The White House: U.S. will respond if Russia targets satellites

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby stated that the U.S. would respond if Russia targeted commercial satellites.

John Kirby had two press conferences, one at the White House and the other at the National Press Club, briefing American and foreign press correspondents regarding Biden-Harris foreign policy priorities.

Kirby was asked about the statements of Konstantin Vorontsov, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, during the U.N. General Assembly, saying the commercial satellites of the U.S. could be 'legitimate targets' for Russia if the U.S. insisted on assisting Ukraine.

Kirby said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's waging war in Ukraine is 'provocative and dangerous' and stated, 'We will continue to support Ukraine openly and honestly. Nothing will change our attitude. I will just tell you this: Any attacks on U.S. infrastructure will be responded to.'

Kirby rejected the allegations of Republicans against Biden's blank check to Ukraine and said, 'We did not provide a blank check. We assisted as required.'

Kirby; Putin is  the leader of a modern nuclear power

John Kirby said that President  Biden has been very clear that there will be severe consequences should they do that, and it wouldn’t – it wouldn’t just be from the United States. He added that it would be from so much of the rest of the international community.

"We have to – we don’t consider that bluster. He’s the leader of a modern nuclear power, and we find it irresponsible and reckless to be using the kinds of language he is when he’s talking about the potential use of nuclear weapons. So again, I’m not going to telegraph here publicly what options the President might consider. I’ll – I think it’s best left in his own words, which is that there would be severe." he said at the press briefing

US and Allies continue to support Ukraine

"We continue to work closely with allies and partners throughout the continent with respect to what Russia’s doing in Ukraine, which is obviously devastating to the country of Ukraine, the people of Ukraine, particularly in recent days and weeks here where they have deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure and innocent Ukrainian civilians. And so we are working closely with allies and partners to make sure that we are helping Ukraine get the security assistance they need to defend themselves, and so that when – if and when this comes to a negotiated settlement, Mr. Zelenskyy can succeed at the table as well." John Kirby said.

The U.S. and its Allies say Russia is wasting the U.N. Security Council's time.

U.S. and its Allies stated that Russia wasting the U.N. Security Council's time and spreading a conspiracy by reiterating the claims that the U.S. and Ukraine have a 'military biological program.'

Barbara Woodward, the U.K. Ambassador to U.N., in her statement to the Council, asks, 'How much more of Russia's nonsense do we have to endure?'

Russia pressed complaints at least two times at the Security Council regarding Ukraine's biological weapons program. The U.S. and Ukraine responded that they had no biological weapons program.

Russia, having pressed for a formal investigation, drafted a Security Council resolution to form a commission of 15 members. Although allowed under the 1975 Biological Weapons Convention, this right has never been exercised.

The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stated that Russia's allegations were 'pure fabrication brought forth without a shred of evidence.'

The U.N. disarmament authorities have said for a long time that the U.N. is not aware of any biological weapons program in Ukraine. Russia invaded its neighbor Ukraine on February 24, and today, President Vladimir Putin shows no regret after eight months of the war.

Turkey Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on Turkey Republic Day

Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Gerry Connolly (VA-11) and Steve Chabot (OH-01) released the following statement:

"Congratulations to the People of Turkey and Turkish Americans on this 99th commemoration of the founding of the Republic of Turkey.

As co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on US-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans, we recognize the vast reforms that were undertaken by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his vision for a reformed, modernized, and democratic Turkish Republic. Today, Turkish Americans represent a vital thread of the American fabric, and with rich culture and history, they serve as the best ambassadors for strong relations between our two countries.

As Turkey celebrates its 70th anniversary of NATO accession we would like to highlight its contributions to regional security including diplomatic efforts in mitigating the challenges arising from the war in Ukraine. Turkey has been a crucial partner to fully implement the Montreux Convention which prevented the Black Sea from becoming part of the war zone and brokered the grain export deal to help feed the world. We look forward to working with Turkey to ensure its concerns are heard by all allies as it votes to ratify Sweden and Finland as new members of the transatlantic alliance.

We congratulate the Turkish people and Turkish Americans on Republic Day 2022 and look forward to strengthening US-Turkey relations."

Currently,there are 88 members in the Turkish Caucus.

President Biden: The member of the Security Council, Russia, has deliberately violated the UN Charter

In his speech to the 77th U.N. General Assembly, Biden deprecated Russia. The U.S. president said, 'Speak up. A United Nations Security Council member invaded its neighbor and attempted to erase a sovereign state from the map.'

Criticizing Russia's President Vladimir Putin by saying, 'Ukraine's invasion was chosen by one man, to be very blunt,' Biden added, 'President Putin has been making overt nuclear threats against Europe and a reckless disregard of the responsibilities of the non-proliferation regime. Now Russia is calling for more soldiers to join the fight, and the Kremlin is organizing a sham referendum to try to annex parts of Ukraine. This is an extremely significant violation of the United Nations Charter.' 

Support for the enlargement of the U.N. Security Council

U.S. President expressed his support for increasing permanent and non-permanent representatives on the U.N. Security Council.

Referring to countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the U.S. has been supporting permanent seats; Biden also said, 'I believe the time has come for this institution to become more inclusive so that it can better respond to the needs of today's world.'

President Biden also stated that members of the U.N. Security Council should defend the U.N. Charter and refrain from using veto except in rare, extraordinary situations.

Current UNSC Structure:

The Security Council held its first session on 17 January 1946 at Church House, Westminster, London. Since its first meeting, the Security Council has taken permanent residence at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. It also travelled to many cities, holding sessions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1972, in Panama City, Panama, and in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1990.

A representative of each of its members must be present at all times at UN Headquarters so that the Security Council can meet at any time as the need arises. 

The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

The Council is composed of 15 Members:

 Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with end of term year): Albania (2023) ,Brazil (2023), Gabon (2023) ,Ghana (2023) ,India (2022), Ireland (2022), Kenya (2022) ,Mexico (2022), Norway (2022) ,United Arab Emirates (2023)

 Non-Council Member States More than 50 United Nations Member States have never been Members of the Security Council.

Washington D.C. Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Annual Turkish Festival this October

Washington D.C. (October 5, 2022) - Renowned for building bridges between Turkish and American people for 57 years, The American-Turkish Association of Washington DC (ATA-DC) is pleased to celebrate the 11th Turkish Cultural Heritage Month and mark the 20 th anniversary of the award-winning Annual DC Turkish Festival. Receiving an official proclamation from the Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, the month-long festivities will include a series of cross-cultural events and fun workshops throughout October.

The State of Emergency Declared in New York

New York Mayor Eric Adams announced that he declared a state of emergency in New York City today after tens of thousands of immigrants were sent to New York. As New York City's homeless housing system hits a record with more than 61,000  living in the city, the city is prepared to spend $1 billion on its response and has called for federal and state funding to help pay for housing and services for the busloads of immigrants straining the city's homeless housing system.

Mayor Adams: ‘We need help, and we need it now.’

Democratic Mayor Adams, who took office in January, announced that the city plans to build a tent reception center on Randalls Island in the East River, just outside of Manhattan, and is also in talks with cruise ship companies to accommodate newly arrived illegal immigrants on a ship.

About 17,000 new illegal immigrants have arrived in the city since April, President Adams said, with an expectation of 100,000 to arrive at some point. Noting that at least nine more buses arrived yesterday alone, Adams said the city has set up 42 emergency shelters and enrolled 5,000 children in schools.

Mayor Adams said declaring an emergency would allow city officials to act more quickly to provide services, while He said he is looking for ways to send some migrants to other cities.

New York Mayor Adams criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott for failing to coordinate immigrant arrivals, calling for him to stop sending buses to New York and to spread the load to other cities: ‘Mayor Adams, New Yorkers are angry, and I'm angry too. We didn't ask for it.’ Mayor Adams said he spoke recently with Mayor Biden about the crisis and that the President Biden and Governor Höchul understood the challenges facing the city

Elon Musk's plan to buy Twitter for $44 billion has been confirmed.

It was confirmed that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sent Twitter a letter saying he would go ahead with the $44 billion buyout deal.Musk's letter on the issue was disclosed in the report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).The letter confirmed Elon Musk's intention to honor his offer to buy out Twitter. Twitter also issued a statement.

In the statement regarding Mr. Musk's letter, Twitter confirmed to have received the letter filed through the SEC. The statement said: 'The intention of the Company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share.' Trading of Twitter shares was halted after Bloomberg reported Mr. Musk's plans to go ahead with the buyout of the social media platform for $54.20 per share. The company's shares surged almost 22% after resuming their rally.

Elon Musk said on his twitter : "Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app".There are also many speculations if  Donald Trump could be returning to the platform or not.

Rising Star: Artist Burcin Gokcen

Burcin Gokcen is an artist based in Istanbul. She got her bachelor's degree from the Cinema-TV department of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at Marmara University, and She received her Master's in Communication and Promotion.

Journalist Ali Cinar interviewed Artist Gokcen for Turk of America magazine.Gokcin told Cinar that  " Studying communication was something I set my mind on as a child. I was lucky: I had made the right decision at the right time. I think communication is excellent in every area of life, regardless of your profession."

Interview Questions: 

-When did you start painting? Where were your exhibitions held?

It is interesting that I can't remember a day of my childhood I didn't spend painting. I didn't need to have a canvas in front of me. Curtains, tables, walls, chairs, windows, and important books from my parents: Everywhere and everything was a place for me to paint. My family has been my biggest supporter despite my limitless imagination and misbehavior.

I can't remember any painting contest that I didn't attend in my middle and high school days. Getting top ranks and prizes in competitions and having an American firm (Cargill) add me to its 2001 calendar significantly influenced my motivation.

I have never received any training in painting because all my life, I have acted thinking that my real job has always been painting. So I chose communication, worked on two disciplines simultaneously, and took advantage of that.

The pandemic was also a productive period for me. When corporate life slowed, I spent more time on canvases. I attended four group exhibitions in Istanbul. I continued painting walls for places. I took time for my commissions.

-How would you describe your style? What type of paintings do you do? What are your sources of inspiration?

I don't particularly appreciate limiting myself to just one style. However, symbolism and surrealism are the trends I find very close to myself. Sea creatures, women, nature, music, dreams, and chaos are the topics from which I get inspiration. I cannot give up using colors. The most striking elements in my paintings are these colors.

I can describe it as a little distant but mischievous, like a singular but pluralist, colorful but sometimes cold. I wrote my undergraduate thesis on David Lynch and film noir. Lynch doesn't like talking about his movies; the audience figures them out or not. I let my works into the hands of the audience, too. My paintings take the form they desire, the way they wish to understand and feel. It becomes that and belongs to them from that point on.

-What should be done to introduce Turkish art abroad in a better way?

There are so many undiscovered talented people in Türkiye. These talents should be included while creating different collections. These people should be reached. It is essential to provide platforms to new artists besides those we all know who hold exhibitions abroad regularly. I think galleries should give more thoughts to this issue.

 -What are your future plans?

I think planning isn't my thing. I am on a journey; I live, create, and take tremendous pleasure in that. There is a quote I like by Picasso that I find relatable. It says, 'You can never stop searching; because you will never find it.' I know I will never give up painting. The rest is a mystery. I have this endless curiosity inside of me, and I am waiting.

-Any final thoughts you would like to add?

Each discipline of art is a different amusement park. Creators and their works should be supported, not feared. We must respect every story.

Her Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/artbyburcindian/?hl=en

Ali Çelik was voted the "Top Young Soccer Player" in New Jersey

Ali Çelik was voted the top soccer player in the senior boys' category in the state of New Jersey by NJ.com, a news website. 17-year-old Ali Çelik 

plays for the teams Lyndhurst and Ironbound SC Super Eagles. He has six goals and seven assists in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference National Division in 2022–2023. 

Ali Çelik received training in Clifton Stallions Soccer Academy for five years.

A devoted Fenerbahçe fan, Ali wants to wear the yellow and blue jersey in the future. In the past, young Turkish athlete Ali Can Çelik, living in New Jersey, was ranked among the 'state's top 100 young soccer players.' The state of New Jersey is also known for producing many young soccer players to play for the U.S. National Soccer Team.

https://highschoolsports.nj.com/player/ali-celik/boyssoccer/season/2020-2021

Secretary Blinken on Latin America Tour

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken begins a tour of Latin American countries, including Columbia, Chile, and Peru. U.S. secretary will meet these three countries' recently elected leftist leaders.

Secretary Blinken will reassert the USA's commitments to the region during his Latin America trip.

During his trip, Blinken will also attend a ministerial summit and hold talks on matters like migration, drug trafficking, post-pandemic recovery, climate change, and Venezuela.It is reported that the USA wants to show its southern neighbors with this trip that they remain a policy priority despite other geo-political issues such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine or China's threat to Taiwan.

U.S. considers it important to have a positive relationship with Latin America's newly elected left-wing leaders.

Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of State Brian Nichols states that they do not evaluate countries based on their political images but rather on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

Secretary Blinken's other objective with this trip is to solidify America's regional partnership despite China's increasing demands.

Bogota's policy for Venezuela and the war on drugs are expected to be the talking points of Blinken's visit to Colombia, his first stop on this trip.

Blinken will visit Chile following Colombia. Chile's new president, Gabriel Boric, had previously criticized President Joe Biden for excluding Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua from the Summit of the Americas.

The last stop for Blinken in Latin America will be Peru. The Minister of Peru's Foreign Affairs states they will discuss the democratic regime, the fight against drug smuggling, and immigration issues.

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