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.

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