Foreign
8 Chinese fighter jets detected crossing Taiwan Strait's median line
December 24, 2023, 8:09 pm
ANKARA – Taiwan on Sunday claimed that at least eight Chinese fighter jets and a balloon crossed over the median line of the Taiwan Strait over the past 24 hours. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said in a statement that it had detected Chinese J-10, J-11, and J-16 fighter jets crossing the median line… Read More
4B people at risk of being infected with dengue virus: WHO
December 24, 2023, 5:13 pm
GENEVA – About 4 billion people are at risk of becoming infected with the dengue virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on weekend. Diana Rojas Alvarez, the team lead on arboviruses - epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention department at the WHO’s emergencies program, told… Read More
UN Security Council OKs resolution to boost humanitarian aid in Gaza
December 23, 2023, 5:32 pm
WASHINGTON – The UN Security Council on Friday passed a resolution calling for "urgent steps" to immediately allow "safe, unhindered, and expanded" humanitarian access to Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli offensive on the strip, but with the US again nixing language calling for a ceasefire in the… Read More
Angelina Jolie decries global injustice
December 23, 2023, 2:16 pm
ISTANBUL – Hollywood actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie decried how justice is sought for one group of people, but not for other groups, something she said is present "even in the UN." Speaking with Syrian journalist and filmmaker Waad Al Kateab, Jolie said human rights are not equally… Read More
Police: At least 15 dead in Prague university shooting
December 22, 2023, 1:56 pm
PRAGUE/LONDON – At least 15 people were killed while 24 others were injured in a shooting spree at a university in the Czech Republic’s capital of Prague on Thursday. Police President Martin Vondrasek said the gunman was a 24-year-old student at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. The… Read More
Global crisis unleashed: 2023's devastating forest fires gripped globe
December 21, 2023, 9:05 pm
ANKARA – Forest fires in 2023 resulted in deaths and injuries to hundreds of people, causing extensive damage, loss of forest areas and carbon emissions. Anadolu's "Disasters of 2023" special series covers the biggest forest fires of the year. Forest fires, particularly in Canada, the US, and… Read More
30 e-vehicles to support work of BTA reporters, correspondents
December 21, 2023, 5:49 pm
MANILA – The Bulgarian News Agency's (BTA) acquired 30 electric vehicles (EVs) to support the work of its reporters and correspondents in Sofia and across the country. In an official ceremony on Wednesday, Bishop Polikarp of Belogradchik blessed 30 new EVs and the BTA workers, wishing that every… Read More
UN Security Council vote on Gaza resolution delayed again
December 21, 2023, 2:55 pm
WASHINGTON – For the third time, the vote on a UN Security Council resolution calling for a suspension of hostilities in Gaza to deliver aid was postponed on Wednesday. On Thursday, 15 members of the Council are expected to vote on the resolution, which was first postponed on Monday. The text,… Read More
Death toll in China quake climbs to 131 as rescuers battle cold waves
December 20, 2023, 6:56 pm
ISLAMABAD – Rescue and relief efforts continued in earthquake-hit northwestern provinces of China as the death toll climbed to 131, state-run media reported on Wednesday. The 6.2 magnitude quake hit China at around 11.59 p.m. local time on Monday with the epicenter being a township in Jishishan… Read More
Investment in science, research should be Europe's strategic priority
December 20, 2023, 9:40 am
SOFIA, Bulgaria – European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova said investment in science, research and innovation should be a strategic priority for Europe. She addressed the Nineteenth National Innovation Forum "Innovations and Sustainable… Read More
Bulgarian naval research vessel reaches Mar Del Plata in Argentina
December 19, 2023, 8:14 am
SOFIA, Bulgaria – The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) docked at the naval base in Mar del Plata after a 25-day ocean crossing, the Varna Naval Avademy announced on its social media Monday. The Argentine city is the next port of call for RSV 421 as part of the… Read More
Ozone hole at record size, posing grave threats to Earth, humanity
December 18, 2023, 2:58 pm
ISTANBUL – The hole above the Earth’s ozone layer on the Antarctic “will have adverse impacts on the planet and human life,” an expert told Anadolu as the hole is among the largest recorded, about three times the size of Brazil. The ozone layer acts as a natural shield, efficiently… Read More
Vatican court convicts Cardinal Becciu of embezzlement
December 17, 2023, 3:35 pm
ROME – A Vatican court has sentenced Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former adviser to Pope Francis, to five and a half years of imprisonment for mismanaging a property portfolio, including a luxury flat on London’s Sloane Avenue. Becciu, the highest-ranking Vatican official ever to face financial… Read More
Al Jazeera cameraman killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza
December 16, 2023, 2:17 pm
ISTANBUL – Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, who was injured due to Israeli attacks on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, lost his life on Friday. Abu Daqqa was injured due to shrapnel as a result of Israel’s attacks near the Ferkhane School, Al Jazeera announced. After being injured,… Read More
US homelessness hits all-time high at 12%
December 16, 2023, 12:34 pm
WASHINGTON – The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States soared 12 percent to hit an all-time high, largely fueled by people who became homeless for the first time, according to data released Friday. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) 2023… Read More
Biden urges Israel to 'be more careful' to save civilian lives
December 15, 2023, 4:44 pm
WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden urged Israel on Thursday to take greater care to protect civilians in Gaza amid reports that Washington wants the Israeli army to scale back its ground war in the enclave. “I want them to be focused on how to save civilian lives. Not stop going after Hamas,… Read More
Don't prevent Communion for single mothers, says Vatican
December 15, 2023, 11:37 am
ROME – Priests should not prevent single mothers from taking Communion, the Vatican said Thursday. "The fact of being a girl mother does not prevent access to the Eucharist" and "one must work pastorally in the local Church to make it understood that the fact of being a girl mother does not… Read More
Bulgaria Parliament eases adoptees' access to adoption records
December 15, 2023, 10:58 am
SOFIA, Bulgaria – The Parliament adopted revisions to the Family Code that ease adoptees' access to their adoption records. The revisions scrap the requirement for "significant circumstances" that can start the procedure for granting adoptees access to the information about their biological… Read More
UN inquiry to investigate Gaza after conflict ends
December 14, 2023, 4:05 pm
WASHINGTON – The UN will launch an inquiry to investigate agency personnel who were killed and the damage to its facilities after the conflict in the Gaza Strip ends, an official said Wednesday. "We have seen reports of a UNRWA (Palestinian Refugee Agency) school being destroyed,” spokesman… Read More
Int’l Olympic Committee pledges over USD45-M at Global Refugee Forum
December 14, 2023, 3:21 pm
GENEVA – The president of the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday pledged more than USD45 million for displaced people at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. "We are committing over USD45 million benefiting approximately 500,000 displaced people,” Thomas Bach said, citing that the… Read More
