Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Trump brokers peace deal between Congo and Rwanda despite ongoing clashes
U.S. President Donald Trump has brokered a peace agreement between the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda during a summit in Washington. Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame signed documents reaffirming their commitment to economic integration and conflict resolution, a move Washington hopes will secure access to the region’s vast critical mineral resources.
Despite the diplomatic fanfare, fighting persists on the ground in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels—allegedly backed by Rwanda—continue to clash with government forces. Critics, including Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege, have argued that the deal prioritises mineral access over genuine peace, noting that violence and displacement continue unabated despite the new accords.
Putin and Modi hold summit in Delhi to strengthen trade ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for his first visit in four years to hold summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders aim to bolster bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, focusing on deepening ties in defence, civil nuclear energy, and trade, as India continues to be a primary buyer of Russian arms and seaborne oil despite Western sanctions.
The meeting comes at a delicate diplomatic juncture for New Delhi, which is navigating trade negotiations with the United States following punitive tariffs imposed by President Trump. While India has avoided condemning Russia over the Ukraine conflict, advocating instead for dialogue, the summit underscores the resilience of Moscow’s relationship with New Delhi amidst shifting global alliances.
Eurovision facing crisis as broadcasters withdraw over Israel’s inclusion
A major rift has emerged within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) after organisers cleared Israel to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. In response to the decision, broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia have withdrawn from the competition, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and accusing Israel of breaching neutrality rules.
Rather than holding a vote on Israel’s exclusion as requested by several nations, the EBU introduced new regulations to curb government interference. While Germany and Austria have welcomed Israel's inclusion, viewing it as essential to the contest's spirit, other members have condemned the move, with experts suggesting the event's integrity is at an all-time low.
U.S. expands travel ban to over 30 nations amidst security review
The United States is set to significantly widen its travel ban to include over 30 nations, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has confirmed. Speaking on Fox News, Noem stated that while the exact number remains under evaluation by President Trump, the administration intends to restrict entry from countries unable to provide adequate security vetting or sustain stable governance.
This escalation in migration policy follows a shooting in Washington, D.C., attributed to an Afghan national who had entered via a resettlement programme. The Trump administration has since pledged to "permanently pause" migration from unspecified "Third World countries" and has ordered a comprehensive review of asylum cases and Green Cards issued under the previous administration.
President Aliyev meets UK Defence Minister to discuss strategic partnership
President Ilham Aliyev has received the UK’s Minister of State for Defence, Lord Vernon Coaker, in Baku to discuss the deepening ties between the two nations. During the meeting, Lord Coaker conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and highlighted a shared ambition to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. President Aliyev noted that while bilateral cooperation historically began in the energy sector, it is now expanding rapidly into trade and investment.
Discussions also focused on the growing collaboration within the defence industry, which the UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan described as a "cornerstone" of the partnership. Lord Coaker took the opportunity to congratulate the President on recent progress regarding the normalisation of relations with Armenia. In response, President Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to the peace agenda and acknowledged the role of US President Donald Trump in facilitating these diplomatic advancements.
Polish fighter jets on Thursday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland’s airspace over the Baltic Sea and escorted it away...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has welcomed remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicating progress in the normalisation proces...
Algeria's parliament has unanimously passed a law declaring France's colonisation of the North African state a crime, and demanding an apology and rep...
Kazakhstan has made a notable advance in the global Government AI Readiness Index, moving up to 60th place out of 195 countries in the 2025....
On Thursday 25 December, a solemn commemoration ceremony took place in Baku to mark the first anniversary of the tragic Azerbaijan Airlines crash near...
Polish fighter jets on Thursday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland’s airspace over the Baltic Sea and escorted it away from their area of responsibility.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has welcomed remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicating progress in the normalisation process between Ankara and Yerevan, describing the moment as ripe for concrete steps.
Kazakhstan has made a notable advance in the global Government AI Readiness Index, moving up to 60th place out of 195 countries in the 2025.
Three alleged members of a "terrorist origanisation" have been killed in a military operation in the Shamsiddin Shohin district according to Tajikistan’s Border Troops.
A majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, state pollster VTsIOM said on Wednesday, in a sign that the Kremlin could be testing public reaction to a possible peace settlement as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify.
Military representatives from Cambodia and Thailand met in Chanthaburi province on Wednesday ahead of formal ceasefire talks at the 3rd special GBC meeting scheduled for 27th December.
Thailand and Cambodia both reported fresh clashes on Wednesday, as the two sides prepared to hold military talks aimed at easing tensions along their shared border.
It’s been a year since an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Relatives and loved ones mourn the victims, as authorities near the final stage of their investigation.
In 2025, Ukraine lived two parallel realities: one of diplomacy filled with staged optimism, and another shaped by a war that showed no sign of letting up.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday announced his support for his son Flavio Bolsonaro’s 2026 presidential candidacy while recovering from a planned hernia operation, which doctors said went smoothly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that he held an approximately one-hour discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner on ways to end the war with Russia.
Polish fighter jets on Thursday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland’s airspace over the Baltic Sea and escorted it away from their area of responsibility.
On Thursday 25 December, a solemn commemoration ceremony took place in Baku to mark the first anniversary of the tragic Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan.
Algeria's parliament has unanimously passed a law declaring France's colonisation of the North African state a crime, and demanding an apology and reparations.
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