Author: Anadolu Agency

The death toll from Friday’s massive earthquake that jolted the Thai capital Bangkok has climbed to 17, with 32 people injured and 83 others remaining missing, the local disaster management authority said on Sunday. Damage to infrastructure has been reported in 18 of the country’s 76 provinces, impacting 420 homes, 48 temples, 76 hospitals, and dozens of schools and government offices, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The situation is under control, and assessments in affected areas are underway, with the probability of aftershocks steadily falling, said department head Phasakorn Boonyalak in a statement. The department has…

The US and Japanese defense chiefs on Sunday reaffirmed the need to bolster the two countries’ alliance amid China’s “expanding military assertiveness” and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed upgrading the alliance’s command and control frameworks for better coordination between the Japanese defense forces and the US military, while also seeking to expand cooperation in space and other fields, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported. Later, addressing a joint news conference, Nakatani said the two sides have agreed to move forward “with a sense of urgency” on initiatives to reinforce…

Israel’s security cabinet approved a new settlement road near occupied East Jerusalem late Saturday, paving the way for further Israeli construction in the contentious “E1” area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and two settlement chiefs welcomed the decision on Sunday, Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported. The project includes an underground road in the occupied West Bank, allowing Israel to move forward with plans to expand settlements in E1, an area beyond the Green Line. While the road would link Palestinian towns, it would also separate them from the rest of the West Bank and restrict Palestinian movement on…

Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the announcement of the new Syrian government and expressed its desire for cooperation with the newly formed cabinet. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom welcomes the formation of the Syrian government and “hopes it will achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people.” The ministry further stressed Saudi Arabia’s “eagerness to cooperate and work with the new Syrian government,” underscoring the “importance of the fraternal and historical relations between the two countries, which will enhance ties in various fields.” It also expressed its “best wishes for the new Syrian government’s success…

Greece and Israel on Sunday discussed further deepening of the bilateral military ties amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. In a meeting between visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with his Israeli counterpart in Jerusalem, they “reaffirmed the strategic relationship between Greece and Israel and discussed the further deepening of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of defense,” read a statement by the Greek Prime Minister’s Office. “We also want to focus on our economic cooperation, but also on our defense cooperation, which is particularly important for us in Greece,” Mitsotakis emphasized. While the premiers exchanged views on regional developments,…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday held phone calls with world leaders to discuss regional and global issues, as well as to extend Eid greetings. During a phone call with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Erdoğan said that Ankara will continue to work with Algiers to halt the ongoing Israeli attacks in Palestine and ensure a ceasefire is established, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. Türkiye will continue to make efforts to enhance the relations between the two nations through steps to be taken and visits to be made, he added. In a separate phone call with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the national…

Hamas on Sunday issued a message on Eid al-Fitr holiday, saying that this year’s festival comes while Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Jerusalem endure “brutal Zionist aggression amid siege, starvation, killing, and destruction.” “On this blessed Eid, we remember the steadfastness of our great people and their valiant resistance,” Hamas said in a statement. “Eid al-Fitr arrives this year as our people in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem face savage Zionist aggression, suffering from siege, starvation, killing, and destruction, all under disgraceful international silence and unconditional American support for the occupation,” it added. Hamas urged the…

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is “very angry” at Russian President Vladimir Putin over comments he made criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s credibility. Putin on Friday called for a “transitional administration” to be installed in Ukraine, vowing, according to Agence France Press, that the Russian military would “finish off” Ukrainian forces. Trump said the comments made him “very angry” and “****ed off” as he seeks to broker a truce that would halt the bloodshed in Ukraine. He further threatened to impose sanctions on Russia’s oil sector if he believes the Kremlin is not contributing to efforts to…

The trade chiefs of China, Japan, and South Korea met on Sunday to discuss boosting trade cooperation as US President Donald Trump’s tariff war has sent shockwaves worldwide. Held in the South Korean capital Seoul, it was their first trilateral ministerial meeting in nearly six years, according to Yonhap News. The 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting was attended by South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto. It marked the first time since 2019 that the relevant ministers of the three nations held a trilateral meeting. In a joint…

International leaders and environmental advocates highlighted the importance of zero waste initiatives and lauded Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan, chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste, for her leadership during an exhibition at UN headquarters marking Sunday, March 30, International Zero Waste Day. Speaking to Anadolu, Lara van Druten, a member of the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board, voiced satisfaction with the gathering and said: “To mark the occasion, I’m wearing a suit made from recycled plastic.” Vijay Jagannathan, secretary-general of CityNet, the largest association of urban stakeholders committed to sustainable development in the Asia Pacific region,…