By Muhammed Enes Calli
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday with, including the White House saying that US President Joe Biden will serve a full second term if reelected in November, 37 Chinese military aircraft have been detected around Taiwan, and Orthodox Jews will be drafted into the Israeli army as of next August.
TOP STORIES
- Biden committed to finishing 2nd term if reelected: White House
US President Joe Biden will serve a full second term if he is reelected in November, the White House said Tuesday.
Asked by a reporter if Biden, 81, commits to serving his full second four-year term if he defeats former President Donald Trump in the November polls, spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre responded: "Yes."
Biden has been facing calls to withdraw his candidacy since his poor performance against Trump in their first presidential debate on June 27.
- Taiwan detects 37 Chinese military aircraft around island
Taiwan said Wednesday that 37 Chinese military aircraft had been detected around the self-ruled island.
The Defense Ministry said 36 of the aircraft crossed the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered its air defense identification zone.
Israel to start drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into military next month
The Israeli military will start drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews as of next August, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday.
Gallant held a discussion early Tuesday on security arrangements for recruiting ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredi, into the army, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“Gallant approved the army’s recommendation to issue draft orders to members of the Haredi community next month,” the statement said.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discussed bilateral ties and regional and global issues Tuesday.
- Greece acknowledged Tuesday that relations with Türkiye have improved significantly since last year.
- Brazil’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday condemning a plan by Israel to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling it a "a flagrant violation of international law.”
- NATO's goal for member states to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defense is now a minimum figure, Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday as one-quarter of allies have failed to reach the guideline.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, which has been raging for more than two years.
- The leaders of NATO's 32 member states are arriving in the US capital Tuesday as the Transatlantic alliance prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a three-day summit in which the ongoing war in Ukraine is expected to feature prominently.
SPORTS
- Spain advance to EURO 2024 final with 2-1 victory over France
Spain advanced to the UEFA EURO 2024 final with a 2-1 win against France on Tuesday.
Randal Kolo Muani's header put France 1-0 ahead against Spain in the ninth minute, assisted by Kylian Mbappe at the Munich Football Arena.
Spain leveled the semifinal when Lamine Yamal made a classy long-range finish in the 21st minute.
After four minutes, The Spaniards took the lead with a close-range finish from Dani Olmo.
Spain will face the winner of the Netherlands vs. England clash.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US Fed Chair says progress made toward 2% inflation; labor market cooled
US Federal Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the American economy has made considerable progress toward the Fed's 2% inflation goal in the last two years.
He said labor market conditions have cooled, while remaining strong, and the risks to achieving the Fed's employment and inflation goals are coming into better balance.
"Recent indicators suggest that the US economy continues to expand at a solid pace," Powell said in his semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress. "Gross domestic product growth appears to have moderated in the first half of this year following impressive strength in the second half of last year."
- Russian court fines Volkswagen $191.5M
A Russian court has fined German automotive firm Volkswagen 16.9 billion rubles (about $191.5 million) in a lawsuit brought by Russian firm GAZ.
A court in the Nizhny Novgorod province ruled on Tuesday that Volkswagen had caused material damage to GAZ.
GAZ accused Volkswagen of failing to fulfill its obligations for production and parts deliveries under ongoing contracts and unilaterally terminating some others.