Category: 2. Middle East

Turkiye has paused its bid to pursue a deal for F-16 fighter jets in order to prioritise its attempts to acquire F-35 fighter jets from the United States, amid Ankara’s potential reaccession into the advanced programme.

In recent weeks, Turkiye has increasingly made moves to persuade the US and its administration under President Donald Trump to allow it access back into the F-35 fighter jet programme, after Ankara was kicked out of the joint production venture…

The Israeli army is taking punitive measures against reserve doctors who signed a petition demanding the return of Israeli captives even if it requires ending the war on Gaza, according to the petition’s organisers in a statement issued on Wednesday. They explained that officers from the army’s main medical unit headquarters contacted doctors who signed the petition while serving in the reserves and asked them to “withdraw their signatures”. They noted…

Israel’s foreign minister is reportedly set to be coming to the United Kingdom for a secret visit this week, in what would be the most high-profile trip to the country by an Israeli official since it launched its offensive on the Gaza Strip a year and a half ago.

Five unnamed sources informed news outlet Middle East Eye that Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will be visiting the UK this week, in a trip that was to be unannounced prior to his arrival.

Due…

German police yesterday arrested students during a demonstration supporting Palestine at Humboldt University in Berlin.

According to a report by Anadolu, a group of students entered the university building housing the Emil Fischer lecture hall to protest against Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the Berlin state government’s plans to deport four pro-Palestinian activists.

They hung banners on the building’s windows with messages such as: “You are complicit in…

Signature flamboyance is on the menu when the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest opens next month in Basel — but looming large over the festivities is Israel’s participation in the event.

Switzerland’s third-biggest city of Basel hosts this year’s extravaganza, which is one of world’s biggest annual live television events.

The contest, nearly 70 years old, will bring together 37 countries, and conclude with the final on May 17.

Israel has taken part since 1973, because its public broadcaster was in…

This weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the final leg of the first ‘triple header’ of the season.

From Suzuka in Japan, to the desert of Bahrain, Formula One now pitches up on the shores of the Red Sea in Jeddah.

AFP Sport looks at five talking points ahead of the fifth round of the 24-race season:

Advantage McLaren

Oscar Piastri put in a faultless display from pole last Sunday in Sakhir to make it three wins out of four for the British marque.

That moved the cool as ice Australian to within…

US warplanes carried out more than 12 air strikes on Yemen’s northern provinces of Sanaa and Al-Jawf late Wednesday, according to Houthi-run media, Anadolu news reported.

“The American aggression launched 12 air strikes on the Al-Hafa area in Al-Sabeen District of the capital, Sanaa.” Al-Masirah TV wrote on X.

The broadcaster reported strikes on the Al-Hazm district in Al-Jawf province.

No casualties or damages were reported and Washington has not commented…

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday met with his South African counterpart Ronald Lamola in Moscow for the 18th meeting of the Mixed Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation, serving as South Africa’s co-chair of the committee, Anadolu news agency reported.

The two top diplomats explored a variety of topics centred on fortifying the historically warm Russian-South African relationship, emphasising mutually advantageous…

Human rights groups have filed an urgent request for an arrest warrant for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar during his current visit to the UK, citing his direct role in war crimes committed in Gaza, Anadolu news agency reported.

The Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and the Hind Rajab Foundation on Wednesday submitted the request to the UK attorney general and director of public prosecutions, seeking immediate approval to apply for a warrant at…

Columbia University’s philosophy department strongly rebuffed Wednesday the Trump administration’s detention and attempted deportation of one of its students, urging the Ivy League school to come to the assistance of Mohsen Mahdawi, Anadolu news agency reported.

“We express our horror and dismay at the fact that a legal resident of the United States — someone who has been accused of no crime — should be detained in this manner,” it said in a…