ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including Trump threatening new tariffs and software export curbs on China amid rare earths row; a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake striking Drake Passage; and Macron reappointing Sebastien Lecornu as French premier
TOP STORIES
- Trump threatens new tariffs, software export curbs on China amid rare earths row
US President Donald Trump vowed to impose new tariffs of 100% on Chinese goods and restrict the export of "critical software" after Beijing announced restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals.
"Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the U.S.A., and not other nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a tariff of 100% on China, over and above any tariff that they are currently paying," Trump wrote on his social media company Truth Social.
"Also on November 1st, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software. It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is history," he added.
That was after China announced the new rare earth export restrictions Thursday. They widen limits on processing and manufacturing technologies and prohibit cooperation with foreign companies without prior government authorization, state media reported.
- Massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Drake Passage
A massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Drake Passage on Friday, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake occurred in the body of water between South America's Cape Horn and Antarctica, at roughly 5.29 pm local time (2029GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a previous warning of a tsunami threat to Chile was cancelled, with no tsunami threats remaining.
- Macron reappoints Sebastien Lecornu as French premier
French President Emmanuel Macron reappointed Sebastien Lecornu as France's prime minister, four days after his resignation.
Lecornu is tasked with forming a new government, the Elysee Palace said in a statement.
The decision came after negotiations with leaders from different political parties.
"I accept — out of duty — the mission entrusted to me by the President of the Republic: to do everything possible to ensure France has a budget by the end of the year and to address the daily concerns of our fellow citizens," Lecornu wrote on the US social media company, X.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Authorities arrested two men in connection with an alleged plot to carry out terror attacks targeting politicians in Belgium and the Netherlands, media reports said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has asked Myanmar to stop attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructures.
North Korea held a military parade in its capital of Pyongyang to mark the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), according to reports by the South Korean media.
The EU welcomed the agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip and urged all parties to "fully implement the agreement without delay."
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced that the agency is forming a joint task force operating in the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility to target drug trafficking organizations.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis hosted his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Ticino, where the two held the fourth round of a Switzerland-China strategic dialogue to strengthen cooperation and update their decade-old free trade agreement.
A senior Hamas member said a prisoner exchange with Israel may begin Monday under a Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Syria called a US Senate decision to repeal the Caesar Act a “constructive step” toward correcting the course of relations between Damascus and Washington.
US first lady Melania Trump said she has maintained direct communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the fate of Ukrainian children displaced by the war with Ukraine, and eight children have been reunited in the last 24 hours.
US President Donald Trump said there is "no reason" to sit down with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at an upcoming summit after Beijing announced sweeping restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals.
The US Senate has approved the removal of some of the most comprehensive American sanctions on Syria during the rule of Bashar al-Assad, Syria's long-standing leader, who was ousted last December.
SPORTS
- Norway FA president said a discussion on FIFA, UEFA violations of their laws in favor of Israel must continue
Norwegian Football Association President Lise Klaveness said she has always been careful to highlight violations of FIFA and UEFA statutes related to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and emphasized that the discussion must continue.
Klaveness held a news conference before a Norway-Israel match, scheduled for Saturday, in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Klaveness responded to Anadolu's question about whether a ceasefire has been declared in Gaza. "As the head of the Norwegian FA, do you maintain your view that Israel should be banned from international football to be held accountable for the genocide it committed in Gaza? Or will everything that happened be forgotten now that a ceasefire has been declared?"
She said they, like everyone else, are very happy that a peace agreement has been reached. "I think it’s crucial to give it energy and momentum. Of course, we’re not directly involved in these talks, but we all have platforms.”
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Spot market natural gas prices for Thursday, Oct. 9
The trade volume on Türkiye's spot natural gas market showed an increase of 64.3% to 15.86 million Turkish liras on Thursday, Türkiye's Energy Exchange Istanbul (EXIST) data showed.
Total trade Wednesday amounted to about 9.65 million liras.
On Thursday's spot market, 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas cost 14,416.33 liras, while the cumulative natural gas trade volume amounted to around 1.1 million cubic meters.
Türkiye received about 132.8 million cubic meters of pipeline gas on Thursday.
$1 equals 41.82 liras at 2.19 pm local time (1119 GMT) Friday.
