Istanbul suicide bombing: 10 Germans killed

On January 12, 2016, a suicide bombing occurred in Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey. It resulted in the death of 10 Germans. It is considered the deadliest attack on Germans in over 13 years. Facing such a situation, Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced Turkey’s determination to revenge the attack which ISIL has claimed responsibility for. Immediate actions were taken. Reported by Anadolu Agency, which is Turkey’s semiofficial news site, at least 68 suspected terrorists had already been arrested, including three Russians. Soon after, Turkish officials identified the suicide terrorist as Nabil Fadli, reportedly a Syrian refugee. After the bombing, a lot of questions were raised in Germany concerning whether or not this was a targeted attack on Germans. But Thomas de Maiziere, German Interior Minister, stated that there was no evidence to show Germans were singled out and the people were encouraged to continue to travel to Turkey.

Ted Cruz begins wooing donors and leaders of the Republican Party

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. President, was long opposed by the vast majority of Republican elites, but that has recently changed. S. Scott Sewell, who is an oil industry executive and has long history with presidential campaign, attended a fund-raiser for Ted Cruz. Sewall told the New York Times: “I believe in Senator Cruz because he believes what he’s saying.”

Other donors also begin embracing Mr. Cruz’s idea that he can win an election by motivating enough core conservatives so that doesn’t have to worry about swing voters. Mary Matalin, a longtime consultant to Bush and a Ted Cruz supporter, said, in the same New York Times article, “If Cruz makes it, which is very doable, every one of the establishment crowd who is now eviscerating him will line up, salute smartly and get on board.” But it is too early to make a conclusion on anything yet.

Iran’s quick release of ten Navy sailors proved the softening US-Iran relations

On Tuesday, January 12, ten U.S. sailors entered Iran’s territorial waters by accident and were detained when one of their two vessels broke down. The sailors were under training at that time. After the incident, quick and efficient conversation occurred between the U.S and Iran. Afterwards, Iranian Revolutionary Guards stated that the incursion was “unintentional” and swiftly released the soldiers into international waters. The U.S. thanked Iranian authorities for their co-operation and quick response and explained that it was still investigating how the sailors had entered Iran’s territory. This event marks a positive turn in relations between the U.S. and Iran.