Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for January 28th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Extended
The White House announced that the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has been extended until February 18th. This extension will allow for talks regarding the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023.
2. Tensions in Eastern Congo:
M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have asserted control over Goma, a strategically important city in eastern Congo. The UN has described a scene of "mass panic" among the city's 2 million residents. Congo's government has condemned the rebel advance as a "declaration of war." Adding to the tension, the UN Secretary-General has called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
3. US Halts WHO Collaboration
The CDC ordered staff to stop working with the World Health Organization, following Trump’s earlier withdrawal order
A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, John Nkengasong, sent a memo to senior leaders at the agency on Sunday night telling them that all staff who work with the WHO must immediately stop their collaborations and “await further guidance.”
4.US Border Security
Texas deployed 400 National Guard troops to the Mexico border, supported by military aircraft
Governor Greg Abbott deployed the troops to the Rio Grande Valley, where he said they'll work side-by-side with U.S. Border Patrol agents to keep migrants from illegally entering the country.
5. EU agrees on 'step-by-step' roadmap to start easing sanctions on Syria
The European Union has taken the first step to ease its stringent, far-reaching sanctions against Syria after foreign affairs ministers endorsed on Monday a roadmap for a temporary suspension contingent upon progress on the ground.
6.Two hundred UK companies sign up for permanent four-day working week
Two hundred UK companies have signed up for a permanent four-day working week for all their employees with no loss of pay, in the latest landmark in the campaign to reinvent Britain’s working week.
Together the companies employ more than 5,000 people, with charities, marketing and technology firms among the best-represented, according to the latest update from the 4 Day Week Foundation.
7. 300,000 displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza after ceasefire
Over 300,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza Media Office said Monday.
“More than 300,000 displaced people from the southern and central Gaza governorates returned to Gaza and Northern governorates today via the Rashid (west) and Salah al-Din (east) streets, after 470 days,” the office reported in a statement.
8. Google Maps to rename 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' for US users
Google Maps will change the name of "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" once it is officially updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System, Google said in an X post on Monday.
The change will be visible in the U.S., but the name will remain "Gulf of Mexico" in Mexico. Outside of the two countries, users will see both names on Google Maps.
9.Azerbaijan Enforces Campaign Silence Ahead of Municipal Elections
Azerbaijan has entered a mandatory "Silence Day" period ahead of its municipal elections on January 29, with all election campaigning halted 24 hours prior to voting in compliance with national law.
Under Part 1, Article 75 of Azerbaijan’s Electoral Code, political parties and candidates are barred from conducting any form of electioneering on voting day and the preceding day. The measure aims to ensure voters can make decisions without last-minute influence.
10. Kazakhstan, Türkiye Sign Military Cooperation Plan for 2025 in Ankara
A military cooperation plan for 2025 was signed between Kazakhstan and Türkiye during a visit of a Kazakh delegation led by Colonel Olzhas Khussainov, head of the International Cooperation Department of the Defense Ministry, to Ankara.
The agreement was signed by Khussainov and Turkish Brigadier General Çatal Erdoğan, reported the Kazakh Defense Ministry on Jan. 27.
South Korea’s nominee for spy agency chief has stated his belief that the United States would respond with nuclear strikes if North Korea launched a nuclear attack against South Korea.
The potential for U.S. military involvement in a conflict with Iran is revealing a rare rift within President Donald Trump's core political base, the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) coalition.
At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, President Vladimir Putin outlined Russia’s stance on the Ukraine war, NATO expansion, the Iran-Israel conflict, and future ties with the U.S., signalling openness to dialogue but firmly on Moscow’s terms.
Amid rising tensions with Iran, the U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bomber stands ready to strike. Equipped with bunker-buster bombs and radar-evading tech, it gives America unmatched ability to hit hardened underground targets with precision from across the globe.
The United States has relocated several military aircraft and naval vessels from key bases in the Middle East in anticipation of possible Iranian retaliation, according to two U.S. officials speaking anonymously to Reuters.
South Korea’s nominee for spy agency chief has stated his belief that the United States would respond with nuclear strikes if North Korea launched a nuclear attack against South Korea.
Israel’s main hospital in the south sustained a direct missile strike on Thursday amid escalating hostilities with Iran, causing extensive damage and prompting urgent warnings from health officials.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the escalating Middle East tensions and stressed the need for urgent de-escalation and diplomatic efforts to prevent further conflict.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have initialed a draft peace agreement, marking a significant step toward ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.
At the second China-Central Asia Summit held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, China and five Central Asian countries signed the "Treaty of Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation," establishing a new legal foundation for strategic partnership.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House in a historic meeting, claiming credit for stopping the recent India-Pakistan conflict, though India denied any U.S. mediation.
South Korea’s nominee for spy agency chief has stated his belief that the United States would respond with nuclear strikes if North Korea launched a nuclear attack against South Korea.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the escalating Middle East tensions and stressed the need for urgent de-escalation and diplomatic efforts to prevent further conflict.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have initialed a draft peace agreement, marking a significant step toward ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.
At the second China-Central Asia Summit held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, China and five Central Asian countries signed the "Treaty of Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation," establishing a new legal foundation for strategic partnership.
South Korea’s nominee for spy agency chief has stated his belief that the United States would respond with nuclear strikes if North Korea launched a nuclear attack against South Korea.
Israel’s main hospital in the south sustained a direct missile strike on Thursday amid escalating hostilities with Iran, causing extensive damage and prompting urgent warnings from health officials.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the escalating Middle East tensions and stressed the need for urgent de-escalation and diplomatic efforts to prevent further conflict.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have initialed a draft peace agreement, marking a significant step toward ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.
At the second China-Central Asia Summit held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, China and five Central Asian countries signed the "Treaty of Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation," establishing a new legal foundation for strategic partnership.
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