Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
High-stakes negotiations between Iran and the United States are set to begin in Oman on Friday, though prospects for a breakthrough appear slim due to stark disagreements over the agenda. While Tehran insists the dialogue remain strictly limited to its nuclear programme, the Trump administration is pressing to include ballistic missiles and human rights issues. With a significant U.S. naval build-up nearby and reciprocal threats of military action, the talks are taking place under a cloud of escalating regional tension.
Diplomatic efforts are intensifying to prevent the U.S.-Iran standoff from spiralling into a broader conflict, with neighbouring powers seeking to calm the situation. Following warnings from Iranian media that regional states could become targets if they aid American operations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has voiced strong opposition to any foreign military intervention. Simultaneously, Baku has reassured Tehran that Azerbaijani territory will not be utilised for third-party strikes, emphasising its commitment to neutrality and regional stability.
The United States and Russia have agreed to re-establish high-level military-to-military dialogue following a meeting in Abu Dhabi this week. The communication channel, which had been suspended since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, is intended to prevent accidental escalation as President Donald Trump seeks to normalise relations with the Kremlin. This renewed engagement comes at a critical juncture, with the expiry of the New START nuclear arms control treaty on Thursday (5 February).
U.S. President Donald Trump has offered his "complete and total endorsement" of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of Sunday’s general election. As Japan’s first female premier seeks a fresh mandate for her economic agenda, including controversial tax cuts that have unsettled markets, Trump confirmed he will host her at the White House in March. The endorsement serves to underscore the strengthening alliance between the two nations, despite Beijing's sharp criticism of Takaichi’s robust stance on defence.
The UAE is solidifying its position as a pivotal venue for high-stakes international mediation, currently hosting sensitive talks regarding conflicts in Ukraine and the South Caucasus. Capitalising on its strategic neutrality and ability to maintain relations with rival powers, Abu Dhabi has become an essential bridge-builder outside traditional Western frameworks. This diplomatic influence was highlighted recently on Wednesday (4 February) when the country hosted Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, as well as the facilitation of indirect dialogue between Washington and Tehran on Friday.
The bodies of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and members of his household killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids were laid to...
At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey buil...
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destructio...
At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey building. Authorities said more than 200 people escaped, while others were unable to get out before the blaze spread.
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza to mourn Mohammad al-Waheidi, an aid worker remembered for bringing rare moments of happiness to families displaced by war by organising public screenings of World Cup matches.
Azerbaijan should unlock the full potential of its tourism sector to drive long-term economic growth, diversify its economy and create jobs as reliance on hydrocarbons declines, the World Bank has said.
The South Caucasus is increasingly being viewed not only through the lens of past conflicts but also as a strategic bridge linking Europe, the Caspian region and Central Asia. One analyst says this presents an opportunity for a new Euro-Atlantic approach focused on long-term regional cooperation.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph (124 mph), as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey building. Authorities said more than 200 people escaped, while others were unable to get out before the blaze spread.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
Western Europe experienced its hottest June since records began in 2026, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The record-breaking month brought extreme heat, widespread disruption and thousands of excess deaths across parts of the continent.
South Korea's Supreme Court has upheld former President Yoon Suk Yeol's seven-year prison sentence in a case linked to his 2024 attempt to impose martial law.
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