Morning Briefing: March 6, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday with, including Washington reportedly blocking the UK from sharing US-derived intelligence with Ukraine, the White House confirming direct talks with Hamas, and US President Trump issuing a strong warning to the group over hostage releases.

TOP STORIES

• Washington ‘bans’ UK from sharing US-derived intelligence with Ukraine: Report

Washington has “banned” the UK from sharing US-derived intelligence with Ukraine, according to the Daily Mail.

This reportedly will have an impact on several key UK agencies, including the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the Ministry of Defense and military intelligence outlets, it reported.

Anadolu approached the UK Foreign Ministry for comment, but a spokesperson reiterated the government’s longstanding policy of not commenting on matters relating to intelligence.

• White House confirms talks with Hamas, says they are in US interest

The White House confirmed that the Trump administration is in direct dialogue with the Palestinian group Hamas, maintaining that discussions are in the US interest.

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Israel was consulted "on this matter" and the talks are "ongoing." Leavitt declined to specify the scope of the discussions, including whether they are solely about the release of additional hostages held by Hamas, or if they address Trump's widely-panned proposal to take ownership of the besieged Gaza Strip.

"Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do the best interests of the American people is something that the president has proven, is what he believes is a good faith effort to do what's right for the American people," she told reporters at the White House.

• Trump threatens Hamas with severe consequences if hostages not released immediately

US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to the Palestinian group Hamas, threatening severe consequences if all hostages held in Gaza are not immediately freed.

"'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Pledging full support for Israel, he warned that Hamas leaders would not be safe if they failed to comply.

"I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say," he said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• 2 pilots dead are as the wreckage of a missing Philippine fighter is jet found
• French President Emmanuel Macron is considering another trip to Washington to meet with Trump, Zelenskyy, Starmer
• Scholz and Zelenskyy reaffirm Trump’s ‘leadership role’ in Ukraine peace: German spokesman
• Türkiye welcomes Arab leaders' adoption of Gaza reconstruction plan
• Igdir-Nakchivan pipeline to bring Turkish-Azerbaijan strategic initiatives to fruition: President Erdogan
• Ankara-Baku unity, energy projects strengthen Turkic nations, Europe: Azerbaijan's president
• Potential US tariffs on Europe 'will not go unanswered': French president
• France to host military chiefs from several countries to discuss Ukraine, says Macron
• Israel has always been the problem, not Hamas: Palestinian government
• Rubio calls Ukraine conflict a US-Russia proxy war, urges end to fighting
• Police intervene at Barnard College amid renewed Gaza protests

SPORTS

• LeBron James becomes 1st NBA player to reach 50,000 points

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 combined points in the regular season and postseason.

The 40-year-old veteran surpassed the milestone with a three-pointer in the first minutes of the Lakers’ 136-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena.

James led his team to victory by finishing the game with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

• Palestinian Football Association head demands concrete actions against Israel in sports

Palestinian sports officials called for international action against Israel, citing "apartheid policies and systemic restrictions" on Palestinian athletes.

Their remarks came during a press briefing organized by the Association of Correspondents Accredited to the UN (ACANU) in Geneva.

Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association, urged the international sports community to take a firm stance, invoking the Olympic Charter’s commitment to ethics, social responsibility and fair play.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

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

US President Donald Trump decided to delay tariffs on automobiles from Canada and Mexico for one month after meeting with the heads of the three largest American car producers.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump decided to provide the exemption at the behest of the heads of Ford, General Motors and Stellantis to ensure they "are not at an economic disadvantage" but maintained that the president's wider reciprocal tariffs on nations worldwide will go ahead as planned on April 2.

• US issues Houthi-related sanctions

The US Treasury Department issued sanctions on seven high-ranking members of Ansarallah, or Yemen’s Houthi group.

"These individuals have smuggled military-grade items and weapon systems into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and also negotiated Houthi weapons procurements from Russia," the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a statement.