Morning Briefing: Aug. 15, 2025

By Asiye Latife Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including US President Donald Trump saying he is more focused on achieving an immediate peace deal than a ceasefire when he meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approving the construction of 3,401 settler units at the Ma'ale Adumim settlement east of Jerusalem and 3,515 others in surrounding areas, and a massive cloudburst in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir claiming 46 lives with over 100 people injured and hundreds missing.

TOP STORIES

• Trump says he's seeking 'immediate peace deal' with Putin rather than ceasefire

US President Donald Trump said he is more focused on achieving an immediate peace deal than a ceasefire when he meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the US state of Alaska on Friday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war.

"I don't know that we're going to get an immediate ceasefire, but I think it's going to come," Trump told Fox Radio, adding: "I'm more interested in (an) immediate peace deal, getting peace fast."

Trump indicated that he might call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a follow-up meeting depending on Friday's outcome, saying there were three possible locations, including perhaps remaining in Alaska, but did not name the other two.

• Israeli settlement project to fragment occupied West Bank, isolate East Jerusalem

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved the construction of 3,401 settler units at the Ma'ale Adumim settlement east of Jerusalem and 3,515 others in surrounding areas, according to Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

The project aims to split the occupied West Bank into two parts, cutting off the northern cities of Ramallah and Nablus from Bethlehem and Hebron in the south and isolating East Jerusalem.

“It is the final nail in the coffin of the Palestinian state idea,” Smotrich said in a statement.

• Death toll in Kashmir cloudburst climbs to 46, over 100 injured

The death toll from a massive cloudburst in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir climbed to 46, with over 100 people injured and hundreds missing.

The cloudburst struck the Chositi village near Machail Mata Shrine in the Padder Tashoti area of Kishtwar district on a Hindu pilgrimage route, triggering flash floods that swept a langar -- a community kitchen.

At least 46 bodies have been recovered, with concerns that the death toll may increase as many remain missing.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Spain is battling some of its worst wildfires in years, with blazes in Zamora, Leon and Ourense cities overwhelming firefighting resources and forcing the evacuation of more than 9,500 people.
• Türkiye supports Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity, and with the signing of a training and advisory memorandum has taken this commitment a step further, the country’s defense ministry said.
• Soaring summer temperatures and water shortages are worsening conditions in war-torn Gaza and increasing dehydration among the territory’s population.
• More than 100 humanitarian organizations have called for an end to Israel's "weaponization of aid" amid the ongoing crippling humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
• After talks with European leaders ahead of Friday’s US-Russia summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said security guarantees and investment in Ukraine’s military industry are key focuses.
• Russia and Ukraine announced another prisoner exchange, with 84 servicemen returning from each side.
• The pope has called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, urging world leaders to prioritize dialogue over violence.
• China urged Cambodia and Thailand to rebuild trust and reopen their borders amid ongoing tensions between the two nations over their disputed border.
• The eastern German state of Brandenburg classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "proven right-wing extremist" organization, accusing it of pursuing anti-democratic goals.
• At least 36 Palestinians were killed and others injured in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip as four more people died of starvation in the blockaded enclave.
• US President Donald Trump said he "would like to see" Israel allow international journalists report from the besieged Gaza Strip.
• Türkiye, Spain, Saudi Arabia and Germany condemned Israeli plans to build settlements in the West Bank's E1 area.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye’s low-cost airline to begin flights from Ankara to Madrid, Barcelona

Türkiye’s low-cost airline AJet, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, will begin flying from Ankara to two Spanish cities -- Madrid and Barcelona -- on Oct. 23 and 24, the airline announced.

Flights to Barcelona will be available four days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and to Madrid three days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, according to an airline statement.

• Leaving Musk's xAI, co-founder Babuschkin forges ahead with new venture firm

Igor Babuschkin, a co-founder of Elon Musk's xAI firm, said he has left the firm to launch his own AI safety investment company.

"Today was my last day at xAI, the company that I helped start with Elon Musk in 2023," Babuschkin wrote on the US social media company X’s platform, also owned by Musk.

His resignation came after that of xAI's legal chief, Robert Keele, earlier this month. Linda Yaccarino, the former CEO of Musk's X, also left last month, a few months after the platform was merged into xAI.

The departures followed controversial comments generated by xAI's Grok chatbot.

• Türkiye uses next-gen industrial robots in defense production

The Turkish defense industry is utilizing next-generation industrial robots in manufacturing, with the technology now widespread across various sectors, including automotive, aviation, shipbuilding and construction machinery.

Intecro Robotics, a Turkish company, develops and implements robot-based industrial production systems and solutions for multiple sectors.

“There’s hardly any industry left without robot technology at work,” the company’s chair, Ali Sen, told Anadolu.

Sen said the defense and aviation sectors have benefited from global trends, with more companies worldwide adopting robotics for production.

• Taiwanese leader says to 'deepen' economic ties with US amid Trump tariffs

Taiwan will "deepen" its economic and trade relations with the US in the face of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, hoping to create a "win-win situation" during ongoing talks with Washington, said the island's leader, William Lai Ching-te.

Taiwan faces a 20% tariff from the US as part of a series of "reciprocal" tariffs imposed on many countries.