Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 24th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.

1. Trump believes Ukraine can retake all its land lost to Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday in New York, that he believed Ukraine could retake all its land occupied by Russia and that Kyiv should act now with Moscow facing "big" economic problems, in a sudden and striking rhetorical shift in Ukraine's favour.

However, there was no sign that Trump's words would be matched by a change in U.S. policy, such as a decision to impose the heavy new sanctions on Moscow sought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he travelled to New York this week. 

2. Zelenskyy believes Trump could influence Xi’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday (23 September) he believes that U.S. President Donald Trump could help change Chinese President Xi Jinping's stance on Russia's war in Ukraine. 

A Chinese embassy spokesperson denied that Beijing was a party to the ongoing conflict, stating that China had not "exploited the situation for gain." 

3. President Ilham Aliyev: Middle Corridor and TRIPP key to linking Europe and Asia

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has described the Middle Corridor as a “strategic project connecting a vast geography”, while also pledging to accelerate work on the newly launched TRIPP route.

In his address to participants at the 6th Caspian Business Forum in New York on Tuesday, organised by the Caspian Policy Center, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in regional transport and connectivity projects.

4. Heavy rain and winds hit Hong Kong as typhoon Ragasa approaches

Super Typhoon Ragasa lashed Hong Kong with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain on Wednesday. Huge waves crashed over areas of the Asian financial hub's eastern and southern shoreline, submerging some roads alongside residential properties.

Hong Kong issued the typhoon signal 10, its highest warning, early on Wednesday, which urges businesses and transport services to shut down.

5. Norway police investigate explosion in central Oslo

Norwegian police said on Tuesday they were investigating a blast on a street in central Oslo and later conducted a controlled detonation of a second explosive device found on the site, adding that a suspect had been apprehended for questioning. 

There were no reports of injuries at the location, in the immediate vicinity of a university campus and some 500 metres (546 yards) from the royal palace and the Israeli embassy.

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