year.
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Barzani warns of challenges risking legitimacy of Kurdistan Region
The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, warned of challenges that risk the legitimacy of the Region.
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Two unknown rockets target US forces in Syria
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that two anonymous rockets targeted their forces at “Green Village” in northeast Syria.
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Turkey earthquake fuels conspiracy posts on US antenna station
Conspiracy theories about a US research station have resurged, with social media users falsely blaming it for the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, following debunked claims it causes weather disasters and spreads the coronavirus, Agence France-Presse reported.
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Turkey earthquake fuels conspiracy posts on US antenna station
Conspiracy theories about a US research station have resurged, with social media users falsely blaming it for the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, following debunked claims it causes weather disasters and spreads the coronavirus, Agence France-Presse reported.
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Washington's support is pivotal for reform in Peshmerga ministry: Nechirvan Barzani
Washington's support is pivotal for the reform process in the Peshmerga ministry of Iraq's Kurdistan region, President Nechirvan Barzani said on Friday.
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U.S. senator reiterates support for the Kurdistan Region
The Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Friday discussed with US Senator Chris Van Hollen strengthening Erbil-Washington ties.