Author: Anadolu Agency
A 6.2 magnitude Richter earthquake struck a group of South Atlantic islands on Wednesday. The earthquake struck at a depth of 77.7 kilometers (48.2 miles) off the South Sandwich Islands, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. There were no reports of casualties or significant damage.
At least two people died, and 22 others were injured in a fireworks-related incident in Hawaii on New Year’s Day, local media reported. Emergency responders, including police, fire, and emergency medical services, are currently at the scene of the accident, which occurred in the Salt Lake-Aliamanu area of Honolulu, according to Hawaii News Now. Police called on the public to stay clear of the area as they work to provide care and maintain security at the scene.
Pope Francis on Wednesday urged world leaders to annul the debt of poorer countries, the official Vatican news agency reported. Speaking after his traditional New Years’ Day Angelus, the pontiff said: “I encourage leaders of nations with Christian traditions to set an example by canceling or significantly reducing the debts of the poorest countries.” No country or people should be crushed by debt, he added. Also touching upon the ongoing wars and conflicts across the world, he said: “Let us pray for an end to all fighting and for a decisive focus on peace and reconciliation. My thoughts go to…
Turkish civil society organizations will hold a demonstration in Istanbul on Jan. 1 in a show of solidarity with Palestine, where Israel continues its brutal attacks. The National Will Platform, comprising 308 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), will gather under the theme of stopping the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands are expected to walk from historic peninsula mosques after early morning prayers to converge at the Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn, to protest. Ibrahim Besinci, head of an NGO, said Israeli attacks continuing in Gaza for 15 months are “exterminating” people in front of the world. “Remaining silent…
US-based Ford Motor Company said Monday that its X account was hacked after posting pro-Palestinian messages. “Our X account was briefly compromised and three posts were made that were not authorized or posted by Ford. They do not represent the views of Ford Motor Company. Ford and X are investigating this breach,” the company said on X. The posts included phrases such as “Free Palestine,” “Israel is a terrorist state” and “ALL EYES ON GAZA,” referencing Israel’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 45,500 people since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct.…
The Pentagon announced Monday that detainee Ridah Bin Saleh Al-Yazidi was repatriated from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Tunisia. “Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi (ISN 038) was determined transfer-eligible by a rigorous interagency review process established by 2009 Executive Order 13492,” it said in a statement. Al-Yazidi, 59, had been at Guantanamo Bay since the day it opened on Jan. 11, 2002 and was reportedly an al-Qaeda operative. Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin notified Congress of his intent to support this repatriation. According to the statement, 26 detainees, 14 of which are eligible for transfer,…
Ukraine said on Tuesday that at least one person was injured due to overnight Russian missile and drone strikes that targeted multiple regions of the country, including the capital Kyiv. Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said on Telegram that debris from downed Russian missiles was recorded over the capital’s Darnytskyi district, resulting in damages to three private buildings and two cars. “No casualties were reported,” Popko further said, calling on Kyiv residents to be attentive to air raid warnings sounded in the capital. Later, the Kyiv Regional Military Administration said on Telegram that a woman…
The US sanctioned a Russian judge Tuesday for the arbitrary detention of activist Alexei Gorinov for comments on the Russia-Ukraine war. The Treasury Department said Olesya Mendeleeva ordered the arbitrary detention of Gorinov — a Moscow city councilor, public defender, and human rights activist. Mendeleeva sentenced Gorinov in July 2022 to seven years in prison for voicing opposition to the war against Ukraine. Gorinov suffered physical abuse and was denied medical treatment while in detention, according to the statement. “Russia’s manipulation of its legal system silences dissent and suffocates the truth about Russia’s indefensible war against Ukraine,” said Acting Under…
The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday its forces had hit a Russian oil depot in the western Smolensk region, setting fire to tanks storing oil products. Ukraine’s general staff said on the Telegram app that the depot was used for military purposes. It did not specify the weapon used for the strike but said it was carried out in cooperation with drone forces. Smolensk region governor Vasily Anokhin said that the attack caused a fuel spill and fire According to his statement on Telegram, 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defences but the wreckage of one of…
Iraq said Tuesday that the country’s border with Iran are “fully secured.” “All shared borders with Iran are fully secured and protected against any smuggling operations or border violations,” Border Guard Commander Lt. Gen. Mohammed Abdul Wahab Sukka said during a meeting with Iranian border guard commanders. He said Iraqi authorities are ready to cooperate with the Iranian border guards “to ensure border protection and facilitate the movement of pilgrims,” according to the state news agency INA. Iranian Border Guard Commander Ahmad Ali Goudarz, for his part, said border forces in the two countries “are working shoulder to shoulder for…