Category: 2. Middle East

ANKARA — Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s appeal for release was rejected by a Turkish court on Monday, as the key rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains behind bars for nearly 25 days.

Imamoglu, a presidential contender from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was detained on March 19 and subsequently jailed on March 23 on corruption charges. He denies any wrongdoing.

Imamoglu’s lawyers appealed his arrest last week, claiming that there was no flight…

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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Moscow this week to discuss recent nuclear negotiations with the United States held in Oman, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.

On Saturday, Araghchi held talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat, the highest-level Iranian-US nuclear negotiations since the collapse of a 2015 accord.

“Dr Araghchi will travel to Moscow at the end of the week,” said spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, adding that the trip was “pre-planned”…

Artillery fire echoed from nearby Gaza as Shye Klein-Weinstein slowly walked around a memorial honouring the nearly 400 people killed at the Nova music festival in Reim, southern Israel, on October 7, 2023.

The 28-year-old photographer and survivor of Hamas’s attack recalled names and events from that fateful day — some of which he captured on film, documenting the final moments of his fellow revellers.

Klein-Weinstein, an immigrant from Canada who had arrived in Israel just four months prior…

Oscar Piastri powered to victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, coasting clear from George Russell’s Mercedes to maintain McLaren’s strong start to the season.

Pole-sitter Piastri kept his composure in an incident-packed race to give the Bahraini-backed McLaren team a first ever win at the 21st attempt in a race at their ‘second home’.

Piastri, who also won in China last month, crossed the line 15.499sec clear of Mercedes’ George Russell, who was under investigation for an issue with the…

Iran’s foreign ministry said Sunday that talks with the United States slated for next weekend will remain “indirect” with Omani mediation, and focused solely on the nuclear issue and lifting of sanctions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held talks Saturday in Muscat, marking the highest-level Iran-US nuclear negotiations since the collapse of a 2015 accord.

They agreed to meet again in seven days.

“Negotiations will continue to be indirect. Oman…

An Israeli air strike Sunday hit one of Gaza’s few functioning hospitals, killing a child according to the World Health Organization, as Israel warned it would expand its offensive if Hamas does not release hostages.

Since the outbreak of war, tens of thousands of Gazans have sought refuge in hospitals, many of which have suffered severe damage in the ongoing hostilities.

“A child died due to disruption of care” at the Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza after a strike, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom…

An Israeli air strike Sunday hit one of Gaza’s few functioning hospitals, resulting in the death of a child according to the World Health Organization, as Israel warned it would expand its offensive if Hamas does not release hostages.

Since the outbreak of war, tens of thousands of Gazans have sought refuge in hospitals, many of which have suffered severe damage in the ongoing hostilities.

“A child died due to disruption of care” at the Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza after a strike, WHO…