Author: Ramalaan Nasser

Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have reached an initial agreement to restart northern oil exports this week, a KRG spokesman said on Sunday 2 April, and Baghdad will write to Turkey to request a resumption in pipeline flows. Turkey stopped pumping about 450 000 bbl/d of Iraqi crude from a pipeline from the Fish-Khabur border area to its Ceyhan port on 25 March after Iraq won an arbitration case. Baghdad had argued that Turkey had violated a joint agreement by allowing the KRG to export oil to Ceyhan without its consent. “Following several meetings between the…

The Greek and Turkish Defense ministers, Nikos Panagiotopoulos and Hulusi Akar, conveyed a message on Tuesday on the need to keep communication channels between Athens and Turkey open, and, in the long term, to create conditions for cooperation. In the first visit by a Greek defense minister to Turkey in two decades, Panagiotopoulos toured the areas in southeastern Turkey devastated by the earthquakes of February 6. In the wake of the relative thaw in relations since February the two countries have agreed to an informal moratorium on large-scale exercises until the elections and the end of the summer, while an…

The European Union has mobilized over €116 million ($127 million) to Türkiye and five EU member states to buy shelters for emergencies. To develop the shelter reserves for the EU’s civil protection mechanism, the “EU allocated €116.6 million to Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Türkiye,” Balazs Ujvari, spokesperson for crisis management, announced at a European Commission news briefing. With the financial support, the countries will be able to develop their reserves for emergencies “which would provide shelter for thousands of people,” he explained. The shelters will be equipped with kitchen and sanitary facilities and are adapted to the needs…

Talks to restore ties between Turkey and Syria began on Monday in Russia, with the presence of Iranian officials, in a bid to push forward with reconciliation efforts, but experts predict this is merely the start of a lengthy process. “The process of engagement with Syria has started under the hosting and facilitations of Russia, later Iran joined the process … a quadripartite meeting on the level of deputy foreign ministers will be held on April 3-4 in Moscow,” Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters at the Turkevi Centre in New York. The deputy foreign ministers’ meeting is the…

Alarming meteorological imbalances topped with decades of poor water management are pushing Turkey to the brink of an avoidable hydrologic crisis. The data speak volumes. In 2022, Turkey experienced its warmest December in more than half a century, as the average temperature hit 8 degrees Celsius – 3.2 degrees above previous averages. The heatwave was made worse by record-low rainfall. Over the last three months, rainfall totals were 40% lower than three decades ago, and 30% lower than 2021. Climate change is not unique to Turkey. Europe spent the first months of winter with little snow as ski lifts stopped…

The complete guide to Dubai uncovers everything visitors need to know and what to see, plus thrilling things to do in all seasons. Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and its commercial capital, is a dazzling oasis that impresses with its futuristic architecture and vibrant cultural scene. Despite its rapid growth, Dubai retains a touch of the Arabic charm that made it a trading hub centuries ago. The city’s skyline, dominated by the iconic Burj Khalifa, is a testament to its ambition and innovation. Visitors to Dubai can explore the bustling Gold Souk, indulge in world-class dining,…

Tajikistan Pamiris Welcome Eid-ul Fitr Amidst Repression Paris, Brussels (21/04 – 50)Pamiri Muslims in Tajikistan, who mostly are followers of the Ismaili branch of Shi’ism, celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Saturday. Residing in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) in southeastern Tajikistan, the Ismaili Pamiris welcomed Eid-ul Fitr, which marks the end of the Ramadan holy month of fasting, despite the continued repression and oppression campaign launched by the central government regime in Dushanbe. There were many previous military and militia interventions since the end of the civil war (1992-1997) targeting the Pamiris who struggle to maintain their own identity and…

There’s a country in the Middle East that’s been embarking on a massive construction spree. But we’re not talking about the UAE, Qatar or Saudi Arabia. This is Israel, where half-built high-rises have been popping up and dominating the skyline for years. Now a global hub for innovation — from start-ups to tech giants like Microsoft — and home to a growing population, demand for bigger buildings and infrastructure is on the rise. Getting the industry to adapt to a larger workload hasn’t been easy, but technology is leading the way. This is how construction in Israel is gathering serious…

Shares in UAE-based currency exchange company Al Ansari Financial Services climbed 16.5% above its listing price on its market debut after raising $210.5 million in an initial public offering (IPO) for 10% of the business. The shares traded at 1.2 dirhams as the Dubai market opened on Thursday, against an IPO price near the top of the indicative range at 1.03 a share. Al Ansari is one of the first family-owned businesses to go public in the United Arab Emirates. Family businesses account for about 60% of gross domestic product in the Gulf and employ about 80% of the workforce,…

ISLAMABAD – Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held a meeting with Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani at the Parliament House here on Wednesday. The meeting was aimed at discussing the strengthening of bilateral relations between Qatar and Pakistan, and exploring new avenues for cooperation in various fields of mutual interest, said a statement issued by the Senate Secretariat. The ambassador delivered a letter of appreciation to Sanjrani expressing gratitude on behalf of Speaker of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar Hassan bin Abdulla AI-Ghanim for the Senate’s unanimous resolution…