New York - Asharq Al-Awsat
The signing ceremony between Muslim World League and Columbia University (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Muslim World League (MWL) partnered with Columbia University to launch the International Interfaith Lab. MWL Sec-Gen Mohammed al-Issa witnessed the signing of the agreement along with Cardinal of the Great Cathedral in New York Timothy Dolan, Chief Rabbi Arthur Schneier, university leaders, and members of the US Congress. The International Interfaith Lab aims to build capabilities against hatred, violence, and civilizational clash. It will be a global platform for research and training in protecting societies from all forms of hate and a center for research, leadership, and training to protect against all forms of hatred based on religion or race. Issa expressed happiness at Columbia University hosting the project to address forms of hatred, racism, and violence worldwide, through multiple options. He indicated that the project would be developed through research and training, meaning that the world's problems can be summed up without agreed common values, which leads to a lack of logic, justice, and reason. The Sec-Gen warned that the world is threatened by the spread of hatred and racism, reiterating the importance of creating a more understanding, peaceful world and societies that are more coexistent and harmonious. The laboratory will develop reliable training programs for teachers to deter the dangers of extremism, strengthen protection against global hate and discrimination, promote joint efforts, and support initiatives and research to improve coexistence and cooperation in creating a more peaceful and cooperative world. On the side of the inauguration, the university held an international symposium led by the MWL Sec-Gen, during which he discussed the shared values and methods of confronting the challenges and dangers of hate.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4018076/mwl-launch-international-interfaith-lab
China Signals Zero-Covid Relaxation after Nationwide Protests
World
Asharq A-Awsat
Epidemic-prevention workers in protective suits line up to get swab tested as outbreaks of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue in Beijing, China November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
China's top Covid official has softened his tone on the severity of the coronavirus and signaled a possible relaxing of the country's strict zero-tolerance approach to the virus, after nationwide protests calling for an end to lockdowns and greater political freedom. Anger over China's zero-Covid policy -- which involves mass lockdowns, constant testing and quarantines even for people who are not infected -- has sparked protests in major cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. But while authorities have called for a "crackdown" in the wake of the demonstrations, they have also begun hinting that a relaxation of the hardline virus strategy could be in the works. Speaking at the National Health Commission Wednesday, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said the Omicron variant was weakening and vaccination rates were improving, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. Sun said this "new situation" required "new tasks". She made no mention of the zero-Covid policy in her latest remarks, suggesting an approach that has disrupted the economy and daily life might soon be relaxed. The comments came as the southern manufacturing-hub Guangzhou -- the site of dramatic Tuesday night clashes between police and protesters -- said it had partially lifted a weeks-long lockdown, despite seeing record virus cases. Officials on Wednesday eased restrictions to varying degrees in all of the city's 11 districts, including Haizhu, where recent protests took place. With the exception of a number of designated "high-risk" neighborhoods, the Guangzhou health commission said, "the rest will be managed as low-risk areas." The central city of Chongqing also said Wednesday close contacts of Covid cases who met certain conditions would be allowed to quarantine at home -- a departure from rules that required them to be sent to central isolation facilities. Sun's remarks -- as well as relaxations of rules by local authorities -- "could signal that China is beginning to consider the end of its stringent zero-Covid policy," analysts said. "We believe that Chinese authorities are shifting to a 'living with Covid' stance, as reflected in new rules that allow people to do 'home isolation' instead of being ferried away to quarantine facilities," ANZ Research analysts said in a note. Expectations have grown around the world that China, while still trying to contain infections, could look to re-open at some point next year once it achieves better vaccination rates among its elderly. China's health authority said on Wednesday that it would aim to improve accessibility and launch targeted programs in nursing homes and leisure facilities as part of a new vaccination drive among the over-60s. It also pledged to make renewed efforts to publicize the benefits of vaccination, and persuading the old and vulnerable that it is both safe and effective could be the most challenging part of the campaign.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4018056/china-signals-zero-covid-relaxation-after-nationwide-protests
Asharq A-Awsat
Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
Saudi Arabia’s Salem Aldawsari scored on Wednesday in second-half stoppage time against Mexico. But Saudi Arabia was eliminated along with Mexico despite beating Argentina in its opening match. Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1. Saudi Arabia had one of the tournament’s biggest ever upsets ever when it beat Argentina 2-1. But the Green Falcons couldn’t pull off another surprise in its second match, a 2-0 loss to Poland. “Tonight it was difficult to breathe with the intensity Mexico put into the match," Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard said Wednesday. Also Wednesday, Tunisia stunned France when captain Wahbi Khazri stretched to poke the ball past French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in the 58th minute at the Education City Stadium. A second-string France side -- already virtually assured of top spot -- suffered a 1-0 loss to Tunisia. The north Africans' supporters counted down the final seconds to a famous victory over France that eased the pain of elimination. "They still had top-class players out there but we were superb and I think the result is down to us," Tunisia goalscorer Khazri said. "Unfortunately in football it is better not to have to rely on others for results, but we can go out with our heads held high."
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4017976/saudi-arabia-tunisia-leave-world-cup
Saudi Arabia Allows Citizens to Invite Friends to Visit, Perform Umrah
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudis can invite their friends to visit and perform Umrah through an easy e-process. SPA
Saudi Arabia announced a new mechanism for Saudi citizens to obtain personal visit visas to invite their friends to tour around the Kingdom and perform Umrah. This step comes within the framework of efforts to increase the number of foreign visitors in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said visa holders will be allowed to travel in the regions and cities across the Kingdom as well as to perform Umrah, visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, in addition to visiting religious, and historical sites, and take part in cultural events. The ministry stated that the visa application process is made much easier and simpler through the eVisa platform of the ministry’s website. The personal visit visa request can be submitted through the Individual Service section of the eVisa platform and logging in through the Nafadh unified national platform, and filling out the data for those to be invited by requesting a personal visit, and approving the necessary undertakings. The ministry added that the person who is invited to visit would complete the process of paying fees and medical insurance after filling out the entry visa application form on the visa platform and then submit the application and passport to the embassy or consulate of Saudi Arabia in the guest country or through the centers or offices accredited to the embassy or consulate. They can come to the Kingdom through all the air, land, and sea ports after obtaining the entry visa stamped passport.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4017971/saudi-arabia-allows-citizens-invite-friends-visit-perform-umrah
Seven US Betrayals of Kurds within a Century… Will It Fail Them Again in Syria?
Features
London – Ibrahim Hamidi
A US patrol monitors a position between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian opposition factions supported by Türkiye in the countryside of Hasakah, east of the Euphrates, in December 2021. (AFP)
If the reaction to Turkish incursions or continued aerial bombardment against Kurdish targets in northern Syria does not meet Kurdish expectations and demands, it wouldn’t be the first time Kurds are betrayed by the US or the West. In the past century, the global and regional balance of power has changed. The Ottoman Empire collapsed, France and Britain retreated in the world and the Arab region, and US influence grew. However, four issues remained “fixed,” namely: First, 40 million Kurds continue to dream of establishing landlocked independent entities or administrations in the four countries in which they live: Türkiye, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Second, these four countries, despite the many differences between them, have found consensus on coordinating against the Kurds. Third, major or regional powers have long used Kurds as a tool in their struggles against each other, and to achieve certain goals. For example, the US-led International Coalition has used the Kurds as an essential component in the war against ISIS. Fourth, US administrations changed, but the betrayals were repeated. Kurdish leaderships changed in different geographical areas, and the wounds of those betrayals remained. Disappointments and stings Here is a reminder of seven Kurdish disappointments and Western-American stings over a hundred years: 1 - After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and its defeat in World War I, the Treaty of Sevres in 1920 allocated space for the Kurds in Türkiye to establish autonomy over a region outside Syria, Iraq and Iran. After Ankara's opposition, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s rise to power and with Washington’s support, the Kurds got a first taste of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, which opened the door for Paris and London to share the Fertile Crescent in Syria and Iraq, and the promises of the Treaty of Sevres went unheeded. The region promised to Kurds by the great powers in eastern Anatolia, had finally gone to the fledgling Republic of Türkiye. As is the case with the US, Britain flirted with Ataturk by saying that it preferred the relationship with Ankara at the expense of supporting the Kurdish “Republic of Ararat.” This led to a large exodus of Kurds from southern Türkiye to neighboring countries, especially northeastern Syria. Later, Baathist Damascus often used the issue of immigration in its rhetoric against the Kurds and repeatedly said: “They are not Syrians.” 2 - After decades of Kurdish revolution and immigration in Türkiye, the US supported Iraqi Kurds against the regime of Abd al-Karim Qasim after he came to power in 1958, and then supported the coup that overthrew him in February 1963. The new Baathist regime in Iraq took a tough stance on the Kurds. When Iraqi Baathists grew closer to the Soviet Union, Washington cooperated with Tehran, which was ruled at that time by the Shah, in arming and supporting the Kurds with the aim of destabilizing the situation in Iraq. The support to the Kurds was repeated in the 70’s, not with the aim of establishing a Kurdish state, but rather to create unrest inside Iraq to impede any Syrian-Iraqi rapprochement after the signing of the Camp David Accords and Egypt’s exit from the Arab equation. According to former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, military support for the Kurds was never aimed at championing the Kurds as much as it aimed at weakening Baghdad’s rule. The Pike Committee’s report to the US Congress included details like Kissinger’s statement and an assertion that “this policy was not transferred to our clients (the Kurds), whom we encouraged to continue fighting.” Later, the US sponsored an agreement between Saddam Hussein, who represented President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, and the Shah of Iran in December 1975. Tehran then abandoned its support for the Iraqi Kurds, with the blessing of the administration of the new US President Gerald Ford. 3 - Iraqi Kurds were subjected to more than one blow by the US in the 1980s and 90s. The administration of President Roland Reagan was silent on Baghdad's use of chemical weapons in Iraqi Kurdistan. Blows of the 1990s As for the George H. W. Bush administration, it encouraged the Iraqis to move against Baghdad after the Gulf War in 1991, and then abandoned them. Bush himself called on the Iraqi army and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own hands, to force the Saddam Hussein to step down, but he did not do much when the Shiites in southern Iraq and the Kurds near the borders of Syria rose up. However, the US imposed an air embargo that allowed the Kurds to flourish in the second half of the 90s. This rise of Kurds was met with Syrian-Turkish-Iranian coordination to prevent its transformation into a Kurdish “microstate” on the borders that would inspire fellow Kurdish countrymen in Syria, Türkiye and Iran. 4 - After the events of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq. There was coordination with the Kurds and their political leaders, and they became among the main winners from the change of the Iraqi regime. Their gains were further reinforced when the US relied on them in the war against ISIS. In 2017, the former president of the Kurdistan region, Masoud Barzani, wanted to benefit from the support of the US-led International Coalition by taking a step in establishing a Kurdish entity, so he wanted to organize a referendum for self-determination and independence for the region. The shock or betrayal came when the US clearly declared its reservations about this step. 5 - After the change in Iraq in 2003 and the emergence of the Kurds, the aspirations of the Syrian Kurds revived and they rose up in March 2004, but their movement did not receive any Western backing. Years earlier, when Türkiye mobilized its army on the borders of Syria in 1998 and demanded the expulsion of the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, from Damascus. Washington and its allies supported Ankara’s position, knowing that the PKK is on Western terrorist lists. Ocalan left Syria, and the PKK were subjected to strikes by security coordination between Damascus and Ankara. This was until the eruption of protests in Syria in 2011, when Damascus decided to facilitate the emergence of the role of the Kurds against other Syrian opposition. Plan backfires 6 - Damascus’ plan to use the Kurds backfired. The Kurds became strong and Damascus weakened. The US joined the Kurds in the fight against ISIS, which expanded after 2014, and provided them with military support and air cover. The US relied mainly on the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers an extension of the PKK. After ISIS was defeated by the Kurds and the International Coalition, an umbrella was formed that allowed the Kurds to establish a self-administration and a military force that would soon control a quarter of Syria and most of strategic resources found in the country’s northeast. The emergence of this entity called “Rojava” worried Ankara, Damascus and Tehran. Türkiye shifted its priorities in Syria, from “toppling the regime” to expanding in Syrian territory. It concluded settlements with Russia in 2016, 2018 and 2019 that focused on taking apart the Kurdish entity in northern Syria and preventing its access to Mediterranean waters. This happened with Russian support and under US silence. But the new betrayal happened later. 7 - At the end of 2019, former US President Donald Trump suddenly decided to withdraw his forces from the borders of Syria and Türkiye. The Kurds considered this decision a betrayal by the US as it allowed a rapid Turkish incursion and shook the pillars of the Rojava, its forces, and its war against ISIS. After marathon negotiations, US-Turkish and Russian-Turkish agreements were concluded. Ankara obtained commitments from the two major powers to have the YPG withdraw 30 km from borders. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently saying that Washington and Moscow did not abide by the 2019 agreements. Consequently, he escalated drone strikes against “Kurdish targets.” Erdogan is currently betting on the strength of his position due to the Ukraine war and Washington and Moscow’s need for him. This will help him launch a new operation against Syrian Kurds. Features of a new US “betrayal” are looming on the horizon. The US did not stop Türkiye from launching drone strikes, nor did it stop the heavy aerial bombardment. The Kurds are betting on ISIS, or on the West’s interest in preventing the terror organization’s resurgence. The Kurds say that a war against them will make them give up fighting ISIS. There are those who are threatening to open up the Al-Hol camp, which is often referred to as ISIS’ mini-state, to push the US to move in favor of the Kurds. As for the Russians, they are conveying demands from Ankara to the Kurds in Qamishli. These demands include the withdrawal of the YPG from the main cities and border areas in northern Syria and welcoming the deployment of Syrian state institutions and border guards. Damascus, for its part, is relieved by the US betrayals, Russian stabs, and the Turkish strikes. Although Damascus cannot openly welcome all this and is most likely to issue a statement condemning “Turkish aggression,” the Syrian capital is pleased at heart with what the Kurds are facing. The least that could happen from these aggressions and betrayals is that Kurds will be forced to the “bitter” negotiating table from a weak position. The Kurds’ road to Damascus is paved with disappointments and setbacks.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4016486/seven-us-betrayals-kurds-within-century%E2%80%A6-will-it-fail-them-again-syria
Frappart to Make World Cup History as First Woman Referee
Sports
Asharq Al-Awsat
Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group H - Portugal v Ghana - Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar - November 24, 2022 Fourth official Stéphanie Frappart before the match. (Reuters)
French referee Stéphanie Frappart will become the first woman to take charge of a men’s World Cup game when she handles Germany vs. Costa Rica on Thursday in Qatar. FIFA also picked two women as assistants to Frappart — Neuza Back of Brazil and Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina — to complete an all-female refereeing team on the field. The fourth woman match official FIFA picked for this World Cup, Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States, will also be working at the Al Bayt Stadium as the offside specialist in the video review team. FIFA made the historic appointments for the 44th of the 64 games being played in Qatar. Frappart previously was picked for fourth official duties. The 38-year-old Frenchwoman has been promoted in the men’s game by European soccer body UEFA and in her home country. She was refereed men’s games in World Cup qualifying and the Champions League, and this year’s men’s French Cup final. She also took charge of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final for FIFA.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4016371/frappart-make-world-cup-history-first-woman-referee
Bomber Hits Pakistan Police Protecting Polio Teams, 3 Dead
World
Asharq A-Awsat
People shift a victim, who was injured in a bomb blast, to get medical treatment in a local hospital in Quetta, the provincial capital of Baluchistan, Pakistan, 30 November 2022.EPA/JAMAL TARAQAI
A suicide bomber blew himself up near a truck carrying police officers on their way to protect polio workers near Quetta Wednesday, killing a police officer and two civilians. The bombing also wounded 23 others, mostly policemen, officials said. Ghulam Azfer Mehser, a senior police officer, said the attack happened as the policemen were heading to the polio workers, part of a nationwide vaccination drive launched Monday. The blast was so powerful that it toppled the truck carrying police officers into a ravine, he said, adding that the bombing also damaged a nearby car carrying members of a family. He said that the anti-polio campaign will continue even after the bombing. Pakistani President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other officials in separate statements condemned the attack.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4016366/bomber-hits-pakistan-police-protecting-polio-teams-3-dead
Geagea: Dialogue with Hezbollah, its Allies Is a Waste of Time
Arab World
Beirut - Thaer Abbas
Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea usually prefers to remain optimistic, in contrast to the dreariness in Lebanon that is grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis. The situation has also worsened with the country plunging in presidential vacuum with rival political forces failing to elect a successor to Michel Aoun and with questions being raised about the legitimacy of the caretaker government. “We need to double efforts to end the crisis,” Geagea told Asharq Al-Awsat. He said his main concern now lies in easing the social suffering that has hit the weakest segments of society the hardest and also ensuring the election of a president that will effectively mark the beginning of the road to salvation. However, Geagea believes that the election of a president to simply fill a vacancy is not the right way to resolve the crisis. He stressed that Lebanon needs a president who would be different than Aoun. Choosing one who is just like him will only endlessly prolong the crisis, he warned. Rather, the election of a competent president would bring hope to Lebanon, he noted. Geagea openly holds Hezbollah and its allies responsible for the crises plaguing the country, and therefore, he sees no point in holding dialogue with them. “We believe that the other party, meaning the ‘resistance axis’, is the reason why we are here today. We cannot hold dialogue over ending the crisis with the parties that caused it,” he explained. Moreover, he remarked that even the daily practices of this camp bode ill for Lebanon. He elaborated by saying: “Since the eruption of the crisis three years ago, the other camp boasted the majority in parliament and the government. Did it do anything to address the crisis? Did it cease the heinous practices it was committing? In both cases, the answer is no.” Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati had a vision over how to partially ease the electricity crisis, but the other camp prevented him from doing anything. Asked if he is hopeful about the election of a president, Geagea said: “We have not reached a dead end. There are 15 lawmakers who have positioned themselves in the center. Some have voted for candidates who have no chance of becoming president and others have submitted blank votes.” “We, as an opposition group, have openly declared that we want the election of a president who can kick off the recovery process and contribute to it. We don’t want a president who is just there to fill a vacuum. We want a president who can help in the required recovery process,” he urged. “We hope the others realize the need for this,” he said. Geagea said he was willing relinquish the LF’s candidate for the presidency and Michel Moawad was willing to abandon his run if there was a “convincing alternative who enjoys the desired qualifications and can garner the most votes.” On the LF’s support for holding the presidential elections with two thirds quorum at parliament and its differences with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai who called on Sunday for the regular quorum to be adopted, Geagea said there is no dispute because “we have not taken a final decision over the issue.” “This issue is being proposed at the wrong time. What’s the point of bringing it up right now?” he continued. “This issue had never been brought up before the resistance axis came to power in Lebanon. It is being raised to obstruct the elections, not resolve it,” he added. “In the past, parliamentary blocs used to respect themselves and the people who voted for them. They used to go to parliament and elect a new president even if they had not secured the majority that they needed,” he remarked, noting how Suleiman Franjieh was elected president in 1970 with only a one vote margin over his nearest rival. “The MPs need to show enough dignity and honor to show up at parliament and hold the elections,” said Geagea. “The withdrawal of one MP from the electoral session is understandable, so is the withdrawal of a bloc, but it is shameful for the elections to be obstructed every time when their candidate doesn’t have the highest chance of winning,” he stressed. He acknowledged that the LF did it “once or twice or even more” just so it could influence the positions of other blocs, “but we never refrained from showing up to elections like others are deliberately doing in order to make rivals yield to their demands.” At this, Geagea was critical of Speaker Nabih Berri whom he said should ensure that work is maintained at the only functioning constitutional institution. He should therefore, call on the heads of blocs that are refraining from showing up at the polls to be present at the electoral sessions. “The resistance axis is obstructing the elections and it is not doing so in wait of an international settlement,” he charged. During the first elections session, Hezbollah wanted the election of Suleiman Franjieh as president, but it did not have enough support for the candidate, so it has resorted to obstructing the polls until head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) MP Gebran Bassil has a change of heart, “which I believe will be very unlikely.” “What sort of logic is this? If no consensus is available, then there is no need to show up at elections?” wondered Geagea. “Whoever wants consensus must speak to other parties and propose their candidate and qualifications. The consensus they are after is for us to support the Hezbollah candidate, which is impossible for us and mad for them to envisage,” he declared. “Until further notice, the only hope lies in the 65 MPs, excluding the resistance axis,” he said, while expressing his disappointment in some MPs who chose to play a centrist role. Geagea stressed that it was “impossible” to reach an understanding with Hezbollah and the FPM. “We have seen their practices and know their true colors.” “Even after the country collapsed, they still hold the same positions and carry out their same old practices that cannot yield solutions to the crises. They have not derived any lessons from what has happened,” he went on to say. “I am not waiting for anything from them, but will look to the other MPs who are not part of the resistance axis,” he revealed. “We are working tirelessly every day to persuade various MPs, but it is a very challenging task,” he admitted. “Hezbollah has its own major project that is rooted in religion, history and geography, and therefore, it wants to hold dialogue to impose its conditions. That is why we will not talk to them because it is a waste of time when we don’t have a minute to spare,” he stated.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4016226/geagea-dialogue-hezbollah-its-allies-waste-time
Something Remarkable Is Happening in African Football
Opinion
Sean Jacobs
Sean Jacobs - Jacobs is a professor of international relations at the New School
Something exciting is happening in the World Cup: The five teams representing Africa in the tournament have African coaches. This may not sound exceptional. Gregg Berhalter, who coaches the United States team, is a New Jersey native; Hansi Flick, who manages the German squad, hails from Heidelberg. But typically, African national teams have relied on European coaches — mostly unknown in their home countries, effectively mercenaries bouncing around the world — when big tournaments come around. If an African country hired an African coach, he would be summarily fired right before a big tournament, even if he took the team through the qualifiers. Not this year. Of the five African coaches, four made their careers in top-tier European football: Aliou Cissé was born in Senegal and Rigobert Song in Cameroon. But both made their careers in the English Premier League. Cissé immigrated to France when he was young. Song made his debut for the Cameroonian national team in the 1998 World Cup, but joined a French team shortly afterward before going on to England. Walid Regragui was born outside Paris, and played for a string of French teams before starting a coaching career in Morocco. Otto Addo, who is coaching the Ghanaian team, was born and grew up in Hamburg and played in the German Bundesliga. Only Jalel Kadri is a product of his home country’s leagues, having played and coached in Tunisia. African football is discovering the power of the diaspora. Of course there’s a long history of the Black diaspora playing a part in events on the continent: Kwame Nkrumah, the Ghanaian independence leader, incorporated pan-Africanist thought by way of America and Britain into his program when he took power in 1957. Since the era of democratization in the early 1990s, some African countries and their leaders — in Senegal and Ghana, for example — have been more open to the political and economic power and expertise of the diaspora beyond mere remittances. That seems to have accelerated in the new century. And we are increasingly watching this kind of solidarity on the football field. Take Cissé, the coach for Senegal. He has been at his coaching job the longest and is probably the most interesting of the lot. He was appointed in 2015 and coached Senegal in the 2018 World Cup, in which the team performed admirably well and was eliminated only on a bizarre technicality. Under him, Senegal won the 2022 African Cup of Nations. But it’s not just his winning record that keeps Cissé in a job. Another reason for his longevity is that he understands the pressures of his players. He was captain of the last great Senegal team, the 2002 squad. That team shocked everyone at the World Cup in South Korea and Japan by beating the defending champion, France, in the opening match and making it as far as the quarterfinals. Cissé understands that he derives his strength as a coach from his deep connection to Senegal. In an interview this year, he said, essentially, that people from the diaspora understand their home countries in a way that outsiders cannot. He cited technical and tactical expertise as crucial to successful coaching, but added: “It’s also important to know about the country’s past. For me, if you don’t know about the past, it’s difficult to talk about the future.” The prominence of coaches like Cissé comes as African countries’ relationship with their diasporas is changing. There are now millions of African immigrants and their descendants in Europe. From Algerians who moved to France in the 1960s to near-daily arrivals of irregular African migrants in Italy today, Europe has been becoming Blacker for decades. Even as these groups are integrated — and shape popular culture, politics, the economy and, of course, sports — many still maintain some allegiance to their ancestral homes and go back to visit regularly, send remittances and follow Moroccan or Cameroonian news as closely as they would in Marrakesh or Yaoundé. (Social media cements this relationship even further.) But there is another important change underway, reflective of the rising power and relevance of Africa to Europe. African players are increasingly on the center stage of world football. Though African players have a long history in Europe, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that they began to star in the top leagues there. At first, they were signed for their “speed” and “natural strength.” But coaches like José Mourinho and Roberto Mancini also appreciated their skill, leadership and smarts. Players like Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, John Obi-Mikel, Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Touré became global stars by the first decade of the 21st century. Sadio Mané of Senegal was a key part of Liverpool F.C.’s attack for years (and the team struggled after his departure for Bayern Munich). His national teammate, the defender Kalidou Koulibaly, captained Napoli before he moved to Chelsea. Today, a majority of Africans — like most football fans across the world — follow the top European leagues. Football in this way cultivates a sort of pan-African identity, even if it is only for 90 minutes at a time. And there is a kind of continental solidarity that emerges for many African fans during the World Cup. If your home country’s team has made it, you first support it; when it gets eliminated, you support whichever African country is doing well. As the novelist Chimamanda Adichie put it during the 2010 World Cup, your “nationalism expands its boundaries as your country loses.” The results after a week of matches have been mixed. Morocco and Senegal, after stumbling in their opening matches, have bounced back with convincing victories. Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia have been less convincing. But as Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia or Germany’s to Japan remind us, the World Cup can be full of surprises. No team from Africa has yet made it beyond the quarterfinals of the World Cup. But I and the millions watching across the continent this year are cheering on these new head coaches, and hoping for the impossible. The New York Times
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4016066/sean-jacobs/something-remarkable-happening-african-football
Saudi Arabia Says Did Not Request to Host Football World Cup
Sports
Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia has not submitted a request to host the FIFA World Cup. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism reiterated on Wednesday that the Kingdom had not submitted an official request to host the FIFA World Cup. In a tweet, it said Saudi Arabia is always keen on hosting major sports events as part of its efforts to promote sports and internal tourism in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal had told CNN last week that his country had no intention at the moment to host the World Cup in 2030. He added that the Kingdom was focused on bidding to host the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the men’s Asian Cup 2027. He said Saudi Arabia has already won the right to host the 2034 Asian Games and attention is now centered on preparing stadiums and infrastructure to host the event.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4016061/saudi-arabia-says-did-not-request-host-football-world-cup
UN Special Coordinator Warns Oslo Accords Are ‘Slipping Away’
Arab World
Washington - Ali Barada
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland. (UN)
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, warned that the Palestinian-Israeli once again reached a "boiling point," stressing that the settlement expansion and restrictions continue to squeeze the "economic and physical space for developing a viable Palestinian State." He warned that the current context leads to the disappearance of the principles that underpin the Oslo Accords, including the two-state solution. Wennesland was briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East and noted that after decades of persistent violence, illegal settlement expansion, dormant negotiations, and deepening occupation, "the conflict is again reaching a boiling point." He indicated that "high levels" of violence in the occupied West Bank and Israel in recent months, including attacks against Israeli and Palestinian civilians, increased use of arms, and settler-related violence, have "caused grave human suffering." He condemned the recent bombings in Jerusalem that killed two Israelis, calling for "a clear rejection of such terrorist acts," and the violent attack by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in Hebron that risks aggravating an already tense environment. The official asserted that all parties were responsible for acting against extremists and speaking out against such acts of violence and incitement. Wennesland noted that the "fragile calm" was recently interrupted by the launching of four rockets toward Israel by Palestinian gunmen and subsequent Israeli airstrikes against what it said were Hamas movement targets. "Once again, we are reminded that the mix of militant activity, debilitating closures, absence of the legitimate Palestinian Government, and hopelessness create an ever-present risk of escalation." "My team and I have in recent weeks visited areas where violence has been severe, and I continue to hold discussions with a range of Palestinian and Israeli officials, as well as international and regional actors, to address the dangerous dynamics," he added. The UN official warned that demography is moving faster than politics. "In a few years, exponential population growth in the West Bank and Gaza will make it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to manage the economic, political, and security situation." Moreover, he warned that the principles that underpin the Oslo Accords are "slipping away," noting that "political leadership is required to reset the trajectory toward a two-state solution." "Failing to address the underlying causes of conflict, as well as the negative trends I just outlined, and without demonstrating a clear political path forward, the conflict will only escalate, causing more bloodshed and misery, and have a deeply destabilizing effect on the entire region." Wennesland urged taking necessary steps towards a two-state solution, which still garners considerable support among Palestinians and Israelis. "Through incremental but tangible steps, we can build a bridge between where we are now and the conditions necessary for a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on United Nations resolutions, international law, and previous agreements," he said. He called on both sides to "stop unilateral steps that undermine peace, including settlement expansion or legalization, demolitions, and displacement. Furthermore, Wennesland urged all parties and the international community to strengthen Palestinian institutions, improve governance, and shore up the fiscal health of the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, he stressed that a "common approach" where the "two-state solution is the guiding political direction is essential to halting the current negative trajectory." "Neither can turn away from the realities of geography and demography that are reshaping the landscape, which, combined with [fast] expanding settlements east of the 1967 lines, reflects an increase in friction points and a deepening conflict."
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4014361/un-special-coordinator-warns-oslo-accords-are-%E2%80%98slipping-away%E2%80%99
Iran rejected cooperation with the newly-appointed independent UN committee to investigate the country's repression and crackdown on anti-government protests. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that Iran would not cooperate with the political committee set up by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) He stressed that the hasty use of human rights mechanisms and adopting "political and instrumental" approaches toward such issues were "rejected" and failed to contribute to the human rights concept. Kanaani indicated that Tehran "strongly protested against the interventionist and baseless statements of the German authorities." The 47 member states of the UNHRC decided during an urgent meeting held at the initiative of Germany and Iceland to appoint a team of investigators to shed light on human rights violations during the protests crackdown in Iran. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk demanded Iran end its "excessive" use of force to quell the protests that erupted after the death of a young Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, while in the custody of the morality police. In response to the UN move, Iran summoned the German ambassador to protest "interventionist" remarks by German officials and Berlin's key role in holding a UNHRC special session on Iran. The official IRNA news agency reported that the German ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry after Berlin's initiative to hold the special meeting. Kanaani said that Iran has evidence of the involvement of Western countries in the protests sweeping the nation. He added: "We have specific information proving that the US, Western countries, and some US allies have had a role in the protests." Iran did not announce an official death toll of the protesters. However, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that about 50 policemen were killed in the protests since September, in the first official death toll, without disclosing whether this number includes fatalities among the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or not. Mahabad MP Jalal Mahmoudzadeh said earlier that 105 people were killed during the crackdown launched by the authorities to quell the protests.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4014246/iran-rejects-un-investigation-repression-protests
'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Wins at Gotham Awards
Entertainment
Asharq Al-Awsat
Ke Huy Quan poses with the Outstanding Supporting Performance at the 2022 Gotham Awards in Manhattan, New York City, New York, US, November 28, 2022. (Reuters)
“Everything Everywhere All at Once" won best feature at the 32nd Gotham Awards on Monday, taking one of the first major prizes of Hollywood's awards season and boosting the Oscar hopes of the anarchic indie hit of the year. Also taking an award for his work on the film was Ke Huy Quan, the “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” child star who made a lauded comeback in “Everything Everywhere All at Once" and won for best supporting actor. “This time last year, all I was hoping for was a job,” said an emotional Quan who had nearly given up acting before landing his role in the film. “For the first time in a very long time, I was given a second chance.” The Gotham Awards, held annually at Cipriani Wall Street, serve as a downtown celebration of independent film and an unofficial kickoff of the long marathon of ceremonies, parties and campaigning that lead up to the Academy Awards in March. Presented by the Gotham Film & Media Institute, the Gothams last year heaped awards on Maggie Gyllenhaal's “The Lost Daughter” while also, with an award for Troy Kotsur, starting “CODA” on its way to best picture. But aside from any possible influence, the Gothams are also just a star-studded party that gets the industry back into the awards-season swing. Last year's ceremony was the first fully in-person award show for many after a largely virtual 2020-2021 pandemic-marred season. This year, the Gothams were held amid mounting concern over the tepid box-office results for many of the top awards contenders. Though moviegoing has recovered much of the ground it lost during the pandemic, adult audiences have inconsistently materialized in theaters this fall. But in feting “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the metaverse-skipping action adventure directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheiner, the filmmaking duo known as “the Daniels,” the Gothams selected an unlikely runaway success. Released in March, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” made more than $100 million worldwide against a $14 million budget, making it A24's highest grossing film. The warm affection for the absurdist film now has it poised to potentially play underdog at the Oscars. The film also recently led nominations to the Film Independent Spirit Awards. “This movie has been celebrated by the Asian American community, by the immigrant community, by people with weird brains, people who are overwhelmed or sad,” said Scheiner accepting the award with his filmmaking partner. “This award is for you guys. Your stories matter. You matter.” While the Gothams are known for exalting the hardscrabble pursuit of lower budget filmmaking, one of its many tribute awards went to another box-office force in Adam Sandler. The 56-year-old actor-comedian, who this year starred in the well-received Netflix basketball drama-comedy “Hustle,” provided the night's most raucous speech, after an introduction by “Uncut Gems” filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie. Sandler, explaining that he had been too busy to prepare remarks, claimed his speech was written by his two daughters. His career, as he read, was launched with two guiding principles: “People in prison need movies, too," and: “TBS needs content.” The Gotham award, Sandler read, “means a lot to him seeing as most of the awards on his trophy shelf are shaped like popcorn buckets, blimps or fake mini Oscars that say Father of the Year which he sadly purchased himself while wondering in a self-pitying fog through the head shops of Time’s Square.” The Gothams give gender neutral acting awards, which meant that some awards favorites this year that wouldn't normally be head-to-head, like Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) and Cate Blanchett (“Tár”), were up against each other. Todd Fields’ “Tár,” starring Blanchett as a renowned conductor, came into the Gothams with a leading five nominations and went home with an award for Fields' screenplay. But “Till” star Danielle Deadwyler ultimately prevailed in the crowded lead acting category. Deadwyler, who plays Mamie Till-Bradley in the piercing drama, wasn't able to attend the ceremony. “Till” director Chinonye Chukwu accepted on her behalf. Deadwyler's win should add momentum to her Oscar chances, as should the award for Quan, who is best known as the child star of “The Goonies” and “Temple of Doom." The breakthrough director award went to Charlotte Wells for “Aftersun,” the Scottish filmmaker's tender, devastating debut about a father (Paul Mescal) and daughter (Frankie Corio) on vacation. “Aftersun” also earned a shoutout from Daniel Kwan who said “Aftersun” should have won best feature, not “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Steven Spielberg had been scheduled to introduce a tribute award for Michelle Williams, star of Spielberg's “The Fabelmans.” Filling in was Williams' co-star Paul Dano, who said Spielberg tested positive for COVID-19. Williams spent much of her speech reflecting on how instrumental “Dawson's Creek” co-star Mary Beth Peil was to her as a young actor. Williams was also visibly stunned by a standing ovation. “What is happening?” said a wide-eyed Williams. “I shouldn’t even be out of the house. I just had a baby.” Other winners included Audrey Diwan's “Happening” for best international feature. The French abortion drama, set in 1963 France, took on added relevance after the repeal in the United States of Roe v. Wade. “All That Breathes,” Shaunak Sen's film about a New Delhi bird hospital, took best documentary. Tribute honorees also included Focus Features' Peter Kujawski and Jason Cassidy, and a thunderous tribute to the late Sidney Poitier by Jonathan Majors, who announced a new initiative in Poitier's name to help young filmmakers. “Bravo, Mr. Poitier,” Majors said. “We got your back.” Gina Prince-Bythewood, “The Woman King” filmmaker, was also honored after being introduced by Katheryn Bigelow. Prince-Bythewood said the “Hurt Locker” filmmaker inspired her to believe she could be a director. “Kathryn was my possible,” said Prince-Bythewood. "When you see the trailer to ‘The Woman King,’ do you see incredible women or do you see other? Do you see incredible women to be inspired by or do you see other?” said Prince-Bythewood. “I want you to see yourself in my characters the same way I see myself in yours.”
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4014191/everything-everywhere-all-once-wins-gotham-awards
Lenderking in the Region to Push Forward Peace in Yemen
Arab World
Washington - Ali Barada
US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking. (US State Department)
The US State Department called on Monday the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen to “immediately cease their attacks on Yemeni ports” and to engage in peace efforts. It added that US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking started travel on November 27 to Oman and Saudi Arabia to support ongoing peace efforts. “The environment created by the UN-mediated truce presents the best opportunity Yemen has had for peace in several years,” continued the State Department in a statement. “At this critical moment, we remind the Houthis that Yemenis are calling for peace, not a return to war,” it said. “To that end, we call on the Houthis to immediately cease their attacks on Yemeni ports, which are disrupting the flow of much-needed resources and exacerbating suffering across Yemen. Such attacks only risk plunging Yemenis into another pointless cycle of violence and suffering,” it added. “We urge the Houthis to instead seize this opportunity for peace, cooperate with the UN, and accept that the only path forward to ending eight years of destructive war is through a negotiated, inclusive Yemeni-led political settlement,” it stressed.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4014121/lenderking-region-push-forward-peace-yemen
French Lawmakers Vote to Condemn Iranian Protest Crackdown
Iran
Asharq Al-Awsat
Iranian refugees and Iranians living in Greece lit candles forming the name 'Mahsa' during a demonstration to commemorate 40 days from the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini while in police custody in Iran, in central Athens on October 29, 2022. (AFP)
French lawmakers on Monday condemned Iran’s crackdown on anti-government demonstrators and called on European governments to put more pressure on Iran to investigate the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in Tehran. Legislators in France’s National Assembly unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution supporting the protesters, by a vote of 149-0. Activists also planned a demonstration Monday outside the Assembly, the lower but most powerful house of parliament in France. The resolution calls on European governments to step up pressure on Iran to uphold its international promises and to investigate what happened to Amini, who was arrested for violating the country’s strict dress code. Protests over her death have morphed into the most serious challenge to Iran’s establishment in decades. The measure strongly condemns what French lawmakers call “the brutal and generalized repression by the security forces ... toward non-violent demonstrators, which constitutes a blatant and unacceptable violation of the right to demonstrate and freedom of expression." Rights monitors say hundreds have been killed and more than 18,000 people detained since the anti-government protests started in September. The French resolution also denounces laws and rules restricting the rights of women and minorities in Iran. It calls for the release of seven French citizens detained in Iran, too.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4014111/french-lawmakers-vote-condemn-iranian-protest-crackdown
Japan Births at New Low as Population Shrinks and Ages
Varieties
Asharq Al-Awsat
Women carry their children on their bicycles as they ride through an intersection near a sporting arena planned to be used during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo on June 24, 2021. (AP)
The number of babies born in Japan this year is below last year’s record low in what the top government spokesman described as a “critical situation.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno promised comprehensive measures to encourage more marriages and births. The total of 599,636 Japanese born in January-September was 4.9% below last year’s figure, suggesting the number of births in all of 2022 might fall below last year's record low of 811,000 babies, he said. Japan is the world’s third biggest economy but living costs are high and wage increases have been slow. The conservative government has lagged on making society more inclusive for children, women and minorities. So far, the government's efforts to encourage people to have more babies have had limited impact despite payments of subsidies for pregnancy, childbirth and child care. “The pace is even slower than last year ... I understand that it is a critical situation,” Matsuno said. Many younger Japanese have balked at marrying or having families, discouraged by bleak job prospects, onerous commutes and corporate cultures incompatible with having both parents work. The number of births has been falling since 1973, when it peaked at about 2.1 million. It's projected to fall to 740,000 in 2040. Japan's population of more than 125 million has been declining for 14 years and is projected to fall to 86.7 million by 2060. A shrinking and aging population has huge implications for the economy and for national security as the country fortifies its military to counter China's increasingly assertive territorial ambitions. A government-commissioned panel submitted a report to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week citing the low birth rate and falling population as factors that might erode Japan's national strength.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4012626/japan-births-new-low-population-shrinks-and-ages
Kuwait - Asharq Al-Awsat
Impact of the initial increase in the interest rate on the net revenues of Gulf banks (AP)
The aggregate gross loans in the Gulf region reached a new record of $1.93 trillion, and the banking sector in the Gulf countries is witnessing the initial interest rate hike applied by the central banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries consistent with the US Federal Reserve interest rate hike. Kuwait-based KAMCO Investment Company said the net interest income for listed banks in the GCC reached a record quarterly level at $18.6 billion during the third quarter (Q3) of 2022 compared to $17.2 billion during Q2. According to the report, non-interest income dropped to a four-quarter low of $7.4 billion during Q3-2022 compared to $7.8 billion during Q2-2022, reflecting a slide in global and regional financial markets during the quarter. Aggregate lending in the GCC remained strong during the quarter. Central bank data showed Kuwaiti banks seeing double-digit growth in outstanding credit facilities during the quarter. The report shows that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Omani banks registered low single-digit growths. The Credit survey from UAE central banks also showed strong lending during the quarter. On the other hand, the Qatari banking sector was an exception showing a marginal decline in lending during the quarter. Data on listed banks also showed growth, with aggregate GCC gross loans reaching a new record of $1.93 trillion, increasing by 1.2 percent or $23.5 billion during the quarter. Outstanding net loans witnessed a slightly smaller growth of 1.1 percent during the quarter due to higher provisions booked. Aggregate quarter-over-quarter growth in customer deposits was at a six-quarter low of 1.0 percent to reach $2.19 trillion at the end of Q3-2022. The change in customer deposits remained mixed in the GCC during Q3-2022, with UAE and Saudi-listed banks showing growth while aggregates for the rest of the countries showed declines. The net impact of larger lending growth and a slightly smaller customer deposit growth was a marginal growth of ten bps in the aggregate GCC loan-to-deposit ratio at the end of Q3-2022. The report noted that despite the growth, the ratio remained below the 80 percent level and at one of the lowest quarterly levels at 79 percent. The report stated that the Gulf banking sector balance sheet continued to grow during the quarter, despite the slowdown in the growth rate to its lowest level in six quarters. Total assets reached a new record level of $2.9 trillion after increasing by 1.2 percent during the third quarter of 2022 compared to Q2. Conventional banks in the region witnessed greater total asset growth of 1.4 percent during the third quarter, while asset growth in listed Islamic banks was slightly lower by 0.4 percent compared to Q2.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4012496/gcc%E2%80%99s-banks-gross-loans-reach-193-trillion
Baghdad - Asharq Al-Awsat
A pro-Kurdish demonstration against Turkish military attacks in northern Syria and Iraq is held in Berlin on November 26. (Reuters)
President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani visited Baghdad to discuss the outstanding issues, including the importance of strengthening the border security of the Region and Iraq, in light of repeated attacks from neighbors Iran and Türkiye. Barzani’s visit to Baghdad - his second in a week - sought to “complete the agenda of meetings with Iraqi political leaders,” a statement by the Region’s presidency said on Sunday. According to the statement, Barzani had canceled the second day of his visit to Baghdad last week to attend the funeral of victims that lost their lives following a gas explosion in Duhok on Monday night. “Barzani is scheduled to complete the visit to Baghdad and hold a series of meetings with a number of other leaders and senior Iraqi officials,” the statement clarified. An official government source revealed that “Baghdad and Erbil agreed to form a joint security committee which would discuss all files with the Iranian and Turkish sides.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is set to visit Tehran on Tuesday. Barzani and the Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Araji discussed the security and political situation in the country, the source told Asharq Al-Awsat. “Barzani, during his meeting with Al-Araji, showed great flexibility in authorizing Baghdad to form a higher committee,” they added. “In all its meetings, the Region confirms with Iraqi leaders that it is part of Iraq, and therefore it requests a position from Baghdad regarding the attacks it is being subjected to,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Moreover, the source pointed out that the Kurdistan region supports any step taken by Baghdad towards the Turkish and Iranian opposition so long that it is based on the Iraqi constitution. This was affirmed by Barzani during his meeting with Al-Araji. The Iraqi constitution prohibits Iraq from being used as a corridor or a springboard for aggression against any of its neighboring countries.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4012271/barzani-discusses-border-security-baghdad
Thousands Protest Turkish Strikes on Kurdish Groups in Syria
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Kurdish protesters attend a demonstration against Türkiye's military action in northeastern Syria, in Marseille, France, October 12, 2019. Jean-Paul Pelissier, Reuters
Thousands of Kurds protested on Sunday in the Syrian city of Qamishli against days of deadly Turkish cross-border strikes targeting Kurdish groups in the country's northeast. Türkiye announced last Sunday it had carried out air strikes against semi-autonomous Kurdish zones in north and northeastern Syria, and across the border in Iraq. It has also threatened a ground offensive in those areas of Syria, said AFP. Demonstrators in Kurdish-controlled Qamishli, in Hasakeh province, brandished photos of people killed during recent strikes in the semi-autonomous region, an AFP correspondent said. "Only the will of the Kurdish people remains," said protester Siham Sleiman, 49. "It will not be broken and we remain ready. We will not leave our historic land." After a three-day lull, Turkish fighter jets heavily bombed Kurdish-controlled areas north of Aleppo early on Sunday, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor. A separate Turkish drone strike killed five Syrian government soldiers near Tal Rifaat, also north of Aleppo, the Observatory added, reporting an exchange of shelling between Kurdish combatants and Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies. Protesters in Qamishli also chanted in favor of the resistance in "Rojava" -- the name Kurds in Syria give to the area they administer. "The message that we want to convey to the world is that we are victims of eradication," said Salah el-Dine Hamou, 55. "How long will we continue to die while other countries watch?" The Turkish strikes come after a November 13 bombing in Istanbul that killed six people and wounded 81. Ankara blamed the attack on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it and its Western allies consider a terrorist group. The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Türkiye alleges that Syrian Kurdish fighters are the PKK's allies. Kurdish groups denied any involvement in the Ankara blast. Some protesters on Sunday carried Kurdish flags alongside photos of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan -- jailed in Türkiye since 1999 -- and shouted slogans against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish raids have killed at least 63 Kurdish and allied fighters and Syrian regime soldiers, as well as a Kurdish journalist, according to the Observatory, which relies on an extensive network of sources in Syria. Eight people have been killed in retaliatory artillery fire, three of them across the Turkish border. Since 2016, Türkiye's military has conducted three offensives mostly targeting Kurdish fighters, and captured territory in northern Syria, which is now held by Ankara-backed proxies. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds' de facto army in the area, led the battle that dislodged ISIS group extremists from the last scraps of their Syrian territory in 2019.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4012121/thousands-protest-turkish-strikes-kurdish-groups-syria
King Salman Receives Written Message from President of Azerbaijan
Gulf
Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meets his counterpart from North Macedonia Bujar Osman in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz received on Sunday a written message from President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The message tackled the strong bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan and ways of bolstering them in various fields and on all levels. The message was received by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah from Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Shahin Abdullayev during a meeting at the foreign ministry in Riyadh. The officials discussed bilateral relations and ways to boost them in all domains. They also exchanged views on issues of common interest. Prince Faisal later met with North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Bujar Osman. They discussed bilateral relations between their countries and efforts to strengthen cooperation in all fields. They also reviewed regional and international developments.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4012066/king-salman-receives-written-message-president-azerbaijan
