Author name: fatih

UK: Starmer condemns far-right riots

World /

The British Prime Minister has condemned the riots that have erupted across the country in response to a knife attack that resulted in the deaths of three children. In a statement, Keir Starmer vowed that his government would use all available resources to hold the rioters accountable, condemning the violence: “There is no justification for this action. All right-thinking people should denounce this kind of violence. I will not hesitate to call it what it is: far-right thuggery.” His remarks came as police in Rotherham struggled to manage a crowd of rioters attempting to storm a hotel housing asylum seekers. The unrest follows a stabbing at a dance class last week, which killed three girls and left several others injured.

UK: Starmer condemns far-right riots Read More »

873 detained in Nigeria cost-of-living protests

Africa /

The number of people detained in ongoing protests against rising living costs in Nigeria has increased to 873 following the removal of gasoline subsidies. Nigerian Police Spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi explained to reporters that there is a distinction between protests and riots. He noted that the 873 detainees are considered “rebellious individuals” who committed offenses during the nationwide protests that began on August 1. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a national address on August 4, called for an end to the protests and urged demonstrators to choose dialogue. However, protesters continue their actions, claiming their demands have not been met. At least 17 people have died in the violence that erupted from the protests, with dozens injured and numerous buildings set on fire. Some states have imposed curfews due to the violence. Civil society organizations announced plans for a 10-day nationwide protest starting from August 1 in response to the removal of the gasoline subsidy. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lifted the gasoline subsidy on May 29, 2023, leading to a sharp increase in fuel prices. The price of fuel, which was 185 naira ($0.24) per liter, surged to 620 naira ($0.82), contributing to the rising cost of living.

873 detained in Nigeria cost-of-living protests Read More »

UN: Nuclear weapons represent ‘real and present danger

World /

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday of the clear and present danger of nuclear weapons. “Nuclear weapons, and the threat of their use, are not confined to history books. They have once again appeared in the daily rhetoric of international relations,” Guterres said in a message to mark the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima by the US. “They represent a real and present danger that remains with us today,” he added. The Aug. 6, 1945 bombing of Hiroshima during World War II left an estimated 140,000 people dead by the end of the year, while an atomic bomb dropped on the city of Nagasaki three days later killed an estimated 74,000 people. “The lessons of Hiroshima, which once guided our collective efforts towards disarmament and peace, have been pushed aside,” Guterres said. While “some are recklessly rattling the nuclear saber once more,” he stressed that the UN endeavors to keep alive the lessons of 1945. He called on the world to stand together to condemn “this unacceptable behavior” and find new solutions to bring disarmament to life. “We will never forget the lessons of 6 August 1945. No more Hiroshimas. No more Nagasakis,” he added.

UN: Nuclear weapons represent ‘real and present danger Read More »

Turkey, Somalia discuss cooperation in diplomatic training

Africa /

 Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi met with Mesut Ozcan, the director of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, in the capital Mogadishu late Monday. The two sides discussed enhancing cooperation in the critical areas of diplomatic training and expanding the knowledge base for diplomats. A statement issued by the Somali Foreign Ministry after the meeting said the discussions also delved into fortifying the relationship between the Turkish academy and the Somali Diplomatic Institute, with a “view to elevating the partnership and fostering a robust exchange of experiences and best practices.” It said Fiqi expressed profound gratitude to Türkiye for its steadfast support to Somalia. Ankara has trained more than 80 Somali diplomats over the past 15 years, according to the ministry’s statement. Somalia and Turkey developed their close friendship in 2011 after Turkish President (then Prime Minister) Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to the country – the first non-African leader to do so in over 20 years. Turkey has strong historical ties with Somalia on the principle of “win-win” relations, including more than 150 development aid projects carried out by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) since 2011. Turkey also has its largest embassy in Africa in Mogadishu and built its largest overseas military facility there to train the Somali National Army.

Turkey, Somalia discuss cooperation in diplomatic training Read More »

Joint efforts by Egypt and Turkey to address Gaza crisis

World /

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan discussed efforts to prevent the ongoing conflict in Gaza from escalating into a broader regional war during a joint news conference in Cairo on Monday. The ministers addressed strategies to ease regional tensions, particularly those resulting from the Israel-Hamas conflict. Badr Abdelatty condemned assassination tactics, violations of sovereignty, and the worsening of regional conflicts, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to prevent a full-scale regional war. Their discussion also covered the crises in Gaza, Libya, Sudan, the unrest in the Red Sea, and the issues in Yemen. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that Turkey is closely monitoring Israel’s case at the International Court of Justice and plans to file its application on Wednesday. He highlighted Turkey’s stance that establishing a Palestinian state is crucial for peace in the Middle East and criticized Israel for undermining peace efforts. Both Egypt and Turkey are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and have condemned recent fatalities, including the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Fidan also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, marking a significant step toward improving relations between Turkey and Egypt after years of diplomatic tension. Diplomatic relations between Ankara and Cairo had been strained for nearly a decade, primarily due to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s support for Egypt’s former Islamist leader, Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted by the military in 2013. In recent years, Turkey has adjusted its position to rebuild ties with el-Sissi’s administration.

Joint efforts by Egypt and Turkey to address Gaza crisis Read More »

Mali cuts diplomatic relations with Ukraine after terrorist attack

Africa /

Mali announced Sunday that it is cutting off diplomatic relations with Ukraine following an admission of Ukrainian involvement in a recent deadly terrorist attack in the West African country. “The transitional government of the Republic of Mali has learned, with deep shock, of the subversive remarks by which Mr. Andriy Yusov, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, has admitted Ukraine’s involvement in a cowardly, treacherous and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups which resulted in the deaths of elements of the Malian defense and security forces in Tinzaouaten, as well as material damage,” said government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga in a statement. The Malian army admitted on Monday a high death toll following clashes in Tinzaouaten in the north of the country, while the Russian-affiliated Wagner Group supporting the Malian army had confirmed Russian losses and the death of a commander following heavy fighting there. The comments were reinforced by Yurii Pyvovarov, Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal, who openly and unequivocally displayed his country’s support for international terrorism, particularly in Mali, according to Maiga. Maiga said Ukrainian officials have done worse by announcing that there are “more results to come.” “These extremely serious accusations, which have not been denied, show the Ukrainian government’s official support for terrorism in Africa, in the Sahel, and more specifically in Mali,” he declared. The remarks by Yusov and Pyvovarov “constitute acts of terrorism and an apology for terrorism,” he added. The Malian government has therefore decided to break off diplomatic relations immediately, to refer the matter to the competent judicial authorities, and to take the necessary measures to prevent any destabilization of Mali from African states, in particular from Ukrainian embassies in the sub-region, by terrorists disguised as diplomats, and to formally alert regional and international bodies as well as states that support Ukraine to the fact that this country has openly and publicly displayed its support for terrorism. Mali considers support for Ukraine “as support for international terrorism” and an aggression which is part of “the broader pattern of certain actors who actively support and instrumentalize terrorist groups in the region.”

Mali cuts diplomatic relations with Ukraine after terrorist attack Read More »

Death toll from suicide bombing at Somalia beach rises to 37

Africa /

The death toll from a suicide bombing late last week on a crowded beach in the Lido area of the Somali capital Mogadishu rose to 37 on Sunday. “As of now, the number of people killed in the heinous attack stands at 37, while nearly 70 others were wounded,” said Ahmed Abdi, a police officer in Mogadishu who spoke by phone to Anadolu. He said an investigation into the attack is underway, while the government has named a ministerial committee tasked with coordinating the emergency response and support for the wounded. Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who visited Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in the capital, said security officials and soldiers in charge of the area where the attack took place were arrested due to negligence. “Rest assured, we are taking strict action against those responsible,” Barre said in a brief statement on X. Barre did not elaborate further on how many soldiers and officials were arrested. Lido Beach is frequented by civilians, security officials and businesspeople. The Al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. The blast was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks so far this year in Somalia, which has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS terror groups. Since 2007, al-Shabaab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) — a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council. Al-Shabaab has stepped up attacks since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an “all-out war” on the group.

Death toll from suicide bombing at Somalia beach rises to 37 Read More »

Zambia starts importing 218 megawatts of power from South Africa

Africa /

Zambia has started importing 218 megawatts of power from South Africa during off-peak hours through the country’s Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM). Matongo Maumbi, a spokesman for the state-owned power utility Zesco, told state television Sunday that the imports commenced on Aug. 1, with an aim to cushion the power deficit facing the country. Africa’s second-largest copper producer is also importing electricity from Mozambique. “The imports have enabled Zesco to reach stabilization levels as the demand for power keeps increasing. This means we can now supply power to critical installations such as hospitals, mines and other industries,” said Maumbi. Following a drought in the 2023-24 rainy season, Zambia has lost 1,000 megawatts of power generation, causing consumers to face an average daily routine of 12 hours of rolling blackouts. Maumbi said that Zesco had also procured generators to support public installations. “So far, 22 generators have been procured and are expected to be in the country within the month. These generators will be installed in public institutions such as hospitals, market areas, and those difficult to isolate from the national grid when loadshedded,” he added.

Zambia starts importing 218 megawatts of power from South Africa Read More »

G7: Heightened tensions in Middle East risk broader regional conflict

World /

 Heightened tensions in the Middle East risk a broader regional conflict, foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations warned Sunday.  “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union express our deep concern at the heightened level of tension in the Middle East, which threatens to ignite a broader conflict in the region,” their joint statement said. Urging all involved parties to refrain from “perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to lower tensions and engage constructively toward de-escalation,” they said that “no country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.” Commenting on the video conference by the G7 ministers, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who presided over it, said on X that “we called for a de-escalation and to end all violence.” Tajani said the countries also reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and to humanitarian assistance to the besieged Palestinian enclave, adding “our priority is to restore peace in the Middle East.” Tensions have escalated between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel since Tel Aviv assassinated the group’s senior military commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike on a suburb of Beirut on July 30. Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran the following day in an attack blamed on Israel, although Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied its responsibility. Hamas and Iran have vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh’s assassination, while Hezbollah has pledged to respond to Shukr’s killing. Fears have grown over a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire. The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed nearly 39,600 people since last October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

G7: Heightened tensions in Middle East risk broader regional conflict Read More »

Ethiopians held by human traffickers in South Africa have been rescued

Africa /

In South Africa, 90 Ethiopian irregular migrants held by human traffickers were rescued by the police. According to a statement from South African police, the operation in a building in Johannesburg, aimed at freeing Ethiopians kidnapped for ransom, led to the rescue of these 90 individuals. They were found “locked in rooms under inhumane conditions” and were transferred to hospitals for medical care. Two suspects believed to be human traffickers were arrested at the scene.

Ethiopians held by human traffickers in South Africa have been rescued Read More »

Scroll to Top