Page 2 - Istanbul

IndiGo Airlines fined $5,832.60 for late payment by US customs

IndiGo reportedly received the intimation about the penalty from the US authority on 24 July, and is currently exploring the possibility of a waiver of the penalty

Turkey opens another former church from Byzantine-era as mosque

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally opened a former Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it a Muslim house of prayer, despite criticism from neighbouring Greece. Turkey formally converted The Church of St. Saviour in Chora, known as Kariye in Turkish, into a mosque in 2020, soon after it similarly turned Istanbul's landmark Haghia Sophia into a Muslim house of prayer. Both conversions drew praise from Muslim faithful but criticism from Greece and other countries who had urged Turkey to protect the important Byzantine-era monuments. Both are listed as UN World Heritage Sites. Like Haghia Sophia, which was a church for centuries and then a mosque for centuries more, the Chora had operated as a museum for decades before it was ordered turned into a mosque. The Chora's formal launch as a mosque, however, was delayed as the structure then underwent restoration. Erdogan on Monday remotely presided over a ceremony .

Fire at Istanbul nightclub during renovations leaves 25 dead, several hurt

A fire at an Istanbul nightclub during renovations on Tuesday killed at least 29 people, officials and reports said. Several people, including managers of the club, were detained for questioning. At least one person was being treated at a hospital, the Istanbul governor's office said in a statement. The Masquerade nightclub, which was closed for renovations, was on the ground and basement floors of a 16-story residential building in the Besiktas district on the European side of the city bisected by the Bosphorus. The fire was extinguished. Gov. Davut Gul told reporters at the scene that the cause of the fire was under investigation and the victims were believed to be involved in the renovation work. Authorities detained five people for questioning, including managers of the club and one person in charge of the renovations, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said. Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said authorities were inspecting the entire building to assess its safety. Several firefighting and med

Turkey holds elections to test Erdogan's popularity, race on for key cities

Turkiye is holding local elections Sunday that will decide who gets to control Istanbul and other key cities. The vote is also a barometer of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's popularity as he seeks to win back control of key urban areas he lost to the opposition five years ago. The main battlegrounds are the country's economic hub of Istanbul and the capital of Ankara, both of which Erdogan lost in 2019, shattering his aura of invincibility. The 70-year-old Turkish president has set his sights on wresting back Istanbul, a city of 16 million people, where he was born and raised, and where he began his political career as mayor in 1994. A strong showing for Erdogan's ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party, or AKP, would likely harden his resolve to usher in a new constitution one that would reflect his conservative values and allow him to rule beyond 2028, when his current term ends, analysts say. For the opposition divided and demoralized after a defeat in l

IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Istanbul delays due to technical issue

The IndiGo flight coming from Mumbai to Istanbul has been delayed due to a technical issue, the airline said on Saturday.According to the official statement, passengers for this flight are being accommodated on two special flights operated by A32x aircraft."IndiGo's flight 6E18 from Mumbai to Istanbul has been delayed due to a technical issue with the incoming aircraft from Istanbul. Passengers for this flight are being accommodated on 2 special flights operated by A32x aircraft and, we are currently working with the regulator to obtain the requisite clearances at the earliest," an official statement said."At this moment, ensuring passengers' comfort caused by this unforeseen situation is our top priority and we are providing alternate options, rescheduling, and refunds as per norms. IndiGo sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience resulting from this delay," it added.Earlier, a 42-year-old passenger travelling in an IndiGo flight on Tuesday was arrested by the Mumbai police for ...

Russia confirms 2-month extension of Black Sea grain deal with Istanbul

"Our fundamental assessment of the 2022 Istanbul agreement has not changed and the discrepancies in its implementation must be corrected as quickly as possible"

IndiGo inducts 2nd Boeing 777 aircraft; to operate on Mumbai-Istanbul route

No-frills airline IndiGo on Wednesday said it has inducted a second wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft in its fleet, which it will operate on the Mumbai-Istanbul route. After operating a narrow-body Airbus fleet, in single-class configuration for over 16 years, the Gurugram-based IndiGo commenced twin-aisle aircraft operations earlier this year with one B777 on the Delhi-Istanbul route, wet leased from Turkish Airlines. IndiGo has a codeshare pact with Turkish Airlines among several other carriers. Codesharing is a commercial arrangement that allows an airline to book its passengers on partner carriers and provide seamless travel to destinations where it has no presence. The addition of the second wide-body aircraft will provide more convenient travel options for people looking to travel between India and Europe this summer, Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer at IndiGo, said. "Istanbul being a key stop, is also connecting 33 European destinations via our codeshare connectivity. The

Turkey launches airstrikes in Syria, Iraq a week after Istanbul bombing

Turkey launched airstrikes over northern regions of Syria and Iraq, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Sunday, targeting Kurdish groups that Ankara holds responsible for last week's bomb attack in Istanbul. Warplanes attacked bases of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and the Syrian People's Protection Units, or YPG, the ministry said in a statement, which was accompanied by images of F-16 jets taking off and footage of a strike from an aerial drone. There was no immediate comment from either group. The ministry cited Turkey's right to self defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter in launching an operation it called Claw-Sword late on Saturday night. It said it was targeting areas used as a base by terrorists in their attacks on our country. Turkey said it was seeking to prevent attacks, secure its southern border and destroy terrorism at its source. The airstrikes came after a bomb rocked a bustling avenue in the heart of Istanbul on November 13, kil

Istanbul attack: Bombing accused has been arrested, officials say

In the Istanbul attack, at least 81 people were injured when an explosion rocked the busy pedestrian street. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay called it a "terrorist attack."

Bomb explodes in Turkey's Istanbul avenue, six killed: Prez Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said an explosion on a major pedestrian thoroughfare in in Istanbul was caused by a bomb attack." Six people have died. Speaking before his departure to the G-20 summit in Indonesia on Sunday, Erdogan said the explosion was a treacherous attack and its perpetrators would be punished. Four people died at the scene and two in the hospital, Erdogan said. Another 53 were wounded, according to information he received from the Istanbul governor.

India condoles tragic loss of lives in blast in Turkey's Istanbul

India on Sunday conveyed its "deepest condolences" to the government and people of Turkey over the "tragic loss of lives" in a blast in Istanbul. According to reports, the bomb exploded at a crowded street in the Turkish capital, killing six people and wounding dozens. "India conveys its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Trkiye on the tragic loss of lives in the blast that took place in Istanbul today," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. "Our sympathies are also with those who sustained injuries. We wish them a speedy recovery," he said.

Istanbul among 5 venues shortlisted to host this year's IPL mini auction

Istanbul is among the five venues shortlisted to host the IPL auction which is likely to be held on December 16, according to a BCCI official. Besides the Turkish capital and Bengaluru, the usual venue for the auction, New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad are also in contention. But a final call will be taken when the IPL Governing Council, under new chairman Arun Singh Dhumal, meets for the first time soon. "No final decision has been taken yet but we are looking at Istanbul. We haven't met the teams and their officials in a relaxed environment since COVID, and this way we will be able to do that," the BCCI official told PTI. "A final decision will be taken after talking to all stakeholders." Unlike last year, this year's will be a mini auction. The 10 IPL franchises have already been asked to submit their list of retained players by November 15. Also, the salary cap is likely to be increased from Rs 90 to Rs 95 crore for the next season.

Thousands march in Turkey to demand ban on LGBTQ associations, activities

An anti-LGBTQ group marched Sunday in Istanbul, demanding that LGBTQ associations be shuttered and their activities banned, in the largest demonstration of its kind in Turkey. Several thousand people joined the demonstration dubbed The Big Family Gathering. Kursat Mican, a speaker for the organisers, said they had gathered more than 150,000 signatures to demand a new law from Turkey's parliament that would ban what they called LGBTQ propaganda, which they say pervades Netflix, social media, arts and sports. Hatice Muge, who works as a nanny, came to the gathering from Bursa province. People are here despite the rain for their children, for future generations, she said, urging the Turkish government to take action. They should save the family, they should save the children from this filth." The group held banners that read: Protecting the family is a national security issue. LGBTQ parades have not been allowed in Turkey since 2015. Ahead of Sunday's demonstration, the organisers .

Ukraine grain export deal to be signed in Istanbul: Turkey officials

Turkish officials say a deal on a UN plan to unblock the exports of Ukrainian grain amid the war and to allow Russia to export grain and fertilisers will be signed Friday in Istanbul. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said that he, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and officials from Russia and Ukraine will oversee the signing ceremony. It did not provide further details. The grain export agreement, critically important for global food security, will be signed in Istanbul tomorrow under the auspices of President Erdogan and U.N. Secretary General Mr. Guterres together with Ukrainian and Russian delegations, Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in a tweet. Guterres has been working on a plan that would enable Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain stockpiles that have been stuck in Ukraine's Black Sea ports due to the war a move that could ease a global food crisis that has sent wheat and other grain prices soaring. At least 22 million tons of grain are stuc

Talks show Russia may be ready to 'make steps forward': Ukraine envoy to UN

Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya said the new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are showing that Moscow may be ready to move forward.

New round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks to begin in Turkey today

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia have arrived in the Turkish city of Istanbul to begin a new round of peace talks from Tuesday aimed at ending the ongoing war

Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, the talks are expected to begin on Tuesday morning, Xinhua news agency reported.

Monumental folly

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul must be one of the few places on earth where depictions of the three great Abrahamic religions, now so deeply antagonistic, can be seen in one place

Museum or mosque? Turkey's iconic Hagia Sophia is at the centre of a debate

The building is now at the centre of a heated debate between nationalist, religious groups who are pressing for it to be reconverted into a mosque and those who believe it should remain a museum

Does Istanbul election hold key to defeating populist politics elsewhere?

Imamoglu's win represents a major reversal for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, admired by populists worldwide for his domination of Turkish politics