Russia seizes assets worth $50 BN in three-year ‘fortress’ push
Russia has confiscated 3.9 trillion roubles (about $50 billion) in company assets since 2022, signalling a decisive shift towards a 'fortress Russia' ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Ukraine bans China's firms for helping Russia make missiles
Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies on Friday claiming they were involved in production of advanced Iskander missiles, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged that China had been supplying weapons to Russia.
China's foreign ministry earlier on Friday dismissed Zelenskiy's accusation as groundless. While maintaining close economic ties with Russia during Moscow's three-year war in Ukraine, China has sought to project an image of neutrality and denies any involvement in the war.
2. US will abandon Ukraine peace push if no progress soon, Trump and Rubio say
United States will walk away from efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal unless there are clear signs of progress soon, U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
"Quickly, we want to get it done," Trump told reporters at the White House. "Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people, and we're going to just take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that."
3. At least 148 people die after boat catches fire in Congo, media reports say
At least 148 people were found dead in Democratic Republic of Congo after a motorised wooden boat caught fire and capsized, media reports citing local officials said on Friday.
The boat was carrying as many as 500 passengers, including women and children, when it overturned in the Congo River located in the country’s northwest region on Tuesday, as per the reports.
4. Hamas formally rejects Israeli ceasefire offer
Hamas has formally rejected Israel's latest ceasefire offer, saying it is prepared to immediately negotiate a deal that would see the release of all remaining hostages in return for an end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
In a video statement, Hamas's chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said: "We will not accept partial deals that serve [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's political agenda."
5. Iran and the US prepare for a second round of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program in Rome
The talks in Italy over Easter weekend again will hinge on U.S. billionaire Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Mideast envoy of President Donald Trump, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Whether the two men find common ground in the high-stakes negotiations could mean success or failure in the talks.
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 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.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged stronger sanctions and defence support for Ukraine as the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia nears approval.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,500-year-old city in northern Peru that likely served as a key trade hub connecting ancient coastal, Andean, and Amazonian cultures.
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.
Energy integration between Azerbaijan and Europe, along with opportunities to increase gas supplies was discussed during Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov’s visit to Slovenia, at the invitation of Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer.
Türkiye’s foreign and defence ministers will travel to Pakistan on Wednesday to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks on bilateral relations and defence cooperation, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
Kazakhstan will seek to protect its national interests in talks with the United States after receiving notice of new import tariffs due to take effect from 1 August, its trade ministry said on Tuesday.
Another Russian Transport Ministry official has died on Monday. Andrey Korneichuk, 42, who worked for the Federal Agency for Rail Transport, passed away amid news about the alleged suicide of former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have signed 13 agreements during President Sadyr Japarov’s visit to Dushanbe, marking a new chapter in bilateral ties following the resolution of a decades-long border dispute.
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