Georgia and Azerbaijan sign landmark energy and transport agreements in Baku
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partne...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 31 October, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump cancels Putin summit after Moscow memo, FT reports
The United States cancelled a planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest after Moscow refused to soften its demands on Ukraine, including territorial concessions and limits on Kyiv’s military. The Financial Times reported that the decision followed a tense call between top U.S. and Russian diplomats, during which Washington concluded Moscow was not ready to negotiate.
2. Xi set to meet Canadian, Japanese leaders after Trump trade truce
Chinese President Xi Jinping took the spotlight at the APEC summit in South Korea, holding key meetings with leaders from Japan, Canada, and Thailand after reaching a fragile trade truce with U.S. President Donald Trump. The talks focused on strengthening supply chains and easing trade tensions, though divisions among member states continue to challenge consensus.
3. Friedrich Merz meets Erdoğan in Türkiye, discusses Gaza, defence cooperation
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara to strengthen economic and defence cooperation, with both leaders emphasising joint projects and closer EU–Türkiye ties. Erdoğan also criticised Germany for ignoring Israel’s actions in Gaza and defended the ongoing legal process against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
4. King Charles strips brother Andrew of titles and his mansion
King Charles has stripped his brother Andrew of all royal titles and ordered him to leave his Windsor residence, aiming to distance the monarchy from the Epstein scandal. The move, backed by the wider royal family, marks one of the most decisive actions against a senior royal in modern British history.
5. Pakistan, Afghanistan agreed on continuing ceasefire, Türkiye says
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to extend their ceasefire after deadly border clashes, following talks in Istanbul mediated by Türkiye and Qatar. Both sides will set up a joint monitoring mechanism to maintain peace, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for 6 November.
6. Hurricane Melissa leaves 49 dead in Caribbean, churns north
Hurricane Melissa has killed at least 49 people across the northern Caribbean, with Haiti and Jamaica among the hardest hit. Authorities say rescue efforts continue as vast damage, power outages, and flooding leave thousands displaced and infrastructure crippled.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Estonia said on Tuesday (19 May) that a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over its territory, in the latest reported airspace violation in the region amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russia.
Sweden has agreed to buy four naval frigates from France’s Naval Group in a deal worth more than $4 billion, as Stockholm moves to strengthen its defence capabilities in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.
Spanish police said on Tuesday they had detained a 25-year-old man suspected of killing his two parents and injuring four other people, including his son, in a shooting in the southern city of El Ejido in Almeria province overnight.
European Union negotiators are expected to agree on Tuesday (19 May) on legislation removing import duties on U.S. industrial goods, in a move aimed at implementing last year’s trade agreement with the United States and avoiding higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment