Author: Anadolu Agency
The People’s Bank of China slashed its benchmark lending rates by 10 basis points on Tuesday, in line with market forecasts. The one-year loan prime rate, a crucial reference for corporate and household loans, was lowered to 3%, from 3.1%. Similarly, the five-year rate, a key indicator for mortgage rates, was cut to 3.5%, from 3.6%. These cuts marked the first reduction in rates since the central bank’s 25-basis-point cut in October, as the world’s second-largest economy seeks to grow further by a series of efforts. The decision followed the US and China’s decision to lower the mutual tariffs by…
The first production model of South Korea’s homegrown KF-21 fighter jet entered its final assembly phase, local media reported on Tuesday. A ceremony was held at Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.’s headquarters in Sacheon, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) southeast of Seoul, to mark the entry of KF-21 fighter jet into final assembly, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). During the phase, the aircraft will be fully assembled with external and internal components and undergo various performance tests before proceeding to flight testing, DAPA said. South Korea launched the production of a homegrown supersonic fighter in…
Israel is seeking to “ethnically cleanse” Palestinians from Gaza as it expands its invasion of the besieged coastal enclave, Democratic representative Rashida Tlaib said Monday. “Israeli forces have begun a full-scale invasion to ethnically cleanse all Palestinians from Gaza,” Tlaib, the first Palestinian woman to win election to Congress, wrote on X. “War Criminal Netanyahu announced plans to forcibly expel the entire population and permanently occupy the land. This is the final stage of their genocide. World leaders must impose sanctions and a full arms embargo,” she added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier Monday said his forces will take…
France supports reexamining the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel, the French foreign minister told France Inter radio on Tuesday. “I call on the European Commission to carry out this review, to process this request, and to determine whether or not Israel respects this article and its obligations regarding human rights,” Jean-Noel Barrot said, referring to the proposal by the Netherlands to review the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel. Barrot noted that the proposal particularly aims to revise Article 2 of the agreement, which states that both parties must respect human rights. “It is unbearable because blind…
Israel continued to besiege two western towns in Salfit in the northern West Bank for a seventh consecutive day. Palestinians told Anadolu that the army and the illegal settlers have been imposing “collective punishment” on Bruqin and Kafr al-Dik in Salfit since an attack killed an illegal Israeli settler last week. The army has intensified home demolitions and field interrogations of Palestinians in the towns, under the pretext of searching for the assailant. A young Palestinian was killed Saturday by army fire in Bruqin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Witnesses said 14 vehicles belonging to Palestinians were burned Friday…
Acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman was met with raucous jeers from students disgruntled with her handling of pro-Palestinian protests and the Trump administration’s attempts to deport a prominent student activist. “Good morning class of 2025. I know that many of you feel some amount of frustration with me, and I know you feel it with the administration,” she said as a chorus of boos and jeers, which had already forced her to restart her comments at Columbia College’s commencement ceremony, poured out from students. “And I know we have a strong, strong tradition of free speech at this university,…
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East pledged to pressure Israel to resume humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in exchange for the Palestinian group Hamas releasing American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Monday. The commitment by Steve Witkoff was made without Israel’s knowledge during negotiations conducted separately from Tel Aviv, said KAN. Hamas released Alexander last week following talks led by Witkoff. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement from his office that the release occurred “without conditions to Hamas” and was due to Israel’s military pressure and Trump’s diplomatic efforts.…
More than 97,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the Gaza Strip over the past four days, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday, warning that displacement is a “constant” in Gaza. “Humanitarian aid must never be used to influence the movement of people”, the IOM wrote on X. Expressing readiness with partners to assist displaced communities inside Gaza, the UN agency reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire and full, safe, sustained access to operate. Israel has kept all crossings into Gaza closed since March 2, deepening the enclave’s humanitarian crisis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Sunday that…
Israel is seeking to “ethnically cleanse” Palestinians from Gaza as it expands its invasion of the besieged coastal enclave, Democratic representative Rashida Tlaib said Monday. “Israeli forces have begun a full-scale invasion to ethnically cleanse all Palestinians from Gaza,” Tlaib, the first Palestinian woman to win election to Congress, wrote on X. “War Criminal Netanyahu announced plans to forcibly expel the entire population and permanently occupy the land. This is the final stage of their genocide. World leaders must impose sanctions and a full arms embargo,” she added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier Monday said his forces will take…
The French president on Monday reiterated strong opposition against Israeli moves to intensify its offensive in Gaza, saying the level of human suffering in the enclave is “intolerable.” “We firmly oppose the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering is intolerable,” Emmanuel Macron said on X, sharing a joint statement by the UK, Canada, and France against on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. “In the lead-up to the June 18 conference in New York, we must all work toward implementing the two-state solution,” he added. Saudi Arabia and France will host the…