Jul 18, 2022Why the US doesn’t want Turkey to invade SyriaUS officials warned Turkey this week against expanding its so-called buffer zone in northeast Syria, saying such a move would complicate counter-ISIS measures, and would increase the violence that Kurds and Syrians in the region have faced since Turkey’s initial incursion in 2019. If Turkey invades northeast Syria, the worst…Turkey1 min readTurkey1 min read
Jul 16, 2022Syria Kurds urge Russia, Iran to prevent Turkey attackThe commander of US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria on Friday urged Russia and Iran to prevent Turkey from launching a new attack in the country’s north, days before an expected Syria summit. Mazloum Abdi, chief commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, accused the international coalition of taking a “weak” position…Syria Kurds1 min readSyria Kurds1 min read
Jul 15, 2022Inside Qatar’s World Cup Killing Fields: The Migrant Workers Dying for DohaQatar’s World Cup 2022 bonanza, and its everyday economy, are built on the bones, and ill-health, of thousands of migrant workers. Uncounted and undocumented are the ‘invisible’ deaths, thousands of miles away from the Gulf’s shores. Official data on how many Nepalis have died from kidney failure after working in…Qatar1 min readQatar1 min read
Jul 14, 2022Egypt raises domestic fuel pricesEgypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday an increase in the prices of domestic fuel derivatives. “Egypt’s fuel pricing committee in a quarterly review raised domestic fuel prices by 0.50 Egyptian pounds (0.026 U.S. dollars) for 80-octane, 92-octane petrol and diesel, while 95-octane petrol was raised by…Egypt1 min readEgypt1 min read
Jul 13, 2022How containing Iran has become the common denominator for Biden’s first Middle East visitWhen US President Joe Biden touches down in Riyadh this week for talks with Arab leaders, the issue of world oil prices amid the war in Ukraine and the Western boycott of Russian hydrocarbons will no doubt feature prominently on the agenda. But so too will the matter of Iran. …Iran1 min readIran1 min read
Jul 12, 2022Ghannouchi and 32 other figures charged with terrorismThe Tunisian judiciary charged the head of the Ennahda movement Rached Ghannouchi, along with 32 other figures, with terrorism and for the assassination of Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi. Chokri Belaid, head of the Democratic Patriots’ Unified Party, was assassinated on 6 February 2013 in front of his house in…Ennahda Movement1 min readEnnahda Movement1 min read
Jul 12, 2022France’s Macron under fire over Uber contacts as ministerFrench President Emmanuel Macron came under pressure on Monday from opposition politicians over his reported links with ride-hailing company Uber Technologies during his years as economy minister. “A minister can’t be a lobbyist! Light needs to be shone on this case. France cannot be the playground of big private companies,”…Macron1 min readMacron1 min read
Jul 11, 2022Diplomats seek deal to keep critical Syria aid flowingDiplomats at the United Nations held last-ditch discussions on extending Syrian cross-border aid Sunday, as residents of the country’s rebel-held northwest feared life-saving supplies could soon halt. The lack of an agreement threatens to upend assistance to more than two million people. The aid delivery mechanism across Turkey’s border into…Syria1 min readSyria1 min read
Jul 9, 2022Turkey’s current account gap at $6.47B in May, less than expectedTurkey’s current account balance registered a lower than expected deficit in May, official data showed Friday. The shortfall widened to around $6.47 billion (TL 112.07 billion) in May, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) said. It marked a $3.15 billion increase from a year ago and came…Turkey1 min readTurkey1 min read
Jul 9, 2022Facebook, Twitter delete assassination videos of former Japan PM Shinzo AbeTwitter and Facebook parent Meta said Friday they’re deleting any videos of the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that break their rules on harmful content. Multiple videos of the attack showing a gunman firing a double-barreled weapon twice at Abe were circulating on social media. Some only…Facebook1 min readFacebook1 min read
