ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks is likely to take place in the US, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologizing for trusting former minister Peter Mandelson and appointing him as ambassador to the US after admitting he knew of Mandelson’s ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, and the Global Sumud aid flotilla preparing to set sail again for Gaza from Barcelona on March 29.

TOP STORIES

• Zelenskyy says next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks 'likely' to take place in US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the next round of peace talks with Russia is “likely” to be held in the US.

In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy noted that "further meetings are planned for the near future, likely in America."

"Today, I received a report from our negotiation team following two days of meetings and talks in the Emirates with the American and Russian sides. I am expecting the team in Kyiv for a full in-person report, as many aspects cannot be properly discussed over the phone. From what can already be said – further meetings are planned for the near future, likely in America," he wrote.

Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's readiness to engage in formats "that can genuinely bring peace closer and make it reliable, long-term and deprive Russia of any appetite to continue fighting."

"It is important that this war ends in such a way that Russia is not rewarded for its aggression. This is one of the key principles that restore and guarantee true security. I thank all our partners who support us in this," he added.

• UK premier 'sorry' for having believed ex-minister Mandelson's 'lies,' appointing him ambassador to US

The British prime minister said he is "sorry" for believing former minister Peter Mandelson's "lies" and appointing him as ambassador to the US as pressure continues to build on him after admitting he knew of Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

"I want to say this: I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you," Keir Starmer said during a news conference in East Sussex.

The prime minister said the victims of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein "have lived with trauma that most of us can barely comprehend, and they've had to relive it again and again."

"Sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him, and sorry that even now you're forced to watch this story unfold in public once again," he added.

• Global Sumud aid flotilla to set sail again for war-torn Gaza from Barcelona on March 29

The Global Sumud aid flotilla plans to set sail again for war-torn Gaza from Barcelona on March 29 with broader international participation, according to an announcement.

“The departure will be at the initial historic departure from Barcelona, followed by Tunisia, Italy and other Mediterranean ports, and we will sail this time at the date of March, the 29th,” Global Sumud activist Sumeyra Akdeniz Ordu told a livestreamed news conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“We will sail with, this time, thousands of participants, including more than a thousand doctors, nurses, health professionals…We will have medical professionals with us. We will have eco-builders with us. We will have war crimes investigators with us, which is the difference between the previous mission,” she added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump underlined his endorsement of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for reelection ahead of the country's April 12 polls, praising him as a "strong and powerful" leader.
• Russia and Ukraine have agreed to exchange 314 prisoners of war during trilateral talks in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, US envoy Steve Witkoff said.
• China’s internet user base rose to 1.125 billion last year, while about 602 million people used generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, according to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC).​​​​​​​
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Iran to enter serious negotiations to halt its nuclear program, warning that the potential for military escalation in the Middle East is great.
• A total of 25 Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip from Egypt, while 46 others, including patients, departed through the Rafah border crossing, medical sources said.
• China expressed "regret" over the expiration of the New START nuclear arms control treaty and called on the US to actively engage with Russia to preserve global strategic stability.
• Greece's prime minister is set to pay an official visit to Türkiye next Wednesday on the occasion of the 6th meeting of the countries’ high-level cooperation council, said an official announcement.
• A strong 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck south of Indonesia’s Java Island, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
• Türkiye and Saudi Arabia will enhance their cooperation in the defense industry, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his return flight from Cairo, noting that his country's homegrown stealth fighter jet KAAN has been praised.
• The death toll from an attack in Kwara State in Nigeria has risen to 170, a lawmaker said.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• European Central Bank holds rates steady again at 2%, matching expectations

The European Central Bank (ECB) left its three key interest rates steady, meeting market forecasts.

The key deposit rate stands at 2%, its lowest level since November 2022.

The interest rates on the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility are at 2.15% and 2.40%, respectively.

The decision to keep rates unchanged marked the fifth consecutive hold. The bank last lowered rates at its June meeting, completing an eight-cut cycle that began when the ECB launched its easing phase in June 2024.

The bank said its updated assessment reconfirms that inflation should stabilize at the 2% target in the medium term.

"The economy remains resilient in a challenging global environment. Low unemployment, solid private sector balance sheets, the gradual rollout of public spending on defense and infrastructure and the supportive effects of the past interest rate cuts are underpinning growth," the bank said.

But the ECB said the outlook is still uncertain due to ongoing global trade policy changes and geopolitical tensions.

The bank stressed that it is determined to ensure that inflation stabilizes at its 2% target in the medium term.

• Türkiye’s international reserves hit record high of $218.2B

The Turkish Central Bank's official international reserves reached a new record high of $218.2 billion as of Jan. 30, according to official figures.

Total reserves climbed 1.2%, or $2.54 billion, from the previous week's $215.6 billion, the bank said.

Foreign currency reserves – in convertible foreign currencies – were down 2.4% to $76.6 billion compared to the previous week.

The bank's gold reserves – including gold deposits and gold-swapped assets – climbed 3.4% to $133.8 billion in the same period.

The total IMF reserve position and special drawing rights also rose 0.2% to reach $7.8 billion.

This marks the third time the Turkish Central Bank's reserves hit a new record since mid-January. On Jan. 16, the bank's reserves topped the $200 billion mark for the first time.