ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday with, including confirmation that the US has engaged in direct talks with Palestinian resistance group Hamas, President Donald Trump delaying tariffs on some Canadian and Mexican goods for a month, and Switzerland canceling a conference on the occupied Palestinian territories due to a "lack of will."

TOP STORIES

• US confirms it is ‘having discussions with Hamas’

President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that the US is holding talks with Hamas for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

"We are having discussions with Hamas. We are helping Israel in those discussions, because we’re talking about Israeli hostages," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Earlier, the White House had confirmed that the Trump administration is engaged in direct dialogue with Hamas, adding that the talks align with US interests. Trump said the US would not pay for the release of captives.

• Trump delays tariffs on some goods from Canada, Mexico for 1 month

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday delaying tariffs on a broad range of goods imported from Canada and Mexico for one month as markets continue to quake due to the president's sweeping global tariff effort.

The Free Trade Agreement that Trump negotiated in his first term will be exempted until April 2, when he plans to enact his much-touted global reciprocal tariff plan, which he said "will be much more significant."

He described his action as a "short-term modification" to mitigate the fallout for American car manufacturers.

• Switzerland cancels conference on occupied Palestinian territories due to 'lack of will'

Switzerland on Thursday announced that it has cancelled the conference on the application of the Geneva Conventions to the occupied Palestinian territories due to a "lack of will," the Foreign Ministry said.

Bern invited 196 states to the conference, which was set to be held on Friday, on the situation of civilians living in the Israeli-occupied territories.

"After examining the state of registrations, the depositary (Switzerland) reaches the conclusion that there is no sufficient cross-regional critical mass supporting the text of the Final Draft Declaration," the ministry said in a notification to the state parties. "It thus infers that the High Contracting Parties lack the will necessary for the holding of the Conference, which will therefore not take place."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• French President Emmanuel Macron issued a warning about the dangers posed by Russia late Thursday, declaring that it represents "an existential threat" to Europe.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reminded his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of how Napoleon Bonaparte's 1812 campaign against Moscow ended, responding to the head of state's remarks about Russia.

• EU leaders agreed to new defense spending plans following emergency talks held in Brussels Thursday.

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday that foreign nationals who show support for Hamas or other groups whom the administration designates as “terrorist organizations” will face visa denial and deportation.

• Syria’s security forces arrested a former intelligence chief Thursday who is accused of carrying out hundreds of assassinations under ex-regime leader Hafez al-Assad, local media reported.

• Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Thursday confirmed that the US has paused military aid to Ukraine.

• The US is in discussions with Ukraine to hold a meeting in Saudi Arabia to advance peace efforts with Russia, Washington's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday.

• Law enforcement and Navy security forces in Florida responded Thursday to reports of gunshots at Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Corry Station.

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday highlighted the direct impact it faces from the global power struggle in its region, stressing that Ankara does not have the "luxury to watch it from the tribunes."

• The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, accused Israel on Thursday of attempting to evade its commitments under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

• The US House of Representatives voted Thursday to censure Congressman Al Green after he interrupted President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.

• Four Syrian security personnel, two civilians, and nine armed militants were killed in clashes that have been ongoing since Tuesday evening in Sanamayn city, officials in southern Syria announced Thursday.

SPORTS

• Rangers seal 3-1 win over Fenerbahce in Europa League last-16 clash

The Rangers secured a 3-1 victory over Fenerbahce in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie on Thursday in Istanbul, giving the Scottish side a crucial advantage ahead of the second leg in Scotland.

The Scottish giants took the lead in the first half when Cyriel Dessers capitalized on a defensive error. Fenerbahce struggled to clear the ball from their own box, allowing Dessers to finish from a tight angle.

Fenerbahce’s Defender Caglar Soyuncu attempted a goal-line clearance, but goal-line technology confirmed the ball had crossed, putting Rangers 1-0 ahead.

• US, Canada, Mexico offer $10M reward for former Canadian Olympian

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) added former Canadian Olympian snowboarder Ryan Wedding to its 10 most-wanted list Thursday and offered a $10 million reward for the alleged drug kingpin.

The Los Angeles Police Department said Wedding ran a network that used the city as a base to move huge quantities of drugs, including “five metric tons of fentanyl a month” as well as hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia north through Mexico and California into Canada.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Leading Turkish drone producer Baykar, Italian defense giant Leonardo ink cooperation deal

Türkiye's leading drone producer, Baykar Technologies, and Italian defense giant Leonardo signed a partnership agreement Thursday in unmanned technologies.

The agreement was signed by Leonardo's CEO Roberto Cingolani, Baykar's Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar, and CEO Haluk Bayraktar at Leonardo headquarters in Rome.

"We have been in intensive negotiations for months. We were already working with Leonardo, and there are systems we have integrated," said Selcuk Bayraktar.

• European Central Bank cuts rates by 25 basis points, in line with estimates

The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday lowered its three key interest rates by 25 basis points, meeting market forecasts.

This marked the fifth consecutive rate cut since the ECB initiated its easing cycle last June.

The key deposit rate now stands at 2.50%, its lowest level since early 2023.