AnewZ Morning Brief - 5 February, 2026

AnewZ Morning Brief - 5 February, 2026
Anewz

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.

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