AnewZ Morning Brief - 8th July, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 8th July, covering the latest developments you need to know....
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
A senior French intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to CNN that one Indian Rafale was downed by Pakistan’s air defenses, making it the first known combat loss of the French-built multirole fighter.
The reported incident follows massive cross-border airstrikes between the two nuclear-armed rivals. Pakistan has claimed it shot down five Indian aircraft overnight, including three Rafales, as part of a military response to Indian airstrikes that targeted locations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bahawalpur, Shakargarh, and Sialkot.
While Indian authorities have not officially commented, photos circulating from the wreckage site in Indian-administered Kashmir appear to show airframe components with markings consistent with Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale. However, analysts have warned that such markings do not offer conclusive proof without further forensic evidence.
The French government is investigating whether more than one Rafale may have been downed during the exchange, according to the same intelligence source.
The Rafale, a twin-engine 4.5-generation combat aircraft, is equipped with a 30mm cannon, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, precision-guided munitions, and advanced electronic warfare systems. India purchased 36 Rafales from France’s Dassault Aviation, with deliveries completed in 2022.
The downing of the aircraft—if confirmed—would mark a major moment in the Rafale's operational history and could raise questions about the aircraft’s survivability in contested environments, as well as about India’s deployment and tactical planning.
The latest clash between India and Pakistan erupted after India conducted airstrikes it said were aimed at terrorist infrastructure on Pakistani soil. Pakistan responded with retaliatory strikes and counter-air operations, including claimed downings of Indian jets and drones.
As tensions continue to rise, calls for de-escalation have been issued by multiple international actors, but both New Delhi and Islamabad have so far maintained firm postures, with each side accusing the other of provocation.
This incident could signal a dangerous new phase in Indo-Pakistani hostilities, drawing in broader geopolitical scrutiny from allies and arms suppliers alike.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
China has warned Myanmar's Kachin rebels it will block rare-earth imports from their territory unless they halt an offensive on a key junta stronghold, raising fears over the global supply of critical minerals.
China has consolidated its rare-earth sector into two state-owned giants, tightened export quotas, and introduced new supply-chain tracking systems as part of a sweeping push to reinforce its global dominance in critical mineral processing.
Beijing has warned the Trump administration against restoring steep U.S. tariffs next month and signalled it will retaliate against countries that cut China out of supply chains through bilateral deals with Washington.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 8th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told President Donald Trump he had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, handing Trump a nomination letter during a meeting at The White House. The two leaders met for the first time since the US launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
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