Friedrich Merz emphasized that Russia poses a major threat not only to Ukraine but to all of Europe, highlighting the growing importance of defense independence as the US appears to be distancing itself from Europe.
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, the German Chancellor told BBC Television: “We are witnessing a meaningful threat from Russia, not just for Ukraine but for peace and political order in Europe.”
In the same interview, Friedrich Merz added, “The Americans are moving away from Europe, which makes independence from the US defense and support system extremely significant.”
Media report the deaths of three officers in an explosion at a police facility in Monterey Park, Los angeles county, USA.
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, Reuters has confirmed that three officers died in an explosion at a police center in Monterey Park, Los Angeles County.
Reports indicate that the cause of the explosion is still unknown,and investigations have been launched.
teh US Congress has approved a $9 billion cost-cutting measure known as the “cancellation Package.”
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Fox News, the US Congress has officially sent to President Donald Trump a bill detailing $9 billion in spending cuts.
The legislation, called the “Cancellation Package,” passed the House of Representatives earlier today with a narrow vote of 216 to 213, after intense debates between Republicans and Democrats.
Onyl two Republican representatives-Brian fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania and Mike turner from Ohio-voted against it.
Friday was the final deadline for approving this measure. Had it failed, the White House would have been forced to reimpose mandatory budget cuts automatically.
One of the most controversial aspects of this package is eliminating about $1 billion in funding for public broadcasting companies that support networks like NPR and PBS. Republicans have long accused these organizations of political bias, while Democrats argue that cutting their funding threatens essential public services.
If signed by President Trump, $8 billion will be blocked from the United States Agency for International Growth (USAID), and $1 billion will be withdrawn from public broadcasting budgets for the remainder of the current fiscal year. These amounts had been allocated by congress for fiscal year 2025.
Stephen Kapos, head of Radio Free Europe’s media division, recently stated that due to an executive order by President Trump reducing funds allocated to USAGM-the parent company overseeing this network and Voice of America-the federal funding directed at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been cut.
Trump has consistently criticized media outlets funded by American resources such as Voice of America, accusing them of bias. Kari Lake, Trump’s newly appointed special advisor at USAGM, said yesterday that “public trust in media is damaged and a lot needs to be done to rebuild it.”
Sence returning to office after his november 5 election victory, Trump has issued several controversial executive orders during his second term. these include cutting foreign aid and significantly reducing staff at USAID as part of goverment downsizing efforts.
Earlier, Elon Musk-the American billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter) and former presidential productivity secretary under Trump-called on his X account for shutting down both Voice of America Radio and Radio Free Europe. He wrote that “no one listens anymore.”
France’s Foreign Minister claims the European Union’s new sanctions package against Russia is “unprecedented.”
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël barrot said on friday that Europe imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia and its allies this morning.
The french minister further claimed, “With cooperation from the United States, we will force Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire.”
Agence France-Presse quoted European diplomats on Friday announcing that the European Union has enacted a new sanctions package against Russia, including measures to cap Russian oil export prices and impose banking restrictions.
This marks the EU’s eighteenth set of sanctions targeting Russia,with additional limits specifically aimed at banks.
The latest EU sanctions include restrictions involving 105 vessels connected to Russian oil. The package sets a price cap on Russian exported oil at approximately $47.60 per barrel.
Turkish police arrested 153 individuals accused of collaborating with ISIS in simultaneous operations across 28 provinces.
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Anadolu Agency, Turkish police conducted coordinated raids over the past two weeks in 28 provinces, detaining 153 people suspected of cooperating with the terrorist group ISIS.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the operations on social media, highlighting that gendarmerie forces carried out the arrests.
The detainees are accused of distributing ISIS-related propaganda and collecting financial support for the terrorist institution.
The European Commission, in a statement that neither condemned the Zionist and U.S. aggression against Iran nor acknowledged the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, claimed: Tehran must not possess nuclear weapons!
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, the European Commission released a statement today, Friday, disregarding the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. Aligning with American and Zionist aggressors,it asserted that Iran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
the European Commission did not condemn the crimes committed by the Zionist regime against oppressed Palestinians but made misleading populist claims: “We are striving to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. A ceasefire in Gaza must be respected, and civilian suffering must end. We seek to deliver humanitarian assistance through the United Nations and NGOs-not via gaza’s local humanitarian foundation.”
The statement further expresses deep concern over escalating violence in Suwayda in southern Syria. It calls on all parties there to uphold a ceasefire and urges Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Regarding rising tensions caused by U.S. policies toward Beijing, the statement adds: “We are working to strengthen our trade relations with China while reducing dependence on the American market.”
The U.S. Department of State has warned its citizens against traveling to Syria and urged Americans residing there to leave the country due to the dangers posed by armed conflict.
The U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning for Syria,advising American citizens not to visit the country and urging those living there to depart immediately,according to the English section of webangah News Agency,citing Al-Mayadeen via Mehr News agency.
The department stated that the Level 4 travel advisory for Syria remains in effect, prohibiting trips due to ongoing armed clashes.
It also instructed Americans wishing to leave Syria to cross into Jordan by land and obtain visas there.
This warning comes amid continued violent clashes between Arab tribes and Druze communities in the outskirts of as-Suwayda in southern Syria.
While some media outlets, citing local sources, reported that armed arab tribal forces have entered As-Suwayda city, other reports emphasize that fighting remains confined around the city perimeter with no reported clashes inside it.
U.S. and Saudi Foreign Ministers Discuss regional Developments, Focusing on Syria and Iran, in Phone Call.
The U.S. Department of State announced that Senator Marco Rubio spoke by phone with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, addressing regional security issues, including efforts to end violence in Syria.
According to the department,Rubio and Prince Faisal also discussed pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran and cooperation between Washington and Riyadh to ensure security in the Red Sea.
Axios reported that Trump was deeply angered by the Israeli airstrike on a church in Gaza, and the White House spokesperson said Netanyahu admitted the occupying army’s mistake in this attack.
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, Axios quoted a U.S. official saying that President Donald Trump became extremely angry upon learning about Israel’s attack on a church in Gaza and questioned his team about the reason behind it.
The report added that during a press briefing, a White House spokesperson stated: “President Trump spoke with Netanyahu regarding the bombing of a church in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu acknowledged that the bombing of the Catholic church in Gaza was an error by the Israeli military.”
Israel’s public broadcasting corporation also reported that Israeli military officials visited the Catholic Church in Jerusalem and apologized for the strike on the Gaza church.
The same official Israeli media noted it remains unclear whether targeting a church in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City resulted from malfunctioning military equipment or human error,adding that investigations by the army are underway.
Trump’s reaction to Israel’s attack on a Gaza church comes amid reports that Israel has killed thousands in Gaza using American bombs, destroyed numerous buildings including religious sites such as mosques, is currently bombing Syria, and has previously launched attacks against Iran.
The White house announced that U.S. President Donald Trump is suffering from chronic venous insufficiency and benign swelling in his legs.
The White House, citing medical assessments, confirmed that President Donald Trump has benign swelling in his lower legs and chronic venous insufficiency, according to the English section of webangah News Agency, which referenced Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera.
A White House spokesperson also addressed bruising observed on Trump’s hand, linking it to hand tremors. The spokesperson added that the President noticed a small swelling on the back of his left hand and was examined by the White House medical team.
Caroline Lewitt stated there are no specific health concerns regarding Trump, noting that his test results fall within normal ranges.
Reports about bruising on Trump’s hands and concerns over his health had surfaced earlier. however, these worries intensified a few days ago when severe ankle swelling and uneven shoe wear where noticed as he attended the FIFA Club World Cup final.
