Author: Turkiye Scoop

In the historic city of Edirne in northwestern Türkiye, Çeribaşı Fikri Ocak stands as one of the most prominent figures embodying the vibrant and joyful spirit of Romani culture. Unable to find what he sought in formal education, Ocak turned his lifelong passion for music – often seen as a cultural inheritance among Roma – into a professional career. His devotion to his heritage also led him to play an active role in several Romani civil society organizations. Since 2008, he has served as a “çeribaşı,” a community representative and cultural leader. Ocak has released music albums and in recent…

China officially implemented its planned retaliatory tariffs on US goods on Thursday, imposing an additional 84% duty on imports from the United States. The move comes after Washington escalated its trade pressure, with US President Donald Trump announcing on Wednesday a new plan to raise tariffs on Chinese imports even further — to 125%. At the same time, tariffs for some other countries have been temporarily suspended. So far, Beijing has not responded to the latest US measures. Chinese officials have rejected the US approach, accusing Washington of blackmail and pledging to resist pressure in the ongoing trade dispute. Trump…

Palestine on Thursday welcomed France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state in June. A Foreign Ministry statement called the French plan “a step in the right direction to protect the two-state solution and achieve peace.” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that Paris is making plans to recognize a Palestinian state and could do so as early as June. “We must move toward recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron told France 5 television. “I’m not doing it for unity, or to please this or that person. I’m doing it because at some point it…

Many people in Gaza are dying due to a “totally” crippled health care system, a situation exacerbated by recent bombings by Tel Aviv that have further strained the enclave’s already limited medical resources, a Palestinian doctor said. Speaking to Anadolu, Ibrahim Elakkad, who served as head of ENT department at Nasser Medical Complex, Gaza’s one of the largest hospitals, until February, said the public and private health systems almost “no longer exist.” Elakkad is currently in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, where his wife, an English teacher at a now-dysfunctional Gaza school, has recently undergone eye surgery. “Israeli forces have…

A pro-Palestinian student has sued the Trump administration for trying to deport her, local media reported Monday. Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student who is a legal permanent resident, has taken part in pro-Palestinian protests on campus since 2023. Chung filed a complaint after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) got an administrative warrant for her arrest and told her that her status was being revoked. She described the government’s actions as “shocking overreach” and an “unprecedented and unjustifiable assault” on her rights. Chung’s case is the latest example of the Trump administration’s efforts to detain and deport pro-Palestinian…

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.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday imposing tariffs on countries importing Venezuelan oil. According to the order, from April 2, a tariff of 25% may be imposed on all goods imported into the US from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, whether directly from Venezuela or indirectly through third parties. The order said the actions and policies of “the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat” to the national security and foreign policy of the US. Early Monday, Trump announced that he will be imposing a “secondary” tariff on Venezuela…

Two-thirds of Europeans want the EU to take a stronger role in protecting them from global crises and security threats, according to a Eurobarometer survey released Tuesday. “This is a clear call for action, which we will answer. Europe needs to be stronger so that our citizens feel safer,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a statement. Defense and security emerged as the top policy priority, with 36% of respondents saying the EU should focus most on this area. Seventy-four percent of Europeans said their country has benefited from EU membership — the highest level recorded since the survey…

Pope Francis on Monday condemned the deaths of children in bombings, emphasizing that nothing is more important than a child’s life and that killing children means denying the future. Speaking at the “Children’s Rights Summit” held in Vatican City, the pontiff urged participants to find new ways to protect children whose rights are violated daily. “What we have tragically seen almost every day in recent times, namely children dying beneath bombs, sacrificed to the idols of power, ideology, and nationalistic interests, is unacceptable,” Pope Francis said, referencing global conflicts and bombings. The Pope also highlighted the plight of migrant children,…

Real Madrid are the first football club to top a billion euros in revenue during a single season, fueled by income generated by the revamped Santiago Bernabeu stadium, according to financial experts Deloitte. The order of the clubs at the top of Deloitte’s annual Football Money League stayed the same, with Madrid at 1.05 billion euros ($1.09 billion) followed by Premier League champions Manchester City at 838 million euros and Paris Saint-Germain with 806 million euros. The 208 million euro gap between the first and second is the biggest Deloitte has ever recorded. The dramatic refurbishment of the home of…