Video: Turkish officials detain key Erdogan rival, Istanbul mayor
Turkish officials have detained Ekrem Imamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, and a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The detainment comes as part of corruption and terrorism investigations. In a video posted on X, the mayor said he is up against 'huge bullying.'
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4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Merz hails BioNTech founders' 'courage' as they receive German prize
The co-founders of German drugmaker BioNTech, which was one of the first companies to develop an effective vaccine against the coronavirus, were honoured with Germany's National Prize on Tuesday. In his laudatory speech, Chancellor Friedrich Merz hailed Özlem Türeci and Ugur Sahin for their "extraordinary courage". "You both embody the future strength of a liberal society. As scientists who seek solutions. But also as entrepreneurs for whom responsibility is at the centre of their work," Merz said during the award ceremony held at Berlin's Französische Friedrichstadtkirche church. The two scientists, who specialize in the development of immunotherapies against cancer, infectious diseases and diseases of the immune and nervous system, developed a coronavirus vaccine in 2020, over the course of less than a year. Merz also praised the two researchers, who have Turkish roots, as examples of the importance of "skilled labour immigration as a driver of progress." "I want to live in a Germany in which talent is promoted to the best of our ability, regardless of social or ethnic background," said Merz. Ideologies calling this tenet into question jeopardize "the future of our liberal order with their narrow-mindedness," the German leader said. The German National Prize has been awarded by the German National Foundation since 1997 to individuals or organizations for their efforts to a democratic society. The award is endowed with a total of €50,000 ($57,000). The German National Foundation was established by former chancellor Helmut Schmidt and friends in 1993.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bus driver on drugs is jailed for killing girl, 9
A bus driver who killed a nine-year-old girl riding her bike on the pavement having fallen asleep at the wheel with drugs in his system has been jailed for four years. Ada Bicakci died in hospital in August last year, two days after the collision in Bexleyheath, south-east London, which left her with "catastrophic injuries". Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 23, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, having pleaded guilty in April to causing Ada's death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs. Asolo-Ogugua, of Southwark, south-east London, failed a drug test at the scene, having taken cannabis the night before. CCTV showed Asolo-Ogugua driving the bus with Ada on a footpath before he defendant fell asleep. The bus drifted across the carriageway and into the path of the girl and her family. Ada's father, Bora Bicakci, said his world was "fractured beyond repair". "This tragedy happened on my watch, a father's ultimate failure. My world has been turned upside down, and with it, the foundations of my family have crumbled. "My darling Ada. Our thanks are not enough to show our gratitude for you. We will honour your name with acts of magnitude. You will never be forgotten." Senior Crown Prosecutor Miranda Jollie called Asolo-Ogugua "reckless and utterly selfish". Ada, a Turkish-British national, lived in Bexleyheath with her family and was a keen gymnast and swimmer. She attended a local primary school where she was described as a "popular and happy pupil". Her organs were donated and she went on to help six other people after her death, her family said previously. Asolo-Ogugua was also disqualified from driving for seven years. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Man charged after girl, 9, killed by London bus HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Israel deports Greta Thunberg after intercepting Gaza-bound aid boat
Israel said campaigner Greta Thunberg left the country on a flight to Sweden via France on Tuesday, after she was detained along with other activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid boat. Of the 12 people on board the Madleen carrying food and supplies for Gaza, five French activists were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily. Israeli forces intercepted the boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in international waters on Monday and towed it to the port of Ashdod. They were then transferred to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the foreign ministry said. "Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France)," Israel's foreign ministry said on its official X account on Tuesday, along with a photo of the activist sitting on board a plane. Five French activists who were also aboard the Madleen were set to face an Israeli judge, the French foreign minister said. "Our consul was able to see the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X. "One of them has agreed to leave voluntarily and should return today. The other five will be subject to forced deportation proceedings." In the early hours of Tuesday, Israel's foreign ministry said the activist group had arrived at Ben Gurion airport to "return to their home countries". "Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority," it said on X. The vessel carrying French, German, Brazilian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish and Dutch activists had the stated aim of delivering humanitarian aid and breaking the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory. - Dire humanitarian conditions - Israel's interception of the Madleen about 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of the coast of Gaza, was condemned by Turkey as a "heinous attack" and Iran denounced it as "a form of piracy" in international waters. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, was damaged in international waters off Malta as it headed to Gaza, with the activists saying they suspected an Israeli drone attack. A 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar attempt to breach the naval blockade, left 10 civilians dead. On Sunday, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the blockade, in place for years before the Israel-Hamas war, was needed to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons. Israel is facing mounting pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. Israel recently allowed some deliveries to resume after barring them for more than two months and began working with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. But humanitarian agencies have criticised the GHF and the United Nations refuses to work with it, citing concerns over its practices and neutrality. Dozens of people have been killed near GHF distribution points since late May, according to Gaza's civil defence agency. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,927 people, the majority civilians, have been killed in the territory since the start of the war. The UN considers these figures reliable. Out of 251 taken hostage during the Hamas attack, 54 are still held in Gaza including 32 the Israeli military says are dead. acc/ysm
