live U.S. to apply measures 'never seen before' on Iran, Trump official says
The U.S. will impose "never seen before" measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, Washington's Treasury Secreta...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 19th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump signs landmark crypto bill into law
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed the GENIUS Act into law, establishing the nation’s first regulatory framework for dollar-backed stablecoins. Hailed as a major victory for the crypto industry, the law sets transparency and reserve standards for issuers, while critics warn of gaps in oversight and security protections.
2. Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire with regional backing, U.S. envoy says
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye announced that Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire following days of cross-border strikes. Backed by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors, the deal aims to ease tensions after Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian troops near Damascus. There is no immediate comment from the Israeli or Syrian governments.
3. Russian drone attack on Odesa kills 1, sets apartment building ablaze
At least 20 drones targeted the Ukrainian port city of Odesa early Saturday, sparking a massive fire in a residential building and killing one person, according to Mayor Hennady Trukhanov. Emergency crews rushed to the scene as smoke poured from upper floors and parents carried children to safety. The number of injured is still being assessed.
4. Baku hosted Joint Meeting of ASOSAI and ARABOSAI organizations
Baku welcomed representatives from the Asian and Arab Supreme Audit Institutions for a joint meeting focused on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and climate change. Azerbaijani officials and international speakers emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and experience-sharing to enhance audit efficiency and address global challenges.
5. Congo, M23 to sign declaration to end conflict in eastern region
After months of Qatari mediation, Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a declaration of principles, including an immediate ceasefire and plans for broader peace negotiations. The U.S.-backed deal aims to end deadly fighting in the country's mineral-rich east, though key issues like rebel withdrawal and detainee releases remain unresolved.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province. A man died of the virus in Bas-Uélé in the north, the African Union’s health agency said.
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to abandon its next planned electromagnetic aircraft launch system and return to steam-powered catapults on a future aircraft carrier, while also authorising limited overseas ship construction to help address naval capacity shortfalls.
A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Cuba and the Dominican Republic after Santo Domingo ordered the withdrawal of several Cuban diplomats and their family members, prompting a sharp response from Havana.
Brazil has taken the first formal step towards potential retaliatory action against the United States following the Trump administration's decision to impose new tariffs on Brazilian exports, signalling a further deterioration in relations between the two countries.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that reports about poor conditions aboard aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East were "completely misrepresented."
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