Author: Anadolu Agency
A protest targeting EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib took place Monday at the end of the opening panel of the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels, with a participant accusing her of “complicity in what they described as “genocide” in Gaza. Lahbib, the European commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, was speaking about the challenges facing global humanitarian efforts. She referenced the limited aid reaching Gaza and emphasized the need for thousands of trucks to deliver life-saving assistance, far beyond the small convoy currently near the border. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher also spoke, saying…
Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, canceled 110 flights due to a strike by the aviation union, local media reported Monday. Some 14,000 customers are expected to be affected by the strike called by the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU), said public broadcaster YLE, citing the airline company. The strike is affecting ground operations and catering services at Helsinki Airport, where baggage handling may also face disruptions, it added. Meanwhile, the IAU announced that more strike actions are likely. If no agreement is reached, additional strikes are planned for May 30 and June 2.
The UK and the EU on Monday struck a last-minute agreement that resets their post-Brexit relationship, following a key breakthrough in negotiations over fishing rights and checks on food and agricultural products. The deal, finalized just hours before a high-level summit in London, comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU officials. The summit is intended to “reset” relations between the two sides, more than five years after the UK formally exited the EU on Jan. 31, 2020. The agreement grants EU access to British fishing waters until the end…
At least 53,486 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war since October 2023, the Health Ministry said on Monday. A ministry statement said that 136 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, while 364 people were injured, taking the number of injuries to 121,398 in the Israeli onslaught. “Many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added. The Israeli army resumed its assaults on the Gaza Strip on March 18 and has since killed 3,340 people and injured 9,357 others, shattering a ceasefire and…
The UK, France and Canada issued on Monday a stern warning to Israel, calling for an immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid or face “further concrete actions.” In an unusually strong statement, the three countries condemned Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza, which have killed more than 53,000 people since October 2023, describing them as “wholly disproportionate” and raising concerns over potential breaches of international humanitarian law. “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will…
Türkiye on Monday condemned statements by Greek authorities on the so-called anniversary of ‘unfounded Pontic allegations.’ “We condemn the delusional statements, which are completely incompatible with historical facts, made by Greek authorities on the pretext of the anniversary of unfounded “Pontic” allegations,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry rejected “such imaginary allegations,” which it said aimed to “defame our War of Independence” launched under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, on May 19, 1919. Ankara accused Greece of attempting to “read history in reverse,” calling the allegations “null and void.”…
A Meeting of the Türkiye-US working group on Syria will be held on Tuesday in Washington, Turkish diplomatic sources said. The meeting, which will be held in an inter-institutional format and co-chaired by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, is expected to focus on the two countries’ Syria policies and discuss opportunities for cooperation in establishing security and stability in Syria, the sources added. The fight against ISIS (Daesh) and other terrorist organizations is expected to be at the top of the agenda at the meeting, which will also discuss Ankara’s support…
Travel chaos is expected to continue at Paris-Orly Airport for the second consecutive day on Monday amid a major air traffic control failure, French media reported. Sunday’s breakdown resulted in the cancellation of 130 flights, affecting thousands of passengers, some of whom were already on planes at the French capital’s second-largest airport when the flights were canceled, according to France 24. While the French civil aviation authority, DGAC, blamed an air traffic control “malfunction,” an airport source told the broadcaster that it was a “radar failure.” The DGAC has asked airlines to reduce their flight schedules by 15% on Monday,…
Two civilian helicopters collided Saturday in Finland, with no survivors reported, according to officials. Estonian public broadcaster, ERR, reported that the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deaths of all on board the helicopters. Police said five people were on board — two in one helicopter, three in the other, according to Yle news. Authorities indicated they are still working to identify the passengers in the crash. The helicopters, found about 100 meters (328 feet) apart in a forested area, were en route from Tallinn in Estonia, to Piikajarvi Airfield in Kokemaki. The passengers were Estonian businessmen, according to…
“Children, families, and the elderly in Gaza were reduced to starvation,” noted Pope Leo XIV on Sunday in his inauguration mass in Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square. Thanking some 200,000 people and numerous delegations representing states, royal families, and other Christian churches, the pontiff added: “In the joy of faith and communion, we cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of war,” according to the Vatican News Agency. Particularly on Ukraine, Leo underlined the importance of the negotiations to bring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Following the mass, the pontiff met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr…