Morning Briefing: Sept. 13, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Saturday, including a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hitting Russia’s far east; most UN Security Council members denouncing Russia's drone incursion into Poland; and the UN General Assembly adopting a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on 2-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

TOP STORIES

• 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Russia’s far east

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Russian far east at 6.37 am local time (0237GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey.

It reported the tremor’s epicenter was off the coast of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, administrative center of Kamchatka Krai, Russia, at a depth of 39.5 kilometers (24.5 miles).

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said "hazardous" waves were possible along coasts within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter.​​​​​​​

• Most UN Security Council members denounce Russia's drone incursion into Poland

A majority of UN Security Council members strongly criticized Russia's drone incursion into Polish airspace earlier this week, and expressed solidarity with Poland and Ukraine.

"Slovenia strongly condemns this incursion into Polish airspace," said Slovenia's UN envoy, Samuel Zbogar, as he "strongly" condemned the incursion. "Europe is deeply alarmed."

"Let us be clear, such mistakes do not happen," he said, calling the incursions "aggressive and dangerous acts."

• UN General Assembly adopts resolution endorsing New York Declaration on 2-state solution

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration, which seeks to recognize a Palestinian state and advance a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The resolution, formally titled the “Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” passed with 142 votes in favor, 10 against and 12 abstentions.

Introduced by France and Saudi Arabia, the declaration had already been co-signed by 17 member states during an international conference held at UN headquarters in New York in July.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, said the scheduled Turning Point USA tour, "The American Comeback Tour," will continue after her husband's killing.
• The Gaza Media Office said more than 1 million Palestinians, including over 350,000 children, remain in Gaza City and its northern areas, refusing to evacuate to the south of the enclave.
• The first ship of the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla departed toward the Bizerte port as part of preparations for a joint voyage to the Gaza Strip, according to the flotilla.
• The US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt urged a three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan, to be followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month roadmap toward civilian-led governance.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that a Russian offensive operation in the northeastern Sumy region has been fully thwarted, while urging partners to accelerate deliveries of air defense systems and missiles.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the international community to acknowledge the realities in the Gaza Strip and hold Israel accountable for crimes against humanity as “the first step toward a fairer world.”
• Britain will join a new NATO operation to reinforce Europe’s eastern flank following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, the Defense Ministry said.
• Republicans in the Missouri Senate approved a plan to redistrict the state that could give the party an additional seat in the US House of Representatives.
• Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that Israel’s attempt to assassinate the group’s negotiating delegation in Qatar was a “direct shot” at the US president’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

US budget office lowers GDP forecast

The US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) lowered its 2025 growth forecast for the economy from 1.9% to 1.4%, while raising unemployment expectations from 4.3% to 4.5%.

It updated its forecasts for growth, employment, inflation, interest rates and other data for 2025 - 2028, from an estimation in January, in light of recent economic developments.

The CBO revised its growth forecast for the economy to be lower this year and up in 2026 and 2028.

SPORTS

Türkiye take easy win over Greece to advance to EuroBasket 2025 final

Türkiye cruised to an easy 94-68 win against Greece to move to the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 final.

The Turkish men's national basketball team controlled the game from the outset, heading into halftime with a 49-31 lead at Latvia's Arena Riga.

Ercan Osmani was the high scorer of the game with 28 points and six rebounds. Alperen Sengun added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.