Author: Anadolu Agency
A federal judge in New York has temporarily blocked the detention of Yunseo Chung, a Columbia University student, amid her fight against deportation. Chung, a 21-year-old permanent US resident, was targeted by immigration authorities due to her involvement in pro-Palestinian campus protests. Her lawyers filed an emergency motion Monday, arguing that the government’s actions violated her constitutional rights to free speech. “The government’s actions are an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on First Amendment and other rights, one that cannot stand basic legal scrutiny,” the lawsuit said. US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald’s temporary restraining order issued Tuesday blocks the government…
Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek signaled stability in Türkiye’s economy, saying volatility in markets has significantly decreased and that he expects the effects of recent developments on the economy to be temporary and limited, according to a press release by his ministry Tuesday. Simsek and Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan held a video conference Tuesday with international investors and answered their questions on current developments. Around 4,500 investors from North America, the UK, other European countries and the Middle East showed great interest in the one-hour meeting, according to the statement. During the meeting, Simsek said that all necessary steps…
An Israeli court upheld a detention order Tuesday against Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Gaza Strip. “The Israeli Beersheba court today upheld the detention of Abu Safiya as an unlawful combatant for a period of six months,” the Prisoners’ Information Office, affiliated with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, said in a statement. No further details were provided. Israel arrested Abu Safiya, 52, in late December after storming the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. He was forcibly removed at gunpoint after the hospital was destroyed and rendered non-operational. Israel’s 2002 Unlawful Combatants Law…
US President Donald Trump has signaled he is considering imposing a lower tariff rate on “a lot of countries” as he prepares to introduce what he is calling “reciprocal tariffs” on nations worldwide next week. The president continued to bill his looming action as a way to increase American wealth, which he suggested has been stolen by foreign countries. Trump said that imposing the duties would incentivize them to lower their financial barriers, but said his administration may end up charging some countries less than they charge on US exports. “I may give a lot of countries breaks, but it’s…
The EU has the strength to counter possible tariffs by the US, said Italy’s president on Monday, reported local media. Speaking at an event in Rome, Sergio Mattarella underlined the importance of free trade for Italy, the EU, and the world by large, and said: “We have to be calm without feeding excessive concerns, because the EU has the strength to calmly, authoritatively intervene to counter an unjustified decision such as the imposition of tariffs.” The EU is a strong entity, so it must intervene calmly, but also with determination, he added, according to the state-run ANSA news agency. But…
US and Ukrainian delegations began a new round of talks in Saudi Arabia, a day after US and Russian officials held discussions in Riyadh, Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne reported on Tuesday. The agenda of the talks remains undisclosed, according to the report. On Sunday, US and Ukrainian officials met in Riyadh to discuss the security of energy and infrastructure facilities. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov described the discussions as “productive and focused.” Also, US and Russian delegations on Monday held closed-door talks in Saudi Arabia as journalists were asked to leave the premises of The Ritz-Carlton hotel, where the meeting…
Pushing back on possible new tariffs by President Donald Trump over importing oil from Venezuela, Beijing on Tuesday slammed the US’ “illegal” sanctions which “grossly interfere in other nations’ internal affairs,” state media reported. “China firmly opposes the US’ long-term abuse of illegal unilateral sanctions and so-called long-arm jurisdiction,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing. He was responding to questions over Trump’s executive order declaring any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25% tariff on trades with the US. Urging the US to “cease meddling in Venezuela’s domestic affairs,” Guo asked the Trump…
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck off the coast of Riverton in New Zealand on Tuesday, said the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake was at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles), it added. No casualties have been reported so far. New Zealand is located in a seismically active region and experiences several earthquakes each year.
Russian and US delegations held a “detailed and complex but quite useful” meeting in Riyadh on Monday, focusing on the Ukraine conflict and security issues, Grigory Karasin, the co-head of the Russian delegations, said Tuesday. The high-level talks lasted over 12 hours, marking one of the longest discussions between the two sides since their diplomatic dialogue resumed in February. Karasin described the talks as constructive, emphasizing that they covered multiple issues. “The dialogue was detailed and complex but quite useful for both us and the Americans,” he told Russian media, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. “Many problems…
The US Senate on Monday confirmed John Phelan as the next secretary of the Navy. Phelan was confirmed in a 62-30 vote. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, Phelan pledged to work to improve the US Navy by addressing recruitment and retention in the branch as well as increase the Navy’s fleet among other issues. “If confirmed, I will use my business and military charitable work experience to ensure that our Navy and Marine Corps are prepared to meet the moment,” he said.