MENEKSE TOKYAY ANKARA: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday issued a stern warning to Turkey over its military action in Syria ahead of a crunch meeting on the issue with European leaders next week. Speaking prior to talks between Turkey, Germany, France and the UK, due to take place on the sidelines of the Dec.…
ANKARA: Ankara tested its S-400 Russian-made air defense system this week. That move is unlikely to shield the country from sanctions, though. Indeed, it seems likely the US Senate and the US Treasury will bring forward some sanction packages in retaliation against Turkey moving forward with the Russian system. The chairman of the Senate’s Committee on…
ANKARA: Ankara tested its S-400 Russian-made air defense system this week. That move is unlikely to shield the country from sanctions, though. Indeed, it seems likely the US Senate and the US Treasury will bring forward some sanction packages in retaliation against Turkey moving forward with the Russian system. The chairman of the Senate’s Committee on…
BEIRUT: Human Rights Watch on Wednesday denounced abuses including executions and home confiscations in a Turkish-controlled swathe of northern Syria, where Ankara says it wants to resettle Syrian refugees. Turkey last month established what it has dubbed a “safe zone” in a 120-km-long strip of land it seized from Syrian Kurdish fighters along its southern border.…
ISTANBUL: A car bomb killed at least 17 people and wounded 20 others in the Turkish-controlled region of northern Syria on Tuesday, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said. The attack took place in the Tal Halaf village west of the city of Ras Al-Ayn, which is now controlled by the Turkish military after its offensive in October, the…
KARBALA, Iraq: Iraqi anti-government protesters blocked roads in the country’s south with burning tires on Wednesday, as schools and public offices stayed shut a day after deadly clashes with security forces.The country has been rocked by the biggest wave of protests since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, leaving more than 350 people dead…
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman will make an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. The crown prince is expected to meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to discuss regional issues and bilateral relations. The Saudi crown prince’s last visit to the UAE was in November 2018…
BEIRUT: The Ring Bridge, which links east and west Beirut, was a battleground for more than five hours between peaceful protesters and Hezbollah and Amal supporters. According to the General Directorate of the Lebanese Civil Defense, 10 people were taken to hospital. Young supporters of Amal and Hezbollah arrived on motorcycles at the Ring Bridge after…
ANKARA: The secret behind the latest wave of European visits made by Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has finally been revealed: To ask for international funding for the urban projects of the metropolitan municipality. Imamoglu announced on Sunday that Turkey’s state-run banks are reluctant to lend routine loans to the municipality — even for paying salaries —…
Erdogan: Turkey’s efforts to solve S-400 missile row with US to continue until April ISTANBUL: President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish and US officials would conduct efforts until April to resolve a dispute between the two countries over Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems, broadcaster NTV reported on Tuesday.Asked how a solution would be found…
DUBAI: A pro-government rally planned in Tehran on Monday will show the world who the “real” Iranians are, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said, voicing surprise over foreign statements of support for protesters angered by a decision to hike gasoline prices.The protests grew into a wave of anti-government unrest that saw at least 100 banks and dozens…
BEIRUT: A group of pro-Hezbollah protesters marched on Sunday to the US Embassy in Awkar, 11 km from Beirut, to protest “the US meddling in Lebanon’s affairs.” The Lebanese Army prevented the protesters from advancing to the road leading to the embassy after setting up a security cordon. Young men from the Communist Party, the Syrian…
ANKARA: Amid a serious confrontation between Brussels and Ankara about the country’s drilling program in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey kicked off the fourth round of drilling in the region on Nov. 23. “We will keep drilling until we find oil,” the country’s energy minister, Fatih Donmez, said. But the zone, which is believed to have rich…
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates, which sent its first astronaut into space this year and has plans to launch a probe to Mars, is looking at other new frontiers — space tourism and mining.But first, says the chief of the Emirates Space Agency, there needs to be regulation.Within a few months the UAE will enact…
Order Benjamin Netanyahu to step aside after indictment, watchdog asks Israel’s top court JERUSALEM: A watchdog group asked Israel’s top court on Sunday to order Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step aside after his indictment on corruption charges, adding to pressure he is facing from within his ruling party.Netanyahu, a four-term conservative leader, has denied…
Order Benjamin Netanyahu to step aside after indictment, watchdog asks Israel’s top court JERUSALEM: A watchdog group asked Israel’s top court on Sunday to order Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step aside after his indictment on corruption charges, adding to pressure he is facing from within his ruling party.Netanyahu, a four-term conservative leader, has denied…
BEIRUT: Protesters and Lebanon’s embattled politicians on Friday held separate celebrations to mark the country’s 76th Independence Day. Lebanese leaders attended the traditional military parade, which was much truncated and had to be moved to the Ministry of Defense’s headquarters because demonstrators had occupied the usual venue in central Beirut. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters staged a…
DUBAI: A US federal judge has awarded a Washington Post journalist and his family nearly $180 million in their lawsuit against Iran over his 544 days in captivity and torture while being held on internationally criticized espionage charges.The order in the case filed by Jason Rezaian comes nearly a week after Iranian officials shut down…
CAIRO: “I’m trying to experience life in a different way. I want to break away from the idea of needing money to be happy,” said Omar Khaled (also known as Omar El-Galla), referring to his perilous adventures. This year has been quite extraordinary for El-Galla. First, he cycled around Egypt, pedalling more 6,500 km…
ISTANBUL: A private university in Istanbul with more than 7,000 students, including many from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region, has become the latest arena for a bitter quarrel between Turkey’s ruling party and a breakaway political faction. Istanbul Sehir University recently had its assets frozen by a court after state-run Halkbank claimed it was unable…
