Jordan

Finland remained the world's happiest country for a seventh straight year in an annual U.N. sponsored World Happiness Report published on March 20.

And Nordic countries kept their places among the 10 most cheerful, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden trailing Finland.

Compared to the previous year, Türkiye has climbed eight places in the list and is now ranked 98th.

Bulgaria, alongside Serbia and Latvia, emerges as one of the standout success stories in the latest UN World Happiness Report, showcasing a remarkable leap in national contentment from 2006-2010 to 2021-2024. The report, a comprehensive study of global happiness levels, highlights Bulgaria's ascent from 144th to 81st place, reflecting a substantial improvement in overall well-being.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said early Friday that Israeli fire killed 20 people and wounded 155 waiting to receive desperately needed aid in the besieged territory.

Efforts mounted on Thursday to get more aid into the devastated Palestinian territory, where fighting still rages after mediators failed to reach a truce for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

A Spanish charity boat taking food to Gaza left Cyprus on Tuesday in hopes of opening a maritime corridor to carry sorely needed aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

A US Army vessel carrying equipment to build a temporary pier in Gaza was heading to the Mediterranean on Sunday, after US President Joe Biden announced plans to increase aid deliveries by sea to the besieged enclave where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are going hungry.

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan dawns upon the Gaza Strip, the region finds itself entrenched in the throes of conflict. Within this turbulent atmosphere, the radical Palestinian movement Hamas points fingers at Israel for the breakdown in ceasefire negotiations.

Sweden said Saturday it was resuming aid to the cash-strapped U.N. agency for Palestinians with an initial disbursement of $20 million after receiving assurances of extra checks on its spending and personnel.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, upping the pressure on key ally Israel as heavy fighting raged in the Palestinian territory.

Harris's comments on Sunday, the most forceful to date by a U.S. administration official, came as Washington led a push to lock in a truce before Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month that begins in around one week.

Canada is working to airdrop humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, a cabinet minister said Wednesday.

The confirmation that an active effort is underway comes after Canadian International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said Ottawa was exploring new options to deliver aid.

Türkiye has appointed Sedat Önal as its new ambassador to Washington and Ahmet Yıldız as its permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, according to diplomatic sources.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan notified Önal and Yıldız of their new duties by phone, the sources informed.