Author: Anadolu Agency
Saudi Arabia has confirmed that alcohol will not be sold at the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which it will be hosting across five cities. “Rather like our weather, it’s a dry country. At the moment, we don’t allow alcohol, but plenty of fun can be had without it. It’s not 100% necessary,” the Saudi ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, told British digital radio station LBC News on Thursday. “If you want to drink after you leave, you’re welcome to, but at the moment, we don’t have alcohol,” he added. Emphasizing cultural differences, Al…
China has urged the UK to “enhance” mutual trust between the two nations as the world has become “volatile.” This was conveyed to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on an official trip to the UK. “The world is becoming volatile, and changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace,” Wang told Keir. “China and Britain should strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and demonstrate their responsibilities as major countries… to contribute greater certainty and stability to the world,” Wang said, according to a statement released…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that the US does not have a clear plan to end the war in Ukraine, stressing the need for stronger military support and decisive Western action against Russia. “I don’t think that the US has a ready plan to end the war,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Munich, ahead of his planned talks with US Vice President J.D. Vance on the situation in Ukraine. He also reiterated that if Ukraine is not accepted into NATO, the country must expand its army to 1.5 million soldiers equipped with modern weaponry to ensure national security. Zelenskyy…
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Friday reiterated Kyiv’s commitment to joining NATO, emphasizing the country’s role in Euro-Atlantic security during talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Ahead of a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, Umerov held discussions with Rutte, whom he described as a “great friend of Ukraine.” “Ukraine does not abandon its strategic course — we see our future in NATO,” Umerov said. “This is our security priority, and our army is already an essential part of Euro-Atlantic security.” He briefed Rutte on the development of Ukraine’s defense-industrial base and plans to enhance military capabilities, stressing that Ukraine strengthens…
Investigative American journalist Michael Shellenberger was called to testify before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday regarding allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the CIA funded the 2019 impeachment effort against President Donald Trump. Shellenberger first addressed the issue on Feb. 6 on the social media platform X, explaining how the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) played a central role in leading the impeachment effort. “USAID’s defenders say it’s about charity and development in poor nations. It’s not. It’s a $40 billion driver of regime change abroad. And now the…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, expressing gratitude for Britain’s continued support and leadership in the face of ongoing security challenges. “I thanked him for all the UK’s support and emphasized that we deeply value Britain’s leadership,” Zelenskyy wrote on X after his phone call with Starmer. He briefed Starmer on his recent discussions with US President Donald Trump and engagements with American officials, highlighting the importance of coordination between Ukrainian, American, European, and global partners to achieve concrete security outcomes. “The security of each nation depends on strengthening our collective security,” Zelenskyy…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that the US does not have a clear plan to end the war in Ukraine, stressing the need for stronger military support and decisive Western action against Russia. “I don’t think that the US has a ready plan to end the war,” Zelensky told reporters in Munich, ahead of his planned talks with US Vice President J.D. Vance on the situation in Ukraine. He also reiterated that if Ukraine is not accepted into NATO, the country must expand its army to 1.5 million soldiers equipped with modern weaponry to ensure national security. Zelensky…
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Friday there is an Arab-supported Egyptian plan that aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip without displacing its Palestinian residents. Safadi made the statement during his meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on the sidelines of a conference on Syria hosted by France, according to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. The statement quoted both top diplomats as opposing the relocation of Palestinians, opposing US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and displace its residents to Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere. The two foreign ministers also discussed efforts to maintain the ceasefire in…
The Spanish foreign minister stressed Friday that Gazans must go back and live in the Gaza Strip, pledging his country will do everything possible to help with the reconstruction of the coastal enclave. “We really want this ceasefire to become permanent, and I am really happy to see that the release of hostages has (been) reinstated again,” Jose Manuel Albares told Anadolu on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in the southeastern German city. Albares noted that a permanent ceasefire is in everyone’s best interests, including Israeli security. “Of course, the Palestinians of Gaza must go back and live…
Egypt reaffirmed on Friday its commitment to presenting a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, adding that Palestinians should remain on their land “without displacement.” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made these remarks during meetings on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, which kicked off on Friday and will run until Sunday, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry statements. Abdelatty held separate meetings with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares, Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide, and European Council President Antonio Costa. During these meetings, Egypt’s top diplomat reaffirmed his country’s commitment to “providing a comprehensive vision for…