Author: Anadolu Agency
Lawyers representing victims in Syria encouraged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ‘urgently’ issue arrest warrants for Bashar al-Assad and 17 senior officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In a statement Thursday after meeting Syrian authorities, Gulden Sonmez and Cihat Gokdemir said they initiated proceedings in 2017 on behalf of their clients, who suffered under the Baath regime, to prosecute Assad and senior military and political figures at the ICC in The Hague. Highlighting that victims’ case files remain active due to conditions linked to the Syrian war, Sonmez and Gokdemir said: “With the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s…
The US increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $25 million on Friday as he was sworn in for a third term in office. The Biden administration is also increasing the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello to $25 million under the State Department’s Narcotics Rewards Program, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby announced. A new $15 million reward is being offered for Defense Minister Vladimir Pedrino. The administration further sanctioned seven new individuals, bringing the number of Venezuelan officials under US economic…
The White House expressed a strong desire on Friday to extend a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is set to expire in a few weeks. “We have every interest in seeing the cease-fire continue beyond the 60 days, and we are working hard in diplomatic channels, and now we’re able to work with a new president of Lebanon to see if we can, you know, if we can see that happen,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. “We are absolutely working to see if this ceasefire can continue,” he added. Six people were…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday said that the “separatist terrorists” in Syria are now “increasingly cornered” after the Syrian opposition liberated Damascus. “With the liberation of Damascus by the Syrian opposition, separatist terrorists are increasingly cornered, and they are looking for new patrons,” Erdogan said in a statement during an event organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party in western Aydin province. “Terrorists have only two choices-either renounce terrorism and lay down their arms or face inevitable elimination,” he added.
The French president and the UK’s prime minister on Thursday discussed global issues, including the Middle East, and reiterated “unwavering support” for Ukraine, according to an official statement. President Emmanuel Macron visited Keir Starmer at the premier’s country house Chequers, the prime minister’s office said. The pair “underscored the need for unity in uncertain times,” the statement read. “On the Middle East, the Prime Minister and President agreed on the importance of stability and security in the region, as well as the need to avoid regional escalation. On Ukraine, the leaders reiterated their unwavering support (to Kyiv in its ongoing…
The UN reported on Friday that Israel continues to obstruct “vital aid” reaching those in need in the Gaza Strip, pointing to more than half of the humanitarian assistance that was blocked by authorities a day earlier. Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference that, “Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts to reach Gaza governor with vital aid.” “This includes our most recent attempt today across the Gaza Strip yesterday. Only 10 out of the 21 UN-planned humanitarian movements were facilitated by Israeli authorities,” he said, adding…
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she does not believe that President-elect Donald Trump would try to seize Greenland by force. “We have no reason to believe that would happen,” the premier said at a press conference joined by other parliamentary leaders on Thursday evening. Frederiksen said that she is trying to set up talks with US President-elect Donald Trump on his remarks about taking control of Greenland. “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” she said, however, added that Denmark is open to talks on US interests in the Arctic. Earlier, Frederiksen met with leaders of political parties in Denmark’s parliament,…
An increase in the Belarusian military presence along its border with Poland is a deliberate ploy to create anxiety in the EU member state and may be a harbinger of conflict escalation, a Polish general warned on Friday. “This is a game designed to sow unrest,” Gen. Mieczyslaw Gocul commented in an interview with Polish tabloid Fakt, adding that Belarusian activity “probably conceals the goal of escalating the conflict.” Belarus is a close ally of Russia and since 2021 has been deploying a series of interventions along its 400-kilometer (about 250-mile) border with Poland, that Warsaw believes are part of…
Türkiye conveys condolences to the victims of the wildfires in Los Angeles, California, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday. “We are deeply saddened by the wildfire disaster that has caused significant damage to the city of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas,” the ministry said in a statement. “We extend our condolences to the people of the United States for the loss of lives and wish a swift recovery to the injured,” the statement added. Los Angeles is facing a historic firestorm that has ravaged local communities. The largest inferno has burned 17,234 acres in and around the upscale…
The transitional government chief Muhammad Yunus has urged Türkiye to bring its technology to Bangladesh and build defense industry. “You are the leader of the technology; you can build your defense industry here. Let’s make a beginning … we are available for anything that you need,” Yunus told a delegation led by Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat on Thursday night in Dhaka, according to Yunus’ media team. Bolat said Bangladesh and Türkiye can diversify their cooperation beyond the textile industry, which was their primary import from Bangladesh. He said that there can be economic cooperation in the field of defense…