Podcasts about Kurdish

PREVIEW — Jonathan Schanzer — "Darkness Visible": The Dangerous Power Vacuum and Rivalries in Syria. Schanzer characterizes contemporary Syria as chaotic "ungoverned territory" systematically attracting dangerous transnational actors including Hamas military operatives and Russian military and intelligence personnel establishing operational footprints. Schanzer documents that while the United States strategically lifts economic sanctions to encourage pragmatism and behavioral moderation from the new Syrian leadership, regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Turkey simultaneously compete for geopolitical influence over Damascus decision-making, creating overlapping and contradictory leverage efforts. Schanzer emphasizes that this fractured geopolitical landscape is further complicated by armed militia networks, Kurdish separatist forces, and foreign fighter contingents remaining throughout Syrian territory, resembling a "shattered chessboard" where multiple external powers attempt simultaneous influence operations while internal actors pursue autonomous agendas, creating a dangerously unpredictable and volatile strategic environment.  DAMASCUS 1920

SHOW 12-8-2025 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1895 KHYBER PASS THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE  BOARD OF GOVERNORS. FIRST HOUR 9-915 The DC Shooter, the Zero Units, and the Tragedy of the Afghan Withdrawal: Colleagues Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio discuss recent violence in Washington, D.C. involving an Afghan immigrant that has drawn attention back to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021; the shooter, Ramanula Lakanal, was a member of the elite "Zero Units" of the Afghan National Army, a force that demanded priority evacuation for their families in exchange for providing security at the Kabul airport during the U.S. retreat, and while these units were stalwart allies against enemies like al-Qaeda and ISIS, they fought a "dirty war" and were accused of human rights violations, highlighting the broader failure of the withdrawal which occurred because political will faded across multiple administrations. 915-930 The Vetting Failure and the Lack of an Exit Strategy in Afghanistan: Colleagues Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggioexplain that the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was exacerbated by the lack of a methodical exit strategy, unlike the British who organized their departure and evacuation lists well in advance; critics argue that the U.S. imported significant security risks by rushing the evacuation, bringing in over 100,000 Afghans without adequate vetting, and while there was a moral obligation to help those who served, experts suggest that wholesale importation of citizens from a war-torn country was not the only solution and that better vetting or resettlement in third countries should have been considered. 930-945 Martial Law in South Korea and the Shadow of the North: Colleagues Morse Tan and Gordon Chang discuss South Korea facing severe political turmoil following President Yoon's declaration of martial law, a move his supporters argue was a constitutional response to obstructionist anti-state forces; the opposition, led by figures previously sympathetic to North Korea, has been accused of attempting to paralyze the government, while accusations of "insurrection" against President Yoon are dismissed as nonsensical, with the political infighting fracturing the conservative party and leaving South Korea vulnerable to the North Korean regime in a way not seen since the Korean War. 945-1000 Japan Stands Up for Taiwan While Canada Demurs: Colleagues Charles Burton and Gordon Chang report that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi recently declared that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a "survival threatening situation" for Japan, authorizing the mobilization of self-defense forces; this statement has triggered a massive propaganda campaign from Beijing demanding a retraction, as a successful invasion of Taiwan would likely require violating Japanese sovereignty, while in contrast Canada remains reluctant to support Tokyo or criticize Beijing, hoping to secure trade benefits and diversify exports away from the U.S., leaving Japan isolated by its allies. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 The Survival of UNRWA and the Flow of Terror Finance: Colleagues Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotterreport that despite investigations revealing corruption and ties to terrorism, the UN has renewed the mandate for UNRWA for another three years; the organization's facilities have been used by Hamas and its schools have been implicated in radicalizing children, yet international efforts to replace it have stalled, while Hamas leadership refuses to disarm or accept international oversight, demanding a Palestinian state as a precondition for any change, with financial support for terror groups continuing to flow through networks in Europe and the Middle East. 1015-1030 Greece's "Achilles Shield" and Israel's Iron Beam Laser Defense: Colleagues Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter report that Greece is undertaking a historic modernization of its armed forces, unveiling a new national defense strategy focused on long-range missiles and a modernized air defense system dubbed "Achilles Shield," allowing Greece to project power more flexibly in the Eastern Mediterranean and counter threats from Turkey; in Israel, a major defensive breakthrough is imminent with the deployment of the "Iron Beam," a laser defense system capable of intercepting threats at approximately $50 per shot, expected to rewrite the rules of air defense by effectively countering drone swarms and missiles. 1030-1045 Hezbollah's Quiet Regeneration Under Naim Qassem: Colleagues David Daoud and Bill Roggio report that since the ceasefire began, Hezbollah has received at least $2 billion from Iran and is actively rearming and regenerating its forces in Lebanon; the terror group is focusing on acquiring drone swarms and other asymmetrical weapons that are cheap to produce and difficult for Israel to counter, while Hezbollah's new leader Naim Qassem is leveraging his "bookish" and underestimated persona to lower the temperature and allow the group to rebuild without attracting the same level of scrutiny as his predecessor. 1045-1100 Fragmentation in Yemen: The Southern Transitional Council Advances: Colleagues Bridget Tumi and Bill Roggio report that the civil war in Yemen is fracturing further as the Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for southern secession, advances into eastern governorates to secure territory and combat smuggling; this move has heightened tensions within the anti-Houthi coalition, as the STC is backed by the UAE while other government factions are supported by Saudi Arabia, weakening the collective effort against the Houthis who control the capital Sanaa and maintain ambitions to conquer the entire country. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 The Druze National Guard and Internal Strife in Southern Syria: Colleagues Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio report that instability is growing in Syria's Druze-majority Suwayda province, where a newly formed "National Guard" militia has begun arresting and killing political opponents; the militia is spiritually guided by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who has consolidated power by sidelining other Druze leaders who were open to reconciliation with the Assad regime, with Turkey expressing support for the anti-Assad Druze factions against both the Syrian government and Kurdish forces, while recent violence suggests a hardening of anti-regime sentiment. 1115-1130 The "Variable Geometry" of the Muslim Brotherhood and Its Global Affiliates: Colleagues Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio explain that the Muslim Brotherhood operates as a "mothership" for various Islamist movements, utilizing a strategy of "variable geometry" to adapt to local political environments while aiming for a global caliphate; Hamas functions as the Palestinian branch of the Brotherhood and despite being severely damaged by the war with Israel remains the dominant force in Gaza, with the Brotherhood finding state sponsorship primarily in Qatar, which provides funding and media support via Al Jazeera, and Turkey, where President Erdogan acts as a leader for the organization. 1130-1145 Ukraine Negotiations Hit a Cul-de-Sac Amidst Infiltration Tactics: Colleagues John Hardie and Bill Roggio report that peace talks regarding Ukraine are currently at a standstill, with the U.S. and Ukraine at odds over Russia's demands for territory in the Donbas versus Ukraine's need for meaningful security guarantees; while the U.S. has pressured Ukraine to concede territory, the security assurances offered are viewed skeptically by Kyiv, and Russia refuses to accept any Western military presence in Ukraine, while on the battlefield Russia employs infiltration tactics using small groups, sometimes single soldiers, to penetrate deep into Ukrainian positions. 1145-1200 The Trump Corollary: Reviving the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America: Colleague Ernesto Araújo discusses a new "Trump corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine reshaping U.S. policy in the Americas, signaling a more assertive stance against foreign influence and authoritarian regimes; this shift is evident in Venezuela, where President Maduro appears to be negotiating his exit in the face of U.S. pressure, while in Brazil the administration of Lula da Silva faces significant instability due to a massive banking scandal linking the government to money laundering and organized crime, with the new application of the Monroe Doctrine suggesting the U.S. will favor political figures aligned with its security strategy. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Devil's Advocates: Robert Stryk, Rudy Giuliani, and the Business of Influence: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel discusses how in the power vacuum created by Donald Trump's arrival in Washington, unconventional lobbyists like Robert Stryk rose to prominence by marketing access to the new administration; Stryk, described as an "anti-hero" with a checkered business past, hosted a lavish event at the Hay-Adams Hotel to legitimize the regime of Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully delivering Rudy Giuliani as Trump's personal attorney, signaling a new informal channel for foreign diplomacy and highlighting how foreign regimes utilized large sums of money and unconventional intermediaries to seek favor. 1215-1230 The Accidental Diplomat: Robert Stryk and the New Zealand Connection: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel explains that Robert Stryk's rise in the lobbying world was fueled by serendipity and bold bluffs, exemplified by a chance encounter with a New Zealand diplomat at a cafe; the diplomat revealed that New Zealand, having prepared for a Clinton victory, had no contacts within the incoming Trump team and could not arrange a congratulatory call between their Prime Minister and the President-elect, and Stryk, leveraging a connection to a former Trump campaign field director, provided a phone number that successfully connected the embassy to Trump's team, establishing his credibility and launching his career in high-stakes foreign lobbying. 1230-1245 Hunter Biden, Chinese Spies, and the Monetization of Political Connections: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel reports that following his father's departure from the vice presidency, Hunter Biden faced financial pressure and sought lucrative foreign clients, leading to risky entanglements; one venture involved a corrupt Romanian real estate magnate who hired Hunter along with former FBI Director Louis Freeh and Rudy Giuliani to resolve his legal troubles, with the proposed solution involving selling land including the site of the U.S. Embassy in Romania to a Chinese state-linked fund, and Hunter Biden was aware of the nature of his associates, referring to one as the "spy chief of China." 1245-100 AM FARA: From Fighting Nazi Propaganda to Modern Transparency: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel explains that the Foreign Agents Registration Act was originally enacted in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda in the United States before World War II; at the time, the Third Reich was paying well-connected American consultants to whitewash Hitler's image and keep the U.S. out of the war, operating without public knowledge, and Congress passed FARA to create transparency, requiring those paid by foreign principals to influence the U.S. government or media to register their activities, with the law remaining today the primary vehicle for accountability in foreign lobbying

The Druze National Guard and Internal Strife in Southern Syria: Colleagues Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio report that instability is growing in Syria's Druze-majority Suwayda province, where a newly formed "National Guard" militia has begun arresting and killing political opponents; the militia is spiritually guided by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who has consolidated power by sidelining other Druze leaders who were open to reconciliation with the Assad regime, with Turkey expressing support for the anti-Assad Druze factions against both the Syrian government and Kurdish forces, while recent violence suggests a hardening of anti-regime sentiment. 1914 SYRIA

This week Chahin Baker's "Topic of The Week" is about the modern Kurdish literature. It's written and read by Chahin Baker in Kurdish. - Mijara vê hefteyê xwe bi wêjeya kurdî ve eleqedar dike. Beşê Kurmancî ji wêjeya kurdî di nav 40 salên derbas bûnî de bi gellk awayan pêş ve çû. Ji babetên wêjeyî yên wek helbestê, çîrokê û romanê gellek berhemên nû li welêt û li drve hatin weşandin. Yek ji nivîskarên vê qonaxê Shahînê Bekirê Soreklî ye û dê ji bo mijara vê hefteyê nimûneyeke pexşanî ji wêjeya kurdî ya nûjen pêşkêsh bike.

Solar power brings new dignity to a Kurdish village devastated by a chemical attack 38 years ago. Steven Guilbeault resigns from cabinet over a pipeline deal he says breaks Canada's climate commitments. North Carolina uses "super-roofs" and catastrophe bonds to cut hurricane losses. And Zillow removes climate risk scores from listings after backlash. Support The Clean Energy Show on Patreon for exciting perks including a monthly bonus podcast, early access to our content, behind the scenes looks, access to our members-only Discord community and thank-yous in the credits of videos and shoutouts on our podcast! Starting at just $1 per month! Sheikh Wasan—attacked with mustard gas in 1987—has been rebuilt with 72 solar systems (432 panels) installed by the Rwanga Foundation. The project restores 24-hour power to homes, schools, and community buildings, offering long-overdue dignity to survivors. Canada's former environment minister steps down, saying a recent pipeline agreement makes climate obligations unattainable. Catastrophe bonds now reward homeowners for installing hurricane-resistant roofs, cutting claims by up to 60%. Insurance challenges rise as storms worsen. Zillow briefly added wildfire, flood, heat, and wind risk data to listings, but removed it after complaints from agents. Buyers now must check climate risks themselves via First Street Foundation. First Street: https://firststreet.org/ Lightning Round Dominican Republic activates the 162.6 MW Cotoperí Solar complex. Contact Us cleanenergyshow@gmail.com or leave us an online voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/clean Support The Clean Energy Show Join the Clean Club on our Patreon Page to receive perks for supporting the podcast and our planet! Our PayPal Donate Page offers one-time or regular donations. Store Visit The Clean Energy Show Store for T-shirts, hats, and more!    

Ed Kashi on Archiving, Personal Projects & the Future of Photojournalism Insights from the “10 Frames Per Second” Podcast with photojournalist Ed Kashi, co‑founder of Talking Eyes Media, and his newest book A Period of Time (Briscoe Center, UT Austin). Ed's career spans 40 years of visual storytelling—from early analog darkrooms to iPhone coverage of Hurricane Sandy, from Iraq's Kurdish frontlines to a decades‑long “Aging in America” project. His journey offers timeless lessons for anyone who creates, curates, or consumes visual media. 10 Frames Per Second – a weekly photojournalism podcast from Loyola Radio (WLOY) – brings together veteran photojournalists to discuss the craft, the business, and the stories that shape our world. In episode 168 (released 12/02/25), hosts Molly Roberts, and guest host Stephen Crowley (a guest on Episode 91) sit down with Ed Kashi, a 40‑year visual storyteller who has worked for National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, MSNBC and more. “We love to start with an origin story. So, Ed, how did you first fall in love with photography?” – Molly The interview uncovers the hidden gems behind Kashi's career, his new retrospective book, and the lessons he's learned while navigating a changing media landscape. If you're a photojournalist, documentary filmmaker, or simply love visual storytelling, you've just landed on a summary of Ed Kashi's recent interview on the 10 Frames Per Second podcast. We break down: Ed Kashi's origin story and why photography hooked him 50 years ago. The making of his new book A Period of Time (Briscoe Center, UT Austin). Why archiving is essential for a sustainable career. The power of personal projects—especially his “Aging in America” series. Mentorship tips for emerging photographers. Ethical challenges in the age of AI. Grab a coffee, skim the headings, and dive into the actionable takeaways! How Ed Kashi Fell in Love With Photography Freshman at Syracuse University (1976) – originally wanted to be a novelist, but a poetry professor told him he was “a really bad writer.” Discovered the Newhouse School of Public Communications, one of the world's top photojournalism programs. Took a basic black‑and‑white darkroom course, learned about legendary photographer Imogen Cunningham (who was still shooting in her 90s). Realized photography could synthesize politics, art, and storytelling—the perfect medium for his activist spirit. “Even at age 10 I was stuffing envelopes for Hubert Humphrey against Nixon. Photography just seemed the vehicle to combine that political impulse with art.” Takeaway for Readers If you're just starting out, look for a mentor or a historic figure who inspires you. That spark can sustain a 50‑year career. A Period of Time: A 40‑Year Retrospective Why a Retrospective Now? Archive donation – Ed Kashi gave 127 banker‑boxes of negatives, slides, prints, and ephemera to the Briscoe Center for American History (UT Austin). Unexpected invitation – Briscoe's director, Don Carlton, asked Ed Kashi, “How does one get collected?” and then offered to collect him. Creative freedom – The Center gave him full editorial control: “This is your story. Do whatever you want.” The Book's Core Idea Linear, issue‑oriented storytelling – Each chapter is a deep dive into a major project (e.g., Northern Ireland, Kurds, Aging in America). Scholarly rigor meets journalistic depth – The book reads like a photo‑anthropology textbook with stunning visuals. “Opening the book felt like holding a newborn—overwhelming but beautiful.” The Power of a Well‑Organized Archive “My archive is like a garden; I can harvest what I need because everything is sorted.” – Ed Kashi How Ed Kashi Keeps His Archive Manageable Early adoption of digital workflow – Transitioned from analog boxes to searchable digital files. Meticulous cataloguing – Every image tagged by date, location, project, and theme. Professional support – Collaborated with studio managers (e.g., Frish Brandt) and curators (e.g., Alison Nordstrom). Benefits for Photojournalists Monetization – Ability to license old images for new publications. Storytelling efficiency – Quickly locate relevant photos for pitches or books. Legacy preservation – Ensures future generations can study and exhibit the work. Quick Tips to Organize Your Own Archive Create a consistent naming convention (YYMMDD_Location_Project_Sequence). Use metadata tags for keywords, people, and locations. Back up on at least two external drives and a cloud service. Review annually – purge duplicates and update tags. Personal Projects: The “Aging in America” Series Why Aging? Not “sexy” but universally human – Kashi wanted a topic that would outlive trends. Long‑term commitment – 8 years, 25 states, $300k in grant funding (Robert Wood Johnson, George Soros). Humanizing statistics – The project shows “the vitality of life, love, and hope” beyond the typical “dying” narrative. Key Outcomes Iconic image – Death scene of Maxine Peters (West Virginia) that resonates across cultures. Global collaboration – “Climate Elders” exhibition at COP 30, involving 150 photographers from 40 countries. Lessons for Emerging Photographers Research first; then shoot – Deep immersion builds trust and authentic moments. Secure funding early – Grants give creative freedom and resources. Be patient – Long‑term projects earn credibility and impact. Mentorship & Teaching: Ed Kashi's Advice for New Photographers Area Kashi's Insight Actionable Tip Tenacity “Failure is not an option; keep going.” Set mini‑milestones; celebrate small wins. Ethics No manipulation, no staging; honor subjects as collaborators. Draft a personal ethics checklist before each shoot. Access Build relationships; be respectful of vulnerable communities. Attend local events, volunteer, network before pitching. AI & Credibility Trust reputable media; AI threatens misinformation. Verify sources; use AI for organization, not image creation. Joy of Photography Keep the joy alive—look at others' work for inspiration. Schedule weekly “inspiration sessions” with peers. Ethics & AI: The New Frontier Ed Kashi worries about political actors using AI to fake images, not about entertainment misuse. He believes trusted news outlets (NYT, BBC, National Geographic) will gain more value as AI blurs reality. Over‑post‑production can create a gloomy aesthetic that misrepresents the world. Practical Guidance Never alter factual content in post‑production. Label AI‑generated edits clearly if they're artistic. Teach media literacy: help audiences distinguish authentic journalism from AI‑fueled “deepfakes.” Closing Thoughts, Ed Kashi Call‑to‑Action Ed Kashi's journey—from a panic‑driven freshman at Syracuse to a globally respected visual storyteller—offers an actionable roadmap for anyone chasing a sustainable photojournalism career. Archive like a gardener. Invest in personal, issue‑driven projects. Mentor, learn, and stay ethically grounded. Embrace technology wisely, especially AI. Want More? Listen to the full episode on 10 Frames Per Second (new episodes drop every Tuesday). Explore “A Period of Time” at the Briscoe Center or order the book online. Join the conversation: Share your favorite archival tip or personal project story in the comments below! Optimized for: photojournalism, Ed Kashi interview, archiving photos, personal documentary projects, aging in America, mentorship for photographers, AI ethics in photography. photojournalism, documentary storytelling, archival organization, personal projects, political theater, Washington D.C., New York Times, National Geographic, Hurricane Sandy coverage, iPhone journalism, Kurdish flip‑book, award recognitions, book publishing, Briscoe Center for American History, archive donation, analog negatives, digital workflow, aging in America, hospice care, climate elders, grant funding, long‑term projects, mentorship, ethics in photography, AI manipulation concerns, media literacy, visual tropes, storytelling methodology, access and tenacity, cultural preservation, collaborative authorship.The post Episode 168: Ed Kashi (Archiving Photography) first appeared on 10FPS A Photojournalism Podcast for Everyone.

Today I am deeply honored to speak with journalist Fatemeh Jamalpour about her book, For the Sun After Long Nights, which she wrote with fellow journalist Nilo Tabrizy.  In September 2022, the world learned of the murder of a young Kurdish woman in Iran, Mahsa Jina Amini. Her death, while a captive of the Iranian state, sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom protests.  Fatemeh and Nilo's book frames those protests in the deep tradition of Iranian women leading political movements for rights and freedom, that date back at least a century. They also provide incredibly detailed and moving accounts of the everyday lives of people in Iran who are part of a collective movement under the most oppressive and violent conditions imaginable.  Fatemeh talks about the significance of the many ethnic minorities in Iran, the unique role of Gen Z in the protests, and the many ways that women's bodies have become a powerful weapon on the fight for collective freedom, in places as diverse as prisons and illegal music concerts. Clearing up myths and lies about Iran and  the resistance, this is an especially important episode of Speaking Out of Place.Fatemeh Jamalpour is a feminist journalist banned from working in Iran by the Ministry of Intelligence. Jamalpour has worked as a freelance reporter for outlets such as The Sunday Times, The Paris Review and the Los Angeles Times, and has also held positions at BBC World News in London and Shargh newspaper in Tehran. She has two master's degrees in journalism and communication from Northwestern University and Allameh Tabatabaei University in Tehran and was a 2024-25 Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan.

Roka Sheddo fled the war in Syria to Germany 11 years ago. She is speaking to us about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, its importance and how it is observed in Kurdish society and the diaspora. She explains the situation of women—especially Kurdish women—in a European society within the framework of cultural perspectives, rights foundations and educational assistance. - Ev hevpeyvîna bi Roka Şido re li ser Roja Navneteweyî ya Ji-holêrakirina Tundiya li ser Jinan e, girîngiya vê rojê û awayê ku di civaka kurd û diyaspore de tê hêsibandin e. Hevpeyvîn di destpêkê de girîngiya 25 Mijdarê wek rojeke ku balê dide ser pêwîstiya şopandina mînakên girîng yên têkoşîna jinan li dijî tundutûjiyê, ewlehiya civakî û mafên bingehîn e ku tên şikandîn. Her weha, di nav civakeke Ewropî de rewşa jinan—bi taybetî jinên Kurd—di nav çarçoveya dîtinên çandî, bingehên mafî û alîkarîya perwerdehiyê de tê şirove kirin.

It's a conflict that has raged for 40 years – and cost the lives of 40,000 people – but could now be coming to an end. Since the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group announced its dissolution and the end of its armed struggle with Turkey, the population of Diyarbakir, a Kurdish city in southeastern Turkey, has been waiting. The Kurds have long hoped for peace, but under what conditions can it truly be achieved? And is a lasting peace even possible? FRANCE 24's Jenna Le Bras and Adrià Rocha Cutiller report.

In this episode of the Donker Kamer Podcast, I speak with Kurdish photographer Ebrahim Alipoor, whose work brings visibility to stories that are often silenced in Iranian Kurdistan. He grew up in remote mountain villages where even basic things like knowing your official birth year or registered name were uncertain. His father, a village teacher, bought a single Yashica film camera to document his students, unknowingly planting the seed for Ebrahim's path as a photographer.Ebrahim shares how he became a self-taught documentary photographer in a region shaped by border economies, political repression, and the everyday risks faced by “kolbars,” men who carry heavy loads across dangerous mountain terrain to earn a living. His long-term project Bullets Have No Borders earned the World Press Photo Story of the Year, but for him the real purpose remains unchanged: preserving the untold stories of Kurdish life and history.He talks about arrest and censorship, the challenge of working without institutional support, and the years in which family and society pushed him toward a “normal job.” He explains how poetry, silence, and rhythm influence his visual language, and why he continues to follow long-term stories even when they bring little financial security. Ebrahim also shares a preview of his next project, focused on Kurdish mother-tongue education, another fragile, essential piece of cultural survival.A conversation about resilience, truth, and using photography as a bridge between lived experience and collective memory.Want to deepen your own photographic voice?We're hosting a five-day master workshop with renowned Dutch photographer Awoiska van der Molen from June 2–6 in the French Alps.It's an immersive, small-group program for photographers who want to refine their inner drive, narrative focus, and visual language.Apply by submitting your portfolio here.

Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa's White House meeting with Donald Trump followed the removal of his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the list of designated "terrorist organizations" both at the State Department and at the UN. It also coincided with raids against ISIS by his security forces, raising the prospect of his government being invited to join the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The Washington visit also came just a month after al-Sharaa's similar trip to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where a deal was brokered allowing Russia to keep its military bases in Syria. Amid all this, Syria continues to see forced disappearances and other abuses targeting Druze, Alawites and Kurds—pointing to the looming threat of an ethnic or sectarian internal war. The US troop presence in Syria is largely embedded among the Kurdish forces in the east. As al-Sharaa becomes a new "anti-terrorist" partner (or proxy) for the Great Powers, will these troops be withdrawn—providing a "green light" for the Damascus government to attack the Kurdish autonomous zone? In Episode 305 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg weighs the risks at this critical moment in Syria's transition process, nearly one year after the fall of the Assad dictatorship. Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/countervortex Production by Chris Rywalt We ask listeners to donate just $1 per weekly podcast via Patreon -- or $2 for our new special offer! We now have 61 subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 62!

In September 2022, a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Jîna Amini, died after being beaten by police officers who arrested her for not adhering to the Islamic Republic's dress code. Her death galvanized thousands of Iranians—mostly women—who took to the streets in one of the country's largest uprisings in decades: the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. In this episode, Jacke talks to Nilo Tabrizy about her experience co-authoring the book For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran's Women-Led Uprising, which tells the searing, courageous story of what it meant for two journalists to cover these deeply personal events. PLUS Dr. Sharmila Sen, Editorial Director of Harvard University Press, who previously joined us for a discussion of the Murtry Classical Library of India series and the anthology Ten Indian Classics, stops by to discuss her choice for the last book she will ever read. Join Jacke on a trip through literary England (signup closing soon)! The History of Literature Podcast Tour is happening in May 2026! Act now to join Jacke and fellow literature fans on an eight-day journey through literary England in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠John Shors Travel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Scheduled stops include The Charles Dickens Museum, Dr. Johnson's house, Jane Austen's Bath, Tolkien's Oxford, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, and more. Find out more by emailing jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or masahiko@johnshorstravel.com, or by contacting us through our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠History of Literature Podcast Tour itinerary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠John Shors Travel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gabrielruizbernal.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Help support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/literature ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com/donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Dareen Khalifa, Crisis Group's senior adviser for dialogue promotion, to discuss Syria's transition after the fall of the Assad regime and the political evolution of President Ahmed al-Sharaa. They talk about al-Sharaa's recent trip to the White House and Washington's evolving Syria policy and sanctions relief. They examine how life has changed under Syria's new leadership and the daunting task the authorities face in unifying the country's armed groups, including efforts to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the north east. They also delve into outbreaks of sectarian violence in Alawite and Druze-majority areas, concerns about the political transition's inclusiveness and Syria's complicated relations with Israel. Finally, they trace al-Sharaa's evolution from his militant past to the Syrian presidency and discuss whether domestic headwinds could derail his achievements on the world stage.For more, check out our Syria page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday, November 10th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Syria's President to visit White House in historic first ​​ Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is slated to visit the White House today, marking the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to Washington, D.C., reports International Christian Concern.  Al-Sharaa seized power in December 2024 after a rapid coup that toppled longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad.  In the months since coming to power, al-Sharaa has reached out to various religious and ethnic minority groups. However, he has also garnered significant criticism from minority groups and international human rights organizations, which point to the repeated massacres of Druze and Alawite civilians. At a recent Capitol Hill event titled “Fortifying Religious Freedom in Syria,” civil society groups gathered in support of decentralization. Speakers included Nadine Maenza, Ambassador Sam Brownback, Rep. Frank Wolf, and representatives of the Druze, Alawite, Kurdish, and Christian communities.  Al-Sharaa is moving toward a system that grants the central government significant authority, rather than a federated system in which local areas retain robust self-determination.  Some analysts predict that al-Sharaa's deep roots in Islamic jihad will lead to further attacks on ethnic and religious minority communities. Sharaa began his career with the Islamic State in Iraq, before creating his own al-Qaida-aligned militant group in Syria.  1,100 flights canceled Sunday amid nationwide air travel disruption On Sunday, more than 1,100 flights were cancelled across the country according to the FlightAware website, as the Federal Aviation Administration limited capacity at 40 major U.S. airports amid the longest government shutdown in American history, reports ABC News. On Saturday, 1,521 flights were canceled and 6,400 flights were delayed.  Defund Planned Parenthood by America's 250th birthday A coalition of pro-life groups led by Lila Rose of Live Action set as its next mission the passage of a permanent nationwide defunding of Planned Parenthood before the one-year-ban in the current law expires that will also coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States, reports LifeSiteNews.com. This past July, President Donald Trump signed into law his so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill, a wide-ranging tax and spending package that contains a one-year ban on federal tax dollars going through Medicaid to any entity that provides abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, or supposed threats to the mother's life. That law forced the closure of numerous abortion mills. Rose said, “We cannot celebrate [250 years of] freedom while subsidizing the killing of American children.” Republicans have already proposed standalone measures to fully cut off Planned Parenthood's government funding: the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, which permanently bans federal funds from being used for abortion; and the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, which disqualifies Planned Parenthood and its affiliates specifically. More Americans are reading the Bible but fewer believe it's 100% accurate With Millennials and Generation Z leading the way, particularly among men, Bible reading among U.S. adults in 2025 is at its highest level in the last 15 years, reports The Christian Post. The initiative by Barna Group and Gloo collected data from 12,116 online interviews conducted between January and October 2025. The research revealed that approximately 50% of self-identified Christians report reading the Bible weekly, the highest level of Bible reading among Christians in more than a decade. Weekly Bible reading among all U.S. adults reached its lowest point in 15 years in 2024 when it hit 30%. In 2025, the figure rebounded 12 percentage points to 42%. Approximately 50% of Millennials reported reading the Bible weekly, representing a 16-point increase from the previous year. Bible reading among Gen Z increased by a staggering 19 points, from 30% a year ago to 49% in 2025. Gen X currently stands at 41%. Sadly, despite more Americans reporting regular Bible reading, fewer maintain that the Bible is 100% accurate. Only 36% of Americans now hold that the Bible is 100% accurate. In 2000, this share was 43%. Just 44% of self-identified Christians strongly affirmed the accuracy of the Bible. Proverbs 30:5 says, "Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Two farmers rescue 20 kids from burning school bus And finally, last week, two California farmers were honored for being the first ones to help save over 20 students aboard a school bus that caught fire, reports GoodNewsNetwork.org. Long before the Madera County Fire Department arrived on scene on September 4th, Angel Zarco and Carlos Perea were there.  Providentially, they were repairing their tractor at the time. In fact, the pair noticed the smoke billowing from the back of the bus even before the bus driver did. Carlos Perea recognized it was God's perfect timing. PEREA: “God put us in that place for a reason, that was to help. Help out the kids.” Angel Zarco explained they jumped into action. ZARCO: “We were just making sure that the kids were far away enough so they wouldn't get hurt.” The men made their way through the dark smoke to reach the final children in the back row.   ZARCO: “The bus caught fire right away, probably within like two minutes, three minutes. It all happened right away.” They evacuated all the students on board before hightailing it to a safe distance as the school bus burst into flames. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth!” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, November 10th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Jamal ad-Dīn Abū Muḥammad Ilyās ibn-Yūsuf ibn-Zakkī better known as Nizami is considered the greatest romantic epic poet in Persian literature. His love story of Layla and Majnun inspired the Eric Clapton hit record of 1970, "Layla" and there are monuments of Nizami as far as Beijing and Rome.     Nizami was born in the modern-day Republic of Azerbaijan around 1141CE and lived at the same time as Attar, the subject of our previous episode. What more can we say about his socio-political and cultural context? Like many of the poets we have examined, details of Nizami's life is sketchy. We learn his mother was Kurdish. He was married three times. What more can we say about his personal biography? Nizami's main works are five which are collectively called the Khamsa or Panj Ganj (Five Treasures). Let's talk about them. What translations and secondary resources would you recommend on Nizami? And finally let's end with a sample and translation.   Further Reading: Layli and Majnun (translated by Dick Davis) Khosrow and Shirin (translated by Dick Davis) Haft Paykar: A Medieval Persian Romance (translated by Julie Scott Meisami) The Treasury of Mysteries (translated by Gholam Hosein Darab)   Ali Hammoud: https://alihammoud7.substack.com/    We are sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit IHRC bookshop at shop.ihrc.org and use discount code AHP15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC bookshop for details. 

This week President Erdogan said Turkey had entered a ‘new juncture' in the Kurdish peace process, signalling he was open to the idea of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan addressing lawmakers. In another startling move, he also suggested that he was open to the release of the jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş. Lisel Hintz, Assistant Professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and an expert on Turkey, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what these steps could mean for the Kurdish peace process.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Erdoğan says Turkey has entered ‘new juncture' in Kurdish peace processIonian Sea gas exploration deal a ‘vote of confidence'Greece deepens US energy ties with first gas exploration deal in 40 yearsAnkara dismisses Eurofighter use conditions

In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Gönül Tol to discuss democratic backsliding in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The conversation explores how Erdoğan's crackdown against Turkey's opposition has reached new heights, with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other opposition party officials facing politically motivated charges. At the same time, Erdoğan is attacking opposition media, deepening talks with Kurdish leaders, and strengthening ties with the West — all with, at least in part, an eye to extending his rule beyond 2028. Tol unpacks the government's strategy, the risks to Turkish democracy, and what Erdoğan's growing international prominence means for the country's political future.    Recorded on November 4, 2025.   Read Gönül Tol's analysis of how Erdoğan uses Turkey's role on the global stage to tighten his grip on power here.   Listen to Rethinking Democracy here. 

The latest wave of Kurds is arriving from Turkey — fleeing political repression and nationalist hate groups. They're coming to a very different America than the Kurds who have called Nashville home for generations. It's an America in turmoil — a place where immigrants are increasingly seen as enemies within, to be rooted out and sent back to where they came from.In this final installment from The Country In Our Hearts, we meet a new generation of Kurdish Nashvillians and leave on a hopeful note with a Kurdish new year celebration.Series Credits:The Country In Our Hearts was reported and produced Rose Gilbert, who also produced the visual trailer. Meribah Knight edited and co-produced the series. Sound design by Martin Cruz, and traditional music is by Arkan Doski. The original logo artwork is by Nuveen Barwari.Special thanks to Paul McAdoo and Jennifer Nelson and huge thanks to Mehmet Ayaz, who made so much of this storytelling possible. Additional thanks for all of the people who welcomed Rose in Kurdistan, like Azad Sameen, the Barmarne family and the village of Chalke; and, of course, the many journalists she met along the way, Suha Kamel, Makeen Mustafa, Paul Idon, Namo Addullah and Wladimir van Wilgenburg.

With the PKK announcing disarmament, New Lines' own Zara Farouk speaks with, Ceylan Akca, a DEM Party Politician in Türkiye's Grand National Assembly. Together, they explore whether this moment marks a true turning point or another pause in a long, unfinished struggle and what comes next for Kurdish rights, representation, and reconciliation in Türkiye.

They opened businesses and raised their kids. As those kids grew up, they had to figure out how to navigate the world of a first-generation Kurdish-American teenager. And in that world, something new was forming — something that threatened to tarnish the sterling reputation their parents worked hard to build.The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance.But the story of the Kurdish people, no matter where they are, is a story about a country that only exists in the hearts of its people. And the lengths they'll go to make it real.Guest: Meribah Knight, editor and co-producer of the podcastSeries Credits:The Country In Our Hearts was reported and produced by Rose Gilbert, who also produced the visual trailer. Meribah Knight edited and co-produced the series. Sound design by Martin Cruz, and traditional music is by Arkan Doski. The original logo artwork is by Nuveen Barwari.Special thanks to Paul McAdoo, Jennifer Nelson and Samantha Max.

In this special broadcast, featuring episode 2 from The Country In Our Hearts, we see all this family lost to war and displacement. But also, what they are determined to reclaim and rebuild.The story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance.But the story of the Kurdish people, no matter where they are, is a story about a country that only exists in the hearts of its people. And the lengths they'll go to make it real.Guest:Dilman Yasin, cultural advisor of the podcastSeries Credits:The Country In Our Hearts was reported and produced Rose Gilbert, who also produced the visual trailer. Meribah Knight edited and co-produced the series. Sound design by Martin Cruz, and traditional music is by Arkan Doski. The original logo artwork is by Nuveen Barwari.Special thanks to Paul McAdoo, Jennifer Nelson and to the village of Chalke, and the people there who showed Rose so much hospitality.

Kurdish designer Lara Dizeyee is preparing a couture collection for Milan Fashion Week. Dizeyee fled Iraqi Kurdistan as a child, grew up in the US, and later returned to Erbil. Her designs draw on traditional Kurdish dress - layered garments, capes, and ornate headpieces - reimagined as bold evening wear. Her work is celebrated in Kurdistan, across the diaspora, and in the Arabian Gulf. Yet despite her growing profile, she lacked the funds to stage a show on the scale Milan demands. Arts journalist Melissa Gronlund follows her as she secures backing and races against time to source fabrics, sketch and sew designs, and collaborate with Kurdish artisans on jewellery and bespoke accessories. More than 30 outfits are completed and packed into suitcases carried by her extended family. On the big day, Dizeyee fits each model and navigates last-minute crises - models too short, earrings that won't fit, designs that misfire. But as the models walk out in her reimagined Kurdish looks, the emotion in the room is unmistakable. And in that final moment, as the Kurdish flag is symbolically recreated on the runway, Dizeyee presents her culture to the world.

WPLN's Rose Gilbert dives headlong into one family's migration odyssey from Iraqi Kurdistan to Nashville.To really understand what this family — and so many others — were fleeing from, we need to go back to one terrible, pivotal day in 1988. And to do that, we need to go to Kurdistan.The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance.But the story of the Kurdish people, no matter where they are, is a story about a country that only exists in the hearts of its people. And the lengths they'll go to make it real. Rose Gilbert, host and reporter of the podcastSeries Credits:The Country In Our Hearts was reported and produced Rose Gilbert, who also produced the visual trailer. Meribah Knight edited and co-produced the series. Sound design by Martin Cruz, and traditional music is by Arkan Doski. The original logo artwork is by Nuveen Barwari.Special thanks to Paul McAdoo, Jennifer Nelson, Namo Abdulla, Luqman Abdulqadir and the Halabja Chemical Victims Society.Audio of interviews with victims of al anfal chemical attacks came from the Kurdish Memory Programme. Audio of the interview with a Halabja chemical attack victim is courtesy of Kurdistan 24. 

A2 THE SHOW #585 Our next guest is Yesh Malik — a gay Iraqi Assyrian stand-up comedian based in New York City. Known for his hilariously wacky characters inspired by his immigrant family, Yesh has performed at top venues like The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, and The Stand NYC. In this episode, he opens up about identity, family, and the fine line between humor and politics. From navigating dating as a comedian to tackling Middle Eastern prejudice, cultural taboos, and the ethics of comedy, Yesh delivers both laughter and insight.⭐ INSTAGRAM: @yeshmalik_⭐WEBSITE: https://yeshmalik.com/⭐ Please visit our website to get more information: https://a2theshow.com/a2-the-show/⏰Timestamps:00:00 - Yesh Malik on identity and audience reactions in comedy08:49 - Cultural understanding and humor in stand-up15:25 - Family politics, culture, and sexuality24:37 - Prejudice against minorities in the Middle East32:09 - Comedy and marginalized communities42:23 - Israeli influence and Kurdish relations50:47 - Kurdish Jews and Middle Eastern narratives57:14 - Heritage, ethnicity, and Assyrian identity1:07:45 - Israel–Kurdish ties and resource exploitation1:14:07 - Rojava, borders, and historical claims1:21:48 - Dick Cheney, Iraq, and oil interests1:27:56 - Rojava and cultural representation in media1:34:12 - Allergies, misinformation, and comedy1:39:51 - Global LGBTQ+ safety and misconceptions

Baran Sogut, a Sydney-based Kurdish community activist, was part of a delegation from Australia which, in September, visited the Democratic Autonoumous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), the third of Syria liberated by Kurdish freedom fighters from the Bashar al-Assad dictatorship in the Rojava revolution of 2012 and over the following years from the brutal and reactionary Islamic State of Syria (ISIS). The delegation included Greens Senator David Shoebridge, the first Australian parliamentarian to visit NE Syria, as well as Kurdish Greens Inner West councillor Ismet Tashtan. Sogut spoke to Green Left's Peter Boyle about the gains and challenges of the Rojava revolution and in particular about his visit to Kobane, the city that was liberated from a siege by several Islamic fundamentalist militias in 2014–15. The Battle of Kobane was the turning point in an heroic struggle to defeat ISIS. We acknowledge that this video was produced on stolen Aboriginal land. We express solidarity with ongoing struggles for justice for First Nations people and pay our respects to Elders past and present. If you like our work, become a supporter: https://www.greenleft.org.au/support Support Green Left on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/greenleft Green Left online: https://www.greenleft.org.au/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenleftonline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/greenleftonline TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greenleftonline Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenleftonline/ Podbean: https://greenleftonline.podbean.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/greenleftonline Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenleftaction  

Descubrimos maravillosas músicas, muchas de ellas insólitas e inesperadas, siempre fascinantes y hermosas, a través de nuevos discos que nos traen conexiones persas, árabes y kurdas en la diáspora; encuentros de artistas chinos, indios y norteamericanos, y músicas únicas del pueblo tuareg, del Cáucaso del Norte y de Uganda. We discover wonderful music, much of it singular and unexpected, always fascinating and beautiful, through new albums that bring us Persian, Arab and Kurdish connections in the diaspora; encounters between Chinese, Indian and North American artists, and unique music from the Tuareg people, the North Caucasus and Uganda. - Mehrnam Rastegari - Naz - Dislocated pulse - Al Bilali Soudan - No. 27 - Chez Abellou - Tania Saleh - Ghasseel dmegh (Brainwash) - Fragile - Meral Polat - Ötme bülbül ötme - Meydan - Gao Hong & Baluji Shrivastav - Moonlight dance - Neelam - Paul Grabowsky & Mindy Meng Wang - Black diamond - Between dreams - Melodic Intersect - A silent whisper - Beyond borders - Muhamed Batit & Kavkaz Ensemble - Qerbech - Shopsh: Circassian vocal tradition of Zhiu [V.A.] - Katokye - Abanzira - Obuhangwa bwa Banyankore na Bahororo 📸 Katokye

The Kurdistan Workers' Party, otherwise known as the P-K-K, has announced it will withdraw its fighters from Turkiye after a decades-long insurgency. While the move has been welcomed by many, the P-K-K says it now wants to see Turkiye's government act in good faith to protect Kurdish rights and allow the group to enter mainstream politics.

From armed struggle to politics. The Kurdistan Workers' Party says it's withdrawing from Turkey after a decades-long fight for a Kurdish homeland. So, how will Turkey build on this move? And what does it mean for Kurds across the region? In this episode: Hiwa Osman, Former Adviser, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (2005-2008). Mohammed D Salih, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute. Hisyar Ozsoy, Former Deputy Chairman, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). Host: Adrian Finighan Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

PREVIEW: The Syrian Quandary: Clashes Threaten Security Gap and ISIS Reemergence GUEST NAME: Ahmad Sharawi (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) 100-WORD SUMMARY: Ahmad Sharawi discusses the fragmented Syrian quandary, which faces threats, chiefly from the Islamic State (ISIS). Recent clashes occurred between the Syrian government and the U.S.-allied, Kurdish-led SDF, which controls about 30% of northeast Syria. Although there are positive signs for the SDF to integrate into the Syrian military, a war between the forces (potentially involving Turkey) could create a security gap or power vacuum. This vacuum would lead to the release and regrouping of Islamic State terrorists from existing camps and prisons, causing a reemergence of ISIS that threatens the whole region.

The recent political reversal in Bolivia raises the question of whether the advances of nearly 20 years of rule by the indigenist left will survive—including a constitution that refounded the state as a "plurinational" republic. In Episode 299 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg explores how the lessons of the Bolivian experience can be applied to Syria, where the new revolutionary government faces a challenge in Kurdish and Druze demands for regional autonomy. New fighting in the Kurdish district of Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo city between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), armed wing of the Kurdish-led autonomous administration that still controls much of the country's northeast, points to the continued threat of ethnic war. Results in Syria's first post-revolution parliamentary elections (carried out in a controlled process by the central government, not popular vote) were tilted to the Sunni Arab majority. Exiled left-dissident Joseph Daher sees a consolidation of power by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the ostensibly disbanded Islamist formation that led the rebel offensive that toppled the old regime last December, and whose leader is the current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Can the current transition process in Syria return to the secular-democratic values of the 2011 Arab Revolution without a rethinking of nationalist precepts? In Episode 299 of the CounterVortex podcast Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/countervortex Production by Chris Rywalt We ask listeners to donate just $1 per weekly podcast via Patreon -- or $2 for our new special offer! We now have 61 subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 62!

Three years ago, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Jina Amini was fatally beaten by Iran's morality police. She'd been arrested for not following the Islamic Republic's dress code. Her death sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement, one of the largest uprisings in Iran in decades. Journalists Fatemeh Jamalpour and Nilo Tabrizy tell this story in their new book For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran's Women-Led Uprising. In today's episode, Jamalpour speaks with Here & Now's Jane Clayson about the movement and Iran's future.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Unforgotten Women of the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2024) by Dr. Gina Vale explores the governance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization through the lives and words of local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. While the roles and activities of foreign (predominantly Western), pro-IS women have garnered significant attention, the experiences and insights of local civilian populations have been largely overlooked. Drawing on the testimonies of 63 local Sunni Muslim and Yazidi women, Dr. Vale exposes the group's intra-gender stratified system of governance. Eligibility for the group's protection, security, 'citizenship', and entrance into the (semi-)public sphere were not universal, but required convergence with the gender norms of IS, through permanent erasure or at least temporary disguise of certain markers of difference. In some cases, this was directed by a pre-meditated 'divide and conquer' strategy, while in others, it manifested as unregulated violences at the hands of individual group members, including women. The structure follows the trajectory of IS's increasing control over its 'citizens' and captive populations: its militarization of society; imposition of law and order; provision of goods and services; and intervention in civilians' private lives. Analysis of diverse first-hand accounts and the group's documentation reveals that the presence, exclusion, and victimization of local civilian women were necessary to the functioning and legitimation of IS's 'caliphate' project, and the supremacy of affiliated men - and women. As a fledgling proto-state, IS needed local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. Though far from represented or protected, they were by no means forgotten. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Unforgotten Women of the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2024) by Dr. Gina Vale explores the governance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization through the lives and words of local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. While the roles and activities of foreign (predominantly Western), pro-IS women have garnered significant attention, the experiences and insights of local civilian populations have been largely overlooked. Drawing on the testimonies of 63 local Sunni Muslim and Yazidi women, Dr. Vale exposes the group's intra-gender stratified system of governance. Eligibility for the group's protection, security, 'citizenship', and entrance into the (semi-)public sphere were not universal, but required convergence with the gender norms of IS, through permanent erasure or at least temporary disguise of certain markers of difference. In some cases, this was directed by a pre-meditated 'divide and conquer' strategy, while in others, it manifested as unregulated violences at the hands of individual group members, including women. The structure follows the trajectory of IS's increasing control over its 'citizens' and captive populations: its militarization of society; imposition of law and order; provision of goods and services; and intervention in civilians' private lives. Analysis of diverse first-hand accounts and the group's documentation reveals that the presence, exclusion, and victimization of local civilian women were necessary to the functioning and legitimation of IS's 'caliphate' project, and the supremacy of affiliated men - and women. As a fledgling proto-state, IS needed local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. Though far from represented or protected, they were by no means forgotten. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

The Unforgotten Women of the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2024) by Dr. Gina Vale explores the governance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization through the lives and words of local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. While the roles and activities of foreign (predominantly Western), pro-IS women have garnered significant attention, the experiences and insights of local civilian populations have been largely overlooked. Drawing on the testimonies of 63 local Sunni Muslim and Yazidi women, Dr. Vale exposes the group's intra-gender stratified system of governance. Eligibility for the group's protection, security, 'citizenship', and entrance into the (semi-)public sphere were not universal, but required convergence with the gender norms of IS, through permanent erasure or at least temporary disguise of certain markers of difference. In some cases, this was directed by a pre-meditated 'divide and conquer' strategy, while in others, it manifested as unregulated violences at the hands of individual group members, including women. The structure follows the trajectory of IS's increasing control over its 'citizens' and captive populations: its militarization of society; imposition of law and order; provision of goods and services; and intervention in civilians' private lives. Analysis of diverse first-hand accounts and the group's documentation reveals that the presence, exclusion, and victimization of local civilian women were necessary to the functioning and legitimation of IS's 'caliphate' project, and the supremacy of affiliated men - and women. As a fledgling proto-state, IS needed local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. Though far from represented or protected, they were by no means forgotten. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/islamic-studies

The Unforgotten Women of the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2024) by Dr. Gina Vale explores the governance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization through the lives and words of local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. While the roles and activities of foreign (predominantly Western), pro-IS women have garnered significant attention, the experiences and insights of local civilian populations have been largely overlooked. Drawing on the testimonies of 63 local Sunni Muslim and Yazidi women, Dr. Vale exposes the group's intra-gender stratified system of governance. Eligibility for the group's protection, security, 'citizenship', and entrance into the (semi-)public sphere were not universal, but required convergence with the gender norms of IS, through permanent erasure or at least temporary disguise of certain markers of difference. In some cases, this was directed by a pre-meditated 'divide and conquer' strategy, while in others, it manifested as unregulated violences at the hands of individual group members, including women. The structure follows the trajectory of IS's increasing control over its 'citizens' and captive populations: its militarization of society; imposition of law and order; provision of goods and services; and intervention in civilians' private lives. Analysis of diverse first-hand accounts and the group's documentation reveals that the presence, exclusion, and victimization of local civilian women were necessary to the functioning and legitimation of IS's 'caliphate' project, and the supremacy of affiliated men - and women. As a fledgling proto-state, IS needed local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. Though far from represented or protected, they were by no means forgotten. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

The Unforgotten Women of the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2024) by Dr. Gina Vale explores the governance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization through the lives and words of local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. While the roles and activities of foreign (predominantly Western), pro-IS women have garnered significant attention, the experiences and insights of local civilian populations have been largely overlooked. Drawing on the testimonies of 63 local Sunni Muslim and Yazidi women, Dr. Vale exposes the group's intra-gender stratified system of governance. Eligibility for the group's protection, security, 'citizenship', and entrance into the (semi-)public sphere were not universal, but required convergence with the gender norms of IS, through permanent erasure or at least temporary disguise of certain markers of difference. In some cases, this was directed by a pre-meditated 'divide and conquer' strategy, while in others, it manifested as unregulated violences at the hands of individual group members, including women. The structure follows the trajectory of IS's increasing control over its 'citizens' and captive populations: its militarization of society; imposition of law and order; provision of goods and services; and intervention in civilians' private lives. Analysis of diverse first-hand accounts and the group's documentation reveals that the presence, exclusion, and victimization of local civilian women were necessary to the functioning and legitimation of IS's 'caliphate' project, and the supremacy of affiliated men - and women. As a fledgling proto-state, IS needed local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. Though far from represented or protected, they were by no means forgotten. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

The Unforgotten Women of the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2024) by Dr. Gina Vale explores the governance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization through the lives and words of local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. While the roles and activities of foreign (predominantly Western), pro-IS women have garnered significant attention, the experiences and insights of local civilian populations have been largely overlooked. Drawing on the testimonies of 63 local Sunni Muslim and Yazidi women, Dr. Vale exposes the group's intra-gender stratified system of governance. Eligibility for the group's protection, security, 'citizenship', and entrance into the (semi-)public sphere were not universal, but required convergence with the gender norms of IS, through permanent erasure or at least temporary disguise of certain markers of difference. In some cases, this was directed by a pre-meditated 'divide and conquer' strategy, while in others, it manifested as unregulated violences at the hands of individual group members, including women. The structure follows the trajectory of IS's increasing control over its 'citizens' and captive populations: its militarization of society; imposition of law and order; provision of goods and services; and intervention in civilians' private lives. Analysis of diverse first-hand accounts and the group's documentation reveals that the presence, exclusion, and victimization of local civilian women were necessary to the functioning and legitimation of IS's 'caliphate' project, and the supremacy of affiliated men - and women. As a fledgling proto-state, IS needed local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. Though far from represented or protected, they were by no means forgotten. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

The Unforgotten Women of the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2024) by Dr. Gina Vale explores the governance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization through the lives and words of local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. While the roles and activities of foreign (predominantly Western), pro-IS women have garnered significant attention, the experiences and insights of local civilian populations have been largely overlooked. Drawing on the testimonies of 63 local Sunni Muslim and Yazidi women, Dr. Vale exposes the group's intra-gender stratified system of governance. Eligibility for the group's protection, security, 'citizenship', and entrance into the (semi-)public sphere were not universal, but required convergence with the gender norms of IS, through permanent erasure or at least temporary disguise of certain markers of difference. In some cases, this was directed by a pre-meditated 'divide and conquer' strategy, while in others, it manifested as unregulated violences at the hands of individual group members, including women. The structure follows the trajectory of IS's increasing control over its 'citizens' and captive populations: its militarization of society; imposition of law and order; provision of goods and services; and intervention in civilians' private lives. Analysis of diverse first-hand accounts and the group's documentation reveals that the presence, exclusion, and victimization of local civilian women were necessary to the functioning and legitimation of IS's 'caliphate' project, and the supremacy of affiliated men - and women. As a fledgling proto-state, IS needed local Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish women. Though far from represented or protected, they were by no means forgotten. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly a year after Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus, Syria is struggling to chart a path forward. This week, Matt is joined by Aaron Zelin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who has just returned from a rare trip inside the country where he met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. They unpack Sharaa's unlikely rise from jihadist commander to head of state, the sectarian bloodshed testing his grip on power, Israel's relentless strikes and regional pressure, and the uneasy standoff with Kurdish forces in the northeast. From shattered infrastructure to fragile diplomacy, Aaron offers a first-hand look at a nation caught between rebuilding and relapse—and what the world should watch as Syria faces its most uncertain crossroads in decades. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. More of Aaron's work: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/aaron-y-zelin Read Aaron's Substack, Jihadology+: https://www.jihadologyplus.com Read Aaron's past work for Jihadology: https://jihadology.net Follow Aaron on Twitter/X: https://x.com/azelin Follow Aaron on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/azelin.bsky.social Aaron's analysis for The Washington Institute for Near East Policy "Sharaa Goes to the United Nations" by Aaron Zelin | Policy Watch 4108: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/sharaa-goes-united-nations "Delisting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham: Implications for US Counterterrorism and Syria Policy" by Aaron Zelin | Policy Watch 4077: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/delisting-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-implications-us-counterterrorism-and-syria-policy "Trump Meets Sharaa: Writing a New Chapter in US-Syria Relations" | Policy Watch 4039: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/trump-meets-sharaa-writing-new-chapter-us-syria-relations Further reporting for this episode "For the first time in nearly six decades, a Syrian president steps up to speak at the UN" by Jennifer Peltz & Bassem Mroue | AP: https://apnews.com/article/syria-united-nations-unga-c0471a2f7faece79fe15793fb0466501 "From al-Qaida to the Upper East Side: Syria's new leader makes his debut on the world stage" by Andrew Roth | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/24/ahmed-al-sharaa-united-nations-syria "Syria's President Says Border Deal With Israel Could Come 'Within Days'" by Ben Hubbard | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/world/middleeast/syria-israel.html "Syria risks rupturing as armed camps face off across the Euphrates" by John Davison, Orhan Qereman, Khalil Ashawi & Feras Dalatey | Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/investigations/syria-risks-rupturing-armed-camps-face-off-across-euphrates-2025-09-19/ Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/332708 YouTube: https://youtu.be/KDuPo7yiUIU Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photos by Richard Drew/AP & AFP Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

Lara Dizeyee, the rising star in fashion, is back with a powerful new collection at Milan Fashion Week. After her debut in Paris, which celebrated her Kurdish roots on a global platform, she returns with a more intimate and heartfelt presentation titled Milan Enchanted. In a candid conversation, Lara opened up about the differences between her shows, the significance of showcasing Kurdish culture, and the emotional journey behind her designs. - Lara Dizeyee, stêrka modayê ya hilketî, bi koleksiyoneke nû ya bihêz vedigere Hefteya Modayê ya Mîlano. Piştî pêşandana wê ya li Parîsê, ku koka xwe yên Kurd li ser platformeke gerdûnî pîroz kir, ew bi pêşkêşkirineke dilsoztir bi navê Milan Enchanted vedigere. Di sohbeteke xweş de, Lara li ser cûdahiyên di navbera pêşandanên xwe, girîngiya nîşandana çanda Kurdî û rêwîtiya hestyarî ya li pişt sêwiranên xwe diaxive

With Laura C. Forster and Joel White. What draws people into political movements? And what sustains us, in the face of defeat, infiltration and state repression? For the authors of Friends in Common: Radical Friendship and Everyday Solidarities, friendship is an undertheorised, but vital piece of the puzzle, and full of revolutionary potential.  In this episode we are joined by Laura C. Forster and Joel White for a conversation about the generative and prefigurative possibilities of friendship. We discuss family abolition and comradeship, the Kurdish idea of Hevalti, friendship as a form of social reproduction, and how the state simultaneously dismisses friendship and reads it as a threat. We talk about friendship in relation to solidarity, and whether far right movements are sustained by friendship too. Friends in Common is 40% off for podcast listeners on plutobooks.com. Use the coupon PODCAST at the checkout.

Turkey and the interim Syrian government fiercely oppose Kurdish self-rule. Researcher Meghan Bodette argues that the current dynamics will force them into changing tack, with all sides reaping the benefits of compromise.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Israeli army embarks on an major ground assault into Gaza City. One resident tells us she can't bear the thought of fleeing again.The offensive comes on the day a UN commission says Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.Also on the programme: the Hollywood legend Robert Redford has died at the age of 89. We'll hear from his friend, film producer Lord David Puttnam; and what's changed in Iran three years on from the death of a young Kurdish woman.(Photo: Displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip September 16, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)

About the Lecture: Dr. Saeed speaks about the Halabja Massacre that occurred on March 16, 1988—a chemical weapons attack under the direction of Ali Hassan al-Majid (“Chemical Ali”), a cousin of Saddam Hussein. The attack claimed between 7,000 and 10,000 civilian lives. Dr. Saeed will discuss the lasting impact on Kurdish and Iraqi history, its role in the discussion of genocide, and his own experience as a survivor of the attack. About the Speaker: Yerevan Saeed is the Barzani Scholar in Residence and the Director of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace at American University's School of International Service and a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington He is a TEDx speaker and former lecturer at the University of Kurdistan Hewler. Saeed previously was a visiting scholar and research associate at AGSIW. Saeed is a political analyst who researches and writes on security, political, and energy issues in the Middle East, focusing on Iraq, Turkey, Iran, the Gulf, and the Levant. He has served as White House correspondent for the Kurdish Rudaw TV, and his work has been published in the Washington Institute's Fikra Forum, the Diplomatic Courier, The New York Times, the London-based Majalla magazine, Rudaw, Global Politician, and several Kurdish newspapers. In addition, he has been interviewed by Voice of America, NPR, CNN, Voice of Russia, and Kurdish television programs and newspapers. From 2009-13, Saeed worked with Stratfor; additionally, he worked for several media outlets, including The New York Times, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, BBC, and The Guardian, as a journalist and translator in Iraq from 2003-07. Saeed holds a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, with a focus on Middle East studies and international negotiation and conflict resolution. He received his PhD from the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. He speaks Kurdish and Arabic and has a command of Farsi.

This week Thomas is joined by academic and RUSI fellow, Dr. Burcu Ozcelik, a leading expert on Turkish domestic and foreign policy, particularly its relations with the Kurds and the Middle East. With a Ph.D. from Cambridge University on the topic of the PKK and their path to political reconciliation, Burcu has written widely about the Kurds and their relationship with the Turkish state - you can find her work over on X @BurcuAOzcelik Burcu provides a deep dive into the history of the Kurds, a people divided across national borders after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and traces the evolution of the PKK from its Marxist-Leninist, separatist origins to a group that has now shifted its focus to achieving political and cultural rights within Turkey. The pair also explore the political motives of President Erdoğan and the Turkish establishment, who are seeking to finally resolve the Kurdish issue as a matter of long-term statecraft, before concluding with a forward-looking analysis of Turkey's role as a rising middle power in the post-Assad Middle East, which now prioritizes stability and economic connectivity over past ideological ambitions. To listen to the full episode, you'll need to subscribe to the Conflicted Community. And don't forget, subscribers can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more. All the information you need to sign up is on this link: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Conflicted is proudly made by Message Heard, a full-stack podcast production agency which uses its extensive expertise to make its own shows such as Conflicted, shows for commissioners such as the BBC, Spotify and Al Jazeera, and powerfully effective podcasts for other companies too. If you'd like to find out how we can help get your organisation's message heard, visit messageheard.com or drop an email to hello@messageheard.com! Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This keynote lecture delivered by Professor Hamit Bozarslan took place during the Kurdish Studies Conference organised by the LSE Middle East Centre and the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield. An expert in the Middle East, Turkey and the Kurdish question, Hamit Bozarslan has been director of studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris since 2006. A doctor of history and political science, he now focuses his research on the historical and political sociology of the Middle East, the revolutionary fact and violence present in the Arab world, and the formation of anti-democracies in the 21st century. Bozarslan is a regular contributor to French media such as Le Monde and is the author of a long list of works, including the essay 'Crisis, violence et dé-civilization' (2019), 'Révolution et état de violence: Middle East 2011-2015' (2015), 'History of Turkey: From the Empire to the Present' (2013), 'A History of Violence in the Middle East: From the End of the Ottoman Empire to al-Qaeda' (2008), 'From Political Struggle to Self-Sacrifice: Violence in the Middle East' (2004) & 'The Kurdish Question: States and Minorities in the Middle East' (1997). This event was chaired by Dr Zeynep Kaya. Zeynep is a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sheffield and a Visiting Fellow at the LSE Middle East Centre. Her main research areas involve borderlands, territoriality, conflict, peace, political legitimacy and gender in the Middle East. She is author of 'Mapping Kurdistan: Territory, Self-Determination and Nationalism' with Cambridge University Press. Zeynpe is co-convenor of the Kurdish Studies Series at the LSE Middle East Centre.

In this gripping second part of Episode 254 of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland sits down with former Green Beret Mark Gianconia to explore his extraordinary career in special operations. Unlike many post-9/11 operators, Mark's journey began in Kosovo, working alongside Russian forces in a vastly different operational landscape. Returning just before the 9/11 attacks, Mark shares his visceral reaction to the tragedy and how it propelled his unit into action. This episode takes you deep into his covert missions in Iraq, including the daring Advanced Force Operations (AFO) infil via rental cars from Turkey and the intense Operation Viking Hammer against terrorist strongholds like Ansar al-Islam. Expect raw, firsthand accounts of unconventional warfare, coordination with Kurdish allies, and the chaos of combat in the early days of the Iraq War. From dodging mortar fire to orchestrating airstrikes, Mark's stories offer a vivid window into the high-stakes world of special forces during a pivotal moment in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The National Security Hour with Al Johnson – Assyrian Christians face an existential threat in their ancestral lands, enduring ongoing persecution, displacement, and cultural destruction. I examine how U.S. policy backs Kurdish leadership despite credible abuse claims, driven by geopolitical leverage over moral consistency. Without a principled shift, America risks repeating past betrayals and enabling the erasure of Christianity's roots in...

The Unspeakable Things That Happened In The Armenian Genocide Watch this documentary at- https://youtu.be/FfW6pSCc_kQ?si=9Ac9e5jrDuW3cG0l A Day In History 814K subscribers 1,540,193 views Jun 6, 2023 #worldwar1 #armenian #ottoman The 20th century had no shortage of terrible events that cast a shadow over people today. The deaths of over a million Armenians is one such tragedy. Few tragedies have faced such bitter political discussion after the fact as the Armenian Incident. , others deny it ever happened, insist it was an accident, or that it was a justified response to a political threat. In this video, we look at the unspeakable things that happened in the Armenian Incident and how its complicated legacy is still hotly debated today. If you appreciate these videos, leave a like to show your support and subscribe to A Day In History for more content like this. Setting the Stage Nestled in the Caucasus Mountains on the border between Europe and Asia, Armenia's long history has seen it caught between countless empires. By the late 19th century, Western Armenia was firmly under the control of the Ottoman Empire while a smaller Eastern portion was controlled by the Russians. The Armenians of the Ottoman Empire faced many obstacles. As a Christian minority in a Muslim-majority Empire, they were subject to legal discrimination and higher taxes. Over time, racial ideologies that privileged ethnic Turks opened new opportunities for anti-Armenian discrimination. Another significant obstacle was their role as a middleman minority. A middleman minority is an ethnic group that is overrepresented in occupations like bankers, merchants, and bureaucrats relative to their small overall population. Other middleman minorities around the world included the Chinese in Southeast Asia, the Gujaratis in India, and most famously the Jews in Europe and the United States. Although only a small percentage of Armenians worked in these lucrative jobs, all Armenians were subject to discrimination that described them as parasites, thieves, and leeches who were stealing the wealth of the rest of the population. This caused outbreaks of violence and persecution throughout the late 19th century. The Ottoman government regularly seized Armenian land to redistribute to Muslim and Kurdish settlers and the Kurdish Hamidian regiments were given free reign to raid Armenian villages as part of their resettlement. Despite attempts to muster international support, the Armenians were left to defend themselves and formed a number of impromptu militia groups to defend their towns, but the Ottoman authorities interpreted this as a sign of rebellion and cracked down hard in the 1890s. #armenian #history #worldwar1 #ottoman #armenianhistory

Kurdish militant PKK group begins disarming, starting a process designed to end the Turkish conflict. Also: Southern Gaza's last hospital is forced to stop admitting patients as Israeli troops surround the facility.