News.Life

Protests Erupt Nationwide Against Tariffs and Federal Funding Cuts

Unknown government, news, politics, politics and government, protests

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<p>
 HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSb) -- The tariffs imposed by Trump and significant reductions in federal funds are sparking anger among many people.
</p>
<p>
 The coming day, approximately 1,000 demonstrations will take place throughout the nation.
</p>
<p>
 In Connecticut, 22 protests are scheduled.
</p>
<p>
 Indivisible CT is spearheading the "Hands Off!" A Day of Action protest.
</p>
<p>
 People claim that both Trump and Musk have triggered instability, chaos, and fear.
</p>
<p>
 Over the last day, individuals have witnessed the stock market decline sharply and their retirement funds diminish.
</p>
<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/video/AA1Ck6oO" data-reference="video"/>
<p>
 The following day, hundreds to thousands of individuals are anticipated to gather at the state capitol for speaking out.
</p>
<p>
 This will mark the third demonstration held outside the state capitol since Trump assumed presidency.
</p>
<p>
 The organizers of the upcoming demonstrations state that individuals are experiencing feelings of helplessness. Rather than tackling issues solo, they wish to join forces with like-minded others and express themselves openly.
</p>
<p>
 "There are peaceful demonstrations taking place in all capital cities across each state as well as in Washington D.C., due to the critical nature of our situation requiring a significant visible show of concern. Many people feel alarmed," stated Jim Chapdelaine from Indivisible CT.
</p>
<p>
 Jim Chapdelaine is among the organizers. They assert that Trump’s series of executive orders bypassed Congress.
</p>
<p>
 A large number of positions have been cut, and crucial programs and services have been done away with.
</p>
<p>
 He mentions that individuals feel they have minimal control. Although this might be unchangeable, they can come together and raise their voices.
</p>
<p>
 Paige Harrison Gorman is collaborating with the team to empower individuals who believe their voices aren't being heard.
</p>
<p>
 "Truly, we aim to concentrate our efforts on actions we can take and changes we can make. Additionally, we seek to inform and educate individuals so that during the subsequent attempt, we might achieve better outcomes," Gorman stated.
</p>
<p>
 Due to reductions in public health and education budgets, states such as Connecticut have forfeited hundreds of millions in federal funds.
</p>
<p>
 Currently, tariffs might trigger a worldwide economic downturn. The stock market has crashed, and individuals' pension funds have significantly decreased.
</p>
<p>
 "They would undoubtedly feel disappointed, and their reaction is justified since this came as a surprise. Most individuals did not anticipate the scale of these tariffs," explained Farhad Rassekh, an economics professor at the University of Hartford.
</p>
<p>
 Although many believe they lack control, coming together can make a difference.
</p>
<p>
 "If you don't take action, you'll end up staying at home and throwing your shoes at the TV screen. We can't afford to replace too many TVs. You must do something; this is the moment to act," stated Chapdelaine.
</p>
<p>
 The gathering at the state capitol scheduled for tomorrow will take place between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
</p>
<p>
 It is anticipated to be the biggest one within the state.
</p>

Protests Erupt Nationwide Against Tariffs and Federal Funding Cuts

Unknown government, news, politics, politics and government, protests

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSb) -- The tariffs imposed by Trump and significant reductions in federal funds are sparking anger among many people. The coming day, approximately 1,000 demonstrations will take…

Palestinians in Gaza Unite in Rare Protest, Urging Hamas to End the War

Unknown gaza israel conflict, israel and the gaza strip, palestinians, politics, protests

<p>
 In Gaza, Palestinians have held an unusual public demonstration urging Hamas to halt the conflict and depart from the region.
</p>
<p>
 Online videos depict thousands of individuals participating in an anti-war demonstration in the war-ravaged northern town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday.
</p>
<p>
 Although the demonstrations initially started in northern Gaza, social media reports indicate that they spread across different parts of Gaza throughout the day, with gatherings reaching as far south as Khan Younis by nightfall.
</p>
<p>
 In certain video clips, supporters of Hamas are shown trying to disperse the gatherings.
</p>
<p>
 Some demonstrators broadly called for an end to the hostilities with Israel, whereas others specifically accused Hamas of initiating the conflict and urged the organization to abandon Gaza.
</p>
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<p>
 Although Hamas secured the highest number of seats in the 2006 parliamentary elections, they did not gain more than half of the total votes cast. They rejected forming a power-sharing arrangement with Fatah, the former ruling party in Gaza, ultimately taking control in 2007.
</p>
<p>
 Human rights organizations allege that Hamas forcefully suppresses opposition, crushes demonstrations in regions under its control, and imprisons as well as tortures those who criticize them.
</p>
<h2>
 Protests could affect Hamas
</h2>
<p>
 In Beit Lahiya, individuals wielded placards with messages like "End the conflict" and "Our lives matter too," while some voices clearly shouted for change with "Out with Hamas."
</p>
<p>
 "I am tired of the bombings, killings, and displacements," stated Ammar Hassan, who was present at the demonstration.
</p>
<p>
 As per Hassan, the protest began as a small anti-war gathering of several dozen individuals but later grew to over 2,000 participants, who were shouting slogans against Hamas.
</p>
<p>
 "The only party we have influence over is this one," he stated via telephone. "Demonstrations may not halt the Israeli occupation, but they could impact Hamas," he explained.
</p>
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<p>
 "The protest wasn’t centered around politics; it was focused on matters affecting people’s daily lives,” stated Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the adjacent town of Beit Hanoun, who participated in the demonstration.
</p>
<p>
 "Ideally, we aim to halt the violence and forced relocation, regardless of the cost. While we cannot prevent Israel from attacking us, we can exert pressure on Hamas to make compromises," he stated.
</p>
<p>
 A statement issued by the Elders and Mukhtars of the Beit Lahiya group showed their backing for the demonstrations opposing Israel's military operation and its blockade, yet they also endorsed armed resistance.
</p>
<p>
 Local leaders stated that they dismissed "any effort to misuse valid public grievances by a fifth column," seemingly alluding to Hamas' adversaries.
</p>
<h2>
 Tensions running high
</h2>
<p>
 A week following Israel's termination of the ceasefire with Hamas, where they initiated a sudden series of attacks resulting in numerous fatalities, the demonstrations began.
</p>
<p>
 At the beginning of this month, Israel also stopped delivering food, fuel, medicines, and humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s approximately two-million-person population.
</p>
<p>
 Israel has pledged to intensify the conflict until Hamas releases the 59 hostages they currently hold, with 24 thought to still be alive.
</p>
<p>
 Israel is also insisting that the organization relinquish control, lay down arms, and have its leadership go into exile.
</p>
<p>
 The conditions set by Hamas for freeing the remaining hostages in return for the release of Palestinian detainees include a permanent truce and complete Israeli troop removal from Gaza.
</p>
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<p>
 The conflict began with the assault led by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. In this incident, militant Palestinians killed approximately 1,200 individuals—primarily civilians—and captured 251 hostages.
</p>
<p>
 Hamas states that only a few of its senior leaders were aware of the operation prior to its execution.
</p>
<p>
 Israel's airstrikes and ground assaults during its conflict with Hamas have led to extensive damage throughout Gaza and forced about 90% of the region's inhabitants from their homes.
</p>

Palestinians in Gaza Unite in Rare Protest, Urging Hamas to End the War

Unknown gaza israel conflict, israel and the gaza strip, palestinians, politics, protests

In Gaza, Palestinians have held an unusual public demonstration urging Hamas to halt the conflict and depart from the region. Online videos depict thousands of individuals participating in an anti-…

Over 1,100 Detained in Turkey as Massive Protests Erupt Over Mayor's Arrest – Europe Live Update

Unknown europe, news, politics, politics and law, protests

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<p>
 <p>
  <strong class="last-updated">
   LIVE – Updated at 16:11
  </strong>
 </p>
</p>
<p>
 <div class="intro">
  <p>
   Tens of thousands gathered in Istanbul with unrest likely to continue over treatment of presidential challenger to Erdoğan.
  </p>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   Closing summary
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    16:11
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    The Guardian’s live coverage of ongoing events across Europe is coming to an end for today. Protests continue throughout Turkey after
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu –
    </strong>
    Istanbul’s mayor and top rival to president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan –
    </strong>
    was jailed yesterday. Here’s what else happened today:
   </p>
   <ul>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Turkey’s interior minister said 1,133 people had been detained since protests i turkey began on 19 March.
      </strong>
      There have been large-scale demonstrations in cities across Turkey since last Wednesday.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       At least ten journalists were detained in Istanbul and Izmir following the protests.
      </strong>
      In a post on X, Turkish NGO Media and Law Studies Association said its legal unit was assisting the journalists.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Germany called the jailing of Istanbul mayor and Turkish opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu “totally unacceptable” and said it was following the developments with “great concern”.
      </strong>
      “The arrest and suspension of the mayor of Istanbul is totally unacceptable. This must be clarified very quickly and transparently,” Chancellor
      <strong>
       Olaf Scholz’s
      </strong>
      spokesman
      <strong>
       Steffen Hebestreit
      </strong>
      told a press conference.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Greenland’s prime minister Mute Egede accused Washington of interfering in its political affairs with the visit of an American delegation later this week to the Danish territory coveted by US president Donald Trump.
      </strong>
      Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance, will visit Greenland this week with her son and a US delegation including US national security adviser Mike Waltz.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Families gathered to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Germanwings plane crash that killed 150 people in March 2015.
      </strong>
      Memorials took place at the German high school that lost many students to the disaster and also in Le Vernet, near the crash site in the French Alps.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       A nurse accused of murdering nine palliative care patients went on trial in Germany today, with prosecutors saying he played “master of life and death” over them.
      </strong>
      Prosecutors said the unnamed 44-year-old man injected a total of 26 patients with large doses of sedatives or painkillers, resulting in the deaths of nine.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       French actor Gerard Depardieu went on trial today over alleged sexual assaults on a film set.
      </strong>
      Prosecutors allege assaults against two women – whose full identities have not been revealed – took place during the filming in 2021 of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). Depardieu denies any wrongdoing.
     </p>
    </li>
   </ul>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   Erdoğan says protests have turned into 'movement of violence'
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    15:32
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Turkish president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
    </strong>
    has slammed his opponents, saying protests against the jailing of Istanbul’s mayor, his main political rival, had turned into a “movement of violence”, Reuters reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    Speaking after a cabinet meeting in
    <strong>
     Ankara
    </strong>
    , Erdoğan added that the main opposition CHP was responsible for any property damage and harm to police officers during the protests, which have been taking place across the country since Istanbul mayor,
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    was arrested last week. Erdoğan also said that their “show” would eventually end and they would feel ashamed for the “evil” they did to the country.
   </p>
   <p>
    Turkey has detained more than 1,100 people, including journalists, as demonstrations continue. The mayor’s imprisonment is widely regarded as a political move to remove a major challenger to Erdoğan from the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    15:10
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    AFP gives more details on the German Last Generation protesters who were charged earlier today, including for “forming a criminal organisation”.
   </p>
   <p>
    The Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed it had filed the charges “against five members” of the movement, which reorganised into two groups earlier this year.
   </p>
   <p>
    Members of Last Generation released a statement saying they would contest the charges, calling them “an attack on civil society engagement as a cornerstone of democracy”.
   </p>
   <p>
    Founded in 2021, Last Generation mounted eye-catching, non-violent protests in Germany for several years calling for urgent action to combat climate change. These included throwing mashed potatoes at the glass protecting a Monet painting and repeatedly glueing themselves onto busy roads.
   </p>
   <p>
    The group’s members briefly halted airport traffic several times by breaking into airports and glueing themselves to the tarmac.
   </p>
   <p>
    In May last year, prosecutors in the state of Brandenburg said they had charged five members of the group with “forming a criminal organisation” in relation to protests at two oil refineries, Berlin airport and the Barberini Museum in Potsdam.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    14:44
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    French actor
    <strong>
     Gerard Depardieu
    </strong>
    went on trial today over alleged sexual assaults on a film set, in a case that placed one of France’s best-known movie stars at the heart of the country’s broader reckoning over sexual violence, Reuters reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    The trial, expected to last at least two days, and possibly more, was initially due to be held in October but was postponed due to Depardieu’s ill health.
   </p>
   <p>
    As he arrived, Depardieu, his hand on his lawyer’s shoulder, passed calmly past reporters, looking straight at the cameras without saying a word. His lawyer, Jeremie Assous, told reporters that the accusations were false and based on lies. “Truth is on our side,” he said.
   </p>
   <p>
    Prosecutors allege assaults against two women – whose full identities have not been revealed – took place during the filming in 2021 of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).
   </p>
   <p>
    The prosecutors accuse Depardieu of groping one of the women, whom they named Amelie K, on the film set. Three people witnessed the scene, prosecutors say. They say the second woman was groped by Depardieu on set and in the street.
   </p>
   <p>
    Before the opening of the trial, some activists gathered outside the courthouse in northern Paris. A dozen activists from Bruit qui court, a collective of artist and activists, chanted: “Sexist violence, complicit judicial system.” Others held signs with various slogans criticising Depardieu.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    14:38
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Protests are still under way in Turkey, with demonstrations likely to gear up later this evening.
   </p>
   <p>
    Earlier today students at the main universities in Istanbul and Ankara called for a boycott of lectures, according to AFP. Young protesters were also preparing to hold a rally at 14.00 GMT by Besiktas port on the Bosphorus, ahead of the main nightly rally outside City Hall at 17.30 GMT.
   </p>
   <p>
    Since last week, rallies have taken place in at least 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, or more than two-thirds of the country, according to a tally by AFP.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    13:54
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    German prosecutors have filed charges against five climate activists of the group Last Generation, including for forming a criminal organisation, AFP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    The Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed it had “filed charges against five members of Last Generation with the State Security Chamber... for, among other things, forming a criminal organisation”.
   </p>
   <p>
    Climate activists from the group glued themselves to the tarmac at four German airports last August, forcing a temporary halt to flights as part of their campaign against fossil fuels.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   Turkey talks on hold after İmamoğlu's jailing, says Greece
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    13:38
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    A meeting between
    <strong>
     Greece
    </strong>
    and
    <strong>
     Turkey
    </strong>
    was improbable to occur shortly after the incarceration of the Istanbul mayor
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    A Greek government representative stated according to Reuters.
   </p>
   <p>
    Greece and Turkey, despite being NATO allies with a long-standing enmity, have been at odds for many years regarding their maritime borders in the Aegean Sea, air space, and the ethnically split island of Cyprus.
   </p>
   <p>
    Having agreed in 2023 to forge ahead with their relationship and repair diplomatic links, both nations planned to convene a high-level cooperation council later this year, potentially as soon as April, to address mutual concerns.
   </p>
   <p>
    However, the meeting was not expected to occur anytime soon, according to the Greek government spokesman.
    <strong>
     Pavlos Marinakis
    </strong>
    stated during a press conference on Monday, after the arrest of İmamoğlu, the president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s
    </strong>
    main political rival.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   X allegedly suspends accounts of individuals linked with Turkey's opposition.
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    13:37
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    <strong>
     Various opposition figures in Turkey have seen their X accounts temporarily halted due to civil unrest within the nation.
     Politico
     is reporting.
    </strong>
   </p>
   <p>
    Elon Musk’s social media platform has suspended the activity of “university-associated activist accounts, basically sharing protest information, locations for students to go,” Yusuf Can, coordinator and analyst at the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program, told Politico.
   </p>
   <p>
    He added that many of these accounts are “grassroots activists” with their followings in the low tens of thousands.
   </p>
   <p>
    Politico reports:
   </p>
   <blockquote class="quoted">
    <p>
     <p>
      The suspensions come after extensive demonstrations were sparked by the arrest earlier this week of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu was arrested just hours before he was nominated to be the presidential candidate for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
     </p>
     <p>
      The opposition protests have spread despite the government banning gatherings for four days.
     </p>
     <p>
      Much of the opposition activity has centered around universities, and many of those connected to the demonstrations are now finding their X accounts suspended, observers report.
     </p>
    </p>
   </blockquote>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    13:31
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    A nurse accused of murdering nine palliative care patients went on trial in
    <strong>
     Germany
    </strong>
    today, with prosecutors saying he played “master of life and death” over them, AFP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    Prosecutors said the unnamed 44-year-old man injected a total of 26 patients with large doses of sedatives or painkillers, resulting in the deaths of nine. His motive was allegedly to minimise his workload during his night shifts, prosecutors said at his trial in the western city of
    <strong>
     Aachen
    </strong>
    . He was employed in palliative care at a hospital in the nearby town of
    <strong>
     Wuerselen
    </strong>
    .
   </p>
   <p>
    The man allegedly injected the mostly elderly and terminally ill patients and then simply walked out of their rooms, the court heard.
   </p>
   <p>
    Prosecutors said he lacked motivation in his work and was “annoyed” by the patients, adding that he had considered himself their “master of life and death”.
   </p>
   <p>
    The nurse did not speak at the start of proceedings. Former colleagues will be called as witnesses in subsequent hearings. The trial’s end date is uncertain while investigations are ongoing.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    13:14
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    <strong>
     Are you in Turkey?
    </strong>
    Share your views and experiences of recent protests with the Guardian.
   </p>
   <p>
    We would like to hear from people in Turkey about the recent protests and whether they took part. Please share your story if you are 18 or over, anonymously if you wish, by filling out the form on
    this page
    .
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    13:04
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Isar Aerospace has scrubbed its attempt to launch its first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle from Norway, AP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    Unfavourable winds this afternoon meant that the Spectrum rocket could not be launched from the island of Andøya in northern Norway, the German aerospace company said.
   </p>
   <p>
    The company said it could also conduct the test flight later in the week. Another date has not yet been set.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    12:24
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Portugal’s foreign minister
    <strong>
     Paulo Rangel
    </strong>
    and Chinese counterpart
    <strong>
     Wang Yi
    </strong>
    will hold talks in Beijing on Tuesday, as EU member states fret over the prospect of a trade war with both Washington and Beijing.
   </p>
   <p>
    This week’s visit would be the first to China by a high-level Portuguese government official in over five years.
   </p>
   <p>
    The United States is the main destination for Portuguese exports outside the EU, while Portugal is the only country in western Europe still signed on to Beijing’s flagship overseas infrastructure plan, the belt and road initiative.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    11:57
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    The European commissioner for trade,
    <strong>
     Maros Sefcovic
    </strong>
    , is heading to Washington to meet the US commerce secretary
    <strong>
     Howard Lutnick
    </strong>
    on Tuesday, a Commission spokesperson said, Reuters reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    Sefcovic will also meet with US trade representative
    <strong>
     Jamieson Greer
    </strong>
    . The spokesperson declined to provide more details about the discussion.
   </p>
   <p>
    Donald Trump has threatened the EU – the US’ third biggest trading partner – with 25% tariffs. The EU said last week it may delay implementing its threatened response to US steel and aluminium tariffs.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    11:41
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    The imprisonment of Istanbul’s opposition mayor has come at a time when Turkey finds itself at the centre of geopolitical turmoil that observers say has freed president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
    </strong>
    to target his most dangerous opponent,
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    , AP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    Experts suggest that a combination of global elements provided Erdoğan with an opening to attempt mitigating the primary challenge he faces in upcoming elections scheduled for 2028, though they might occur earlier. "A particularly unique alignment of circumstances has made this appear relatively straightforward for him to execute without attracting significant international disapproval or repercussions," explained one analyst.
    <strong>
     Monica Marks
    </strong>
    , professor of Middle Eastern Studies at New York University Abu Dhabi.
   </p>
   <p>
    <strong>
     Berk Esen
    </strong>
    A political scientist from Istanbul’s Sabanci University stated that the CHP's choice to reaffirm İmamoğlu as their presidential nominee for 2028 played a crucial role in his detention. "Erdogan hoped he might be able to diminish, if not entirely obstruct, İmamoğlu’s chances of running," they explained. "However, once the CHP scheduled the primary elections, it became evident that İmamoğlu would emerge as the party’s candidate, prompting Erdogan to act swiftly against him."
   </p>
   <p>
    "Erdogan is adhering to the autocrat's manual, focusing on undermining the entities capable of constraining his authority – such as courts, universities, and public figures," he stated.
    <strong>
     Maya Tudor
    </strong>
    , professor at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government. “It is important to remember that day-to-day democracy is not about elections, which happen infrequently and under the glare of international media. It is also about the right of opposition politicians to organise and be heard. When politicians like İmamoğlu cannot disagree with Erdogan without being jailed through trumped up charges, a vital pillar of democratic society dies.”
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    11:27
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Germany has called the jailing of Istanbul mayor and Turkish opposition leader
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    “totally unacceptable” and said it was following the developments with “great concern”.
   </p>
   <p>
    “The arrest and suspension of the mayor of Istanbul is totally unacceptable. This must be clarified very quickly and transparently,” Chancellor
    <strong>
     Olaf Scholz’s
    </strong>
    spokesman
    <strong>
     Steffen Hebestreit
    </strong>
    told a press conference.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    11:08
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Reuters provides further quotes from Greenland’s outgoing prime minister
    <strong>
     Mute Egede
    </strong>
    , who has criticised a visit to the self-governing Danish territory by US second lady
    <strong>
     Usha Vance
    </strong>
    planned for later this week.
   </p>
   <p>
    Egede called the delegation’s visit, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, a “provocation” and said his caretaker government would not meet with it.
   </p>
   <p>
    “Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working closely,” Egede told local newspaper Sermitsiaq. “But that time is over.”
   </p>
   <p>
    The Greenlandic government is currently in a caretaker phase following a March 11 parliamentary election won by the Democrats.
    <strong>
     Jens-Frederik Nielsen
    </strong>
    , leader of the Democrats, called for political unity and criticised the timing of the visit during coalition talks with municipal elections due next week. “We must not be forced into a power game that we ourselves have not chosen to be a part of,” Nielsen said.
   </p>
   <p>
    <strong>
     Brian Hughes
    </strong>
    , spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the visit aims to “build on partnerships that respects Greenland’s self-determination and advances economic cooperation”.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    10:54
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    The Danish national police force said it has sent extra personnel and sniffer dogs to
    <strong>
     Greenland
    </strong>
    as the island steps up security measures ahead of a planned visit this week by second lady
    <strong>
     Usha Vance
    </strong>
    , AP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    Spokesperson René Gyldensten said the extra officers were part of regular steps taken during visits by dignitaries to Greenland, a self-governing, mineral-rich territory of American ally Denmark.
   </p>
   <p>
    Vance’s visit comes at a time when president
    <strong>
     Donald Trump
    </strong>
    has suggested the United States should take control of Greenland.
    <strong>
     Denmark
    </strong>
    , a NATO ally, insisted the island wasn’t for sale.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   More than 1,100 detained in Turkish protests, says interior minister
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    10:46
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Turkey's interior minister stated that 1,133 individuals have been apprehended since the demonstrations started on March 19th, according to AFP.
   </p>
   <p>
    Large-scale protests have taken place in numerous Turkish cities beginning last Wednesday following the arrest of the Istanbul mayor.
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    , the primary political opponent of the president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
    </strong>
    .
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    10:37
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Families came together to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the GermanwINGS aircraft disaster, which resulted in 150 fatalities back in March 2015.
   </p>
   <p>
    Investigations revealed that the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, intentionally crashed the aircraft. Memorial services were held at the German secondary school which had numerous students perish in the tragedy, as well as in Le Vernet, close to where the plane went down in the French Alps.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    10:09
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    At least ten reporters were held in custody in Istanbul and Izmir after extensive demonstrations erupted across Turkey due to the detention of Istanbul's controversial mayor.
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    , the primary political opponent of the president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
    </strong>
    .
   </p>
   <p>
    Following a tweet on X, the Turkish NGO Media and Law Studies Association stated that their legal team was providing assistance to the reporters involved. The organization also mentioned that over 20 journalists were reportedly subjected to physical attacks by law enforcement during the past four days of protests.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   Greenland PM denounces 'foreign interference' ahead of US visit
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    09:50
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Greenland’s prime minister
    <strong>
     Mute Egede
    </strong>
    accused Washington of interfering in its political affairs with the visit of an American delegation later this week to the Danish territory coveted by US president
    <strong>
     Donald Trump
    </strong>
    , AFP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    <strong>
     Usha Vance
    </strong>
    , the wife of US Vice President
    <strong>
     JD Vance
    </strong>
    , will visit Greenland this week with her son and a US delegation, which Egede said would include US national security adviser
    <strong>
     Mike Waltz
    </strong>
    .
   </p>
   <p>
    “It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference,” Egede said, adding that the delegation’s visit, from Thursday to Saturday, “cannot be seen as just a private visit”.
   </p>
   <p>
    Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted he wants the United States to take over Greenland and even refused to rule out the use of force to achieve the aim.
   </p>
   <p>
    Egede said Washington had been told there would be “no talks” until a new Greenlandic government was in place after 11 March general elections that left him heading a caretaker government.
   </p>
   <p>
    <strong>
     Jens-Frederik Nielsen
    </strong>
    , leader of the centre-right Democrats that won the election and likely future Greenlandic prime minister, has previously criticised Trump’s moves on Greenland as “inappropriate”.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    09:43
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    A private European aerospace company is set to make the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle from
    <strong>
     Norway
    </strong>
    later today, AP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    The launch window for its Spectrum rocket from the island of
    <strong>
     Andøya
    </strong>
    in northern Norway is 12.30pm to 3.30pm local time, said German start-up, Isar Aerospace. The launch is subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure, and the company said it also could conduct the test flight later in the week.
   </p>
   <p>
    The 28-meter- (91-foot-) Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed for small and medium-sized satellites. The company largely ruled out the possibility of the rocket reaching orbit on its first complete flight, saying it would consider a 30-second flight a success.
   </p>
   <p>
    Isar Aerospace is separate from the European Space Agency, or ESA, which is funded by its 23 members states. ESA has been launching rockets and satellites into orbit for years, but mainly from French Guiana — an overseas department of France in South America — and from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   Istanbul's mayor to be presidential candidate, says CHP
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    09:37
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Istanbul’s embattled mayor,
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    was officially nominated as a presidential candidate by the opposition CHP party for the 2028 elections, a party spokesman told AFP on Monday.
   </p>
   <p>
    The Republican People’s Party (CHP) – the main opposition party and the second largest party in parliament – held a primary election on Sunday, at which the only candidate was İmamoğlu, the main political rival of president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
    </strong>
    .
   </p>
   <p>
    İmamoğlu’s arrest and detention on corruption charges has sparked huge protests in Turkey.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   Turkish journalists held after covering protests
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    09:36
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Turkish authorities have detained nine journalists who covered overnight protests against the arrest of Istanbul mayor
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    , the Journalists Union of Turkey said, Reuters reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    A Turkish court on Sunday jailed
    <strong>
     İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    , president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s
    </strong>
    main political rival, pending trial on corruption charges in a move that triggered the country’s biggest protests in more than a decade.
   </p>
   <p>
    Despite bans on street gatherings in many cities, mostly peaceful anti-government demonstrations were held for a fifth night in a row last night. It was not immediately clear why the journalists were detained.
   </p>
   <p>
    A post on the union’s Facebook page
    listed the names of the journalists it said had been detained in dawn raids in Istanbul and Izmir.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    09:28
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    China said it hopes a visit later this week by the French foreign minister would see the countries deepen cooperation in a world facing “turbulence and transformation”, AFP reports.
   </p>
   <p>
    France and China have sought to strengthen ties in recent years, but Paris has also pressed Beijing on its ties with Moscow, which have strengthened since the invasion of Ukraine.
   </p>
   <p>
    French foreign minister
    <strong>
     Jean-Noel Barrot
    </strong>
    is set to visit the Chinese capital Beijing and economic powerhouse Shanghai on Thursday and Friday, his first visit since becoming the country’s top diplomat last year.
   </p>
   <p>
    “The current international situation is increasingly turbulent and complex, with a notable rise in instability and uncertainty,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, adding that Barrot will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
   </p>
  </div>
 </div>
 <div>
  <h2>
   Opening summary: huge Turkish demonstrations over mayor's arrest
  </h2>
  <div class="publish-info">
   <span>
    08:59
   </span>
  </div>
  <div class="post-body">
   <p>
    Good morning and welcome to our blog covering developments in Europe amid escalating protests in Turkey triggered by the imprisonment of the mayor of Istanbul and top rival to president
    <strong>
     Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
    </strong>
    .
   </p>
   <p>
    On Sunday, a court formally arrested mayor
    <strong>
     Ekrem İmamoğlu
    </strong>
    , sending him to pre-trial detention on the day he received his party’s nomination to run for president. His initial arrest and detention on Wednesday sparked the largest wave of street demonstrations in Turkey in more than a decade and deepened concerns over democracy and the rule of law in the country.
   </p>
   <p>
    Last night, tens of thousands of demonstrators who massed near
    <strong>
     Istanbul’s
    </strong>
    city hall for a fifth straight evening, angry at the decision to officially arrest İmamoğlu, faced police who pepper-sprayed crowds and fired teargas. In
    <strong>
     İzmir
    </strong>
    , video showed police attempting to disperse protests using armoured water cannon trucks.
   </p>
   <p>
    The mayor's detention is broadly seen as a strategic maneuver to sideline a significant opponent of Erdoğan ahead of the upcoming presidential election in 2028. However, government representatives firmly deny these claims and assert that Turkey's judicial system functions autonomously.
   </p>
   <p>
    İmamoğlu was detained amid suspicions that he led a criminal group, accepted bribes, extorted money, unlawfully collected personal information, and engaged in bid rigging—allegations which he refutes. Although a plea to incarcerate him over terrorism-linked charges was dismissed, he continues to face potential legal action.
   </p>
   <p>
    In other developments:
   </p>
   <ul>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Usha Vance, who is married to the US Vice-President JD Vance, plans to visit Greenland on Thursday during the presidency.
       Donald Trump
       holds onto the notion of a US incorporation of the strategically important, partly self-governing Danish territory.
      </strong>
      Vance will visit
      Greenland
      on Thursday with a US delegation to tour historical sites, learn about the territory’s heritage and attend the national dogsled race, the White House said in a statement.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Hundreds of victims’ families are commemorating the 10th anniversary of the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 in the French Alps, which killed all 150 people on board.
      </strong>
      Investigators said the plane was deliberately downed by the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz. Memorials are planned Monday for 10.41am — the moment of the crash — at the German high school that lost so many students and also in Le Vernet, near the crash site in the mountains.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       French actor Gérard Depardieu will face charges in a Paris court of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of a movie in 2021.
      </strong>
      Depardieu is accused of groping a set dresser and an assistant director during production of the film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). The actor denies the charges.
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Press freedom in Serbia is facing a “dangerous turning point” after mounting pressure on independent outlets from ministers and state-backed media, a group of senior editors has warned.
      </strong>
      The editors, who are all from publications within the independent United Media group, said their reporters faced “constant harassment, physical attacks and smear campaigns” after their reporting in the country, which has been gripped by protests against its autocratic president,
      <strong>
       Aleksandar Vučić
      </strong>
      .
     </p>
    </li>
    <li>
     <p>
      <strong>
       Tuberculosis (TB) cases amongst children across Europe increased by 10% in 2023, signalling persistent circulation of the disease and underscoring the urgency for prompt public health actions to curb its propagation, according to the World Health Organization.
      </strong>
      "The alarming increase in tuberculosis cases among children is a stark reminder that our advancements against this preventable and treatable illness remain precarious," stated Hans Henri Kluge, who is the Regional Director for Europe at the WHO.
     </p>
    </li>
   </ul>
  </div>
 </div>
</p>

Over 1,100 Detained in Turkey as Massive Protests Erupt Over Mayor's Arrest – Europe Live Update

Unknown europe, news, politics, politics and law, protests

LIVE – Updated at 16:11 Tens of thousands gathered in Istanbul with unrest likely to continue over treatment of presidential challenger to Erdoğan. Closing summary …

Protesters Boycott Shopping for a Day in Response to Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest

Unknown controversies, politics, politics and government, politics and law, protests

<p>
 The protests that broke out throughout Turkey after the detention of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, have escalated into demands for a one-day commercial boycott.
</p>
<p>
 The student organizations responsible for the request also encouraged companies to close down operations on Wednesday.
</p>
<p>
 Massive demonstrations against the government commenced the previous month following the imprisonment of İmamoğlu, who is seen as the primary opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's prolonged 22-year leadership.
</p>
<p>
 Imamoglu faces allegations of corruption and terrorism, which his supporters view as politically driven. However, the government maintains that the judicial system operates independently without political influence.
</p>
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   </div>
  </div>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 İmamoğlu's party - the Republican People's Party (CHP) – publicly supported the call for a commercial boycott.
</p>
<p>
 "Everyone is encouraged to participate in this boycott and utilize the influence derived from spending," stated Özgür Özel, the leader of the CHP party, in a social media posting.
</p>
<p>
 Previously, Özel had urged individuals to boycott companies that he alleges support the government, with particular emphasis on media organizations that chose not to broadcast footage of the massive protests where hundreds of thousands of Turks took to the streets demanding İmamoğlu’s release and an end to democratic regression.
</p>
<p>
 The student-led boycott garnered an immediate reaction from the authorities.
</p>
<p>
 Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya called it "sabotage" and a "coup attempt against our economy," while Trade Minister Omer Bolat said companies that suffer financial losses would be able to file a claim for compensation against those calling for the boycott.
</p>
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  </div>
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</div>
<p>
 Bolat shared photos of his shopping trip on social media, accompanied by remarks indicating it was a "day for supporting the nation's financial stability."
</p>
<p>
 The chief of Turkey's broadcasting regulatory body (RTÜK) stated potential measures could be taken against news outlets that promoted the boycott.
</p>
<p>
 A week ago, authorities imposed a 10-day broadcast suspension on an opposition channel along with penalties and programming halts for several others.
</p>
<p>
 The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office similarly initiated a criminal probe into the opposition's calls for a boycott.
</p>
<p>
 Imamoğlu, in a social media post from the prison where he has been detained since March 23, alleged that European politicians were beginning to sever connections with Turkey.
</p>
<p>
 The European Commission decided against participating in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that she also canceled her scheduled meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
</p>
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<p>
 While incarcerated, İmamoğlu was officially named the CHP's presidential nominee in an election presently set for 2028 but expected to occur sooner.
</p>
<p>
 As reported by the independent ANKA News Agency, approximately 2,000 individuals have been apprehended since İmamoğlu’s arrest on March 19th. Among these detainees, 316 remain in custody awaiting their trials.
</p>
<p>
 Many of them face charges related to involvement in demonstrations.
</p>

Protesters Boycott Shopping for a Day in Response to Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest

Unknown controversies, politics, politics and government, politics and law, protests

The protests that broke out throughout Turkey after the detention of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, have escalated into demands for a one-day commercial boycott. The student organizat…