This is Beirut - Istanbul

Lebanon Announces Three Return Options for Citizens Stranded in Antalya

This is Beirut, 17/06 22:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Beirut Turkey Tripoli Istanbul Antalya Nakhal

In response to the situation of Lebanese citizens stranded in the Turkish city of Antalya, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced three return options, following instructions from Minister Fayez Rasamny. This initiative aims to ensure the safety of Lebanese nationals and facilitate their swift return home. Option 1: Via ...

MEA Adds Extra Flights to Istanbul, Cairo and Milan

This is Beirut, 16/06 14:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

MEA Flights Istanbul Cairo Baghdad Airspace

Amid a wave of cancellations and delays, Middle East Airlines (MEA) has announced the addition of extra flights to accommodate rising passenger demand. These flights aim to assist travelers affected by recent disruptions and will include routes to Istanbul on June 16 and to Cairo and Milan on June 17. In an official statement released Monday, the ...

Istanbul Mayor's Staff Targeted by Dozens of Arrest Warrants

This is Beirut, 31/05 12:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Istanbul

Turkish authorities have issued 47 arrest warrants for municipal officials and staff across Istanbul, whose mayor—the main political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—has been jailed since March, the state news agency Anadolu reported on Saturday. The warrants were based on "four separate corruption investigations centered ...

Istanbul Talks End Quickly as Russia Makes "Unacceptable" Demands

This is Beirut, 16/05 17:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Istanbul Ukraine Russia

Russians and Ukrainians sat face-to-face for under two hours Friday in Istanbul for the first direct talks in over three years aimed at ending their war, with expectations low for breakthroughs. Kyiv is seeking an "unconditional ceasefire" in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, which has also destroyed large swathes of Ukraine and ...

Zelensky Urges Strong International Response if Istanbul Talks with Russia Fail

This is Beirut, 16/05 16:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Istanbul Russia Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called for a “strong response” from the international community if the planned talks with Russia in Istanbul fail. “If it turns out that the Russian delegation is only there for appearances and cannot deliver any results today, then everyone must respond,” he said from Tirana. “There ...

Ukraine Peace Talks: What are Kyiv and Moscow's Positions?

This is Beirut, 16/05 11:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia Istanbul Peace Talks

Delegations from Kyiv and Moscow are in Istanbul on Friday, set to hold their first direct talks on the possibility of ending the war in Ukraine for more than three years. Expectations are low for the talks -- initially proposed by Vladimir Putin -- after the Russian leader declined Volodymyr Zelensky's call for a presidential summit in Turkey ...

US, Turkey, Ukraine Meeting Starts in Istanbul, but Expectations Low

This is Beirut, 16/05 09:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Ukraine Istanbul Russia

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began meeting his Turkish and Ukrainian counterparts Friday ahead of the first direct Russia-Ukraine talks in three years, a Turkish foreign ministry source said. At the meeting, which was being chaired by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace, were Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy ...

Turkey-Russia Meet Ends, Ukraine to Join Talks Friday

This is Beirut, 15/05 22:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Turkey Ukraine Russia Istanbul

Talks in Istanbul between Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a Russian delegation ended late on Thursday with the sides set to meet again Friday with the Ukrainians, a foreign ministry source said. "The meeting has ended. Tomorrow there will be more talks in different formats," the source said, indicating that ...

Zelensky in Turkey on Eve of Uncertain Talks Without Putin

This Is Beirut, 15/05 15:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Volodymyr Zelensky Vladimir Putin Ukraine Russia Istanbul

While Vladimir Putin declines the invitation, Volodymyr Zelensky travels to Ankara for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the eve of Ukrainian-Russian talks in Istanbul, the outcome of which remains uncertain.

Nearly 50 Held in Turkey in Probe into Opposition Istanbul Mayor's 'Graft' Case

This is Beirut, 26/04 12:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Istanbul dollar Erdogan Ankara City

Istanbul prosecutors on Saturday said nearly 50 people had been arrested in a probe into the graft case of Istanbul's opposition mayor, whose jailing last month sparked nationwide protests. When Ekrem Imamoglu from the main opposition CHP was arrested on March 19, huge crowds began rallying in protest outside Istanbul City Hall every night, ...

Istanbul’s Jewel Hagia Sophia Undergoes Major Restoration

This is Beirut, 16/04 16:15 - Reading : less than a minute

Istanbul Hagia Sophia Restoration

The former basilica Hagia Sophia, converted into a mosque in 2020, is undergoing a comprehensive renovation, including its main dome and mosaics, to better withstand future earthquakes expected in Istanbul.

Hundreds of Thousands Join Istanbul Protest Rally

This is Beirut, 29/03 14:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Turkey Istanbul Protests Ekrem Imamoglu

Waving flags and chanting slogans, hundreds of thousands of anti-government demonstrators rallied in Istanbul on Saturday, calling for democracy to be defended after the arrest of mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which sparked Turkey's worst street unrest in over a decade. Under a cloudless blue sky, huge crowds gathered in Maltepe on the Asian side of ...

Istanbul