Morning Briefing: Aug 22, 2025

By Fatma Zehra Solmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including the Israeli army demolishing a displacement camp in central Gaza, leaving hundreds homeless; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy naming Türkiye, Austria and Switzerland as possible venues for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin; Palestinian factions in Lebanon beginning to hand over weapons in refugee camps as part of a government plan to bring arms under state control; Türkiye planning technical visits to Syria while rejecting claims of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine; Pakistan’s top court granting bail to jailed ex-Premier Imran Khan, and the UN rights chief urging protection of ICC officials following new US sanctions.

TOP NEWS

• Israeli army destroys displacement camp in central Gaza, leaving hundreds homeless

The Israeli army destroyed a camp for displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, local sources and witnesses told Anadolu.

Three airstrikes targeted the Al-Munasara refugee camp, which houses around 200 displaced families near the College of Da’wa and close to Al-Aqsa Hospital, the sources said.

“The airstrikes completely destroyed tents and belongings of the displaced families, who had no time to move their possessions,” an eyewitness said.

• Zelenskyy names Türkiye, Austria, Switzerland as possible venues for summit with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named Türkiye, Austria and Switzerland as possible venues for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We believe it is fair, and the Europeans emphasized this, that the meeting should be held in neutral Europe. Because there is a war in Ukraine and on the European continent. I said that we agree. Switzerland, Austria – we agree,” Zelenskyy said during a conversation with journalists, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

• Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon start handing over weapons

Palestinian factions in Lebanon began handing over weapons in refugee camps as part of a government plan to bring arms under state control, Lebanese authorities said.

In a statement, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s office said the first batch of weapons in the Burj al-Barajneh camp, Beirut will be delivered to the Lebanese army.

Additional handovers are scheduled in the coming weeks in Burj al-Barajneh and other camps, the statement said, citing Ramzi Damaschkieh, who heads the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee.

Sources said Lebanese military vehicles, accompanied by intelligence personnel, entered the camp and started collecting weapons. A small truck was seen carrying weapons.

• Türkiye plans technical visits to Syria, rejects claims of Turkish peacekeepers being sent to Ukraine

Türkiye is planning technical visits to Syria to assess its defense needs and prepare a joint roadmap, Defense Ministry sources said, also pushing back on claims Türkiye will send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.

"In order to observe needs on the ground for strengthening Syria’s defense capacity and to create a joint roadmap, technical visits have been planned," the ministry sources said, taking journalists’ questions at a weekly press briefing.

• Pakistan's top court grants bail to jailed ex-Premier Imran Khan

Pakistan's top court granted bail to the country's incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan in multiple cases related to attacks on military installations in May 2023, a court record and his lawyer said.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi granted Khan's appeal against a Lahore High Court verdict, which rejected his bail application in eight cases related to the 2023 violence.

The court ordered 72-year-old Khan's release if he is not wanted in any other case.

Khan, however, will remain in jail, as he has been convicted in a corruption case.

• UN rights chief urges protection of ICC officials after new US sanctions

The UN human rights chief said the imposition by the US of further sanctions on judges and deputy prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should prompt the international community to take measures to protect them.

"The relentless intensification of US reprisals against international institutions and their personnel must stop," Volker Turk said in a statement.

He stressed that sanctioning judges and prosecutors at national, regional or international levels for fulfilling their mandate in accordance with international law standards "is an assault on the rule of law and corrodes justice."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Brazilian, French presidents discuss US tariffs, Mercosur-EU deal
• Czech president says Netanyahu’s Gaza policy complicates support for Israel
• Japan to deploy long-range anti-ship missiles to deter China's 'military maneuvers'
• Fresh Israeli strikes killed 10 Palestinians, including aid seekers, in battered Gaza
• Hungary is ready to host peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at any time, according to Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto
• Antarctica pollution rising as tourism and research expand, study warns
• South Korea's Lee vows to pursue 3-phase 'denuclearization plan' for North Korea
• Spain, Portugal battle dozens of wildfires despite respite from heat wave
• Israeli strikes kill 50 Gazans, including aid seekers
• Appeals court allows Trump administration to end deportation protections for over 63,000 immigrants from Nicaragua, Honduras and Nepal.
• Uganda has reached a “temporary” agreement with the US to accept third-country nationals who are denied asylum in the US, the government said.
• More than 111,000 people sought asylum in the UK in year ending June – surpassing previous peak of 103,000 in 2002
• At least 62,192 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Health Ministry said.
• France, Spain hit by severe weather as floods, landslide kill 2
• Indonesia's deputy manpower minister arrested in extortion probe
• US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee claimed that recognition of a Palestinian state by European countries could prompt Israel to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
• Sudanese army denies bombing WFP aid convoy in Darfur after RSF accusations
• Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream pipeline sabotage arrested in Italy
• Netherlands bans Israeli firms from arms fair amid Gaza war
• The safe return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar cannot happen until violence ends and perpetrators are held accountable, the head of the UN's Myanmar investigative body warned.
• Turkish president discusses Russia-Ukraine peace process, Gaza with French counterpart
• Gaza City will face same fate of Beit Hanoun, Israeli defense minister threatens
• 1 killed, 34 injured in explosion at Pakistan firecracker warehouse
• China says India remains “committed to the one-China policy” following talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in New Delhi.
• Palestine urges UNESCO to protect archaeological sites from Israeli theft
• India bars bilateral sporting clash with Pakistan
• Germany warns illegal Israeli settlement in West Bank threatens prospects for 2-state solution
• UN chief warns of ‘massive’ death, destruction in Israeli attacks in Gaza City, calls for ceasefire
• Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza 'amount to genocide,' says Scottish leader
• More than 20 countries condemned the Israeli plan to build thousands of new homes in the occupied West Bank, labeling the E1 settlement plan "unacceptable" and a "violation of international law."
• Israel orders medics to prepare for displacing Palestinians from Gaza City
• Pakistani premier receives China’s top diplomat, vows to deepen ties
• Finland summons Israeli envoy over Gaza occupation plan, E1 settlement project
• UK summons Israeli ambassador over controversial settlement plan in West Bank
• Türkiye says Israeli policies fuel instability in Syria, threaten regional security
• Israel weighs cutting water supply to northern Gaza to push Palestinians south

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Trump vows to block future wind and solar energy approvals in US

US President Donald Trump announced that his administration will no longer approve new wind and solar energy projects, escalating his criticism of renewable energy.

"Any State that has built and relied on WINDMILLS and SOLAR for power are seeing RECORD BREAKING INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY COSTS. THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY! We will not approve wind or farmer destroying solar," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

• US, EU agree on new trade framework to rebalance transatlantic ties

The US and the European Union announced a comprehensive new trade framework aimed at rebalancing one of the world's largest economic partnerships, promising tariff reductions, expanded market access and closer cooperation in energy, technology and defense.

In a joint statement, the two sides stated that the Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade will "reinvigorate our economies' reindustrialization" and serve as a "first step" toward deeper cooperation.

• Oil rises on stronger US demand, Fed uncertainty and Russia-Ukraine talks

Oil prices edged higher after data signaled stronger US demand, while uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's (Fed) easing trajectory and international efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war kept traders on edge.

Brent crude was trading at $66.97 per barrel at 10.35 am local time, up 0.7% from the previous close of $66.48.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 0.9% to $63.31 from $62.77 in the prior session.

US commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 1.4% during the week ending Aug. 15, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

• Lavrov says trade turnover between Russia, India hit new record

The trade turnover between Russia and India has reached record figures, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

“Yesterday, the co-chairs of our intergovernmental commission noted that bilateral trade turnover increased by 15% last year, setting an absolute record in the post-Soviet history of relations between Moscow and New Delhi,” Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow following a meeting with India's Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Lavrov’s remarks come amid threats from the US to impose additional 25% tariffs on India, including for purchases of Russian oil.

• Türkiye’s international reserves hit all-time high of $176.51B

The Turkish Central Bank's official international reserves reached a new record high of $176.51 billion as of Aug. 15, according to official figures.

The reserves rose 1.2%, or $2.14 billion from the previous week's $174.36 billion, the bank said.