The global economy now faces a danger of stagflation not seen since the 1970s, the World Bank warned on Tuesday.

"This time it is facing high inflation and slow growth at the same time," said David Malpass, the bank’s president.

The global body on Monday sharply lowered its 2022 global growth forecast to 2.9%, significantly lower than January’s projection of 4.1%, saying that the possibility of high global inflation accompanied by tepid growth poses a key risk to the global economy.

"Even if a global recession is averted, the pain of stagflation could persist for several years," Malpass said.

"Several years of above-average inflation and below-average growth are now likely, with potentially destabilizing consequences for low- and middle-income economies. There’s a severe risk of malnutrition and of deepening hunger and even of famine in some areas."

Growth in developing economies is also projected to roughly fall in half this year, slowing from 6.6% in 2021 to 3.4% in 2022.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also pushed up agricultural commodity prices sharply, worsening food insecurity and extreme poverty in developing economies.

Global consumer price inflation has soared higher around the world and is above central bank targets in almost all countries./agencies

Residents of the northern Syrian district of Manbij, who were forced to flee their homes owing to the YPG/PKK terror group's coercive measures, applauded a statement issued by Turkey's top leader and vowed to play their part in liberating their land from the outfit.

The YPG/PKK terror group forced tens of thousands of civilians to migrate to areas near the Turkish border from the Manbij district of Aleppo, which they took with US support six years ago under the guise of battling Daesh/ISIS terrorists.

Abdullah Shilash, the leader of Manbij's Bani Said tribe, told Anadolu Agency that his tribe is willing to play its part to clean out their district of terrorists.

"We want to free the district as quickly as possible. We have been displaced for many years now. We fully support President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's words," Silas remarked, alluding to the president's statement about clearing YPG/PKK terrorists from Manbij and Tel Rifat.

He also noted that the YPG/PKK is detaining Arab youth under the guise of compulsory military service.

Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan said Türkiye is set to clear two areas of northern Syria, near the Turkish border, of terrorist elements in a bid to eliminate the terror threat from the region.

"We are entering a new phase of our decision to establish a safe zone 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) deep south (of the Turkish-Syrian border). We are clearing Tel Rifat and Manbij of terrorists," Erdogan stated this recently at a gathering of his Justice and Development (AK) Party in the capital Ankara.

In Manbij, where 99% of the population is Arab, the terrorist group is driving people to migrate by utilizing coercive measures such as forcibly recruiting young people to its armed group under the cover of "compulsory military service."

The displaced people from Manbij have been living away from their homes for about six years in makeshift tents set up with their own means around Bab and Jarablus districts along the Turkish border.

‘We are counting the days to regain our lands’

Ali Suleiman, a camp resident from the same district, told Anadolu Agency that the terrorist group's compulsory military service practice pushed thousands of young people from Manbij to migrate.

Waiting for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Syrian National Army (SMO) to take action and help the refugees return to their district, Suleiman said, "We are counting the days to regain our lands."

Gomaa Khatib, another displaced person, expressed support for all types of military operations to return displaced civilians to their homes and lands after fleeing YPG/PKK terror group's persecution.

Situation in Manbij

The YPG/PKK terror group has maintained their coercive tactics, harassing civilians with "compulsory military service" and other subjugation measures.

People in Manbij who oppose the YPG/PKK terror group's coercive actions hold protests from time to time to express their dissatisfaction and rejection of such illegal practice.

To penalize the local population, the terror group has monopolized patrol in the district and has been depriving people of much-needed gasoline. Before the civil war, the district had a population of about one million people.

Moreover, after being chased out of the territories by Turkish forces, terrorists in Manbij periodically target Jarablus and Bab districts in the safe zone.

The YPG/PKK terror group often mounts attacks on Jarabulus, Afrin, and Azaz from the Manbij and Tal Rifat areas in Syria.

The YPG/PKK terror group also target Turkish forces who provide security in the operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring areas, and try to infiltrate the positions of Syrian opposition fighters from regions where the terror group was supposed to withdraw under the agreements with the US and Russia.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terror organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK terror group's Syrian offshoot./aa

Turkish forces “neutralized” 18 PKK terrorists in northern regions of Iraq and Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

Ten terrorists were targeted in northern Iraq in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry said on Twitter.

It also said the Turkish soldiers have seized numerous arms, ammunition, caves, and shelters that the terrorists used in northern Iraq as part of the cross-border anti-terror operation.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April to target PKK hideouts in Iraq’s northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions.

It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle, which were launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Separately, eight PKK terrorists were neutralized in northern Syria in areas of Operation Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring.

“There is no escape from the end waiting for the terrorists themselves,” said the ministry, adding: “Our operations will continue unabated.”

The YPG/PKK terrorists often target Turkish security forces who provide security in the areas of Operation Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring, and try to infiltrate the positions of Syrian opposition fighters from regions which the terror group was supposed to withdraw from under agreements with the US and Russia.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.​​​​​​​/aa

Germany and Pakistan on Tuesday agreed to work together to avert a looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Addressing a joint press conference in the capital Islamabad after a delegation level meeting, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were of the view that the people of Afghanistan “must not” suffer due to the international community’s ongoing policy of disengagement with the Taliban regime.

“When we look across the border, the situation is dire. The Taliban are leading the country into a downfall. Parents do not know how to feed their children. Girls are deprived of their right to education. Women are almost excluded from participation in public life, and all the dissenting voices are brutally suppressed. The world community should stand together and send a clear message to the Taliban that you are heading in the wrong direction," said Baerbock, who is on a two-day maiden visit.

“As long as they go down this path, there is no room for normalization and even recognition of Taliban as legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. But at the same time, we cannot abandon the people of Afghanistan,” she said.

Along with Islamabad, she said her country will continue to work to mitigate the crisis by providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, especially to women and children.

“It’s crucial for Taliban to hear this message. We are facing humanitarian disaster (in Afghanistan) that’s why we continue to provide humanitarian aid,” she further said.

Acknowledging that Germany’s influence in Afghanistan is “very limited”, she said that any kind of economic support to Kabul should be conditional to Taliban's take on human rights.

Preventing terrorism, extremism

Bhutto-Zardari, for his part, said saving Afghanistan not only from humanitarian crisis but also an economic collapse is equally indispensable to create an environment that does not promote extremism and terrorism.

Pakistan, he said, has been facing the brunt of terrorism and extremism from Afghanistan for decades, that is why “we are more eager than any other country for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.”

“I myself am a victim of terrorism,” he said referring to the assassination of her mother and two-time premier Benazir Bhutto in a suicide attack in 2007 in northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Regardless of “my or anyone’s views about the current regime, we have to work to help avert humanitarian crisis and economic collapse,” he said calling on the Taliban regime to fulfill their promises to the global community.

Hailing Islamabad for hosting nearly 3 million Afghan refugees for decades, Baerbock said “it’s an enormous task that Pakistan is shouldering on behalf of the whole international community. It deserves our solidarity and support."

Ukraine

On the Ukraine-Russia war, the top German official said Russia’s “invasion” is not only threatening the foundation of our international order, but Moscow’s restrictions on wheat exports and capture of Ukraine’s stocks have sent food prices skyrocketing.

Dubbing Russia's war as not just a threat to Europe but for the whole world, she said: “Our world will be a more dangerous place to live if the law of the dangerous applies.

Russia's war, she further said, has set a “dangerous” precedent for the world. Therefore, she added, the global community should stand by Ukraine and defend its integrity through “words and actions.”

Bhutto-Zardari said there is no change in his country’s policy toward Russia-Ukraine war, calling for “dialogue and diplomacy in pursuit of peace.”

“We do not want to be dragged in conflict particularly given that we have just experienced decade after decade of conflict in Afghanistan," he added.

Kashmir

Replying to a query on reports of human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir -- a long-standing dispute between Pakistan and India -- Baerbock said: “We support the work of the United Nations in Kashmir to ensure that all the human rights are guaranteed (there).”

A “constructive” approach from both sides, she said, is the only way to improve ties between the two nuclear neighbors, which are locked in a string of land and sea disputes, mainly Jammu and Kashmir.

Hailing the 2021 cease-fire at Kashmir border between the two forces, as a “positive step”, she said: “We expect more steps to follow the ceasefire.”

Islamabad’s foreign minister did not lose the opportunity to condemn New Delhi for “brutal” human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, and recent insulting remarks against Prophet Muhammad by two senior members of the Indian ruling party.

Baerbock and Bhutto-Zardari also vowed to work together to fight the challenges related to climate change.

Earlier, the two foreign ministers discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, energy and other sectors./aa

US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday pledged over $1.9 billion in private funds to address the root causes of migration from Central America.

Addressing the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, Harris said the fund will be used in "new private sector commitments to create economic opportunity in northern Central America."

The fund will support the US Strategy to Address the Root Causes of Migration, which was launched by Harris in July 2021 and which aligns American efforts to address the economic, governance, and security drivers of irregular migration from Central America, according to a White House statement.

“The announcement today builds on the announcement the Vice President made in December 2021 of $1.2 billion in private sector commitments. Aggregate commitments under this initiative now total more than $3.2 billion,” the statement added.

The summit which will run through June 10 has been snubbed by the leaders of Mexico and other countries after Washington declined an invitation to Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua./aa

UN human rights experts on Tuesday condemned Myanmar military junta’s attempts to establish a “digital dictatorship” by imposing restrictions on access to the internet, internet shutdowns, and online censorship.

“The international community must not stand quietly by while the people of Myanmar are systematically denied their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and privacy, which are guaranteed by international human rights law,” said the experts in a statement released from Geneva.

“Online access to information is a matter of life and death for many people in Myanmar, including those seeking safety from indiscriminate attacks by the military and the millions trying to navigate a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis. The junta is using internet shutdowns and invasive surveillance to undermine widespread public opposition and prop up its attacks on the people of Myanmar.”

They urged UN member states to condemn the junta's restrictions on fundamental freedoms, both online and offline, and to impose targeted sanctions on the military and military-related companies, including restrictions on the sale or supply of dual-use surveillance technology.

They also asked UN member states and international donors to support civil society initiatives to counter censorship and surveillance in Myanmar.

Following the Feb. 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the junta imposed rolling nationwide internet blackouts and blocked access to social media and messaging platforms, the statement said, adding that more recently, the junta has imposed targeted internet shutdowns in areas where it faces strong resistance from opposition groups.

Since last August, 31 townships in seven states and regions have experienced internet shutdowns, with a further 23 townships experiencing the throttling of internet speeds, the readout said.

“Internet restrictions are being used by the junta as a cloak to hide its ongoing atrocities,” said the experts. “The barriers to internet access impede efforts by journalists, human rights monitors and humanitarian organizations to collect evidence of human rights violations committed by the military or serve at risk populations.”

They added that “the lack of connectivity in large parts of the country also poses a challenge to our mandates, which depend on the collection of contemporaneous evidence of human rights abuses.”

The experts are Thomas Andrews, special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar; Irene Khan, special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression; Ana Brian Nougreres, special rapporteur on the right to privacy; and Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, special rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association./agencies