Author: Anadolu Agency

Five suspected militants were Kashmir and two Indian soldiers injured during a military operation in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday. A police official told Anadolu on the condition of anonymity that it is being ascertained whether the deceased are local or foreign militants. He said they were killed after being cornered by government forces comprising soldiers, paramilitary soldiers and police in Kulgam district, which is one of the southern districts where a resurgent popular militancy held sway until 2019, when the Hindu nationalist government scrapped the region’s autonomy and launched a comprehensive crackdown on multiple fronts to curb the decades-old secessionist…

A British lawmaker has urged the government to take stronger action against Israel, calling for a full arms embargo and comprehensive sanctions to stop its attacks on the Gaza Strip. Richard Burgon, an independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds East, told Anadolu that more needs to be done to stop Israel’s attacks on Gaza, as the government’s calls for a cease-fire were not enough. “I think we’ve seen the call for a cease-fire from politicians and governments end up feeling a bit like a ritual, because it’s clear that (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu is not going to listen…

Pakistan on Thursday expressed regret over the latest US sanctions on its ballistic missile program, saying Washington’s biased policies have dangerous implications for the strategic stability of the region and beyond. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the US decision to impose sanctions on the National Development Complex (NDC) and three commercial entities is “unfortunate and biased.” “Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries,” said the ministry. Islamabad’s reaction comes…

A summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation opened in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Thursday, with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The event is also attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The summit, held under the theme “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy,” is scheduled to hold a special session on the situation in Palestine and Lebanon with the participation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The D-8 group was established in Istanbul in 1997 to…

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the country’s overseas territory of Mayotte on Thursday to assess the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido. The storm last weekend left at least 31 dead and thousands homeless in the French archipelago, situated between East Africa and Madagascar, but the toll is feared to rise. Macron flew over the main island by helicopter before arriving at Mayotte’s Central Hospital in the capital Mamoudzou to meet victims and health care workers. Kwezi TV, one of Mayotte’s leading news outlets, reported that as the president entered the facility, a hospital worker shouted: “We want water.” Macron was…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on the international community to enhance its mechanisms to protect human rights in Syria following the fall of Bashar Assad regime. “The Middle East is being consumed by many fires. But today there is a flame of hope in Syria. That flame must not be extinguished. The people of Syria stand at a moment of history-and a moment of opportunity. That opportunity cannot be missed,” Guterres said at a news conference in the UN’s New York headquarters. Describing the Assad regime as “decades of brutal, dictatorial rule,” Guterres expressed solidarity with the people…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday underlined Türkiye’s “very important role” in fostering inclusive dialogue in Syria. “I believe Türkiye, which has been a very clear supporter of the Syrian people and the Syrian resistance in Idlib, has a very important role to play in convincing the key Syrian actors,” Guterres said at a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York.
 He stressed the need to have “an inclusive process of dialogue,” and said: “We need to create the conditions that allow for a permanent cease-fire.” Guterres further noted the need to prevent the presence of the Daesh/ISIS…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday cautioned about the risks of artificial intelligence (AI), urging international action to prevent misuse, particularly in global peace and security. “Artificial Intelligence is not just reshaping our world — it is revolutionizing it. Tasks that required years of human expertise are now completed in a heartbeat. But the risks are equally huge,” Guterres said at a UN Security Council session. He warned that AI’s rapid development is “outpacing our ability to govern it — raising fundamental questions about accountability, equality, safety and security.” “Artificial Intelligence without human oversight would leave the world blind, and…

The U.S. economy grew 3.1% in the third quarter, according to the Commerce Department’s third and final reading that was released Thursday. The GDP growth was revised upwards from the initial estimates of 2.8% and accelerated from 3% in the second quarter. The update showed higher estimates for exports and consumer spending, partially offset by a lower estimate for private inventory investment, the agency said in a statement. Imports, which reduce GDP, were also revised upward. The current dollar GDP increased 5% at an annual rate, or $358.2 billion, in the third quarter to $29.37 trillion, it said. The figure…

The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut the benchmark policy rate by 25 basis points to the range of 4.25%-4.50%, as widely expected. A total of 11 members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted in favor of the decision, while only one member, Beth M. Hammack, dissented, maintaining that rates shoulf be kept unchanged. While the economy continues to grow at a steady pace, labor market conditions have eased. Unemployment, while still low, has ticked up slightly, the bank said in a statement. Inflation has moved closer to the Fed’s 2% target but remains elevated, it also stressed.…