According to Kurdsat reporter in the area, today in the village of Shinaghai Sargaran, the Iraqi army has arrested 12 Kurdish farmers for farming in an are banned for farming by the Iraqi army.

According to the relatives of the detained farmers, they were kept in military vehicles and were sent to the regimental headquarters and police station for investigation and legal action, but were later released on bail.

Dilêr Ahmad, a farmer in the area, told Kurdsat that the farmers were engaged in agricultural work and planting wheat, and did not harm anyone. The Iraqi army told them to stop farming and not to do anything else on the land after the harvest.

 

People's Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs Parvin Buldan and Medhat Sancar in a televised interview said, they failed to win enough votes in last month's parliamentary and presidential elections, and would leave their positions after the party’s congress that is to be held soon.

Therefore, taking into account the recent developments and changes, it has been decided to hold the congress in the coming months, the chairpersons announced. Because their goals were not achieved in the elections and as co-chairmen, their party is ready to hold them accountable for the election results, they added.

They said they have decided to resign as co-chairmen of the HDP and not run for any post in the next congress. They said they visited Demirtas, Figen Yüksekdağ and Gültan Kışanak and discussed all possibilities, developments and shortcomings.

Although, the party allied with Turkish opposition, they said that they did not relied on other parties during the election campaign.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement that in coordination with the intelligence agency in the area of Waday Shay in Kirkuk, and a number of ISIL fighters were killed in a bombing.

He said security forces have killed 10 ISIL fighters and destroyed a number of terrorist hideouts in different parts of Iraq in the past 24 hours.

ISIS terrorists are active in middle of Iraq, as the area is loosely populated and the issues between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army makes the area a safe haven for the terrorists.

The governors of Halabja and Kermanshah have agreed to open the Shushme border and it is scheduled to be officially opened to tourism and trade in the near future, the governor's press office said in a statement.

Halabja Governor Azad Tofiq met with Kermanshah Governor Tayeb Sahraei to discuss the opening of the Shushme-Tewela border located in Halabja. They called the opening of the border as important for tourism and trade, while stressed that they are in favor of opening the border as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Qader Qaderi, a preacher at the Great Mosque of Paveh, one of the oldest representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said in a Friday prayer that within the framework of an agreement between Kermanshah and Halabja provinces, the Shushme border is scheduled to be opened during Eid al-Adha.

Hammami said there is no law regulating the reproduction in Iraq. Increased public awareness of the importance of limiting fertility is the basis for controlling population growth in Iraq.

He said it was the duty of the government to find a real solution to the problem of population growth through legislation and planning.

In recent days, the Iraqi Ministry of Planning announced that, the population census has been postponed to October 2024 due to delays in approving the budget, adding that the population will reach 43 million by the end of this year.

In the message president Bafel Jalal Talabani said, he sends his respectful greetings to the late leader President Mam Jalal, the founders of the PUK and the engines of the revolution.

He emphasized the loyalty and commitment to the sacrifices of the martyrs and the unchanging principles of the PUK, which includes the consolidation of (peace, democracy, human rights and self-determination). The three slogans of the PUK.

President Talabani said that Kurdistan is going through a sensitive period and they have great challenges ahead of them. Therefore, they want dialogue and compromise to serve as the basis for resolving the issues and away from self-imposition, together to direct Kurdistan towards a brighter future.

He said the PUK has always taken the initiative for coordination and joint work to serve the people and must leave the conflicts in the past and move together towards a more stable future.

Three weeks have passed since the closure of the Semalka border crossing, the only economic and trade gateway in Rojava with the outside world, leaving six million people in a dire situation, according to western observers.

News agencies in Rojava report that prices of daily necessities have risen significantly due to the closure of the Semalka gate.

Construction materials and food have seen the biggest increase, double the price they were before the closure of the border.

Experts in the Europe say the continued closure of the border for those with limited incomes or live on daily wages is disastrous.

Rizgar Hama Khadr, advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) told Kurdsat that In today's meeting with the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture they agreed to increase the Kurdistan Region's share of wheat from 375,000 to 500,000 tons.

Baghdad is the primary customer to wheat produced in the Kurdistan region and many farmers prefer selling their produce to the federal government.

He added that the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture has decided to allow farmers to sell their agricultural products in central and southern Iraqi provinces. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG) expects this year's wheat production to be more than 1.8 million tons.

If the federal government does not purchase all the wheat from the farmers, the farmers must sell it in the market, the advisor said. The price of a ton of wheat in the market is about 600 to 650 thousand Iraqi Dinars.

Democracy is an ancient Greek word which simply means the rule or the power of the people.

Elections and casting ballots are fundamental principles of democracy, because in this process citizens determine their fate freely and equally. But the so-called democracy in our country has confused not only us, but also the linguistic and cultural experts of ancient and modern Greece!

It is true that there are several types of democracy, but our type is so strange and special that could be best summed up in a Kurdish proverb: it does not exist even in perfume bottles of perfumers, literally it means it is a needle in a haystack. That's why it hasn't been included in the list of other types of democracy..!

Our democracy is with whips, knives, and arm twisting!

I don't know why all the diplomatic and political arbitrators who encourage us to hold elections as soon as possible overlook the obstacles, injustice and unfavorable situation? Why, while they consider themselves the fathers of democracy, do they not see and hear that the reactivation of our expired electoral commission is illegal?

The electoral law amendment bill has been dusted in one of the corners of our parliament building and our voter registration is not relevant to this era and the population of our provinces. Moreover, our minority representatives are still demanding a solution to their problems...!!

Also, how would one explain the one million voters difference the Baghdad registered voters register and Kurdistan region registered voters?

According to experts, the increased number of voters are in Erbil and Duhok, while more than 60,000 votes have been reduced in Sulaimani!!

Isn't this in itself extremely unfair? If each seat in the Kurdistan Parliament is 35,000 votes, doesn't the increase of 561,000 votes mean securing 16 seats in Duhok and Erbil??

Isn't this in itself extremely unfair and undemocratic?? Strangely enough, everyone talks about consolidating democracy, respecting human rights and freedom of expression.

Everyone claims to work for free and fair elections. There is no party, movement, association, organization, coalition or personality that does not call for protecting the interests of the nation, people, citizens and citizens.

Unfortunately, very few people commit to their words and this is what undermines any process of progress in a land where its people are passionate and thirsty for true democracy...!!

Finally, if all the pressure is just to say thank God we follow democracy, then Sir, this is nothing but hiding under the veil of democracy and dozens of other elections will be held as long as the alphabet of democracy are not followed, we cannot be proud of our votes, equality and freedom.

Russian forces had fired a barrage of missiles at Kyiv on Monday, sending panicked residents running for shelter in an unusual daytime attack on the Ukrainian capital following overnight strikes.

"This morning, at dawn, a drone attack caused minor damage to several buildings. All the city's emergency services are on the scene ... No one has been seriously injured so far," Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said many drones had been downed near the capital.

"This morning, the residents of certain districts in the Moscow region could hear explosions, it was our anti-air missile defence system," he wrote.

"Several drones were shot down while approaching Moscow," he wrote, urging residents to keep calm and adding that "all rescue services are doing their work".

Moscow, located more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from Ukraine, has only rarely been targeted by drone attacks since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, even though such attacks have become more common elsewhere in Russia.

Images posted on social media showed traces of smoke in the sky. Others showed a broken window.

Sobyanin said the residents of two buildings damaged in Tuesday's strikes had been evacuated and added that they "can return to their apartments once the special services have finished their work".

In early May, two drones were shot down over the Kremlin in an attack blamed on Ukraine.

Demirtas responded to Erdogan and his supporters' demands for the death penalty from Edirne prison, saying they could not hang not only him but also his jacket.

Former HDP co-chairman Salahaddin Demirtas sent a tweet to Erdogan and his supporters. The old king continues his slander, threats and insults from the balcony of his expensive palace, drunk on a false victory, a group of cajolers hungry for lies standing in front of him shouting together and demanding his execution.

This demand was not made in old France, but in Ankara in 2023, but let them know that you cannot hang me, you cannot even hang my jacket, he said.

I am is the descendant of the great Kurdish commander Saladin, the liberator of Jerusalem, and I promise to treat you all fairly one day, Demirtas tweeted.

On the night of May 28, Erdogan delivered a victory speech in front of tens of thousands of supporters in front of the presidential palace in Ankara, saying Demirtas would never be released under his rule.

 

"We hope that the next five years of your presidency will be a new stage and opportunity for opening up and resolving issues and be a factor of peace and stability in Turkey and the region," the PUK Political Bureau told Erdogan.

Voting in the second round of the Turkish presidential election began on May 28.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared victory Sunday in a historic runoff vote that posed the biggest challenge to his 20 years of transformative but divisive rule.
Message of the Political Bureau of the PUK:

Mr. Sayin Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey

On the occasion of your re-election as President of Turkey, we extend our warmest congratulations to you and the people of neighboring and friendly Turkey, we hope that the next five years of your presidency will be a new stage and opportunity for opening up and resolving issues and be a factor of peace and stability in Turkey and the region. In particular, we as the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) want a more friendly and effective relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey.
Congratulations once again

Political Bureau
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

Once completed, the $17 billion project known as the "Route of Development" would span the length of the country, stretching 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) from the northern border with Turkey to the Gulf in the south.

Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani announced the project during a conference with transport ministry representatives from Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

"We see this project as a pillar of a sustainable non-oil economy, a link that serves Iraq's neighbors and the region, and a contribution to economic integration efforts," Sudani said.

While further discussions are required, any country that wishes "will be able to carry out part of the project", the Iraqi parliament's transport committee said, adding the project could be completed in "three to five years".

"The Route of Development will boost interdependence between the countries of the region," Turkey's ambassador to Baghdad Ali Riza Guney said, without elaborating on what role his country would play in the project.

War-ravaged and beset by rampant corruption, oil-rich Iraq suffers from dilapidated infrastructure.

Its roads, riddled with potholes and poorly maintained, are in terrible condition.

Those connecting Baghdad to the north cross areas where sporadic attacks are still carried out by remnants of the Islamic State group.

Sudani has prioritised the reconstruction of the country's road network, along with upgrading its failing electricity infrastructure.

"On Wednesday, May 24, Qubad Talabani called him and congratulated him for his brave stand to save the lives of 30 people and told him that we are proud of him as a Kurd," Mahmoud said.

"I was very happy that the Deputy Prime Minister called me and congratulated me. Such positions are an encouragement to all Kurds abroad in various ways to enhance the name and reputation of the Kurds among other countries," Mahmoud said.

Sarwar Mahmoud, a 39-year-old British citizen from Kalar. He saved the lives of 30 people when he saw a building on fire due to an electrical short circuit on last Wednesday. He is known in the British media as the brave boy and is widely praised for his attitude.

There is no injustice in the composition of the Kirkuk branch of the Election Commission, said Biryar Shuani, a representative of the Kurdish parties in a press conference. However, there is a lot of injustice against the Kurds in government offices and the Northern Oil Company, and only 22 out of 109 directors are Kurds. There are no Kurds on the 12 boards of directors of the Northern Oil Company.

He said that in all elections, the Kurds had 55% of the votes in Kirkuk and Kurds should have held the majority of the posts, but for six years, the governor of Kirkuk, which is the legitimate right of the Kurds, is taken by an Arab.

The representative of the Kurdish parties in Kirkuk called on the branches of the federal government to redistribute the administrative posts according to elections results.

 

Secular candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu alarmed his leftist Kurdish supporters by starting to court staunchly nationalist voters after losing to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the first round on May 14.

Kilicdaroglu put together the opposition's best performance of Erdogan's two-decade era in what is widely seen as Turkey's most consequential election of its post-Ottoman era.

But the 74-year-old still enters Turkey's first runoff vote Sunday trailing the conservative incumbent by nearly five points.

The pro-Kurdish HDP party and its green allies -- the third-largest voting bloc in the new parliament -- expressed particular alarm when Kilicdaroglu joined forces with a fringe far-right group this week.

Kilicdaroglu also unsuccessfully courted the endorsement of Sinan Ogan -- an ultra-nationalist who finished a distant third in the presidential ballot and threw his support behind Erdogan on Monday.

Turkish media reported that some HDP members wanted to call for a boycott of the second round in protest at Kilicdaroglu's tactics.

But HDP co-leader Pervin Buldan told reporters that staying away from the polls would only help Erdogan secure another five-year term.

"Erdogan is not an option for us," Buldan said.

"On May 28, we will complete the work that we left unfinished on May 14. In the face of those who try to prevent this demand for change, we will definitely go to the polls."