Afghanistan and Pakistan close to agreement in Istanbul ceasefire talks
Diplomatic sources in Istanbul indicate that negotiators from Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached an agreement on the most significant issues, with ...
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.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
Diplomatic sources in Istanbul indicate that negotiators from Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached an agreement on the most significant issues, with the remaining points expected to be finalised before the conclusion of the talks late Monday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a deal on Monday in which Türkiye bought 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets for 8 billion pounds ($10.7 billion), his office said, deepening the NATO allies' defence ties and bolstering Turkish air defences.
India and China have resumed direct commercial flights for the first time in five years, marking a cautious thaw in relations between the two Asian giants.
Cameroon's incumbent President Paul Biya, 92 has been announced as the winner of the country's Presidential election amidst allegations of election irregularities.
The UN has appealed for the safe evacuation of civilians trapped in Sudan’s el-Fasher, as paramilitary forces claim to have captured the army’s main base in the city.
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