Day: July 4, 2021

Turkey on Sunday expressed grief after a boat with 127 migrants on board sank off the eastern coast of Tunisia on Saturday.

Some 84 of 127 migrants have been rescued by Tunisian authorities while the remaining are still missing.

“This tragedy in the Mediterranean is neither the first nor will it be the last. Turkey regrets these tragic incidents and losses on the migration routes,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The statement noted that 866 immigrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean. “Saving lives at sea is both a conscientious and legal obligation for states,” it said.

“However, the lack of coordination of the search and rescue responsibility at sea within the EU and the attempt to transfer international responsibility to transit countries are a threat to the right to life of immigrants” the Foreign Ministry said.

The statement stressed that neither Libya nor Turkey is the source of irregular migration. “The cause of mixed migration movements is the ongoing instability, conflict and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan and Syria,” it said.

The ministry said that the problem could not be prevented without eliminating the causes of migration.

“We once again invite the international community to find solutions to the problems that lie at the root of mixed migration movements in our region and to share responsibilities and burdens fairly,” it added.

Tunisian authorities have rescued 84 of 127 migrants making their way by boat to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea.

Every year, thousands of irregular migrants use Tunisia and Libya as a gateway to cross the Mediterranean to Europe in overcrowded boats, often dying in the process.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, a total of 1,400 died in 2020 while trying to make the journey.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The premises of Al Ghazali Institute of the Grand Mosque of Paris was defaced with Islamophobic and racist inscriptions on Sunday.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin condemned the act as “unacceptable degradation” and assured to find the perpetrators of these acts.

The incident took place at the institute’s campus in the southern city of Martigues, close to Marseilles, on Sunday morning.

The Great Mosque of Paris strongly expressed “concern over the increase in acts of intolerance” and urged the “authorities to reinforce in a concrete and consistent way the security of religious places in France.”

“These racist and anti-Muslim tags are an attack on the students who are the future imams of France and who, in the face of such acts, will not give up working for the unity of our society and our country,” it said in a statement.

Chems-Eddine Hafiz, the rector of the mosque, who also heads the Ghazali Institute, organized a support rally on July 11 in Martigues to show solidarity with the imams and students.

This is the fourth such incident this year wherein Islamic cultural and religious places were vandalized by hateful anti-Muslim inscriptions.

In April, the Avicenna Muslim center in Rennes city, and the Arrahma mosque in Nantes, both in the northwestern Brittany region, were attacked with Islamophobic graffiti and arson, respectively, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Following the incidents, Darmanin had promised security for Islamic places of religion and culture.

Also in February, the under-construction site of the Eyyub Sultan Mosque, which is expected to be Europe’s largest Islamic place of worship, was sprayed with racist inscriptions.

Source: Anadolu Agency

England tore apart Ukraine 4-0 on Saturday and will meet Denmark in the UEFA EURO 2020 semifinal stage in London.

Three Lions took an early lead in the quarterfinal match at Olimpico in Rome as forward Harry Kane finished in a one-on-one position against goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan.

Defender Harry Maguire scored a header in the 46th minute to double the gap.

In the 50th minute, it was Kane again who scored on a header as the lead swelled to 3-0.

Substitute Jordan Henderson finished the scoring in the 63rd minute with a header.

England will face Denmark in the semifinal at Wembley Stadium, London on Wednesday.

The semifinals on July 6-7 and the EURO 2020 final on July 11 will be played at Wembley.

– EURO 2020 semifinal ties

Tuesday:

Italy-Spain at 1900GMT

Wednesday:

England-Denmark at 1900GMT

Source: Anadolu Agency

The only baby chimpanzee in Iran is being relocated to a chimpanzee care center in Kenya on Sunday, following months-long campaign over unsuitable conditions at Tehran’s Eram Zoo.

At a farewell ceremony held on Sunday in the premises of Eram Zoo, the main wildlife center in the Iranian capital, zoo authorities said a decision was made to transfer the four-year-old Baran to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Kenya, which provides refuge to rescued, orphaned or abused young chimps.

Parviz Qandali, the head of Eram Zoo, said he had contacted several international animal care centers and finally decided to send Baran to Kenya where she will live “in a better environment and among her peers.”

He said the baby chimp will arrive at her new destination on Monday and authorities there have agreed to provide all “necessary updates” about her condition and growth.

The decision to relocate the four-year-old female chimpanzee came after months-long campaign by environmental activists in Iran, who were worried over unsuitable conditions at Tehran’s Eram Zoo affecting her health.

– Premature birth

The circumstances of Baran’s birth in May 2017 had made the already dismal facilities at the Eram Zoo more unsuitable for her.

Baran, born prematurely, was the first baby chimp over the past two decades to survive at Eram Zoo after a wildlife veterinarian, Imam Memarian, came to her rescue.

Memarian took her home and assumed full responsibility for her care. For two years, Baran stayed with him, and developed an emotional bond with him, according to zoo workers and activists.

The bond was broken last year after Zoo authorities filed a lawsuit to bring her back.

Baby chimps, according to vet experts, must spend at least five years with their mothers, but Baran was deprived of that as her mother showed aggressive behavior toward her, according to zoo workers.

Upon her return to the Eram Zoo last year, Baran was put in a small cage to protect her from older chimpanzees, which only led to deterioration in her health condition.

– Online campaign

In August 2020, online campaigns were launched to save the baby chimp, who environmental activists and celebrities feared could die in the zoo. The average life expectancy of a chimpanzee is 40-50 years.

Apart from poor conditions at the zoo, Baran did not have any other chimps to socialize with, which can potentially lead to death or developmental issues of baby chimps.

“These highly intelligent, social beings need to live in group, but in Iran there is no suitable group for her,” read one of the petitions in August 2020. “Being alone is the worst nightmare for this social and intelligent animal.”

Baran’s departure, although sad for many of those who campaigned for her, has brought big cheer.

“It’s not a happy moment definitely, but it was the right thing under given circumstances,” Samiyeh Fakhri, a wildlife activist, told Anadolu Agency. “We hope Baran will be taken good care of by her own family”.


Source: Anadolu Agency

Olympique Marseille signed Turkish winger Cengiz Under on loan, the French football club said on Sunday.

“Olympique de Marseille have reached an agreement with Italian club AS Roma for player Cengiz Under. After passing his medical, he has signed up in the form of a loan with an option to buy with les Olympiens [Marseille],” the club said in a statement.

“The agreement also includes an obligation for Marseille to make the transfer permanent based on the fulfilment of certain requirements,” Roma said, adding the transfer fee has been set at €8.4 million ($9.9 million).

Under, 23, will wear no. 17 shirt in the 2021-22 season at Olympique Marseille.

The French club also welcomed their new signing in Turkish language on Twitter.

Under played for Turkey’s Altinordu and Medipol Basaksehir before his first overseas experience. In 2017, he was signed by Italy’s Roma, where he played until 2020.

The Turkish international tallied 17 goals and 12 assists in 88 appearances for Roma.

Last season, English club Leicester City loaned him from the Italian club.

In the 2020-21 season, he had 19 appearances and scored two goals and produced three assists for the Foxes.

Known for his technique and dribbling skills, Under helped Leicester City win the 2021 English FA Cup, his sole trophy in his career.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Lebanon is suffering from an acute shortage of imported drugs, particularly for chronic diseases, amid a lack of foreign exchange in the country, Lebanese pharmaceutical importers warned on Sunday.

“The importing companies have run out of hundreds of essential medicines that treat chronic and incurable diseases,” the Syndicate of Lebanese Pharmaceutical Importers said in a statement, noting that this situation has been ongoing for weeks.

The body warned that “hundreds of other medicines will run out of stock during the current month of July” if the import of medicines does not resume immediately.

Lebanese health officials said in early June that the country was missing 70% of its medicines and medical supplies.

The syndicate also pointed out that importers continue to supply the market with a few medicines they still have in stock without interruption.

For a year and a half, Lebanon has been witnessing a severe economic crisis, bringing the country on the verge of a financial collapse.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Red Bull Racing Honda’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen won the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix in the Formula One World Championship on Sunday, his back-to-back victory in Austria.

Verstappen, 23, ended the race in the first position in Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring, completing the 71-lap Austrian GP in one hour, 23 minutes and 54 seconds.

Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas came in second, ending the race 17.9 seconds behind Verstappen in the round nine.

McLaren driver Lando Norris from UK was third to make it to the podium. Norris was two seconds behind Bottas.

Seven-time world champion Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton came in fourth.

Verstappen had also won the previous Grand Prix (round eight) in Spielberg on June 27.

The Round 10 – Pirelli British Grand Prix – in the Formula One will be run in the UK on July 18.

– Top 5 Driver Standings

1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands): 182 points

2. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain): 150

3. Sergio Perez (Mexico): 104

4. Lando Norris (Great Britain): 101

5. Valtteri Bottas (Finland): 92

– Constructor Standings

1. Red Bull: 286

2. Mercedes: 242

3. McLaren: 141

4. Ferrari: 122

5. AlphaTauri: 48

Source: Anadolu Agency

Egypt has praised recent steps by Turkey towards normalizing ties between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a TV interview late on Saturday that the softening of criticism towards the Egyptian government by Turkey-based opposition channels was preparing the ground for normalizing relations.

“This is a positive step by Turkey, and we certainly affirm that normal relations are based on non-interference in internal affairs,” said Shoukry on the channel Al-Qahira wal-Nas.

If such steps continue, they will lead to “full normalization,” he added.

Shoukry also hinted that contacts at different levels would continue to set the “optimal framework for relations and how to resume them.”

Turkey has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to the rules of international law, diplomatic norms, and the principles of good neighborliness, including non-interference in the internal affairs of any country.

On the situation in Libya, Shoukry said: “The matter has many aspects, and Libya is of paramount importance to Egypt and its national security.”

“We’re continuing contacts (with the Turkish side) to evaluate steps to lay a good ground for the return of normal relations,” he went on to say.

A Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal visited Cairo on May 5-6, at Egypt’s invitation. At the end of the visit, the two countries issued a joint statement describing the exploratory round of bilateral talks between them as “frank and in-depth.”

Both Cairo and Ankara have given positive signs in recent months, including statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, on the possibility of the two countries negotiating to demarcate their maritime borders in the Eastern Mediterranean.

This was followed by praise from Egyptian Minister of Information Osama Heikal for the recent decisions and direction of the Turkish government on relations with Cairo, describing them as a “good gesture.”

On May 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of a new phase in relations with Egypt, stressing that the talks would continue, develop and expand.

Turkey-Egypt relations have continued at the level of Charge d’Affairs since 2013. During this period, brief meetings were held between the foreign ministers of the two countries on various occasions.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Embassy in Cairo and consulate in Alexandria, as well as the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul, have continued their activities as normal.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Turkey on Sunday extended condolences to Philippines over the loss of lives in a military plane crash.

“We learned with great sorrow that a Philippine Air Force plane crashed on 4 July 2021 in the Jolo island of the Sulu province,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We share the sorrow of the friendly people and Government of the Philippines and extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement added.

At least 29 people were killed after a Philippine military plane carrying 96 people crashed in the country’s south on Sunday, according to the Philippine News Agency.

Some 50 people have been rescued so far while 17 others were unaccounted for, the news agency said.

Source: Anadolu Agency