International
Erdogan Backs Zelensky’s Peace Plan “in Principle,” Urges More Diplomacy
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed “in principle” his support for the 10-point peace plan presented in 2022 by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which envisions an unconditional withdrawal of Russia, while also calling for “more diplomacy.”
“I believe that at least a joint effort should be initiated to determine the general parameters of peace. In this regard, we support in principle the 10-point peace plan proposed by the Ukrainian president,” Erdogan said in a video message sent to the Western Balkans Summit in Tirana today, which Zelensky also attended.
Plan Proposed in 2022
The aforementioned plan, proposed at the end of 2022, envisages the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, the restoration of internationally recognized borders, and the establishment of a tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes.
Zelensky emphasized in Tirana the need to receive money and weapons to defend against Russian aggression by proposing initiatives to manufacture more ammunition to Balkan countries, while Erdogan insisted on the importance of negotiations.
“I maintain my opinion that diplomacy and dialogue should be given a chance to end the war with a just and lasting peace. It is crucial to use diplomatic channels at the highest level to achieve this goal,” the Turkish president said.
Turkey “Supports the Independence” of Ukraine
He recalled that Turkey “supports the independence, sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” mentioned its numerous mediation attempts between Kiev and Moscow, and expressed readiness to resume negotiations held in Istanbul in March 2022, which were ultimately fruitless.
Erdogan also invoked the reactivation of the grain export agreement from Ukrainian ports, negotiated with Turkish assistance and suspended by Russia last July, and noted that he is in contact with the United Nations for “a new regulation, with security commitments in the Black Sea.”
International
Pope Francis meets former Gaza hostages
Pope Francis met on Thursday at the Vatican with 16 Israelis who had been held hostage in Gaza for months by the Islamist group Hamas, according to the official Vatican news website.
The group consisted of ten women, four men, and two children, as reported by the same source. Several of the former hostages showed the Argentine pontiff banners or photos of their loved ones who remain in captivity.
Francis had previously met with the families of hostages in April this year and November 2023, but this was the first time he had met with individuals who had personally endured captivity.
Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began, the pope has repeatedly called for the immediate release of Israeli hostages, while also condemning the suffering of the Palestinian population.
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Islamist militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,206 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures that include hostages who died in captivity.
Of the kidnapped, 97 are still being held in Gaza, but the Israeli military estimates that 34 of them have died.
The military offensive launched by Israel in response has killed at least 43,736 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-governed territory.
International
Israeli airstrikes on Damascus kill 15 and injure 16, including women and children
Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on residential buildings in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and its surroundings on Thursday, resulting in at least 15 deaths and 16 injuries, according to Syria’s Ministry of Defense and state television.
The ministry stated that around 3:20 p.m. local time (12:20 GMT), the Israeli military launched an aerial attack from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, targeting several residential buildings in the Mazzeh neighborhood in western Damascus and the Qudsaya suburb to the northwest of the capital.
The airstrikes “resulted in the death of 15 people and injuries to 16 others, including women and children,” based on initial estimates, in addition to significant damage to private property and civilian buildings, the ministry added.
Meanwhile, state television reported Israeli airstrikes on three buildings in Mazzeh and another on a building in an educational complex located in a residential area of Qudsaya.
Following the strikes, loud explosions were heard throughout the city, and thick plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the targeted locations. Ambulances and emergency services rushed to the scene to attend to the victims.
International
Drug trafficker dies after boat collision with Guardia Civil Vessel in Sanlúca
Three people were on the boat that collided with a Guardia Civil vessel around midnight at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near the Andalusian city of Cádiz, a spokesperson for the Civil Guard reported.
Two officers sustained “contusions,” the spokesperson explained.
The drug traffickers managed to bring the boat to shore, where one of them was “abandoned” severely injured. The other two fled.
The Civil Guard officers attempted to resuscitate the victim before transporting him to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, but he ultimately died early in the morning.
The other two suspects took advantage of the officers’ absence while they were taking the victim and returned to set their boat on fire.
The collision occurred very close to the site of another accident on September 1, where a drug trafficker died following a Guardia Civil pursuit.
The suspects’ boat traveled “400 meters” before crashing head-on and “at full speed” into the riverbank, where a hundred bundles of hashish were found.
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