Kurdish PKK disbands and ends Turkey insurgency, PKK-linked agency says
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has been in conflict with the Turkish state for more than four decades, has decided to dissolve itself and end its armed struggle, a news agency close to the group reported on Monday (May 12, 2025).
The PKK decision is set to have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighbouring Syria where Kurdish forces are allied with U.S. forces.
The Firat news agency published what it said was the closing declaration of a congress that the PKK held last week in northern Iraq, in response to a call in February from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to disband.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's office and the Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment on the announcement.
More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict since the PKK launched its insurgency in 1984. It is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Russia and Global South shaping multipolar digital future
Tech forum delegates have discussed joint efforts on trade, AI, cybersecurity, and innovation with RT Russia and the Global South have been strengthening ties and expanding digital cooperation in light of new opportunities opened by Western sanctions, according to delegates attending the country's first Global Digital Forum this week. The two-day event, which kicked off on Thursday in Nizhny Novgorod, brought together government officials, business leaders, and experts from more than 100 countries, including China, India, and some African nations. Some of them shared their views with RT on the sidelines of the forum, highlighting prospects for collaboration in areas such as trade, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology transfer. "China and Russia are strategic partners and good neighbors," said Zhou Liqun, chairman of the Chinese Entrepreneurs' Union in Russia. He noted that bilateral trade reached $240 billion last year, with China remaining Russia's top food product partner for 15 consecutive years. "Even under sanctions, the number of Chinese companies in Russia is growing," Zhou said, adding "We see the trend of promising cooperation." Sun Tianshu, founder of the China-Russian Platform, pointed out that "many opportunities in the (Russian) market [were] freed up" following the introduction of Western restrictions, allowing Chinese firms to step in. "Trade between our countries has one tendency - growth," he said, stressing that past challenges, including payment issues, had been resolved. "Even if new problems appear, we will be able to solve them," he argued. Indian cybersecurity expert Sunny Vaghela called for closer cooperation in the AI and cyber fields. "Russia is technologically advanced, and India is a hub of tech talent. Why not join hands to make AI and cyber a boom for both countries?" asked the CEO of Techdefence Labs. He added that some Russian companies were ready to come to India to collaborate. African delegates voiced similar interest in digital partnerships, especially in sectors like agriculture, education, and information management. "We came to learn how to bring AI and robotics home to help our people," said Tanzanian expert Henry Nkya. "Russia is using AI to boost productivity - we want to do the same." His colleague Mawazo Mataje emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange. "We're looking at sharing skills, experiences, and cultural understanding between Russia and the Global South," he said. Bangladeshi entrepreneur Mohammad Saber Shah described the event as "a truly encouraging experience," saying he had the chance to meet IT professionals "from around the globe." "This forum acts as a bridge between us," helping identify gaps that can be filled through partnerships. "Russia has long been a friend to Bangladesh - there's now real opportunity for digital collaboration," he said. (
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
Russia calls Ukraine war ‘existential', strikes back
The Kremlin said on Friday (June 6, 2025) the Ukraine war was 'existential' for Russia after it launched a wave of retaliatory drone and missile strikes that killed three rescue workers in Kyiv. The comments are Moscow's latest to dampen hopes for a breakthrough amid a flurry of meetings between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, as well as telephone calls between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at stopping the fighting. On Friday (June 6, 2025) — days after the second round of Ukrainian-Russian ceasefire negotiations in Turkey ended without meaningful progress — the Kremlin cast its three-year invasion as nothing short of a battle for the "future" of Russia. 'For us it is an existential issue, an issue of our national interest, safety, our future and the future of our children, of our country,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to remarks by Mr. Trump on Thursday (June 5, 2025) comparing Moscow and Kyiv to brawling children. Mr. Peskov's comments came shortly after the Russian defence ministry said its forces had launched the "massive" missile and drone strike in "response" to recent attacks by Kyiv on its territory. Ahead of the talks this week in Istanbul, an audacious Ukrainian drone attack damaged nuclear-capable military planes at Russian air bases, including thousands of kilometres behind the front lines in Siberia. Mr. Putin had told Mr. Trump he would retaliate for the brazen operation, 18 months in the planning, in which Ukraine smuggled more than 100 small drones into Russia, parked them near Russian air bases and unleashed them in a coordinated attack. 'A farce' Despite recent rounds of peace talks, Mr. Putin has repeatedly rejected a ceasefire and has instead issued a host of sweeping demands on Ukraine if it wants to halt the fighting. They include completely pulling troops out of four regions claimed by Russia, but which its army does not fully control, an end to Western military support, and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the demands as old ultimatums, questioned the purpose of more such talks and called for a summit to be attended by him, Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump. Kyiv said the retaliatory Russian barrage overnight consisted of 45 missiles and 407 drones. AFP journalists heard air raid sirens and explosions ring out over the capital throughout the night. Mr. Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly said Russia wants the war to continue, responded with a call for allies to 'decisively' ramp up pressure on Russia. 'Are we supposed to believe in a ceasefire after today?' Alicia, a Kyiv resident and marketing specialist, told AFP near one of the strike sites in Kyiv. 'I think it's a farce, and it was clear from the very beginning that there would be no truce. Our enemies are not interested in this at all,' she added. Mr. Zelensky said at least three people had been killed in the capital and that Russia had targeted nine regions of Ukraine, including Lviv and Volyn in the west, which border EU and NATO member Poland. In the western city of Lutsk, rescuers in the afternoon pulled the body of a dead man from the rubble of a nine-storey building hit overnight, the interior ministry said.
India.com
10 hours ago
- India.com
Turkey president Erdogan issues shocking order, asks Turkish people to give birth to...
President Erdogan becomes Turkey's new dictator, puts opposition leaders...., ready to change… After the 'Boycott Turkey' campaign, Erdoğan is now grappling with a new crisis. The population of Turkey is consistently decreasing, and the Turkish women's low birth rate has emerged as a huge concern for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Declining birth rates are now being perceived as a threat larger than war. To address this, the Turkish government has launched several measures to promote childbirth and has announced 2025 as the 'Year of the Family.' Last month, Erdoğan stated that the 'Decade of Family' would be starting in 2026. However, his appeal for women to have at least three children and the financial incentives offered to newlyweds may not be enough, as Turkey continues to struggle with a deepening economic crisis. According to the AFP report, Official statistics indicate that Turkey's birth rate has dropped from 2.38 children per woman in 2001 to 1.48 in 2025, which is actually below that of France, the UK, or the US. Erdoğan, a 71-year-old Islamist president and father of four himself, has described this drop as 'a disaster'. Over his 22-year period of office as Prime Minister and subsequently President of the nation of 85 million, Erdoğan has seen the fertility rate fall sharply. He has attributed this to women as well as the LGBTQ community. According to the AFP report, President Erdogan has blamed both women and LGBTQ 'perverts'. Retired academic and feminist activist Berrin Sönmez was quoted as saying by AFP,'Women and LGBTQ individuals are considered the only culprits for the declining population growth rate, with no acknowledgement of political mistakes.'
