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Shafaq News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kirkuk's fragile power-sharing pact begins to fracture
Shafaq News/ Kirkuk, one of Iraq's most diverse and disputed provinces, is once again at the heart of political turmoil—this time, from within its own governing alliance. A coalition designed to balance the province's multi-ethnic makeup is facing disintegration less than a year after its formation. On Wednesday, two Arab members of Kirkuk's Provincial Council—Raad Saleh of Taqadum Alliance and Sheikh Dhaher Anwar Al-Asi of the United Arab Front—announced their withdrawal from the Kirkuk Administration Coalition (KAC). KAC was formed in early 2024 following the provincial elections and was hailed at the time as a novel experiment in consensual governance, encompassing Kurds, Arabs, and Christians. However, the resignation of the two Arab members signals a return to familiar patterns of mistrust and fragmentation. The Promise of Power-Sharing The Kirkuk Administration Coalition emerged from a high-stakes political agreement signed at Baghdad's Al-Rasheed Hotel on January 24, 2024. It brought together five members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one representative from the Christian Babylon Movement, and two Arab council members from leading Sunni Arab coalitions. The deal enabled the appointment of a Kurdish governor, Ribwar Taha, through consensus while securing the position of provincial council chairman for the Arab bloc, held by Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Hafiz. The coalition was not merely about seat-sharing. Its stated aim was to confront Kirkuk's chronic governance challenges, including local security coordination, fair employment practices, and—critically—the fate of Arab detainees reportedly held in the Kurdistan Region. These issues, while long-standing, have taken on renewed urgency in post-ISIS Iraq, where identity politics and regional rivalries continue to shape administrative outcomes. Cracks in the Foundation Despite its inclusive facade, the coalition began unraveling due to what the two withdrawing Arab members described as "a failure to uphold the terms of the agreement." Speaking at a press conference, Raad Saleh emphasized that their withdrawal does not mean resigning from the council itself. Instead, they plan to remain within the provincial assembly, shifting from participants to watchdogs. The Arab bloc's primary grievance centers on the unresolved file of "disappeared Arabs" allegedly detained in prisons in the Kurdistan Region. This highly sensitive issue not only strikes an emotional chord in Arab constituencies but also reveals the limits of inter-party trust within the coalition. Saleh and Al-Asi both accused their Kurdish and Christian partners of sidelining key Arab demands and violating the political pact's core promises. A joint statement by the two further underlined their disillusionment, "We did not join the coalition for titles but to defend the rights of our people. What we have witnessed is a lack of seriousness in honoring the agreement." They also issued a call to Arab constituents to mobilize for the upcoming parliamentary elections, advocating for the creation of a new pan-Arab political structure capable of more effectively representing Kirkuk's Arabs. Turkmen Voices and the Legitimacy Debate The political fallout has prompted sharp reactions from the Turkmen community—a historically marginalized but politically assertive constituency in Kirkuk. Sawsan Abdul Wahed Jadoa, a council member from the Iraqi Turkmen Front, offered a blistering critique of the governing coalition, labeling it an "illegitimate authority birthed through external will rather than local mandate." In a statement to Shafaq News, Jadoa argued that the administration forged at the Al-Rasheed Hotel served narrow party interests over the public will, "We have always said this government was built on sectarian bargains, and the Arab withdrawal is proof of its fragility." She further affirmed the Turkmen's position as a pivotal actor in the province's politics, vowing continued resistance against exclusionary governance. Meanwhile, Ahmed Ramzi, another Turkmen council member, called for clarity and patience, noting that the council is awaiting an official realignment—or collapse—of the coalition before declaring its next move. Anatomy of a Breakdown Political analyst Ahmed Abdulrahman, speaking to Shafaq News, sees the crisis as emblematic of a broader trend in Iraqi provincial politics: alliances formed not on programmatic governance but on transactional power-sharing. "What we're witnessing is the unraveling of a coalition born not from a vision for Kirkuk but from a division of spoils," he said. "Unless the remaining actors address the root causes of Arab dissatisfaction, this could mark the beginning of the coalition's end." Kirkuk has always been a geopolitical powder keg, where Kurdish aspirations for reintegration into the Kurdistan Region clash with Arab and Turkmen fears of marginalization. Since the Iraqi federal government retook control of the city from Kurdish forces in 2017 following the failed Kurdish independence referendum, Kirkuk has remained under federal control, with security and administrative disputes simmering just below the surface. The Bigger Picture: A Bellwether for Iraq? For foreign observers and policymakers, the Kirkuk crisis offers more than a local political story. The province's complex demographics—Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Assyrians—mirror Iraq's national composition. As such, the success or failure of power-sharing models in Kirkuk often reflects deeper national fault lines. The unraveling of the coalition also raises alarms ahead of Iraq's national parliamentary elections. If even local power-sharing agreements crafted through high-level negotiations cannot hold, what does that say about Iraq's broader state-building trajectory? And what alternatives exist when inclusive governance breaks down—not only in Kirkuk but across other mixed or disputed territories?
Deccan Herald
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
J&K court declares US-based Kashmiri lobbyist Ghulam Nabi Fai a proclaimed offender
Fai, 76, who hails from Wadwan in Budgam, currently heads the Washington-based Kashmiri American Council (KAC), which Indian authorities believe is backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aircore Drilling to Commence at Balla Balla
HIGHLIGHTS • Aircore drilling to test priority targets expected to commence in late-March, weather dependent, at the Balla Balla Gold Project. • Drilling is planned to target zones of structural complexity and splay faults proximal to the Sholl Shear Zone, under generally shallow cover. • The Sholl Shear Zone is a fertile, long lived, crustal-scale feature which trends over 200 km in the northern Pilbara. • Geological interpretation has identified folded and offset mafic and ultramafic stratigraphy in complex zones around splays off the Sholl Shear Zone. • Several prospects are delineated for drill testing including Ramquarry, Cockerell, Babbage and Beaufort. • Mapping and sampling campaigns completed at the Tibooburra and John Bull Gold Projects in NSW. PERTH, Wash., March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (ASX: NVO) (TSX: NVO) (OTCQB: NSRPF) is pleased to announce the imminent start of a maiden aircore drill program at the Balla Balla Gold Project (Balla Balla), designed to test target zones of structural complexity in the Sholl Shear Zone and associated structures under at the Balla Balla Gold Project Balla Balla Gold Project Balla Balla is an early-stage exploration project centred on the Sholl Shear Zone (). Novo executed a Determination Wide Aboriginal Heritage Protection Agreement with the Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation (KAC), enabling the grant of application E47/4703 in November 2024. A site avoidance heritage survey has since been completed with KAC, and a Programme of Work approved by the regulator (DEMIRS) in Q4 2024, enabling first pass aircore (AC) drilling to be conducted over priority targets. Novo has identified several prospects over a 10 km trend. These include interpreted fertile structures and important splay faults of the Sholl Shear Zone that will be targeted in Novo's maiden AC program. The program will test below shallow cover and is ready to commence in late-March 2025, weather dependent. Historical drilling in the areas suggests cover sequences in the order of 25 m vertical depth (maximum). AC drilling is designed to quickly and effectively drill through the unconsolidated cover sequence to the harder basement rocks, whilst also providing a good end of hole basement rock sample for geological identification and geochemical testing purposes. Novo Tenure in the Central Pilbara showing major structural architecture, priority prospects and the location of the Balla Balla Gold Project The Sholl Shear Zone is a significant geological feature extending for more than 200 km along the northwest coast of the Pilbara. It is recognised as a kilometre-wide crustal-scale structure that played an important role during deposition within the De Grey Superbasin and is interpreted to have been reactivated, providing potential pathways for volcanism and related gold mineralisation.1 Mineralisation in the Pilbara Craton is often associated with shear zones and faulted contacts between different rock units. These structural features create spaces where mineralising fluids can circulate and deposit gold. The Sholl Shear Zone, being a major crustal-scale structure, played a significant role in this process as both a fluid conduit and focusing corridor. Interpretation of regional fault architecture from available data sources also infers that the Loudens Fault and similar structures intersect both the mineralised Mallina Fault and the Wohler Shear in the Mallina Basin, and the Sholl Shear Zone further north (). This setting, in addition to the known Cu and Cu-Au fertility associated with the Sholl Shear Zone in the Karratha District suggests high prospectivity along the Sholl Shear. The Mallina Basin hosts the 12.7 Moz Au De Grey Mining (ASX: DEG) Hemi gold deposit.2 Balla Balla hosts an area of significant structural complexity proximal to the intersection of the Loudens Fault and Sholl Shear Zone with large, high density rotated blocks, folded stratigraphy and a varied geology providing local rheological contrast between different rock units. These ingredients can act to help focus potential mineralised fluid into secondary and tertiary structures which are being tested by this drill Balla geological interpretation showing complex structure, priority targets and planned aircore drill program ___________________________________1 Van Kranendonk, M. J., Hickman, A. H., Smithes, R. H., & Nelson, D. R. (2002). Geology and tectonic evolution of the Archean North Pilbara Terrain, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. Economic Geology, 97(4), 695-7322 Refer to De Grey's ASX Announcement, Hemi Gold Project Mineral Resource Estimate 2024 dated 14 November 2024, available to view at No assurance can be given that a similar (or any) commercially viable mineral deposit will be determined at Novo's Balla Balla Gold Project. Drill targeting is based primarily on geophysical interpretation and historic drilling due to the presence of surface cover across the prospect areas. Several prospects will be targeted in the current program including: Ramquarry – tests a zone of structural complexity and interpreted fault splays from the Sholl Shear Zone, in addition to the contact of the interpreted Sherlock Intrusion. The northeast aircore lines at Ramquarry also target an isolated, fault-bound wedge of Mallina sediments that appear to host mafic to ultramafic intrusions. A broad transect of the Sholl Shear Zone where it contacts the Mallina Formation and Portree Suite granite will also be tested. Beaufort - targets a rotated block of interpreted Sherlock Intrusion abutting the Sholl Shear Zone. Babbage – targets folded magnetic and non-magnetic units interpreted to have rheology contrast and space creation in the hinges of the folds. Cockerell - targets significant structural complexity including folded units and cross cutting second order structures splaying from the Loudens Fault with potential competency contrast along trend from Babbage. Initially, AC drill lines will be conducted at nominal 640 m spacing with hole centres spaced at 50 m. Drill lines are orientated at 140 degrees (drill azimuth) to ensure optimal coverage to test NE-SW striking target structures and the broad stratigraphic trend. Holes will be drilled to blade refusal (i.e. to the capacity of the AC drilling rig) to obtain bedrock geological information, and a stick of core will be collected for analysis at the end of hole. Drilling is scheduled to commence late March 2025, dependent on weather. NSW Exploration Program Field teams have completed mapping and sampling campaigns at the Tibooburra and John Bull Gold Projects in NSW, improving the geological interpretation and understanding of controls on mineralisation. Assay results are now being received for both NSW projects and, in addition to geological mapping and modelling, will provide final support for drill program design. RC drilling at both NSW projects is scheduled for Q2 2025, likely commencing at the Clone prospect (Tibooburra), and post completion of the Balla Balla AC drill program. Authorised for release by the Board of Directors. CONTACT Investors:Mike Spreadborough +61 8 6400 6100 info@ North American Queries:Leo Karabelas+1 416 543 3120leo@ Media:Cameron Gilenko+61 466 984 QP STATEMENT Mrs. Karen (Kas) De Luca (MAIG), is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Mrs De Luca is Novo's General Manager Exploration. JORC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT The information in this news release that relates to previously reported Exploration Results from Novo's NSW Gold Portfolio is extracted from Novo's ASX announcement entitled Novo Strengthens Portfolio with Two High-Grade Gold Project in NSW, Australia released to ASX on 13 December 2024 which is available to view at The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the competent persons findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. The information in this news release that relates to the previously reported exploration target at Belltopper is extracted from Novo's ASX announcement titled Belltopper Mineralisation Modelling Defines Prospectivity released to ASX on 25 September 2024 which is available to view at The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in the original market announcement and that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented has not been materially modified from the original market announcement. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this news release may contain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Canadian and Australian securities law and regulations. In this news release, such statements include but are not limited to planned exploration activities and the timing of such. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novo's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 (which is available under Novo's profile on SEDAR+ at and at and in the Company's prospectus dated 2 August 2023 which is available at Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. ABOUT NOVO Novo is an Australian based gold explorer listed on the ASX and the TSX focussed on discovering standalone gold projects with > 1 Moz development potential. Novo is an innovative gold explorer with a significant land package covering approximately 5,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, along with the 22 square kilometre Belltopper project in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone of Victoria, Australia. Novo's key project area in the Pilbara is the Egina Gold Camp, where De Grey Mining (ASX: DEG) is farming-in to form a JV at the Becher Project and surrounding tenements through exploration expenditure of A$25 million within 4 years for a 50% interest. The Becher Project has similar geological characteristics as De Grey's 12.7 Moz Hemi Project#. Novo is also advancing gold exploration south of Becher in the Egina Gold Camp, part of the Croydon JV (Novo 70%: Creasy Group 30%). Novo continues to undertake early-stage exploration elsewhere across its Pilbara tenement portfolio. Novo has also formed a lithium joint venture with SQM in the Pilbara which provides shareholder exposure to battery metals. Novo has recently strengthened its high-quality, Australian based exploration portfolio by adding the TechGen John Bull Gold Project in the New England Orogen of NSW, and Manhattan Tibooburra Gold Project in the Albert Goldfields in northwestern NSW. Both projects demonstrate prospectivity for significant discovery and resource definition and align with Novo's strategy of identifying and exploring projects with > 1 Moz Au potential. These high-grade gold projects compliment the landholding consolidation that forms the Toolunga Project in the Onslow District in Western Australia. Novo has a significant investment portfolio and a disciplined program in place to identify value accretive opportunities that will build further value for shareholders. Please refer to Novo's website for further information including the latest corporate presentation.*An Exploration Target as defined in the JORC Code (2012) is a statement or estimate of the exploration potential of a mineral deposit in a defined geological setting where the statement or estimate, quoted as a range of tonnes and a range of grade (or quality), relates to mineralisation for which there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource. Accordingly, these figures are not Mineral Resource or Ore Reserve estimates as defined in the JORC Code (2012). The potential quantities and grades referred to above are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. These figures are based on the interpreted continuity of mineralisation and projection into unexplored ground often around historical workings. The Exploration Target has been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code (2012), as detailed in the Company's ASX announcement released on 25 September 2024 (available to view at The Tonnage range for the exploration target is 1.5Mt to 2.1Mt, the Grade range is 6.6g/t Au to 8.4g/t Au and the Ounces range from 320koz Au to 570 koz Au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the original market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. Dr Christopher Doyle (MAIG) and Dr Simon Dominy (FAusIMM CPGeo; FAIG RPGeo), are the qualified persons, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information relating to the Exploration Target. Dr Doyle is Novo's Exploration Manager - Victoria and Dr Dominy is a Technical Advisor to Novo. #Refer to De Grey's ASX Announcement, Hemi Gold Project mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) 2024, dated 14 November 2024. No assurance can be given that a similar (or any) commercially viable mineral deposit will be determined at Novo's Balla Balla Gold Project. Figures accompanying this announcement are available at: in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
South Korean flight attendants caught taking photos while standing on plane wing
Flight attendants for a budget South Korean airline are under investigation after taking photos on a plane wing during an informal training exercise. Eastar Jet staff were caught on camera standing on a plane wing at Cheongju International Airport in the North Chungcheong Province in South Korea, around 69 miles south of the capital, Seoul. The airline said these photos were a 'certification shot' after the training. The incident occurred on 12 February, when takeoffs were delayed due to heavy snow, so crew on a grounded plane took the time to carry out informal training, according to an exclusive report from South Korean television network JTBC. The incident reportedly occurred on flight 703 to Jeju Island, which was delayed over two hours taking off for its one-hour flight. The attendants can be seen in images taken from afar standing on the wing, appearing to take photos while the plane was waiting at the airport. The South Korean low-cost carrier explained to the network that the crew were carrying out an 'overwing exit' training, where attendants are taught how to open the emergency exit above the wing. However, the airline said that the training was 'unofficial' and it was 'inappropriate to climb on the wing of the plane and take a certification shot'. The Korean Airports Corporation (KAC), which is responsible for managing the airport, said it was not notified of the training in advance. While Cheongju airport serves domestic and international flights, the network also explained it is also a designated military airport, where photography is strictly prohibited. Photography requires prior application and approval if it is to be taken on the apron, an area of an airport where aircraft are parked. KAC told JTBC that it has issued a written warning to Eastar Jet, and has requested the Air Force unit in charge of Cheongju airport to take action against the airline crew members. The airline added to The Korea Times that the emergency exit door was not opened specifically to take pictures, but as part of the training. "The airline took advantage of the waiting time caused by heavy snow and conducted an emergency exit training that is normally difficult to carry out," an official from the carrier said. "At the time, a maintenance technician was discussing the emergency exit door with the cabin crew, leading to a training session where they practised opening the exit," a company official also explained to The Korea Herald. "An investigation into the employees involved is currently underway, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings," the official said. The airline said it also plans to 'reinforce strict training measures' across all departments to make sure incidents like these do not happen again.
The Independent
18-02-2025
- The Independent
South Korean flight attendants caught taking photos while standing on plane wing
Flight attendants for a budget South Korean airline are under investigation after taking photos on a plane wing during an informal training exercise. Eastar Jet staff were caught on camera standing on a plane wing at Cheongju International Airport in the North Chungcheong Province in South Korea, around 69 miles south of the capital, Seoul. The airline said these photos were a 'certification shot' after the training. The incident occurred on 12 February, when takeoffs were delayed due to heavy snow, so crew on a grounded plane took the time to carry out informal training, according to an exclusive report from South Korean television network JTBC. The incident reportedly occurred on flight 703 to Jeju Island, which was delayed over two hours taking off for its one-hour flight. The attendants can be seen in images taken from afar standing on the wing, appearing to take photos while the plane was waiting at the airport. The South Korean low-cost carrier explained to the network that the crew were carrying out an 'overwing exit' training, where attendants are taught how to open the emergency exit above the wing. However, the airline said that the training was 'unofficial' and it was 'inappropriate to climb on the wing of the plane and take a certification shot'. The Korean Airports Corporation (KAC), which is responsible for managing the airport, said it was not notified of the training in advance. While Cheongju airport serves domestic and international flights, the network also explained it is also a designated military airport, where photography is strictly prohibited. Photography requires prior application and approval if it is to be taken on the apron, an area of an airport where aircraft are parked. KAC told JTBC that it has issued a written warning to Eastar Jet, and has requested the Air Force unit in charge of Cheongju airport to take action against the airline crew members. The airline added to The Korea Times that the emergency exit door was not opened specifically to take pictures, but as part of the training. "The airline took advantage of the waiting time caused by heavy snow and conducted an emergency exit training that is normally difficult to carry out," an official from the carrier said. "At the time, a maintenance technician was discussing the emergency exit door with the cabin crew, leading to a training session where they practised opening the exit," a company official also explained to The Korea Herald. "An investigation into the employees involved is currently underway, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings," the official said. The airline said it also plans to 'reinforce strict training measures' across all departments to make sure incidents like these do not happen again.
