The Hawraman Music Group performed traditional Kurdish melodies for European audiences in Brussels using instruments like the kamancheh, tanbur and daf alongside a harp. Supervisor Arad Imam Quli views art as the strongest method for introducing Kurdish heritage across the continent through cultural exchange. The ensemble has completed over 100 concerts throughout European cities during five years of collaboration.
Organizer Hiwa Ghulami distinguished these performances from typical dance events by focusing on authentic compositions that encourage attentive listening. Belgian student Estelle Mauro attended after previous travels with Kurdish friends and appreciated learning about the musical traditions. Europeans have responded...
Workers harvest apples across 8,000 hectares of orchards in Shino, Eastern Kurdistan, where production dropped 25 percent to 125,000 tons this season. Rising transport costs and storage fees strain profit margins while Iran bars exports and forces growers to sell domestically. Orchard owner Zahir Qaderzadeh says workers need expertise because damaged fruit ruins entire storage boxes destined for cold facilities.
The city operates 41 storage warehouses holding 150,000 tons, but fewer than 100,000 tons will fill them this year. Reduced yields cut seasonal employment for experienced laborers who sort and pack fruit bound for markets or winter storage. Sardar Mohammadi notes that apples ship to Eastern Kurdistan provinces or wait in...
President Masoud Barzani told a Russian Orthodox Church delegation Tuesday that Kurdistan's interfaith harmony stems from genuine conviction rather than mere policy. Metropolitan Anthony led the visiting group and praised the regional leader for cultivating peace among diverse communities. The president cited historical examples showing how different groups supported each other during hardships across generations.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met the same delegation earlier and reinforced that the government protects rights for all faiths. The Russian clergy described the region as fortunate because religious groups coexist peacefully with safeguarded freedoms. Officials pointed to 50 schools teaching the ancient Syriac language as...
Rescue teams searched through debris Tuesday at a collapsed Islamic school in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, seeking 38 people still missing after the disaster killed three others. The building on Java island fell Monday during afternoon prayers, trapping 102 people total beneath the rubble. National Search and Rescue Agency head Mohammad Syafii confirmed 99 survivors had been pulled from the wreckage while operations continued for those unaccounted for.
Two victims died from injuries while receiving emergency treatment Tuesday at a local hospital, according to health official Atok Irawan. The collapse highlights ongoing problems with lax construction standards across Indonesia. A similar incident earlier this month in West Java killed three...
The Kurdistan Regional Government operates 50 schools where students receive instruction in Syriac, an ancient language with millennia of history. Ninth grader Sherpil Shimul says learning in his mother tongue helps him comprehend lessons more effectively than other languages would allow.
The regional parliament established legal protections for minority language education in 1993. Prime Minister Masrour Barzani recently emphasized that peaceful coexistence defines Kurdish society and affirmed government support for religious and cultural diversity.
Students attend classes taught entirely in Syriac while also studying Kurdish, English and Arabic as part of the broader curriculum. Some Kurdish students have enrolled in these schools...
The Trump Organization partnered with Saudi developer Dar Global to build a $1 billion mixed-use development in Jeddah. Trump Plaza Jeddah will contain homes, offices and a green space modeled after Central Park. Eric Trump called the venture a blend of hospitality, residential living and business facilities.
The agreement extends Trump-branded properties across Gulf nations where Dar Global already constructs a hotel and villas in Muscat set for 2028 completion. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump manage the family business while their father retains ownership stakes. The May strategic partnership between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promised $600 billion in Saudi investment flows to America.
Trump defended the crown prince...
The Trump administration deported roughly 100 Iranians to their homeland aboard a chartered flight that left Louisiana on Monday night. The operation marks a sharp break from past American practice of sheltering people fleeing the Islamic Republic. Two senior Iranian officials and one American official confirmed the arrangement to media outlets.
Most deportees had their asylum claims rejected or never received immigration hearings. Some volunteered to leave detention centers after months of confinement while others did not choose departure. Iranian authorities promised the returnees that they would face no problems upon arrival, although officials acknowledged that many felt disappointed and frightened.
The collaboration between...
The White House released a comprehensive proposal Monday to end the Gaza conflict through an immediate cease-fire and territorial redevelopment. The plan calls for Gaza to become a demilitarized zone under temporary governance by an apolitical Palestinian committee with international oversight. President Donald Trump would chair a new Board of Peace to manage reconstruction efforts until the Palestinian Authority completes required reforms.
Hamas must return all hostages within 72 hours of Israeli acceptance, after which Israel would release 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023. The agreement offers amnesty to Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and weapon decommissioning. An...
Russia accused Europe of planning to steal frozen assets after the European Commission proposed a $165 billion reconstruction loan for Ukraine backed by profits from seized Russian funds. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the scheme would trigger legal battles and undermine confidence in Western financial institutions. Belgium hosts roughly two-thirds of the approximately $300 billion in Russian reserves that Western nations froze following the 2022 conflict escalation.
European leaders face opposition from multiple member states, warning that the confiscation plan violates international law. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever called the proposal a dangerous precedent as officials prepare to discuss the matter at a...
