Latest news with #Israel-Syria
Economic Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Top sectors to watch in 2025 amid global uncertainty: Expert insights for Indian investors
Agencies If anything, India's risk is on the upside, global investors might underestimate a coming rally. Small-cap valuations may look stretched on a trailing basis, but forward PEs still look attractive. "On the other hand, emerging markets are seeing deflationary trends. The US has gained full access to manufacturing markets like Indonesia and Vietnam, which are now being flooded with cost-effective US goods. That, combined with stronger currencies, means lower prices in these markets," says For the first time, we are seeing developed markets surprising on the upside of inflation, while inflation in emerging markets is cooling off. What's driving this divergence, and what are the implications for India? Abhishek Banerjee: To understand this divergence, we need to look at both the source of inflation in developed markets and the deflationary pressures in emerging markets. Developed economies, especially the US, are imposing tariffs, which act like invisible taxes on consumers. This raises the landed cost of goods. Last time the US introduced tariffs on China, the Chinese yuan depreciated, offsetting the higher tariffs. This time, however, the currency weakening isn't happening—so the full burden of the tariff is being felt, fueling the other hand, emerging markets are seeing deflationary trends. The US has gained full access to manufacturing markets like Indonesia and Vietnam, which are now being flooded with cost-effective US goods. That, combined with stronger currencies, means lower prices in these markets. India's outlook is still evolving. India may likely allow some market access to the US in exchange for tariff concessions. Interestingly, for the first time, emerging markets like India are in a position to cut rates, while developed markets are expected to raise them. We saw RBI cut the CRR by 100 basis points and follow it with a 50 bps rate cut. From a market perspective, this environment favors value investing over growth. In India, smaller companies and less-leveraged businesses may outperform as inflation trends shift talk about geopolitical risks. Do you think tensions are rising? What should be an investor's strategy in this environment? Is it time to move to risk-free assets, or do 'buy-the-dip' opportunities still exist? Abhishek: Geopolitical risks remain elevated. While tensions in the Middle East were briefly contained, new flashpoints are emerging, Israel-Syria, the unresolved Russia-Ukraine conflict, China-Taiwan tensions, and possible North Korea risks won't go away anytime soon. That's why investors may shift toward domestically linked sectors. With global unpredictability, sectors like defence, metals, and materials could serve as short, geopolitics is now business-as-usual for markets. Investors should diversify into themes less exposed to global supply chains and more aligned with India's domestic demand story. What's your view on the current earnings season? We've seen IT services underperform and pharma facing tariff threats. Which sectors offer more resilience amid geopolitical volatility? Abhishek: IT services are under pressure due to global headwinds and structural changes like the rise of AI. Agentic AI systems are replacing tasks traditionally outsourced to India, and global clients are wary of geopolitical instability affecting delivery centers. Pharma is facing its own challenges, especially the threat of a 200% tariff on exports to the US. This is significant because most listed Indian pharma companies derive 30–40% of their revenues from the this backdrop, domestic-facing sectors like financials, especially credit-focused banks and capital market players, offer relative safety. FMCG, though underperforming recently, could serve as a stable allocation. For more adventurous investors, metals, engineering, and materials offer alpha opportunities. Q. Specifically on Indian pharma, with the US being our largest export market, how should investors navigate this 200% tariff risk? Abhishek: There's definitely headline risk, but also opportunity. Indian pharma firms like Biocon, Lupin, and Laurus Labs — which derive a large portion of their revenue from the US — could explore local manufacturing or brownfield acquisitions in the US. The new US tax laws also offer generous incentives for setting up facilities. I personally do not believe a 200% tariff will materialize. A more likely scenario is a 20% tariff and that's likely already priced you're already invested in Indian pharma, stay patient. These are high-quality companies with strong management. But if you're not yet invested, it may be wise to wait for clarity before allocating fresh capital. Q. What's your current view on precious metals? Gold prices seem to have stalled. Is a fresh rally likely? Abhishek: Gold appears to be range-bound for now. Historically, after a price spurt, gold tends to fluctuate ±5% for the next few years. That's what we expect going forward. While some experts have projected $5,000 gold, that's not our view. Gold should be a part of your portfolio if you're preserving wealth, but if you're still in the wealth-building phase, equities offer better opportunities at this time. Q. What are the top risks for India going forward? Specifically, how would a sharp rise in crude oil prices affect our macroeconomic outlook? Abhishek: Oil is India's Achilles' heel. Our road-heavy logistics and supply chain make us vulnerable to oil price spikes. A flare-up in any geopolitical hotspot could easily push crude prices $20 higher, severely impacting inflation and interest rates — and thereby equity valuations, especially for high-P/E said, India is actively diversifying, moving to solar, reviving coal, and investing in nuclear energy. Plus, the economy is benefiting from a strong domestic base: tax collections are healthy, dividend payouts from PSUs and RBI are strong, and inflation is under anything, India's risk is on the upside, global investors might underestimate a coming rally. Small-cap valuations may look stretched on a trailing basis, but forward PEs still look attractive. Q. What's your advice to investors today, both conservative and aggressive? Abhishek: For low-risk investors, I'd recommend exposure through balanced advantage funds or a mix of debt and equity with a tilt toward domestic sectors. But this approach needs thoughtful asset allocation, ideally through an advisor. For high-risk investors, small-caps still offer good opportunities. Sector-wise, NBFCs, metals, banks, and manufacturing-focused stocks remain through ETFs, passive funds, or stock-picking, there are multiple ways to build exposure based on your risk appetite. Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts/brokerages do not represent the views of Economic Times.
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Secretary Rubio warns Damascus over Suwayda violence as tribal forces withdraw
Also in Syria 'They're erasing our identity': Suwayda native in Erbil pleads for end to violence Clashes continue in Suwayda, death toll passes 900: Watchdog Syrian president confirms truce as state forces enter Suwayda US announces Israel-Syria ceasefire following deadly clashes in Suwayda A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Damascus authorities must immediately reel in 'violent jihadists,' hold them accountable, and prevent their entry to the southern Druze-majority Suwayda province, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, as Syrian authorities declared a halt to the fighting. 'If authorities in Syria want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive, and peaceful Syria … they must end this calamity by using their security forces to prevent ISIS [Islamic State] and any other violent jihadists from entering the area and carrying out massacres,' Rubio said on X. He called on Damascus to bring the perpetrators of atrocities in the area to justice, 'including those in their own ranks.' 'The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end,' Rubio asserted, adding that Washington is in touch with Israeli, Jordanian, and Syrian authorities over the developments in Suwayda. Syria's interior ministry said on Sunday that fighting in Suwayda had 'halted' after tribal fighters pulled out of the city. 'The city of Suwayda was evacuated of all tribal fighters and clashes within the city's neighborhoods were halted,' ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba said, adding that Syrian troops were deployed to the province's north and west. The ceasefire, called for by the Syrian government, came after a Washington-brokered deal that sought to prevent further Israeli intervention. On Sunday, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack described the events in southern Syria as a 'profound shock,' saying 'brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order.' 'All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance. Syria stands at a critical juncture - peace and dialogue must prevail - and prevail now,' he stressed. Barrack further urged the Damascus authorities to capitalize on US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on the war-torn country. A day prior, Barrack met with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi to discuss the situation in Syria. 'They also discussed practical steps towards integration into a unified Syria for a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and stable future for all Syrians. They agreed the time for unity is now,' the US Embassy in Syria said on X. Clashes in Suwayda erupted on Saturday between Druze fighters and tribal groups despite an internationally sponsored ceasefire, which pushed the death toll to around 940 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. Israel has come out in support of the Druze and hit several targets, including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the building of the defence ministry in Damascus. Clashes erupted last week between the Druze and Sunni Bedouin tribes. The Syrian army intervened and took control of most of the province, which had been under Druze rule since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. A ceasefire was reached with US mediation and after Israel carried out strikes in support of the Druze. On Wednesday, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced state forces were pulling out of the province.
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Clashes continue in Suwayda, death toll passes 900: Watchdog
Also in Syria Syrian president confirms truce as state forces enter Suwayda US announces Israel-Syria ceasefire following deadly clashes in Suwayda Syria to deploy 'specialized force' to end Suwayda clashes Damascus denies forces re-entered Druze area A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Clashes have continued between Druze fighters and tribal groups in Syria's southern province of Suwayda, pushing the death toll to over 900 despite an internationally sponsored ceasefire announced earlier in the day, a watchdog stated on Saturday. There are 'renewed clashes in the western neighbourhoods of Al-Suwaidaa city between tribesmen and local gunmen from the Druze community following the breach of the international-sponsored ceasefire agreement which was reached today,' stated the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). 'The number of fatalities in armed clashes, exchange of bombardment, extrajudicial executions and Israeli airstrikes in different Syrian provinces… has increased to 940,' the monitor stated. The violence between armed Druze groups and Bedouin tribes began on Sunday. On Saturday morning, Washington's Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack announced that the United States had brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Syria. Israel has come out in support of the Druze and hit several targets, including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the building of the defence ministry in Damascus. Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa confirmed the agreement that includes the deployment of state security forces to Suwayda. Government forces had pulled out of the province on Wednesday. Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that controls the northeast of the country (known to Kurds as Rojava), praised the efforts that led to a ceasefire, describing them as vital steps 'in support of civil peace.' Elham Ahmed, co-chair of Rojava's Foreign Relations Office, in a post on X on Saturday, expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Suwayda, where civilians, she said, 'face severe hardship due to siege and deteriorating conditions.' She said the Rojava administration is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to Suwayda. Opening humanitarian corridors is part of the ceasefire agreement, Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said on Saturday. The ceasefire plan, according to the minister, consists of three phases: the initial deployment of internal security forces to de-escalate clashes and secure key routes, followed by the opening of humanitarian corridors between Daraa and Suwayda to allow the evacuation of civilians and wounded, and finally, the gradual reactivation of state institutions and full restoration of law and order. 'This is the path Suwayda needs after months of tension and exhaustion,' Mustafa said.
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syrian president confirms truce as state forces enter Suwayda
Also in Syria US announces Israel-Syria ceasefire following deadly clashes in Suwayda Syria to deploy 'specialized force' to end Suwayda clashes Damascus denies forces re-entered Druze area Syria's Druze seek access to Rojava as Kurds send humanitarian aid A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday confirmed that a ceasefire has been agreed on in the southern Druze-majority province of Suwayda, where days of clashes between armed Druze groups and Sunni tribes have killed hundreds. He thanked Washington for its role in reaching the truce. In a video message addressing the nation, Sharaa targeted the armed Druze groups who have been in control of their region since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. 'The recent events witnessed in Suwayda province have constituted a dangerous turning point in the security and political situation in Syria, where conflicts have escalated between outlawed groups on one hand, and Bedouins on the other, leading to an unprecedented deterioration of conditions,' Sharaa stated. 'The events began with violent clashes between these groups that nearly spiraled out of control, had it not been for the intervention of the Syrian state, which managed to calm the situation despite its difficulty,' he added. Clashes between the Druze and Bedouin tribes have killed over 700 people since Sunday. State forces, who were deployed to the province to end the violence, have been accused of siding with the Sunni tribes. Earlier on Saturday, Washington's Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack announced that the United States brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Syria. Israel has come out in support of the Druze and hit several targets, including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the building of the defence ministry in Damascus. Sharaa called on everyone to abide by the truce and thanked the US for the role it played and Russia, China and the European Union for their 'strong positions' in rejecting Israel's attacks. 'Israeli intervention reignited tensions and pushed the country into a dangerous phase threatening its stability, as a result of the blatant shelling of the south and government institutions in Damascus. Following these events, American and Arab mediations intervened in an attempt to de-escalate the situation,' Sharaa said. He did not disclose the terms of the ceasefire, but the Druze spiritual leadership did provide details. Security forces affiliated with Damascus will set up checkpoints in the vicinity of Suwayda province 'with the aim of controlling the engagement and preventing the infiltration of any groups into the province,' according to the Druze text. 'Entry of any party into border villages is prohibited for 48 hours from the time of the agreement, to allow for the deployment of security forces from the other side, avoiding any surprise attacks.' The Druze leadership also said that the Bedouin armed groups who are still in the province will be safely escorted out without facing any mistreatment. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba said on X that Damascus-affiliated internal security forces 'have begun entering Suwayda as part of a national mission, with the primary goal of protecting civilians and stopping chaos.' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned Sharaa's speech, claiming that it was a 'display of support for the jihadists attackers (in al-Shara's words: 'The Bedouin tribes as a symbol of noble values and principles') and blaming the victims (the attacked Druze minority).' He said that it is 'very dangerous' to be a member of a minority group in Syria, including Kurds. 'The international community has a duty to ensure the security and rights of the minorities in Syria and to condition Syria's renewed acceptance into the family of nations on their protection,' he said.
San Francisco Chronicle
7 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Latest: Trump welcomes Bahrain crown prince after signing nuclear energy deal
President Donald Trump will welcome Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to the White House on Wednesday. It's the latest example of how the president has courted Arab leaders from the Gulf, where Trump recently visited. The United States and Bahrain have signed an agreement that will pave the way for the two countries to enter into a formal civilian-nuclear cooperation deal as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to enhance global energy security. Trump slams his own supporters as he tries to move past Epstein 'SCAM' Trump faces mounting criticism from his political base over the Justice Department's failure to release much-hyped records in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking investigation. 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls---,' hook, line, and sinker,' he wrote on his Truth Social site Wednesday morning. He goes on to say: 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter.' Rubio says US 'very concerned' by surge in Israel-Syria violence, seeking a restoration of ceasefire Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters he had just been on the phone with 'relevant parties' and hoped to have an update later Wednesday. 'We want the fighting to stop because we had a ceasefire,' he said. 'Overnight it broke down, so we're talking with both sides, all the relevant sides, and hopefully we can bring it to a conclusion.' Earlier Wednesday, the Israeli military launched are airstrikes in the heart of Damascus, hitting the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters and near the presidential palace in the hills outside the capital. Clashes have raged for days in the southern Syrian city of Sweida between government forces and Druze armed groups, and Israel has launched dozens of strikes targeting government troops and convoys. Israel says the strikes are in support of the religious minority group, and has vowed to escalate its involvement. Trump to sign Louisiana senator's fentanyl bill into law Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., asks a question during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy's office says he has been pushing the HALT Fentanyl Act since 2021. The bill would make permanent a 2018 emergency rule that classifies the synthetic opioid and its knockoffs as Schedule I controlled substances. That change would result in harsher sentences for possession of the drug. The White House has a bill-signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. US and Bahrain pave the way for a civilian-nuclear cooperation deal The U.S. and Bahrain signed the agreement as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to enhance global energy security. The deal will open up negotiations on what is known as a '123 agreement.' It will allow U.S. and American companies to invest in and construct nuclear energy projects in Bahrain, an island nation off the coast of Saudi Arabia with a population of around 1.5 million people. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani signed the memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, after Rubio signed a similar agreement with Malaysia last week. 'The United States is prepared to be partner with any nation on Earth that wants to pursue a civil nuclear program that clearly is not geared towards weapons and or threatening the security of their neighbors,' Rubio said. Huckabee makes surprise visit to Netanyahu's trial U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee's visit to the courthouse was a rare act of involvement in his host country's internal affairs. It comes after Trump condemned the trial as a 'witch hunt.' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. Huckabee said Wednesday's appearance was a matter of 'representing what the president has said repeatedly.' 'The president has made his position very clear,' Huckabee said ahead of his visit to the courthouse in Tel Aviv. 'It's a personal thing for him. He considers the prime minister a friend.' After the visit, Huckabee reposted Trump's call for the trial to be thrown out and added the comment: 'My conclusion? Trump is right…again.' A look inside a lab making the advanced fuel to power growing US nuclear energy ambitions Near signs that warn of radioactive risk at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a half-dozen workers from the nuclear power company X-energy are making what appear to be gray billiard balls. Inside, they're packed with thousands of tiny black spheres that each contain a speck of uranium enriched beyond what today's power plants use. The United States is chasing a new age of nuclear power that banks on domestic production of reactor fuel like X-energy is making, and though the work at Oak Ridge is unfolding across just 3,000 square feet, X-energy and others are already revving up for big production. President Trump set a goal of quadrupling domestic production of nuclear power within the next 25 years, signing executive orders in May to speed up development. A new wave of advanced nuclear reactors could be operational around 2030. But just like cars won't run without gas, those plants won't run without fuel. To expand nuclear energy long-term, the nation must maximize its nuclear fuel production, according to Trump. Wholesale inflation can indicate where inflation might be headed Economists also watch it because some of its components, notably measures of health care and financial services, flow into the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, index. Inflation began to flare up for the first time in decades in 2021, as the economy roared back with unexpected strength from COVID-19 lockdowns. That prompted the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023. The higher borrowing costs helped bring inflation down from the peaks it reached in 2022, and last year the Fed felt comfortable enough with the progress to cut rates three times. But it has turned cautious this year while it waits to see the inflationary impact of Trump's trade policies. Trump has aggressively stepped up pressure on the Fed to cut rates, a move that threatens the central bank's independence. US producer prices unchanged, with wholesale inflation remaining under control U.S. wholesale inflation cooled last month, despite worries that Trump's tariffs would push prices higher for goods before they reach consumers. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its producer price index — which tracks inflation before it hits consumers — was unchanged last month from May and up 2.3% from a year earlier. Both measures came in below what economists had expected. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core producer prices were also unchanged from May and up 2.6% from June 2024. The report on wholesale inflation came a day after the Labor Department reported that consumer prices last month rose 2.7% from June 2024, the biggest year-over-year gain since February, as Trump's sweeping tariffs pushed up the cost of everything from groceries to appliances. Trump's schedule, according to the White House 1. 11 a.m. ET — Trump will greet and host a meeting with Bahrain's Prime Minister and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa 2. 3 p.m. — Trump will participate in a bill signing ceremony 3. 7 p.m. — Trump will have dinner with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani Some Republicans remain skeptical of the rescissions package Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she was particularly concerned about a lack of specifics from the White House. 'Nobody really knows what program reductions are in it,' Collins said. 'That isn't because we haven't had time to review the bill. Instead, the problem is that OMB has never provided the details that would normally be part of this process.' The Office of Management and Budget acts as a nerve center for the White House, developing its budget, policy priorities and agency rule-making. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn't want the Senate to be going through numerous rounds of rescissions. 'We are lawmakers. We should be legislating,' Murkowski said. 'What we're getting now is a direction from the White House and being told: 'This is the priority and we want you to execute on it. We'll be back with you with another round.' I don't accept that.' Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Collins and Murkowski joined with Democrats in voting against the Senate taking up the measure, but the large majority of Republicans were supportive of Trump's request. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the decision Tuesday in a statement. Roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines had been deployed. It was not immediately clear how long the rest would stay. The troops were tasked with protecting federal buildings and guarding immigration agents as they carry out arrests. The president ordered the deployment of about 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines in early June to respond to protests against immigration raids in and around Los Angeles. Their deployment went against the wishes of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who sued to stop it. A district court judge initially said Trump acted illegally in deploying the Guard over Newsom's opposition, but an appeals court said the administration could keep control of the troops. The case is ongoing. Newsom said the National Guard's deployment to L.A. has pulled troops away from their families and civilian work 'to serve as political pawns for the President in Los Angeles.' Employees at the nation's consumer financial watchdog say it's become toothless under Trump The lights are on at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and employees still get paid. But in practice the bureau has been mostly inoperable for nearly six months. CFPB employees say they essentially spend the workday sitting on their hands, forbidden from doing any work by a White House directive. The bureau is supposed to help oversee banks and financial services companies and take enforcement action in case of wrongdoing. During its 15-year existence, the CFPB has returned roughly $21 billion to consumers who were cheated by financial services companies. Instead its main function now seems to be undoing the rulemaking and law enforcement work that was done under previous administrations, including in Trump's first term. One employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the directive forbids staffers from discussing their jobs publicly, said outsiders would be amazed at how little work is being done. Employees are reluctant even to talk to one another, for fear a conversation would be considered a violation of the directive. Another worker described the drastic shift in mission, from trying to protect consumers to doing nothing, as 'quite demoralizing.' America's only rare earth producer gets a boost from Apple and Pentagon agreements MP Materials announced a new $500 million deal with the tech giant Tuesday to produce more of the powerful magnets used in iPhones as well as other high-tech products like electric vehicles. The news follows last week's announcement that the Defense Department would invest $400 million in shares of the Las Vegas-based company, establish a floor for the price of key elements and ensure that all magnets made at a new plant in the first 10 years are purchased. That unusual direct investment makes the government MP Materials' largest shareholder. 'This is the kind of long-term commitment needed to reshape global rare earth supply chains,' Benchmark Mineral Intelligence analyst Neha Mukherjee said in a research note on the Pentagon deal. Rare earths are a key concern in ongoing trade talks. China dominates the market and imposed new limits on exports after Trump announced widespread tariffs. When shipments dried up, the two sides sat down in London. Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across 10 states, union says Seventeen immigration court judges have been fired in recent days, according to the union that represents them, as the administration pushes forward with its mass deportations of immigrants. 'It's outrageous and against the public interest that at the same time Congress has authorized 800 immigration judges, we are firing large numbers of immigration judges without cause,' said Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which represents the judges. The firings come as the courts have been increasingly at the center of the administration's hard-line immigration enforcement efforts, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arresting people as they appear for court proceedings. A spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Immigration Review, which is the part of the Justice Department that oversees the courts, said via email that the office would not comment on the firings. Judge says Trump administration can't use travel ban to keep 80 refugees out of the US U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead in Seattle said in his ruling late Monday that the president's June order banning entry by people from 12 countries 'expressly states' that it does not limit the ability of people to seek refugee status. The order includes a provision that says nothing in it 'shall be construed to limit the ability of an individual to seek asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the CAT, consistent with the laws of the United States.' In his ruling, Whitehead said 'by its plain terms, the Proclamation excludes refugees from its scope.' Barring refugees from entering would limit their ability to seek refugee status and therefore run counter to the order, the judge added. He ordered the administration to immediately resume processing 80 'presumptively protected refugees' who were rejected based on the travel ban. The State Department did not immediately have comment Tuesday. Department of Homeland Security criticizes court ruling delaying end of protections for Afghans The appeals court decision temporarily delayed the department from removing protections from some Afghans living in the U.S. DHS said in May that it was ending Temporary Protected Status for 11,700 people from Afghanistan in 60 days. That status had allowed them to work and meant the government couldn't deport them. It was supposed to expire Monday, but an appeals court stepped in late in the day and issued a one-week stay while it hears arguments from both sides. Reacting Tuesday, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement: 'Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was never intended to be a de facto asylum program, yet it has been abused as one for decades.' 'The Trump administration is restoring integrity to our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe,' it continued, 'and we have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side.' Republicans look to tweak Trump's request for $9.4 billion in spending cuts Senate Republicans worked Tuesday to slightly scale back the president's request for the cuts in previously approved spending as they tried to build momentum before a key test vote. The amended package removes proposed cuts to a program known as PEPFAR that is credited with saving millions of lives since its creation under then-President George W. Bush to combat HIV/AIDS. The change could help the bill's prospects. Congress has until Friday to get a bill to Trump's desk for his signature or the spending stands. The president is looking to claw back money for foreign aid programs targeted by his Department of Government Efficiency and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The change preserving about $400 million for PEPFAR takes the total savings in the measure down to about $9 billion. Bondi dodges questions about Jeffrey Epstein and FBI deputy director The attorney general is seeking to press ahead with a business-as-usual approach in the face of right-wing outrage that has plunged the Justice Department into turmoil. Pressed by reporters during an announcement about drug seizures, Bondi sidestepped questions about the fallout of the administration's decision not to release more records related Epstein investigation. Amid calls from some members of Trump's base for her resignation, Bondi made clear she has no plans to step down. 'I'm going to be here for as long as the president wants me here,' Bondi said. 'And I believe he's made that crystal clear.' Bondi was also asked about Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, with whom she clashed last week over the Epstein files. Bondi would not answer whether she believes he should remain in his role, saying only that she would not discuss personnel matters. China does have wind farms. Trump claims otherwise Trump falsely claimed that China is lacking in wind farms, despite its role in their production. 'China makes windmills. But how many wind farms do you see in China?' he asked. 'I haven't seen any lately. Sort of crazy.' China is the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines, producing more than half of the supply. However, it is also installing them in China at a record pace. In total, China has 1.3 terawatts of utility-scale wind and solar capacity in development, which could generate more electricity than neighboring Japan consumed in all of 2023, according to a report from the Global Energy Monitor released last week. Trump: 'We are way ahead of China' The president boasted during a summit on energy and AI that the U.S is far ahead of China when it comes to developments in artificial intelligence. 'We believe America's destiny is to dominate every industry and be the first in technology,' he said. Democrats say Trump's State Department cuts undermine US at home and abroad Congressional Democrats are criticizing the Trump administration's budget and personnel cuts at the State Department, saying they rob the country of massive expertise and institutional knowledge and damage America's standing abroad in the world. Top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee took issue with defenses of cuts offered by the deputy Secretary of State for Management Michael Rigas, who argued that the budget and personnel reductions were needed to streamline diplomacy and make it more efficient. Rigas' testimony was the first from a senior department official since Friday when more than 1,300 career civil servants and foreign service officers were fired as part of the administration's broader revamp of the executive branch of government. 'This is a dark time for American diplomacy,' said the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York. 'President Trump continues to isolate the United States, alienate our allies and create space for our adversaries like Russia and China to fill the void.' Rigas said a proposed roughly 50% cut in the department's budget is intended not to punish diplomats but rather to 'make the State Department a more efficient and effective organizations better able to advance the core interests of the American people.' House Speaker breaks with Trump on Epstein saga House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be breaking with Trump over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein criminal investigation and is calling for the Justice Department to 'put everything out there and let the people decide.' The Louisiana Republican said Attorney General Pam Bondi needs to come forward and explain what happened. Bondi earlier this year had made claims that officials were reviewing a 'truckload' of evidence, but last week the Justice Department concluded that Epstein did not leave behind a 'client list' and that public disclosure of more information would not be appropriate. The lack of revelations has angered many MAGA loyalists, particularly after some had expected more transparency and accountability based on previous comments from Trump during the campaign. 'The White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don't know. This isn't my lane. I haven't been involved in that, but I agree with the sentiment to put it out there,' Johnson told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. He described it as the 'biggest private investment in Pennsylvania history,' calling it a 'triumphant day for the people of the commonwealth and the United States of America.'
