Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 16th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump confirms Patriot missile shipments to Ukraine, paid by NATO members
President Donald Trump announced that Patriot missile systems are already being sent to Ukraine from Germany as part of a NATO-backed agreement. Under the deal, the U.S. will be fully reimbursed by European allies, either through NATO or directly from EU members.
Trump emphasized that the U.S. will not bear any additional financial burden. The deal was finalized during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who confirmed Europe would cover the full cost of supplying weapons to Ukraine.
2. Syria declares Latakia wildfires under control, warns of long-term damage
Syria has announced that the wildfires in Latakia province have been fully extinguished after 12 days of intense efforts. Minister Raed al-Saleh emphasized the need for stronger forest protection and an early warning system to prevent future disasters.
More than16,000 hectares of forest and 2,200 hectares of farmland were destroyed, while 45 villages were affected and 1,200 families displaced. International support from Türkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, and others was praised as vital to the response.
3. EU imposes fresh sanctions on Iran, Russia, Moldova, and Haiti over rights abuses and hybrid threats
The EU has imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities in Iran, Russia, Moldova, and Haiti over human rights abuses, disinformation, and efforts to destabilize regions.
Targets include Iranian intelligence-linked groups, Russian judges, Moldovan political actors, and Haitian gang leaders. Russian media and military units were also blacklisted for interference and GNSS jamming. All face asset freezes and travel bans.
4. U.S. and EU set end-August deadline for new Iran nuclear deal
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the UK have agreed on an end-of-August deadline to revive the Iran nuclear deal, according to Axios. If no agreement is reached, the European powers may trigger the 'snapback' mechanism.
Talks include calls for Iran to resume International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring and reduce its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium. Iran currently holds around 400 kilograms—well above limits set in the original deal. The U.S. exited the agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump. Iran denies having a nuclear programme.
5. Azerbaijan and China officially end visa requirements for ordinary passport holders
The visa regime between Azerbaijan and China was abolished on 16 July, following an agreement signed during President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to China.
Citizens holding valid ordinary passports from both countries can now travel, enter, exit, and transit without a visa for up to 30 days per trip and a total of 90 days within any 180-day period. This development aims to strengthen bilateral relations and facilitate easier travel and cooperation.
Residents and visitors in Chicago have been experiencing unusual haze and poor air quality recently, as the city grapples with a combination of smoke ...
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has positioned himself as a staunch defender of multilateralism amid rising global trade tensions, parti...
The U.S. Department of State has announced a new programme requiring citizens of Zambia and Malawi applying for tourist and business visas to post a b...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia must not “deceive” either Ukraine or the United States over a potential ceasefire, no...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had achieved "great progress" during a three-hour meeting with Russian Pres...
Residents and visitors in Chicago have been experiencing unusual haze and poor air quality recently, as the city grapples with a combination of smoke from over 700 wildfires raging in Canada and elevated ozone levels.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has positioned himself as a staunch defender of multilateralism amid rising global trade tensions, particularly in response to recent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Department of State has announced a new programme requiring citizens of Zambia and Malawi applying for tourist and business visas to post a bond of up to $15,000.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia must not “deceive” either Ukraine or the United States over a potential ceasefire, noting that Moscow’s stance now appears to be shifting.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
Most peace talks fail. Some drag on for years. Others collapse in days. But even when they don’t succeed, they can save lives. From backchannel meetings to battlefield truces, here’s how peace talks actually work — and why making peace is often harder than making war.
The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of aircraft equipment worth $404 million to Australia.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington now has a clearer picture of the conditions under which Russia may be willing to end its war in Ukraine.
In the southern Aude region, France is currently battling the country’s largest wildfire in 80 years. The blaze is spreading rapidly, covering an area larger than Paris.
Residents and visitors in Chicago have been experiencing unusual haze and poor air quality recently, as the city grapples with a combination of smoke from over 700 wildfires raging in Canada and elevated ozone levels.
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