By Seda Sevencan
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including Türkiye’s president saying the country is facing a “disaster” after its fertility rate dropped to 1.48 last year, Ukraine’s president receiving a draft plan from the US to revive peace talks with Russia, and the US confirming that it is not participating in the G20 summit in South Africa.
TOP STORIES
- Türkiye facing ‘disaster’ as fertility rate falls to 1.48, president says
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the Family and Culture-Arts Symposium in the Turkish capital Ankara, highlighting what he described as mounting challenges facing the family institution.
Focusing on challenges to the family institution, Erdogan said: "We are taking measures against gender-neutrality impositions and LGBT movements, allowing no concessions or complacency."
He stressed that Türkiye is protecting the family in a period where global capitalism is opening new fronts and cultural imperialism and digital encirclement are intensifying worldwide.
The president also warned of a demographic crisis, saying “we are currently facing a disaster” as official data showed the country’s total fertility rate dropped to 1.48 last year.
Erdogan said the declining fertility rate is “sounding loud alarm bells for our future” and that “no one who cares about this country’s destiny can be indifferent.”
- Ukraine’s president receives draft plan from US to revive peace talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a new draft plan from the US to revive stalled peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
“The President of Ukraine officially received a draft plan from the American side, which, according to the American side, can intensify diplomacy,” Ukraine’s Presidential Office said in a statement on Telegram.
According to the statement, Zelenskyy outlined the fundamental principles that are important for Kyiv and agreed to work on the points of the plan following the result of a meeting held earlier Thursday. He provided no further details.
It went on to say that Kyiv has supported US President Donald Trump's proposals to end the over three-and-a-half-year Russia-Ukraine war since the beginning of the year and is ready to work with Washington and partners in Europe and around the world.
The statement added that Zelenskyy is expected to discuss the “available diplomatic opportunities” and the main points that are “needed for peace” with Trump “in the coming days.”
- US not participating in G20 summit in South Africa: White House
The US will not attend the G20 summit on Nov. 22-23 in South Africa, a White House spokeswoman said.
"I'd be happy to explain because there is not a shift. The United States is not participating in official talks at the G20 in South Africa," Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Her remarks came after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the US and South Africa are discussing Washington’s participation in the summit following a “change of mind."
"I saw the South African president running his mouth a little bit against the United States and the president of the United States earlier today, and that language is not appreciated by the president or his team," Leavitt said.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors approved a draft resolution requesting information and access from Iran regarding its attacked nuclear facilities and enriched uranium stockpiles.
- Hundreds of schools in north-central Nigeria were closed indefinitely due to security concerns, just days after unknown armed men attacked a church, killing three members and kidnapping 30 others.
- Pakistani security forces killed at least 23 militants during security operations in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, the military said.
- Japan's Nobel-winning atomic bomb survivors group slammed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's bid to review the country's three non-nuclear weapon principles, local media reported.
- Google launched an artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure engineering center in Taiwan, its largest AI hardware hub outside the US, according to an official statement by the company.
- Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani dissolved parliament after two attempts to form a new government collapsed, paving the way for early elections expected at the end of December.
- UK police made a number of arrests outside the Justice Ministry in London after protesters staged a silent demonstration against the government’s decision to proscribe the Palestine Action activist group.
- The European Union announced the adoption of sanctions against Abdelrahim Dagalo, the second in command of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as part of efforts to hold those responsible for atrocities in the country accountable.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Trump moves to scale back tariffs on Brazil as negotiations progress
US President Donald Trump issued a new executive order modifying the tariffs his administration imposed this summer on a wide range of Brazilian goods, lifting additional duties on certain agricultural imports.
The order revises Executive Order 14323 signed in July, in which Trump declared a national emergency over what he called “policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Brazil” that he argued posed a threat to US national security and economic interests. That earlier order added a 40% ad valorem duty on numerous Brazilian imports.
"There has been initial progress in negotiations with the Government of Brazil," according to the order, referencing last month's phone call between Trump and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who agreed to open negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute.
The updated annex to the July order, which takes effect retroactively on Nov. 13, removes certain agricultural categories from the additional duty rate.
Under the directive, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will continue monitoring developments and advise the president if further action is needed.
- US imposes new sanctions on Iranian oil network
The US announced new sanctions targeting shipping and aviation networks allegedly engaged in Iran’s illicit petroleum trade, according to a statement by the State Department.
The coordinated action by the Departments of State and the Treasury seeks to cut off revenue streams Washington says are used to fund the Iranian government’s malign activities, including support for regional proxies and procurement of weapons systems that allegedly threaten US forces and allies.
The State Department said it designated 17 entities, individuals and vessels in several countries — including India, Panama and the Seychelles — for their alleged roles in facilitating Iranian petroleum and petroleum products sales.
The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 41 additional entities, individuals, vessels and aircraft, intensifying efforts to disrupt what it described as Iran’s illicit petroleum and petrochemical exports and the financial networks that allegedly sustain them, according to the statement.