News
Turkey Blocks Instagram Nationwide Amid Accusations of Censorship
On Friday morning, Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority announced that access to Instagram has been blocked for all 85 million people in the country. Local media reported the decision was posted on the authority’s website, stating, “Instagram.com has been blocked by a decision on the date of 02/08/2024.” Turkey, with over 50 million Instagram users, now faces an unexpected halt in access to the popular photo-sharing app.
While the Turkish government did not provide an official reason for the ban or specify its duration, reports suggest that the move is a response to Instagram’s removal of posts related to the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Daily Sabah newspaper, which often aligns with the government’s stance, reported that the ban was due to the “Haniyeh posts removal,” which included posts from users in Turkey expressing condolences over his death.
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political wing of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, was reportedly killed in a blast in Tehran during his visit for the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Both Iranian officials and Hamas attribute his death to an assassination by Israel, although Israel has not commented on the incident.
Fahrettin Altun, head of Turkey’s presidential communications and an aide to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, criticized Instagram on Wednesday for what he described as censorship. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Altun expressed grief over the death of “our dear brother Ismail Haniyeh” and condemned Instagram for preventing users from posting condolence messages, arguing there were no policy violations.
Altun stated, “This is censorship, pure and simple. We will defend freedom of speech against these platforms that have shown many times that they are primarily in the service of the global exploitative system of injustice.”
In a devastating incident in eastern India, at least 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, have drowned while celebrating the Hindu Jivitputrika festival. The fatalities, which occurred across 15 districts within the past 24 hours, resulted from victims ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding.
The three-day festival, which honors children’s wellbeing, is traditionally marked by mothers fasting and families participating in ritual baths. This year, the swollen water bodies, exacerbated by recent floods, have turned the celebratory ritual into a deadly disaster.
Local disaster management officials have expressed fears that the death toll could rise further. State authorities have promised compensation for the families and relatives of the victims.
Fatal accidents during religious festivals are not uncommon in India, where large gatherings often take place with insufficient safety measures. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such gatherings, especially during adverse weather conditions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted airstrikes in Beirut, reportedly killing Mohammad Hussein Surur, a senior Hezbollah air unit leader. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed two deaths and 15 injuries from the attack. The strikes come amid escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging fire throughout the night and into the morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the IDF would continue to fight “with full force” against Hezbollah, aiming to dismantle the Iran-backed militant group. This marks a significant intensification of hostilities between the two sides, which have been exchanging rockets and airstrikes for days. The Lebanese health ministry also reported that 28 people were killed today by Israeli airstrikes.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched 80 missiles targeting northern Israeli cities, including Safed. Israeli authorities have reported no casualties but noted significant property damage in Safed and Rosh Pina.
Amid the intensifying conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin renewed calls for a diplomatic solution. The U.S., along with 11 other allied nations, has urged both Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire to prevent further escalation and civilian casualties.
Ferry travel between the Isle of Man and Lancashire continues to face disruption due to strong winds over the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has cancelled Thursday’s 08:45 BST sailing of the Manxman to Heysham and its scheduled 14:15 return journey. This follows the cancellation of the vessel’s return trip from the Lancashire port on Wednesday evening.
The disruptions have affected postal services, with the Isle of Man Post Office reporting delays in deliveries from the UK. While local deliveries within the island remain unaffected, items posted on Wednesday for UK delivery may not reach Royal Mail’s network in time for Friday delivery.
Additionally, the ferry cancellations have caused a delay in newspaper deliveries, with no papers available on the island on Thursday, as confirmed by the island’s wholesale distributor.
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