Author: Anadolu Agency
The rescue and rehabilitation operations continue on Wednesday in Bangladesh after a massive fire left hundreds of Rohingya families homeless in Cox’s Bazar amid rough winter weather. Bangladesh is hosting over 1.2 million Muslim Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar, most of whom fled Myanmar in August 2017 during a military crackdown that human rights groups described as genocide. The devastating fire on Tuesday killed two people, including a minor, and damaged over 600 makeshift houses in Kutupalong Camp 1W, Cox’s Bazar Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Md Shamsud Douza told Anadolu. The fire spread in the camp quickly due to…
An explosion at a shopping mall in Vladikavkaz, Russia, killed one person and injured nine others, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Wednesday. The blast occurred on the upper floor of the Alania Mall in Vladikavkaz, the administrative center of North Ossetia-Alania in the northern Caucasus, a ministry statement said. It further said that no visitors were present at the time of the explosion, and all the casualties were among employees and passersby. The mall caught fire following the explosion, however, it was quickly extinguished, the statement said. Authorities said that it was likely a gas explosion. Regional Governor…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday expressed “heartfelt congratulations” to Christians on the occasion of Christmas, wishing them peace and happiness. “On the occasion of Christmas, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our citizens who follow the Christian faith,” Erdoğan said, according to a statement issued by Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. Erdoğan said that as in the history of “our civilization, we remain committed today to ensuring that no distinctions are made among people based on origin, race, language, religion, or sect.” “It is of great importance to us that all of our citizens are able to live freely according…
Azerbaijani Airlines flight 8432, traveling from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, the Kazakh Emergency Ministry said. The aircraft caught fire following the crash, and emergency responders are working to extinguish it, the ministry said in a statement, adding that preliminary reports indicated there are survivors. “Fifty-two personnel and 11 units of equipment from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan have been deployed. Upon arrival, the aircraft was found ablaze. Rescue operations are ongoing, and information about the victims is being clarified,” the statement said.
As Syria begins to rebuild and normalize after the fall of the Baath regime, Aleppo’s Christian community gathered in the Catholic Church to joyfully celebrate Christmas. The city’s Christians, enjoying renewed stability and peace under the control of groups that toppled the previous regime, embraced the holiday with hope and unity. The Catholic Church, prepared for the occasion, featured a brightly lit Christmas tree and festive decorations, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Hundreds of Christians from all age groups filled the church, coming together to express their wishes for peace and harmony. The celebration was marked by prayers and…
On Christmas, the Irish taoiseach (prime minister) said his country must keep raising a voice for human rights, for freedom, for peace and for an end to violence. In his Christmas Day message, Simon Harris said Ireland should continue to speak out against all the terrible conflicts and sufferings taking place in the world at a time when “we wish each other peace and joy.” Also touching on some challenges that the Irish citizens faced during 2024, he stated that there is much work to do to help with the housing crisis, to take real action on climate as well…
Electric vehicles (EVs) are estimated to make up 30% of Türkiye’s auto market in 2025, as increasingly more EV models of well-known car brands enter the country and the domestic EV brand Togg boosts its production capacity, Ali Bilaloglu, CEO of the Turkish auto exporter and distributor Dogus Otomotiv, told Anadolu. Bilaloglu stated EV and hybrid sales accounted for 27% of the total Turkish auto market this year, led by the entry of Chinese brands into the market. “This year, we launched at least one EV model for almost every brand we distribute, representing all Volkswagen Group brands, and two…
The United Arab Emirates’ various vision projects create new cooperation opportunities for Turkish investors with the UAE’s potential to access a geography with a total $35 trillion economy, Kanat Kutluk, head of the Dubai Turkish Business Council, told Anadolu. Kutluk said the UAE is a major trade partner of Türkiye, as the trade volume between the two countries last year reached $17.7 billion, with prominent Turkish exports to the UAE including silver, motor vehicles and vehicle parts, carpets, textiles, and more. He highlighted that renewable energy investments can boost the trade potential of the two countries and noted that areas…
Russian companies have started using Bitcoin and other digital assets in international payments, the Russian finance minister said on Wednesday. In a statement to the Russian state channel Rossiya-24, Anton Siluanov said that Bitcoins mined in Russia can be used in the experimental process for international payments, and such payments have begun. Siluanov noted that this payment method should be developed and expanded. While there are no restrictions on the purchase of cryptocurrencies in Russia, the use of these cryptocurrencies as a form of payment within the country is prohibited. With the decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on…
The Yemeni Houthi group announced on Wednesday the arrest of several spies in Yemen who were allegedly working for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). “Security agencies have, in recent days, arrested an (unspecified) number of spies recruited by the wanted (man) Hamid Hussein Fayed Majali,” the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV channel reported, citing a statement issued by the group. The statement, which did not mention the nationalities of the arrested alleged spies, explained that Mossad and the CIA had assigned these spies several tasks, including “monitoring and gathering information on experts, laboratories, launch platforms,…