Author: Anadolu Agency

Ukraine said on Thursday that at least 13 people were injured in a Russian drone attack on the country’s second-largest city of Kharkiv. “The enemy launched a massive drone strike on Kharkiv. Thirteen people were injured, including two children,” the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said in a statement on Telegram, noting that an investigation into the strikes was launched. Civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv’s Slobidskyi and Kyivskyi districts was hit during the strikes, the statement said, adding that the attack that took place late Wednesday lasted for almost an hour. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that the attack caused four fires…

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump will feel “cheated” and “betrayed” if Russia does not provide a “clear answer” regarding a proposed truce in Ukraine. “If Russia does not provide a clear answer, then, rightfully, President Trump will feel cheated and betrayed, and he will have to react,” Macron said at a press conference after the EU Summit in Paris. Macron also urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to play “a fully active role” in fostering peace, citing China’s diplomatic ties with Russia and previous peace efforts with Brazil. “I hope President Xi can help…

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday that the call for a general election is imminent, with voting set to take place in May. In an interview with a local radio station, Albanese confirmed that while he is not announcing the election date today, he plans to do so soon, according to a transcript released by his office. “Well, it will be in May, I can guarantee that. And it’ll be called pretty imminently, I can assure you of that as well,” he said. Ahead of the election announcement, Albanese’s government passed a bill in the Senate on Wednesday night…

Russia on Thursday accused neighboring Ukraine of “continuing” to breach a US-mediated 30-day pause on strikes against energy facilities in both countries. Following consultations held in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, the US announced separate agreements Tuesday with Russia and Ukraine to “ensure safe navigation” in the Black Sea and a halt to strikes on each other’s energy facilities for 30 days. Moscow and Kyiv later confirmed the agreements, although the Kremlin said they would take effect as soon as certain restrictions and sanctions on Russia are lifted. “Despite the Kyiv regime’s statements about the alleged cessation of strikes on…

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday called for US involvement in future Ukraine peace talks. Participating in the EU Summit in Paris, Meloni reaffirmed European and Western support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Meloni emphasized the importance of continuing collaboration with the United States to end the conflict, according to a statement from the Italian Presidency. During the summit, Meloni reiterated the need for “solid and credible security guarantees” for Ukraine, suggesting that such guarantees should be rooted in the Euro-Atlantic context, drawing parallels to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, according to the statement. Additionally, the summit addressed the potential…

South Korean automotive giant just opened its factory in Georgia before Trump announced new tariffs on imports of foreign-made vehicles. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday imposing 25% tariffs on imports of foreign-made cars and light trucks as he continued his global import duty push. Before the announcement, Hyundai opened its Metaplant America, saying: “The key pillar of the Group’s $12.6 billion investment in Georgia and the largest economic development project in the state’s history.” “Vehicle assembly and battery plant will produce up to 500,000 electric and hybrid vehicles annually for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands,” the…

China on Thursday asked the US to reflect on its “bullying” of developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, noting the US engages in “coercion and plunder.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, made the remark in a regular press conference after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently claimed that Chinese investment in Latin America and the Caribbean is “predatory behavior.” Rubio made the claim at a joint press with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday, saying that Chinese investment has brought “huge debts” that cannot be repaid, according to Global Times. Regarding this claim, the Foreign…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday called on international leaders to keep sanctions on Russia “as long as the aggression and occupation continue.” Speaking at the Leaders’ Summit on Support for Ukraine in France, Zelenskyy thanked French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for their commitment, and warned that lifting sanctions now would “be a disaster for diplomacy,” as Moscow continues to reject ceasefire proposals and impose “unrealistic conditions.” “Sanctions are one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks,” Zelenskyy said. “Russia breaks its promises way too often-we can’t take…

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday he hopes that “justice is served” for former President Jair Bolsonaro concerning the coup charges against him. Bolsonaro and seven others have been indicted for an attempted coup after Brazil’s top court accepted charges against the ex-leader and his allies. By a unanimous five to zero vote, the Supreme Court ruled that charges by the prosecution against Bolsonaro warranted a criminal trial. “I only hope that justice is served. If he (Bolsonaro) is found innocent in the proceedings, let him be declared innocent. If he is guilty, let him be punished,”…

Russia and the US are discussing a new agreement as part of efforts to revive the Black Sea Initiative, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday in Moscow. “The outlines of a new agreement are currently under discussion,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated during a briefing, referring to recent Russian-American talks in Riyadh. Following expert consultations between the two sides in the Saudi capital, the Kremlin announced that both countries had agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative. The deal aims to guarantee safe maritime navigation and prevent the use of commercial ships for military purposes. However, Moscow…