Day: January 29, 2023

The composition of the UN Security Council should be expanded for it to respond to today's changes to achieve a "fairer" world, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Saturday.

"Issues related to the UN have been discussed worldwide for many years. Opinions are being exchanged about reforms in the UN. I stated in one of my speeches that there is a great need for these reforms.

"I believe that the composition of the Security Council should be expanded. One permanent seat should be given to a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation itself must nominate this candidate through consultations," Aliyev said at a news conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi, in Azerbaijan.

Aliyev said another permanent seat should be given to the Non-Aligned Movement, and the country holding the position of chair of the Non-Aligned Movement should have the seat.

"I think it would be fair because almost 80 years have passed since World War II, the world has changed and these changes continue rapidly. Therefore, I believe these reforms will create a fairer and safer world," he said.

Turning to Karabakh, Aliyev said the conflict with Armenia has ended and Karabakh remains an integral part of Azerbaijan.

He said the two countries have come closer to peace.

"We have made detailed proposals, and, despite all the suffering and destruction, we still believe that a peace treaty must be signed. Otherwise, the dangers in our region may increase," said Aliyev.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Saturday characterized as "hypocrisy" the US Welcome Corps initiative.

The initiative is aimed at "easing the load of the US state budget and transfer some expenses on households," she wrote on Telegram.

She said that Washington first "did everything to turn into refugees hundreds of thousands of people" in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Ukraine and now offers US citizens "to pay for the stay of the refugees in the US."

"Shifting financial obligations into private hands is usually the lot of 'failed states' that are unable to ensure the normal functioning of the state apparatus, satisfaction of social needs and humanitarian administration," she said.

Following the logic, the US government may soon grant citizens the right to print money at home, she said.

On Jan.13, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented the Welcome Corps, a new service opportunity for Americans to welcome refugees by preparing initial housing, greeting the newcomers at airports, enrolling children in school and helping adults find employment.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments around the world.

A huge explosion occurred at a military facility in central Iran, according to media reports.

At least 25 people were killed and 35 injured after a tour bus plunged off a cliff in Peru with 60 passengers on board, according to media reports.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake left at least two people dead in Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, according to emergency officials.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi extended condolences to his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, for a deadly attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran.

Police in Sweden decided not to proceed with a criminal case involving physical assault of a journalist by an aide to Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan, said photojournalist Orhan Karan.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 14 people were killed and 24 others injured in a strike by Ukraine's armed forces on a hospital in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region.

Türkiye issued travel warnings for the US and some European countries, citing rising incidents of anti-foreigner and racist attacks and growing religious intolerance.

Italian diplomatic missions have been targeted by acts of violence in some European countries, according to a statement by the Italian Foreign Ministry.

The UK and the US condemned Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime after a report found it responsible for a 2018 chlorine attack on Douma which killed 43 people.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized international media outlets that recently tried to influence public opinion with "sneaky" articles about Türkiye's upcoming elections.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said Russian and Turkish experts have discussed different aspects of the construction of a gas hub in Türkiye.

The European Union called for immediate de-escalation of spiraling Israel-Palestine tensions, stressing that Tel Aviv should only use lethal force as “a last resort.”

Aryna Sabalenka came back from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina in a thrilling Australian Open final, lifting her first Grand Slam singles title.

Source: Anadolu Agency

President Volodymr Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukraine needs long-range missiles to fight more effectively against the Russian army in the war in his country.

Russian forces launched missile attacks against Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region early Saturday, Zelenskyy said in a message on Telegram.

Three civilians were killed and 14 injured in the attack, he noted.

Underlining that residential places were targeted in the attack, Zelenskyy said Russian forces carried out the attack with S-300 missiles.

He noted that Ukraine needs more weapons to prevent similar offensives and to limit the Russian army's capacity for new attacks.

Source: Anadolu Agency

At least 25 people were killed Saturday and 35 injured after a tour bus plunged off a cliff in Peru with 60 passengers on board, according to media reports.

Departing from the northwestern province of Talara, the bus plunged off a cliff in the Los Organos District.

Injured passengers were taken to hospitals in the region, while search and rescue efforts are underway.

The passengers were reportedly employees of a private company.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.

Source: Anadolu Agency