Saudi woman named to senior government post for first time

A Saudi woman has been named to a senior government post for the first time, authorities said on Sept. 27 shortly after a ban on women drivers was lifted as the conservative kingdom takes steps to modernize its image.

Iraqi parliament asks leader Abadi to take back Kurd-held Kirkuk BAGHDAD The Iraqi parliament on Sept. 27 asked Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to send troops to the Kurdish-held region of Kirkuk and take control of its oilfields Comment(s) 9/27/2017	Crossing through Habur border gate into northern Iraq not closed, security checks increased: Turkish minister ISTANBUL Turkish customs minister Bülent Tüfenkci said on Sept. 25 habur border gate with northern Iraq was not closed, tight controls imposed on traffic. Comment(s) 9/25/2017
Damascus says Syrian Kurdish autonomy negotiable BEIRUT - Reuters The Syrian government is open to negotiations with Kurds over their demand for autonomy within Syria’s borders, the foreign minister has said, striking a conciliatory tone as military tensions worsen between the sides in eastern Syria. Comment(s) 9/26/2017	Iraqi Kurds vote in referendum on independence from Baghdad ARBIL - The Associated Press Polls opened in the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on Sept. 25 as Iraqi Kurds cast ballots on whether to support independence from Baghdad in a historic but non-binding vote. Comment(s) 9/25/2017
Turkish jets destroy PKK arms depots in northern Iraq ANKARA – Anadolu Agency An air operation was conducted against the Zap and Avasin regions in northern Iraq targeting arms and ammunition depots and weapon emplacements of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Sept. 26, the Turkish military has stated. Comment(s) 9/26/2017	Ankara plots ‘three-stage roadmap’ after KRG referendum Uğur Ergan / Nuray Babacan - ANKARA The government is planning to put measures set out in the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Sept. 22 into practice if the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) goes ahead with the independence referendum on Sept. 25. Comment(s) 9/25/2017
Iraqi soldiers join Turkish exercises near shared border ANKARA Iraqi soldiers joined Turkish troops for military exercises in southeast Turkey near the border with Iraq on Sept. 26 as the two countries coordinate steps in response to the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum. Comment(s) 9/26/2017	Kurds stick to independence vote, ‘never going back to Baghdad:’ Barzani ARBIL – Reuters Iraq’s Kurds will go ahead with a referendum on independence on Sept. 25, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani has said. Comment(s) 9/24/2017
KRG no threat to Turkey: Barzani ARBIL Arbil has never been a threat to Ankara, and will remain to not be so, according to Nechirvan Barzani, prime mnister of the Kurdistan Regional Gvoernment (KRG) in northern Iraq. Comment(s) 9/25/2017	Turkish jets destroy PKK hideouts in northern Iraq ANKARA Turkish jets have destroyed weapon depots and hideouts used by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Sept. 24. Comment(s) 9/24/2017