Hey, this is Sham Jaff, your very own news curator.
In issue #409, I’m taking a closer look at what the fall of the Assad regime could mean for Syria’s Kurds. I feel like Kurdish perspectives often get brushed over in these conversations, even though the Kurds have played such a big role in the fight for democracy and autonomy. And while this isn’t about ignoring what Assad’s fall means for others (there are so many layers to this story), I want to spend some time unpacking what this moment feels like for a community I’m connected to.
Also in this issue: Saudi Arabia’s shiny new 2034 World Cup plans come at a massive human cost. Millions of migrant workers from countries like Nepal and Bangladesh will be building the stadiums and transport networks under unsafe, exploitative conditions. Over 13,000 Bangladeshi workers have died in Saudi Arabia since 2008. Meanwhile, Sudan’s war continues. Hospitals are being bombed, crowded markets turned into graveyards, and over 12 million people are displaced. In Kenya, protests against gender-based violence (GBV) were met with—you guessed it—violence. The country is battling a "silent epidemic" of GBV, with almost 100 women killed in just three months this year. And in Iran? Things have gone from bad to worse. A new "chastity and hijab" law could see women facing execution for unveiling or “improper dressing.” Yep, execution.
To end on something less dystopian, there's also tons of good news. Colombia banned child marriage (after eight failed attempts), Venezuela's Maduro let out 103 political prisoners, Brazil's former defenser minister has been arrested, The Gambia has a new ambitious plan to cut waster by 86%, and Lucia’s serving up the last reading list for this year. Think a Kurdish family fighting through the 2008 financial crisis, a Georgian saga full of revolution and chocolate, a Palestinian family navigating the Nakba, and so much more. Books, at least, are still a safe space. Kind of. (Are we perhaps getting over the term "safe space" in 2025?)
That's it for now. See you next week for the last time this year?
Sham
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🔍 Estimated reading time: 10 min 🔍
You have access to all of my sources by clicking on what's underlined.
Big shout-out to Wikimedia Commons for the helpful maps.
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What the fall of the Assad regime means for Syria's Kurds
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 What happened
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government on December 8 in Syria is monumental. It’s a regime known for its brutal oppression, genocidal campaigns, and the systemic targeting of opponents and minorities. This is a moment that will have massive implications for many people in Syria and the region—Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Christians, Armenians, and others.
But because I'm Kurdish, I want to focus on what this moment means for the Kurds. Again, this isn’t to deny the pain and experiences of others.
Why this matters: Assad’s regime, built on Baathist ideology—a form of pan-Arab nationalism—collapsed after almost 60 years in power. The Baathist ideology, with its “one Arab nation” rhetoric, justified decades of systematic oppression, including targeting the Kurdish population. Kurds were stripped of their citizenship, denied basic cultural rights, and treated as second-class citizens. For the Kurds in Syria, this is both a moment of relief and uncertainty, as they have built a semi-autonomous region over the past decade, creating a governance system rooted in feminist values, inclusivity, and grassroots democracy.
Refresher:
You have probably heard the terms "Rojava", "AANES" and "SDF" a lot if you've been paying attention to this part of the world. For those who need an explainer: Rojava, which means "West" in Kurdish, refers to the predominantly Kurdish regions in northern and northeastern Syria. The term is shorthand for Western Kurdistan, as Kurds see it as one part of a broader Kurdish homeland that spans across Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. Rojava became globally recognized after 2012, during the Syrian civil war, when Kurdish forces, led by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Women's Protection Units (YPJ), took control of these areas after Assad's regime withdrew. Over time, Rojava evolved into a political and social experiment rooted in the ideas of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, emphasizing democracy, feminism, and ecology. Its key characteristics? Governance is decentralized, with local councils playing a significant role in decision-making, women hold leadership roles across all levels of governance, and gender-based violence is actively combated, and Rojava seeks to protect the rights of Arabs, Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmen, and other minorities in the region. Rojava is often referred to interchangeably with North and East Syria, especially in international discussions. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) is the official governing body of Rojava, and it is not exclusively Kurdish. It includes representatives from Arab, Assyrian, and Armenian communities, reflecting the diverse population of the region. The administration has implemented progressive policies, such as banning child marriage, promoting women's rights, and establishing local courts to resolve disputes. The military wing of AANES is the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish, Arab, and other militias that played a leading role in defeating ISIS. There's also been allegations of human rights abuses that need to be taken seriously.
Tell me more
On November 27, a coalition of armed groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Syrian National Army (SNA) launched military operations against Assad’s former government. This has driven more than 100,000 people into areas governed by the AANES, adding pressure to already overcrowded camps with broken infrastructure, little access to water, healthcare, or food, and no proper shelter as winter sets in. On December 8, the Assad regime fell. Assad’s fall hasn’t magically stopped the violence in Syria—in fact, Kurdish-led regions are right in the thick of it. While the HTS-led coalition is setting up a transitional government that now controls most of Syria, including Damascus and the coastal region, fighting continues across Deir Ezzor, Manbij, and Kobane, displacing Kurds, Arabs, and other communities. Turkish-backed SNA factions are clashing with the Kurdish-led SDF on the ground, while Turkish airstrikes have killed 12 civilians in Ain Issa, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor just this month. For people in these regions, safety feels further away than ever.
How do Syria's Kurds feel about Assad gone?
SDF commander General Mazloum Abdi has called Assad’s removal a “historic moment.” In fact, many Kurdish people celebrated alongside their Arab neighbors. In cities like Qamishli, Assad statues were toppled, and Kurdish communities also raised opposition flags. Dr. Rosa Burç, a Kurdish sociologist, described the mood as bittersweet: “There’s genuine relief and happiness that Assad is no longer in power. The Assad regime systematically oppressed Kurds for decades, but there’s also deep uncertainty about what comes next.” This uncertainty is tied to how the different actors in Syria right now—including Turkish-backed forces, jihadist militias, and HTS—will respond to demands for Kurdish self-administration.
Is HTS to be trusted?
HTS, an Islamist group, has adopted a “moderate” tone in its public statements. Its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, talks about building a “multiethnic Syria,” (even gave an interview to CNN) but many Kurdish scholars and activists are skeptical. Dr. Rosa Burç puts it bluntly: “This moderate tone is purely strategic. Let’s not forget that Jolani was part of ISIS and has openly praised the Taliban’s style of governance. HTS is likely trying to gain international legitimacy, but I doubt this rhetoric will translate into genuine respect for Kurdish autonomy or democracy.” Kurdish scholar Kamal Chomani is also skeptical, even calling it "self-deception," especially when seeing that Arab media seems to be fixated on the character of Jolani. Chomani writes, "It can be a reflection of desire for order, security & decisiveness, but this is extreme, this involves a subconscious relinquishing of the agency, it’s rather an escape from the responsibility to promote democracy." (Kurdish news outlet) Rudaw English yesterday shared that "schools in Damascus reopened Sunday for the first time in 50 years without a dictator, now under Islamist rebel control. Both boys and girls are still allowed to attend, with no Taliban-like restrictions imposed yet."
Do the Kurds in Syria want a "Greater Kurdistan"?
Syrian Kurds aren’t generally pushing for a unified Kurdish state that spans Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. What they want right now is self-determination within the borders of the countries where they already live. In Syria, the administration in Rojava has shown what this could look like. But Turkey, which views any Kurdish political movement as a threat, has consistently tried to undermine these efforts. Dr. Burç writes, "The existential attack on Rojava isn’t “simply” a story of territorial loss, it's an attack on a collective archive of resistance, on imaginaries of freedom, on the memory of our beloved we lost on the way, on hopes for a future, for overdue justice & lived practices of democracy."
Can "the West" do anything?
Dr. Burç argues that Western governments, including Germany, often overlook Kurdish contributions in favor of seeing Turkey as a “stabilizing force.” She calls on "the West" to recognize the Kurds as independent political actors and support their feminist, inclusive governance model in northern Syria. Other experts agree, like Matt Broomfield, co-founder of Rojava Information Center. Meghan Bodette, director of the Kurdish Peace Institute, says: “It’s time for a ceasefire in northeastern Syria, a Turkey-PKK ceasefire regionally, and negotiations to institutionalize Kurdish rights on both sides of the Syrian-Turkish border.” Without this kind of support, the progress Kurds have made in Rojava could be lost to further aggression—especially from Turkey.
What now?
Eight Arab League countries recently pledged support for a peaceful transition in Syria. At a meeting in Jordan, countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq emphasized the need for an inclusive government that represents all political and social groups. They warned against sectarian and ethnic discrimination and stressed the importance of rebuilding Syria’s institutions, welcoming refugees home, and preventing further chaos. What's missing? The Kurdish perspective. Here's an interesting starting point for inclusion: the Kurdish administration, the AANES (the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria), recently released a 10-point proposal to help rebuild Syria. The plan outlines a path forward for an inclusive and democratic future, focusing on preserving Syria’s sovereignty and protecting it from Turkish attacks, initiating a national dialogue, ensuring women’s participation at all levels of governance, and so much more. Also, it's important to keep this reminder center stage for any sort of analysis: While Assad is physically gone, Baathism as an ideology hasn’t disappeared. It’s deeply rooted in Syria’s political culture and institutions, so its influence isn’t going to vanish overnight.
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Bad
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup comes at a huge human cost. Millions of migrant workers from places like Bangladesh, India, and Nepal will be building the stadiums, hotels, and transport networks, but they’re working in awful conditions for little to no pay. Many take on massive debts just to get there, and when their employers don’t renew their permits, they end up undocumented and completely vulnerable. Deportations are brutal, and over 13,000 Bangladeshi workers have died in Saudi Arabia since 2008. The government says they’re committed to protecting workers, but the reality on the ground is a whole different story—it’s just exploitation, through and through. (The Guardian)
Sudan: Sudan’s war continues, with more and more attacks targeting civilians. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) recently bombed the last functioning hospital in al-Fashir, killing nine and injuring 20, while Sudan’s military conducted airstrikes in Darfur, killing over 100 at a crowded market in Kabkabiya. Both sides deny responsibility for war crimes, but the toll is staggering: over 12 million displaced, 61,000 killed, and famine-like conditions in camps like Zamzam. The UN and rights groups are calling for urgent intervention, as the conflict, now in its 20th month, remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with nearly half of Sudan’s population in need of aid. (Sudan Tribune, DW, Reuters)
Rwanda / DRC: Peace talks between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to end the conflict in eastern DRC were called off after Rwanda refused to participate, demanding direct talks between the DRC and the M23 rebel group—a condition the DRC rejects. The fighting, fueled by accusations that Rwanda backs the M23 (denied by Kigali), has displaced over 7 million people and escalated this week with reports of 12 civilians killed in North Kivu. Despite a ceasefire signed in July, violence continues, and locals like Aline Kasereka, a mother of six, say, “"We are tired of the war; every day we move, we don’t know where we are anymore." (Al Jazeera)
Kenya: Hundreds of protesters in Kenya gathered in Nairobi and other cities on December 10 to demand action against gender-based violence and femicide. Chanting slogans like "stop killing women" and "teach your sons," the protesters marched peacefully toward parliament. However, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, arrested at least three people, and reportedly injured some demonstrators. Among those detained was Amnesty International Kenya’s executive director, Irungu Houghton. Kenya faces a “silent epidemic” of gender-based violence, with at least 97 women killed between August and October this year alone. Patriarchal norms and weak legal protections fuel the problem, and activists argue the government hasn’t done enough to address it. (Al Jazeera)
Iran: Iran’s new "chastity and hijab" laws are beyond terrifying. Women now face the possibility of execution or up to 15 years in prison for things like unveiling, "improper dressing," or sending videos of themselves without a hijab to international media. Fines up to £12,500, flogging, and even jail time for "encouraging indecency" are all on the table, and the government has introduced "hijab clinics" to punish dissenters. This comes two years after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman detained for not wearing her hijab "correctly," which sparked nationwide protests. (The Guardian)
The Pacific & the Caribbean: A Lancet Countdown report says that 65 million people living in the world's small island nations face "catastrophe" from the health impacts of global warming. Entire islands could literally disappear. The climate crisis is also a health crisis. Diseases like dengue are spreading faster, outdoor work is becoming unsafe, and local food systems are collapsing, forcing people to rely on unhealthy imported diets. You already know this, but here's another reminder: These nations barely contribute to global emissions, yet they’re facing the worst of it. (The Lancet)
Afghanistan: A massive funeral was held for Khalil Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Taliban minister for refugees and repatriation, who was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS-K), also took five other lives and marks the highest-profile assassination since the Taliban took power in 2021. The funeral took place in Paktia province, Haqqani’s home turf, with top Taliban officials in attendance. (AP)
Health: Malaria cases are climbing for the fifth year in a row, killing nearly 600,000 people in 2023, according to the WHO. Africa continues to bear the brunt, with 94% of cases and the majority of deaths affecting children and pregnant women. A growing funding gap—US$4.3 billion annually—combined with drug resistance, climate disasters, and new mosquito species, is making the fight against malaria even tougher. There’s some hope: new vaccines are being rolled out in 17 countries, cutting death rates by 13%, and next-gen bed nets are tackling insecticide resistance. But without serious investment, experts warn the situation will get worse, with hundreds of thousands more deaths predicted by 2049 due to climate change. (The Guardian)
Interesting...
Kyrgyzstan: President, Sadyr Japarov, just fired Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov (no relation—common surname). The announcement came with little drama, simply stating the PM was “transferred to another position.” Akylbek had held the job since 2021. For now, First Deputy Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev will step in as acting PM. (Reuters)
India: 40 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy—the world’s worst industrial disaster—communities like Oriya Basti are still fighting to rebuild. On December 2-3, 1984, a leak at the Union Carbide factory released 40 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate gas, killing over 25,000 people and leaving half a million with lasting health issues like respiratory problems, vision loss, and birth defects. Justice remains elusive: no senior executives have faced significant punishment, and survivors have been left with inadequate compensation. Places like the "barefoot school," set up for children of survivors, offer a rare glimmer of hope, providing education despite crumbling infrastructure and ongoing poverty. It's a stark reminder that the aftermath of Bhopal is still very much alive. (Al Jazeera)
Good
The Gambia: The Gambia is taking on plastic pollution with a bold plan to cut waste by 86% over the next decade. The new National Action Plan targets the entire lifecycle of plastics, with bans on single-use bottles, improved recycling systems, and stricter enforcement of existing laws. It’s ambitious, and officials admit funding—estimated at US$6 million—will be a major hurdle. (The Guardian)
Brazil: Brazil’s former defense minister, General Walter Braga Netto, has been arrested for his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2022 election and keep Jair Bolsonaro in power. Investigators claim Braga Netto pressured military leaders to back a coup, funded the operation, and even approved plans to assassinate key leaders like President Lula da Silva. He’s also accused of trying to meddle in the investigation. This is part of a larger probe involving Bolsonaro and 35 others, with evidence showing a coordinated effort to undermine Brazil’s election and stir distrust in the system. (Al Jazeera)
India: India’s D. Gukesh just smashed records to become the youngest World Chess Champion ever, dethroning China’s Ding Liren in a dramatic final match in Singapore. At just 18 years, 8 months, and 14 days, Gukesh beat the legendary Garry Kasparov’s record, which had stood since 1985. (Sportstar)
USA: Filipino singer Sofronio Vasquez has become the first-ever Asian and Filipino to win The Voice USA. Vasquez walks away with a US$100,000 prize and a recording contract. (MSN)
Venezuela: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro let 103 people out of jail last week. They were locked up after the July election that the opposition says Maduro straight-up stole. While this might look like a goodwill move, don’t be fooled—Maduro’s still clamping down hard on his critics and dodging calls to prove he really won. (Al Jazeera)
Vanuatu: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has concluded hearings on a landmark climate case led by Vanuatu and other Pacific island nations, arguing that major polluters must be held legally accountable for the climate crisis. Over 100 countries made their case in The Hague, with nations like the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia opposing liability. The court will now decide what international law requires countries to do to prevent climate harm and the legal consequences for failing to act. Vanuatu, one of the nations most vulnerable to rising sea levels, says this case will shape the future of the planet and hold industrialized nations accountable for decades of carbon-heavy practices. (Al Jazeera)
Colombia: After 17 years of campaigning and eight failed attempts, Colombia has finally banned child marriage, closing a 137-year-old loophole that allowed minors to marry with parental consent. The new legislation, called They are Girls, Not Wives, makes Colombia one of only 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to completely outlaw marriage under 18. The numbers: one in four Colombian women was married before 18, and one million before the age of 15. Child marriage disproportionately affects girls, especially in rural, Indigenous, and impoverished communities, where societal pressures push them into roles as wives and mothers at young ages. (The Guardian)
Sierra Leone: Ebola was ten years ago, remember? Over the next three weeks, 20,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine will be given to frontline workers, including healthcare staff, motorbike riders, soldiers, and village hunters, aiming to prevent another outbreak like the one in 2014 that killed nearly 4,000 people in Sierra Leone alone. While the vaccine isn’t a silver bullet, it’s a critical step toward strengthening Sierra Leone’s health system against not only Ebola but other viral hemorrhagic fevers like Lassa and Marburg. (The Guardian)
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(lucia's) recommendations
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Lucia’s got your next reading list covered, and trust us—you’ll want to clear your schedule. This time, she’s serving up:
- A Kurdish family navigating the 2008 financial crisis
- A century-spanning saga about revolution, chocolate, and Georgian history
- A Korean immigrant’s fight for survival in Japan
- The journey of a Palestinian family through the Nakba
Plus, French lit fans, don’t miss this year’s award winners: Kamel Daoud and Gaël Faye, tackling Algeria’s civil war and Rwanda’s genocide. Happy reading! If you're picking up any of the books, post a picture and tag @whlwnews on Instagram!
Hyper by Agri Ismaïl (2024)
Once a rich man, Rafiq Hardi Kermanj was forced to flee from Iran after founding the Communist Party of Kurdistan. Set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis, the novel follows his three children—living in Dubai, London, and New York—as they grapple with the capitalist system their father failed to overthrow. Their lives in the diaspora become entangled with the relentless currents of capital, revealing how personal and political suffering is magnified by the unseen forces that define the elusive concept of 'freedom' in the 21st century.
The Eighth Life: (for Brilka) by Nino Haratischwili (2019)
Stasia's family owes its fortune to a treasured chocolate recipe passed down through generations. She learns the secret from her Georgian father and takes it north, following her new husband to St. Petersburg, the epicenter of the upcoming revolution. Now is the perfect time to delve into a family saga that begins with the four daughters of a chocolatier and unfolds across the dramatic arcs of 20th-century Georgian history: the fall of Tsarist rule, the October Revolution, the rise and collapse of the Soviet Union, as well as the Georgian civil war that followed.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017)
This one has been sitting at the top of my "to-read" stack for ages (Sham read and loved it). Anchored by Sunja, a determined matriarch, the story delves into migration, identity, and survival amid historical relentless discrimination. Her unexpected pregnancy leads to a marriage that uproots her from her homeland and forces her to confront the challenges of life as a Korean immigrant in 20th century Japan. If you’re more of a visual type, don’t miss the Apple TV adaptation (trailer). You can also follow Min Jin Lee on Instagram.
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa (2010)
In the refugee camp of Jenin, inhabitants wait to return to the homes they were forced to abandon. They fled their towns and villages during the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948, following the establishment of the state of Israel—a war known as the Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic. Moving between Jenin, Jerusalem, Lebanon, and the United States, the story centers on Amal, born in the camp, and delves deeply into themes of loss and longing: A family's survival through ongoing violence. You can also follow Susan Abulhawa on Instagram.
Houris by Kamel Daoud (2024), and Jacaranda by Gaël Faye (2024)
Two more recommendations for French readers: Kamel Daoud and Gaël Faye, recent winners of France’s most prestigious literary prizes, tackle the legacies of conflict in post-colonial societies. Houris follows a young woman grappling with the scars left by the violence of Algeria’s 1990s civil war, while Jacaranda examines the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Both authors pose urgent questions about confronting and understanding collective trauma.
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If you're gifting perfumes this Christmas, watch this first I Jasmine is a key ingredient in many perfumes. And: About half of the world's supply of jasmine is produced in Egypt under harsh conditions (high-end brands like L'Oréal and Estée Lauder use jasmine sourced from Egypt). Around 300,000 people work in the trade. Despite the perfume industry's US$50 billion valuation, these workers earn a fraction of the revenue their labor generates. Children, some as young as five, work throughout the night for meager wages, often less than US$1 a day. Workers, including children, face health issues such as allergies and vision problems due to exposure to pesticides and strong jasmine odors. They lack basic safety measures and education opportunities. This BBC Eye investigation takes you to the heart of the jasmine trade, calling for transparency, better enforcement of labor laws, and consumer awareness to pressure brands and fragrance houses into ethical practices.
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North Korea has finally weighed in on South Korea’s political chaos, and unsurprisingly, they’re not holding back. In a statement dripping with irony, North Korea’s state media declared that President Yoon Suk Yeol had unleashed a "fascist dictatorship on the people."
This was their first public comment on the fallout from Yoon’s failed attempt last week to impose martial law, which he claimed was necessary to root out "pro-North Korean, anti-state forces." According to KCNA, North Korea’s state-run news agency, Yoon’s move was "insane," and they didn’t stop there, labeling South Korea a "gangster nation."
Zoom out: As absurd as it sounds, it’s also kind of bleak. Kim Jong Un’s propaganda thrives on painting South Korea as a fake democracy—a U.S. puppet pretending to be free. And, well, moments like this don’t exactly help shake that narrative.
Anyway, Yoon has now been impeached.
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Hey, I'm Sham, the person behind this newsletter. Since 2014, I email a bunch of strangers once a week, curating news headlines from Asia, Africa and the Americas. I work under the assumption that, here in the West (I live in Berlin, Germany), we don't read or know much about the global majority, aka the rest of the world.
My goal is to help you burst your Western-centric bubble.
If you want to know more about me, visit my website or follow me on Twitter or Instagram.
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This week's issue was supported by this newsletter's very first intern: Lucia Baumann.
"Having lived in both Brazil and Japan, I often find myself missing the news from those parts of the world. That’s how I fell in love with this newsletter. I’ve worked at local magazines and radio broadcast in Leipzig, as well as ZEIT ONLINE and dpa (German Press Agency). My academic background is in cultural studies and history, where I researched how societies commemorate their past, using literature, film and audio material. Currently rehabilitating my Portuguese and studying colonial history in Lisbon." (Photo credits: Elias Schulz)
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