Newsaholic

  Azerbaijan, a landlocked country in eastern Transcaucasia, arrested at least nine of its nationals, alleging that they were linked to Iranian secret services. Officials in Azerbaijan accused the arrested people of plotting a coup and assassinations. The interior ministry, security service and the office of the prosecutor general of Azerbaijan said that the arrested people "were working for Iranian secret services.” Azerbaijan's law enforcement forces arrested them on Tuesday. The statement by the interior ministry named nine people. The statement also revealed that several other people had been arrested over a fresh coup plot. According to the statement, those people were plotting a "violent overthrow of the government and the assassinations of prominent personalities and senior officials.” Last month, officials in Azerbaijan arrested six Azerbaijani nationals in a different case related to Iran. The authorities accused those people of being "recruited by I...

  Turkey's state-run news agency said that the trial of 36 defendants for a fatal blast in central Istanbul in November had started on Tuesday. On November 13, 2022, an explosion tore through Istanbul's well-known Istiklal Avenue, a bustling avenue packed with stores and restaurants, killing six people, including two children, and critically wounding 99 others. In court for the trial's opening statements were fifteen defendants, including suspected bomber Ahlam Albashir. Participating via video connection from their prisons were an additional 12 defendants. Unknown whereabouts are held for the other nine. A variety of terrorism-related allegations are brought against Albashir. She may receive seven life sentences, in addition to an extra 1,900 to 3,000 years in jail, if found guilty. The presiding judge permitted her to delay her defense until the following session since the indictment was not read to her in her native Arabic. Albashir and a guy named Bilal el-Hacmaus...

  The Republic of Turkey has summoned Danny Annan, Danish ambassador to Turkey, over recent attacks on the holy Koran and the Turkish flag. On Friday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Turkey condemned attacks on the Koran and the Turkish flag. It said in a statement, “This act is clear proof that Islamophobia, xenophobia, discrimination and racism have recently increased in Europe.” Last week, Patrioterne Gar Live, a Danish far-right group, burned a copy of the holy Koran and the Turkish flag. The group gathered outside the Turkish embassy in Copenhagen to burn a copy of the Koran. Subsequently, Turkey condemned the incident. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco and Pakistan also condemned the incident. While summoning Danny Annan, Turkey said that "we strongly condemn and protest this vile attack.” Turkey asked Denmark to take effective measures to prevent such incidents in the country. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said in a statement, “Saudi Arabia condemns and denoun...

The death toll in the Republic of Turkey from last month's destructive earthquakes has risen to 48,448, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Monday. The combined death count in Syria and Turkey has reached more than 54,000. The February 6 earthquake affected 11 Turkish provinces and parts of neighbouring Syria. Turkish authorities are rushing to set up container cities to house those left homeless by the disaster. Many people have been impacted by the earthquake in Turkey. Millions of people in Turkey are sheltering in tents or seeking to move to other cities. Turkish Interior Minister said that 6,660 foreign nationals, mostly Syrians, were killed due to the destructive earthquake. He further revealed that authorities were still trying to identify 1,615 earthquake victims. The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, pledged to rebuild homes for homeless people within a year. The President said that his government would begin constructing nearly 200,000 new h...

  Turkey will hold presidential and parliamentary elections, which will determine the country's political future. As tensions rise and candidates ramp up their campaigns, it's essential to keep a close eye on the situation and understand the significance of this election. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been in power since 2002, and his government has faced criticism for its increasing authoritarianism, restrictions on media freedom, and crackdowns on opposition parties. This election represents a crucial opportunity for the Turkish people to determine the direction of their country. The presidential election will be the first since Turkey switched to a presidential system of government in 2018, which granted the president more powers and reduced the role of parliament. The winner of the election will hold significant influence over the country's domestic and foreign policy. Moreover, concerns have been raised about the f...

The Chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visited Syria on Wednesday for the first time after the earthquake. He travelled to Aleppo and Damascus in Syria. Tedros, the highest-ranking UN official, visited the country to check on earthquake victims. On Wednesday, he visited several hospitals and shelters for displaced people in Syria. He visited Syria from neighbouring Turkey via the Bab Al-Hawa crossing. After the earthquake, activists and emergency aid groups slammed the UN (United Nations) for its slow response. Earlier, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths also said that the UN had “so far failed the people in northwest Syria.” He demanded immediate help for earthquake victims in northwest Syria. Reportedly, after the February 6 earthquake, the United Nations appealed for $ 397 million to help earthquake victims in Syria. The UN said that around 420 trucks have entered Syria since the disaster. The first UN aid convoy was sent to Syria on Februa...

  The search and rescue teams of the Saudi Civil Defense went to the Hatay province of Turkey after a new 6.4 magnitude earthquake killed at least three people and injured 213 others. The search and rescue team of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia moved from Gaziantep to Hatay province to evacuate people trapped under the rubble of buildings. They will be dispatched to three sites damaged by the recent earthquake. Saudi Civil Defense spokesman Mohammed Al-Hammadi also revealed that the team is dealing with missing person cases. The recent earthquake occurred in the town of Defne, Hatay province, Turkey. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia sent relief aid to Turkey and Syria. Around twelve aircraft, carrying food, medicine, shelter materials, and other forms of relief aid were sent to Turkey and Syria. A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on 20 February. This comes two weeks after a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed around 45,000 people. The earthquake was felt ...

  On 6 February 2023, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Turkey, as well as northern and western Syria, killing thousands of people and toppling residential buildings across the two countries. Many international organisations and countries sent relief aid to Turkey and Syria. However, it is still difficult to send aid to Syria. Syria is struggling to get aid even after the destructive earthquake. On Sunday, the United Nations said that the authorities were waiting for approval from the hardline group to send aid into the Opposition-controlled territory of Syria. The country is controlled by different groups, which makes it difficult for international organisations to send aid to Syria. Reportedly, the northern regions of Syria have been shattered by over a decade of conflict. Most parts of Syria are under the control of the Damascus government. The relief aid is split between rebel areas and Damascus. The northwest part of the country is divided...

  The total death toll across Turkey and Syria following the destructive earthquake reached at least 34,800 on Sunday, leading to grief, anger and anguish. According to the Turkish Emergency Coordination Center SAKOM, the death toll in Turkey reached 29,605 on Sunday. Reportedly, the confirmed death toll in Syria reached 4,574. However, the United Nations warned that the total death toll has reached over 34,800. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations, reportedly said, “We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasn’t arrived.” He demanded help for earthquake victims in Syria. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that they have been waiting for final approval to send deliveries into northwest Syria in order to help earthquake victims. On February 11, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General ...

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the death toll from the earthquakes rose to 3,549, bringing the total number of casualties, including those in neighbouring Syria, to more than 5,000. A dozen of aid organisations and governments from around the world have pledged support for search and rescue operations that are being terribly affected by cold and snow. 10 Significant Updates: 1) A number of historical monuments, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, that had survived scores of wars and natural disasters for centuries are known to have suffered significant damage by the deadly tremors. Experts fear the disaster could exacerbate the loss of the region's cultural legacy. 2) Germany has called on "all international actors, including Russia" to pressure war-torn Syria into quickly allowing incredibly urgent humanitarian aid into the country and without additional obstacles. "It's important that weapons are now set aside," said German Foreign ...

  The World Health Organization (WHO) expects a significant jump in the death toll following a major earthquake and its aftershocks in southern Turkey and northwestern Syria that reduced many buildings to rubble. The magnitude 7.8 quake , which rattled southern Turkey early on Monday, was the worst to hit the country this century, killing more than 900 people there and about 550 across the border in Syria, according to officials.  I think we can expect the death toll to increase significantly," Rick Brennan, the WHO's regional emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean, told Reuters. "There's been a lot of building collapses and it will increase more significantly around the epicentre of the earthquake." Brennan said WHO was boosting its staff in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, the epicentre of the earthquake, and exploring its options to send emergency medical teams to the area. He said rescue efforts were being hampered by aftershocks from the in...

  Turkish security forces have detained a suspect wanted in connection with   the deadly bombing in Istanbul   in an operation in a Turkish-controlled area in northwestern Syria, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported. Other suspects detained following the bombing  will appear before court officials on Thursday to face possible charges or be released from custody. The suspect, identified by his code-name “Husam” was apprehended by Turkish police late Wednesday in the Syrian city of Azaz, which is currently under the control of the Turkey-backed Syrian opposition, the Anadolu Agency reported. He was being taken to Istanbul for questioning. His detention raised the number of suspects under custody in connection with the bombing to 51. Sunday’s explosion targeted Istanbul’s bustling Istiklal Avenue — a popular thoroughfare lined with shops and restaurants — and left six people dead, including two children. Seven dozen others were wounded in the attack that came as a s...

  I want to share something interesting about what I read today. It’s how the Turkey and France this mid year promised to facilitate the pressures among them and open a new page in relations, yet new spaces of competition might happen between these two NATO partners. On the Turkish side, effort to France was important for a more extensive reset in attaches with the EU, yet the recuperation period is yet to show whether Ankara and Paris will settle on a truce on a few points they have conflicted over previously. For my purposes, Despite this load of harsh turns of events, the two nations have moved toward compromise. Be that as it may, Macron's new visit to Iraqi Kurdistan, where Turkey has a significant impact, has brought up issues regarding whether the Kurdish locale could transform into another space of competition among Turkey and France.

  Bashar-al-Assad is leader of Syria for another sever year term. The country though may be slowly experiencing winding down of decade long Civil War, the splinters of pain and violence remain deep embedded. But Assad, as he took oath of office on Saturday, has ceremoniously declared himself as the only savior of Syrians and who can rebuild Syria. The claim was backed by his first foreign guest, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi. Mr. Yi laid out a marker during oath ceremony that they can get job started for Assad in Syria.   China’s modus operandi of grabbing opportunities:   China jumping into grabbing Syria’s economic turmoil as its safe haven of opportunities comes straight out of its classic playbook. The very similar fashion it did elsewhere in Middle East, as well as Africa and Asia.   Syria’s allies Russia and Iran have been by side of Assad regime with end target of reconstructing the country, with their own interests in mind. The line up has now ...

  Ebrahim Raisi is Iran’s newly elected president despite his records and history, some of the countries have come out to support his leadership and maintain diplomatic ties. But one of the most shocking gestures shown is by Qatar. The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Than has gifted an Airbus A380 aircraft to the newly elected president-elect of Iran. The move is a sign that Qatar wants to build a healthy relationship with Iran and its newly elected president but this is contrary to what the official of Qatar suggested earlier. They had pointed out that since the name of Iran came into the state funded terrorisms list, it has limited its ties with the country. Iran was called out for supporting violence in the region and creating an atmosphere of unrest in the country. Qatar too was dragged into the matter and since then remained strict towards the country. But now, this gesture shown by the Emir of Qatar proves that there is not even the slightest truth in this. Qata...

  Qatar is Hamas' most important financial backer and foreign ally. Qatari Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was the first state leader to visit the Hamas government in 2012. So far, the emirate has transferred €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) to Hamas. Israel, meanwhile, hopes Qatar will join the US-brokered Abraham Accords and establish diplomatic relations with it, as a number of Arab states already have done. Hamas is also supported by Turkey. In talks just prior to Hamas launching rocket attacks against Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed political backing for its leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Turkey has expressed its desire to improve its economic ties with Egypt ahead of Turkish delegations visit to Cairo towards the end of this week. Ankara is trying to repair troubled diplomatic ties with Cairo so that economic benefits can be served for its expansion. The move will reportedly push for bettering diplomatic ties between these two regional powers, said the Trade Minister Mehmet Mus on Monday. Since 2013, the ties between Cairo and Ankara have been strained due to their different regional stances. Egypt’s army was known for its strong opposition towards terrorism and hence they had killed president of Muslim Brotherhood, who was known to be close to Turkish powers. Ankara had termed it as a military coup. The whole incident was responsible for straining ties between the two nations and since then leaderships of either of the nations refrained from visiting each other. But it has come as a surprise after Turkish expressed its interest in repairing ties with Egypt. Mus told i...

 I want to share this news I have read today. It’s all about Turkey’s National Defense Ministry said on Thursday that Five PKK terrorists were neutralized in drone strikes in northern Iraq. The terrorists were neutralized by unmanned combat aerial vehicles in the Metina and Avasin-Basyan areas in the scope of the Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim anti-terror operations. The number of terrorists neutralized in the two anti-terror operations has now reached 42. Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured. The PKK terrorist group often uses bases in northern Iraq, just across Turkey’s southern border, to hide and plot terrorist attacks in Turkey. In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

  I wanted to share something intriguing about what I read today. It’s about   considering Turkey's stressed relations with different nations. Looking at it, specialists will in general recommend Turkish-Russian ties as a potential model for compromise. In spite of their varying positions, Ankara and Moscow have created political understandings on Syria, the Caucasus and North Africa. These understandings could be reached with Egypt also.   In fact, regardless of whether a full compromise among Ankara and Cairo doesn't occur any time soon, maybe they may go into a time of armistice, which would in any case be a positive advance. For this reason such an improvement may not just keep them from hurting each other's advantages in the area, it could likewise prepare for future compromise.

  Turkey has been for years taking advantage of the nations that are either war-torn or are economically backward by one means or another. Arab-African nations have been prone to political attacks by Turkey and Somalia is one of the nations that is under cold attack from Ankara. The Turkish people came to Somalia nearly a decade ago and since then have been a crucial part of governing the country. Somalia suffered drought in 2010, which led to a lot of life loss, and Ankara entered in the name distributing humanitarian aid but took over the security section. Turkey has already taken control of the country's key ports in Mogadishu and Adam Adi International Airport in the capital but this is not even half the problem. Turkey has taken over the Somali troops and is in the process of training them so that they can destabilize the situation in Libya, Syria and Yemen. Situation and influence of Turkey has completely changed from what it was ten years ago. It is to be noted that no...