Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 31th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. President Xi meets global leaders at SCO Summit in Tianjin
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a series of high-level meetings in Tianjin ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, engaging with leaders from the UN, Cambodia, Myanmar, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Nepal. Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to multilateralism, the Belt and Road Initiative, and closer cooperation on trade, energy, connectivity and global governance. UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised China as a cornerstone of multilateralism, while other leaders reiterated support for the one-China principle and signed agreements deepening economic, political and security ties. The meetings underscored China’s growing role as a central partner for both regional neighbours and the wider Global South.
2. Albares Urges EU to Defend Palestinian Representation at UN
Spain condemned the U.S. decision to revoke visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 officials, calling it “unacceptable” and urging the EU to defend Palestinian representation at the UN. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the EU must move from words to action in addressing the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, linking engagement with Israel to respect for human rights. Madrid has proposed an action plan including an arms embargo on Israel, sanctions against those undermining a two-state solution, increased funding for the Palestinian Authority, and a halt to trade with illegal settlements. Spain said these measures would be pursued in line with EU law and international obligations.
3. Pakistan floods leave thousads homeless
Floods in Pakistan’s Chiniot district have destroyed villages, homes and crops after the Chenab River overflowed due to heavy monsoon rains. Thousands of families have been forced into makeshift roadside camps, with residents reporting little government aid as livestock starve and food supplies run out. Authorities recorded water flow at nearly 393,000 cusecs, while nationwide the monsoon has killed 820 people and displaced over a million. The devastation in Punjab, Pakistan’s breadbasket, is fuelling fears of a looming food crisis.
4. Ukrainian former parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy shot dead in Lviv
Former Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in Lviv on Saturday, prompting a manhunt, prosecutors said. Parubiy, 54, a former parliament leader and key figure in the 2013–2014 Euromaidan protests, also served as secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council during Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Tributes poured in from Ukrainian leaders, with former President Petro Poroshenko calling the killing “a shot fired at the heart of Ukraine,” while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to bring the perpetrator to justice. Authorities launched a special operation, codenamed “Siren,” to track down the shooter.
5. Xi Jinping says China will remain a trustworthy UN partner
Chinese President Xi Jinping told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Tianjin that China would remain a reliable partner of the United Nations, pledging stronger cooperation and support for its global role. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan also attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, underscoring its high-level participation. Xi stressed the need to restore the UN’s authority, while Guterres urged urgent reform of global governance and hailed China as a pillar of multilateralism.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Chât...
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said....
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Châtelet-Les Halles areas from 11pm Saturday until 6am Sunday (1 November).
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education and living costs. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
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