Ayhan Şimşek
18 September 2026•Update: 18 September 2026
Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including US President Donald Trump saying he faces a “big decision” on whether to resume major attacks on Iran, Washington approving a potential $24.3 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, and the US and Poland making significant progress toward establishing a US Army base on Polish territory.
TOP STORIES
Trump says he faces ‘big decision’ on whether to resume major attacks on Iran
US President Donald Trump said he is approaching a critical decision on whether to resume major military attacks against Iran.
"I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not? It's a big decision. Anything could happen with me,” he told the Axios news site in an interview.
Trump is expected to meet next Tuesday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss the next phase of the conflict.
Trump administration approves $24.3B F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, according to a State Department statement.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region," the State Department said.
According to US law, Congress members have 30 calendar days from the formal notification to review or object to the sale before the administration finalizes the deal.
US, Poland making 'major progress' toward new US Army base
US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the United States and Poland are making significant progress toward establishing a US Army base in Poland amid growing tensions between European allies and Russia.
"Great News! Thanks to the bold leadership of my friend, Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, major progress is being made toward establishing a U.S. Army base in Poland,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"If this happens, the location will be announced very soon. This will be a historic step for our Great U.S./Polish Alliance," he said.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said intelligence information suggests Russia could target Poland and other NATO members supporting Ukraine with drones or missiles while seeking to portray the incidents as "accidental."
- Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that Europe is "on the brink" of a broader military conflict, saying the Ukraine war has "spiraled out of control" ahead of his visit to Kyiv on Friday.
- The EU will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Western countries are preparing for a war with Russia while promoting "a myth about a threat emanating from Russia," adding that Moscow would be able to respond adequately to external challenges to its security.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a deeper strategic partnership between Canada and the EU on trade, defense, energy and technology in an address to the European Parliament.
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it struck the Togo-flagged tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz after what it called an “illegal passage,” claiming the ship caught fire and had been “incited and deceived” by the US military.
- Italy is prepared to act independently to ensure its merchant vessels can pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait rather than wait for an EU naval mission, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said.
- The US Treasury Department sanctioned an Iranian cryptocurrency exchange, accusing it of helping transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
- The US State Department has issued visas to Iran’s delegation to attend next week’s UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York, a department spokesperson said.
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the Middle East situation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call, a day after hosting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing and ahead of a planned meeting next week in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- Iran summoned Germany’s ambassador in Tehran, Axel Dittmann, over remarks by senior German officials and “interventionist” activities by the German Embassy, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
- Oman, Kuwait and Qatar strongly condemned Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, expressing solidarity with the kingdom and support for measures taken to protect its security, stability and sovereignty.
- One person was killed and two others were injured by falling debris from a Houthi drone intercepted and destroyed over Taif city in western Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency said.
- Palestinian Presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned Israel’s plans to open tenders for 3,401 settlement units in the E1 area east of occupied East Jerusalem, calling the move “a dangerous escalation” and a violation of international law.
- The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said Israel has intensified its targeting of Palestinian journalists in the occupied West Bank after detaining Alaa al-Rimawi in Ramallah, bringing the number of journalists held in Israeli prisons to 39.
- Ireland’s public broadcaster RTE said it will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row and will not broadcast the 2027 competition, stressing that its position “remains unchanged.”
- The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution allowing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address next week’s high-level debate by pre-recorded video after the US refused to issue visas for Palestine’s delegation for a second year.
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he will use the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York to personally warn US President Donald Trump against interfering in Brazil’s October presidential election.
- Argentine President Javier Milei’s government sent a bill to Congress, seeking to strengthen legal measures related to the country’s sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands and increase penalties for unauthorized exploitation of natural resources in the area.
- Russian voters begin voting to elect the 450 members of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in a three-day election that also includes regional and local contests across the country.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Istanbul Airport tops global connectivity ranking as Heathrow falls amid Middle East turmoil
Türkiye’s Istanbul Airport topped the global connectivity ranking as the world’s most connected aviation hub, while London Heathrow dropped to second amid Middle East disruptions.
Global travel intelligence partner OAG published its Megahubs 2026 report, with Istanbul Airport taking first place worldwide for the first time after climbing from second place in 2025 and offering connections to 337 destinations.
Turkish Airlines operated 80% of the flights at the airport.
Electric cars’ market share in Europe tops 30% in August
Battery-electric vehicles accounted for more than 30% of new car registrations across key European markets in August, according to a recent industry report.
A total of 202,833 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered across 16 European markets during the month, marking an annual increase of 54.2%, according to a monthly bulletin prepared by Brussels-based E-Mobility Europe and independent transport research organization New AutoMotive.
BEVs represented 30.5% of all new car registrations in the markets covered, while their estimated share across the EU reached 31.2%.
