Al-Monitor (Unofficial)

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter As US-brokered talks stall, Kurdish forces are preparing contingencies while continuing dialogue with Damascus to secure Syria’s future, SDF commander Sipan Hemo told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview.

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/sdf-commander-hemo-syrias-kurds-prepare-threat-war-damascus-talks-falter

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter As US-brokered talks stall, Kurdish forces are preparing contingencies while continuing dialogue with Damascus to secure Syria’s future, SDF commander Sipan Hemo told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview.

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/sdf-commander-hemo-syrias-kurds-prepare-threat-war-damascus-talks-falter

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter As US-brokered talks stall, Kurdish forces are preparing contingencies while continuing dialogue with Damascus to secure Syria’s future, SDF commander Sipan Hemo told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview.

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/sdf-commander-hemo-syrias-kurds-prepare-threat-war-damascus-talks-falter

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter As US-brokered talks stall, Kurdish forces are preparing contingencies while continuing dialogue with Damascus to secure Syria’s future, SDF commander Sipan Hemo told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview.

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/sdf-commander-hemo-syrias-kurds-prepare-threat-war-damascus-talks-falter

US to share draft UN resolution on Gaza with most of Security Council By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United States will share a draft resolution on President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza with the 10 elected members of the United Nations Security Council later on Wednesday, a U.S. official said.Representatives for Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates will join the U.S., "showing clear regional support," the official added.

US to share draft UN resolution on Gaza with most of Security Council - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-share-draft-un-resolution-gaza-most-security-council

Turkey, Hamas team discuss next Gaza plan phases, security sources say ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkey's MIT intelligence agency chief met Hamas' negotiating team head Khalil Al-Hayya on Wednesday and they discussed the path to be followed in implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire plan, Turkish security sources said.They said MIT chief Ibrahim Kalin met the Hamas delegation in Istanbul and they also discussed steps to ensure smooth operation of the ceasefire process and how to overcome existing problems. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

Turkey, Hamas team discuss next Gaza plan phases, security sources say - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/turkey-hamas-team-discuss-next-gaza-plan-phases-security-sources-say

Attack on funeral in Sudan's Kordofan region kills 40: UN An attack on a funeral in the strategic city of El-Obeid in Sudan's central Kordofan region killed 40 people, the UN said Wednesday, as paramilitaries looked poised to launch an offensive there.The United Nations' humanitarian office did not specify when the attack took place or who was behind it, but said that the situation in Kordofan was worsening.The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions more, with the fighting spreading to new areas in recent days, sparking fears of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe.

Attack on funeral in Sudan's Kordofan region kills 40: UN - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/attack-funeral-sudans-kordofan-region-kills-40-un

'Hostage diplomacy': longstanding Iran tactic presenting dilemma for West Iran since the Islamic revolution has employed the tactic of arresting Westerners in a bid to extract concessions from its foes, in a strategy of "hostage diplomacy" that has long presented Europe and the United States with a dilemma, observers say.Iranian authorities this week released two French nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, from jail in Tehran after more than three years. They had been convicted on charges of espionage but their families said they were innocent tourists unwittingly caught up in a wider game being played out between Tehran and the West.

'Hostage diplomacy': longstanding Iran tactic presenting dilemma for West - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/hostage-diplomacy-longstanding-iran-tactic-presenting-dilemma-west

Hamas armed wing says it will hand over the body of a hostage on Wednesday, as airstrikes continue in Gaza CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Hamas' armed wing said it would hand over the body of a hostage at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Wednesday, while the Israeli military said it had killed two Palestinians who had approached an area it occupied in a "threatening" way. Gazan health authorities said that Israeli fire had killed a Palestinian collecting firewood. The Israeli military was not able to immediately clarify to Reuters whether the incidents were related.

Hamas armed wing says it will hand over the body of a hostage on Wednesday, as airstrikes continue in Gaza - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/hamas-armed-wing-says-it-will-hand-over-body-hostage-wednesday-airstrikes

Factbox-Juan Carlos memoir chronicles chequered life of former Spanish king (Reuters) -Former Spanish king Juan Carlos published a memoir on Wednesday in which he details his achievements as monarch, his sadness at his estrangement from his family and self-exile from Spain, and his hopes for reconciliation.Below are some facts about his four-decade reign and the scandals marring his legacy.EARLY LIFE AND HANDOVER FROM DICTATORSHIP

Factbox-Juan Carlos memoir chronicles chequered life of former Spanish king - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/factbox-juan-carlos-memoir-chronicles-chequered-life-former-spanish-king

Israel extends arrest of military's former top legal officer, source says - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/israel-extends-arrest-militarys-former-top-legal-officer-source-says

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, largely stayed out of the spotlight during the campaign but her Syrian heritage has shaped her views and upbringing.

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/meet-rama-duwaji-mamdanis-wife-and-new-yorks-first-lady-syrian-descent

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, largely stayed out of the spotlight during the campaign but her Syrian heritage has shaped her views and upbringing.

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/meet-rama-duwaji-mamdanis-wife-and-new-yorks-first-lady-syrian-descent

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, largely stayed out of the spotlight during the campaign but her Syrian heritage has shaped her views and upbringing.

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/meet-rama-duwaji-mamdanis-wife-and-new-yorks-first-lady-syrian-descent

US pushes UN vote to revoke Sharaa sanctions before White House visit The Trump administration's effort to delist the Syrian leader has faced resistance from China.

US pushes UN vote to revoke Sharaa sanctions before White House visit - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-pushes-un-vote-revoke-sharaa-sanctions-white-house-visit

US pushes UN vote to revoke Sharaa sanctions before White House visit The Trump administration's effort to delist the Syrian leader has faced resistance from China.

US pushes UN vote to revoke Sharaa sanctions before White House visit - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-pushes-un-vote-revoke-sharaa-sanctions-white-house-visit

US pushes UN vote to revoke Sharaa sanctions before White House visit The Trump administration's effort to delist the Syrian leader has faced resistance from China.

US pushes UN vote to revoke Sharaa sanctions before White House visit - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-pushes-un-vote-revoke-sharaa-sanctions-white-house-visit

Turkey's Erdogan heralds "new phase" in PKK peace process ANKARA (Reuters) -President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey had entered a "new phase" in efforts to end Kurdish militant violence and signalled he was open to the idea of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan addressing lawmakers. Erdogan said he held "very constructive" talks last week with senior pro-Kurdish DEM Party leaders - who have urged the idea of Ocalan addressing a parliamentary commission on PKK disarmament - and he urged all actors to contribute.

Turkey's Erdogan heralds "new phase" in PKK peace process - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/turkeys-erdogan-heralds-new-phase-pkk-peace-process

Iraq's social media mercenaries dying for Russia Smiling broadly and clad in military fatigues, young Iraqi Mohammed Imad's last TikTok post was in a field carved up with heavy vehicle tracks in what appeared to be Ukraine. Smoke was rising behind him."Pray for me," read the caption next to a Russian flag.That was in May. Months went by without a word, only rumours. Mohammed had been taken hostage, was injured, had the flu or had been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike.

Iraq's social media mercenaries dying for Russia - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/iraqs-social-media-mercenaries-dying-russia

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, largely stayed out of the spotlight during the campaign but her Syrian heritage has shaped her views and upbringing.

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/meet-rama-duwaji-mamdanis-wife-and-new-yorks-first-lady-syrian-descent

Former Iraq PM Maliki could heavily influence election despite troubled past BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki remains a potent force in Iraqi politics despite long-standing accusations that he fuelled sectarian strife and failed to stop Islamic State from seizing large areas of the country a decade ago.As leader of the influential State of Law, a Shi'ite Muslim coalition, he is seen as having enough clout to decide who will become Iraq's next prime minister after a parliamentary election on November 11.

Former Iraq PM Maliki could heavily influence election despite troubled past - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/former-iraq-pm-maliki-could-heavily-influence-election-despite-troubled-past

Afghans call for Taliban government to help repair Blue Mosque after quake - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/afghans-call-taliban-government-help-repair-blue-mosque-after-quake

US may ask UN to mandate international force in Gaza for two years, document shows - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-may-ask-un-mandate-international-force-gaza-two-years-document-shows

IAEA says Iran must 'seriously improve' nuclear cooperation, FT reports - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/iaea-says-iran-must-seriously-improve-nuclear-cooperation-ft-reports

US asks UN to lift sanctions on Syria's president ahead of White House visit - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-asks-un-lift-sanctions-syrias-president-ahead-white-house-visit

Two French nationals freed by Iran under 'Islamic clemency', Iran's foreign minister says DUBAI (Reuters) -Two French citizens were freed because of "Islamic clemency" and are still in Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state media on Wednesday.The French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Iran had released Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, who were detained in Iran for over three years and were convicted of spying. The two are currently at the French embassy in Iran, Araqchi said, adding an Iranian woman freed by Paris earlier this year is at the Iranian embassy in France.

Two French nationals freed by Iran under 'Islamic clemency', Iran's foreign minister says - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/two-french-nationals-freed-iran-under-islamic-clemency-irans-foreign-minister

French pair released by Iran await return home - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/french-pair-released-iran-await-return-home

Macron presses Iran to allow released French pair to return home - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/macron-presses-iran-allow-released-french-pair-return-home

Germany offers to pay Afghans to drop relocation plans - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/germany-offers-pay-afghans-drop-relocation-plans

Spain's exiled former king feels abandoned by son, according to memoir - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/spains-exiled-former-king-feels-abandoned-son-according-memoir