Journalist arrested in defamation lawsuit filed by President Barham Salih: Metro Center
Iran’s president told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday (September 22) that the United States could impose “neither negotiations nor war” on the Islamic Republic amid heightened tension between the longtime foes over Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.
Iraq’s Minister of Finance Ali Allawi told an energy conference on Tuesday (September 22) that the Kurdistan Region may be a source of oil smuggling and overproduction, which has harmed the country’s ability to meet OPEC+ cut targets.
Jordan reported 634 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday (September 22), its highest daily count since the start of the pandemic in March, and health officials warned the novel coronavirus was spreading fast across the country.
The Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy said on Tuesday (September 22) that Bahrooz Jaafar, who serves as the Head of Mediterranean Institute for Regional Studies, was arrested earlier in the day at Azmar Police Station in Sulaimani and will spend the next eight days in jail on the basis of a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Iraqi President Barham Salih.
Turkey and Greece are ready to resume exploratory talks over their contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish presidency said, after a call between the leaders of Turkey, Germany and the European Union on Tuesday (September 22).
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Tuesday (September 22) that he is strongly opposed to Arabization and demographic changes in the disputed areas, especially in Kirkuk governorate, announcing that a KRG delegation will visit Baghdad to address the issue.
Yehia Rasoul, spokesperson for Iraq’s Commander-in-Chief, said on Tuesday (September 22) that the first phase of “Operation Lions of al-Jazeera” has been launched in western Nineveh governorate in an effort to clear the area of Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
The federal Ministry of Health said on Tuesday (September 22) that it recorded 4,724 new cases of coronavirus infection and 57 deaths in the country.
An arms depot of the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group Hezbollah exploded in southern Lebanon on Tuesday (September 22), a security source said, injuring several people and sending a new shockwave across a nation grappling with its deepest crisis in three decades.
Owners of event halls in Duhok protested in front of the governorate’s provincial council building on Tuesday (September 21), demanding that they be able to reopen their spaces and host weddings and other ceremonies and celebrations.
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Health said on Tuesday (September 22) that it has recorded 636 cases of coronavirus infection in the Kurdistan Region over the past 24 hours.
Turkish warplanes bombed the Nirwa, Rekan, and Bare Gara areas of Amedi district on Tuesday morning (September 22).
Palestine has quit its current chairmanship of Arab League meetings, the Palestinian foreign minister said on Tuesday (September 22), condemning as dishonourable any Arab agreement to establish formal ties with Israel.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is assessing a request from Iraq to become a member of the multilateral financial institution, the bank’s acting president said on Monday (September 21).
Officials in Sulaimani and Halabja governorates said on Tuesday (September 22) that six people were injured in two separate traffic accidents.
A former Kurdish parliamentarian jailed in Turkey on terrorism charges has been handed an additional prison term for insulting President Tayyip Erdogan, two of her lawyers said.
Kurdish teachers in Kirkuk protested in front of governorate’s education directorate on Tuesday (September 22), demanding to receive their salaries from the federal government rather than the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Iraq’s Security Media Cell said on Tuesday (September 22) that three projectiles fell on Baghdad’s Green Zone overnight without causing any casualties or damage.
The US dollars to the Iraqi dinar (IQD) exchange rates was up on the Kurdistan Region’s currency markets on Tuesday (September 22).
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with US Special Representative for Syria Engagement Ambassador James Jeffrey on Tuesday (September 22) to discuss the state of intra-Kurdish talks in Syria and ongoing efforts to counter Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Iraq.
The death toll from the spread of the coronavirus in the United States was approaching over 200,000 on Monday (September 21), by the far the highest number of any nation.
Head of the Kurdistan Islamic Union’s (KIU) grouping on the Duhok Provincial Council Sabah Bapiri said on Monday (September 21) that his party was dissolving its agreement with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to share governing power in the governorate.
Crude oil prices were down on Tuesday (September 22), compared with the previous day.
The United States on Monday (September 21) slapped new sanctions on Iran’s defense ministry and others involved in its nuclear and weapons program to support the US assertion that all UN sanctions against Tehran are now restored, which key European allies as well as Russia and China reject.
New Generation lawmaker in the Kurdistan Parliament Kawa Abdulqadir said on Monday (September 21) that twenty-two opposition members of parliament have signed a letter calling for Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to appear before the legislature to answer questions about public sector pay cuts.
Special Representative for Syria Engagement Ambassador James Jeffrey met with officials from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria on Sunday (September 20) in an effort to encourage talks between the two main Kurdish factions in the area.
Iraq’s Intelligence and Investigative Agency said on Monday (September 21) that eight Islamic State (ISIS) militants were arrested in separate areas in Saladin governorate and two others in Sulaimani governorate.
Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari was executed earlier this month for murder, the country’s foreign minister said on Monday, rejecting assertions by rights activists that the death sentence arose from his involvement in street protests.
Russia and Turkey have suspended joint patrols of the M4 highway in Syria for security reasons and will resume them once the situation there calms down, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments published on Monday (September 21).
The federal Agriculture Ministry said on Monday (September 21) that it has banned the importation of twenty-one plant and animal products in order to support local farmers.
The Trump administration is set to announce on Monday (September 210 new sanctions on people and entities involved in Iran’s nuclear, missile and conventional arms programs, to support its assertion that all UN sanctions against Tehran are now resumed, a move key allies such as the Europeans dispute.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of State Khalid Shwani claimed on Monday (September 21) that Iraq’s federal government has not yet sent the monthly transfer of 320 billion Iraqi dinars ($267 million) that it promised to under an agreement reached last month.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday (September 21) welcomed investment in the Kurdistan Region from Spanish companies and businesses.
Three activist groups released a joint statement on Monday (September 21) warning that they will resume protests later this month if the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) fails to ensure teachers and public servants are paid in full and on time.
The federal Ministry of Health said on Monday (September 21) that it recorded 3,821 new cases of coronavirus infection and 70 deaths in the country.
President Michel Aoun warned on Monday (September 21) Lebanon was going “to hell” if a new government could not be formed but agreeing one might take a miracle after positions had hardened between rival factions.
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Health said on Monday (September 21) that it has recorded 730 cases of coronavirus infection in the Kurdistan Region over the past 24 hours.
Secretary of the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party (KSDP) Muhammed Haji Mahmood said on Monday (September 21) that he believes that the Kurdistan Region should continue pushing for independence.
Greece is close to resuming talks with Turkey over maritime zones, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Monday (September 21).
The US dollars to the Iraqi dinar (IQD) exchange rates was down on the Kurdistan Region’s currency markets on Monday (September 21).
Turkey’s agreements and cooperation with Libya’s internationally recognised government will continue despite Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj’s desire to quit, Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin was quoted as saying on Monday (September 21).
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Planning Dara Rashid said on Sunday (September 20) that the upcoming Iraq-wide census, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, needs to be apolitical.
The Turkish lira drifted further into record low territory on Monday (September 21) and touched 7.58 against the dollar, as expectations grew that the central bank would hold rates steady this week but continue to tighten credit via the backdoor.
Commander of Ezidikhan General Force Haider Shasho said late on Sunday (September 20) that a car exploded near the Sharfadin shrine in Sinjar district, but did not cause any casualties.
Crude oil prices were down on Monday (September 21), compared with the previous day.
World leaders will come together, virtually, on Monday (September 21) to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the deadly coronavirus pandemic challenges the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member world body.
Bahrain said on Sunday (September 20) it had foiled a “terrorist attack” backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Saudi state television Al-Ekhbariya and a local Bahraini newspaper reported, both citing Bahrain’s interior ministry.
Federal Migration and Displacement Minister Evan Faiq on Sunday (September 20) met with Aya Abbas Thanoun, a young Turkoman survivor who lost her family during the Islamic State (ISIS) attack on Sinjar in 2014.
Iraq’s Security Media Cell said in a statement on Sunday (September 20) that the country’s security forces arrested an Islamic State (ISIS) leader in Baghdad governorate and disrupted the militant group’s plans to attack Shia pilgrims during the Arbaeen commemoration next month.
Iraq’s Security Media Cell said on Sunday (September 20) that a Katyusha rocket fell in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport.
The United States on Monday (September 20) will sanction more than two dozen people and entities involved in Iran’s nuclear, missile and conventional arms programs, a senior US official said, putting teeth behind UN sanctions on Tehran that Washington argues have resumed despite the opposition of allies and adversaries.
Two healthcare workers at Kalar General Hospital were each sentenced to six years in prison on Sunday (September 20) after they were convicted of stealing medicine and equipment from the hospital’s surgery unit.
Syrian opposition sources said ON Sunday (September 20) Russian jets bombed rebel-held northwestern Syria on Sunday in the most extensive strikes since a Turkish-Russian deal halted major fighting with a ceasefire nearly six months ago.
Duhok Health Directorate said on Sunday (September 20) that it medicates coronavirus patients according to international protocols established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and rejected allegations that its use of the corticosteroid Dexamethasone has caused a spike in deaths.
The federal Ministry of Health said on Sunday (September 20) that it recorded 3,438 new cases of coronavirus infection and 64 deaths in the country.
Turkey and Greece could soon resume talks over their contested Mediterranean claims but European Union leaders meeting this week will not help if they threaten sanctions, Turkey’s presidential spokesman said on Sunday (September 20).
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Construction and Housing Minister Dana Abdulkarim said on Sunday (September 20) that repair and construction work on the Penjwen-Bashmakh road will resume and be finished before winter.
Nineveh Governor Najm al-Jabouri said on Sunday (September 20) that construction work will begin in the next few days on a modern railway line to connect Mosul with Turkey.
The Metro Center for Journalists' Right and Advocacy on Sunday (September 20) called on lawmakers in the Kurdistan Parliament, journalists’ syndicates, and media outlets in the Kurdistan Region to increase pressure on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the ruling parties to stop violating freedom of the press and adhere to rule of law.
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Health said on Sunday (September 20) that it has recorded 444 cases of coronavirus infection in the Kurdistan Region over the past 24 hours.
