Morning Briefing: April 4, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday with, including Hungary saying it has decided to exit the International Criminal Court, a senior Russian negotiator announcing that he is holding talks in Washington with representatives of US President Donald Trump’s administration, and South Korea’s Constitutional Court deciding to remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his bid to impose martial law on Dec. 3.

TOP STORIES

• Hungary announces decision to exit International Criminal Court

Hungary announced that it has decided to exit the International Criminal Court.

According to the decision, announced by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Chief of Staff, Gergely Gulyas, the withdrawal process from The Hague-based court will start immediately.

The decision is in line with the country's constitutional and international legal obligations, he said.

• Senior Russian negotiator announces talks with Trump representatives in Washington

A senior Russian negotiator announced that he is holding talks in Washington with representatives of US President Donald Trump’s administration.

Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s special envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation, said on Telegram that he started two days of talks Wednesday at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The dialogue between Russia and the United States, which is of the utmost importance for the entire world, was completely destroyed under the Biden administration,” Dmitriev said.

• South Korea’s impeached president removed from office

South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously decided to remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his bid to impose martial law on Dec. 3.

In a unanimous decision, eight justices found that Yoon's declaration of martial law “did not meet the legal requirement for a national crisis.”

Yoon was impeached by parliament on Dec. 14 after he declared martial law on the night of Dec. 3, triggering a political crisis in the country.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The UN warned of the "high and increasing risk" of atrocity crimes in the Gaza Strip, condemning Israel's continued military operations and blockade of the Palestinian territory.
• Türkiye denounced recent statements by Israeli ministers directed at Ankara, calling them “provocative” and reflective of the Israeli government’s “aggressive and expansionist policies.”
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the Hungarian capital Budapest on an official visit, defying an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza.
• Qatar condemned allegations that it made “financial payments” to undermine efforts by Egypt and mediators in talks between Hamas and Israel for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
• At least 19 people were killed, including children, in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza City, a medical source said.
• Belgium expressed its “deep regret” over Hungary’s decision to exit the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• Germany’s outgoing chancellor sharply criticized US President Donald Trump’s tariffs decisions, calling them an attack on the established international trade order.
• The magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 destroyed the ancient city of Ava in the Mandalay Region, causing severe damage to historic pagodas and religious sites, the Myanmar Now website reported.
• Germany and Austria have decided to ban entry to Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and two other senior figures from Bosnia's Serb entity Republika Srpska (RS), according to a statement.
• Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf held discussions with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot about key issues on the agenda of bilateral relations as part of preparations for the latter’s upcoming official visit to the Arab country.
• Algeria's permanent representative to the UN said the actions Israel has been carrying out against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 constitute "collective punishment" and "war crimes."
• Arab countries strongly denounced Israeli airstrikes on Syria as a violation of international law and an assault on Syrian sovereignty.
  

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Kaspersky warns of new malware variant

Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab has discovered a new and improved version of the Android Trojan Triada, a type of malware pre-installed on fake Android smartphones that are allegedly sold through unauthorized retailers.

According to the company, the malware, which is embedded in the system software, operates undetected, giving attackers full control over infected devices.

More than 2,600 users worldwide have been affected.

• Türkiye's annual inflation eased to over 3-year low of 38.10% in March

Türkiye's annual inflation rate slowed to 38.10% in March, marking its lowest level since December 2022, according to official data.

Headline inflation dropped from 39.05% in February, while economists polled by Anadolu had estimated inflation to come in at 38.66%.

Energy prices surged by 41.98% at an annualized pace in March, easing from 43.92% in February.