ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including US President Donald Trump signing an order to rename the Department of Defense to the 'Department of War;' UK prime minister appointing Yvette Cooper the new foreign secretary as part of a Cabinet reshuffle; and Russian President Vladimir Putin saying there is no need for foreign troops in Ukraine after a peace agreement.

TOP STORIES

• Trump signs order to rename Department of Defense to Department of War

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename the US Department of Defense to the Department of War, and signaled he would turn to Congress to make the change official.

"I think it sends a message of victory. I think it sends a message of strength, very strong, much stronger than anyone would really understand," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

The US president said he would work with Congress to codify the change, but claimed it is unclear if lawmakers would have to act to make it official.

• UK premier appoints Yvette Cooper as new foreign secretary, with Cabinet reshuffle underway

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was appointed new foreign secretary, replacing David Lammy, who became deputy premier, as well as justice secretary, in a major Cabinet reshuffle.

Keir Starmer's first Cabinet reshuffle came more than a year after becoming prime minister, following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

• Putin says no need for foreign troops in Ukraine after peace agreement

Russian President Vladimir Putin said there will no longer be any need to deploy foreign troops in Ukraine once a peace agreement is signed.

Commenting on Thursday's meeting in Paris of the “coalition of the willing” -- a group of countries providing military support to Ukraine and pledging troops after a ceasefire -- at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said if foreign troops are deployed in Ukraine, they will be a legitimate target of the Russian military.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump announced that next year's gathering of the leaders of the G20 group of nations will be in Miami.
• Anutin Charnvirakul of the conservative Bhumjaithai party was elected the 32nd Prime Minister of Thailand by defeating his rival from the ruling Pheu Thai party, Chaikasem Nitisiri.
• Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, released a video showing Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal and another captive moving through the rubble of destroyed homes in Gaza City, which faces intense Israeli military offensives.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin invited his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to Moscow to have a conversation, not to capitulate, said a Kremlin spokesman.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Ministry said it lodged a protest with Hungary after Milorad Dodik, who was removed as president of Republika Srpska (RS) following a court conviction, was officially received in Budapest as if he still held the position.
• Canada condemned recent Israeli attacks targeting the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), urging the protection of peacekeepers and respect for UN resolutions.
• France welcomed the Arab League states' support for the New York Declaration on Palestine peace efforts and the implementation of a two-state solution.
• Israeli army forces shot dead a Palestinian man and injured three others near two military checkpoints in the West Bank city of Nablus, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
• US President Donald Trump rejected demands by congressional Democrats for the release of more documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein as “another Democrat hoax.”

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Trump threatens EU with potential tariffs unless Apple, Google fines reversed

US President Donald Trump threatened to open an investigation into the EU that could lead to a new round of tariffs unless the 27-nation bloc reverses fines it imposed on American tech companies Google and Apple.

Trump's warning comes one day after he hosted tech leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook, for dinner at the White House. Trump said the firms "should get their money back!" following successive multi-billion-dollar penalties being imposed on them.

• US stocks close week in red

The New York Stock Exchange ended with losses as weak employment data heightened concerns about an economic slowdown and dampened optimism about interest rate cuts.

The Dow was down 0.48%, or 220.43 points, to close at 45,400.86.

The Nasdaq dipped 0.03%, or 7.31 points, to close at 21,700.39, while the S&P 500 was off 0.38%, or 20.58 points, to 6,481.5.