Author: Anadolu Agency

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 Maltese prime minister on Tuesday strongly condemned what he called Israel’s “barbarous” attacks on the Gaza Strip. Robert Abela noted that Monday night’s intense strikes on Gaza left more than 300 people, including children and women, dead. “On behalf of the @maltagov I strongly condemn these barbarous attacks,” he wrote on X. Abela added: “I cannot emphasise enough Malta’s plight for peace, in Gaza, Ukraine & beyond.” Within five hours after Israel reneged on ceasefire talks and resumed its genocidal campaign in the enclave, local authorities in Gaza said that over 322 Palestinians had been killed and missing. Israel…

Australia on Tuesday asked Israel to “abide by its obligations” on the Palestinian-besieged enclave of Gaza after Tel Aviv mounted a fresh assault on Palestinians. “Australia urges all parties to respect the terms of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and for it to be implemented in full,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on X. “All civilians must be protected. All parties must abide by international humanitarian law,” she added. Within five hours after Israel reneged on ceasefire talks and resumed its genocidal campaign in the enclave, local authorities in Gaza said that over 322 Palestinians were killed and missing.…

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…

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…

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 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.

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek on Monday had a phone call with Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, to discuss economic relations. Simsek congratulated Bessent on his new position under the Trump administration, Treasury and Finance Ministry sources told Anadolu. Bessent took office in late January. The officials also agreed to meet face-to-face at the first opportunity. They are expected to meet during next month’s annual IMF-World Bank meetings in Washington, DC. During the phone call, which lasted for about a half-hour, they discussed the issue of further deepening economic cooperation between Türkiye and the US.

The US on Monday said South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, must leave the country by Friday, following a decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to declare him persona non grata. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the timeline during a daily press briefing, stating that senior US diplomats had delivered the official notification to South African Embassy staff during an in-person meeting at the State Department. “After Secretary Rubio made his decision (on Friday), our senior-level diplomats convoked the South African Embassy staff for an in-person meeting at the State Department. At this meeting, our officials…

The US said Monday that its approach to Houthi attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea has undergone a “complete shift,” stressing that such assaults are unacceptable and must come to an end. Speaking at a daily press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce contrasted the Trump administration’s response with that of its predecessor, which she said had engaged in a “tit-for-tat dynamic” when responding to Houthi missile strikes. “If the Houthis would be sending missiles or attacking both commercial and military ships, what the previous administration did is they would do one strike as a tit-for-tat…