Turkey

By Arzu Geybullayeva | – ( GlobalVoices.org) – Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 during the first Karabakh war in a show of solidarity with its long-time ally Azerbaijan. Almost three decades later, Turkey is considering reopening that border in the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s victory in the second Karabakh war in 2020. During […]

Free Syrian Army

Joe Biden’s pledge of support reassures Syria’s embattled Kurds

The Conversation

By Cengiz Gunes – | The hasty and badly organised US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August prompted fears among Washington’s other allies about the durability of US friendship. Kurdish troops in northeastern Syria, facing multi-pronged opposition from Islamic State fighters as well as the Assad regime and the prospect of Turkish incursion, have felt particularly […]

Human Rights

Turkey must release Political Prisoners: European Court of Human Rights

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch (Istanbul) – The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers should trigger infringement proceedings against Turkey at its September 14-16, 2021 meeting for its failure to implement the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) judgment ordering the release of the jailed human rights defender Osman Kavala, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of […]

China

Beijing in the Mideast: China’s Asian Infrastructure Plan and Turkey’s Black Sea Ambitions

Global Voices

By Emre Demir | – ( Globalvoices.org ) – Despite mounting opposition from political and civil society groups due to potential environmental and political issues, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is determined to proceed with the controversial Kanal Istanbul project, an artificial, 45-km long shipping canal that will connect the Sea of Marmara to the Black […]

Climate Crisis

Climate Emergency hits Mideast as Massive Wildfires In Turkey destroy livelihoods

Global Voices

By Doga Celik and Arzu Geybullayeva | – ( GlobalVoices.org) – Since July 28, a total of 125 forest fires have raged through 21 provinces of Turkey with 8 still raging as of August 2. The first fire was reported on July 28. So far, the death toll has reached 8 people, including two firefighters. […]

Feminism

Thousands of Women protest Throughout Turkey as gov’t withdraws from Istanbul Convention on Women’s Rights

Global Voices

By Arzu Geybullayeva | ( Globalvoices.org) – Thousands of women marched across the largest cities in Turkey on July 1, to protest Turkey’s official withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Heavy police intervention and violence were reported throughout the country. Turkey announced its decision to withdraw from the Convention on March 20, 2021. The Istanbul Convention […]

European Union

The Int’l Community at Berlin II wants Oil and a Stop to Emigration from Libya; What Libya needs is Strong Institutions and Peace

John Hickman

Mt. Berry, Ga. (Special to Informed Comment) – A lazy international press corps is missing the big story on Libya. English language news coverage of the June 23rd Berlin II International Conference on Libya has been focused almost exclusively on the presence of foreign mercenaries while eliding information crucial to understanding the negotiations and the […]

Climate Crisis

Turkey’s Night of the Living Sea Snot: Global Heating, Industrial Pollution Endanger Marmara Sea

Global Voices

By Doga Celik | – ( GlobalVoices.org ) – The Marmara Sea is a pristine body of water, extending from the Dardanelles Strait to the Bosphorus. Since late May, the Marmara sea has been making international headlines for an unfortunate reason. ‘Sea snot’ and its causes A slimy, organic foam named “sea snot”, officially known […]