Author: Anadolu Agency

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that Norway will allocate NOK 5 billion ($455 million) in 2025 for the purchase of artillery ammunition for Ukraine, reinforcing its ongoing military support amid the war with Russia. According to the ministry, NOK 4 billion ($367.4 million) will be funneled through a Czech-led initiative, while the remaining NOK 1 billion will be provided via the European Peace Fund. “We are grateful to Norway for its unwavering support! Artillery ammunition is one of the key needs for the Ukrainian army,” the ministry said in a statement on X. The aid reflects continued European backing…

China requested dispute consultations from the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the US reciprocity-based tariffs, according to a statement Tuesday by the Geneva-based group. “China has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States concerning US measures which it says impose a 10% additional duty on imports from all trading partners effective 5 April, and a 34% additional duty on imports from China that will become effective on 9 April,” it said. China is arguing that the measures contravene the US’ obligations under various provisions of the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the Agreement on Customs Valuation and…

The Kremlin on Monday said that multiple questions regarding the ceasefire deal in Ukraine are “hanging in the air” and need answers. Last month, the US brokered two agreements between Russia and Ukraine-one to “ensure safe navigation” in the Black Sea and another for a 30-day halt on attacks targeting energy infrastructure-which took effect following talks in Saudi Arabia. Despite the agreements, both sides have frequently accused each other of violating the pause on energy-related strikes. “(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin does support the idea of a ceasefire. But before that happens, a whole series of questions need to be answered.…

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Monday called on the EU to take concrete steps to prevent a global tariff war and instead launch meaningful trade negotiations with both the US and China, as President Donald Trump refuses to back down from tariffs despite growing fears of a global recession. In a statement shared on social media, Szijjarto said Hungary’s economy is reliant on exports. “Exports play a major role in Hungary’s economy. Thanks to the expertise and dedication of Hungarian workers, our export performance far exceeds what one would expect based on our population size. So it’s clear that…

Data breaches worldwide cost nearly $4.5 million on average but the indirect consequences, such as loss of reputation and customer trust, as well as regulatory fines, paint a grimmer picture, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), making data security paramount. Senad Aruc, founder and CEO of Netherlands-based security operations (SecOps) firm Imperum, said that data security has become a key issue for not only individuals but also institutions and countries. Aruc, speaking to Anadolu on the occasion of Türkiye’s Personal Data Protection Day on Monday, highlighted that no country is exempt from the risks when it comes to…

Russia on Monday claimed that Ukrainian forces carried out six attacks on its energy facilities over the past 24 hours, saying the assaults violate a US-brokered agreement to halt such strikes for 30 days beginning March 18. “The Kyiv regime, in violation of Russian-American agreements, continues daily unilateral attacks on Russian energy infrastructure,” a Russian Defense Ministry statement said. In the southern Rostov region, two drone strikes on Sunday disrupted high-voltage lines, leaving approximately 1,000 households in the Myasnikovsky district without power, the ministry said. Another drone strike in Voronezh damaged wires on a power facility, cutting electricity to homes…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday pledged that any trade deal with the US will be signed only if it is in the UK’s “national interest,” as he warned about the significant challenges posed by President Trump’s tariffs. Starmer said that the new import taxes, which include a 10% “baseline” import duty and a 25% tariff on British cars, would pose a “huge challenge for our future.” “We will only strike a deal if it’s in the national interest,” said Starmer, adding that his priority was “strength abroad, security and renewal at home.” The UK government is seeking to…

The UN agencies on Monday raised alarm over unprecedented global aid cuts that are endangering critical progress in reducing maternal deaths. According to a new report released on World Health Day, an estimated 260,000 women died in 2023 from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth-roughly one every two minutes. The Trends in maternal mortality report, which was produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) on behalf of the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group and the Population Division, showed a 40% global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023, largely due…

The EU should consider postponing counter tariffs on US imports of aluminum and steel due to come into effect on April 9, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Monday. “We could think about postponing them to April 30, but we certainly don’t oppose them,” Tajani said. “We will support EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovi, this is clear. Let’s see if we can postpone them by a few weeks to have more time for dialogue.” Tajani’s comments came after warnings by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and other prominent members of the Italian government against the imposition of retaliatory tariffs on the…

The UN peacekeeping chief on Monday called for urgent reforms in the face of emerging threats, and told the Security Council that peacekeeping operations must evolve to remain effective. “Our future monitoring efforts will need to address threats that extend beyond the traditional physical domains. Influence operations, cyberattacks and other hybrid threats challenge our conventional models and demand fresh, innovative approaches,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, under-secretary-general for peace operations. Lacroix emphasized that effective ceasefire monitoring still depends on strict adherence to core principles: Consent, impartiality and non-use of force. He said peacekeepers must be “perceived as credible and unbiased observers who…