U.S. seizes Venezuela-linked, Russian-flagged oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit
The U.S. has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that had been followed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, following a more than two-week-long pursu...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 3 November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump says Maduro’s 'days are numbered' amid rising tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not believe the United States is going to war with Venezuela but suggested President Nicolás Maduro’s time in power may be nearing its end.
In a CBS interview, Trump accused Venezuela of “treating the U.S. badly,” citing drug smuggling and the release of convicts into America. The Pentagon has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Caribbean and conducted multiple anti-narcotics strikes in the region.
2. Deadly 6.3-magnitude quake hits northern Afghanistan
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-e Sharif, killing at least 10 people and injuring about 260, with authorities warning the toll could rise.
Rescue teams were deployed to Balkh and Samangan provinces after reports of widespread damage, including to Mazar’s historic Blue Mosque. The U.S. Geological Survey issued an orange alert, signalling a likely national-scale disaster response.
3. Pakistan to deploy first Chinese-built submarine next year
Pakistan’s navy expects its first Hangor-class submarine, designed by China, to enter active service in 2026, marking a major step in Islamabad’s maritime modernisation.
Naval chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf said the eight-vessel programme with Beijing is progressing on schedule, with later boats to be built in Pakistan. He described the project as a “strategic partnership” deepening regional defence cooperation.
4. Nigeria welcomes U.S. help against insurgents if sovereignty respected
Nigeria said it would accept U.S. assistance in fighting Islamist groups as long as its territorial integrity is upheld, responding to Trump’s threats of military action over alleged Christian persecution.
Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said Abuja “does not discriminate against any tribe or religion,” urging calm after Trump’s remarks. Analysts said claims of anti-Christian genocide in Nigeria are exaggerated and not supported by data.
5. Nearly 1,000 flee violence in Sudan’s North Darfur in one day
The International Organization for Migration reported that almost 1,000 civilians fled Mizbat village in North Darfur on Friday due to escalating violence.
The displacement follows the Rapid Support Forces’ capture of Al-Fashir, where rights groups accused the RSF of committing massacres. The ongoing conflict between the RSF and the army has killed around 20,000 people and displaced more than 15 million.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
President Ilham Aliyev said 2025 has politically closed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, as a Trump-era reset in U.S. ties, new transport corridors and a push into AI, renewables and defence production reshape Azerbaijan’s priorities.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Shares of major U.S. oil and energy companies surged on Monday even as crude prices showed little movement, revealing a growing divergence between energy equities and the underlying commodities market.
The U.S. has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that had been followed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, following a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic as part of a U.S. "blockade" on Venezuelan oil exports, according to two U.S. officials speaking to Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to advance EU membership discussions and secure stricter sanctions on Russia during a meeting on Wednesday as Cyprus took over the European Union's rotating presidency.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
Türkiye is considering draft legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from opening social-media accounts, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş has said.
Türkiye is prepared to “assume responsibility” for the security of the Black Sea once a peace agreement is signed between Russia and Ukraine, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said.
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