Turkey's Halkbank, U.S. Justice Department in deferred prosecution agreement, judge says
The Straits Times
NEW YORK, March 9 - Turkish state-run lender Halkbank and the U.S. Justice Department have reached a deferred prosecution agreement, the judge overseeing the long-running U.S. criminal case against the bank said in a court filing on Monday, without providing further details of the deal. Read more at straitstimes.com.
NEW YORK, March 9 - Turkish state-run lender Halkbank and the U.S. Justice Department have reached a deferred prosecution agreement, the judge overseeing the long-running U.S. criminal case against the bank said in a court filing on Monday, without providing further details of the deal.
In the case, prosecutors had accused of fraud, money laundering and conspiracy for allegedly helping Iran evade American economic sanctions.
Halkbank's case has long been a thorn in U.S.-Turkey relations, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan calling it an "unlawful, ugly" step.
The agreement was announced after the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2025 let stand a federal appeals court decision that let the prosecution proceed.
U.S. prosecutors originally charged Halkbank in 2019, during President Donald Trump's first White House term.
Erdogan met with Trump in September, and expressed hope the following month that the meeting would resolve various issues between the countries.
MADRID, March 19 - Spain will delay the presentation of its annual budget, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday, as the cabinet puts together a package of emergency measures to counter the economic impact of the Iran war. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The statue “was toppled in the 14th century and shattered into more than 10,000 fragments by looters”. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MOSCOW, March 19 - A senior Russian official called on Thursday for the creation of a safety zone around Iran's Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant to prevent a major disaster, two days after a projectile struck within several hundred metres of its reactor. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WASHINGTON, March 19 - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States' objectives in the war against Iran have not changed since strikes started on February 28. Read more at straitstimes.com.
DUBAI, March 19 - Iran's foreign minister called for vigilance and regional coordination in separate calls with counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan as the military warned of a tougher response to any further attacks on its energy infrastructure, state media reported on Thursday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Defence lawyers will be required to obtain clearances before appearing in national security cases. Read more at straitstimes.com.
ATHENS, March 19 - An air defence system operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Iran on Thursday, Greece's defence minister said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Rescue missions in some areas have been restricted due to fuel shortage. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Diesel stocks are down to 30 days, said Australia's Energy Minister. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Authorities reported seven new cases of the disease that has killed two people so far. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Asia-bound travelers bypass Gulf hubs due to Iran conflict, boosting Singapore Airlines and other Asian carriers. Read more at straitstimes.com.
COPENHAGEN, March 19 - A Russian fighter jet violated neighbouring Estonia's airspace on Wednesday, triggering a response from NATO's Baltic Air Policing, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
For years Washington had pressed China to arrest sellers of chemicals used to make the deadly drug. Read more at straitstimes.com.