ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday with, including the US saying it will bring down forces in Syria to less than 1,000 in the coming months, a US senator meeting with a mistakenly deported man in El Salvador, and the Turkish president slamming Israel over its Gaza offensive and urging global action.

TOP STORIES

• US to bring down forces in Syria to less than 1,000 in coming months: Pentagon

The Pentagon has announced that it is consolidating US forces in Syria under the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, reducing troop numbers to less than 1,000 in the coming months.

"Recognizing the success the United States has had against ISIS, including its 2019 territorial defeat under President Trump, today the Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria," spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The consolidation reflects the "significant" steps the US has made toward degrading the operational capability of the Daesh/ISIS terror group regionally and globally, Parnell added.

• US Senator meets with mistakenly deported man in El Salvador

US Senator Chris Van Hollen said that he finally established contact with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who the Trump administration said it mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month.

The development came after repeated refusals by the Salvadoran government to facilitate communication.

The Maryland lawmaker said in a post on X that he had managed to meet with Abrego Garcia, who is currently incarcerated at El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot).

• Turkish president slams Israel over Gaza offensive, urges global action

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza, accused the Israeli government of committing indiscriminate massacres against Palestinians, and criticized the international community’s silence.

“In a state of utter madness, the Israeli government is massacring Palestinians without any distinctions,” Erdogan said during a meeting of a group of parliaments in support of Palestine in Istanbul, Türkiye.

He accused those staying silent on the deaths in Gaza of attempting to “normalize genocide” by labeling the Palestinian resistance as "terrorism."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Parliament speakers of 13 countries who gathered Friday for the Groups of Parliaments in Support of Palestine meeting in Istanbul condemned Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip that have been going on for almost 18 months.
• A French public prosecutor has requested a court to fine a former far-right National Rally (NR) party parliamentarian €1,500 (approximately $1,700) for "incitement to discrimination" remarks directed at Africans in the country with dual citizenship.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Friday that Washington may end its efforts to broker peace in Ukraine if clear progress is not made in the coming days.
• Families of Israeli captives held in Gaza on Friday announced plans for mass demonstrations across Israel on Saturday to pressure the government into securing a deal that guarantees their return, even if it requires ending the war.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new sanctions targeting nearly 100 entities and individuals, including those based in China, claiming they are involved in the production of Russian Iskander missiles.
• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump spoke over the phone about bilateral trade and pressing international security concerns.
• China's President Xi Jinping wrapped up a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia as countries in the region expressed interest in negotiating lower tariffs with the United States.
• France reiterated its strict travel ban for French nationals to Iran, warning of a serious risk of arbitrary detention solely due to their nationality.
• Health officials in Davao City in the southern Philippines on Friday confirmed two cases of mpox, with one patient dying from complications, according to a state public advisory.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Oil prices head for modest gain on week ending April 18 over US trade talks hopes

Oil prices are set for a slight weekly gain in the week ending April 18, ahead of the Easter holidays, supported by renewed optimism over US trade talks as both benchmarks rebounded from last week’s four-year lows.

The international oil benchmark of Brent crude increased by 4.2% to $66.96 per barrel on Thursday, up from the closing price of $64.26 a barrel last Friday.

• Asian stocks end week mostly higher on tariff deal prospects

Asian stocks closed the week higher, except for China, as hopes for tariff deals rose after US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke positively on Thursday about the prospects for a trade deal between the US and the EU.

Global stock markets have been in turmoil since the US imposed "reciprocal" tariffs on April 2 and then postponed them for 90 days on April 9.

Stocks rose sharply after countries contacted the US to negotiate trade agreements, raising hopes of avoiding a trade war.