Foreign
Ukrainian president rejects Olympic truce
May 19, 2024, 11:40 am
PARIS – Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected French leader Emmanuel Macron’s idea of a truce during the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. Zelenzky told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in an interview, that he does not believe in the idea of an Olympic truce as it would "play into the… Read More
Vietnam names new president
May 19, 2024, 11:29 am
ISTANBUL – Vietnam has appointed Minister for Public Security To Lam as the state president, the country's Communist Party announced Saturday. The party's central committee also appointed standing Vice-Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man as the new head of the parliament… Read More
Chaos erupts at US House hearing over 'fake eyelashes' comment
May 18, 2024, 4:05 pm
WASHINGTON – A US House committee meeting erupted into chaos Thursday night after lawmakers started bickering over fake eyelashes. "I don't think you know what we're here for. I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you're reading," Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told Texas Rep.… Read More
Mount Semeru in East Java erupts five times
May 18, 2024, 11:47 am
LUMAJANG – Mount Semeru in East Java erupted five times on Friday, with the volcano spewing ash as high as 900 meters above its peak. Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer Liswanto said in a written statement on Friday that the ash column looked white to gray in color and was moving with… Read More
2 Thai hostages die in Gaza
May 17, 2024, 6:36 pm
ISTANBUL – At least two citizens of Thailand held hostage in Gaza have died, the Southeast Asian nation’s prime minister said. “I am deeply saddened to learn that the two Thai hostages in Gaza ... are now confirmed deceased,” Srettha Thavisin said Thursday night. He identified the victims… Read More
James Webb telescope discovers 2 merging black holes
May 17, 2024, 3:57 pm
ISTANBUL – Astronomers from around the world unveiled Thursday signs of an ongoing merger between two galaxies and their massive black holes at a time when the universe was a mere 740 million years old by using the James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery represents the furthest detection of a… Read More
US Justice Dep’t moves to reclassify marijuana as 'lower-risk' drug
May 17, 2024, 2:10 pm
HOUSTON – The US Justice Department announced Thursday that it is moving to reclassify marijuana as a “lower-risk” drug. Formalizing the new classification of cannabis would remove it from the more dangerous and illegal categories of drugs that include heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, fentanyl and… Read More
Israel says aid to enter Gaza by sea within days
May 17, 2024, 1:01 pm
JERUSALEM – Israel said Thursday that humanitarian aid will begin reaching the Gaza Strip by sea within days. A statement by the army said a floating dock off the Gazan coast, built in cooperation with US Central Command for humanitarian aid, will begin receiving aid sent to the coastal… Read More
Moldova's parliament votes to hold referendum on joining EU
May 17, 2024, 1:00 pm
ISTANBUL – The Moldovan parliament through a vote on Thursday approved the holding of a national referendum on joining the EU and a presidential election on the same date later this year. A statement issued by the parliament said the referendum, scheduled for Oct. 20, will ask citizens if they… Read More
WikiLeaks founder’s wife hopeful for his release
May 17, 2024, 12:57 pm
LONDON – Stella Assange, the wife of Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks website, has expressed optimism over his potential release during a hearing scheduled for Monday in the UK. Speaking to Anadolu this week ahead of the hearing in London, she addressed the challenges her husband… Read More
APEC GDP expands 3.5% in 2023, uncertainties loom large
May 16, 2024, 8:57 pm
JAKARTA – Growth in the 21-member regional economic group Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) rose by 3.5 percent in 2023 from 2.6 percent in 2022, but a moderation is forecast in 2025 and 2026 due to geopolitical uncertainties. This was included in the latest report by the APEC Policy… Read More
Mount Ibu spews volcanic ash nearly five kilometers above peak
May 16, 2024, 8:28 pm
JAKARTA – The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) recorded eruptive activity of volcanic ash soaring up to five kilometers above the peak of Mount Ibu on Halmahera Island, North Maluku, on Thursday. The eruption occurred at 9:58 local time, with thick gray volcanic… Read More
Slovakia’s premier shot, in critical condition
May 16, 2024, 1:57 pm Updated on May 16, 2024, 8:25 pm
GENEVA – Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a “life-threatening condition” after he was shot and injured on Wednesday, his Facebook account said in a statement. "He was shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition," the statement said. Fico was rushed to… Read More
US consumer inflation annually rises 3.4% in April, monthly up 0.3%
May 16, 2024, 1:12 pm
ISTANBUL – Consumer inflation in the United States annually rose 3.4 percent in April, and monthly increased by 0.3 percent, as both figures slowed down from March, according to data released Wednesday. The consumer price index (CPI), which measures changes in the prices of goods and services… Read More
Death toll in Indonesia’s cold lava, floods climbs to 58
May 16, 2024, 11:17 am
ISTANBUL – The death toll from floods and cold lava in Indonesia's West Sumatra province climbed to 58 on Wednesday, the country's disaster management agency said. Up to 35 others are missing as cold lava – a mixture of water and rocks – flows down Mt. Marapi.As many as 33 residents were… Read More
US charges 2 brothers for stealing $25M worth of crypto in 12 seconds
May 16, 2024, 9:08 am
ISTANBUL – The US Justice Department said Wednesday it charged two brothers for stealing USD25 million in cryptocurrency within approximately 12 seconds. Anton Peraire-Bueno, 24, of Boston, and James Pepaire-Bueno, 28, of New York, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud… Read More
Lawrence Wong sworn-in as Singapore's new premier
May 15, 2024, 11:49 pm
ISTANBUL – Lawrence Wong on Wednesday was sworn-in as the new prime minister of Singapore, the first leadership change in 20 years. He was administered the oath of office by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Wong, 51, succeeded Lee Hsien Loong, 72, who is now a senior minister. He… Read More
UNICEF head concerned about UN staff killed in Gaza
May 15, 2024, 10:00 pm
WASHINGTON – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell on Tuesday expressed concern about the killing of a UN staff member in the Gaza Strip. "We are reminded every day of the dangers humanitarian workers continue to face in Gaza. Yesterday, a UN colleague was… Read More
Sun releases most powerful flare in nearly a decade
May 15, 2024, 9:00 pm
ANKARA – The sun launched its largest solar flare in seven years on Tuesday, an American scientific and regulatory agency said. The flare is the 17th largest solar flare ever recorded, the Space Weather Prediction Center, affiliated with the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric… Read More
Death toll from South African building collapse rises to 27
May 14, 2024, 3:19 pm
JOHANNESBURG – The death toll from last week’s multistory building collapse in South Africa's coastal city of George has risen to 27, with another 25 people still missing, according to an official statement. The building under construction collapsed last Monday, trapping at least 81… Read More
