Author: Anadolu Agency

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky summoned on Monday Russian envoy Alexander Zmejevsky over threats to senator Miroslava Nemcova, public broadcaster Radio Prague reported. Lipavskyi said Czechia would not be intimidated, following a “fake post” on social media that called for a blockade of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. Russian news agency TASS said Russia’s investigative committee is looking into the statement. The Czech media outlet said former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called Nemcova an “evil animal” and expressed a wish for him to “perish in the bloody storms of a new Prague Spring.”

The European Commission on Monday said that there is “no justification” behind the potential imposition of US tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, warning such a move would be “unlawful.” “The EU sees no justification for the imposition of tariffs on its exports. We will react to protect the interests of European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified measures,” the commission said in a statement. “In general: The imposition of tariffs would be unlawful and economically counterproductive, especially given the deeply integrated production chains the EU and US established through Transatlantic trade and investment,” it said. It underscored that by…

A background dancer in US rapper Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show was detained after unfurling a Palestinian flag with the words “Gaza” and “Sudan” written on it during the performance, NBC News reported Sunday. According to the report, the man, who was part of a 400-member field cast, was dressed in black like the other performers and concealed the flag until the final moments of the show, the National Football League (NFL) said in a statement. “We commend security for quickly detaining the individual who displayed the flag,” the NFL said, adding that “no one involved with the production…

A large number of British farmers drove their tractors to Parliament in London on Monday to protest a new inheritance tax on family farms that has sparked anger since it was announced last year. They gathered to speak up against proposed changes to inheritance tax laws, which would force them to sell their land, according to the protesting farmers. Plans by the ruling Labour Party to introduce a 20% inheritance tax rate on farms sparked large protests in November and December. Much like previous demonstrations, the farmers entered Westminster honking and holding signs saying “We all need a farmer,” “Food…

After months of calls for him to resign over alleged corruption, the mayor of Albania’s capital was reportedly detained on Monday. According to Albanian Radio Television, Erion Veliaj was detained by National Investigation Bureau teams. Veliaj, detained under an investigation launched by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Corruption and Organized Crime in Tirana, was seen being taken away from Tirana City Hall. He is suspected of corruption, money laundering, and false declaration of assets. Demonstrations demanding Veliaj’s resignation over alleged corruption started in March 2024, and have seen occasional clashes between demonstrators and police.

Türkiye aims to boost its trade relations and mutual investments with Asia-Pacific countries, the president of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) said. Nail Olpak told Anadolu that Türkiye’s trade volume exceeded $8 billion with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan, three countries that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has on his itinerary as he begins his three-day Asia tour Monday. Erdogan’s contacts in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan are expected to move existing cooperation further with more and concrete projects. The Turkish president will co-chair High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meetings in Indonesia and Pakistan with his counterparts there. He is also…

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar received UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday. The two met at the Presidential Office in Nicosia as part of Dicarlo’s trip to the region, including Greece and Türkiye. During the talks, a comprehensive meeting on the Cyprus issue, which is planned to be held next month with the participation of representatives of Türkiye, the TRNC, Greece, the UK and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus was discussed. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tatar said sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people must be…

US President Donald Trump’s remarks on imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports boosted the stock prices of US steel and aluminum manufacturers on Monday. Stocks of US Steel rose 3.54%, Cleveland-Cliffs 12.9%, and Nucor 5.5% as of 1640GMT. The stock price of aluminum producer Alcoa also rose 2.7%. US steel and aluminum imports reached $109.5 billion in 2023, mainly from Canada, China, and Mexico, three countries Trump has threatened with tariffs. Trump said on Sunday that he will announce a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports entering the country on Monday.

North Korea sent thousands of laborers to work in Russia last year in apparent violation of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, South Korea’s spy agency claimed Sunday. Pyongyang is believed to have sent the laborers to various construction sites amid reported workforce shortages in Russia due to Moscow’s war in Ukraine, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) claimed in a report, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News. According to UNSC resolutions in response to North Korea’s weapons tests, the country is banned from sending nationals to work overseas. Moscow and Pyongyang are suspected of using student visas to dispatch North Korean workers,…

Pope Francis asked an aide to complete his speech after having trouble breathing during a Mass he led at the Vatican on Sunday. As part of the Catholic Church’s traditional “Jubilee” year, which occurs every 25 years, the pope has welcomed various professional groups to the Vatican. The pontiff presided over a special service in St. Peter’s Square that was attended by approximately 30,000 military personnel, the majority of whom were from Italian security forces and other countries. Francis, 88, who has been battling bronchitis, had postponed some meetings earlier in the week. He appeared fatigued during the nearly two-hour…