Author: Anadolu Agency
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…
The Slovakian president on Thursday did not rule out the deployment of troops in Ukraine but said it would be “premature” to make any commitment as uncertainty about the guarantees to ensure the sustainability of such a measure remained. “It is premature to suggest that some European armies or soldiers from countries in which I am interested should be stationed in Ukraine,” said President Peter Pellegrini at a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Slovak capital of Bratislava. He emphasized that the necessary conditions must be met first and that there is still some uncertainty…
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…
In a time of global uncertainty, in which the challenges are many and the degree of unpredictability is high, Italy and Türkiye prove their ability to capitalize on opportunities through maximizing their cooperative potential, hence reducing the risky factors. In this regard, the Rome-Ankara axis continues to strengthen, driven by mutual pragmatism and a shared strategic vision. – ITALY AND TÜRKIYE: A NEW BILATERAL ERA Bilaterally, Italy and Türkiye have entered a new era in which the already positive economic data and business complementarities play a key role. Recently, trade volume has reached $32 billion, surpassing the previously set target…
Western security services and politicians fear that a potential deal between the US and Russia on Ukraine could lead to an end to the presence of US troops in large parts of Europe, Germany’s top-selling BILD newspaper reported Wednesday. “According to our information, it’s about (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s 2021 demands, i.e. a withdrawal of US troops from all NATO states that joined the alliance after 1990,” an unnamed Eastern European security official told BILD. According to the report, Italy is also preparing for a possible withdrawal of US troops from Kosovo. This would leave the European allies alone in…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday spoke with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, focusing on security guarantees and efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. “I had a good and meaningful conversation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. He shared details of his recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and stressed the importance of broad international involvement, including Europe, the US, UK and Türkiye. Rutte, meanwhile, briefed Zelenskyy on his meeting with US envoy Keith Kellogg. Zelenskyy said they agreed on the need for a guaranteed peace, not just a temporary cease-fire. “There must be…
As US-Ukraine tensions soared on Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, “nobody can force Ukraine to give up.” “Ukraine withstood the most horrific military attack in Europe’s modern history and three years of total war,” Sybiha wrote on X, referring to Russia’s war on Ukraine that started in February 2022. “The Ukrainian people and their President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to give in to Putin’s pressure,” he stressed. “Nobody can force Ukraine to give up. We will defend our right to exist.” Sybiha’s remarks came in response to Trump’s recent statements, where he called on Ukraine to hold elections and…
US Vice President J.D. Vance on Wednesday warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy against publicly criticizing President Donald Trump, warning that such remarks could harm Kyiv’s relationship with Washington. “The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president’s mind by badmouthing him in public media, everyone who knows the President will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance told the Daily Mail hours after Zelenskyy accused Trump of living in a Russian-made “disinformation space.” Trump, in return, called him a “Dictator without Elections,” adding that Zelenskyy “better move fast or he is not going…
The North Korean soldiers detained in Ukraine said that before leaving for Russia last year, they were told they were being sent for training outside the country, local media reported on Wednesday. The South Korean newspaper Chosunilbo interviewed the two North Korean soldiers in Ukraine, who were captured last month by Ukrainian forces. The soldiers revealed they were affiliated with the Reconnaissance General Bureau, the intelligence agency that manages North Korea’s clandestine operations. A North Korean soldier, Ri, said that he had been told he was being sent “abroad for training” when he left the city on Oct. 10 last…