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Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including Israeli media reporting that US President Donald Trump may announce a ceasefire with Iran by Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denying any negotiations between Iran and the US to end the war, and the head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society saying that US-Israeli attacks have damaged more than 85,000 civilian sites in Iran.

TOP STORIES​​​​​​​

• Trump may announce ceasefire with Iran by Saturday: Israeli media

Israeli officials estimate that US President Donald Trump may announce a ceasefire with Iran by Saturday, according to Israeli media.

The public broadcaster KAN, citing an informed Israeli source, said Tel Aviv is concerned that Washington could temporarily halt fighting, maybe even “unilaterally,” to open the door for negotiations with Tehran.

Trump may temporarily stop the war if the Iranians present a “substantial concession,” the source said, noting that Israel fears a pause in hostilities could come at a critical stage of the war.

• No negotiations with US, Iran’s foreign minister says

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied any negotiations between Iran and the US to end their ongoing conflict.

“There are no ongoing talks with the US,” Araghchi said in comments carried by state-run Press TV.

“The US is sending messages through different mediators and an exchange of messages via mediators does not mean negotiations,” he added.

• US-Israeli attacks damage over 85,000 civilian sites in Iran, Red Crescent chief says

More than 85,000 civilian sites have been damaged since the start of the US-Israeli war, said the head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society.

Pir Hossein Kolivand said 85,176 civilian locations were affected, including 64,583 residential units and 19,690 commercial properties, Mehr News Agency reported.

Tehran province sustained the heaviest damage, he said, adding that 282 medical centers and 600 schools were targeted.

​​​​NEWS IN BRIEF

• Iraqi factions carried out 23 attacks on US bases in Iraq and the region in the last 24 hours, a group said.
• Seven soldiers were killed and 13 others injured when an airstrike hit a military clinic and an engineering unit at the Habbaniyah base west of Baghdad, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said.
• Saudi Arabia said it shot down 28 drones and a ballistic missile targeting the country’s Eastern Region.
• A fresh wave of Israeli attacks killed at least nine people and wounded 47 others in southern Lebanon, said Lebanese media.
• Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza in a new violation of an ongoing ceasefire, medical sources told Anadolu.
• Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank in the southern Lebanese border town of Qouzah with a guided missile.
• The EU issued a sharp rebuke following the advancement of a controversial death penalty bill in Israel, warning it would mark a significant reversal of long-standing practice and raise serious human rights concerns.
• Israeli occupiers burned an agricultural structure in the town of Kafr Qaddum east of Qalqilya in the northern occupied West Bank, marking the second such attack in two days, the Al-Baidar rights organization said.
• A fire broke out in the city of Hadera in northern Israel after a missile barrage from Iran, Israeli media reported.
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez strongly criticized the Iran war, calling it a "colossal mistake" and warning of far-reaching consequences while reaffirming Spain's refusal to be part of it.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said he expects the United States and Iran to hold talks this weekend in Islamabad, Pakistan, adding that the negotiations are likely to be broader in scope.
• Thick smoke was seen rising near Israel’s Rabin power plant in the coastal city of Hadera following a missile barrage from Iran, Israeli media reported.
• NATO's former secretary general said Europe must take responsibility for its own destiny amid rising tensions with Washington.
• Spain’s prime minister called for consistency in upholding international law, warning against double standards in responses to global conflicts. Pedro Sanchez stressed that countries cannot condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or defend Greenland's territorial integrity while remaining silent on violations elsewhere.
• Israeli occupiers seized 13 Palestinian apartments in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, bringing the total to 15 homes taken over the past four days, according to witnesses and rights groups.
• The UK and Türkiye signed a new agreement covering the maintenance and operational support of Eurofighter Typhoon jets as defense ties between the two countries continue to strengthen.
• The UN human rights chief warned that the escalating conflict involving Iran risks spiraling into a broader crisis, saying "we cannot go back to war as a tool of international relations."
• Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said no negotiations have taken place between Tehran and Washington “so far,” contradicting ongoing speculation about diplomatic contacts.
• Russian authorities reported a fire at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga following an overnight Ukrainian drone strike.
• Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said it arrested 39 people in Tehran for alleged links to Israel and “terrorist groups.”
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened that Budapest will gradually suspend gas supplies to Ukraine unless the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored.
• Iraq said it will summon the US chargé d’affaires following a deadly airstrike on the Habbaniyah base that killed seven soldiers and injured 13 others.
• Saudi Arabia said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed two drones over key regions in the kingdom.
• A fire broke out at the luxury Le Bristol hotel in central Paris, injuring one person and forcing the evacuation of around 400 people, authorities said.
• Many people are feared dead in central Bangladesh after a passenger bus with at least 40 people on board fell into the Padma River while it was boarding a ferry.
• Germany criticized Israeli threats to annex southern Lebanon.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke over the phone with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed the latest situation in the region, Turkish diplomatic sources said.
• Iran has rejected a US proposal aimed at ending the war, saying any ceasefire would take place only on Tehran’s terms and timeline, a senior political-security official told state-run Press TV.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that ending the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran is the only real solution to surging oil prices.
• The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 1,094 since the start of Israel’s expanded offensive on March 2, the Health Ministry said.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the Iran war has spun beyond all boundaries, declaring the conflict "out of control" and cautioning that the world faces the prospect of a far broader confrontation.
• Israel’s Transport Ministry informed airports and foreign airlines of an extension of the closure of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv until April 16, Israel’s Channel 13 reported.
• French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of safeguarding Lebanon’s territorial integrity and protecting civilians amid a military escalation in the region.
• European Council President Antonio Costa said violations of international law "must not be accepted anywhere" amid an ongoing escalation in the Middle East, stressing that the European Union must continue to stand firm on defending the rules‑based international order.
• The situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous state, an Iranian military spokesman said, asserting Tehran's control over maritime access as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.
• US President Donald Trump favors a peaceful resolution with Iran but is prepared to escalate sharply if Tehran fails to accept the "reality of the current moment," the White House said.
• Iran’s parliament speaker accused the US and Israel of planning to occupy one of the country’s islands with support from a country in the region.
• Kuwaiti authorities said they are responding to a fire at a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport after it was targeted by “hostile drones.”
• Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the ongoing Iran war with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
• US President Donald Trump may seek to occupy Kharg Island, the hub of Iran’s oil exports, if negotiations with Tehran fail, Israeli media reported.
• Israel plans to expand its military presence up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) inside Lebanese territory, Israeli media reported.
• US President Donald Trump rejected a suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly encourage an uprising in Iran, according to a report.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to speed up its air campaign against Iran for 48 hours to destroy as much of the country's arms industry as possible before Washington moves toward a ceasefire, the New York Times reported.
• Tel Aviv is determined to continue its fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon regardless of any potential deal with Iran, an Israeli security source said,
• Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of "holding hostage" civilians captured in Russia's Kursk region last year.
• At least three people were killed and four others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Kounin in Nabatieh governorate, the Health Ministry said.
• European Council President Antonio Costa called for an immediate halt to hostilities in Lebanon and the protection of civilians, describing the situation there as “appalling,” citing more than 1.3 million internally displaced people.
• The US has struck more than 10,000 targets inside Iran, including dozens of naval vessels and missile facilities, as part of the ongoing military operation, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• South Korea launches emergency economic teams amid Middle East crisis

In response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, South Korea announced the formation of two emergency economic teams to safeguard its economy and citizens’ livelihoods, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said the government will establish an emergency economic situation room at the Presidential Office alongside an emergency economic headquarters operating directly under his office.

The move comes as tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran continue to ripple across global markets.

• European gas prices fall over 7% as market pressures ease

European natural gas prices fell by over 7%, dropping below €50 ($58) per megawatt-hour following recent losses due to a sharp war-driven rally earlier this month.

Natural gas prices across Europe traded at about $58 per megawatt-hour as of 0830GMT on Wednesday, down from the historic high of $78 last week.

Prices declined after reports surfaced regarding new negotiations to stabilize the Middle East amid the ongoing armed conflict and prevent supply disruptions.