Author: Anadolu Agency

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,…

Türkiye on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to global sustainability efforts as it marked the International Day of Zero Waste, which the UN General Assembly adopted in 2022. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry told how The Zero Waste initiative, launched in 2017 under the leadership of Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan, “paved the way for the United Nations General Assembly to designate 30 March as the International Day of Zero Waste in 2022.” “The International Day of Zero Waste plays a vital role in promoting awareness of environmental protection and effective waste management,” a ministry statement said. “Türkiye reaffirms…

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,…

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen could face a political ban if convicted in an embezzlement trial set to conclude Monday, a development that could upend her bid for the 2027 presidential election, according to media reports that cites a recent ruling. France’s Constitutional Council ruled Friday that politicians convicted of a crime can be immediately barred from office, a decision that could have significant implications for Le Pen. While the case before the court did not directly involve her, the ruling raises the possibility that she could be disqualified from running if found guilty. In the embezzlement trial, prosecutors…

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…

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…

The municipality of Jenin reported on Saturday that its refugee camp in the northern West Bank has become “uninhabitable” following the Israeli army’s destruction of approximately 600 homes, amid the ongoing Israeli offensive that has persisted for over two months. A statement from the Jenin municipality said: “The Jenin Refugee Camp has become entirely uninhabitable due to the continued Israeli assault on the 68th day, with widespread bulldozing, burning of homes, and turning others into military barracks.” The municipality added that the Israeli forces are also enforcing a severe blockade on the Jenin governorate, which is home to around 360,000…

Türkiye’s low-cost airline AJet, a subsidiary of the flag carrier Turkish Airlines, will begin to operate Istanbul-Damascus and Ankara-Damascsus flights on April 21, the Turkish transport and infrastructure minister announced on Saturday. Ankara-Damascus flights will be operating three times per week and Istanbul-Damascus flights four in a week, Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated in a press release. Uraloglu said tickets are on sale now and the first flight will be made on April 21 from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport. The Ankara-Damascus flight will be made on April 22 from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, the minister added. “We aim to increase the number of…

The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission on Saturday said that Israeli authorities have seized more than 52,000 dunams (12,800 acres) of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023. In a statement marking the anniversary of Land Day, the commission reported that since the start of the war in Gaza, Israel has issued 13 military orders to establish buffer zones around illegal settlements and has created 60 new illegal settler outposts across the occupied West Bank. Of the 52,000 dunams confiscated, 46,000 dunams (11,400 acres) were seized in 2024 alone under various pretexts, including the designation…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday extended Eid al-Fitr greetings with “a heavy heart,” noting millions of Muslims would mark the holiday under war and displacement rather than traditional family gatherings. “I want to express my best wishes for Eid al-Fitr to all Muslims around the world,” Guterres said in a video statement he shared on X. “But I do so with a heavy heart, thinking about the many Muslims who won’t be able to celebrate Eid with their families due to war, conflict or displacement,” he added. The UN chief emphasized the festival’s core values of “solidarity and compassion,”…