Author: Anadolu Agency
The French president and the UK’s prime minister on Thursday discussed global issues, including the Middle East, and reiterated “unwavering support” for Ukraine, according to an official statement. President Emmanuel Macron visited Keir Starmer at the premier’s country house Chequers, the prime minister’s office said. The pair “underscored the need for unity in uncertain times,” the statement read. “On the Middle East, the Prime Minister and President agreed on the importance of stability and security in the region, as well as the need to avoid regional escalation. On Ukraine, the leaders reiterated their unwavering support (to Kyiv in its ongoing…
Fiber optic drones capable of penetrating 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) into enemy lines and striking targets with high-resolution imagery have emerged as key tools in the Russia-Ukraine war. With a cable range of up to 20 kilometers, these drones operate at low altitudes, avoiding detection and interception. Anadolu obtained information on fiber optic first-person view (FPV) drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict from open sources. Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced on Jan. 5 that Ukraine had struck over 54,000 Russian targets in December 2024, with 49% of these attacks carried out using kamikaze drones. Syrskyi noted that…
An explosion due to methane gas caused a coal mine in Pakistan to collapse Thursday, trapping 12 miners, said officials. Rescue operations are underway in the Sanjdi area, around 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Quetta, the capital and largest city of Balochistan province, with Chief Mines Officer Abdul Ghani Baloch saying that efforts are focused on bringing the miners out alive, the Dawn newspaper reported. Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind said rescue teams are onsite and additional teams have been deployed. Balochistan’s Minister of Mines and Finance, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, ordered an investigation into possible safety violations, warning of…
Turkish chef Ulas Tekerkaya has revived an ancient bread recipe based on an 8,600-year-old loaf discovered at the Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk in Konya province. Grain analysis of the artifact revealed it contained ingredients like peas, barley, and wheat. Archaeologists unearthed the charred, spongy object two years ago during excavations in Catalhoyuk. Tests conducted at the Science and Technology Research Center of Necmettin Erbakan University, located in the same central Turkish province, Konya, as Catalhoyuk, confirmed that the discovery was leavened bread, dating back to approximately 6,600 BC. Inspired by the discovery, Tekerkaya sought to recreate the ancient loaf, using…
An Israeli drone on Friday targeted a vehicle in Tayr Debba town, southern Lebanon, killing two people and injuring several others, in a new violation of the cease-fire agreement signed on Nov. 27. According to an initial count, the Israeli airstrike on Tayr Debba killed two people and injured two more, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said in a statement. Earlier, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the drone struck the vehicle in Tayr Debba. A civil defense vehicle was dispatched to the scene, and the injured were taken to hospitals in Tyre, the news agency added. This latest violation…
The White House struck a guarded note of optimism Friday, saying a deal to end hostilities in Gaza and release hostages held there is “possible” before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in just 10 days. “We think it’s possible, but not without a lot of hard work still ahead of us. Like I said, Brett is still in Doha. He’s still working this very, very hard,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters, referring to US President Joe Biden’s Middle East pointman, Brett McGurk. “This is a keen focus for him and the entire national security team. It is…
UNICEF issued a dire warning on Friday about the humanitarian crisis in conflict-torn Sudan, warning of “acute malnutrition” for young children. At a news conference, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that UNICEF estimated 3.2 million children under the age of 5 suffered “from acute malnutrition this year. Of these children, over 700,000 will likely suffer from severe acute malnutrition.” Calling the situation in Sudan the “world’s largest child displacement crisis,” Dujarric said that 5 million children are “displaced because of the hostilities” and most “leave their families with only the clothes on their bodies.” Dujarric also stated that Sudanese mothers…
The chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria on Friday called for the suspension of economic sanctions on Syria, saying they hurt the common Syrian people. “I think that it is very important to suspend economic sanctions because these economic sanctions that were defined by some member states, they hurt the common people, the Syrian people, not the ruling class or the government, or the elit”es,” Paulo Sergio Pinheiro told Anadolu. Describing the economic and social situation in Syria as “terrible” and “a very bad situation,” Pinheiro said sanctions are “not a good contribution” to rebuilding the country. …
Britain’s foreign secretary extended his congratulations Thursday to Lebanon’s newly elected President Joseph Aoun. “I congratulate General Joseph Aoun on his election as President of Lebanon. I look forward to working with his government to support Lebanon’s stability and prosperity.” David Lammy said on X. Aoun, who has led the Lebanese army since 2017, became the fifth army commander in Lebanon’s history to ascend to the presidency, the fourth in a row, and the 14th president overall. The president’s term lasts six years, with no reelection allowed until six years after the end of his mandate. The president plays a…
The transitional government chief Muhammad Yunus has urged Türkiye to bring its technology to Bangladesh and build defense industry. “You are the leader of the technology; you can build your defense industry here. Let’s make a beginning … we are available for anything that you need,” Yunus told a delegation led by Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat on Thursday night in Dhaka, according to Yunus’ media team. Bolat said Bangladesh and Türkiye can diversify their cooperation beyond the textile industry, which was their primary import from Bangladesh. He said that there can be economic cooperation in the field of defense…