Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 11th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. seizes sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela amid rising tensions
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have escalated sharply after the U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a move President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday. The vessel, identified as the VLCC Skipper, was carrying Venezuelan crude allegedly bound for Cuba; whilst Venezuela has condemned the action as "international piracy", oil prices have risen in response to this first major seizure since the recent U.S. military buildup in the region.
Thailand and Cambodia border clashes enter fourth day
Cross-border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have entered their fourth day, resulting in significant casualties and the evacuation of thousands of civilians from the contested zone. While heavy artillery and rocket attacks continue to damage infrastructure, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated his intention to mediate a ceasefire via telephone talks with both leaders on Thursday, following previous diplomatic interventions by Malaysia.
Zelenskyy agrees on reconstruction plan with U.S. officials
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced an agreement on the fundamentals of a post-war reconstruction plan following discussions with senior U.S. officials, including Jared Kushner and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. The 20-point framework focuses on economic recovery and security guarantees, whilst European leaders from Britain, France, and Germany have held urgent talks with President Donald Trump regarding Washington’s evolving peace initiatives for the region.
Fatal building collapse claims 19 lives in Morocco
Emergency services in Morocco are continuing search and rescue operations in the city of Fes after two residential buildings collapsed, claiming at least 19 lives and injuring 16 others. Local reports indicate the structures in the Zouagha district had shown signs of structural failure prior to the incident, fuelling ongoing public discontent regarding infrastructure safety and delayed renovation programmes in the country's historic cities.
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader in absentia
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Wednesday, with her daughter accepting the honour on her behalf. In a poignant address delivered by proxy, Machado emphasised that democracy must be fought for daily, whilst Nobel officials revealed she arrived in Oslo despite the significant risks involved in leaving her hiding place in Venezuela.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of a kind when it kicks off on 11 June, as it brings with it a slew of firsts ahead of co-hosts Mexico takin...
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American b...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that Israel’s military operations in Syria and Lebanon have escalated to a point where they could...
More than 1,300 migrants died or went missing while attempting to reach Spain between January and May 2026, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronter...
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorologi...
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
More than 1,300 migrants died or went missing while attempting to reach Spain between January and May 2026, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, highlighting the continuing dangers of one of the world's deadliest migration corridors.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
A Sudanese man has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that left a man seriously injured and prompted calls online for a protest after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
Armenia’s parliamentary election has strengthened Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s mandate, with analysts linking the result to his post-Garabagh agenda and pro-Western direction. However, constitutional constraints remain a key obstacle to peace efforts with Azerbaijan.
ChatGPT maker OpenAI has confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering (IPO), the company said on Monday, joining rival Anthropic in a race to the stock market as investors seek exposure to the artificial intelligence boom.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of a kind when it kicks off on 11 June, as it brings with it a slew of firsts ahead of co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that Israel’s military operations in Syria and Lebanon have escalated to a point where they could threaten Türkiye, describing Israel’s actions as “aggression” that poses a broader global risk.
More than 1,300 migrants died or went missing while attempting to reach Spain between January and May 2026, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, highlighting the continuing dangers of one of the world's deadliest migration corridors.
Rescuers searched the rubble of a collapsed building in the southern Philippine city of General Santos on Tuesday after a powerful earthquake killed at least 37 people and injured hundreds across the country.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
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