In a statement, on October 5, the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government said, “Up to 500 soldiers may be deployed up to October 31, 2023, to help bring about a long-term stabilization in Iraq.”

“This decision by the Federal Cabinet still has to be approved by the Bundestag,” the statement said. Analysts familiar with the matter believe that the Bundestag would approve the decision. 

The Press office added, “The Federal Government of Germany has decided continue the deployment of German armed forces with a view to securing stabilization, preventing the resurgence of IS, and promoting reconciliation in Iraq.”

“IS continues to carry out attacks against Iraqi forces, local administrative structures, and critical infrastructure in Iraq,” The German Press Office said was the reason behind extending Germany’s military mission in the region.   

Germany has 500 military advisers in the Kurdistan region and Iraq, whose mission is to train and provide intelligence and military information to enhance the capacity of the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army in the fight against ISIS.

The federal government said that it helps Iraq include “Air-to-air refueling, air transport, ground-based airspace surveillance and staff personnel, participation in NATO AWACS air surveillance flights, and advisory and staff personnel in the missions of the international anti-IS coalition as well as NATO.”

In 2014, Germany began assisting the Peshmerga forces and provided weapons and ammunition to them. The German Federal Office has delivered close to three billion euros to the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces since 2013, according to the German Press and Information Office.

Many Kurds and Iraqis reside in Germany, maintain close contact with kin in Iraq and send millions of euros in remittances back to Iraq.

A Ministry of Education formal directive dated October 6 informs its administrative division across Iraq that all students of Arabic language education schools shall pass Kurdish language class, even if they lack the legally required grades. 

English Journalist Shalaw Omar from Kirkuk told KurdSat that Baghdad gradually works to push away Kurdish language education and said, "every year Kurdish language education students face many problems, whereas the education is legal."

The ministry's decree only covers Arabic language schools, not Kurdish ones. A Kurdish student failing an Arabic language class would count as falling in the entire school year. 

Omar added, "The decision that makes one pass a class even though they fail the subject would encourage students to ignore it and undermine it in their eyes," Omar added. 

"It is a wrong decision that violates the constitution because Kurdish and Arabic are the official languages of Iraq," Chairman Kirkuk branch of Kurdistan Teacher's Union Kamal Sharif told KurdSat English. 

Iraqi lawmaker Sabah Qadir has sent the ministry of education a formal letter asking for revising the ministry's directive, calling it a violation of minatory rights in Kirkuk, especially the Kurds. 

In an interview today, Friday, Director of General Board for Kurdistani Areas Outside the Region (GBKAOR) Fahmi Burhan told KurdSat English, "I believe that the Ministry of Education's decision is part of the process against the Kurdish language in the region and Kurdish agriculture and efforts against our farmers, and education in the past few months is not new." The director was referring to Kirkuk's efforts that downplay the use of the Kurdish language in the governorate and the disputed territories. The use of the Kurdish language on billboards and public places was removed, while other minority languages, such as Turkmen and Assyrian, have remained.  

"Recently, Kirkuk health directorate decided to ban the use of the Kurdish language on its letterheads and paperwork, revealing a push against the Kurdish language. A chauvinistic outlook is leading to undermining the constitution and coexistence in the region, and there is no justification for the ministry's decision," the director added.

"We would take legal action as GBKAOR and call on civil society NGOs to take to the street," the directed told KurdSat English. 

The move comes amid other Arabization in the Baghdad-controlled Kurdish regions since the 2017 independence referendum that relocated control from the peshmerga forces to the Iraqi army and militia. 

Many Kurdish officials have been sidelined in the disputed territories, especially Kirkuk's administration and security forces, and replaced with Arab and Turkmen officials. Also, preventing Kurdish farmers from watering their crops and forcing or encouraging Kurdish villagers to leave the disputed territories have been among the numerous soft Arabization efforts since 2017. 

The disputed territory authorities expel Kurdish farmers from their farmlands; even if a farmer has his crops planted, the authorities will prevent them from irrigating their farm and ask them to leave. The decision is justified by paperwork done in the Baathist era that "proves" that the farmlands belonged to Arabs. 

Baghdad is largely silent on the matter, and no effort is made to stop the soft Arabization of the disputed territories. The 2005 Iraqi constitution asks residents of the disputed territories to decide in a plebiscite whether they want to go with the Kurdistan Region Government or Baghdad. It limits the time to conduct the referendum to be at most six months. Seventeen years on, still the region remains disputed between the Kurdistan region and Baghdad. 

Swedish News' weekly satirist show, similar to American talk shows, makes fun of politicians and figures worldwide. In its recent episode, named "veto Turk," hosted Swedish-Kurdish Kadir Meral, a satirist who gave a two-minute performance in Kurdish.

Meral calls Erdogan "a fool" and "grumpy," Erdogan is depicted bending over in his underwear for his demands from Sweden in the face of the country's bid to join NATO.

Meral ends his talks by saying long live democracy with a flag of Kurdistan displayed on his left, and the show finishes with Kurdish traditional music of trumpet and drum. 

Turkey formally complained to Sweden over an "ugly" satire TV show that aired "insulting content" about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Middle East Eye reported. 

On Wednesday, the Turkish foreign minister handed the Swedish Ambassador a strongly worded complaint, KurdSat English has learned.

It was claimed that the statements could not fall under freedom of expression, Reuters reported. The move sparked fierce criticism in Turkey. The pro-Erdogan newspaper Sabah called the show a "shame for Swedish television."

"The Turkish foreign ministry summoned today the Swedish ambassador to Ankara, Staffan Herrstrom, because of a broadcast on Swedish television (SVT) that contained insulting statements and images against Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Anadolu news agency wrote.

In the dressing down, Herrstrom was told that the "impertinent and ugly expression and images" about Erdogan and Turkey were unacceptable, according to the agency. 

"We had seen it before in German cases where comedians played with Erdogan when he gave it a lot of space and was upset about it and affected the diplomatic relations with the countries, citing SVT's Turkey correspondent Tomas Thorén Tellerport reported.

Svenska Nyheter publisher Ebba Adielsson does not want to comment on the Turkish criticism specifically but says that it will not affect the program's content going forward, the Swedish paper Expressen reported.

Sweden is home to a substantial Kurdish diaspora that have many members in the Swedish national assembly and hold several senior positions in the government, denying Swedish-Kurdish citizens the same rights are other Swedish citizens is not fair, a Kurdish activist told KurdSat English. 

This show comes before a Swedish delegation travels to Turkey next week to talk Erdogan into their membership in NATO, as the war in Ukraine takes unexpected and rapid turns. 

On 28 June 2022, in the sidelines of NATO summit in Madrid; Turkey, Sweden, and Finland signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address security concerns raised by Turkey and lift Turkey's veto on Finland's and Sweden's membership of NATO. 

The TMOU seems to have stalled, and it seems that freedom of expression in Sweden might be one of the main obstacles in front of the country joining NATO, as Turkey's suppression of dissidents has been one of its main obstacles to joining the EU in the past two decades.

I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to all our Yazidi brothers and sisters in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the world on the occasion of the return of the Yazidi holiday of Jamma, the DPM said.

Qubad Talabani added, on this occasion we assure our Yazidi brothers and sisters that we will continue to support their legitimate demands, especially the search for the missing and the recognition of the atrocities committed against the Yezidis as genocide.

Jamma is the longest lasting Yazidi feat. It begins in October and lasts for seven days. Several religious ceremonies are held during this holiday. Followers of this religion from all over the world flock to the Lalesh temple in Sinjar, and pray for their wishes.

Iranian artillery shelled the areas of Nawrubara, Guarasaya and Katina village in Bradost this morning, KurdSat English reporter said.

The reporter added that the Iranian shelling had caused fear and anxiety among the people and damaged fields, gardens, and the region’s environment.

Over the past 13 days, Iran has continuously shelled eight villages in the Kurdistan region’s Bradost area, displacing residents and damaging the property of about 500 farmers. Two schools have been closed, and the shelling prevents over 50 students from going back to school. 

Since late September 2022, Iran has begun a coordinated attack on the Kurdistan region following nationwide protests at the death of a 22-year-old girl in the custody of Iran’s morality police. 

RSF tweeted that since September 16, Iranian security forces have detained over 28 journalists and called for their release. 

Iran has arrested many journalists that covered the death of Zhina Amini. The 22-year-old Kurdish girl who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police. The police detained journalist Nilofar Hamidi of Sharq daily, who went to the hospital where Amini was in a coma and helped expose the case to the world.

The organization explained it has the names of 28 journalists arrested by the Iranian authorities and called on the international community not to allow the Iranian government to respect freedom of the press in the country. 

According to RSF, Iran is one of the world’s ten worst countries for press freedom and remains one of the worst places for journalists. According to RSF’s website, since January 2022, one journalist has been killed in Iran. 

The Iraqi Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of a complaint filed against the remittance of 200 billion dinars to the Kurdistan region until November 25, citing the absence of a representative of the Iraqi Ministry of Finance.

In May, an Iraqi Council of Representatives member filed a complaint against the Ministry of Finance for sending 200 billion dinars to the Kurdistan Region.

In 2013, a dispute emerged between the Kurdistan region and Baghdad that culminated in Baghdad’s withholding of the region’s budget share, equal to an effective financial blockade on the Kurdistan region. 

Numerous KRG delegations have been to Baghdad to restore the KRG’s share of the Budget that former prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki’swas terminated during his premiership in 2014. 

Speaking to Al-Rafidain News, Coordination Framework leader Jamal Hassan said, "Successive Iraqi governments have made a big mistake in the fight against corruption because they did not issue decisions to prevent the travel of prime ministers, ministers, directors, and cabinet officials involved in corruption." 

Most senior Iraqi officials, including the President and Prime minister, possess second citizenship and would move to their second destination after their official duties are over in Iraq. 

The cases involve ministers, directors, and officials who have traveled abroad without being held accountable after finishing their duties; most of them possess foreign citizenships that make it very difficult to return looted cash to Iraq, Hassan explained. 

Hassan said the Coordination Framework currently discusses avoiding past mistakes, barring officials from traveling, and banning Kadhimi and his cabinet ministers from traveling after the formation of the new Iraqi government.

"Making such a decision is very plausible, and we hope to implement it to overcome the mistakes of previous governments and contribute to reducing any corruption and preventing any loophole through which those accused of corruption can travel abroad," Hassan added.

Iraq leads global corruption perception indices and scores worse year after year. Even though various anti-corruption committees are established to fight corruption, and many corruption scandals have been revealed, corrupt officials usually leave office without a scratch.

Regarding the UNSC meeting, yesterday and the UN Secretary-General envoy to Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert's remarks on Iraq, the Sadr Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr tweeted, "the main reason for what is happening in Iraq is corruption, and the first step to reform is the keeping the old figures and their parties away from the next government.

He said he would agree to dialogue if it was open and aimed at removing all participants in the political process and past elections and holding corrupt officials accountable by an unbiased court.

Al-Sadr also praised the Security Council for supporting Iraq against the bombings and called on neighboring countries to respect Iraq's sovereignty.

Finally, the leader of the Sadr Movement thanked the UN envoy for his remarks and called on her to continue her neutrality.

Almost a year has passed since Iraq held its general parliamentary elections, and still, the country has yet to agree to form a new government. Numerous negotiations have collapsed since, and different armed political parties almost clashed in Baghdad over forming the next government. 

When Muqtada al-Sadr withdrew from the parliament and claimed to exit from politics, the situation turned negative, and violent clashes in Baghdad killed many protesters. 

The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 2022, under the chairmanship of Bafel Jalal Talabani, as an extension of other political gatherings.

Deputy Chairman of the PUK Leadership Council, Mustafa Chawrash, said the meeting would be with the PUK members in the parliament and the PUK members in positions of government and will discuss the people's problems and find ways to address them to serve the people.

"The PUK considers itself the owner of this experience [inviting its members in state institutions to consultation] and is a major and influential party in the Kurdistan region," he added.

He explained that the Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament, Rewas Fayeq, would present bills and regulations related to the people.

"As for the government, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani will speak about the government projects, as well as issues related to the lives and welfare of the people," he said.

"They will support the government and parliament in their projects for the people, and we will address the obstacles and solve them," he said.

The PUK has increased its efforts to help and guide its members in the Kurdistan regional government and parliament. 

Protesters and political parties had stalled the parliament’s meetings numerous times when it tried to elect the president and the prime minister. 

Coordination Framework is the largest faction that has fulfilled its duty and appointed Mohammed Shia Sudani as prime minister, and said the House of Representatives is likely to meet next weekend to set a new president, Shammari noted. 

Earlier, Abbas Amiri, a member of the Coordination Framework, said the Kurdish forces had been given ten days to agree on a candidate for the presidency.

Almost a year has passed since Iraq held its parliamentary elections. The country has remained divided over electing its next president and prime minister in the parliament. 

The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said during statements to reporters by phone today, Wednesday, that an official indication of the US Department of Defense that Kyiv may use American equipment and weapons to strike targets in Crimea is very dangerous and evidence of Washington's direct involvement in the conflict, according to Reuters.

It came in response to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper, who pointed out that Washington considers delivering Ukraine the HIMARS launchers capable of reaching the "vast majority" of Russian targets, including Crimea.

She also made clear in statements yesterday that the Pentagon does not see any need to provide Ukrainian forces with ATACMS tactical missiles with a range of up to 300 km, in addition to the GMLRS guided missiles with a range of 80 km that they already have. "According to our estimates, with the help of GMLRS missiles they have for HIMARS launchers, they can eliminate the vast majority of targets on the battlefield," she added.

It is noteworthy that the United States pledged again yesterday to provide an additional $625 million in military aid to Kyiv as part of a package that includes advanced missile systems from HIMARS that is credited with helping the Ukrainian army gain momentum in its fight against Russian forces, during the attack. The counterattack launched a few weeks ago in the south and northeast of the country, regaining control of dozens of towns that had been in the hands of the Russians for months.

Following Ukraine's initiative in regaining lost territory, Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions to deny Ukraine any more advancements and challenge them with the possibility of a nuclear strike, as the Kremlin has repeatedly threatened to do so. 

Since last July, the HIMARS system has become a significant tool in Ukraine's ability to strike the bridges that Moscow used to provide its forces with equipment, ammunition, supplies, and others. It has contributed significantly, in addition to other missile systems, to support the Ukrainian army.