Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 20th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump says Russia, Ukraine agree to immediate ceasefire talks, Kremlin offers no timeframe
Donald Trump said after his call on Monday with President Vladimir Putin that Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations for a ceasefire, but the Kremlin said the process would take time and the U.S. president indicated he was not ready to join Europe with fresh sanctions to pressure Moscow.
In a social media post, Trump said he relayed the plan to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as well as the leaders of the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and Finland in a group call following his session with the Russian leader.
"Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War," Trump said, adding later at the White House that he thought "some progress is being made."
2. Budapest to host Informal Summit of Organization of Turkic States
The Informal Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will take place on 20–21 May 2025 in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, according to the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States.
Hosted by Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, the Summit will bring together the Presidents of the member states of the OTS: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. The representatives of the OTS Observers, the Secretary General of the Organization, will also participate in the event.
This will mark the first time that an OTS Summit is being held in an Observer State, highlighting Hungary’s growing role in the comprehensive cooperation deepening with resolute steps of the Turkic countries.
3. Brazil rules out three of seven suspected bird flu cases
The government had been investigating seven cases after the first outbreak was confirmed on a commercial farm in Brazil last week, according to updated information on the agriculture ministry's website.
Two of the cases still under investigation concern poultry raised on commercial farms and five involved backyard flocks in Brazil, which sold some $10 billion worth of chicken products globally last year, supplying more than 5 million metric tons.
4. Iran and Britain summon envoys over alleged spying in UK
Britain and Iran have summoned each other's envoys after three Iranians were charged with spying in the UK.
Three Iranian men were arrested on 3 May and appeared in court in London on Saturday on charges of spying for the Islamic republic.
Iran's IRNA news agency said the British charge d'affaire was asked on Sunday to give an explanation for what it said was "unjustified" and "politically motivated" arrests. The UK Foreign Office then responded on Monday by summoning Tehran's ambassador to the UK.
5. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK would "not tolerate growing state-backed threats on UK soil".
Indonesia raises alert to highest level after multiple eruptions at Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano
Indonesia has raised the alert level to the highest for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki after it erupted eight times over the weekend, the country’s volcanology agency said.
The volcano, located on Flores island in eastern Indonesia, sent ash clouds soaring between 1.9 and 3.4 miles high on Sunday, according to agency chief Muhammad Wafid.
“Our analysis shows that activity remains high, so the alert level was raised Sunday evening,” Wafid said.
Tajikistan has begun the process of leaving the International Criminal Court, citing what it calls growing politicisation and bias in the court&rsq...
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday 8 October, that Yerevan will discuss the possible construction of railway connections...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen after attacks on two Saudi airports left three people dead and dozens injured.
Azerbaijan and the five Central Asian states have signed two key documents at the 8th Consultative Meeting of Heads of State in Turkmenbashi, formalising a broader framework for regional cooperation in transport, trade, energy, digitalisation and security.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday 8 October, that Yerevan will discuss the possible construction of railway connections with the Turkish city of Kars and the Azerbaijani city of Nakhchivan with Russian officials next week, according to local media.
It started with classrooms. Too many students, not enough teachers, deteriorating buildings and growing anxiety over what comes after high school. But within weeks, a movement that began outside French lycées had spread across the country.
Iran says it will deliver its response to recent U.S. proposals through intermediaries, underscoring that communication between the two countries continues indirectly alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
International cooperation, lunar exploration and the growing role of artificial intelligence dominated the third day of a major astronautical conference now underway in Antalya.
Armenian authorities have frozen a wide range of assets belonging to billionaire businessman and opposition politician Gagik Tsarukyan as part of proceedings linked to the confiscation of property allegedly acquired illegally.
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