Author: Anadolu Agency

Pope Francis on Saturday condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, expressing sorrow over the bombing of children in the Gaza Strip the previous day. “Yesterday, children were bombed. This is not war. This is cruelty. I want to say this because it touches my heart,” he told members of the Roman Curia, the Vatican’s central administration. He also lamented that Israeli airstrikes had prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest representative of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, from entering Gaza. Israel has killed more than 45,000 people, most of them women and children, in Gaza since the Oct.…

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed on Saturday that it killed five Israeli soldiers in a “stabbing and engagement operation” in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza. In a statement, the military wing said that during a combined operation in Jabalia, its fighters “eliminated three Israeli soldiers by stabbing them with knives, seized their personal weapons” and then “stormed a house where an infantry unit was fortified and killed two soldiers at its entrance.” It added that its fighters “engaged with others at point-blank range in the middle of Jabalia camp.” Israel launched a large-scale ground operation in…

The last 18 months have seen notable and mutually beneficial progress in Türkiye-Greece ties despite the fact that significant issues remain unsolved, according to leading Greek experts. Reflecting on the tense summer of 2020, Maria Gavouneli, head of Athens-based think tank ELIAMEP, noted the shift in approach. “I think at some point common sense prevailed – that it was not the way to do business, especially if you are neighbors and condemned by history and geography to live side by side,” she said of the renewed rapprochement between Greece and Türkiye. While both sides acknowledge that major disputes remain unresolved,…

Türkiye and Poland are advancing their economic partnership, with expanding trade and investment prospects ushering in a new age of cooperation, a Polish diplomat has said. Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Witold Lesniak, Poland’s consul general in Istanbul, highlighted the dynamic relationship between the two nations and emphasized growing partnership in sectors such as agriculture and cosmetics. “Our economic partnership is thriving,” Lesniak said. “We see great potential in further strengthening our bilateral ties, especially in trade, innovation and mutual investment.” Expanding horizons Trade between Poland and Türkiye reached 12.2 billion euros ($12.6 billion) in 2023, a 17% increase from…

Navigating through Istanbul’s narrow, bustling streets, Ahmet expertly maneuvers his motorcycle, skillfully dodging pedestrians and cars. He pauses outside a small warehouse to grab a bag of groceries and take a quick puff from his cigarette, readying himself for the next delivery just moments away. Ahmet is one of thousands of delivery workers caught up in the rapid growth of Istanbul’s quick commerce (q-commerce) sector. What began as a service for speedy meals and essentials has now evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry, becoming an integral part of daily life in a city of over 15 million people. In recent years,…

The family of a Turkish-American activist killed by Israel demanded justice and accountability from Joe Biden’s administration as they paid a visit to Washington, D.C., this week. During their meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, members of Congress and other officials, Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi’s family demanded an independent, U.S.-led investigation into her death and expressed frustration with the Biden administration’s lack of action. Mehmet Suat Eygi, Ayşenur’s father, expressed frustration with the U.S. government’s handling of his daughter’s killing by Israeli forces. “Opening an investigation, this is the part about justice,” he told Anadolu Agency (AA). “But we…

Experts predict that ties between Türkiye and Lebanon will strengthen and expand in the face of regional changes. “It is very clear that Türkiye enjoys a high level of trust among the Lebanese people and official authorities,” Mounir Rabih, a political analyst and editor-in-chief of the Lebanese newspaper Al-Modon, told Anadolu Agency (AA). Rabih highlighted the joint economic and investment projects between the two countries. “Since Türkiye has emerged as a regional power with significant influence in the area, a large portion of the Lebanese population trusts this role.” He said the Lebanese are trying to align with Türkiye’s actions,…

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Ankara on Friday. While the Turkish Foreign Ministry did not provide details of the meeting, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office had earlier indicated that discussions would focus on the Syrian peace process. During her visit to Türkiye, Baerbock is accompanied by Tobias Lindner, minister of state, and the Federal Foreign Office’s special coordinator for Syria. Fidan also separately received Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, in the Turkish capital.

The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the protection of children during armed conflicts. The resolution, spearheaded by Malta, received the votes of all 15 members of the Council. Co-sponsored by over 100 UN member states, the resolution condemned all violations of international law regarding the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts. It urged all relevant parties to obey the international obligations related to the protection of children who might be affected by armed conflicts and urged for full cooperation with the UN. The resolution further demanded all member states, as well as the…

The US on Friday said it will no longer be pursuing $10 million “Rewards for Justice” bounty on the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. “I told him (HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa) we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice, reward offer that has been in effect for some years,” Barbara Leaf, the US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, told reporters following her meeting with HTS officials in Damascus. On her talk with al-Sharaa, Leaf said she had a “good”, “thorough” discussion on a range of regional issues as…