A major Indian opposition party expressed concern about escalating violence in East Jerusalem and urged the government on Friday to proactively work as a member of the UN Security Council to restore peace. Anand Sharma, deputy leader of the Indian National Congress in the Upper House, or Rajya Sabha, and head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, said in a statement that spiraling violence in Gaza and Israel, which coincides with the Muslim holy festival of Eid al-Fitr is distressing and a matter of grave concern for the world. “Palestinian people’s right to pray at Al-Aqsa mosque without

The US told Israel that the security of journalists and independent media is a “paramount responsibility” after Israeli warplanes hit the offices of media groups in Gaza City on Saturday. “We have communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Twitter. On Saturday, Israeli warplanes destroyed a building in Gaza with offices of various media groups, including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press. “We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau

The head of Hamas’ diaspora office said on Friday that the Israeli forces, by breaking into Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque and its continued threat to expel Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, has triggered the current crisis. “The struggle against the Israeli occupation is for national rights, top of which to liberate our occupied land,” Khaled Meshaal said in a televised interview for TRT Arabic. He said no one could deprive the Palestinian people of their right to resist the Israeli occupation. Meshaal also confirmed that there are ongoing efforts by Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and the US to contain

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and other news in Turkey and around the world. – Coronavirus and other developments in Turkey Turkey reported more than 11,000 new coronavirus cases as daily infections continue to drop amid a nationwide lockdown. The country will gradually begin lifting lockdown restrictions starting next week, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Istanbul will host the 2023 UEFA Champions League final as Turkey will mark the centenary of the republic’s foundation that year, Anadolu Agency has learned. Erdogan said Turkey will not accept Israeli persecution, even

Turkish security forces on Saturday “neutralized” at least three PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, according to Turkey’s National Defense Ministry. On Twitter, the ministry said the terrorists were neutralized by the Turkish Air Forces in the Metina region as part of the Pence-Simsek anti-terror operation. Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured. Turkey launched operations Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim on April 23 in northern Iraq’s Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions near its borders. The PKK terror group often hides out in northern Iraq, just across Turkey’s southern border, to

Signaling a possible dip in the ongoing third wave of coronavirus, Pakistan on Saturday recorded 1,531 infections, the lowest daily tally since March, the Health Ministry said. On March 8 the South Asian country saw 1,353 infections. Another 83 people lost their lives due to the novel virus over the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since March 2020 to 19,467. The overall national infection tally stands at 874,751, with 783,480 recoveries. The total number of active cases in the country is 71,804. The recent decline in the number of cases is viewed as the result of a

With a national lockdown nearing its end, nearly half a million teachers and school staffers will be vaccinated for COVID-19, Turkey’s National Education Ministry said on Saturday. Vaccination appointments have been made for 499,000 personnel, including ones for preschool, primary school, and village schools plus other education staff, according to ministry officials. The figure makes up around 40% of the teachers and school staff in Turkey. On Friday, Turkey reported more than 11,000 new coronavirus cases, as daily infections continue to drop amid a nationwide lockdown set to conclude on Monday. Following the lockdown, restrictions may be eased depending on