Rabia Ali
25 June 2025•Update: 25 June 2025
ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday with, including a meeting between Turkish President Erdogan and US President Trump at the NATO summit, Andrew Cuomo conceding to Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral primary, and Iran saying it will abide by the ceasefire if Israel respects the deal.
TOP STORIES
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday met with US President Donald Trump at the NATO Summit in The Hague, where they discussed regional and global issues as well as bilateral ties.
President Erdogan welcomed an Israel-Iran ceasefire "achieved through US President Trump's efforts" and called for lasting peace, an end to the Gaza crisis, and dialogue on Ukraine, according to a statement by Türkiye's Communications Directorate.
During their meeting, President Erdogan highlighted the strong potential for cooperation with the US in energy, investment, and defense in particular, noting that advancing ties could help achieve a $100 billion trade target.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded defeat in the New York City Democratic primary Tuesday night, well-positioning front-runner Zohran Mamdani to become the city's first Muslim mayor.
Unofficial results showed Mamdani with 43.50% of first-round votes, holding over a 7-point lead over Cuomo, who stands at 36.38%.
The final results will be determined via ranked-choice tabulations, expected next Tuesday.
Cuomo said at a campaign rally that he called Mamdani to congratulate him, telling his supporters: "Tonight was not our night. Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani's night."
Iran will abide by a ceasefire with Israel if it does not violate the agreement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking in a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Pezeshkian said Israel and its backers had sought to spark unrest within Iran.
“The Iranian people, despite hardships and grievances, stood united and unwavering against the opposite side,” his office quoted him as saying.
The Iranian leader said the US directly participated in the Israeli war against Iran “when Israel failed to reach its goals.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
US President Donald Trump said he does not favor regime change in Iran, warning that such a shift would cause "chaos," Sky News reported Tuesday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday welcomed US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, urging both countries to respect the agreement.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed all alliance members agreed to 5% defense spending targets, calling it a "big success" of Donald Trump in a message shared Tuesday by the US president on Truth Social.
The EU foreign policy chief on Tuesday urged Israel and Iran to avoid further escalation following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday reiterated Beijing’s support for Iran's efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and security, state-backed Xinhua News reported.
The UK plans to purchase at least 12 F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons and join NATO’s airborne nuclear mission.
Iranian Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force, was seen alive and well during celebrations Tuesday in Tehran of Iran's self-claimed victory over Israel, according to local media.
South Korea successfully conducted a safe separation test Wednesday for a homegrown long-range air-to-surface guided missile under development, according to a local media report.
Israeli forces have killed 16,802 Palestinian students and injured more than 26,000 in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip since Israel launched its genocidal war on Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Education said Tuesday.
A preliminary US intelligence assessment found that recent American military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities failed to destroy key components of Iran’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by a few months, CNN reported Tuesday.
A Canadian airline is under fire after a Muslim woman was allegedly forced to remove her hijab, or headscarf, in public at Toronto Pearson Airport on June 20 before boarding a flight to Winnipeg.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced Tuesday evening that its fighters carried out a series of coordinated operations against Israeli forces in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing and wounding several soldiers over the past few days.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
US stocks closed Tuesday with gains after US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Iran, suspending armed conflict that began on June 13.
The S&P 500 earned 1.11% to 6,092.18 points, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.43% to finish at 19,912.53.
Turkish space technology firm Plan-S launched four new satellites into space onboard SpaceX Falcon 9 as part of the Transporter-14 mission.
Plan-S, founded in 2021, develops next-generation satellite and space technologies. The firm provides solutions for Internet of Things (IoT) communications, Earth observation, and remote sensing via team satellites operating in low Earth orbit.
The firm’s satellite-based IoT communication network, Connecta IoT Network, provides low-energy, cost-effective, and reliable connectivity, connecting millions of devices in the energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and logistics sectors.
