Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 3rd August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Iran fully reopens airspace after conflict with Israel ends
Iran has lifted all remaining airspace restrictions following its 12-day conflict with Israel. The Civil Aviation Organization confirmed that all domestic and international flights have resumed normal operations. Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran is now running 24/7. Airspace restrictions were gradually eased, with full flight capacity now restored across the country.
2. Portugal declares state of alert as deadly heatwave claims hundreds
Portugal has reported 264 deaths in just one week due to an intense heatwave, mostly among the elderly and chronically ill. The government has declared a nationwide 'state of alert' from 3–7 August amid rising wildfire risks. New restrictions include bans on forest access, fires, fireworks, and rural machinery use. Temperatures are expected to exceed 40°C across much of the country.
3. Powerful earthquake strikes Russia’s Kuril Islands
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Russia’s Kuril Islands on Sunday, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences. The U.S. Geological Survey and Pacific Tsunami Warning System both recorded it at magnitude 7.0. Despite the strength of the quake, no tsunami warning was issued. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been confirmed.
4. Ukrainian drone strike ignites oil depot fire in Russia’s Sochi
A massive fire broke out at an oil depot in Sochi after a Ukrainian drone strike, with more than 120 firefighters battling the blaze. Russia’s defense ministry reported shooting down 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 60 over the Black Sea. Flights at Sochi airport were briefly halted but later resumed. Meanwhile, drone attacks also injured four people in Russia’s Voronezh region.
5. Pope Leo celebrates mass with 500,000 youths in largest event of papacy
Pope Leo leads a mass on the outskirts of Rome with an expected crowd of 500,000 young people, in the largest event yet of his three-month papacy. The youths, coming from some 146 countries, are in Rome for a week of events as part of the ongoing Catholic holy year.
11 of 19 Kazakh servicemen swept into the Caspian Sea during military exercises in the Mangystau region have died, Kazakhstan’s Defence ...
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meetin...
U.S. officials drafted a statement for Secretary of State Marco Rubio in early September condemning UK, French and Canadian plans to block imports ...
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York that he described as “very good” and “productive”, with another round of talks scheduled soon.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Pakistan says it carried out air strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan on Thursday, targeting sites it said were used to store and launch drones, as tensions between the two neighbouring countries continued to escalate.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 24 September 2026, with five key developments from the second day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
A federal judge ordered U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, saying his ban on the three media outlets was likely unconstitutional.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment