Author: Anadolu Agency

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…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday said that the “separatist terrorists” in Syria are now “increasingly cornered” after the Syrian opposition liberated Damascus. “With the liberation of Damascus by the Syrian opposition, separatist terrorists are increasingly cornered, and they are looking for new patrons,” Erdogan said in a statement during an event organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party in western Aydin province. “Terrorists have only two choices-either renounce terrorism and lay down their arms or face inevitable elimination,” he added.

The US increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $25 million on Friday as he was sworn in for a third term in office. The Biden administration is also increasing the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello to $25 million under the State Department’s Narcotics Rewards Program, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby announced. A new $15 million reward is being offered for Defense Minister Vladimir Pedrino. The administration further sanctioned seven new individuals, bringing the number of Venezuelan officials under US economic…

High-speed moving objects were seen in the skies of southern and southeastern Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Space Sciences Society announced Friday. The objects, reported to have been seen yesterday around 7:30 p.m., may be space debris or meteors, according to a statement by the organization. “As we investigate the situation closely to determine the nature of the incident with certainty, we ask everyone to remain calm and assure them that we will provide updates as soon as we have more information,” the statement said. It comes as Kenya Space Agency continued to examine a huge metallic ring that fell in the…

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…

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.
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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…

Türkiye’s permanent representative to the U.N. on Wednesday urged the removal of sanctions and delisting measures against Syria, emphasizing the need to foster the country’s path toward recovery and stability following the ousting of the Assad regime. “While the end of the (Bashar) Assad regime brings hope for the Syrian people and the region, the challenges ahead remain immense,” Ahmet Yıldız said at a U.N. Security Council session on Syria. He said that Syrians endured “years of unimaginable suffering and widespread destruction” under the Assad regime. “We must ensure accountability for the human rights violations and uses of chemical weapons…

A group of Greek Cypriots protested Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit on Thursday, local media reported. Protesters gathered in front of the presidential palace in Lefkosa, the capital of the Greek Cyprus administration, where Herzog was scheduled to meet with President Nikos Christodoulides, holding banners slamming both Israel and their administration and waving Palestinian flags, the daily Phileleftoris reported. Protesters held banners declaring Herzog “unwelcome” in Greek Cyprus and chanted slogans such as “Stop the genocide,” “Long live the friendship of the peoples,” and “No to imperialist wars.” Melanie Stelios, a protester who addressed the crowd, said Herzog was not…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed sorrow Thursday about wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area in the US state of California and affirmed his readiness to assist. “The secretary-general is shocked and saddened by the widespread devastation caused by the fast-moving wildfires in the Los Angeles area in California,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Guterres extended his condolences to the families of those killed and expressed solidarity with the thousands forced to evacuate. “His thoughts are with the tens of thousands of people who have been forced to evacuate, as well as with the residents whose homes have been…