Day: May 9, 2023

The mountain village of Brienz in the Swiss canton of Graubnden must be completely evacuated due to the threat of a rock slide, local authorities said on Tuesday. In a statement, the authorities said that the evacuation must be done by Friday evening as a rock volume of up to 2 million cubic meters (7.1 million cubic feet) is moving so strongly that it is expected to break off in the next one to three weeks. The rock mass may break off partially or completely, they said, adding that the most likely scenario is numerous rockfalls. A large, fast and far-reaching landslide is much less likely, according to the municipality. However, it cannot be ruled out either. The village is located on the “Rutsch”, an old landslide area that has not calmed down to this day. Measurements showed in 2019 that the village slides one meter per year. From Saturday, residents of the 110-inhabitant village will be allowed temporary entry again during the day, as long as the danger situation permits. All access roads to Brienz are now open only to residents and property owners. On Tuesday evening, the population will be informed in a public information meeting about the details of the evacuation and assistance provided by the municipality.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A leading Syrian opposition figure on Tuesday said the normalization processes with the Damascus regime after its readmittance to the Arab League will not solve Syria’s current problems nor lead to sustainable peace. Dr. Bader Jamous, president of the Syrian Negotiation Commission, spoke at a press conference by the Geneva United Nations journalist association, ACANU, saying a political settlement must have “transitional justice” and “accountability” for those who committed atrocities. “The normalization process with the Syrian regime without achieving a political solution will give the regime political capital and international support, allowing it to continue imposing its control over the Syrian people,” said Jamous. “Therefore, it will be difficult to make any real change in the structure of the Syrian state, achieve transitional justice and realize sustainable peace and stability in Syria.” Jamous said the Syrian regime had not made any meaningful changes and continues to detain opposition members. For this reason, he said a political transition must be the goal. This must include holding accountable those responsible “for war crimes and gross human rights violations” in Syria and “achieving transitional justice” to establish a free and just democratic state. Exacerbate suffering Jamous said the new development on Syria would “strengthen its repressive capacity and help it implement its oppressive policies, thus, exacerbating the suffering and atrocities the Syrian people have been subjected to.” He said communication is continuing with Trkiye, which confirmed to the Syrian Negotiation Commission that a political solution to the Syrian crisis must take place in accordance with UN Resolution 2254 of 2015 on Syria. At a separate press conference at the UN in Geneva, Jennifer Fenton, a spokesperson for the UN Special Envoy on Syria, quoted Geir Pedersen as saying he was aware of the League of Arab State Council’s Foreign Minister-level resolution on May 7. Regional engagement could help unlock progress to move forward the UN-facilitated political process in line with Security Council Resolution 2254 on peace in Syria. “Mr. Pedersen has noted to the Security Council that we’re at an important juncture in the efforts to move the political process, and we have seen renewed diplomatic attention on Syria,” said Fenton. “This renewed attention to Syria is very important if it can act as a circuit breaker and unlock stalled efforts to move the political process forward,” he added. Syria has been mired in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Mexico saw its consumer and producer inflation figures annually slowing down in April, according to figures released Tuesday by national statistics agency INEGI. Annual consumer inflation came in at 6.25% in April, slowing down from the previous month’s level of 6.85%. The market expectation for the figure, however, was to come in at 6.23%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices decreased 0.02% last month, following a 0.27% monthly gain in March. The market estimate for the figure was to show a monthly decline of 0.04%. Annual producer inflation showed an increase of 1.41% in April, also slowing pace from the previous month’s gain of 1.8%. On a monthly basis, producer prices increased 0.2% last month, after a 0.2% monthly gain in March. The Bank of Mexico on March 30 hiked its key interest rate by 25 basis points to a record high of 11.25% — its 15th rate increase since mid-2021. In the last 10 meetings, Mexico’s central bank made a rate hike of 50 basis points six times and 75 basis points four times.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Greek police seized 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine, media reports said Tuesday. Police in the northern port city of Thessaloniki arrested at least nine suspects for alleged links to the drug, according to the state-run AMNA news agency. More than pound 100,000 ($110,000) in cash was confiscated by police, it noted, adding the drug cargo appears to have arrived from a Latin American country in the city via its port.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The US announced an additional security aid totaling $1.2 billion Tuesday to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s ‘special military operation,’ said the Pentagon. “Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new security assistance package to reaffirm the steadfast U.S. support for Ukraine, including to bolster its air defenses and sustain its artillery ammunition needs. “This package, which totals up to $1.2 billion, is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI),” it said in a statement. The package includes additional air defense systems and munitions, equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukraine’s air defense systems, ammunition for counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems, 155mm artillery rounds, and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities. The Pentagon also said the package “underscores the continued U.S. commitment to meeting Ukraine’s most urgent requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities, such as air defense systems and munitions, while also building the capacity of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term.” “The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements,” it added.

Source: Anadolu Agency

At least one person was killed and several others injured after protests broke out across Pakistan against the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday. Khan, 70, was taken into custody by paramilitary troops from the Islamabad High Court for his alleged involvement in a case filed by the anti-corruption body, the National Accountability Bureau. Thousands of Khan’s charged supporters took to the streets in the capital Islamabad, the port city of Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Sialkot, Sargodha, Mardan, Nowshehra, and other cities to protest against his arrest. One person was killed and several were injured in a clash between protesters in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province, local broadcaster Dawn News reported. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claimed the deceased was its worker. There was, however, no official word on the incident. Arrest ‘legal,’ says court In a ruling issued late Tuesday evening, the Islamabad High Court declared Khan’s arrest in the corruption case as “legal.” Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the judgement hours after he reserved the verdict earlier in the day, the state-run Pakistan Television reported. Farooq also issued a contempt of the court notice to Islamabad police chief and interior secretary for “arresting Khan from the court premises.” Protests in several cities In Islamabad, and adjoining Rawalpindi, hundreds of PTI activists blocked the main Kashmir Highway, which suspended traffic on either side of the road. Police arrested over a dozen of PTI workers after the two sides clashed at several points. Islamabad police, in a tweet, said five police personnel were injured in clashes with protesters, while at least 43 PTI activists were arrested. Footage aired on multiple local TV channels showed angry protesters pelting stones on riot police, who, in return, fired teargas shells and used water cannons to disperse them. The government also banned gatherings and protests across Pakistan to avert protests. In Lahore, the country’s second-largest city, protesters gathered outside Khan’s Zaman Park residence and blocked the adjacent roads by burning tires. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Unverified videos circulated on social media showed protesters entering the house of the military commander of Lahore. In the southern port city of Karachi, PTI supporters gathered outside the local party office located along the city’s busiest Shahrah-e-Faisal thoroughfare. Police in the financial capital also arrested two PTI lawmakers. Both tracks of the road near the PTI office were closed to traffic as heavy contingents of police cordoned off the area. Police also hurled teargas shells to disperse the protesters when they tried to block the road. Meanwhile, a group of protesters pelted stones and burned tires at Burns Road, the city’s famous food street, suspending traffic and forcing shopkeepers to pull their shutters downs. At least seven PTI workers and four policemen were injured after the two sides clashed in the northeastern Faisalabad city, according to the local broadcaster GEO News. In the northwestern Landi Kotal town, which borders neighboring Afghanistan, protesters blocked the Pak-Afghan highway at two points, Dawn News reported. In Peshawar, PTI workers stormed the provincial assembly building and broke the main gate. Protesters to be dealt with ‘iron hand’ Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned that protesters will be dealt with an “iron hand” if they take the law into their hands. ‘Strict orders have been issued to the law enforcing agencies to take stern action if protesters try to disturb life,’ he said. According to Sanaullah, Khan and his wife are accused of taking bribes and nearly 500 acres of land for their proposed university in return for releasing £190 million ($239 million) to a property tycoon. The money in question was transferred to Pakistan by the UK after the latter’s National Crime Agency accepted a settlement offer by Pakistan’s property tycoon, Malik Riaz, who was charged with bribery and corruption overseas in December 2019. Difficulty in access to social media and disruption in internet services were observed in Pakistan as protests over the arrest of Khan spread nationwide. Amnesty, EU urge ‘restraint’ The Amnesty International and the EU have urged Pakistani authorities to show “restraint.” “The clashes unfolding between Imran Khan’s supporters and security enforcement following the former prime minister’s arrest risks several human rights violations,” the Amnesty International said in a statement. It also called on authorities to show restraint and to ensure that any response is in line with the “principles of proportionality, legality, necessity and non-discrimination.” An EU spokesperson called for “restraint and cool headedness.” “In the context of Tuesday’s arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the European Union emphasizes that in such difficult and tense times, restraint and cool headedness are needed,” the spokesperson said in a statement. Pakistan’s challenges, said the spokesperson, can only be addressed and its pathway can only be determined by Pakistanis themselves, through “sincere dialogue and in line with the rule of law.” ‘May not get chance to address you again’ Sensing what was coming, Khan, in a video message he released a few hours before his arrest, called on his supporters to come out as ‘freedom is not given on a plate – you have to work hard and struggle for it.’ ‘My fellow Pakistanis, when these words of mine reach you I will already be detained in an unlawful case. After this, you all should realize that fundamental rights, law, and democracy have been buried,’ Khan said. “Maybe it is possible that I won’t get a chance to talk to you again. That’s why I want to talk about two or three things,” he added. This, he said, is being done to force him to accept “this corrupt cabal of crooks imposed on us. They want me to accept them.” ‘I appeal today to everyone that you all have to come out. Freedom is not given on a plate – you have to work hard and struggle for it,’ he concluded. Khan has been charged in a number of cases, which, his party says, are politically motivated, ranging from corruption, terrorism, and rioting, since being ousted from power in a no-confidence vote last April. *Riyaz ul Khaliq contributed to this report from Istanbul.

Source: Anadolu Agency

US President Joe Biden will visit Papua New Guinea later this month when he returns from the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima and the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Sydney, Australia, the White House said Tuesday. The visit will make Biden the first sitting US president to visit the Pacific islands nation. “While in Papua New Guinea, President Biden will meet with Prime Minister Marape of Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Island Forum leaders to follow up on the first-ever U.S.-Pacific Island Summit in Washington, DC last fall,” spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. The two leaders will discuss ways to “deepen cooperation” on some critical challenges, such as combating climate change, protecting maritime resources and advancing resilient and inclusive economic growth, according to the White House. “As a Pacific nation, the United States has deep historical and people-to-people ties with the Pacific Islands, and this visit – the first time a sitting U.S. President has visited a Pacific Island country – further reinforces this critical partnership,” it said.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that the time has come for a ‘positive decision’ on negotiations for Ukraine’s membership in the EU. ‘Our values, security, prosperity and peace on the continent. All this can be realized for Europe 100% only together with Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, during a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who arrived in the capital Kyiv earlier in the day. Zelenskyy said the time has also come for the removal of the ‘artificial political opacity’ in Ukraine-EU relations, further saying that he is counting on the European Commission to present a positive assessment of Ukraine’s progress in European integration. Kyiv officially applied for EU membership on Feb. 28, 2022, four days after the start of the war with Russia that Moscow calls a “special military operation.” The European Commission issued its opinion on the application of Ukraine’s EU membership on June 17 last year, after which the European Council granted Kyiv candidate status. Last December, Ukraine’s parliament adopted several bills recommended by the European Commission to further the country’s EU accession process. Zelenskyy said that Kyiv shows the efficiency of its defense against Russia on a daily basis, further saying that he thanked the EU’s readiness to provide Ukraine with much-needed munitions, which he said amounted to one million artillery rounds. Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine expects the EU to remove all restrictions on the export of agricultural products, adding that he counts on the 11th sanctions package on Russia to also include measures against the country’s nuclear sector. – Kyiv ‘heart of European values’ For her part, von der Leyen said she is honored and privileged to be in Kyiv on the occasion of Europe Day, and also welcomed Ukraine’s decision to name May 9 as such. ‘Kyiv as the capital of Ukraine is the beating heart of today’s European values. Ukraine is at the front line of the defense of everything we Europeans cherish. Our liberty, our democracy, our freedom of thought and speech. Courageously, Ukraine is fighting for the ideals of Europe that we celebrate today,’ she said. Claiming that Russia has destroyed these values in the country, she claimed that Moscow is attempting to do the same in Ukraine, but that it has ‘dramatically failed.’ She further reiterated Europe’s solidarity with Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes,’ adding that further ammunition, financial support and sanctions have been at the agenda of her meeting with Zelenskyy. She added that the European Commission adopted a proposal on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia last Friday, which she said focused on cracking down on sanctions circumvention.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The Russian Representative Office in Ramallah said Tuesday that a Russian national, his wife and child were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. “His two other children, whom are Russian citizens, became orphans,” the office said in a statement. The Russian national was identified as Jamal Khaswan. The Palestinian Health Ministry also confirmed that Khaswan, a dentist and director of Al-Wafa Hospital in Gaza, was killed in the Israeli attacks. There are no exact estimates of the number of Palestinians holding the Russian citizenship. At least 13 Palestinians were killed, including four children and four women, and 20 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on the blockaded territory early Tuesday, according to the Health Ministry.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Azerbaijan on Tuesday condemned what it called a ‘fabricated’ trial of two of its soldiers who were captured by Armenian forces along the border region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. ‘Armenia, which subjects Azerbaijani soldiers to brutal physical torture, also subjects them to moral and psychological suffering through such an artificial trial process,’ said a statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The statement said that Armenia’s ‘irresponsible behavior’ demonstrates Yerevan’s ignorance of its legal responsibilities under international humanitarian law. It also said that Armenia’s steps show its failure to reciprocate ‘the confidence-building measures of Azerbaijan for the immediate and unconditional return of the Armenian prisoners, especially of more than 10 soldiers who were released from capture after they lost their way and crossed the border.’? Accusing Yerevan of ‘undermining confidence-building efforts,’ the statement said: ‘Armenia must stop such provocative actions, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, and should release the hostages immediately.’ The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the international community to ‘exert serious influence and pressure’ on Armenia for the immediate release of the two soldiers. On April 14, the ministry said that Agshin Babirov and Huseyn Akhundov were captured by Armenian forces after going missing due to limited visibility caused by bad weather conditions in the region.? Relations between the two former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions. In the fall of 2020, in 44 days of clashes, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages and settlements from Armenian occupation. The Russian-brokered peace agreement is celebrated as a triumph in Azerbaijan.

Source: Anadolu Agency