News From Türkiye
Turkiye closed the Istanbul Strait to ships early on Sunday due to heavy fog, authorities said.
The Directorate General of Coastal Safety said in a statement on its website that the two-way ship traffic has been suspended through the strait as of 6:46 local time (0346GMT).
The fog that became more dense in the morning caused a decrease in the visibility for sea travel.
Source: Anadolu Agency
</description>Greece continues its provocative actions in the region, the Turkish defense chief said, referring to developments in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
"Although we extend a hand of peace, Greece insists on continuing its provocative actions and rhetoric that constantly increase tensions," National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said during his visit to military posts in the southern Kilis province near the border with Syria, according to a ministry statement issued on Sunday.
Noting that Greece made false accusations against Türkiye such as "expansionism, revisionist policies" in order to cover up its own mistakes, Akar said: "Türkiye's policy is very clear. We call it international law, self-defense, and the rights of our own (Turkish) Cypriot brothers. They still refuse to see it."
Athens wants 40,000 square kilometers (15,444 square miles) of the maritime jurisdiction with the zone that it attributes to the 10-square-kilometer (4-square-mile) island of Meis, which is around 600 kilometers (373 miles) from its mainland and just 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) from the Turkish coast, he said, adding that Ankara would never allow this to happen.
Also, Athens is continuing to arm eastern Aegean islands in violation of international agreements and treaties, Akar added.
"We continue our activities in a state of vigilance with great seriousness and sensitivity against all these,” he said, adding Ankara will not allow any fait accompli on issues related to the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas.
Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarized under treaty obligations. Ankara says that such moves frustrate its good-faith efforts for peace.
Source: Anadolu Agency
</description>Canada announced Saturday it will ask passengers coming from China, Hong Kong and Macao to submit temporary negative coronavirus tests ahead of their flights to the country.
The Canadian Health Ministry said all air travelers from those locations "will need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result, taken no more than two days before their departure, to the airline prior to boarding."
The requirement for travelers 2 years or older will take effect Jan. 5. The measure will be in place for 30 days and authorities will reassess it as more data and evidence becomes available.
The decision comes after a surge in cases and "limited epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data available on these cases," it said.
"Our actions continue to be guided by prudence and we will not hesitate to adjust measures to protect the health and safety of Canadians," the statement quoted Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
Prior to Canada, Spain, Italy, the US, Japan and Morocco announced COVID-19 restrictions on travelers from China, which is facing an explosive spike in infections after dumping its strict "zero-COVID" policy earlier this month.
Following growing discontent and unprecedented protests in parts of the country, China has started easing its stringent pandemic measures, saying it was shifting its focus from stopping virus transmission to preventing serious infections.
Beijing also decided to scrap mandatory quarantine for all visitors starting Jan. 8.
Source: Anadolu Agency
</description>NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday said that the Western allies must be ready to provide long-term support to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg told BBC that military support would ensure the survival of Ukraine as a sovereign country.
Earlier, the General Staff of Ukraine said in a statement that Russian forces carried out air strikes on various parts of the country on Saturday and on Sunday morning.
"The Ukrainian forces had the momentum for several months, but we also know that Russia has mobilized many more forces, many of them are now training," Stoltenberg said.
"All that indicates that they are prepared to continue the war and also try to potentially launch a new offensive," he added.
Russia-Ukraine war has so far resulted in 17,595 civilian casualties, including 6,826 deaths, and tens of millions are facing "potential danger of death," according to UN figures.
Source: Anadolu Agency
</description>Manchester City drew 1-1 with Everton in their English Premier League week 18 game on Saturday.
Manchester City's Norwegian star Erling Haaland Opened the score in the 24th minute at Etihad Stadium.
It was his 21st goal in 15 games, the most goals by a player before the turn of the year in a single Premier League season.
Everton's Demarai Gray leveled the score in the 64th minute. Manchester City failed to beat the solid Everton defense and the game ended with 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, leader Arsenal gained a 4-2 away victory against Brighton and Hove Albion and raised their points to 43 points. The Citizens are in the second spot with 36 points.
Brighton placed eighth with 24 points in the Premier League.
Source: Anadolu Agency
</description>The Ukrainian military said on Sunday that the Russian army carried out 31 missile and 12 air strikes on Ukraine in the last 24 hours.
The General Staff of Ukraine said in a statement that Russian forces carried out missile and air attacks on various parts of the country on Saturday and earlier on Sunday morning.
The Russian strikes mainly targeted the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions, it added.
The statement also said Russia used 13 Iranian-made Shahed-136, known as “kamikaze drones,” in the attacks.
“All of them were destroyed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces,” the military said.
Source: Anadolu Agency
</description>The UN mission said Saturday that Sudan is going through a “very complex political process”.
This came in a statement issued by the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) on the 67th anniversary of Sudan's independence from British colonialism (1899-1956).
“This anniversary comes while Sudan is going through a very complex political process, one that is filled with hope for creating a better future and the desire to overcome the bitterness of the past. We hope this helps write a new page in the history of Sudan,” the mission said.
On Dec. 5, Sudan’s ruling military council and political forces signed a framework agreement meant to resolve the country’s months-long crisis.
“The Sudanese have shown throughout their contemporary history an amazing will to adhere to their dreams and aspirations even in the face of many challenges,” UNITAMS said.
“The past four years, since the spark of the December revolution, were an example that inspired many around the globe in manifesting the abilities of the Sudanese people and their determination to achieve the goals represented by the slogan of freedom, peace and justice,” it added.
Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency, a move decried by political forces as a "military coup."
*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report
Source: Anadolu Agency
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