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.
U.S. officials have privately expressed frustration over Australia’s decision to send 49 retired M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, as the first vehicles begin their journey to Europe amid growing concerns about their battlefield effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
Global markets opened the week under pressure, with Asian equities broadly lower after disappointing Chinese retail sales data added to mounting concerns over Beijing’s ability—or willingness—to pivot from its traditional export-led growth model to one fueled by domestic consumption.
Severe tornadoes swept through parts of Kentucky and Missouri, leaving at least 25 people dead and causing extensive damage.
The U.S. says any deal with Iran must ban uranium enrichment. Tehran says enrichment will not stop. Both sides appear far from an agreement.
WHO officials, donors, and diplomats will meet in Geneva from Monday facing a major challenge: how to manage global health crises amid a significant funding shortfall caused by the U.S. decision to withdraw.
The United Kingdom and the European Union are holding their first official summit since Brexit on Monday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU officials in London.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to hold a phone conversation today at 17:00 Moscow time, with the discussion expected to reflect the outcomes of recent negotiations held in Istanbul.
Azerbaijani authorities have detained and repatriated a group of citizens allegedly involved in international terrorist activities.
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV on Monday at the Vatican, the president announced earlier today.
China's factory output in April showed surprising resilience in the face of heightened U.S. tariffs, offering a rare bright spot in a month otherwise marked by sluggish consumer spending and a persistent property sector slump, according to data released Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
The World Bank stands as one of the most influential international financial institutions, shaping economic development across continents through financial support, technical assistance, and policy guidance.
Beginning June 30, 2025, Russia will implement a new digital pre-registration system for foreign nationals entering the country under a visa-free regime, according to updated government regulations.
In January 2025, the CIA made headlines by revising its position on the origins of COVID-19, now favoring the laboratory leak theory over natural origins.
resident Donald Trump’s administration is facing mounting criticism from scientists, maritime professionals, and lawmakers after a leaked budget memo revealed plans to eliminate all federal funding for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).
The United Kingdom and the European Union are holding their first official summit since Brexit on Monday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU officials in London.
The United Kingdom and the European Union are holding their first official summit since Brexit on Monday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU officials in London.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to hold a phone conversation today at 17:00 Moscow time, with the discussion expected to reflect the outcomes of recent negotiations held in Istanbul.
Azerbaijani authorities have detained and repatriated a group of citizens allegedly involved in international terrorist activities.
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV on Monday at the Vatican, the president announced earlier today.
China's factory output in April showed surprising resilience in the face of heightened U.S. tariffs, offering a rare bright spot in a month otherwise marked by sluggish consumer spending and a persistent property sector slump, according to data released Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics.
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