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.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies...
Morocco booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada, ending the co-host's historic run in the tourna...
Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev a...
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported...
Uzbekistan will open an embassy in Georgia, the Central Asian country’s presidency has said. The announcement follows talks between Uzbekistan’s P...
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Morocco booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada, ending the co-host's historic run in the tournament.
Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev and Japarov had ruled the Central Asian nation in tandem since 2020, until the former was unexpectedly ousted in February.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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