ISTANBUL 

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday with, including US President Donald Trump laying out his plan for "great" reciprocal tariffs on trading partners that impose duties and other economic penalties on American exports, the Kremlin saying that Russia sees the US as its "main counterpart" in negotiations on Ukraine, and a suspected car attack in Munich injuring at least 27 people.

TOP STORIES

• Trump signs executive order on 'great' reciprocal tariffs

US President Donald Trump laid out his plan for what he called "great" reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners that impose duties and other economic penalties on American exports.

Addressing reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said his action would seek to address VAT (value-added tax) taxes and non-monetary tariffs imposed by foreign countries on US goods but said goods made in the US would be exempt.

The new economic penalties, which he said are "fair to all" nations, would be imposed on top of other duties he has already rolled out since assuming office in January.

• Kremlin says US is Russia’s ‘main counterpart’ in talks on Ukraine

The Kremlin said Russia sees the US as its “main counterpart” in negotiations on Ukraine.

"Our main counterpart in this process is Washington," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Channel One.

During the interview, Peskov said that Kyiv will be involved in negotiations on a settlement in Ukraine "one way or another."

• At least 27 injured in suspected car attack in German city of Munich

At least 27 people were injured in a suspected car attack in Munich.

Police arrested the driver, a 24-year-old Afghan national, immediately after the incident, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters.

"Based on current information, the perpetrator was known to authorities for previous drug offenses and shoplifting. The investigation is ongoing," he said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The secretary of state of the Holy See said the Palestinian population "must remain in its land."
• Emirati Ambassador to Washington Yousef al-Otaiba said he does not see “an alternative” to US President Donald plan for Palestinian displacement from the Gaza Strip.
• More than two-thirds of Democrats in the House of Representatives have urged President Donald Trump to retract remarks proposing a US "takeover" of the Gaza Strip, calling it "morally indefensible," according to a report.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described US President Donald Trump’s decision to contact his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, first with a phone call as "not very pleasant."
• The number of patients in the UK facing long waits on trolleys in the ambulance and emergency (A&E) department has surged to a record high, with more 60,000 people waiting more than 12 hours after a decision was made to admit them in January.
• Armed groups in Syria that resist disarming and reject the authority of the Defense Ministry will not be invited to the National Dialogue Conference, said Hassan al-Dughaim, the spokesman for a preparatory committee for the conference.
• Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Beirut rejects Israel’s plan to remain in five locations in southern Lebanon after the Feb. 18 deadline for its troop withdrawal.
• Olive trees at Gobeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southeastern Türkiye, are being relocated to prevent damage to its 12,000-year-old historical artifacts.
• Billionaire Elon Musk signaled his willingness to withdraw his $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI’s controlling nonprofit entity if its board ceases its transition to a for-profit model, according to a report.
• Indonesia raised the alert level of a volcano in its East Nusa Tenggara region to the highest level and asked six villages in the area to evacuate.

SPORTS

• Fenerbahce beats Anderlecht 3-0 in UEFA Europe League play-off

Fenerbahce defeated Anderlecht 3-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout play-off round at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, taking a giant step to secure the round of 16 ahead of the second leg.

The Turkish side controlled the game from the start and took the lead early with its Serbian winger Dusan Tadic’s header in a corner kick in the 11th minute.

After the goal, the Yellow Canaries gradually lost their momentum as the Belgian side intensified its pressure on the host’s net.

However, Fenerbahce found the second goal towards the end of halftime when its other Serbian, Filip Kostic, found his veteran teammate Edin Dzeko in the box, who calmly finished in the 42nd minute after grabbing the rebound from its blocked attempt to end the first half.

At the beginning of the second half, Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri extended the lead to three in the 57th minute with a powerful header from the penalty spot, assisted by Sebastian Szymański.

The match ended 3-0, leaving Anderlecht with a tough challenge in the second leg, scheduled for Feb. 20 in Brussels.

• Liverpool, Everton slam racist abuse of Abdoulaye Doucoure during Merseyside derby

Both Liverpool and Everton have condemned fans for racist abuse during Wednesday's Merseyside derby.

"Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated. Together, the two clubs will work with Merseyside Police, who are conducting an investigation with the aim of identifying the individuals responsible. We also encourage people who witness or experience online abuse to report and highlight it to the social media platforms on which it appears," said a joint statement issued by both clubs on Thursday.

"We must all, including the social media companies, take a zero-tolerance stance. Platforms need to take accountability and action to ban such abusers. Racism and hate has no place online, in our stadiums or in our communities," the statement said.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Russian ruble, Moscow Exchange rally after Trump-Putin phone call

The Russian ruble and the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) rallied following phone conversations between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

Analysts say the conversation between the presidents, as well as the two countries' positive statements about ending the war in Ukraine, boosted Russian markets on Thursday.

The Russian ruble rose 2.69% against the US dollar, while the US dollar/Russian ruble parity fell below 9.