Washington: US President Donald Trump has appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the interim administrator of NASA. The decision was announced through a post on Truth Social, where Trump praised Duffy's contributions to the nation's transportation infrastructure. He highlighted Duffy's achievements in modernizing the Air Traffic Control system and enhancing the efficiency of national roads and bridges. Trump mentioned that Duffy's role at NASA might be temporary, and it remains uncertain if he will seek the necessary Senate confirmation for this position.

According to Anadolu Agency, the appointment comes at a time when Trump has also announced a significant policy change, imposing a 50% tariff on all Brazilian goods entering the United States. This decision was attributed to Brazil's handling of former President Jair Bolsonaro's trial and alleged censorship of American platforms. Trump criticized the trial as a "Witch Hunt," expressing his support for Bolsonaro, who faces charges related to an attempted coup.

In other developments, the Palestinian group Hamas has declared its willingness to release 10 Israeli hostages, aiming to facilitate ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. Hamas stated that it is committed to ensuring the success of the talks by showing flexibility, while key issues such as aid flow and Israeli military withdrawal are still under discussion. Israel has yet to respond to Hamas's statement.

Meanwhile, Trump's administration continues to pursue international and domestic policy changes, including a tariff on copper imports effective August 1. Trump justified this move by citing a national security assessment and the strategic importance of copper in various sectors, including technology and defense.