Author: Anadolu Agency
Qatar expressed concern Saturday about recent developments in the Libyan capital of Tripoli and urged all parties to avoid escalating tensions and resolve disputes through dialogue. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi held a call with UN Special Representative for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Hanna Tetteh, according to the Foreign Ministry. Al-Khulaifi reiterated that Qatar is closely following the situation in Tripoli and emphasized the importance of calm and dialogue to prevent further instability. INCIDENTS IN TRIPOLI Clashes erupted Monday in Tripoli following the death of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli,…
“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…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has underscored Türkiye’s growing efforts to foster peace and stability in a rapidly shifting global environment — placing particular emphasis on the strategic relationship between Ankara and Washington. “The Türkiye-US partnership is vital for establishing stability in our region and in the world. We are striving to create a constructive and result-oriented dialogue platform,” Erdoğan said during his return flight to Türkiye, following his official visit to Tirana, Albania on Friday where he attended a session of the European Political Community. He called for a renewed focus on shared values and strategic alignment, particularly within…
“People of Gaza, the Israeli army is coming,” read leaflets dropped by Israel on Gaza on Saturday, threatening to escalate its ongoing military campaign, which has lasted for 19 months, with a new ground offensive. The leaflets were scattered over several neighborhoods and bore the warning: “People of Gaza, the Israeli army is coming,” eyewitnesses told Anadolu. The leaflets were dropped a day after the Israeli military announced the expansion of its large-scale assault on Gaza under what it calls “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the operation aims for the complete occupation of Gaza. During US…
US President Donald Trump said Friday that he has to come together with Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war. “I have a very good relationship with Putin. I think we’ll make a deal. We have to get together, and I think we’ll probably schedule it up,” Donald Trump told Fox News in Abu Dhabi. Istanbul hosted Russia-Ukraine talks Friday to advance peace efforts between the two countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the intense diplomatic talks, held under Türkiye’s facilitation, resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side as a confidence-building measure. Fidan said Ukrainian…
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the latest round of diplomacy in Istanbul delivered tangible outcomes, notably the return of 1,000 Ukrainians, while calling for increased global pressure on Russia to agree to a full ceasefire. “The outcomes of this week’s intensive diplomacy can be viewed from three perspectives: Ukrainian, Russian, and global,” Sybiha wrote Saturday on X, following trilateral peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye. “From the Ukrainian perspective, we reaffirmed our commitment to peace and agreed on the return of 1,000 of our people. If only for this outcome, it was worthwhile,” he said. Sybiha attributed the…
The UN relief chief said Friday that the UN has a plan to resume aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. “To those proposing an alternative modality for aid distribution, let’s not waste time: We already have a plan,” Tom Fletcher said in a statement. Since March 2, Israel has kept Gaza’s crossings closed to food, medical and humanitarian aid, deepening an already worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave. “It is rooted in the non-negotiable principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. It is backed by a coalition of donors and the vast majority of the international community. It is ready…
US President Donald Trump criticized Walmart on Saturday for warning customers about potential price increases and blaming tariffs imposed under his administration. Trump said Walmart should stop blaming tariffs, noting the company made “billions of dollars” in profits last year—”far more than expected.” He urged the retail company to absorb the added costs instead of passing them to shoppers. “Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I’ll be watching, and so will your customers,” he added. The remarks followed Walmart CEO Doug McMillon’s comments…
Tunisia urged an “immediate” halt to escalation in all parts of Libya on Friday, citing dangers that developments pose to the country’s future and the safety of its people. The Foreign Ministry expressed in a statement Tunisia’s readiness to host a Libyan-led dialogue, facilitated by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, according to the TAP News Agency. The statement voiced concern about the worsening security situation in Tripoli and its consequences for the safety and security of Libyans and other residents. It reaffirmed Tunisia’s dedication to backing Libyan-led solutions without external…
A new round of negotiations in the Qatari capital, Doha, aiming to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has started, coinciding with Israel’s escalating aggression on the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported Saturday. “Negotiations in Doha resumed an hour ago, with Qataris shuttling between the rooms of the Israeli and Hamas delegations,” in an effort to bridge gaps, the daily Israel Hayom stated. The newspaper added that the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is following developments of the negotiations via telephone. Quoting an unnamed Israeli source, the Israeli Channel 12 added: “Hamas must realize that it needs to…