Author: Anadolu Agency
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani addressed the UN Security Council for the first time Friday and declared the end of the Assad regime. He urged the international community to support the “new Syria.” “I have the honor to address you on this historic day, the day when right before this statement, the flag representing the new Syria, the Syria of freedom and dignity, was raised on the flagpole of the United Nations alongside 193 of our partners in the international community,” said al-Shaibani. Describing the former Bashar Assad regime as responsible for “decades” of atrocities, he said: “The country plunged…
A senior CIA official’s son died last year “while fighting in the conflict in Ukraine,” according to a CIA spokesperson on Friday, NBC reported. Michael Gloss, the 21-year-old son of Juliane Gallina, the CIA’s deputy director for digital innovation, died in the spring of 2024, the spokesperson said. The agency described the death as a “private family matter,” and said Gloss had struggled with mental health issues. The spokesperson said the entire CIA “family is heartbroken for their loss” and emphasized that the case is not considered a national security issue. NBC reported that the Russian media outlet Important Stories…
Illegal Israeli settlers on Saturday cut off water lines to a Palestinian Bedouin community in Jericho, eastern occupied West Bank, an official said. Hassan Mleihat, coordinator of the al-Baydar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, said “a group of Israeli colonists cut water pipelines on Saturday evening that supply drinking water to Palestinian homes in the village of Al-Auja, north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources,” the Wafa news agency reported. In a statement, Mleihat said the illegal settlers “drove provocatively through the area in their vehicles before deliberately cutting pipes that transport water…
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned Saturday of the growing risk of disease outbreaks in Gaza as a result of massive waste accumulation. “The war in Gaza is leading to a significant accumulation of waste, which contributes to the spread of disease,” UNRWA said in a statement. The UN agency said it “continues to provide solid waste collection and transfer services wherever possible.” UNRWA teams have also “cleaned 150 manholes, serving over 23,000 displaced people.” The waste crisis has been exacerbated by Israel’s blockade, which has prevented municipal crews from reaching main dumping sites, often located in Gaza’s…
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington is “very close” to reaching a deal with Japan amid ongoing negotiations concerning US tariffs, The Wall Street Journal reported. Trump’s remarks came as Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s economy minister and lead negotiator in the tariff talks, prepares for a three-day US visit starting Wednesday for a second round of discussions with Washington. Last week, during his visit to the White House as the first foreign trade negotiator hosted by Trump, Akazawa urged the US to reconsider tariffs affecting a range of Japanese exports, particularly from the country’s major automobile industry. “I’m…
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged continued European support for Ukraine, following her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican. After their talks, von der Leyen posted a statement on social media emphasizing Europe’s backing of Ukraine during negotiations. “Europe will always stand by Ukraine in its search for peace. You can count on our support at the negotiating table to achieve a just and lasting peace,” von der Leyen said. She also noted that their discussions touched on Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership, signaling continued European engagement with…
US President Donald Trump said Friday that he will not lower tariffs on China unless they offer something “substantial” in return. “We will not lower tariffs unless China gives us something substantial,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. He called the prospect of a new 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs after the current one “unlikely” and said if efforts to reach a deal are unsuccessful, they will set tariffs in a reasonable way. Claiming that the US lost $5 billion a day under former President Joe Biden and that he brought this figure down, Trump said that…
The Kremlin announced Saturday that Russian forces have completely ousted Ukrainian troops from Russia’s Kursk region. The Kremlin press service released a video showing Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov briefing President Vladimir Putin on the completion of the military operation. “Comrade Supreme Commander, the last settlement in the territory of the Kursk region, the village of Gornal, has been liberated from Ukrainian units today,” Gerasimov said. He added that Ukraine’s attempt to advance fell short of achieving its objectives — forcing Russia to withdraw forces from other fronts and securing territory to leverage in future negotiations. Gerasimov…
The UN is paying “very close attention” to the situation between India and Pakistan, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday. “Obviously, we continue to follow the situation with very deep concern,” Dujarric told reporters. He reiterated condemnation of an attack Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 victims. “We again urge both the governments of India and the Government of Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further,” said Dujarric. Tensions between the two nuclear neighbors rose after unidentified gunmen killed 26 people in Pahalgam, including 25 tourists, mostly Indians, and a local. India described…
The Palestinian Health Ministry announced on Saturday the death of a young man from injuries sustained by Israeli army gunfire. In a statement, the ministry said Ahmad Ibrahim Nassarrah, 32, succumbed to critical wounds he sustained in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, nearly two months ago. Meanwhile, Israeli forces also conducted several overnight raids, injuring two Palestinians, including a child, and arresting four others in different towns across the occupied West Bank. According to the Wafa news agency and the Palestinian Information Center, the raids targeted areas in Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. Separately, in Sinjil, northeast of…