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.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of imposing trade tariffs on European countries is a maximalist move designed to force concessions on Greenland, ...
Afghanistan and Qatar have signalled interest in expanding cooperation in investment and agriculture during talks in Doha, as Afghanistan’s defence ...
Five skiers were killed in a pair of avalanches in Austria’s western Alpine regions on Saturday, with two others injured, one critically....
Uzbekistan is entering what regulators describe as the most complex phase of its banking reform, as the country moves to align its financial system wi...
The German and French finance ministers said on Monday that European powers would not be blackmailed and that there would be a clear and united respon...
U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of imposing trade tariffs on European countries is a maximalist move designed to force concessions on Greenland, according to geopolitical analyst Ana Evans.
The German and French finance ministers said on Monday that European powers would not be blackmailed and that there would be a clear and united response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of higher tariffs over Greenland.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday (19 January) she would call a snap national election on 8 February, seeking a popular mandate for higher public spending, tax cuts and a new security strategy expected to accelerate Japan’s defence build-up.
A fresh consignment of precision-guided munitions has departed from the Indian city of Nagpur bound for Yerevan, marking the latest phase in the rapidly expanding defence partnership between India and Armenia.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday (17 January) that concerns over security in Greenland should be addressed within the framework of NATO, describing a ground military intervention as highly unlikely.
Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing that the companies profited unfairly from his early support of the artificial intelligence firm, according to a court filing made public on Friday.
European leaders voiced growing alarm on Sunday over U.S. threats to impose tariffs on eight NATO allies, warning the move could destabilize transatlantic relations and heighten tensions in the Arctic.
Trump administration officials held months-long discussions with Venezuela’s hardline interior minister Diosdado Cabello before the U.S. operation that led to the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights, as government forces advanced against U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters despite U.S. calls for restraint.
Afghanistan and Qatar have signalled interest in expanding cooperation in investment and agriculture during talks in Doha, as Afghanistan’s defence chief attended a major regional defence exhibition.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of imposing trade tariffs on European countries is a maximalist move designed to force concessions on Greenland, according to geopolitical analyst Ana Evans.
The German and French finance ministers said on Monday that European powers would not be blackmailed and that there would be a clear and united response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of higher tariffs over Greenland.
An explosion at a steel plate factory in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia killed two people and injured 84, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union said on Monday, adding that eight are missing.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday (19 January) she would call a snap national election on 8 February, seeking a popular mandate for higher public spending, tax cuts and a new security strategy expected to accelerate Japan’s defence build-up.
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