Foreign

Mt. Ibu eruption triggers volcanic thunderstorm

JAKARTA – A four-kilometer-high volcanic ash cloud formed by the eruption of Mount Ibu in North Sulawesi triggered flashes of lightning that illuminated the volcano's peak on Saturday, the Mount Ibu observation post reported."The sound of rumbling and roaring was heard up to the Mount Ibu... Read More

Ukrainian president rejects Olympic truce

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

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

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

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

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... Read More

James Webb telescope discovers 2 merging black holes

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

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,... Read More

Israel says aid to enter Gaza by sea within days

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

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

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

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

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

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... Read More

US consumer inflation annually rises 3.4% in April, monthly up 0.3%

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

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... Read More

US charges 2 brothers for stealing $25M worth of crypto in 12 seconds

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

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 has retained the... Read More

UNICEF head concerned about UN staff killed in Gaza

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

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