Turkey’s top diplomat tells Blinken Kurdish fighters ‘cannot be allowed’ in Syria

Turkey’s top diplomat tells Blinken Kurdish fighters ‘cannot be allowed’ in Syria

Turkey’s top diplomat on Saturday said Syrian Kurdish fighters essential for the United States in the fight against ISIS cannot be sheltered in Syria, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Blinken that “the PKK/YPG terrorist organization cannot be allowed to take shelter in Syria,” the…

Putin apologizes to Aliyev for Azerbaijan Airlines crash, avoids taking blame

Putin apologizes to Aliyev for Azerbaijan Airlines crash, avoids taking blame

Putin did not claim responsibility for the crash, while apologizing to Aliyev that the incident took place in Russian airspace Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, for a “tragic incident” which happened in Russian airspace involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane that crashed on Wednesday. Putin called Aliyev as speculation…

179 people dead in fiery South Korea airliner crash, investigations on ground

179 people dead in fiery South Korea airliner crash, investigations on ground

179 people were killed when an airliner landed without wheels, veering off the runway and erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Sunday, the national fire agency said. Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok with 181 people on board, was attempting…

Indian state funeral for former PM Manmohan Singh

Indian state funeral for former PM Manmohan Singh

Mourners in India’s capital gathered Saturday to pay their respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalization. Singh, who held office from 2004 to 2014, died at the age of 92 on Thursday, after which seven days of state mourning were declared. His coffin,…

Death toll in Brazil bridge collapse rises to 10

Death toll in Brazil bridge collapse rises to 10

The death toll after a bridge collapse in northern Brazil increased to 10 on Friday, authorities said. The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, which connects the states of Maranhão and Tocantins, collapsed on Sunday, sending vehicles and their occupants plunging into the water below. The Brazilian Navy had been conducting rescues in the area, finding…

US imposes sanctions on Georgian ex-prime minister, billionaire Ivanishvili

US imposes sanctions on Georgian ex-prime minister, billionaire Ivanishvili

The United States on Friday sanctioned Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister widely seen as the country’s de facto leader, saying he was undermining democracy and allowing Russia to benefit. Ivanishvili, who made billions in Russia in metals and telecoms in the 1990s, has spearheaded a turn away from the West in Georgia and…

US, Azerbaijan suggest Russian air defense may have downed Azerbaijani plane

US, Azerbaijan suggest Russian air defense may have downed Azerbaijani plane

Russian air defense systems may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner this week , a US official said Friday after an Azerbaijani minister also suggested the plane was hit by a weapon, citing expert analysis and survivor accounts. Friday’s assessments by Rashan Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby echoed those made by…

Trump could be offered second state visit to UK, Telegraph reports

Trump could be offered second state visit to UK, Telegraph reports

US President-elect Donald Trump could become the first elected politician in modern history to be hosted for two state visits by the British royal family, The Telegraph reported on Friday. Downing Street and the Foreign Office are preparing to offer the incoming US president an invitation once he is back in the White House, the report said,…

Canadian ministers meet Donald Trump aides over tariff risks, immigration

Canadian ministers meet Donald Trump aides over tariff risks, immigration

Canada’s new finance minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly met aides to US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Friday to discuss the risks of imposing new trade tariffs, the Canadian government said. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on imports from Canada when he takes office in January unless the country…

Israel says intercepted missile from Yemen, day after Sanaa hit with strikes

Israel says intercepted missile from Yemen, day after Sanaa hit with strikes

The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen early Saturday, a day after the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa was hit by fresh air strikes. Sirens sounded in areas of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea on Saturday as “a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted… prior to crossing into Israeli territory,” the Israeli military said….

Russia open to discussions with Trump on Ukraine

Russia open to discussions with Trump on Ukraine

Russia does not rule out engaging in dialogue with Donald Trump’s potential future administration regarding a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, but any negotiations must address Moscow’s concerns, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated during a press conference on December 26. “We are always ready for consultations. [we] are open to talks, provided they address…

Europe must be punished, US ignored after hybrid war between West, Russia — Medvedev

Europe must be punished, US ignored after hybrid war between West, Russia — Medvedev

According to the politician, Europe “became the primary stronghold of Russophobia globally,” undermined the Istanbul agreements, initiated the sanctions campaign, and fueled the most extreme war factions without considering the losses suffered by both sides of the conflict. Following the conclusion of the West’s hybrid war against Russia, Europe must be punished, the US –…

Russia to convene UNSC meeting in January to discuss Ukraine’s crimes against civilians

Russia to convene UNSC meeting in January to discuss Ukraine’s crimes against civilians

The report on Ukrainian atrocities in Selidovo will be presented Russia plans to convene in January an informal meeting of UN Security Council members for a discussion focused on Ukrainian crimes against civilians, said Dmitry Polyansky, the country’s first deputy envoy to the UN. “The process of identifying those responsible for the crimes committed by…

Kremlin says will not comment on reports Azeri plane downed by Russian defense

Kremlin says will not comment on reports Azeri plane downed by Russian defense

The Kremlin on Friday declined to comment on an Azerbaijani plane which crashed until a probe had been completed, after reports it was shot at by a Russian air defense missile. “An investigation is underway, and until the conclusions of the investigation, we do not consider we have the right to make any comments and…

South Korean lawmakers impeach President Han Duck-soo

South Korean lawmakers impeach President Han Duck-soo

South Korean lawmakers impeached acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday, finding he “actively participated in the insurrection” after his predecessor declared martial law earlier this month. “I announce that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment motion has passed. Out of the 192 lawmakers who voted, 192 voted to impeach,” said National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik.