Morning Briefing: Sept. 21, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including a major cyberattack disrupting flights across London, Brussels and Berlin; Iran’s decision to halt cooperation with the IAEA after the UN blocks sanctions relief; and President Donald Trump’s warning of “bad things” if Afghanistan does not return control of Bagram Air Base to the US.

TOP STORIES

• Cyberattack on airline systems causes delays at major European airports

A cyberattack on a third-party system provider caused widespread flight disruptions at several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow plus Brussels and Berlin, authorities said.

Brussels Airport confirmed at least four flight cancellations, including departures to Rwanda and Amsterdam, following an attack, which knocked out automated check-in and boarding systems.

The airport said only manual check-in procedures were available, warning of a “large impact on the flight schedule” with more delays and cancellations expected.

• Iran says it will halt cooperation with IAEA after UN blocks sanctions relief

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it will suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after the UN Security Council voted against permanently lifting sanctions on Tehran.

In a statement carried by state-run Press TV, Iran’s top security body condemned the “ill-considered” moves by Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, regarding Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran insists is peaceful.

On Friday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution aimed at preventing the “snapback” of sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

• Trump warns of 'bad things' if Afghanistan does not return Bagram Air Base

President Donald Trump said "bad things" will happen if Afghanistan does not give back control of the Bagram Air Base to the US.

"If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

On Friday, Trump said that discussions about reestablishing a small US military presence at the base in Afghanistan are underway.

"We’ll see what happens with Bagram. We’re talking to Afghanistan. It should have never been given up," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Democratic leaders in the US Congress demanded that President Donald Trump meet with them ahead of the Sept. 30 government funding deadline to avert a shutdown.
• Egypt said its military deployment in the Sinai Peninsula is aimed at securing national borders and is consistent with a 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
• The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), one of the largest caucuses in the American Congress, has voted in a historic first to endorse legislation to halt US arms transfers to Israel amid its genocide in the Gaza Strip, according to reports.
• Leaders of Israel’s opposition parties announced they have established a joint forum aimed at strengthening political coordination against the ruling coalition and outlining the framework for a future government.
• Israeli forces detained the mayor of a northern West Bank town -- the latest in a string of arrests targeting Palestinian officials since August, according to Palestinian media.
• Russia launched its answer to Eurovision with the first-ever Intervision international song contest in Moscow as an alternative to the Europe-based competition.
• Police in Malawi arrested eight election officials for allegedly attempting to manipulate election results as the vote count was underway following last Tuesday’s elections in the Southeast African nation.
• US President Donald Trump called on Venezuela to "immediately" take back prisoners or face an "incalculable" price.
• A French administrative court ordered the town hall of Malakoff, in Hauts-de-Seine, to remove a Palestinian flag from its building, days before France is expected to officially recognize the State of Palestine.
• Japanese Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi launched his bid to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), pledging to revive the economy and restore the party’s strength after its defeat in July’s upper house election.
• Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney extended a warm welcome to Palestinians from Gaza arriving for medical treatment, voicing solidarity with the enclave and reiterating Scotland’s support for a two-state solution.
• Russia claimed that its forces had captured the settlement of Berezove in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of next week’s UN General Assembly in New York.
• Qatar submitted an official letter to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) condemning Israel’s Sept. 9 armed assault in Doha, which targeted the residential premises of Hamas’ political bureau members and resulted in casualties.
• Indonesia's most active volcano erupted again, spewing a column of volcanic ash up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above the peak of the mountain, according to the Mount Marapi Volcano Post (PGA).
• Four people were killed and one injured in a Ukrainian night drone attack in Russia’s southwestern Samara region, Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorechev said.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee could disrupt Indian IT services: Trade body

A new visa fee of $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas announced by the US will impact India's technology services companies, warned a leading trade body in the South Asian nation.

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation demanding that companies pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas.

"We need workers. We need great workers. And this pretty much ensures that that's what's going to happen," Trump said in the Oval Office while signing the proclamation.

• US oil rig count up by 2 for week ending Sept. 19

The oil rig count in the US increased by 2 this week, according to data released by oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

The number of oil rigs, an indicator of short-term production in the country, rose to 418 for the week ending Sept. 19.

However, the number of US oil rigs dropped by 70 compared to a year ago.

The price of international benchmark Brent crude stood at $66.12 per barrel at Friday's trading close, while American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $62.32.