ISTANBUL

Here’s rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including Ukraine saying it reached a “common understanding” with the US on core terms of the peace plan discussed in Geneva, the Turkish president taking part in an online meeting on Ukraine and urging direct talks in Istanbul, and heavy rains flooding dozens of tents for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza.

• Ukraine says it reached a 'common understanding' with the US on the core terms of a peace plan discussed in Geneva

Kyiv said on Tuesday it had reached a “common understanding” with the US during Geneva talks on the core terms of a proposed US plan aimed at advancing peace efforts in Ukraine.

On the US social media platform Facebook, National Defense and Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov said his country appreciates the “productive and constructive” meetings held in Geneva between Ukrainian and US delegations on Sunday, as well as US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the ongoing war.

“Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva,” he said, adding that Kyiv now counts on the support of its European partners in their further steps.

He added that they also look forward to organizing a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the US “at the earliest suitable date in November” to complete final steps and make a deal with Trump. December starts next Monday.

• Turkish president takes part in online meeting on Ukraine, urges direct talks in Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined a virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing over Ukraine, Türkiye's Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said Tuesday.

“The meeting addressed the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, the steps taken toward ending the conflict, and ongoing peace efforts,” he said.

He said Erdogan told the participants that Türkiye would continue its diplomatic efforts to facilitate direct contact between Kyiv and Moscow to achieve a “just and lasting peace” as soon as possible.

Erdogan also said Türkiye is prepared to host direct negotiations in Istanbul and remains in communication with both Ukrainian and Russian officials to advance that goal.

“At the meeting, it was expressed that a ceasefire arrangement covering energy and port infrastructure could provide favorable conditions for negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement between the parties,” said Duran.

• Heavy rains flood dozens of tents for displaced Palestinians in Gaza

Heavy rains have submerged dozens of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip, witnesses said Tuesday.

Several tents collapsed under rainfall in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, while others were blown away by strong winds, they told Anadolu.

“The situation in the city is extremely catastrophic due to the destruction of most roads, water and sewage networks by the Israeli war,” said Saib Luqan, a spokesman for the Khan Younis Municipality.

According to local authorities, the Israeli army has destroyed 220,000 linear meters (136.7 miles) of road networks over the past two years.

Nearly 900,000 people in Khan Younis are currently facing “tragic and grim” conditions due to the bad weather, Luqan said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump said late Tuesday that a US-drafted 28-point Russia-Ukraine peace framework was only “a map” rather than a finalized peace plan as his administration is making “progress” toward a settlement between Moscow and Kyiv.
  
  
• Türkiye’s intelligence chief İbrahim Kalin met with senior Qatari and Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss the latest developments in Gaza, security sources said Tuesday.
  
  
• Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met Tuesday with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, reaffirming Washington’s security partnership with the Caribbean nation as tensions with nearby Venezuela continue to rise.
  
  
• The UN is following the tensions between the US and Venezuela in the southern Caribbean with "grave concern," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.
  
  
• The Palestinian group Hamas on Tuesday returned the remains of another Israeli hostage under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the army said.
  
  
• A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Tuesday, said the German Research Center for Geosciences.
  
  
• US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signaled a potential high-profile meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin if a peace deal can be finalized between the two sides.
  
  
• A new UN report warned Tuesday that prolonged Israeli military operations and long-standing restrictions have pushed the economy of the occupied Palestinian territory into its "most severe economic contraction" on record, wiping out decades of development gains.
  
  
• Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and urged the international community to step up efforts to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, state-run media reported Wednesday.
  
  
• An Israeli Knesset committee approved a draft law that would allow Israelis to own property in the occupied West Bank.
  
  
• The UN Security Council on Tuesday passed a six-month renewal of authorization for member states to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya when there are reasonable grounds to believe they are violating an international arms embargo.
  
  
• The selection process for the next UN secretary-general formally began Tuesday with an official letter inviting member states to nominate candidates and outlining procedures for the months ahead.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US federal government begins fiscal year 2026 with $284B budget deficit

The US federal budget deficit rose to $284 billion in October, the first month of the 2026 fiscal year, up 10% compared to the same time last year, Treasury Department data showed Tuesday.

In fiscal year 2025, the government ran a budget deficit of some $257 billion in the same month.

Government revenues rose 24% year-on-year to $404 billion in October, while spending climbed 18% to $689 billion.

• Milkshake, iced-coffee makers face new sugar tax in UK

Milkshakes and pre-packaged milky coffees will be pulled into the government’s sugar tax from 2028, as officials move to widen the levy in an effort to curb rising childhood obesity.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed to Parliament on Tuesday that the existing soft drinks industry levy will be extended to milk-based products, with the sugar threshold lowered from 5 grams to 4.5 grams per 100 milliliters.

Streeting said the measure would “support the health of the population and help reduce the burden on public health services.”