Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 20 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. and Iranian negotiators are set to begin peace talks in Switzerland on Sunday, following a Pakistan-brokered 60-day ceasefire aimed at ending nearly four months of conflict. The talks come amid fresh tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the key waterway had been closed. The U.S. military disputed the claim, saying commercial vessels continued to pass through the strait, including 55 merchant ships carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil on Saturday. The negotiations are expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear programme, the Lebanon ceasefire and implementation of the interim deal.
Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least nine people in Gaza on Saturday, including a child and Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Wishah, health officials said. Four people were killed in an airstrike on an apartment building in Gaza City, while others were reported killed in Beit Lahiya, Khan Younis and Bureij refugee camp. Israel said it had targeted militants, including one it claimed worked as an Al Jazeera photojournalist, but did not provide evidence. Al Jazeera condemned Wishah’s killing and said he was the 12th of its journalists killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023. The violence comes despite an October ceasefire, with talks on the next phase of Donald Trump’s Gaza plan still deadlocked.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing a massive attack on Ukraine, urging residents to closely follow air raid alerts. His warning came as Russian strikes across several regions killed at least six people, including five in Zaporizhzhia, where glide bomb attacks damaged residential buildings and infrastructure. Casualties were also reported in Sumy, Kherson and Poltava, where three children were injured. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would continue its medium- and long-range strikes on Russia’s oil sector, including recent drone attacks on refineries in Tyumen and Moscow.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo says confirmed Ebola cases have risen to 956, including 247 deaths, up from 933 cases and 245 deaths a day earlier. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said 80 patients have recovered, while the WHO reported that 75 healthcare workers have been infected and 17 have died. Officials warn that shortages of protective equipment and limited medical staff are putting further pressure on efforts to contain the outbreak.
A severe heatwave is sweeping across much of Europe, prompting France to restrict alcohol consumption at public events, Germany to issue widespread heat warnings and Spain to close a football fan zone in Madrid. Temperatures in parts of France are forecast to reach up to 41C, while Germany and Italy are also facing extreme heat. Scientists warn that climate change is making European heatwaves more frequent and intense, increasing risks to public health, daily life and economic activity.
Azerbaijani families of people missing since the Garabagh conflict have taken their appeal to EU officials in Brussels, calling for greater interna...
Almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Champi...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on D...
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Yemen's Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Medina on Wednesday adding that they have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia either, denying earlier comments from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court in Batumi will on Wednesday hear a lawsuit seeking to ban five Georgian opposition parties, four of which collectively gained 784,820 votes (37.79 per cent) in the country’s last national elections in 2024.
Almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Champi, which is forecast to bring strong winds and torrential rain to the island.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order expanding access to tax-exempt diesel as soaring fuel prices frustrate voters ahead of the midterm elections. But farmers say using the fuel on public roads is too risky, while many other drivers cannot get hold of it.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027 will take place from 17 September to 9 October next year in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that ‘illegitimate’ protests would be banned in the coming days. He blamed ‘seditious’ ultra-left groups and vandals for last weekend’s riots and looting, as authorities prepare for fresh demonstrations on Saturday.
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