Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
‘Productive’ start to Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Abu Dhabi
Ukrainian and Russian officials have concluded a "productive" first day of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi, aimed at ending the four-year conflict. It's amid a backdrop of intensified Russian missile strikes and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s warning that Moscow must not use the ceasefire to rearm. Delegations, including U.S. representatives Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, focused on substantive steps and practical solutions, with discussions set to resume on Thursday.
U.S. and Iran set for Friday talks in Oman
Amidst heightened regional tensions and a significant American military buildup, the United States and Iran have agreed to hold talks in Muscat, Oman, on Friday. However, the diplomatic effort faces immediate hurdles as disagreements persist over the agenda. Washington insists on addressing Tehran’s ballistic missile arsenal, whilst Iranian officials maintain that negotiations must remain strictly limited to their nuclear programme.
U.S. and Argentina sign critical minerals deal
The United States and Argentina have signed a strategic framework agreement to bolster cooperation on critical minerals, aiming to secure resilient supply chains for essential resources such as lithium and copper. The deal, which aligns with Washington’s broader strategy to diversify sources for electric vehicles and defence technologies, seeks to reduce reliance on dominant global suppliers whilst fostering economic growth within Argentina’s mining sector.
Ceasefire strained as strikes kill 24 in Gaza
The fragility of the four-month-old ceasefire was underscored on Wednesday as Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes killed 24 Palestinians in Gaza, including seven children. Whilst the Israeli military said the strikes were a response to militant fire and targeted Hamas commanders, the violence coincided with a faltering reopening of the Rafah crossing, complicating the U.S.-backed ceasefire deal intended to facilitate the flow of aid and movement of patients.
Hundreds feared dead in Nigerian village attacks
Nearly 200 people have been killed in coordinated assaults on remote villages in western and northern Nigeria, marking one of the deadliest episodes in the country’s escalating security crisis this year. Suspected jihadists and armed gangs killed scores of residents in Kwara and Katsina states, with officials describing the brutality as retaliation against recent government counter-terrorism operations supported by U.S. intelligence.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an official welcoming cere...
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on We...
This week's Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialo...
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a new strategic partnership agreement in Baku on Tuesday, expanding cooperation on defence, energy security, a...
Uzbekistan is combining renewable energy expansion with sweeping land restoration, installing solar stations in local communities while rehabilitating...
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, marking the start of high-level talks between the two NATO allies.
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
This week's Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialom, calling it a “high-stakes preventive diplomatic strike” to secure Israel’s strategic priorities ahead of potential Iran talks.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
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.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
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.
Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds.
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.
This week's Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialom, calling it a “high-stakes preventive diplomatic strike” to secure Israel’s strategic priorities ahead of potential Iran talks.
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, stunned viewers by publicly admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend and pleaded for another chance during post-race interviews.
Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. It would mark a pivotal shift in the country's political landscape on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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