Latest news with #Kalin


Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Turkish spy chief talks Gaza truce with senior Hamas leader
ISTANBUL: Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met senior Hamas leaders on Sunday for talks on Gaza's humanitarian tragedy and efforts to reach a ceasefire, state news agency Anadolu reported. Kalin held talks with Mohammad Darwish, head of the political council of Hamas that rules Gaza, and his delegation at an undisclosed location, Anadolu said, citing security sources. They discussed the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and Turkey's efforts to end the war and 'ensure the immediate passage of aid' to the territory. They also spoke of 'the need to reach a consensus among Palestinian groups during this critical period... (and) the steps to be taken to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza,' the sources said. The meeting came after US President Donald Trump voiced optimism about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying Friday it could happen 'within the next week'. Mediators have engaged in months of negotiations aimed at ending 20 months of war in Gaza, where Israel stopped all food entering over two months ago, leading to warnings of famine. It has since allowed a resumption of food deliveries through the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation involving US security contractors, with Israeli troops at the periphery.


The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Turkey spy chief talks Gaza truce with senior Hamas leader
ISTANBUL: Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met senior Hamas leaders on Sunday for talks on Gaza's humanitarian tragedy and efforts to reach a ceasefire, state news agency Anadolu reported. Kalin held talks with Mohammad Darwish, head of the political council of Hamas that rules Gaza, and his delegation at an undisclosed location, Anadolu said, citing security sources. They discussed the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and Turkey's efforts to end the war and 'ensure the immediate passage of aid' to the territory. They also spoke of 'the need to reach a consensus among Palestinian groups during this critical period... (and) the steps to be taken to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza,' the sources said. The meeting came after US President Donald Trump voiced optimism about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying Friday it could happen 'within the next week'. Mediators have engaged in months of negotiations aimed at ending 20 months of war in Gaza, where Israel stopped all food entering over two months ago, leading to warnings of famine. It has since allowed a resumption of food deliveries through the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation involving US security contractors, with Israeli troops at the periphery. Witnesses and Gaza officials have reported multiple instances of Palestinians being killed while trying to get aid.


Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Turkey spy chief talks Gaza truce with senior Hamas leader - War on Gaza
Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met senior Hamas officials on Sunday to discuss the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. Kalin held talks with Mohammad Darwish, head of Hamas's political council in Gaza, and his delegation at an undisclosed location, Anadolu reported, citing Turkish security sources. The discussions focused on what was described as the "humanitarian tragedy" unfolding in Gaza under Israel's full military blockade, and on Turkey's efforts to 'ensure the immediate passage of aid' and help bring an end to the war. According to the sources, the two sides also discussed 'the need to reach a consensus among Palestinian groups during this critical period' and steps toward achieving a lasting ceasefire. The meeting followed comments by US president Donald Trump, who on Friday voiced optimism about a potential deal between Israel and Hamas, saying a ceasefire could be reached 'within the next week'. Mediators have spent months pushing for an agreement to halt Israel's 20-month war on Gaza, which has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, destroyed large parts of the territory, and displaced nearly the entire population. Israel imposed a total blockade more than two months ago, cutting off food, water and aid, prompting UN agencies to warn of impending famine. Under mounting pressure, Israel later approved a restricted aid mechanism through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), operated in coordination with Israeli forces and private US contractors. Aid groups say the system has become a means of control, not relief, with limited access and repeated Israeli attacks on Palestinians gathering at aid points. Multiple incidents have been reported of civilians being shot while trying to access food, with human rights monitors accusing Israeli forces of targeting aid seekers with impunity. The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel must prevent acts of genocide, while humanitarian organisations and legal experts say the campaign bears the hallmarks of one. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Turkey's spy chief meets Hamas to push for Gaza ceasefire and aid access
Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with senior Hamas officials on Sunday to discuss Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis and renewed efforts to reach a ceasefire, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. Kalin held the talks with Mohammad Darwish, head of Hamas's political council, at an undisclosed location. Security sources told Anadolu the discussion focused on securing aid access and stopping the war. The parties also stressed the need for unity among Palestinian factions and outlined steps towards a lasting ceasefire in the besieged enclave. The meeting followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said on Friday a ceasefire deal could be reached 'within the next week.' Talks have dragged on for months, with famine warnings mounting after Israel halted food deliveries to Gaza for over two months. Food trucks have since resumed movement under a controversial scheme involving US contractors and Israeli oversight. But Palestinians have continued to be killed while attempting to retrieve aid, according to local witnesses and officials.


Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Poop Cruise makes 'Number 1' in TV ratings
If you're looking for something new to binge watch on TV this weekend, and if you have a strong stomach, then you might just enjoy the latest offering from Netflix about the Cruise Holiday gone wrong, better known as the 'Poop Cruise'. Luxury Cruise holidays have grown in popularity over the past decade or so, with thousands upon thousands of us choosing to sail around the Mediterranean, the Bahamas or the Scandinavian Fjords, to name just a few of the destinations on offer every year. Netflix timed it well with the release of this latest holiday horror for the senses documentary entitled 'Trainwreck – Poop Cruise' which shows graphic footage of the aftermath of a fire onboard the Carnival Triumph Luxury Liner in 2013. Pic: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025 The new documentary – and the clue is in the name, looks back on the really 'crap' time thousands of holidaymakers had on board the luxurious vessel, and memories of that infamous time are still burned into the minds of the unfortunate passengers and crew who found themselves trapped on board, with no toilets, for five long days. After the 14-storey ship lost its electricity as a result of a freak accidental fire in the engine room, passengers were no longer able to flush the toilets, and the situation quickly turned desperate and very unsanitary for the 4,000 people who were trapped onboard the ship in the Gulf of Mexico for almost a week. The journey was supposed to be a four-day pleasure cruise from Galveston in Texas to Cozumel in Mexico, but the blaze, which was contained to the engine room of the enormous vessel, turned out to have huge repercussions for the whole ship. GULF OF MEXICO – FEBRUARY 11: In this handout from the U.S. Coast Guard, A member of the GCG Vigorous watches as the cruise ship Carnival Triumph sits idle February 11, 2013 in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the Coast Guard, the ship lost propulsion power February 10, after a fire broke out in the engine room. (Photo by Paul McConnell/U.S. Coast Guard via Getty Images) The flames destroyed cables supplying the whole luxury liner with electricity and resulting in no power, lighting, refrigeration, or air-conditioning, but even worse than all of those, no way to flush the toilets. Passengers interviewed for the documentary told tales of the entire ship stinking of urine and worse, and of being initially being told by crew that they could do a 'number 1' in the showers, passengers were then instructed to collect red plastic 'Poo Bags' from the crew, and after use, these bags which would then be disposed of in bins on board the vessel. There were stories of queuing up for cold sandwiches, and of food running out, of people making up makeshift beds on the ships deck because the heat in the cabins was unbearable with no air-con and flooded floors, and tensions running high among passengers. Kalin, Ashley and Jayme in Trainwreck: Poop Cruise. Pic: Netflix © 2025 Along with interviews with passengers, and crew members who were on board, the hour-long Netflix special also features camera footage from holidaymakers, showing hallways and cabins destroyed with fecal matter and urine. With no power, the ship was drifting aimlessly in the Gulf of Mexico for days before finally being towed to Mobile in Alabama where the passengers eventually disembarked. Carnival Cruise Lines is believed to have reimbursed everyone for their ruined vacations. The company is also thought to have spent more than $500 million dollars to implement a range of new measures across their entire fleet of ships, dealing with everything from fire prevention to enhanced management systems on board their luxury vessels. The documentary is streaming now on Netflix.