Israel reopens Rafah crossing in ‘pilot operation’ after two years
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of...
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.
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday made public more than three million pages of documents on Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender, including investigative records referencing Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk and Britain’s former Duke of York, Prince Andrew.
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
Vladimir Putin said Russia earned more than $15 billion from defence exports in 2025 and fulfilled all military-technical contracts despite what he described as growing pressure from Western countries.
Explosions shook parts of southern Lebanon on Friday night as Israeli strikes rippled across the Zahrani district, with the blasts travelling toward the coastal city of Sidon.
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of the crossing in two years.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has arrived in China for an official visit, where he is due to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss international and regional security issues, Russian state media reported on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington may be able to reach a deal with Cuba, days after he threatened tariffs on any country supplying the island with oil.
Xi Jinping praised China–Algeria co-operation on Saturday following the successful launch of an Algerian remote sensing satellite from northwest China, calling it another milestone in bilateral space ties.
U.S. president Donald Trump said Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States and expressed hope that negotiations could lead to an outcome acceptable to Washington.
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