October 2017
International Monetary Fund Reports Iran's Economic Growth at 12.5% for 2016
The IMF has revised Iran's economic growth for 2016 to 12.5%, citing significant increases in oil production and exports following the lifting of international sanctions.…
Spanish Central Government Takes Control of Catalonia
The Spanish government has taken control of Catalonia following a controversial independence referendum deemed illegal by courts. Ousted Catalan leaders, including Carles Puigdemont, have fled…
Hundreds of Thousands Demonstrate in Barcelona in Support of Spain's Unity
Hundreds of thousands demonstrated in Barcelona in support of Spain's unity, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the Spanish government and Catalonia's separatist movement. The Spanish…
Barzani Confirms His Resignation from Power
Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has confirmed his resignation effective November 1, prompting discussions in the Kurdistan Parliament about filling the…
Barzani Steps Down from Presidency of Iraqi Kurdistan; Power Sharing to be Discussed in Parliament
Masoud Barzani is stepping down from the presidency of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq after November 1, following pressure from the central government and internal…
At least 23 killed in twin car bombings in Mogadishu
A series of car bombings in Mogadishu resulted in at least 23 deaths, primarily among police forces, with the militant group al-Shabaab claiming responsibility. The…
Kurdistan Region: Agreement Between Iraqi Forces and Peshmerga for Ceasefire
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced a ceasefire agreement between Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga to halt fighting in northern Iraq, although details remain unclear.…
Spanish Senate Meeting to Approve Direct Rule over Catalonia
The Spanish Senate is set to decide on November 5 whether to revoke Catalonia's autonomy after local leader Carles Puigdemont refused to hold new elections.…
Iraq Rejects Proposal to Suspend Results of Kurdish Independence Referendum
Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi rejected the Kurdish proposal to suspend the independence referendum and called for its complete annulment. This rejection comes amid ongoing…
UN Special Rapporteur Urges Iranian Government to End Harassment of BBC Staff
The UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye has called on the Iranian government to cease harassment of BBC Persian staff after a complaint from the network.…
Ahmad Shahid: Religious Intolerance Has Increased Worldwide
Ahmad Shahid, the UN human rights rapporteur, reported that religious intolerance is increasing globally, with over 70 countries having laws against blasphemy. He called for…
The Kurdistan Regional Government Suspends Independence Referendum Results
The Kurdistan Regional Government has suspended the results of its independence referendum to ease tensions with the Iraqi central government, proposing a ceasefire and dialogue.…
Arrest of Another Christian Convert in Dezful
Abdolali Pourmand, a Christian convert in Dezful, was arrested by security forces amid increasing pressure on evangelical Christians in Khuzestan province. This incident highlights ongoing…
Spanish Government Announces Intent to Dissolve Catalonia's Local Government
The Spanish government announced plans to dissolve Catalonia's local government and hold new elections due to the separatist stance of its leader, Carles Puigdemont. This…
ISIS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Attack on Shia Mosque in Kabul
ISIS has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a Shia mosque in Kabul, resulting in at least 39 deaths and many injuries. The Afghan…
Two Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan Leave Dozens Dead
Two suicide bombings targeting Shia mosques in Afghanistan resulted in at least 72 deaths, highlighting ongoing violence against religious minorities. The Islamic State has been…
Journalist from Radio Farda Assaulted in Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Rasool Mahmoud, a journalist for Radio Farda, was assaulted in Iraqi Kurdistan by a group dissatisfied with U.S. policies regarding the region. This incident highlights…
Raqqa Completely Cleared of ISIS
Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the U.S., have declared complete victory over ISIS in Raqqa, handing control to local leaders. This marks a significant milestone…
Representative of Ayatollah Sistani Calls on Iraqi Government to Protect Kurdish People
Ayatollah Sistani's representative called on the Iraqi government to protect the Kurdish people amid advancing central government forces in Kirkuk, leading to mass Kurdish displacement.…
Kurdistan Region Officials: 100,000 People Have Fled Kirkuk
Following the central government's takeover of Kirkuk, nearly 100,000 Kurds have fled the city, which has been a point of contention between the Kurdistan Region…
Spanish Government Announces Intent to Directly Govern Catalonia
The Spanish government has announced plans to directly govern Catalonia in response to potential independence declarations. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has warned of enforcing Article…
Death of Dozens of Soldiers in Taliban Attack on Army Base in Kandahar
A Taliban suicide attack on an Afghan army base in Kandahar resulted in at least 43 soldiers dead and several others injured or missing. This…
UN Commission Calls for Halt to Death Sentence of Murder Suspect of Setayesh Qureshi
The UN Human Rights Committee has called for Iran to halt the execution of Amir Hossein Pourjafar, who was convicted of murdering a seven-year-old Afghan…
Parliamentary Elections in Iraqi Kurdistan Postponed
The parliamentary and presidential elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have been postponed due to insufficient candidates and internal political disagreements. Masoud Barzani's leadership…
Federal Judge in Maryland Halts Trump's New Immigration Order
A federal judge in Maryland has blocked significant parts of Trump's third immigration order, which restricts entry from several Muslim countries and North Korea, allowing…
Death of Senior Taliban Members Continues Amid Drone Strikes on Pakistan-Afghanistan Border
Recent U.S. drone strikes have killed several senior Taliban commanders, including members of the Haqqani Network, on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. This escalation in violence comes…
Issuance of Arrest Warrant for Two Catalan Independence Leaders by Spanish Court
A Spanish court has issued arrest warrants for two Catalan independence leaders, Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart, accusing them of organizing the independence referendum and…
Iraqi Forces Take Control of Kirkuk
Iraqi government forces have taken control of Kirkuk in response to a Kurdish independence referendum, altering the regional power dynamics. The operation has led to…
Reports of 'Gunfire Exchange' Around Kirkuk; Abadi's Statement on 'Cooperation' with Peshmerga
There have been reports of artillery exchanges between Iraqi government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga near Kirkuk, as Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi calls for cooperation to…
Iraqi Forces Begin Operations to Control Kirkuk Oil Fields
Iraqi forces have initiated operations to seize control of oil fields and an airbase in Kirkuk, currently held by Kurdish Peshmerga forces, amid rising tensions…
Kirkuk; Continued Standoff Between Government Forces and Peshmerga Following Baghdad's Deadline
Tensions continue to rise in Kirkuk as Iraqi government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga face off following a deadline issued by Baghdad for the Peshmerga to…
The Kurdistan Region Government Reopens Roads to Mosul
The Kurdistan Regional Government reopened roads to Mosul after briefly closing them due to concerns over Iraqi military movements. This incident follows heightened tensions after…
Catalonia's Response to Madrid's Deadline: Let's Negotiate
Catalonia's leader Carles Puigdemont has called for negotiations with Madrid regarding independence, criticizing threats from Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to suspend Catalonia's autonomy. The…
Concerns of Iraqi Kurds Over Baghdad's 'Military Movements'; Abadi: We Will Not Attack
Tensions are rising between the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the central government in Baghdad due to military movements and preparations for potential conflict. Kurdish…
Spanish Prime Minister Threatens Possible Revocation of Catalonia's Autonomy Again
The Spanish Prime Minister has threatened to revoke Catalonia's autonomy if its leaders declare independence. This follows ongoing tensions between the Catalan government and Madrid,…
"Six Days"; The Story of the Occupation of the Iranian Embassy in London
The film "Six Days" recounts the 1980 armed occupation of the Iranian embassy in London by six Iranian Arabs demanding the release of prisoners. It…
The Underprivileged: The Main Victims of Executions
On October 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty, human rights organizations highlight the ongoing use of capital punishment in Iran, linking it to…
Another U.S. Consulate Employee Summoned to Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul
A U.S. consulate employee in Turkey has been summoned for questioning related to last year's failed coup, following the arrest of his wife and daughter…
Russian Officials Announce Release of All Detainees from Saturday's Protests
Russian officials announced the release of all detainees from protests against President Putin, which coincided with his birthday. Thousands protested across multiple cities, with reports…
Hundreds of Thousands March in Barcelona Against Catalonia's Independence
On October 8, hundreds of thousands protested in Barcelona against Catalonia's independence, following a controversial referendum deemed illegal by the Spanish government. The Prime Minister…
Spanish Prime Minister Does Not Rule Out Suspension of Catalonia's Autonomy
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy indicated that he may suspend Catalonia's autonomy if independence movements continue. This comes amid heightened tensions following a controversial referendum…
Willingness of Both Parties in Spain to Resolve Crisis
The Spanish government has apologized for police violence in Catalonia, and both Catalan and Spanish leaders are showing a willingness to de-escalate the ongoing crisis.…
Oxford City Council Revokes 'Freedom of Oxford' Award from Aung San Suu Kyi
The Oxford City Council is set to revoke the Freedom of Oxford award from Aung San Suu Kyi due to her inaction regarding the Rohingya…
Turkey, Iran, and Iraq Decide on Closing Oil Flow from Northern Iraq
Turkey, Iran, and Iraq are collaborating to potentially close oil exports from northern Iraq to Kurdistan in response to a recent independence referendum. This decision…
Iran Ranked Nineteenth in Global Truck Production
Iran ranks nineteenth in global truck production with a significant decrease in output compared to previous years. Economic sanctions and the rise of Chinese truck…
An Overview of the Housing Market in Iran
The Iranian housing market has experienced fluctuations in transactions and prices, with recent reports indicating a temporary increase in prices and transactions. However, the market…
Catalonia Will Declare Independence in the Coming Days
Carlos Puigdemont announced that Catalonia will declare independence soon after a referendum showed 90% support for independence, despite opposition from the Spanish government. Protests erupted…
The U.S. Expels 15 Cuban Diplomats
The U.S. has expelled 15 Cuban diplomats in response to health issues affecting American diplomats in Cuba, citing Havana's failure to ensure their safety. This…
UN Calls for End to Persecution of Bahá'ís in Yemen
The UN has unanimously passed a resolution calling for an end to the persecution of Bahá'ís in Yemen and the release of imprisoned Bahá'ís. This…
The U.S. Seeks to Reduce Cuban Embassy Staff in Washington by 60%
The U.S. plans to reduce Cuban embassy staff in Washington by 60% following health concerns affecting American diplomats in Havana. This decision has led to…
Catalan Leaders: We Are Not Seeking a Bitter Separation from Madrid
Catalan leaders assert their right to independence following a controversial referendum, which the Spanish government deemed illegal. Despite police violence and injuries, Catalonia's government seeks…
Participation of Iraqi Forces in Iranian Army Exercises
The Iranian Army's military exercise 'Haider Karar' commenced with the participation of Iraqi forces at the western borders of Iran. This exercise aims to reinforce…
Madrid Threatens to Suspend Catalonia's Regional Government Activities
Spain's central government threatens to suspend Catalonia's autonomy if it declares independence following a controversial referendum. Catalonia claims that 90% of voters supported independence despite…
Trial of Suspects in the Murder of Kim Jong-nam, Half-brother of North Korean Leader, Begins
The trial of two women accused of murdering Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has begun in Malaysia. The women, who…
Catalonia's Local Government Claims '90 Percent' Voted for Independence
Catalonia's local government claims that 90 percent of voters in an independence referendum called for separation from Spain, despite the Spanish government's declaration of the…
Soheil Arabi's Mother to Seek Justice at Parliament
Farangis Mazloom, the mother of imprisoned political dissident Soheil Arabi, plans to confront parliament officials regarding the lack of action on the Supreme Leader's pardon…
Catalonia Officials Report Dozens of Injuries Following Sunday Clashes
Catalonia officials reported over 90 injuries following clashes between police and pro-independence protesters during a referendum attempt. The Spanish government has declared the referendum illegal…