AnewZ Morning Brief - 22 December, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 22th of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
China has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order, which threatens to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported to the U.S. from any country that imports oil from Venezuela.
Beijing labeled the sanctions "illegal" and accused the U.S. of grossly interfering in other nations' internal affairs.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun condemned the U.S. move, emphasizing China’s opposition to the long-standing use of "illegal unilateral sanctions" and "long-arm jurisdiction." He called on the U.S. to end its interference in Venezuela's domestic affairs, urging Washington to revoke its sanctions and take actions that would foster peace, stability, and development in Venezuela and beyond.
The new tariffs, which are set to take effect on April 2, will apply to all goods imported into the U.S. from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, whether directly or indirectly through third parties. Guo warned that such tariffs would harm U.S. businesses and consumers, saying, “There is no winner in a trade or tariff war, and additional tariffs will only inflict greater losses.”
This latest move by the Trump administration is part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Venezuela, whose oil exports have been a focal point of U.S. sanctions. China, a significant importer of Venezuelan oil, has previously voiced opposition to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, calling for dialogue and diplomacy to address the country's challenges.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, officials told on Sunday, in what would be the second such operation this weekend and the third in less than two weeks if successful.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
Warner Bros Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid on Wednesday (17 December), citing insufficient financing guarantees.
Ford Motor Company said on Monday it will take a $19.5 billion writedown and scrap several electric vehicle (EV) models, marking a major retreat from its battery-powered ambitions amid declining EV demand and changes under the Trump administration.
Iran has rolled out changes to how fuel is priced at the pump. The move is aimed at managing demand without triggering public anger.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.50% to 3.75% following its two-day policy meeting, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December.
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