Author: Anadolu Agency

Turkish basketball is gearing up for an action-packed week, with 10 games scheduled across European competitions, spotlighting the nation’s talent on the international stage. In the 2024-25 season, Turkish clubs are making a strong impression in Europe, with 10 men’s teams and five women’s teams competing in prestigious tournaments. Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes are battling in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, while Beşiktaş Fibabanka, Türk Telekom, and Bahçeşehir Koleji represent Türkiye in the BKT EuroCup. Galatasaray, Karşıyaka, Aliağa Petkimspor, and Manisa Basket showcase their skills in the Champions League, with TOFAŞ competing in the FIBA Europe Cup. Fenerbahçe Opet and…

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday will commence a two-day official visit to Italy where the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) will be held. A statement by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that Sybiha will meet his counterparts from Italy, the EU, and the Global South on the sidelines of the first day of the meeting in Fiuggi and Anagni, located in the central western Latium region. On Tuesday, Sybiha is scheduled to participate in the discussion on Ukraine, where the Russian war has been ongoing for more than a thousand days. He will hold a…

The Arab League has unanimously rejected any Israeli attempt to harm Iraq, warning of a “regional war.” A resolution adopted by an emergency meeting of the pan-Arab body on Sunday condemned Israel’s attempt “to expand its aggressive practices in the region, including Iraq.” It warned of the “danger of an all-out Israeli escalation that risks sparking a broad regional war that threatens security and stability in the region.” “The resolution was adopted unanimously with the backing of all Arab delegations to show support for Iraq,” Qatari Ambassador to Egypt, Tariq Al-Ansari, said in a statement on Monday. Sunday’s meeting was…

Germany on Monday condemned recent statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for annexation of the occupied West Bank. “You know that we condemn such statements because the annexation, which is illegal, would also prevent a two-state solution,” deputy Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner told journalists in Berlin. The far-right minister, defying international law, declared earlier this month that “the only way to remove the threat of a Palestinian state from the agenda is to apply Israeli sovereignty over the settlements in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).” Smotrich said that 2025 will be the year of Israeli sovereignty…

At least 30 people were killed and several others injured during three days of armed gang attacks on farmers and local communities in Nigeria’s north-central Benue State, a local official confirmed to Anadolu on Monday. Hundreds of armed men on Monday stormed communities in Benue State’s Katrina Ala Local Government, opening fire on farmers and residents, Justine Shaku, the area’s chairman, told Anadolu. He said at least 30 people have been killed and several others injured in the attacks that began on Saturday. The armed gang carried out the attacks on Saturday and Sunday in the Logo Local Government of…

Turkish security forces “neutralized” 10 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry said on Monday. Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured. The terrorists were targeted in Gara, Hakurk and Metina regions, the National Defense Ministry said on X. Reaffirming Ankara’s determination in the fight against terrorism, it said: “There is no escape from the end that awaits terrorists!” PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye. In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist…

The UN on Monday warned that the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories could lead to a collapse of key international principles, with repercussions spreading far beyond the Middle East. “Regrettably, the situation remains grave across the region,” Muhannad Hadi, speaking on behalf of UN Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland, told the UN Security Council. Hadi, who is humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, urged immediate action to prevent further devastation and called for an immediate cease-fire, the unconditional release of hostages, and de-escalation of tensions. “As winter approaches, the horror in Gaza continues to grind on…

There has been “significant progress” in efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, but more work remains before a pact can be sealed, the White House said Monday. “We have clearly made significant progress, however, we’re not there yet,” a National Security Council spokesperson told Anadolu. “We continue to work to reach a diplomatic resolution to allow civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to be able to safely return to their homes,” he added, referring to the de facto Israeli-Lebanese border. The White House comment comes after multiple Israeli media reports suggested a cease-fire deal…

The US on Monday expressed concern over the increasing violence by illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. “The United States remains opposed to proposals to annex the West Bank or construct Israeli settlements in Gaza, which, if implemented, would be inconsistent with international law, sow the seeds for further instability and create new obstacles to Israel’s full integration into the region,” said US deputy envoy to UN Robert Wood at UN Security Council. “We are also deeply concerned by increasing extremist settler violence in the West Bank,” said Wood, adding that Israeli government “must deter extremist settler violence…

An Israeli airstrike on Monday evening killed at least four Palestinians and injured several others in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of northern Gaza City, sources reported. A medical source, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Anadolu that the airstrike targeted a home belonging to the Harb family. Several injured individuals were pulled from the rubble, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear, witnesses reported to Anadolu. Israeli airstrikes continue to target various areas across the Gaza Strip, with simultaneous demolitions of homes and residential buildings in both the northern and southern regions, including Rafah. Israel has launched a genocidal…