Author: Anadolu Agency

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held discussions Sunday with outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on ways to implement the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip as well as developments in Syria. Al Thani, who is also Qatar’s prime minister, received a phone call from Blinken, according to a statement from the Qatari Foreign Ministry. The ministry said the two men addressed “ways to ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners and hostages, in addition to the developments in Syria.” They also discussed “the close…

Türkiye’s external assets fell to $363 billion at the end of November, down 1.1% from end-2023, according to official data released Monday. Liabilities against non-residents ticked up 0.5% to $659.7 billion, Turkish Central Bank data showed. The net international investment position (NIIP), defined as the difference between Türkiye’s external assets and liabilities, dropped by $7.2 billion to minus $296.7 billion at the end of November. The NIIP — which can be either positive or negative — is the value of overseas assets owned by a nation, minus the value of domestic assets owned by foreigners, including overseas assets and liabilities…

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister Kim Yo Jong on Monday claimed that Belarus has been hoping for a top-level contact with Pyongyang for the past two years. In a statement, published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim, also the vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, reacted to the Belarusian president’s recent remarks in which he said some Asian countries, including North Korea, proposed a top-level meeting to discuss cooperation. “There is no such thing, at least, as far as I know,” she responded. “I know well that the…

Azerbaijan on Monday commemorated the victims of the 1990 Black January tragedy, during which nearly 150 people were killed and 740 others injured in the country’s capital Baku. Azerbaijanis flocked to memorials throughout the country, including the capital Baku, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the events. President Ilham Aliyev also laid a wreath in the Alley of Martyrs memorial in Baku and described the Black January tragedy as having become a “symbol of the struggle for national independence, freedom and invincible will.” He said that Azerbaijanis were subjected to “punitive measures” by the former…

Protests erupted Saturday in European cities, including Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin and Vienna, as thousands took to the streets to denounce Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and demand lasting change following the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The demonstrations came after 15 months of Israeli attacks on Gaza that left the region in ruins. Experts warned of immense challenges in Gaza’s reconstruction even as the deal brings a reprieve. Protesters emphasized the need for long-term solutions, including the lifting of a blockade, the end of occupation and global accountability for human rights violations. -Stockholm: Calls for sanctions…

Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and US-based space infrastructure developer Axiom Space have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore supply chain opportunities for Türkiye’s space industry. The agreement aims to foster collaboration in areas such as space technology, aviation, textiles, material science, advanced manufacturing, communications and life sciences, Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology said on Saturday. The ministry highlighted that cooperation would involve Türkiye’s youth in space activities, inspiring future astronauts, engineers, scientists and leaders. It also aims to support the sustainability of the space industry while fostering innovation in other sectors. The establishment of a laboratory for research…

Russia claimed on Sunday that its forces took control of another settlement in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where Moscow continues to claim advances amid an ongoing regional offensive. A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces captured the village of Vozdvyzhenka, located about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) east of the city of Pokrovsk, a key front in Moscow’s offensive in eastern Ukraine. Russia has frequently claimed territorial gains in recent months, particularly in the Donetsk region, where fighting has intensified around Pokrovsk. The city serves as a critical logistics hub for Ukraine’s military in the region, which…

The process to transfer three Israeli captives in Gaza to the Red Cross began on Sunday, Israeli media said. Palestinian group Hamas said early Sunday that it would set free three female captives under the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Israel. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 confirmed that the process to return the three captives has begun. Israel is set to release 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the three women. The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay due to Israeli accusations for…

Israeli media reported Friday that the army has set military plans to bolster security along the Gaza Strip’s borders including the gradual withdrawal from the enclave as part of implementing a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. The Walla news portal said the army will adjust its deployment and start a gradual withdrawal from areas in Gaza during the implementation of the deal. It added that the southern command is preparing to strengthen its deployment along the borders with Gaza and bolster defense lines to ensure security along border areas. The report noted that the army’s 162nd Division will take…

The Palestinian government is ready to take on its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip following the implementation of a ceasefire agreement, President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday. During a phone call with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, Abbas reiterated “the Palestinian position on the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from it (Gaza), and the State of Palestine assuming its full responsibilities in the Strip, as it is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory,” according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa. The Palestinian president emphasized “the readiness of the government and its civil…