Author: Anadolu Agency

Two Lebanese people were killed by Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, the Health Ministry said. One strike targeted a vehicle in the town of Hanieh in Tyre district, killing one person whose identity has not yet been confirmed. In a separate incident, the Lebanese Civil Defense reported that a fire broke out in a car following another Israeli strike in Bawarta, located in Mount Lebanon. A body was recovered from the wreckage. The Lebanese group al-Jamaa al-Islamiya (Islamic Group) later identified the second victim as military commander Hussein Atoui,…

As peace is restored across southeastern Türkiye, Chaldeans, Catholic Assyrians who were forced to leave their village in the 1990s due to terrorist attacks, are returning in growing numbers to their ancestral home at the foot of Mount Cudi in the Silopi district of Şırnak province. The village, once home to a thriving Chaldean community, was evacuated approximately 35 years ago due to security concerns. Residents migrated to other provinces in Türkiye and abroad, particularly to European countries. Petrus Karatay, 70, a former resident, moved to Istanbul before settling in France. Though he built a new life as a father…

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law ratifying a strategic partnership deal signed between Moscow and Tehran earlier this year. The document was published on the Russian government portal. The signing of the law follows the ratification of the deal by the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, during a plenary meeting on April 16. The State Duma, the country’s lower house of parliament, also ratified the deal on April 8. On Jan. 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in Moscow. Putin said during a press…

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid warned Sunday of potential “political murder” within the country, holding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for inciting violence, according to Israeli media. “We are exposed to political murder from within, and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar is at the top of the list of those getting (assassination) threats,” he said, Israel Hayom newspaper reported. Bar has been at the center of a political firestorm since the Israeli government decided to dismiss him on March 20. The Supreme Court later suspended the decision pending a review of legal petitions filed by the opposition. Lapid criticized Bar’s…

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said his country will analyze proposals for a moratorium between Moscow and Kyiv on strikes against civilian infrastructure in each other’s countries. “As for the proposal not to hit civilian infrastructure facilities, this needs to be sorted out,” Putin told journalists in Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed on Sunday a halt to strikes on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days, with the possibility of an extension. “If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which…

The US and Philippines opened their annual military drills in disputed South China Sea on Monday amid ongoing tensions with Beijing. Named the “Super Bowl” of exercises in the region, the three-week “Balikatan,” or “shoulder to shoulder,” drills are being attended by more than 16,000 troops from both sides, the Philippine News Agency reported. The exercise includes an integrated air and missile defense simulation to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos. Balikatan 25′ is taking place from April 21 to May 9 in Luzon Strait, which lies between Philippine’s Luzon island and Taiwan. A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with…

Türkiye’s external assets totaled $378.2 billion as of the end of February, up 3% year-on-year, official figures from the Central Bank showed on Monday. The country’s liabilities against non-residents were at $657.2 billion, down 1.5% compared to February last year, the bank said. Türkiye’s net international investment position (NIIP)-assets minus liabilities-was at minus $279 billion, down $9.7 billion. Reserve asset items were at $165.4 billion, up 6.6% compared to the previous year. As for sub-items under assets, direct investments were at $72.6 billion, rising 2%, while other investments totaled $136.2 billion, down 0.5%. Foreign exchange deposits of resident banks held…

European leaders on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a symbol of compassion, social justice, and moral leadership whose voice resonated far beyond the Catholic Church. The 88-year-old pontiff died of a cerebral stroke and irreversible heart failure, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli has said in a death certificate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the late pontiff inspired millions with “his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,” and that his legacy would continue to guide efforts for a “more just, peaceful and compassionate world.” EU foreign policy chief…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday conveyed condolences over the death of Pope Francis, the spiritual head of the Catholic Church. “I join the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a messenger of hope, humility and humanity,” said Guterres in a statement. He described Pope Francis as a “transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice,” highlighting his compassion toward people affected by conflict and poverty. Calling him “a man of faith for all faiths,” Guterres said the pope worked across backgrounds to promote unity and understanding. He recalled the pope’s 2015 visit to the…

During Israel’s 18-month-long war in Gaza, Pope Francis made a daily phone call to Gaza’s only Catholic parish, offering prayers and words of comfort. In his final address and public appearance on Easter Sunday, he called for a ceasefire in Gaza, reiterating his unwavering appeal for peace in the besieged Palestinian enclave. On Monday, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88. He suffered a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” associated with thrombocytopenia, according to a previous Vatican statement. Pope Francis is seen as a symbol of…