Day: June 1, 2021

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – Gunmen riding motorcycles on Tuesday opened indiscriminate fire on the car of former Ugandan Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala on the outskirts of the capital Kampala, killing his daughter and driver, and injuring the former army general.

Flavia Byekwaso, an army spokeswoman, said in a statement that Wamala, who was the minister until last month, was attacked by armed men in Bukoto as he left his home for duty along with his daughter Benda Nanyonjo and driver Haruna Kayondo.

“I have been informed that Katumba Wamala has been shot at by armed thugs. Those who shot at him were on two motorcycles. His driver and daughter have been killed in the shooting,” Byekwaso said.

She said he was rushed to hospital, adding the army and other security agencies will do their best to get those involved arrested and brought to book.

Witnesses told Anadolu Agency the gunmen on two motorcycles shot many times at Wamala’s vehicle. They said Wamala was taken to hospital on a motorcycle.

Moments before the shooting, Wamala wrote on Twitter: “I wish you a month of Happiness, Success, Peace, Prosperity, Good Health, and Wealth. Remember to social distance, sanitize, and wash your hands regularly.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

NEVSEHIR, Turkey (AA) – Spanish travel agents visiting and exploring Cappadocia, one of the leading tourist destinations of Turkey, said they will contribute to the tourism potential of the region by acting as voluntary promotion ambassadors of Turkey in their countries.

Tourism sector representatives rolled up sleeves to promote tourism in Turkey and invited representatives of the leading travel agencies of Spain to discover the historical, cultural and natural beauties of Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Kusadasi.

Visiting historical churches, chapels, monasteries and museums as well as the widely-popular chimneys and valleys covered with natural rock formations in Cappadocia, the Spanish delegation comprising 40 people admired the region.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Maria Jose Usero Vladivia, a travel agency owner in Spain, said Turkey’s COVID-19 measures are top-notch, adding that those making vacation plans are enthusiastic about traveling to Turkey.

“The measures taken in Turkey against COVID-19 are very good. …We convey this safe environment to our people and our collaborators in the field of tourism,” Vladivia added.

Another travel agent, Miguel Angel Crespo, said their visit to Turkey was not only to bring Spanish tourists but all European travel enthusiasts.

“We will recommend Turkey to our colleagues and our people,” he said, adding: “The truth is that Turkey is a very safe travel destination for travel enthusiasts. Turkey is a very beautiful country. I believe that Turkey’s most important jewel is Cappadocia.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

GENEVA (AA) – A UN human rights expert condemned on Tuesday attacks on Israel’s Palestinian minority by extreme right-wing and vigilante groups, including settlers.

UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes said at times the attacks are made with the reported backing of Israeli security forces.

He urged Israel to fully protect all its citizens without discrimination.

“Reports of extreme right-wing violence and disproportional use of force by law enforcement officials … have led to some of the worst cases of violence against Palestinian citizens of Israel,” de Varennes said in a statement.

Palestinian citizens in Israel, including the Bedouin, constitute an Arab minority representing about 1.5 million, or 20% of the population and face discrimination in many areas, he said.

“These attacks have been shared on social media, and such platforms appear to have been used by extreme right-wing groups to advocate hatred that constitutes incitement to violence with impunity to gather people to bring their weapons and attack Palestinians,” said de Varennes.

Decades-long exclusion and discrimination, including segregation between Arab and Jewish citizens and a lack of equal treatment in terms of rights and privileges, has taken a heavy toll on the Palestinian minority, according to the UN expert.

The absence of protection and bomb shelters in the Bedouin villages in Naqab has increased insecurity of the Bedouin minority, he said.

“Given the urgency of the situation, I call on the Government of Israel to firmly condemn all acts of violence, hatred, and discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel,” said de Varennes.

He said Israeli authorities must ensure its citizens immediately stop attacks and that everyone is fully and equally protected without any form of discrimination.

De Varennes said police accused of failing to protect all residents and citizens without discrimination must be investigated.

His statement was endorsed by Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, special rapporteur on the right to peaceful assembly and association, and Michael Lynk, special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territory.

Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan tennis player Naomi Osaka announced Monday that she has withdrawn from the French Open, citing depression and anxiety.

“Hey everyone, this isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago. I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” Osaka said on Twitter.

“I never wanted to be a distraction. I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly,” she added

Osaka also revealed that she had suffered bouts of depression since clinching her first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2018, adding she has had a really hard time coping with that.

“Anyone that knows me knows that I’m introverted, and anyone that’s seen me at tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety.”

The 23-year-old went to on say that she gets “huge waves of anxiety” before speaking to the media.

“Though the tennis press has always been kind to me (and I wanna apologize especially to all the cool journalists who I may have hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media. I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try to engage and give you the best answers I can,” she added.

The Japanese star has two Australian Opens (2019 and 2021) and two US Open titles (2018 and 2020) to her name.

Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA (AA) – Withholding tax support on Turkish lira bank deposits will continue for another two months to encourage lira savings.

According to information from the Treasury and Finance Ministry, the move aims to protect the value of the Turkish lira, to ensure that savings are kept in deposit and participation accounts opened in Turkish lira and to encourage the use of under-pillow savings in these accounts.

For Turkish lira accounts, the withholding tax on deposits of up to six months was cut to 5% from 15% and the tax on deposits of up to one year was cut to 3% from 12%.

On the other hand, for the accounts with a maturity longer than one year, there is no tax on deposits.

The changes will remain in force till the end of July.

The withholding tax support on the deposits, thus, was extended for the third time since September 2020.

Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA (AA) – Mathias Cormann took office as new secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the organization announced on Tuesday.

Cormann, who has been appointed by member governments for a five-year term, was Australia’s finance minister from 2013-2020 and leader of the government in the Senate from 2017-2020.

He also served as minister for the public service in 2018-2019.

Ministers and senior officials of the Organization’s 38 Member countries and outgoing Secretary-General Angel Gurria welcomed Cormann in a handover ceremony at the OECD Headquarters in Paris.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust and confidence you have shown in appointing me as your OECD Secretary-General,” he said.


“I am ambitious for the OECD and what it can achieve with Members, for Members, and most importantly, for the people in Member countries. You can count on me to give it my absolute best as we work towards a better future, together.”

Cormann was criticized by environmental groups due to his record on climate change. Greenpeace, a non-government organization, had opposed his candidacy and expressed “deep dismay and anger.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey has announced new travel restrictions for passengers entering the country in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the new measure by the official authorities, passengers departing from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will be quarantined for 14 days in locations determined by the governorships, according to a statement shared by Turkish Airlines on Tuesday.

Passengers who have been to these countries in the last 14 days will also be requested to submit a negative result of the PCR test conducted a maximum of 72 hours before entering Turkey.

The flight bans to Brazil and South Africa ended (as of June 1) under this new measure, the national flag carrier stressed.

Passengers coming from the United Kingdom, Iran, Egypt, and Singapore will be required to submit a negative result of their PCR tests conducted a maximum of 72 hours before entry.

Passengers from other countries will not need to submit a negative PCR test result and not be quarantined if they have been vaccinated at least 14 days before the entrance to Turkey and/or have had the disease and recovered within the last six months.

“If passengers departing from these countries cannot submit a vaccine certificate or the documents proving that they have had the disease according to the stated rules, submission of a PCR negative test result made maximum 72 hours before the entrance to Turkey, or negative rapid antigen test result made maximum 48 hours before the entrance to Turkey will be deemed sufficient,” it said.​​​​​​​

Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA (AA) – Oil prices rose on Tuesday with Brent hitting over $70 a barrel driven by optimistic economic data from the US and China and amid higher demand expectations ahead of the summer driving season.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $70.31 per barrel at 07.14 GMT for a 1.42% gain after closing Monday at $69.32 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was trading at $67.75 a barrel at the same time with a 1.18% increase after ending the previous session at $66.96 per barrel.

Brent oil hit over $70 reinforced by positive economic data from the world’s largest oil consumers, China and the US, which also alleviated the demand crisis.

China’s Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – a survey of sentiment among factory owners – rose to 52.0 last month, the highest level since December, signaling greater economic activity, while the US posted a new pandemic low in jobless claims, creating positive sentiment for an economic recovery.

According to the gas-pricing website GasBuddy, the demand for gasoline in the US increased by 9.6% over the previous four Sundays, marking the greatest Sunday demand since the summer of 2019.

Further price rises were limited by expectations of a possible return of Iranian oil to the market, as talks between the US and Iran to lift the oil export sanctions and revive a 2015 nuclear deal are underway.

One day before the world’s major oil producers hold their monthly meeting later on Tuesday to revisit production targets, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said Iran is one of OPEC’s five founding members and its return to the market would not hurt “the relative stability that we have worked hard to achieve since April of last year.”

Barkindo’s remarks came during the 52nd Joint Technical Committee (JTC) of the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) participating countries via videoconference.

Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL (AA) – The eurozone manufacturing sector’s Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) posted an increase to 63.1, up from 62.9 in April, a London-based global data company said on Monday.

“The eurozone manufacturing economy experienced a new record improvement in operating conditions during May,” a report by IHS Markit said.


“The headline PMI recorded 63.1 and its highest reading in the survey history. The headline index has now recorded readings above the 50 no-change mark that separates growth from contraction for 11 months in succession,” it added.


While all three market groups posted strong improvements in operation conditions during the month, investment goods producers were best-performers, seeing rapid gains in both output and new orders.

Intermediate and consumer goods categories also posted stronger growth in the month.


Among countries, the Netherlands posted the highest PMI with 69.4, followed by Austria (66.4), and Germany (64.4).

Stemming from higher inflation rates and widespread product shortages, the report highlighted, that average input costs continued to increase.


”Boosted by strong market demand, manufacturers took advantage of improved pricing power by raising their own charges at the fastest rate in more than 18 years of data availability,” it noted.

It also said manufacturers’ future confidence was very positive in May.

Chris Williamson, the chief business economist at IHS Markit said: “Surging output growth adds to signs that the economy is rebounding strongly in the second quarter.


“However, May also saw record supply delays, which are constraining output growth and leaving firms unable to meet demand to a degree not previously witnessed by the survey.”

He said high demand and supply problems are together pushing up prices.


Williamson added that price pressures will ease after the pandemic lose its influence and supply chains improve.

Source: Anadolu Agency