AnewZ Morning Brief - 4 December, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 4th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.

Macron and Xi seek to balance trade tensions in Beijing

French President Emmanuel Macron has met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in an effort to strengthen commercial ties as the European Union prepares to tighten trade regulations. Macron is being accorded lavish treatment, including a rare accompaniment by Xi to the province of Sichuan, though a major Airbus order remains unsigned.

Beijing is keen to ease trade frictions with Brussels, particularly concerning its heavily subsidised electric vehicle sector. Macron, accompanied by a delegation of top French executives, is attempting to present a robust European front while protecting French export interests in the Chinese market.

Israel receives hostage remains as violence persists in Gaza

Israel has recovered the body of a hostage from the Gaza Strip, though the remains of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili have yet to be returned. The handover is a crucial step towards opening the Rafah crossing to Egypt under European Union supervision, a key condition of U.S. President Donald Trump's peace initiative.

Despite the diplomatic progress, violence on the ground continues. Medics in Khan Younis reported that five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli missile attack on Wednesday evening. The Israeli military stated the strike targeted a Hamas operative and was a response to an earlier attack in Rafah that wounded five soldiers.

Zelenskyy prepares for talks with Trump’s team

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that his administration is preparing for imminent meetings with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukrainian officials are set to engage in discussions both in person and via telephone to secure a "dignified peace" that respects Ukraine’s interests.

Zelenskyy emphasised that ending the war relies on a combination of constructive diplomacy and sustained pressure on Russia. He confirmed that he remains in constant contact with international partners to ensure Ukraine’s security requirements are met during this transitional period.

Baku hosts meeting of Turkic States’ mapping institutions

The second meeting of the Heads of Mapping Institutions of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) concluded in Baku this week. Delegates from member states, along with observers from Hungary and Northern Cyprus, discussed cooperation in geodesy and cartography, with a special focus on restoration projects in Azerbaijan's liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur regions.

Participants were also briefed on preparations for the World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take place in Baku in 2026. The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration and an agreement to hold the next gathering in Kazakhstan.

Pakistan and Armenia move to establish diplomatic missions

In a significant diplomatic shift, Pakistan and Armenia are making plans to open a Pakistani embassy in Armenia. The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the two nations have signed a joint communiqué to formalise relations and exchange diplomatic representatives, in accordance with the Vienna Convention.

This development marks a major milestone after years of informal relations. While an exact timeline has not been set, the agreement signals a commitment to mutual recognition and enhanced political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

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