Morning Briefing: Sept. 15, 2025

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Monday, including Türkiye’s foreign minister saying the biggest problem in the region is Israel’s expansionist policy, Algeria’s president appointing a new prime minister, and US President Donald Trump praising his country’s relations with Qatar.

TOP STORIES​​​​​​​

• Biggest problem in region is Israel’s expansionist policy: Turkish foreign minister

The biggest problem in the region is Israel’s expansionist policy, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, stressing there are two reasons behind this policy.

“First, Israel’s goal of enlarging its territory to establish Greater Israel; second, its attempt to weaken and fragment regional countries, especially its neighbors,” Fidan said in an interview with Al Jazeera and Qatar TV.

His remarks came after attending a foreign ministers' meeting to set the agenda for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation-Arab League joint extraordinary summit.

• Algeria’s president appoints new prime minister

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune appointed Sifi Ghrieb as the country’s new prime minister.

In a statement, the Algerian presidency said that Tebboune tasked Ghrieb with forming a new government.

Later, it announced a new government under Ghrieb, marking the sixth Cabinet since Tebboune took office in late 2019.

• Trump praises US relations with Qatar

US President Donald Trump praised his country’s relations with Qatar, calling the Gulf nation a “great ally.”

“Qatar has been a great ally. They also lead a very difficult life because they're right in the middle of everything. So they have to be a little bit politically correct in their terms. But I will tell you, they've been a great ally for the United States,” he told reporters while returning to the White House from Morristown, New Jersey.

Asked by reporters what his message was to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israeli strikes Tuesday on Qatar that killed five members of the Palestinian group Hamas and a Qatari security official, he warned Israel to be careful in its attacks.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• New York state Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City.
• Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said the US has been conducting intelligence flights in the Caribbean and areas close to his country.
• Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Russian drones that entered Polish airspace last week were intended to test NATO’s response without sparking a full-scale war.
• More than 4,200 people were displaced and 550 homes destroyed after heavy rains and flooding struck the Umm al-Qura locality in central Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State, said the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
• Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani condemned Israel’s airstrike on Doha as an act of “state terrorism” and a flagrant violation of his country’s sovereignty.
• US President Donald Trump said he is willing to impose more sanctions on Russia, but Europe must act in a way that is equivalent to what Washington is doing.
• Twenty-six candidates were preliminarily elected to the eighth Legislative Assembly of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) through direct and indirect elections.
• Ships from Greece set sail from the port on Syros island to join the Global Sumud Fleet for Gaza, a large-scale international flotilla of civilian boats aiming to break Israel's blockade on the territory and deliver humanitarian aid.

SPORTS

• Germany win FIBA EuroBasket 2025 after beating Türkiye

Germany were crowned FIBA EuroBasket champions after beating Türkiye with an 88-83 win.

The thriller at Arena Riga saw undefeated national teams, with Türkiye's Alperen Sengun being the highest scorer of the game with 28 points.

The first quarter ended 24–22 in favor of Germany, but Türkiye responded strongly by taking the second period 24–16.

• Pro-Palestinian protests in Spain force cancellation of La Vuelta cycling race's final stage

The final stage of the La Vuelta cycling race was canceled after pro-Palestinian protests disrupted the race in central Madrid.

The 80th edition of Spain's premier cycling event was halted around 57 kilometers from the finish line as demonstrators occupied streets along the planned route, EFE reported.

The stage, a 103.6-kilometer ride between Alalpardo and Madrid, was meant to conclude with a ceremonial sprint through the capital.