Geography

North Macedonia

By Angelos Athanasopoulos

Who would have imagined that certain people here in Athens would reach the point of being glad that Bulgaria is "playing tough" and is blocking the start of North Macedonia's accession talks, so as to wreak vengeance for the treacherous Prespa Agreement that "gave it all away" to our northern neighbours.

North Macedonia will start issuing new passports and IDs containing the country's new constitutional name "Republic of North Macedonia", starting July 1, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski confirmed.

Erden Eruç, a Turkish adventurer who was the first person to circumnavigate the globe solo using human power, has started a sailing expedition from California towards China to break a new record and raise awareness about the environmental crisis caused by human activities.

He ruled out demarcation of the EEZ between Palestine and Turkey

Erden Eruç, the holder of 15 Guinness world records, hopes to be the first person in history to row across the Pacific Ocean, from North America to Asia.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency in an interview, Eruç said that in two weeks, he planned to depart from Crescent City, California in a rowboat for Hong Kong, where he aims to make landfall in March 2022.

A retired attorney from Chicago who became the oldest American to scale Mount Everest, and a Hong Kong teacher who is now the fastest female climber of the world's highest peak, on May 30 returned safely from the mountain where climbing teams have struggled with bad weather and a coronavirus outbreak.

What else can high-resolution imagery reveal?

Istanbul, Turkey's largest city by population, has joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Green Cities urban sustainability program.

The European bank will provide financial support to the construction of a new 14 km metro line connecting the east and west of the city, according to a statement from the bank on May 3. 

Turkey has extended condolences to the Israeli government and people over the deadly stampede in northern Israel.

"We have received the news with sadness that many people lost their lives as a result of a stampede during a religious festival ceremony on Mount Meron in northern Israel," read a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on April 30.

Located in the Mediterranean province of Hatay's Hassa district, the Haydarlar Lake has blossomed into a beautiful sight with the arrival of spring.

The lake emerged as a result of a volcanic eruption centuries ago and is surrounded by Amanos Mountains, fascinating those who see it with its untouched nature, mountain view and perfect location.