Morning Briefing: Aug. 16, 2025

By Asiye Latife Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including US President Donald Trump hailing 'great progress' during a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but saying no deal has been reached; French, Ukrainian presidents agreeing to meet after Alaska summit; and Israeli army killing 42 Palestinians in latest Gaza attacks.

TOP STORIES

• Trump hails 'great progress' during Putin summit, but says no deal reached

US President Donald Trump said that he and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, made “great progress” at a historic summit in Alaska, but acknowledged that they did not reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

Putin and Trump struck upbeat notes after they met behind closed doors for more than three hours, with the US president saying they "had a very productive meeting."

After the summit, Trump said it is now up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders "to get it done."

• French, Ukrainian presidents agree to meet after Alaska summit

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have agreed to meet after the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Elysee Palace said.

"President Macron and President Zelenskyy have agreed to meet at a convenient time, after Alaska," the French presidential office told broadcaster BFM TV.

No specific date or location for the meeting was announced.

• Israeli army kills 42 Palestinians in latest Gaza attacks

The Israeli army killed at least 42 Palestinians in the latest airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, sources told Anadolu.

Medical sources and witnesses said Israeli forces bombed gatherings of Palestinian civilians in the north and central areas of the enclave.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Russian President Vladimir Putin said "an understanding" was reached at a meeting with US President Donald Trump, which he hopes will pave the way for peace in Ukraine.
• France condemned Israel's destruction of a school under construction in the northern occupied West Bank, calling for accountability.
• The Portuguese government has extended a nationwide alert into the weekend as it faces 37 active wildfires
• High-level talks to reach a global treaty to combat plastic pollution ended in Geneva without an agreement, following continued disagreements about prioritizing a phase-out of plastics or enhancing waste management systems.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the world to act to stop the war in Gaza, warning the territory is nearing “total humanitarian collapse” amid Israeli attacks.
• A 25-year-old man was killed and another person injured in a shooting near a mosque in the southern Swedish city of Orebro.
• Norway announced it will give 1 billion kroner ($98 million) to Ukraine.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his nation will not “tolerate nuclear threats” and will “not differentiate between terrorists and their supporters.”
• US President Donald Trump said he had a "wonderful talk" with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and thanked him for the release of 16 prisoners.
• A helicopter carrying relief supplies crashed in the northwestern Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing five crew members, including two pilots, as new rains and flash floods left 227 people dead nationwide.
• One person was killed and several were injured when a passenger train operated by Danish State Railways (DSB) derailed in Southern Jutland after colliding with an agricultural vehicle.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• China files lawsuit against Canada at World Trade Organization over import restrictions on steel

China filed a lawsuit against Canada at the World Trade Organization (WTO), challenging its import restrictions on steel and other products, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to the restrictions.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced last month that Ottawa would impose a 25% duty on Chinese steel products.

• Türkiye’s Roketsan firm relies on domestic production for power

Roketsan, a Turkish defense firm, reportedly increased the share of domestically produced components in its products to more than 90%, drawing on domestic production to power its offerings, according to the company's general manager.

Murat Ikinci, speaking at a Turkish Press Federation conference, said Roketsan has become one of Türkiye’s largest research and development centers, employing more than 6,000 people in the Turkish defense workforce and ranking as the country's second-fastest-growing defense firm, trailing only Baykar.

• Chinese economy shows signs of slowing as industrial production, retail sales miss estimates

The Chinese economy posted downbeat results in July, as industrial production, retail sales and fixed investments came in below expectations, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Industrial output was up 5.7% on an annual basis in July, below estimates of 6% growth, also slowing from 6.8% in June.

Retail sales also rose 3.7% year-on-year, losing momentum from 4.8% in the previous month, and below forecasts of a 4.6% increase.​​​​​​​