12:37

Expert View

‘Communication, interaction and integration’: what’s on the agenda as JD Vance visits Azerbaijan?

“Peace is not just about signing treaties - it’s about communication, interaction and integration,” Sultan Zahidov, leading adviser at the AIR Center, told AnewZ, suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to the South Caucasus could advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

10:33

Epstein Files

King Charles voices ‘profound concern’ as police assess former Prince Andrew links to Epstein

Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.

09:48

Türkiye

'Chronic deficit' in water balance as Türkiye battled 2025 drought

Türkiye experienced one of its most severe droughts in the past half century in 2025, with conditions now showing signs of becoming long-term and structural, climate expert Mikdat Kadioglu told Anadolu.

08:55

Diplomacy

'A new chapter': nuclear energy cooperation agreed during U.S. Vice President JD Vance's trip to Armenia

JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.

05:55

Chip development

EU launches largest semiconductor pilot line to boost next-generation chip development

The European Union has launched its largest semiconductor pilot line under the European Chips Act, investing €700 million ($832 million) in the new NanoIC facility at IMEC in Leuven, Belgium, as part of efforts to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty.

01:37

OIL TANKER SEIZED

U.S. seizes sanctioned oil tanker in Indian Ocean after pursuit from Caribbean

U.S. military forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said on Monday.

21:56

Expert view

Growing pressure on Starmer as internal support shows signs of strain

Pressure is mounting on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid resignations and a row over Peter Mandelson, a powerful figure in the ruling Labour Party. The episode has raised doubts about Starmer’s authority and how firmly his own party continues to back him.

20:05

China-U.S.

China tells banks to curb U.S. bond buying

Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds.

18:41

UK politics

UK PM Keir Starmer: 'I'm not prepared to walk away,' amid calls to quit

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down, saying that “the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.”

17:38

EURASIAN TRANSPORT HUB

Kazakhstan expands air connectivity and strengthens its role as Eurasian transport hub

Kazakhstan has significantly expanded its international air connectivity last year, reopening and launching flights to 30 countries according to data released by the country’s transport authorities. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan was operating 135 international routes.

17:00

Iran-U.S. tensions

'Lift sanctions and we could dilute 60 per cent enriched uranium,' Iran energy chief says

Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that technical nuclear issues are being discussed alongside political matters in ongoing negotiations.

16:52

Portugal election

Portugal election: Seguro’s landslide win and what it reveals about voter sentiment

António José Seguro’s decisive victory over far-right challenger André Ventura marks an historic moment in Portuguese politics, but analysts caution that the result does not amount to a rejection of populism.

16:03

Türkiye NATO drills

Turkish aircraft, personnel take part in wide-ranging NATO drills in Germany

NATO member Türkiye has dispatched several military aircraft to Germany, along with roughly 2,000 troops, to take part in the Western alliance’s largest annual military exercise.

15:59

PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION

Uzbekistan makes 'zero classes' compulsory as part of education reform

Uzbekistan is set to introduce mandatory preparatory “zero classes” before primary school, after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a decree making year-long school readiness programmes an official part of compulsory education.

15:49

Georgia-U.S. relations

U.S. Helsinki Commission to examine Georgia’s democratic backsliding as Tbilisi–Washington tensions persist

The U.S. Helsinki Commission is set to refocus attention on Georgia’s domestic political crisis and its faltering relationship with Washington with a 11 February briefing titled “Georgian Dream’s Growing Suppression of Dissent.”

09:56

Morning Brief

AnewZ Morning Brief - 9 February, 2026

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 9th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.

08:55

Thailand's election

Thailand's Bhumjaithai party set for coalition talks after strong surprise election win

Thailand faced a realignment of conservative politics on Monday (9 February) after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party won a stronger-than-expected general election victory.

04:30

Hamas-Israel

Hamas warns Israeli settlement expansion threatens Palestinian existence

Hamas has strongly condemned new Israeli government decisions to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning the measures pose an “existential threat” to Palestinians and are designed to consolidate Israeli control over the territory.

03:30

U.S.-India ties

India–U.S. trade deal nears as energy, tech ties deepen

India’s trade minister said diversifying energy imports and expanding purchases of advanced technology from the United States would serve New Delhi’s strategic interests, as the two countries move closer to finalising a long-awaited trade agreement.

02:30

Political tensions

Trump targets U.S. Olympic skier Hunter Hess over comments on representing America

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.

00:22

Russia-Ukraine

U.S. aims for March peace deal in Ukraine, quick elections, sources say

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious March goal for Russia and Ukraine to agree on a peace deal, though that timeline is likely to slip given a lack of agreement on the key issue of territory, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

02:30

U.S.–IRAN TALKS

Witkoff, Kushner tour USS Abraham Lincoln after Iran talks in Oman

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Saturday after completing a round of talks with Iran.

01:30

Russia-Ukraine war

Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for second time in a week

Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Saturday, marking the second such strike in less than a week, according to Ukrainian authorities.

19:27

Diplomacy

U.S., Azerbaijan and Armenia: a brief history of shifting ties

The U.S. has become a central outside power in the South Caucasus, shaping diplomacy, security and energy flows. Its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia have evolved from similar beginnings into two distinct partnerships that now define Washington’s role in the region.