Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 1st July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump to host Netanyahu at The White House on 7 July
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit The White House next week for talks with President Donald Trump, a U.S. official said on 30 June.
The 7 July visit – Mr Netanyahu’s third since Mr Trump returned to power in January.
A Trump administration official confirmed the visit to AFP on condition of anonymity.
2. IMF approves $500 million for Ukraine, warns of 'exceptionally high' risks
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved the disbursement of an additional $500 million to Ukraine, following the completion of its eighth review under the country’s $15.5 billion Extended Fund Facility.
The move brings total IMF disbursements to Ukraine under the four-year programme to $10.6 billion.
The IMF Board's approval comes amid ongoing war-related challenges, with the Fund reiterating its warning that Ukraine continues to face "exceptionally high" risks to its economic outlook due to Russia's ongoing invasion.
3. At least 12 dead in pharmaceutical factory blast in India
At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more injured following an explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in the southern Indian state of Telangana, officials said on Monday.
The blast occurred at a Sigachi Industries facility in Sangareddy district, around 60 kilometres from Hyderabad. Local media showed black smoke rising from the ruins of the factory, which was reduced to rubble.
4. Saudi Arabia may raise August oil prices to Asia to 4-month high
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, may raise its August crude oil prices for buyers in Asia to the highest in four months, after spot prices surged during the Iran-Israel conflict and on robust summer fuel demand, trade sources said.
The August official selling price (OSP) for flagship Arab Light crude may increase by 50-80 cents to between $1.70 and $2 a barrel from the previous month, five sources from four refineries said in a Reuters survey.
5. China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project launched
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction has officially begun in Kyrgyzstan, a major step in regional infrastructure development. The project was announced by the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, according to Trend.
Deputy Prime Minister Bakyt Torobaev convened a meeting with key stakeholders to review the project's progress.
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 Kuw...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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