Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 9th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.

1. Azerbaijan, Armenia, U.S. sign key agreements in Washington

Azerbaijan, Armenia and the United States signed landmark agreements in Washington on 8 August, advancing the South Caucasus peace process and opening a new chapter in U.S.–Azerbaijan relations. At a White House ceremony, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and U.S. President Donald Trump held talks aimed at ending more than three decades of conflict.

2. Russian drones hit SOCAR oil depot in Ukraine's Odesa region

A Russian drone strike on Ukraine’s Odesa region has damaged an oil depot operated by Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, injuring four people and underscoring the growing vulnerability of foreign-operated energy infrastructure as Russia intensifies attacks on critical facilities far from the front lines.

3. Trump and Putin to meet in Alaska on 15 August for Ukraine peace talks

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to join the discussions. The talks come amid reports of potential territorial compromises, which Kyiv has signalled would be politically difficult to accept.

4. Nagasaki mayor warns of nuclear war as city marks 80 years since A-bomb

Thousands gathered in Nagasaki on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, as Mayor Shiro Suzuki warned that ongoing global conflicts risk bringing the world closer to nuclear war and urged leaders to take concrete steps toward disarmament. The ceremony, attended by representatives from 95 countries and territories, underscored Japan’s continued advocacy for a nuclear-free world amid the declining number of survivors.

5. EU hails Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal in Washington

The European Union welcomed the meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, and praised the initialing of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations as a major step toward lasting stability. EU leaders stressed the need for timely implementation of the agreed measures and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting regional connectivity, economic opening, and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus.

6. Kazakhstan begins building first nuclear power plant in Almaty Region

Kazakhstan has commenced construction of its first nuclear power plant near Ulken village in the Almaty Region, with completion scheduled for 2035–2036. The project, valued at 14–15 billion U.S. dollars, includes an additional 1 billion dollars for social facilities and infrastructure development.

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