Author: Anadolu Agency

Türkiye is set to take center stage in global diplomacy this Thursday as it prepares to host the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in over three years. Expectations for a potential breakthrough are particularly high due to the possibility of a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The global spotlight is also shining brightly on Istanbul because of Donald Trump’s vocal support for the idea, with the US president-currently on a tour of Gulf states-hinting he could travel to Türkiye if a Putin-Zelenskyy summit materializes. The meeting, which would be…

The US State Department approved the potential sale of missiles and related elements to Türkiye, the Pentagon said Wednesday. The estimated cost is $304 million, it added. It includes AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles and AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles. The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arizona, the Pentagon said. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification, notifying Congress of this possible sale on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday praised President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his efforts in promoting peace in South Asia after Islamabad’s military standoff with India. “I was profoundly touched by my dear brother, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his strong expression of support and unwavering solidarity with Pakistan,” Sharif wrote on X. Pakistan, he added, is proud of its “long-standing, time-tested, and abiding” fraternal ties with Türkiye that have “grown stronger with each new challenge.” “I am particularly grateful for His Excellency’s (Erdoğan) constructive role and concerted efforts in promoting peace in South Asia,” said Sharif. “May the…

The United Nations on Tuesday welcomed Türkiye’s efforts to reach a lasting peace in the Ukraine-Russia war, as the country prepares to host talks on Thursday. In response to Anadolu Agency’s (AA) question on the U.N.’s expectations from the new round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks that is expected Thursday in Istanbul, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference that the U.N. “always appreciates the role that Türkiye has played in trying to bring an end to this conflict.” “Our position remains the same, that we want to see an end to the conflict in line with the relevant UN…

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Humain, a Saudi state-run company, on Tuesday announced a more than $5 billion joint investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The two companies plan to invest in a strategic partnership to build a groundbreaking “AI Zone” in Saudi Arabia. “This first-of-a-kind AI Zone will bring together multiple innovative capabilities, including dedicated AWS AI infrastructure and servers with world-class semiconductors, UltraCluster networks for faster AI training and inference, AWS services like SageMaker and Bedrock, and AI application services such as Amazon Q to advance Saudi Arabia’s mission to be a world leader in AI,” Amazon said…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged member states Tuesday to bolster their support for international peacekeeping operations, highlighting a critical funding shortfall that endangers these vital missions. “Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical,” Guterres said at an international meeting in Berlin aimed at securing pledges for UN peacekeeping operations. “Unfortunately, peacekeeping operations have been facing serious liquidity problems. It is absolutely essential that all member states respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time,” he said. Guterres also underlined that peace operations require…

COVID-19 cases continue to surge across Taiwan, with nearly 10,000 seeking medical care last week, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday, Focus Taiwan reported. On May 4-10, Taiwan saw 9,978 outpatient and emergency visits related to COVID-19, a 66% increase from the previous week. According to the CDC, this marks the fifth consecutive week of rising cases. Despite the increase, the weekly case count remained lower than the 23,324 visits recorded during the same period last year, as stated by Lee Chia-lin, the deputy director of the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Center, during a regular news briefing. Lee also…

Europe has to drastically increase its defence spending, former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday. Military expenditure should be raised to 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) or more, he said at the start of a democracy summit in Copenhagen. NATO countries in Europe spend significantly less on defence, which US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized. The two-day summit, which Rasmussen helped to organize, is taking place for the eighth time in the Danish capital. Among the speakers this year are the EU’s foreign affairs representative, Kaja Kallas, and former British prime minister David Cameron. In…

The UN human rights chief on Tuesday voiced “deep concern” over the deportation of large numbers of non-nationals from the US, particularly those sent to countries other than their own, warning the practice may breach international human rights standards. Between Jan. 20 and April 29, 142,000 individuals were deported from the US, according to official data. Among them, at least 245 Venezuelans and around 30 Salvadorans were removed to El Salvador, where many are believed to be held in the notorious maximum-security prison, CECOT. “This situation raises serious concerns regarding a wide array of rights that are fundamental to both…

The United Arab Emirates presents growing investment opportunities for Turkish companies, with Dubai serving as a critical launch point for regional expansion, the head of the Turkish Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates said at a networking event, marking the council’s 21st anniversary. The event brought together Turkish businesspeople based in the UAE and was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Abu Dhabi Lutfullah Goktas. The council, a UAE-based non-profit, aims to connect Turkish entrepreneurs with broader commercial networks across the country. Council President Kanat Kutluk told Anadolu that the Turkish population in the UAE had surged from 10,000 five…