Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 16th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump holds phone calls with Zelenskyy, NATO leaders after summit with Putin
The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump spoke at length with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and later held talks with NATO leaders following his Friday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2. Alaska talks showed Putin is not looking for peace, says Czech minister
Czech defence minister Jana Cernochova said on Saturday that the Alaska talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin made little headway on ending the conflict in Ukraine, instead revealing that Putin seeks to undermine Western unity. Writing on X, she argued the meeting confirmed the Russian leader’s interest in spreading propaganda rather than pursuing peace, stressing the need for continued Western support for Ukraine.
3. Kyrgyzstan's GDP grows 11.5 pct in first 7 months of 2025
Kyrgyzstan’s National Statistical Committee reported Friday that the service sector was the largest contributor to the economy, accounting for 51.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Commodity production sectors made up 32.8 percent, while taxes on products contributed 16.1 percent.
4. Lula welcomes foreign firms as Brazil faces U.S. tariffs
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said foreign companies are welcome in Brazil as he opened Chinese automaker GWM’s new plant in São Paulo state on Friday. Lula criticised U.S. president Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods as “unnecessary turbulence” and vowed to raise the issue at BRICS. The new factory, with capacity for 50,000 vehicles a year and over 2,000 jobs, comes as Brazil’s auto exports are projected to rise 38% in 2025.
5. Trump says he may have to think about tariffs on Russian oil buyers 'in two or three weeks'
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he does not need to consider retaliatory tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil “right now,” though he may revisit the issue in the coming weeks. Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity after his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said: “Because of what happened today, I don’t have to think about that. Maybe in two or three weeks, but not at this moment. The meeting went very well.”
6. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to visit India from Monday, China's foreign ministry says
China’s foreign ministry announced on Saturday that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from Monday to Wednesday.
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday endorsed an army plan to disarm Hezbollah as Shi’ite ministers stage walk out in protest....
The U.S. has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to a Puerto Rico airfield for operations against designated narco-terrorist groups operati...
David Lammy, Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood are on the up as Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffles his cabinet following former deputy Angela Rayn...
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, fresh details surfaced about the circumstances behind Azerbaijan’s blocked membershi...
At the Prague Defence Summit, Defence Industries Secretary Haluk Görgün met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, highlighting the sector’s rapi...
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday endorsed an army plan to disarm Hezbollah as Shi’ite ministers stage walk out in protest.
Under the decisive and empowering leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has a remarkable trajectory in world politics.
David Lammy, Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood are on the up as Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffles his cabinet following former deputy Angela Rayner's exit.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, fresh details surfaced about the circumstances behind Azerbaijan’s blocked membership bid. Diplomatic sources cited by APA said the decision was not only driven by India but also actively supported by Russia.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday endorsed an army plan to disarm Hezbollah as Shi’ite ministers stage walk out in protest.
The U.S. has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to a Puerto Rico airfield for operations against designated narco-terrorist groups operating in the southern Caribbean, sources said. The planes are expected to arrive by late next week.
David Lammy, Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood are on the up as Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffles his cabinet following former deputy Angela Rayner's exit.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, fresh details surfaced about the circumstances behind Azerbaijan’s blocked membership bid. Diplomatic sources cited by APA said the decision was not only driven by India but also actively supported by Russia.
Joe Biden has undergone a surgical procedure to remove cancerous skin cells and is recovering well, according to NBC News.
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