Despite a ban on public gatherings, thousands protested in Istanbul on Thursday against the arrest of the city's mayor Ekrem Ä°mamoÄŸlu and the revocation of his university degree. They see these moves as an attempt by President ErdoÄŸan to eliminate his most dangerous rival. The opposition CHP has said that it willonetheless designate Ä°mamoÄŸlu as its 2028 presidential candidate - for which a university degree is a prerequisite - on Sunday.

The Trump administration has deported more than 200 Venezuelans suspected of belonging to a drug cartel from the US to a maximum security prison in El Salvador, citing an 18th century law designed for the event of war. Trump called US federal judge James Boasberg, who had expressly banned the measure and isow demanding explanations, a "radical left-wing lunatic".

For the first time in years, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has indicated progress in talks on the Cyprus question. In a conference this week both sides agreed on joint initiatives. In addition to opening further checkpoints in the UN Buffer Zone, mines are to be cleared, a youth committee established and joint environmental projects planned and implemented. Furtheregotiations are planned for July.

Romanian interim president Ilie Bolojan has revealed details of his predecessor Klaus Iohannis's travel expenses which had long been kept under wraps. During his ten years in office, Iohannis made 193 foreign visits which cost Romania's taxpayers almost 23 million euros, and for which he liked to charter luxury jets. Opposition politicians and commentators condemn the exorbitant spending.