Iraq expels Swedish ambassador over Quran burning
Iraq on Thursday declared Sweden’s ambassador to Baghdad “persona non grata” in response to the ” repeated permission of the Swedish government to burn a copy of the holy Quran,” according to the Iraqi premier’s office.
Early Thursday morning, a crowd of Iraqis stormed Sweden’s Embassy in Baghdad and set it ablaze in protest of the burning of a copy of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, last month by Salwan Momika, an Iraq-born man who now lives in Sweden.
Sweden condemned the attack on its embassy and launched an investigation.
Following the storming of Stockholm’s diplomatic mission, Momika again desecrated a copy of the Quran, stepping on it and the Iraqi flag in Sweden.
Türkiye also condemned the “vile attack” targeting the Quran in Sweden.
Turkish president urges recognition of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the earliest
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged countries on Thursday to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) without delay.
“I’m reiterating the historic call I made to the entire world from the UN podium: Recognize the TRNC as soon as possible,” Erdogan said at a ceremony marking Türkiye’s 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, which laid the groundwork for the country’s foundation nine years later.
US raises concerns over potential threat by Russia to Black Sea ships
Russia may be seeking to attack merchant vessels in the Black Sea carrying Ukrainian grain to world markets in a potential “false flag” operation, the White House warned Thursday.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby pointed to Russia’s prior warning that all ships traveling in the Black Sea bound for Ukrainian ports will be considered as carrying military cargo.
He confirmed that Ukrainian forces have been “appropriately” using cluster munitions sent to bolster their effort to oust Russia from territories it continues to occupy.
