Morning Briefing: Jan. 30, 2026

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including US President Donald Trump saying he is planning to hold talks with Iran, EU member states reaching an agreement to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organization,” and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing.

TOP STORIES

• Trump says he’s planning to hold talks with Iran

US President Donald Trump said he is planning to hold talks with Iran.

"I have had (conversations with Iran in the last few days), and I am planning on it," he told reporters at the Kennedy Center.

Trump reiterated that "a lot of very big, very powerful" ships are sailing to Iran right now.

"It would be great if we didn't have to use them," he said.

• EU agrees to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as 'terrorist organization'

European Union member states have reached a political agreement to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organization,” said the bloc’s foreign policy chief.

“Repression cannot go unanswered. EU Foreign Ministers just took the decisive step of designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization,” Kaja Kallas wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.

Her remarks came as foreign ministers from EU member states were holding talks in Brussels.

• China's Xi hosts UK’s Starmer in 1st visit by a British leader in 8 years

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Starmer, who arrived Wednesday, said the trip aims to create opportunities that will benefit the UK.

The visit marks the first time a British prime minister has visited China since 2018 and comes amid tensions over US tariffs as well as strains among Western allies over issues including US ambitions in Greenland.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The European Council adopted new sanctions against Iran for "serious human rights violations" and Tehran's continued support for Russia in its war in Ukraine.
• The Iranian army has warned that any attack on the country will be met with a “decisive and swift response,” as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate sharply.
• Türkiye is becoming one of the world’s new geopolitical power hubs, said Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as he addressed a joint news conference with Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
• Bangladesh and Pakistan resumed direct flight connections after a 14-year hiatus, opening opportunities to boost trade and tourism between the two Muslim nations.
• The Colombian government announced a drastic crackdown on drone imports following a year of aerial attacks.
• The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to Tehran to protest remarks by the German chancellor.
• US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have made significant progress and are expected to continue next week.
• The US Senate failed to advance a government spending package after a procedural vote fell short of the 60 votes needed, raising concerns about a potential shutdown with a Jan. 30 deadline approaching.
• Iraq’s presidency said it rejects any form of “foreign interference” in the country’s internal affairs after US President Donald Trump’s opposition to electing former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to a new term in power.
• Israeli forces shelled rural areas in southern Syria, targeting parts of Daraa and Quneitra provinces without causing casualties, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
• A South Korean defense company will supply Norway with land-based long-range precision artillery systems under a deal valued at 19 billion Norwegian kroner ($1.9 billion), Norwegian authorities said.
• Astronomers have identified a new Earth-sized planet orbiting a sun-like star about 146 light-years from Earth, raising fresh interest in nearby worlds that could support life, according to a recent study.
• The UN migration agency said at least 285 people were newly displaced over a two-day period from Kadugli city and Al-Kuwaik town in Sudan’s South Kordofan state due to deteriorating security conditions.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Trump says he will announce his Fed chair pick Friday

US President Donald Trump said he will announce his pick to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Friday.

"I'll be announcing the Fed Chair tomorrow morning," he told reporters at the Kennedy Center on Thursday.

Earlier, speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Trump said he would announce his pick next week.

"And it'll be a person that will, I think, do a good job," he said.

• Germany's population down last year for first time since 2020

Germany's population declined last year for the first time since 2020, due to a widening gap between births and deaths and decreasing immigration, according to official preliminary data.

The country's population decreased by 100,000 people last year to 83.5 million, according to data from Destatis.

In 2023 and 2024, the population increased by 340,000 and 100,000 respectively, due to significantly increased net migration.