Author: Anadolu Agency

Panama has objected to the UN over US President Donald Trump’s claim that the US can retake the Panama Canal. In a Tuesday letter to the UN, Panama denied Trump’s claim that it broke a 1999 agreement and had handed control of the canal to China. Panama’s UN Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba cited a UN Charter rule that nations must “refrain in their international relations from threatening or using force” against the “sovereignty or territory” of another state. Trump, after returning to the US presidency on Monday, reiterated his threat to take back the canal, saying: “We didn’t give…

The Israeli army continued a military operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin for second day in a row on Wednesday. According to witnesses, the Israeli army raided several neighborhoods in the Jenin refugee camp and shelled several sites in the area. Sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard as Israeli bulldozers destroyed infrastructure and shops in the camp, witnesses said. At least 10 Palestinians were killed and 40 others injured during the Israeli operation on Tuesday, the Health Ministry said. The Israeli army said that the Jenin operation, code-named “Iron Wall,” is expected to last several days.…

US President Donald Trump has announced his plan to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese imports starting on Feb. 1, a move some analysts fear could set off a trade war. The tariff threat follows Trump’s announcement on Monday that he intends to impose a 25% duty on imports from Canada and Mexico in response to the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the US, according to local media reports. At the White House, Trump said Tuesday the 10% tariffs are in response to China’s role in the fentanyl crisis, alleging that fentanyl was being shipped from China through…

Taiwan on Wednesday reported that its undersea cable to the Matsu Islands near China has been completely disconnected due to the aging of the core wires. In a statement, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said that backup communication, including microwave communication, has been activated. “The Data Transmission Department has requested Chunghwa Telecom to activate microwaves to fully support communications between Taiwan and Matsu, and coordinate submarine cable ships to repair the Taiwan-Malaysia No. 2 and No. 3 submarine cables as soon as possible,” it said. The ministry said that the disconnected cable is expected to be restored before the end…

Chad’s ruling party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement, won a sweeping victory in last month’s general elections, winning 124 of 188 seats, the country’s Constitutional Council confirmed on Tuesday. The final results of the legislative elections, first since 2011, were announced by president of the Constitutional Council, Jean-Bernard Padare. President Mahamat Idriss Deby seized power in 2021 after the death of his father on the battlefield. The military disbanded parliament and put a transitional council in place for 18 months. In October 2022, Deby, a military officer, extended the transition period until 2024. Voting took place on Dec. 29 and the…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday discussed bilateral cooperation with his Azerbaijani and Israeli counterparts on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We met with President of Israel Isaac Herzog to discuss important issues of Ukrainian-Israeli cooperation,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on X. Zelenskyy said among the main topics he discussed with Herzog were shared challenges and collaboration, particularly in the security sphere, as well as “ways to achieve a just peace for Ukraine.” He said Ukraine is glad to see people who were in captivity returning home, referring to the ceasefire and prisoner swap…

A boat capsized off Yemen’s Dubab District in the Ta’iz Governorate, claiming the lives of 20 Ethiopian migrants, including nine women, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday. The vessel carrying 35 Ethiopian migrants along with a Yemeni captain and his assistant departed from Djibouti but capsized near Al-Hajjajah on Jan. 18. According to a statement from IOM, 17 people survived the accident, including 15 Ethiopian men and the two Yemeni crew members, who managed to reach the shore despite strong seasonal winds suspected of having caused the disaster. “This tragedy is a grim reminder of the treacherous…

China Wednesday claimed it has never interfered in the Panama Canal amid threats of overtaking the shipping channel by the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump, state media reported. Beijing has “not been involved in the management or operation of the Panama Canal,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in the Chinese capital. However, Mao said China “acknowledges Panama’s sovereignty over the canal and regards it as a permanently neutral international waterway.” Trump has threatened US will “retake” the Panama Canal. Trump last month claimed that “wonderful soldiers of China” were operating the Panama Canal “lovingly but illegally.” Trump…

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of a 12-year-old boy in Birmingham, British police said. West Midlands Police said on Wednesday officers were called to Scribers Lane, Hall Green, late afternoon on Monday, where they found the victim with serious injuries. “The 12-year-old was taken to hospital, but sadly died as a result of his injuries,” the statement added. The victim’s family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers. Detectives are now urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist with inquiries. The stabbing comes…

An “extreme” brand of “woke” ideology” contributed to US President Donald Trump’s election victory last November, according to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “Various explanations have been given regarding Donald Trump’s resounding return to the presidency. The extreme positions of the woke movement in the US have caused the pendulum to swing in the opposite direction,” Mitsotakis told a Tuesday event in Athens organized by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce. Mitsotakis also said that extreme wokeism, which is prevalent on US university campuses, has not appeared in Europe, adding: “I don’t think we have that problem in Europe to justify…