Author: Anadolu Agency
The European Central Bank posted a record loss of €7.94 billion (approximately $8.3 billion) in 2024, according to official figures on Thursday. “In 2023, the full release of the provision for financial risks of €6,620 million reduced the loss for that year to €1,266 million, while in 2024, no losses could be covered by this provision as its balance stood at zero,” the bank stated. As a result of the loss, it stated that no profits will be distributed to euro area national central banks for 2024. The losses stemmed from policy actions taken by the Eurosystem that were necessary…
Mercedes-Benz’s net profit fell 28.4% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to figures the company released on Thursday. The company’s net profit totaled €10.2 billion ($10.65 billion), €4 billion less than the 2023 figure. Meanwhile, total revenues fell 4.5% to €145.6 billion in the same period. Research and development expenditures also declined by 2.8% to €9.7 billion in 2024. The revenues from car sales were down 4.4% and van sales fell 4.8% while mobility sales were off 1.9% last year. By region, the biggest decline was in China, with sales down 8.5%, followed by North America with a 3.9% drop…
A poll released Wednesday shows that 55% of Americans believe tech billionaire Elon Musk-a key ally of US President Donald Trump, and head of an unofficial team tasked with cutting the US federal government budget-has too much power in influencing decisions that affect the nation. The Quinnipiac University survey, done on Feb. 3-17 with 1,039 registered voters, found that 55% of respondents feel Musk wields excessive power over national decisions. In contrast, 36% believe he has an appropriate level of influence, while only 3% think he has too little. Among Democratic respondents, 96% agree that Musk has excessive power, compared…
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s steadfast support for Ukraine on Wednesday, emphasizing that the country’s fight is not only about defending its sovereignty but also about preserving global stability. “Canada and our allies are unequivocal on standing up against Vladimir Putin’s illegal, immoral, unjust violations of the international order,” Trudeau told reporters in Montreal. Later in the day, Trudeau participated in discussions with European leaders convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to formulate a response to Trump’s outreach to Russia. “Ukrainians have been fighting and dying not just to protect their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, they’re also fighting…
US President Donald Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, has been blocked across Ukraine, according to reports from social media users on Thursday. Users attempting to access the platform are met with a message reading, “Truth Social is currently unavailable in your region.” The reported block comes after Trump labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “modestly successful comedian,” a “dictator,” on the same social media platform on Wednesday. So far, there has been no official statement from Kyiv regarding the social media platform’s blocking, nor has Truth Social responded to the Zelenskyy administration’s decision.
Australia Thursday reiterated Canberra’s support for Kyiv after US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.” “Australia stands with Ukraine in their struggle, which is a struggle not just for their own national sovereignty, but it’s a struggle to stand up for the international rule of law,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters. Meanwhile, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles called Russia the “aggressor” in the war between Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy is not a “dictator” and “this conflict can only be resolved on Ukraine’s terms,” Marles told Sky News. Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton also weighed in…
US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday stressed that peace in Ukraine is only possible through negotiations with all parties involved, including Russia. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Vance responded to criticisms over US President Donald Trump’s potential forthcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Well, how are you going to end the war unless you’re talking to Russia? You’ve got to talk to everybody involved in the fighting if you actually want to bring the conflict to a close, and I know the president does,” Vance said. Highlighting Trump’s approach to the issue, Vance said, “When…
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that a comprehensive peace process should be initiated immediately with the participation of both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. According to information obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources, Fidan spoke at the 27th MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye, Australia) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. At the two-day event, which kicked off on Thursday, Fidan emphasized that the situations in Gaza and Lebanon, the latest developments in Syria, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the escalating humanitarian crises worldwide highlight the urgent need to enhance multilateral cooperation. He conveyed…
Elon Musk challenged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday to hold elections. Musk said on X that Zelenskyy’s recently reported approval rate is not “credible.” A report from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology suggested Zelenskyy has an approval rate of 57%. “It should be utterly obvious that a Zelensky-controlled poll about his OWN approval is not credible,” he said. The X owner suggested if Zelenskyy was loved by the people of Ukraine, he would hold an election. He said the Ukrainian president is “despised” by his people and that is why he refuses to hold elections. The most famous…
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday granted the African Union permission to participate in a case on Israel’s obligations regarding UN activities in occupied Palestinian territories. “The International Court of Justice has authorized the African Union, at its request, to participate in the advisory proceedings on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations, and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” a statement from the ICJ read. The African Union is likely to be able to provide information on the question put to…