Morning Briefing: Oct. 28, 2025

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including Türkiye and the UK signing a landmark Eurofighter jet deal, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaking by phone ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the UN Human Rights Office expressing alarm over reports of "widespread atrocities” by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces in El-Fasher.

TOP STORIES

• Türkiye, UK sign 'landmark' Eurofighter jet deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet cooperation agreement in Ankara, marking a new milestone in bilateral defense relations.

President Erdogan described the agreement as a "new sign of Türkiye-UK strategic relations," asserting that it will pave the way for joint defense projects.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Starmer said: “This will bolster security across NATO, deepen our bilateral defense cooperation, and boost economic growth here and in the United Kingdom, securing 20,000 British jobs, building these state-of-the-art fighter jets.”

• Top diplomats of US, China hold phone call ahead of Trump-Xi summit

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Wang expressed hope that China and the US “will work in the same direction, make preparations for high-level interactions, and create conditions for the development of bilateral relations," according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The phone call came as Trump is set to meet Xi in South Korea, according to the White House. The two leaders will visit South Korea for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

• UN warns of alarming reports of Rapid Support Forces 'atrocities' in Sudan's El-Fasher

The UN Human Rights Office expressed alarm over reports of "widespread atrocities, including summary executions," by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following their recent advances in the city of El-Fasher in North Darfur and the city of Bara in North Kordofan state.

The office said it has received "multiple, alarming reports" of civilians being executed and detained as the RSF took control of large parts of the besieged city of El-Fasher and Bara.

"In El-Fasher, initial reports indicate an extremely precarious situation since the RSF yesterday announced its takeover of the army’s 6th Infantry Division," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Two people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, said Lebanese media.
• The Israeli army said the body of another hostage was transferred by Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza under a ceasefire agreement.
• A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Sindirgi district of Türkiye's western Balikesir province, the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported.
• Germany views Chancellor Friedrich Merz's upcoming visit to Türkiye this week as highly important, offering an opportunity to discuss several key topics, said a government spokesman.
• The Eurofighter jet agreement between Türkiye and the UK is "a win for NATO security," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
• US President Donald Trump met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo ahead of his planned meeting with newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
• Cameroon's President Paul Biya was declared the winner of the presidential election by the constitutional court, securing 53.66% of the vote.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Saudi Maternity Hospital -- the last remaining partially functional hospital in Sudan's El-Fasher region -- was attacked over the weekend.
• Danish air traffic agency Naviair confirmed that a small aircraft that went missing between Canada and Greenland has been found with no survivors, according to a report.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he met with Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ivan Anusic to discuss continued military support and cooperation on defense and veteran programs.
• Pope Leo XIV will travel to Türkiye and Lebanon from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 in his first visit outside Italy.
• The UN said that people in the Gaza Strip are continuing to move north in large numbers despite destroyed infrastructure, deadly unexploded ordnance and a lack of basic services.
• The Israeli army demolished five Palestinian homes and an agricultural shed across the occupied West Bank on claims of lacking building permits, witnesses said.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US stocks close at record highs on potential US-China trade truce

US stocks closed higher, boosted by the prospect of easing trade tensions with US President Donald Trump's upcoming meeting with his Chinese counterpart as well as increased Fed rate cut expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.71%, or 337.47 points, to close at an all-time high of 47,544.59.

• China presses Asian nations to oppose protectionism, boost economic integration

Chinese Premier Li Qiang pressed Asian countries to oppose protectionism and boost economic integration, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Speaking at the ASEAN Plus Three summit in Kuala Lumpur, Li urged a continued commitment to resolving differences through dialogue, consultation, upholding free trade and a multilateral trading system.