BERLIN, Feb 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Germans headed to the polls on Sunday for a critical election, with conservative candidate Friedrich Merz leading the charge after a campaign marred by a rise in far-right sentiment and the dramatic return of former US President Donald Trump to the international stage. Merz, the frontrunner in the race, […]

BANGKOK, Feb 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, issued a public apology on Sunday for the deaths of dozens of Muslim protesters in southern Thailand two decades ago. The incident, known as the “Tak Bai massacre,” occurred when protesters suffocated in military trucks after being detained by security forces. This apology, […]

WASHINGTON, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and prominent advisor to Donald Trump, has announced a new directive for all U.S. federal employees: they must justify their work or face termination. The move came just hours after President Trump urged Musk to be “more aggressive” in cutting government spending. New […]

ISTANBUL, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to visit Turkey on Monday, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. Lavrov’s Visit and Discussions in Ankara During his visit, Lavrov will engage in talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara. […]

MOSCOW, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Sunday that God and fate had entrusted him and the Russian military with the mission to defend Russia. His remarks were made during a ceremony in which he awarded military decorations to servicemen who had fought in Ukraine. Putin’s Speech to Soldiers Speaking […]

JERUSALEM, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – The Israeli army has announced an escalation of military operations in the occupied West Bank, including the deployment of a tank division in Jenin. This marks the first use of tanks in the Palestinian territory since the conclusion of the Second Intifada in 2005. Military Statement and Objectives A […]

VATICAN CITY, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Pope Francis spent his ninth consecutive night in the hospital, with the Vatican confirming on Sunday that his condition remains critical but stable. The 88-year-old Pontiff had suffered a prolonged respiratory attack on Saturday, requiring blood transfusions, sparking concerns over his health. Ongoing Health Concerns On Saturday evening, […]

Jerusalem, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that the army had “evacuated” three refugee camps in the northern occupied West Bank and would remain there for at least a year to prevent residents from returning. “So far, 40,000 Palestinians have evacuated from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, […]

Kyiv, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday urged the United States and Europe to remain united in their efforts to achieve a “lasting and just peace” for Ukraine. His call for solidarity comes on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and amid growing concerns over former […]

London, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – The United Kingdom is set to unveil its most extensive package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, coinciding with the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced on Sunday. “This is also the time to turn the screws on Vladimir Putin’s Russia,” Lammy […]