Day: May 14, 2023

Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza on Saturday agreed to an Egyptian-mediated cease-fire set to go into effect at 10 p.m. (1900GMT). Egyptian media including Al-Qahera News TV quoted Egyptian sources as confirming both sides' commitment to the cease-fire proposal. "In light of the agreement of both sides, Egypt announces a cease-fire between the Palestinian and the Israeli side has been reached," read the text of the agreement seen by Anadolu. "Accordingly, the two sides abide by the cease-fire which includes an end to targeting civilians, house demolition, and an end to targeting individuals immediately as the cease-fire goes into effect," the text added. Speaking to news channel Al Jazeera, senior Islamic Jihad leader Mohammed Al-Hindi confirmed his group's approval of the agreement, and hailed Egypt's efforts to reach the deal. At least 33 Palestinians have been killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli army said its airstrikes as of Tuesday were part of its Operation Shield and Arrow in response to rocket fire from Gaza following the death of a Palestinian hunger striker in an Israeli prison on May 2. Palestinian factions in Gaza retaliated by firing barrages of rockets into Israeli territories.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday sought support for his peace proposal as he held talks with Pope Francis in Rome and met Italian leaders in his first visit to Italy since the start of the war. In an interview on Italian state TV RAI wrapping up his visit, Zelenskyy said he had been honored to meet the pope, who has repeatedly offered to play a role in possible negotiations to stop the war started by Russia's offensive in Ukraine a year ago. But the Ukrainian leader also stressed that since 'the war is in Ukraine, it has to be Ukraine's plan" to lead to peace, asking the pontiff to support the 10-point platform he has been pushing at an international level. A Vatican statement said that during a 40-minute-long private audience on Saturday afternoon, Zelenskyy and Francis discussed the need to help the "innocent victims" of the conflict. The two addressed "the humanitarian and political situation in Ukraine caused by the ongoing war," the statement said, adding that the pontiff reassured Zelenskyy 'of his constant prayers, witnessed by his many public appeals and continuous invocation to the Lord for peace." 'The pope stressed, in particular, the urgent need for 'human gestures' towards the most fragile people, innocent victims of the conflict," the Vatican said. In a tweet following the talks, Zelenskyy said he also mentioned the issue of the thousands of children who have been 'deported to Russia' and need to be returned home. In April, returning from a trip to Hungary, Francis told reporters that the Vatican was involved in a behind-the-scenes peace mission, without providing details. But both Russia and Ukraine said they had no knowledge of the initiative. Earlier on Saturday, Zelenskyy obtained full support from both Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who met with him separately, promising complete military and financial backing. Mattarella and Meloni also reiterated their will to champion Ukraine's bid for full European Union membership. "The future of Ukraine is a future of peace and freedom,' Meloni told reporters in joint statements with Zelenskyy. 'And it's the future of Europe, a future of peace and freedom, for which there are no other possible solutions." Meloni has already stressed on several occasions that Ukraine is moving forward with a plan of reforms required by the EU Commission despite the war. The Italian premier voiced assurances that Italy will back Kyiv '360 degrees for all the time necessary and beyond.' After leaving Rome, Zelenskyy is expected to head to Berlin on Sunday for his first visit to Germany since the war began.

Source: Anadolu Agency

People in Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region are voting in the second round of a gubernatorial election on Sunday to elect the region's new governor. Voting for the second round began at 7 a.m. local time (0400GMT) after none of the candidates received more than 50% of the votes in the first round, which took place on April 30 and had a turnout of 57.8%. More than 92,000 eligible voters are expected to go to the polls in 65 electoral centers in the Gagauz Autonomous Region to choose their governor, who is also a permanent member of the Moldovan government. Evgheniya Gutsul and Grigorii Uzun are the remaining two candidates running in the election and the voting will end at 9 p.m. local time (1800GMT). Gutsul, who is the candidate of the pro-Russian Shor party, had received 26.47% of the vote in the first round, while Uzun, who is supported by the Socialist Party led by former President Igor Dodon, received 26.40%. Elections in the region are held due to the end of the current Gagauzia Governor Irina Vlah's second four-year term. Moldova's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), founded by President Maia Sandu, did not nominate a candidate in the election and has not voiced support for any candidate. Gagauzia is an autonomous region in Moldova with a population of approximately 120,000 Gagauz people - an Orthodox Christian, Turkic community that speaks Gagauz Turkish.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Five civilians in Ukraine were killed Sunday when an undetonated shell exploded in the southern Kherson region. "In the Kherson region, explosives left by the Russian army killed five civilians. The tragedy happened at one of the agricultural enterprises in the village of Myroliubivka, Novovorontsovka community," Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, said on Telegram. Yermak further said the youngest victim of the blast was 27 years old, while the oldest was 68. The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its 14th month, has killed more than 8,790 civilians and wounded over 14,810, according to the latest UN figures.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Trkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast his vote in the country's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday. 'The voting process continues across the country without any problems. Our citizens in the earthquake region are also voting with great enthusiasm. We did not encounter any problems in that region too,' Erdogan told reporters after casting his vote in Istanbul's Uskudar district. He wished for a 'good future for our country and Turkish democracy.' Erdogan urged all citizens to cast their votes without any concern, saying it is "very important in terms of demonstrating the strength of Turkish democracy." Main opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu cast his vote in the Cankaya district of the capital Ankara. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Kilicdaroglu said: "We all missed democracy very much. We all missed being together very much. ... You will see from now on, I hope spring will come to this country and spring will always continue." Kilicdaroglu thanked all the voters who cast their votes. Meanwhile, Sinan Ogan of the Ancestral (ATA) Alliance also cast his vote in the Cankaya district. 'Let's spend this election in a festive mood in peace and gentleness,' Ogan said after casting his vote. Ogan also urged all citizens to go to the ballot boxes to cast their votes. Millions of voters started heading to the polls in Trkiye as the country's presidential and parliamentary elections began Sunday at 8 a.m. local time (0500GMT). More than 64.1 million people are registered to vote, including over 1.76 million who already cast their ballots abroad and 4.9 million first-time voters. A total of 191,885 ballot boxes have been set up for voters in the country. Every voter will be casting two ballots, one for the president and the other for parliamentarians, both of whom will serve five-year terms. Voters will choose between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking reelection, Kilicdaroglu, and Ogan. Muharrem Ince, another presidential contender, withdrew from the race on Thursday. More than 30 political parties and over 150 independent parliamentary candidates will compete in the elections. There are five multiparty blocs in the running: the People's Alliance, Nation Alliance, Ancestral Alliance, Labor and Freedom Alliance, and Union of Socialist Forces Alliance.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began an official visit to Berlin on Sunday by meeting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Steinmeier welcomed Zelenskyy at his official residence, Bellevue Palace, where the two had a face-to-face meeting to discuss bilateral ties, the Russia-Ukraine war, and regional issues. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and top officials later in the day, and he is expected to ask for more financial support, military equipment, and weapons. Ahead of his official meetings in Berlin, Zelenskyy thanked Germany for pledging a new military aid package and indicated that the country's EU and NATO membership bids will also be on the agenda. 'Already in Berlin. Weapons. Powerful package. Air defense. Reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security,' Zelenskyy tweeted after he arrived in Berlin early Sunday. The plane carrying Zelenskyy and his delegation to Berlin was escorted by German fighter jets. Berlin police were also placed on high alert, streets around the major government buildings were closed, and snipers were positioned on top of buildings.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and European Council head Charles Michel on Sunday welcomed the resumption of the Brussels format to normalize relations between Baku and Yerevan. 'President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to Charles Michel for his efforts in this direction,' said a statement by the Azerbaijani presidency, following their meeting in Brussels. The statement said the meeting discussed events related to Baku-Yerevan relations in the past months, including negotiations in Washington and the current situation at the border, in addition to the agenda for the tripartite meeting involving Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later in the day. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan took part in peace talks in the US capital between April 30 and May 3, with meetings at the White House and State Department, under the mediation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions. Most of the territory was liberated by Baku during a war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement and also opened the door to normalization. Tensions between the neighboring countries increased in recent months over the Lachin corridor, the only land route giving Armenia access to Karabakh.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The European Union on Sunday hailed the new cease-fire in Gaza and urged the opening of crossings to allow humanitarian aid, fuel, and workers to the region. 'The European Union welcomes the announced ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which should bring an end to the violence in and around Gaza,' the EU diplomatic service announced in a statement. The bloc 'deeply' deplored the losses of civilian lives, including children, and stressed the importance 'to reopen the crossings to allow especially humanitarian assistance and fuel, as well as workers, to enter and exit Gaza.' The EU also commended Egypt's mediation efforts in concluding the cease-fire, and urged both parties to work towards a lasting political solution. Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza on Saturday agreed to an Egyptian-mediated cease-fire set to go into effect at 10 p.m. (1900GMT). At least 33 Palestinians have been killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli army launched airstrikes as part of counter-offensive after rockets were fired from Gaza following the death of a Palestinian inmate who was on a hunger strike in an Israeli prison. Palestinian factions in Gaza retaliated by firing barrages of rockets into Israeli territories.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Global surface temperatures have been rising at a faster rate since 1970, said a report, with the pace of human-caused warming rising from 0.8 C in the second half of the 19th century to 1.3 C in the 2010s. According to the 2023 synthesis report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global temperatures rose 1.1 C in 2011-2020 compared to 1850-1900. It said human-induced climate change triggered meteorological and climate extremes such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, droughts, and tropical cyclones. Impacts on ecosystems unleashed by these changes, such as the hydrological effects of melting of glaciers and thawing permafrost in some mountain and arctic ecosystems, are becoming irreversible, the report warned. It said nearly 50% of coastal and wetlands ecosystems have been destroyed in the past 100 years as a result of rising sea levels, rising temperatures, and extreme climate events. Climate change was also reported to be accelerating desertification and soil degradation, especially in coastal areas, river deltas, drylands, and permafrost areas. Though average agricultural production has increased, climate change has slowed growth in output globally over the past 50 years, causing millions of people to experience food insecurity and reduced water security. In cities, the report said, climate change is causing adverse effects on human health, livelihoods, and basic infrastructure, with warming causing an increase in air pollution. Climate change causes economic losses and disrupts services, especially in urban infrastructure, transportation, water, sanitation and energy systems, the report said. Global warming to continue increasing in near future The report predicts that global warming will continue to increase in the near future by all scenarios and models used in the study. On the other hand, governments are paying more attention to climate change, with the effects of international agreements and heightened national aspirations on climate action. Future warming will be driven by emissions and affect all major climate system components, the report said. In addition, most climate risks are thought to be graver than previously estimated, and the long-term effects may be many times greater than they are now. The report said combating climate change and global warming will require effective planning, political commitment, well-organized and multi-layered governance, and institutional legal, policy, and strategy frameworks. It added that clear objectives, adequate finance and instruments, coordination with various policy areas, and inclusive management processes are needed.

Source: Anadolu Agency