Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 3rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
India has agreed to cease purchasing Russian oil and lower barriers to U.S. goods, after President Donald Trump cut American tariffs on Indian imports from 50% to 18%. The deal, which also commits New Delhi to buying more than $500 billion in U.S. energy and technology, was announced following a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hailed the move as a boost for "Made in India" products.
Israel has reopened the Rafah crossing on Monday, allowing a small number of Palestinians to leave Gaz for medical treatment, marking a key step in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. However, strict Israeli security checks meant only a handful of patients managed to cross into Egypt by nightfall, frustrating those desperate to escape the the Strip where 20,000 await urgent care.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has authorised new negotiations with the United States, instructing his foreign minister to prepare for "equitable and fair" talks provided threats are removed. The move comes as U.S. warships amass near the Iranian coast following deadly domestic unrest, with President Trump warning that "bad things" could happen if a deal on nuclear concessions is not reached. Reports suggest a meeting between U.S. and Iranian envoys is set for Friday in Istanbul, with regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Egypt expected to attend in a bid to avert a wider conflict.
The Kremlin has confirmed that trilateral peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States will now take place in Abu Dhabi on 4-5 February, following a brief postponement to align schedules. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the negotiations as "complex" but noted that some common ground had been found, whilst reiterating that any direct meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy must occur in Moscow.
Elon Musk has merged his artificial intelligence (AI) firm xAI into SpaceX, creating an “innovation engine” valued at around $1.25 trillion. The deal aims to build a space-based AI ecosystem, and will see the integration of advanced computing with orbital infrastructure. Musk argues that future demand for processing power can only be met off-planet.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermin...
SOCAR has completed the acquisition of a 99.82% stake in Italiana Petroli (IP) from API Holding after receiving all r...
Fuel exports from Azerbaijan to Armenia are continuing, with eight rail wagons carrying 479 tonnes of diesel fuel dis...
Health authorities are monitoring a widening hantavirus alert after new suspected cases emerged in Spain and on a remote South Atlantic island, day...
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing w...
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermining the self-determination rights of the Kanak Indigenous People in New Caledonia amid proposed political and constitutional reforms.
SOCAR has completed the acquisition of a 99.82% stake in Italiana Petroli (IP) from API Holding after receiving all required regulatory approvals.
Fuel exports from Azerbaijan to Armenia are continuing, with eight rail wagons carrying 479 tonnes of diesel fuel dispatched as part of the latest shipment between the two South Caucasus neighbours.
Health authorities are monitoring a widening hantavirus alert after new suspected cases emerged in Spain and on a remote South Atlantic island, days after an outbreak on a cruise ship left three people dead and several others infected.
The U.S military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday (7 May). Meanwhile, Iran's Joint Military Command accused the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire, by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on several Iranian cities.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
Singapore has isolated and is testing two of its residents who travelled aboard a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Thursday.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
Ukraine’s military said it struck a Russian Karakurt-class small missile carrier in the Caspian Sea near Russia’s Dagestan region on Thursday. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, according to Kyiv.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermining the self-determination rights of the Kanak Indigenous People in New Caledonia amid proposed political and constitutional reforms.
Somalia is facing a severe malnutrition crisis and urgently needs additional humanitarian funding to prevent conditions deteriorating further, the World Food Programme has warned.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to carry on as leader on Friday (8 May) after his ruling Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections. Labour lost hundreds of councillors across the country, as some figures in the party said he should stand down.
Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
Health authorities are monitoring a widening hantavirus alert after new suspected cases emerged in Spain and on a remote South Atlantic island, days after an outbreak on a cruise ship left three people dead and several others infected.
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