Last week Turkey announced the beginning of Operation Kiran, an offensive in the southeast of the country against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Simultaneously, Turkey's Operation Claw is targeting PKK bases in neighbouring Iraq. Turkey also remains poised for a third intervention in Syria against the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara claims is a PKK affiliate.
Also last week, Ankara removed three democratically elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office, as well as several elected muhtars, or village heads, under dubious terrorism-related charges. This led to wide-spread demonstrations in the southeast and harsh police crackdowns against protesters. The mayors were elected just months ago and came into office after similar removals of Kurdish mayors in 2016. It is now a cycle that Ankara replaces elected Kurdish officials with its own handpicked allies.
These developments highlight Turkey’s enduring Kurdish conflict, which, from a global perspective, stands out as an anomaly. In recent years, similar conflicts across the world have been resolved. In 1998, the Provisional Irish Republican Army laid down its weapons and signed the Good Friday power-sharing agreement. In 2010, the Basque separatist group Eta, which had been fighting the Spanish government for decades, agreed to a ceasefire, leading to the end of armed conflict last year. In 2016 the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, otherwise known as the Farc, ended its decades-long Marxist guerrilla war and an agreement with the state was ratified the following year.
Turkish Kurds watched in horror as their brethren faced an ISIS onslaught while the Turkish government looked on
However, Turkey’s conflict with the PKK endures and continues to spill over into neighbouring countries. The reason is threefold; the lack of legitimacy of the Turkish state among significant segments of the Kurdish population; Ankara’s crackdown on not just the PKK but also non-violent outlets of Kurdish political expression; and the unwillingness of the Turkish state to make significant political concessions.
Turkey's war against the PKK has been fought since the 1980s. It has claimed the lives of an estimated 40,000 people. Thousands of villages were destroyed, millions were displaced and human rights abuses, disappearances and extrajudicial killings were the norm. The brutal nature of the violence and the denial of Kurdish cultural rights and national identity contributed to the lack of legitimacy of the Turkish state in the eyes of many Kurds. This, plus the underdevelopment of the southeast, sowed the seeds of perpetual conflict.
In 1999, Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK's co-founder and leader, was captured by Turkish special forces. After his trial, he was found guilty and imprisoned. However, it took a decade after Ocalan's conviction for the government, under the leadership of president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, to make overtures to solve the Kurdish issue. First there was the so-called Kurdish Opening, which saw secret discussions with the PKK and a limited easing of restrictions, including the public use of Kurdish. When these talks stalled, it wasn't until 2013 that the "solution process", an even more meaningful dialogue between the state and the PKK, took place.
However, throughout this period of supposed reconciliation, the government continued its crackdown. Between 2009 and 2011, many activists from the political organisation Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), which Ankara says is the urban wing of the PKK, were arrested and tried, shattering Kurdish trust. This was despite many of the detained being members of the parliamentary Democratic Society Party which itself was then banned, the usual fate of Kurdish political parties.
However, the efforts from 2013 to 2015 were in vain. They were severely strained by developments in neighbouring Syria – first by the anger of Turkish Kurds, who watched in horror as their brethren faced an ISIS onslaught while the Turkish government looked on, and then by the PKK, which felt emboldened by YPG gains in Syria.
Ankara restricts alternative non-violent expressions of Kurdishness, denying millions a voice and exacerbating tensions
The ceasefire collapsed and once again the southeast resembled a war zone. To make matters worse, the pro-Kurdish and liberal Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which gained seats in parliament after attracting millions of voters in 2015 and 2018, has had its leadership decimated, including the continued detention of its charismatic presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas. In other words, the state continues to not only target the violent activities of the PKK, which it deems a terrorist organisation, but Ankara also restricts alternative non-violent expressions of Kurdishness as well, denying millions a voice and exacerbating tensions.
Truth be told, the opening and the 2013 to 2015 dialogue was unlikely to succeed. Although Ankara showed willingness to grant cultural rights, the minimum of Kurdish political aspirations was not met. For that to happen Turkey would need to make significant constitutional amendments, concede some kind of local autonomy and revise its anti-terror laws. There would also have to be full Kurdish language rights and a genuine effort at justice, reconciliation and investigations into the abuses, disappearances and extrajudicial killings of the 1980s and 1990s.
However, Turkey is still not yet ready to make such concessions and by repressing not just the PKK but also non-violent Kurdish political outlets, the Turkish state further erodes its legitimacy in the eyes of many Kurds. As a result, sadly, it will be conflict, not dialogue, that will probably continue for yet another generation, affecting not just Turkey but also its neighbours.
Dr Simon Waldman is an associate fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and a visiting research fellow at King's College London
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
MATCH INFO
New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)
England 155 (19.5 ovs)
New Zealand win by 21 runs
MATCH INFO
Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)
Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18
Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)
Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no
Australia win series 2-0
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (All UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (11.30pm)
Saturday
Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
FA Augsburg v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen (6.30pm)
SC Paderborn v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Monchengladbach (9.30pm)
Sunday
Cologne v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
Mainz v FC Schalke (9pm)
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Power: 295bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: Dh155,000
On sale: now
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
