Morning Brief - 1 August 2026

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 1st of August, covering the latest developments.

Deadly Russian strikes hit Kyiv overnight

Russia launched a major ballistic missile attack on Kyiv on Saturday, killing at least nine people and injuring 28 others, including four children, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. More than a dozen explosions were heard across the city as Russia intensified its attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Russia has not yet commented on the attack.

Migrants return to Morocco after at least 57 die in Ceuta crossing

Spain said most of the more than 50,000 people who entered its North African enclave of Ceuta by land and sea had returned voluntarily. Authorities said 57 bodies were recovered on the Spanish side of the border, with further casualties possible in Morocco. Moroccan forces used batons and tear gas to push back crowds attempting to enter the Spanish territory, which borders Morocco.

Arab states welcome Gaza roadmap, urge full implementation

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait welcomed an agreement to implement the next phase of the comprehensive peace plan for the Gaza Strip, urging Israel to fully comply with the deal, withdraw its forces and ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. The reactions came after U.S. President Donald Trump and the Board of Peace announced an agreement to move forward with the next stage of the ceasefire plan.

Houthis deny Red Sea fee plan, claim eight Saudi tankers rerouted

Yemen’s Houthi-run maritime coordination body denied reports that it planned to impose fees on commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, saying transit through the strategic waterway remains free. The statement came after a Reuters report, citing regional sources, said the Iran-aligned group had discussed possible charges for ships using the southern Red Sea route after declaring a maritime blockade of Saudi shipping.

Separately, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed eight Saudi oil tankers had been forced to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope because of the blockade. The claim has not been independently verified.

FIFA scraps World Cup stake sale plan after backlash

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had dropped plans to sell a stake in a new $20 billion subsidiary overseeing the World Cup. He said the proposal had created divisions and was no longer served its intended purpose. He said the plan to offer private investors up to 20% of the FIFA Forward Enterprise unit "will not proceed," and that he intended to reconvene stakeholders to support football’s continued growth, particularly in countries most in need of support.

Tags

Russia Ukraine Kyiv Russian strikes war in Ukraine Migrants Spain Morocco Gaza