Turkey’s block on Instagram extended into its fifth day on Tuesday, as authorities engaged in discussions with the app's parent company amid internal legal proceedings regarding the ban.
Government officials and Meta met on Monday, an official from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure told The National, in an attempt to find an acceptable agreement and reverse the ban. However, the Turkish party was not satisfied with the outcome.
The country banned the social networking app over the weekend in an apparent protest at restrictions on content commemorating Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a suspected Israeli attack in Tehran last week.
“We have tried to establish a dialogue line through our relevant institutions. However, we have not yet established the desired co-operation in its full sense,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told legislators on Monday.
In the meantime, the Media and Law Studies Association, a non-profit organisation promoting freedom of speech in Turkey, said it had filed a lawsuit against the country's Information and Communication Technologies Authority, which implemented the ban.
Veysel Ok, the association's co-director, said the decision to ban Instagram infringed on the rights of 57 million users in Turkey, disrupted daily commerce worth 2 billion Turkish lira ($60 million), and resulted in a daily VAT loss of 400 million lira.
Instagram is a highly popular platform in Turkey and as well as personal and business users, parties from across the political spectrum promote their activities on the app.
“Turkish society was taken aback by this censorship decision because they did not find the government's reasons convincing,” Mr Ok told The National. “Not only has the freedom of expression of millions of people been restricted, but countless individuals who trade on Instagram have also been left jobless.”
Many people in the country have reported using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the ban – a step commonly taken by users in neighbouring Iran, where Instagram has been banned for years.
Mr Erdogan has vocally backed Hamas since it attacked Israel on October 7 last year, and Turkey has banned trade with Israel over its war in Gaza in response to the attacks.
Last week, thousands of people marched in Istanbul to protest over Mr Haniyeh's assassination and to express anger at the continuing Israeli military operation.
The Turkish President accused social media companies of promoting Israeli narratives and blocking pro-Palestinian content, and also criticised them for failing to limit posts linked to organisations that Turkey sees as terrorists, such as the Kurdish separatist militants, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
“We are against a digital fascism that cannot even tolerate the photos of Palestinian martyrs and prohibits them at the moment, and which is also a digital fascism that is marketed as freedom,” Mr Erdogan said on Monday.
The lack of popular support for the Instagram ban leads lawyers to believe that it will eventually be reversed, Mr Ok said.
“I think the Turkish government will find a way to reach a compromise because they did not receive societal support for this decision.”
Turkey has blocked social media sites in the past and some news websites are also banned. Access to Twitter was temporarily blocked following the earthquakes iin the south-east of the country in February last year, in which more than 50,000 people were killed.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Kibsons%20Cares
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Company%20Profile
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
THREE
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'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
SEMI-FINAL
Monterrey 1
Funes Mori (14)
Liverpool 2
Keita (11), Firmino (90 1)
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km