Author: Anadolu Agency
Spain on Wednesday condemned an attack by Israeli settlers on Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal in the occupied West Bank. “I strongly condemn settler violence in the West Bank, particularly in Masafer Yatta and Susya,” Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on social media. “I wish a speedy recovery to film director Hamdan Ballal, a symbol today of the suffering of innocent civilians in Palestine,” he added. Witnesses said Ballal was violently attacked by a group of around 15 armed settlers in his home village of Susya. He was later detained and released by Israeli authorities. Ballal won the…
The UN secretary-general called for collective climate action, warning of increasing climate challenges. Speaking at the 16th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on Wednesday, Antonio Guterres said: “Every country must step up and play their part.” Urging G20, the largest emitters and economies, to do more, Guterres warned of increasing climate challenges, highlighting that they affect the “vulnerable” most with higher living costs. “We are indeed at a turning point to the future,” he underscored, reiterating the need for “urgent action” and “leadership” to meet the long-term 1.5-degree limit. Guterres further affirmed that the United Nations Climate Promise is helping…
Fatih Karahan, governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT), said Wednesday that they will maintain a tight monetary policy stance until a permanent fall in inflation and price stability is achieved. Speaking at the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK) Economy meeting, Karahan stated that the economic and trade relations between Germany and Türkiye contribute to mutual prosperity and growth. Stating that the developments in the markets last week caused value losses in financial assets, Karahan said: “We took swift action to ensure that the volatility in the market is temporary and its reflections on…
Israeli police removed dozens of anti-government protesters Tuesday who were blocking the Knesset in western Jerusalem, following hours of demonstrations that began in the morning. Israeli Army Radio reported that officers cleared protesters who sat on the ground outside the parliament building. Clashes broke out as police evicted demonstrators after they sat on the road to the Knesset entrance, hours after lawmakers approved the 2025 state budget, Channel 13 added. By 1715GMT, police arrested nine protesters, it noted. Earlier, demonstrators used cars to block Knesset entrances, forcing Defense Minister Israel Katz to arrive by military helicopter, while far-right National Security…
Pushing back on possible new tariffs by President Donald Trump over importing oil from Venezuela, Beijing on Tuesday slammed the US’ “illegal” sanctions which “grossly interfere in other nations’ internal affairs,” state media reported. “China firmly opposes the US’ long-term abuse of illegal unilateral sanctions and so-called long-arm jurisdiction,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing. He was responding to questions over Trump’s executive order declaring any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25% tariff on trades with the US. Urging the US to “cease meddling in Venezuela’s domestic affairs,” Guo asked the Trump…
Russian and US delegations held a “detailed and complex but quite useful” meeting in Riyadh on Monday, focusing on the Ukraine conflict and security issues, Grigory Karasin, the co-head of the Russian delegations, said Tuesday. The high-level talks lasted over 12 hours, marking one of the longest discussions between the two sides since their diplomatic dialogue resumed in February. Karasin described the talks as constructive, emphasizing that they covered multiple issues. “The dialogue was detailed and complex but quite useful for both us and the Americans,” he told Russian media, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. “Many problems…
Six people, including three journalists, were killed in a Ukrainian artillery strike on its eastern Luhansk region, Russian authorities said Monday. A correspondent for the daily newspaper Izvestia, Alexander Fedorchak, and two employees of the Zvezda TV channel — cameraman Andrey Panov and driver Alexander Sirkeli — were killed in the strike, the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement. The committee added that it opened a criminal case following the incident. A 14-year-old teenager and a correspondent for the Russian state news agency TASS, Mikhail Skuratov, were also injured, receiving shrapnel wounds. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova strongly…
US President Donald Trump has signaled he is considering imposing a lower tariff rate on “a lot of countries” as he prepares to introduce what he is calling “reciprocal tariffs” on nations worldwide next week. The president continued to bill his looming action as a way to increase American wealth, which he suggested has been stolen by foreign countries. Trump said that imposing the duties would incentivize them to lower their financial barriers, but said his administration may end up charging some countries less than they charge on US exports. “I may give a lot of countries breaks, but it’s…
Two US lawmakers introduced a bill Monday to sanction Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir for “persecution of political opponents,” the Hill reported. Reps. Joe Wilson and Jimmy Panetta introduced the “Pakistan Democracy Act,” which would place sanctions on Munir within 180 days. The legislation accuses Munir of “knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents,” including former Prime Minister Imran Khan. It gives the president the power to drop the sanctions if “military rule has ended in Pakistan and rule of law and civilian-led democracy has been restored” and “all wrongfully detained political detainees have been…
The US Senate on Monday confirmed John Phelan as the next secretary of the Navy. Phelan was confirmed in a 62-30 vote. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, Phelan pledged to work to improve the US Navy by addressing recruitment and retention in the branch as well as increase the Navy’s fleet among other issues. “If confirmed, I will use my business and military charitable work experience to ensure that our Navy and Marine Corps are prepared to meet the moment,” he said.