Bilge Nesibe Kotan

Siege: Desperation in Syria’s Daraa as Assad reverts to his old ways

Ten years after the Syrian war was sparked in Daraa, locals in the town once again face a brutal siege - but this time with no backing from armed rebels.

Amid embassy reopenings in Syria, EU says normalisation is not the case

No normalisation without a political settlement is the EU's stance against the Syrian regime, but why are some of its member states still reopening their embassies?

Why did Assad need a sham election in Syria?

Experts say Bashar al Assad held an election to force Syrians into submission and give his few international supporters a reason to keep backing him. Can he succeed, though?

The destruction of a famed Gaza bookstore severs a crucial lifeline

The destruction of a rare bookstore selling English books isn’t the worst tragedy to hit Gaza this week. But for its people, it is a manifestation of a multidimensional war that disconnects besieged Palestinians from the world.

German court rules Syrian sisters cannot be deported to Greece

Refugees can only seek asylum in the country they first entered on arrival in Europe, but a German court is challenging this with a ruling that may offer hope to Syrians facing deportation.

Syrians reject Denmark's claim that Damascus is safe for their return

Denmark wants to send Syrian refugees back to Damascus while avoiding any diplomatic arrangement with the Syrian regime. Who will ensure the returnees’ safety?

Refugee-owned restaurants adapt to Turkey’s 'pay it forward' tradition

A group of volunteers are helping Istanbul's refugee-owned restaurants in Istanbul’s Fatih district to adapt to a Turkish tradition in order to feed refugees struggling amid the pandemic.

How Syria’s Jolani is trying to rebrand himself as a peacemaker

Once pledging allegiance to al Qaeda, the HTS’s Mohammed al Jolani is rolling up his sleeves to fight his past and convince the world that he’s the man who can save Syria’s Idlib.

More aid funds alone cannot save Syria’s IDP camps from recurring disasters

More than 64,000 displaced people have lost their tents to flooding. Why is the aid distribution still unable to prevent the cycle of disasters in northern Syria almost ten years into the fighting?

Why people with allergies should not worry about the Covid-19 vaccine

Experts recommend that people with a history of allergic reactions should be under a 30-minute observation after taking the vaccine shot.

In photos: Izmir aftermath — “I survived, but a part of me was lost”

Rescue operations have ended in Turkey's Izmir province, where a deadly earthquake killed 117 people.

4-year-old Ayda was saved by the 'triangle of life' say Turkey rescuers

Five days after a strong earthquake hit Izmir, the hope of rescuing people alive was slowly fading away. Then, little Ayda was found alive after 91 hours. Hope was renewed.