Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 28th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump halts Canada trade talks over digital tax, warns of new tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada, condemning its new digital services tax on American tech giants as a “blatant attack” and pledging to announce fresh tariffs within a week.
The move disrupts months of progress following a G7 accord and comes as Washington also races to finalise deals with China, Japan and India before a self-imposed summer deadline.
2. Trump says Gaza ceasefire possible within a week.
President Donald Trump voiced confidence on Friday that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be reached within a week, pointing to encouraging signs from ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he had spoken to key figures involved in the negotiations and believed a resolution was close, despite continued disagreements over core issues such as Hamas’ disarmament.
3. Drone strike on Odesa residential building leaves two dead, several injured.
A drone strike on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight on 28 June resulted in the deaths of two people and left at least 14 others injured, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
The incident triggered a fire in a high-rise residential building, with emergency teams rescuing several individuals, including a child. Authorities reported that ongoing air raid alerts complicated rescue efforts.
4. Lithuania withdraws from landmine ban treaty over Russia threat.
Lithuania has formally notified the UN of its withdrawal from the landmine ban treaty. The move was announced by the foreign minister on X and will take effect six months after the notification.
Facing growing Russian threats, Lithuania and neighboring NATO-EU members Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Poland are withdrawing from the treaty. The collective shift reflects rising regional tensions and a recalibration of defense strategies.
5. Europe battles wildfires as heatwaves.
Intense heatwaves have pushed European temperatures beyond 40°C, triggering wildfires and alerts. Wildfires erupted in several Turkish provinces, and a firefighting plane crashed in Adana. Greece faces its first major heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 41°C inland.
Spain and Portugal are preparing for extreme heat, with Portugal possibly hitting 44°C. Officials warn dry conditions and winds could increase fire risks regionwide.
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul s...
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deep...
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom ...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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