Author: Anadolu Agency

Social media platforms are facing renewed criticism for their handling of pro-Palestinian content, according to a Turkish expert. Ali Buyukaslan, Dean of the School of Communication of Istanbul Medipol University, has called out what he described as blatant censorship influenced by political pressures. “It should not be forgotten that X, which initially offered a relatively free environment for sharing during the early days of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation (by Hamas) on Oct. 7 (last year), eventually succumbed to Zionist pressure,” Buyukaslan told Anadolu. “This occurred after Elon Musk was taken to Tel Aviv, where he was symbolically presented with a…

Iran on Friday announced the activation of new and advanced centrifuges in response to the latest resolution passed by the UN nuclear watchdog’s board. A joint statement issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the nuclear body chief has ordered “effective measures” in response to the new IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) resolution. These measures include deploying a “significant range of new and advanced centrifuges of various types.” The statement condemned the resolution, which came amid heightened regional tensions and Donald Trump’s comeback in the US, as a “politically motivated, unrealistic, and counterproductive move.”…

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit Ankara next week to hold high-level talks with Turkish officials, the alliance said in a press release on Friday. During his visit, Rutte will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. Rutte’s itinerary also includes engagements with representatives of Türkiye’s defense industry and a visit to the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) facilities. He will also lay a wreath at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Türkiye. This marks Rutte’s first official visit to Ankara since assuming his role as secretary…

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday called the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as a “monumental victory.” The decision “marks a monumental victory for all who champion justice and humanity,” the premier said after Friday prayers in Putrajaya. He said the decision would alleviate the suffering of the people in Palestine. The premier described the decision as reasonable, saying it was based on the law and evidence of oppression, cruelty and killings. He said if Netanyahu makes any visits abroad, he should be arrested. The Hague…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday answered questions during a series of BBC radio interviews across England, covering topics ranging from the war in Ukraine to domestic issues such as immigration, energy prices, and funding for hospices. On Ukraine, Starmer rejected any suggestion that the UK is “at war” with Russia, saying, “No, we’re not at war, but Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia.” He underscored the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine, adding, “That’s 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1,000 days of sacrifice for Ukraine, and that is why we’ve said consistently that…

The UN humanitarian office on Friday said 2024 has already become humanitarian aid workers’ “deadliest year on record,” with the death of 281 aid workers globally so far. “We have passed by one person last year’s record already, and we’re not even out of 2024,” Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told a UN briefing in Geneva. Lamenting the “grim milestone,” Learke said that among those humanitarians who were killed, 13 were international staff, and 268 were national staff. The over year-long war in Gaza is driving up the numbers, he said,…

Türkiye condemned a terrorist attack that struck Pakistan’s northernmost Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday, the country’s Foreign Ministry said. “Türkiye will continue to stand in solidarity with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism,” said the ministry in a Friday statement, wishing Allah’s mercy to those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the wounded. The attack on a passenger van attack has reached 42, according to the latest reports.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine and the deployment of North Korean troops fighting on Russia’s side with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a phone call, according to a statement. “They began by discussing the situation in Ukraine and reiterated the importance of putting the country in the strongest possible position going into the winter,” according to the statement from 10 Downing Street. “They then turned to the recent deployment of DPRK troops to Russia, and both agreed this only served to further underline the indivisibility of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security,” said…

UN special rapporteur on the rights to food, Michael Fakhri, on Friday said that it is time for world to enforce International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a former defense minister. “The finding by the ICC that there are reasonable grounds that Netanyahu and Gallant are guilty of crimes against humanity and using starvation as a method of warfare reflects what we have all known for months.” The court said Thursday it “found reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant bear criminal responsibility for “the war crime of starvation as a method…

US Senator Bernie Sanders backed a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Thursday to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Sanders said in a statement that the ICC charges are “well-founded,” emphasizing the importance of the Geneva Conventions, which were created to protect civilians and prevent inhumane actions during war. While acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself, he criticized the heavy toll on Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where more than 44,000 people have died, including women and children. He said the ICC’s charges against Netanyahu and Gallant for crimes like…