Day: June 1, 2023

There is no evidence that can be considered the product of non-human intelligence or the existence of extraterrestrial life, NASA said on Wednesday. "To make the claim that we see something that is evidence of non-human intelligence would require extraordinary evidence, and we have not seen that," said David Spergel at NASA's first public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming UAP report. Last year, NASA created a team, led by astrophysicist David Spergel, to study to examine events that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena. During the public meeting, the team addressed concerns about the existence of extraterrestrial lifeforms in relation to UAP. NASA stated that there is no convincing evidence linking UAP to extraterrestrial life. They emphasized that the study of UAP is distinct from the search for extraterrestrial life. UAP is a broader term used to describe any unidentified object or anomaly observed in the sky, including both human-made and natural phenomena, whereas UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) specifically refers to an object in the sky that remains unidentified and cannot be readily explained by conventional means. While Spergel chaired the 4-hour briefing on the first findings of the board's report, which is scheduled to be published in July, many academics attended the meeting as speakers, as well as officials from the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and NASA. Speaking at the meeting, Director of the All-Fields Anomaly Resolution Office of the Ministry of Defense Sean Kirkpatrick said that they have received more than 800 UFO reports so far, with 50 to 100 reports monthly. Kirkpatrick said that they considered very few of them as unidentifiable abnormalities. Sharing an image taken recently at the meeting, Kirkpatrick addressed that this image, in which the bright object in the form of three dots is seen, was taken by a P-3 aircraft making a reconnaissance flight over the US, and that the pilots of the aircraft said that they could not catch the objects. Kirkpatrick later stressed that the objects were actually planes about to land at an airport at a much further point than the pilots of the P-3 had thought. They have extensive surveillance tools at their disposal, but international restrictions also make global scrutiny difficult, he said. Increase in UAP sightings in the US after the China bubble event Speaking at the meeting, Mike Freie, Technical Advisor at the FAA Office of Air Traffic Surveillance Services, said that there are more than 880,000 registered drones across the country and tens of thousands of drones are flown daily. Addressing that these systems pose a significant challenge for the air surveillance process, Freie said that there has been an increase in the number of UAP reports coming to the FAA, especially after SpaceX's Starlink launch. Freie reported that they saw a significant increase in reports of unidentified objects after a Chinese balloon was detected and dropped from US airspace in February. 'Are there aliens?' At the meeting, the question was asked whether there was a non-human intelligence behind the detected objects. Anamaria Berea, Associate Professor of Computing and Data Science at George Mason University, said the team consists of scientists and they will follow the data. Noting that their task is to create a roadmap and framework for how they can further examine these anomalous images, Berea said, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Whether we are alone in the universe is probably one of the largest questions that we've had in our history of humanity." Answering the same question, Spergel emphasized that such extraordinary evidence has not yet been seen by experts. Expressing that much of NASA's work is "searching for life in any form" outside Earth, Spergel said, "the search for life is a really important theme. We haven't found life beyond Earth yet, but we're looking for it in lots of different ways." On the other hand, Spergel said that NASA has yet to see non-human intelligence or extraordinary evidence of it. Answering the question of what NASA will do if there is life outside of Earth, the US scientist said that whether life outside of Earth is actually possible is the biggest question that the agency is interested in, but they have not yet found evidence of such a situation. Mike Gold, one of the Redwire executives, who made evaluations at the meeting, said that it was a big problem that they could not define what they were looking for yet. Gold said, "We're not looking for a needle in a haystack. We're looking for anomalies in a haystack. So we don't even know we're looking for a needle. I don't know what the phenomenology is that we're looking for." *Alperen Aktas in Ankara contributed to this story

Source: Anadolu Agency

The NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) on Thursday deployed troops at five more locations in the country's Zvecan municipality, which was the scene of ethnic clashes earlier this week. Ethnic Serbs in the country's northern municipality have been protesting the election of ethnic Albanian mayors since late May. They have pitched tents around the security cordon of KFOR troops. Goran Rakic, head of the Serb List, the largest Serbian party in Kosovo, told reporters the deployment of more KFOR troops was a positive development and would help de-escalate. "They deployed their forces at five points in the streets around the city to prevent the entry of special police forces and incidents. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you to them, it's very important to us," said Rakic. Tensions have gripped Kosovo as ethnic Serbs are protesting the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in four municipalities last month in the country's northern municipalities. On Monday, at least 30 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) were injured in clashes with Serbs who were protesting and attempting to prevent the newly-elected mayor of Zvecan municipality in northern Kosovo from entering the town hall to take the oath of office and begin official responsibilities. According to hospital sources, over 53 civilians were also injured by shock bombs and tear gas. Police in Kosovo also said that at least five people were detained following the clashes.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Poland closed its eastern border with Belarus to trucks from both Belarus and Russia on Thursday. The ban applies to trucks, tractors, trailers, and semi-trailers registered in one of the countries, the Polish news agency PAP reported. On Monday, the Polish Interior Ministry announced restrictions on freight traffic. It is widely seen as retaliation for the Belarusian Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold the conviction of Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish-Belarusian activist who was sentenced to eight years in prison in February for "inciting hatred." Poczobut, a 50-year-old reporter for the Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, was sentenced in February. Soon after the verdict, Warsaw closed the Bobrowniki border crossing, and Minsk retaliated by making border crossings more difficult for Polish trucks. Poland then closed the Kukuryki-Koroszczyn border crossing for trucks from Belarus. The Polish minority in Belarus numbers around 300,000 people. In March, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki denounced the 10-year prison sentence handed down to Ales Bialiatski, a veteran Belarusian activist and Nobel laureate.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The European Parliament endorsed on Thursday the draft of a due diligence act, pushing companies to cut child labor, slavery, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The lawmaking body said in a statement that its plenary session 'adopted its position for negotiations with member states on rules to integrate human rights and environmental impact into companies' governance.' Proposed by the European Commission last year, the EU regulation would oblige firms to mitigate or completely cut the negative impact of their activities, including child labor, slavery, environmental pollution or degradation, and biodiversity loss. Besides production conditions, the law would imply sale, distribution, transport, storage, and waste-management criteria. The regulation would cover EU-based companies employing more than 250 people and having a worldwide turnover of over pound 40 million (approximately $43 million). The law would also apply to parent companies with over 500 employees and a worldwide turnover exceeding pound 150 million, as well as non-EU companies generating in the EU at least pound 40 million of their global turnover if it is higher than pound 150 million. Companies that fail to observe the new rule could face a penalty worth at least 5% of their global turnover. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU will soon start negotiations on the final version of the law.

Source: Anadolu Agency

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele completes four years at the helm of the Central American nation on Thursday, having made headlines internationally for policies ranging from a countrywide crackdown on gangs to becoming the first-ever government in the world to accept Bitcoin as legal tender. The 37-year-old businessman took office on June 1, 2019, elected on a ticket to eradicate poverty and corruption while improving the economy and public services. One of his top pledges was to restore security in a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world. Four years into his term, he celebrates a dramatic decrease in homicides amid his government's widespread crackdown on gang violence, a popular move within the country but heavily criticized by rights groups. The war against members of the so-called maras, or gangs, began on March 27, when Bukele's government declared a state of emergency after three days of violence that left 87 dead was blamed by the president on a street gang known as MS-13. Parliament approved Bukele's request for a state of emergency that has been renewed several times, allowing authorities to detain thousands of suspected gang members. He built a 40,000-person complex, the largest prison in the Americas, that more than doubled the country's penitentiary capacity. Nearly 69,000 suspected gang members have been arrested so far, though about 5,000 were later released for a lack of evidence, according to government figures. Human rights organizations have come down hard against the security policy, saying it has allowed serious violations, including arbitrary arrest and inhumane prison conditions. But, walking the streets in many parts of El Salvador's cities would have been unthinkable before Bukele, who once jokingly called himself the "world's coolest dictator," avoiding interviews and instead using social media as his main channel of communication. Recent polls show that an overwhelming 95% of the population endorse his security strategy that officials say lowered the country's sky-high homicide rate. Support for Bukele's reelection has also soared to nearly 92%, according to a poll by Ciesca Centroamerica. New ground in currency, foreign policy Bukele's tenure has seen many other transformations in the country as well. In June 2021, he ordered all businesses in the country to accept Bitcoin as payment alongside the US dollar, in a move to boost economic development and benefit expats by saving millions of dollars in commissions on remittances. However, international bodies such as the International Monetary Fund have warned against the adoption of cryptocurrency, saying it could increase risks for financial institutions. His administration also established a National Bitcoin Office in November last year to oversee the country's projects related to the cryptocurrency. In terms of foreign policy, the president, whose father is of Palestinian origin, has strengthened bilateral relations with new international partners, including Trkiye. He paid a historically significant official visit to Trkiye last year, the first from a Salvadorian head of state, where he and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed six cooperation agreements. Since then, relations between the two nations have gained momentum. With his favorable poll numbers, Bukele announced he would run again in next year's general elections. The vote will be held on Feb. 4, with a runoff to take place on March 3 if necessary.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A panel led by a retired High Court judge will probe the ethnic violence that has engulfed the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, the Indian home minister announced on Thursday. More than 70 people have reportedly been killed and thousands have been displaced following violence that erupted during protests early last month against the inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes category, giving them some special privileges. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a four-day visit to Manipur, told reporters that a probe panel will investigate the violence and a peace committee will be set up in a bid to ensure the return of peace in the state. According to local media, the situation in many parts of the state continues to remain tense, with people facing shortages of medicines and other day-to-day items. While announcing a total compensation of 1 million Indian Rupees ($12,129) for the kin of the deceased, Shah said the police cases registered into the violence will be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation - India's premier investigating agency. Shah also issued a warning to those who have looted weapons and asked them to surrender before authorities. During his visit, Indian Home Minster Amit Shah held wide-ranging discussions with civil society organizations, and the two communities as well, according to a government statement. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch said Indian authorities should "immediately and impartially investigate ongoing killings by ethnic groups and security forces" in Manipur. 'The violence in Manipur state since early May has left communities devastated, and it's crucial for the government to restore order in a rights-respecting manner and hold to account those responsible for abuses,' Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch said in a statement. 'Accounts of partisan involvement by security forces in the killings has increased distrust of the authorities, who should work with community leaders to end the violence,' Ganguly added. What led to violence? The violence last month followed a Manipur High Court ruling on April 19 that directed the state government to submit recommendations for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category, which enraged the state's tribal population. The Meitei people are the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. A community granted Scheduled Tribe status is entitled to political representation, reserved seats in schools, and government jobs. Because of existing laws, the Meitei community, which accounts for nearly 60% of the state's population, is not permitted to settle in hilly areas. The Naga and Kuki tribes are concerned that if the Maitei community is granted Scheduled Tribe status, their proportions in government jobs and landownership will shrink. The Meitei community seeks to be recognized as a tribe as well. The community approached the Manipur High Court for this. Their argument is that Meitei should be recognized as a tribe in order to protect this community, their ancestors' land, traditions, culture, and language. The Meitei community is mostly Hindu. There is a greater percentage of Meitei in the state's population. On the other hand, Nagas and Kukis communities are mostly Christians.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Far-right is the greatest threat to democracy in Germany, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Thursday. Faeser released a message on the anniversary of the murder of pro-refugee politician Walter Lubcke by a right-wing extremist in 2019. 'This attack is a reminder that we should never underestimate the danger posed by right-wing extremism and right-wing terrorism. We must identify and prevent radicalization at an early stage, keep an eye on extremists, and disarm the right-wing extremists,' she said. 'Prevention and toughness are at the core of our strategy against right-wing extremism. Right-wing extremism is the greatest threat to our democracy,' Faeser added. Lubcke, who was serving as the district president of the Kassel city near Frankfurt, was known for her support for then-chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy for refugees. A right-wing extremist, Stephan Ernst, was arrested in 2019 and admitted in court that he killed the conservative politician for his pro-refugee stance. Germany has witnessed growing racism in recent years, fueled by the propaganda of far-right groups, which have exploited the refugee crisis and attempted to stoke fear of immigrants. Right-wing extremists carried out 1,170 violent attacks last year targeting migrants, refugees, or political opponents. At least 675 people were injured in those attacks.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Inflation in Cyprus dropped to 3.01% in May, continuing its downward trajectory for a seventh consecutive month, mainly driven by the reduction of fuel prices.

Inflation in May marked the lowest point in the last two years.

According to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus, the Consumer Price Index in May increased by 0.33 units reaching 114.72 units compared to 114.39 units in April 2023.

For the period January-May 2023, the CPI increased by 5.2% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

The reduction was mainly driven by petroleum products which dropped by 8.3%. On the contrary Electricity recorded an increase of 8.3% year on year.

Analysed by economic origin, the largest positive change was registered in the category Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages with 8.4%, while the largest negative change was recorded in the category Transport with 5.2%, Cystat added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Pakistan's annual inflation reached an all-time high in May, hitting almost 38%. Inflation rose to 37.97% year-on-year last month, showing a persistent uptick in the highest-ever inflation in the country, according to the Statistics Bureau of Pakistan on Thursday. It was 36.4% in April, which at the time was the highest on record. The month-on-month rise in May was 1.58%, the bureau said in a statement, adding that vegetables, pulses and chicken prices posted the biggest increase. The inflation rate in Pakistan averaged 8.18% from 1957 until 2023, with a record low of -10.32% in February 1959. Inflation in the South Asian nation of over 220 million people is the highest in the region.

Source: Anadolu Agency