International

Turkey’s president calls Netanyahu the “butcher of Gaza”

The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, described the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as the “butcher of Gaza” and said that his government will not remain silent in the face of what he considers a “genocide.”

“Hitler and the Nazis of our time are the murderers who have killed more than 15,000 children in Gaza. Netanyahu, like the criminals before him, has left his name shamefully in history as the butcher of Gaza,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara.

“No one can expect us to remain silent in the face of a genocide,” added Erdogan, who insisted that the Islamist organization Hamas for Turkey is not a terrorist group but “the Palestinian national resistance.”

Last weekend in Istanbul, the Turkish president received the political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniye, whose organization is described as a terrorist by the European Union and the United States, among others.

Erdogan accused Israel of “mercilessly killing” 35,000 Gazans since October 7, when Israel launched an offensive after the terrorist attack by the Islamist group Hamas on Israeli territory, which caused about 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of 250 people.

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Erdogan has maintained a critical stance with Israel since the beginning of the war in Gaza and, on March 5, accused the Netanyahu government of committing “a genocide against the Palestinian people” in the Strip and compared the prime minister on several occasions with the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Israel withdrew its ambassador in Ankara last October after Erdogan compared the situation in Gaza with the Holocaust, and Turkey called for consultations with its ambassador in Tel Aviv in November.

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.