ISTANBUL
Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including the US reportedly evacuating hundreds of troops from bases in Qatar and Bahrain amid rising tensions with Iran, as US President Donald Trump urged Iranian leaders to negotiate a “fair deal,” while criticizing Tehran’s human rights record and expressing sympathy for the Iranian people; Trump announced a 10% tariff on imports from all countries, signaling a major shift in US trade policy; and at least six people were killed and more than 25 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa region, according to Lebanese media reports.
TOP STORIES
- US evacuates hundreds of troops from Qatar, Bahrain amid Iran tensions: Report
Hundreds of US troops have been pulled out of the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, The New York Times reported, citing anonymous Pentagon sources.
The report also said forces have been evacuated from Bahrain, where the US Navy’s 5th Fleet is based.
American forces remain stationed at bases in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
- Trump announces 10% tariff on imports from all countries
US President Donald Trump said he has signed documents imposing a 10% tariff on all imports from every country.
“It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The move came after the US Supreme Court struck down most of Trump's tariffs.
- Trump says Iran 'better negotiate a fair deal'
US President Donald Trump urged Iranian leaders to negotiate a “fair deal,” while criticizing Tehran’s human rights record and expressing sympathy for the Iranian people.
"They better negotiate a fair deal," Trump told reporters at the White House.
"You know, the people of Iran are a lot different than the leaders of Iran, and it's very, very, very sad situation," Trump said, adding that 32,000 people were killed in a "relatively short period of time."
- 6 killed, over 25 injured in Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon
At least six people were killed and more than 25 were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa region, Lebanese media reported.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said the wounded were taken to hospitals across the region.
Israeli warplanes carried out a wave of intense airstrikes on the eastern and western mountain ranges in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa region, with explosions reverberating across the area, NNA said.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- The US military carried out a strike on a vessel allegedly engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, according to the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
- Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security by building a more "European NATO," France’s defense minister said.
- Germany is charting a new "grand strategy" with its European allies to navigate an era of intensifying great power competition, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
- US President Donald Trump will travel to China for a three-day visit starting March 31, a White House official confirmed.
- The UN chief condemned the killing of a 19-year-old dual Palestinian-American citizen in the occupied West Bank, his spokesman said.
- US President Donald Trump praised Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, crediting him with stabilizing the war-torn country.
- Several buildings in Paris were evacuated because of the possible presence of an explosive device.
- Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez received Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Hussein Al-Safadi at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas to focus on reaffirming sovereign conviction and expanding bilateral ties, according to media reports.
- The EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib urged Congolese rebels to open humanitarian corridors for aid access to millions of civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took a diplomatic stance on the detention of Nicolas Maduro, asserting that the Venezuelan leader must face legal accountability within his own borders rather than in a foreign courtroom.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Yvette Cooper, the UK’s foreign secretary, to discuss international issues, according to the State Department.
- Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Hungary will block the €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan recently announced by the European Parliament for Ukraine until oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline resumes.
- Russia claimed the Telegram messaging app was used to collect data on military personnel, law enforcement officers and government officials for subsequent acts of sabotage, terrorism and other illegal activities.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US ending certain tariff actions: White House
US President Donald Trump issued an executive order terminating the collection of additional ad valorem duties imposed under several previous executive orders addressing national security, trade imbalances and foreign threats.
"In light of recent events, the additional ad valorem duties imposed pursuant to IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) ... shall no longer be in effect and, as soon as practicable, shall no longer be collected," the White House said.
The executive order came after the US Supreme Court struck down most of Trump's tariffs.
- US economy grows 1.4% in Q4 2025, below forecasts
The US economy expanded 1.4% in the last quarter of 2025, while market expectation was at around 3%.
In the third quarter, the country's GDP increased 4.4%, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) noted.
"The contributors to the increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter were increases in consumer spending and investment,” it said.
- Turkish president says renewables reach 62% of installed capacity, highlights afforestation progress
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye has increased the share of renewables in its total installed electricity capacity to 62% by expanding wind and solar power.
“By expanding wind and solar power, we increased the share of renewables in total installed capacity to 62%,” he said at the Introduction Program of the Cemre Fund.
Erdogan added that Türkiye ranks among the top countries globally in afforestation and is among those increasing forest assets the most in Europe.
- US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's global tariff campaign
The US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's global tariff campaign, saying the major pillar of his administration's policies lacks a legal foundation.
The top court's 6-3 decision severely cuts down on a tool Trump has used to pursue his economic and foreign policy agendas after he spent much of his first year in office using the levies to push nations to cut new trade deals, and saying tariffs were one of several tools he used to pressure countries into halting wars.
The Supreme Court said the Constitution "very clearly" gives Congress the authority to tax, including decisions to impose tariffs, not the president.
"The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote on behalf of the majority.
