Author: Anadolu Agency
South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok departed for the US on Tuesday to attend the first round of high-level trade negotiations with Trump administration officials, according to local media reports. Choi and Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun, who are jointly leading the South Korean delegation, will hold talks in Washington, DC with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday, according to Yonhap News Agency Choi said the trade talks will pave the way for renewed discussions on strengthening the South Korea-US alliance. “I will return after opening the door for discussions on…
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the US may have revoked his visa, amid rising tensions between the two countries about migration and diplomatic policies. “I can’t go anymore because I think they took away my visa,” Petro said at a Cabinet meeting at Casa de Narino, the presidential palace in Bogota, according to the EFE news agency on Monday. “I didn’t need a visa, but oh well. I’ve seen Donald Duck several times, so I’m going to see other things,” he added. It came as Petro noted that Colombian Finance Minister German Avila was attending the spring meetings of the…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russia is “afraid of direct negotiations,” as he also confirmed his readiness to meet with US President Donald Trump at the Vatican during the funeral of Pope Francis, according to Ukraine’s state-run news agency Ukrinform. Speaking at a press briefing, Zelensky said: “Maybe they (Russians) are afraid that the Americans will leave the negotiation format, or maybe they are doing it to push them out.” Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine remains open to negotiations only after a full ceasefire, saying: “With an understanding of the term, we are ready for any format of negotiations…
The Catholic cardinals are set to meet Tuesday to discuss Pope Francis’ funeral preparations, local media reported. The first general congregation of cardinals will be held on Tuesday with those already in Rome and the others who have managed to reach there by that time, the state-run ANSA news agency announced, noting that the congregations are the meetings that lead to the conclave and during which subsequent steps will be decided. It added that the body of the pope is expected to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday for the faithful to pay homage. Noting that according to…
Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight were evacuated via emergency slides at Orlando International Airport in Florida, after an engine caught fire as the plane was preparing to take off, NBC News reported on Monday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight 1213 was pushing back from the gate at approximately 11.15 a.m. local time (1515GMT) when flames were observed in the tailpipe of one of the engines. The Airbus A330 was scheduled to fly to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Delta Air Lines confirmed that the plane was at full capacity, carrying 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and…
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday hailed Pakistan’s stance on the Palestinian issue, saying that Pakistan is one of the countries that reacted “most strongly” to the genocide in Gaza. “I would like to once again express that we have always appreciated Pakistan’s firm stance on the Palestinian issue. Pakistan is also one of the countries that reacted most strongly to the genocide in Gaza,” Erdoğan said in a joint news conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Shariff in the capital Ankara. Stating that Pakistan has been supporting the just cause of Palestinians on various platforms, including the UN,…
An investigation by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN has revealed that the Israeli military fabricated the discovery of a tunnel in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, claiming the structure was, in fact, a shallow canal. Last August, the army published photos of an alleged tunnel in the demilitarized area along the border. “There was never a tunnel, but a canal covered in dirt,” KAN said. The purpose of this lie “was to exaggerate the importance of the Philadelphi Corridor and delay a hostage deal,” it added. According to KAN, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant backed the findings, saying,…
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat will pay a two-day visit to Japan on Wednesday with officials from both the government and private sectors to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, sources told Anadolu. The April 23-24 visit aims to carry the deep-rooted friendship between Türkiye and Japan to a higher level in the economic and commercial fields. Within the scope of the visit, which coincides with the 101st anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Bolat will attend the official opening ceremony of the Turkish pavilion for EXPO 2025 Osaka on Wednesday and introduce Türkiye’s cultural and technological vision to…
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will pay a one-day visit to China, an official statement from Beijing said on Tuesday. The trip to Beijing on Wednesday by Araghchi to meet with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, comes amid Iran’s ongoing direct and indirect nuclear negotiations, mediated by Oman, with the US. Foreign Ministry in Beijing said the trip comes at the invitation of Wang. Tehran and Washington have held two rounds of talks, first in the Omani capital Muscat and the second in the Italian capital Rome. The Trump administration has said the two sides “made very good progress,” while…
Ukraine said on Tuesday that at least one person was killed and 23 others were injured in a Russian airstrike on the country’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. “According to updated data, 23 people were injured, including four children, as a result of Russian airstrikes … in Zaporizhzhia,” said a statement by the State Emergency Service. It added that several nine-story buildings and an educational institution were partially destroyed and cars were on fire. Emergency workers extinguished the fire and initiated search and rescue operations. Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov said in a separate statement that all of four children injured were…