Author: Anadolu Agency
Some 1,200 US and South Korean troops are participating in a large-scale battle command drill aimed at strengthening their combined readiness against North Korean “military threats,” South Korea’s army said Wednesday. The five-day exercise, running through Thursday, is being held at training facilities in Incheon, west of the capital Seoul, and the border town of Paju, Yonhap News reported. Troops from various units, including the 17th Infantry Division, the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense Command, and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the US 2nd Infantry Division/Korean-US Combined Division, are taking part in the drill. The exercise features computer-simulated drills,…
The World Meteorological Organization reported that in addition to 2024 setting a new heat record for hottest year, the past decade from 2015 to 2024 marked the warmest period on record. In its latest report, the organization highlighted that the effects of climate change have rapidly intensified over the past decade, with 2024 seeing global temperatures increase by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era from 1850-1900. “The annually averaged global mean near-surface temperature in 2024 was 1.55 °C ± 0.13 °C above the 1850-1900 average. This is the warmest year in the 175-year observational record, beating the…
Syria’s Defense Ministry said Monday that it has reached an agreement with its Lebanese counterpart to implement a ceasefire along the border and enhance coordination and cooperation. The ministry’s statement was reported by Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, citing its media office. The announcement came after Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met in Brussels on Monday, agreeing to maintain communications “to uphold both countries’ sovereignty and prevent further deterioration along the border.” Syria’s Defense Ministry confirmed that the agreement includes a ceasefire and increased cooperation but provided no further details. The announcement followed escalating…
The Swiss Foreign Ministry on Tuesday urged a return to the ceasefire in Gaza following the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that killed hundreds of Palestinians. “Switzerland calls for an immediate return to the ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid,” the ministry said on X. “It recalls the obligation to protect the civilian population,” it added. Within five hours after Israel reneged on ceasefire talks and resumed its genocidal campaign in the enclave, local authorities in Gaza said that at least 326 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed. Israel had agreed on a…
The Venezuelan government has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to exercise caution when traveling to or through the US due to escalating risks and adverse conditions. In a statement released Monday, the Foreign Ministry highlighted the recent increase in arbitrary immigration measures and harassment targeting Venezuelans. The advisory detailed instances of unjustified detentions, deportations, property confiscations, and discriminatory treatment by US authorities. It also called on the international community to remain alert to practices that undermine human dignity and international law. US President Donald Trump had previously reactivated the wartime act to expedite the deportation of migrants linked…
The Norwegian prime minister on Tuesday denounced the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that killed hundreds of Palestinians, including children and women. “For the people in Gaza, this is a great tragedy. They are almost without protection. Many of them live in tents and the ruins of what has been destroyed,” the Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told public broadcaster NRK. Store urged the international community to call for an end to bombing of areas with unprotected people. “There is reason to believe that Israel has the green light, and they also have weapons to do this, and they also…
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced that another enlargement meeting on Cyprus will be held at the end of July. Guterres’ remarks came in a media stakeout after the informal meeting of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders, along with representatives from the three guarantor states-Türkiye, Greece, and the UK-under the auspices of the UN. He said that discussions were held in a “constructive atmosphere, with both sides showing clear commitment to making progress and continuing dialog.” He highlighted several trust-building initiatives agreed upon by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot administration…
Indonesia on Tuesday called on the UN Security Council and the international community to take action against Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza and to restore the ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties. In a statement on X, the Foreign Ministry said that Jakarta the attacks constitute “a series of Israeli’s continued provocations that threaten the ceasefire and undermine prospects for a peaceful negotiation toward a Two-State Solution.” This came after Israel launched a new wave of devastating airstrikes that have killed more than 400 Palestinians, including many women and children. Jakarta also said that stopping “Israel’s illegal occupation is the…
US-based credit agency Fitch lowered its global GDP growth forecast to 2.3% for 2025 on Tuesday, down 0.3 percentage points. “The new US administration has started a global trade war that will reduce US and world growth, push up US inflation and delay Federal Reserve rate cuts,” Fitch said. “These rates are well below trend and down from almost 3% annual growth in 2023 and 2024,” it said. “Fiscal easing in China and Germany will cushion the impact of higher US import tariffs, but growth in the eurozone this year will still be a lot weaker than forecast in the…
The Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that a Mi-28 helicopter crashed in the Leningrad region, killing the crew. “On March 18, 2025, during a planned training flight, a Mi-28 helicopter crashed in the airspace over the Leningrad region. The aircraft went down in an uninhabited area, far from populated zones. The crew did not survive,” the ministry said in a statement. It noted that the helicopter was not carrying ammunition. “A search and rescue team has arrived at the site, and a commission from the Aerospace Forces has been dispatched to investigate,” it added.