The national security advisers for US President Joe Biden and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed points of tension between the two Nato allies in an hour-long call on Monday.
It was the first time US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke to his Turkish equivalent, Ibrahim Kalin, since Mr Biden took office last month.
“Mr Sullivan underscored the Biden administration’s desire to build constructive US-Turkey ties, expanding areas of co-operation and managing disagreements effectively,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said.
“He conveyed the administration’s intention to strengthen transatlantic security through Nato, expressing concern that Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system undermines alliance cohesion and effectiveness.”
After more than a year of stalling, former president Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Turkey in December for buying the S-400, as required under a Russia sanctions law that Congress passed in 2017.
The sanctions include a ban on all US export licences and authorisations on Ankara’s military procurement agency, and an asset freeze and visa restrictions on several of its officers.
Before that, the Trump administration had expelled Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet co-production programme, fearing the powerful S-400 radar system would allow Russia to spy on the stealth fighters.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported that “both officials highlighted the importance of strengthening Turkish-US ties in the coming period, staying in close contact and [keeping] dialogue channels open for constructive co-operation".
But the report also noted that Mr Kalin called for “a new perspective regarding issues such as Turkey’s S-400 procurement, its removal from the F-35 fighter jet programme and US support to YPG, which Turkey views as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] terror group".
Despite Turkish opposition, the US military backed the Syrian Kurds as part of its campaign to defeat ISIS.
Several hundred US troops are in north-east Syria, which falls under the control of the Kurdish YPG, or the People’s Protection Units.
On a more positive note, the White House said: “Mr Sullivan welcomed the resumption of exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece, and he expressed support for plans by UN Secretary General [Antonio] Guterres to resume talks on Cyprus.”
Ankara and Athens agreed to hold talks last month regarding competing maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Tension boiled over last year when Ankara sent warships to escort its vessels exploring for hydrocarbons off the disputed island of Cyprus, prompting a naval stand-off with Greece, France and Cyprus.
The Anadolu report was also optimistic about the talks with Greece, saying they were “expected to contribute to peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean".
Other areas of agreement included the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.
Mr Kalin welcomed Mr Biden’s decision to return the US to the Paris climate accord.
Mr Sullivan also “underscored the Biden administration’s broad commitment to supporting democratic institutions and the rule of law".
Turkish police recently launched a violent crackdown on student protesters at the Bogazici University in Istanbul, after Mr Erdogan appointed a conservative rector to lead the institution.
The president also floated the idea of drafting a new constitution on Monday, shortly after his political allies began calling for a rewrite to ban the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
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