Iran prepares massive funeral for Khamenei months after Israeli-U.S. strike
Iran is preparing for a week-long farewell to former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, who was killed in February during Israeli-U.S. air r...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 25th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Ukraine and Russia exchange deadly strikes after peace talks
Ukraine and Russia attacked targets on each other's territory on Thursday after brief direct talks between the two sides failed to make any progress on steps to end nearly three-and-a-half years of war.
Russian forces staged the latest in a series of mass drone attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, killing one person, injuring at least four and causing several fires as well as damage in the historic centre, a UNESCO world heritage site.
2. Gabala International Music Festival opens with tribute to Uzeyir Hajibeyli
The 14th Gabala International Music Festival opened on 24 July with a grand ceremony honouring the 140th anniversary of Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli.
The event, nestled in the heart of Azerbaijan brings together global performers for a week of concerts across classical, folk, jazz, and opera genres.
Organised by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, with support from the Ministry of Culture, the Baku Music Academy, and 'Gilan,' this year’s edition marks Hajibeyli’s 140th anniversary, to whom the festival is dedicated.
3. France to recognise Palestinian state officially in September
France will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September, according to President Emmanuel Macron. The decision will make it the first G7 nation to do so.
In a post on X, Macron said the formal announcement would be made at a session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
"The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," he wrote.
4. Russia says humanitarian deals reached at 3rd round of talks with Ukraine ‘positive’
Russia said it sees the humanitarian agreements reached at the third round of renewed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul a day earlier as “positive.”
“The continuation of the exchange and return of civilian bodies…is an extremely important humanitarian aspect that, from our point of view, should be on the agenda. But still a positive aspect,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a press briefing.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting a hurdle to Iran-U.S. peace talks, as the top U.S. diplomat tours the Middle East to win over allies sceptical about a proposed deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States.
Authorities in France are reporting that about 20 people have died over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas of rivers, lakes and coastal waters as they tried to escape the heatwave.
China’s anti-corruption authorities have launched an investigation into Bian Zhigang, a senior defence and space official, over suspected serious violations of discipline and law, officials said on Wednesday.
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has said inspections in Iran will resume in the near future following an interim peace agreement between Tehran and Washington. However, Iranian officials insist access to key facilities remains contingent on a final deal and the lifting of sanctions.
Pakistan and Russia have agreed to deepen counterterrorism cooperation amid continuing concerns over militant threats emanating from Afghanistan, underlining growing alignment between the two countries on regional security.
Andy Burnham's path to Downing Street appeared to become clearer on Wednesday after another potential challenger ruled himself out of the Labour leadership race.
Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), faces possible removal from office after a key oversight body concluded he engaged in serious misconduct involving a junior staff member.
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