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.
Senior Trump administration officials on Sunday reiterated their defence of the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents in Minn...
A senior US immigration official defended the continuation of a Title 8 enforcement mission in Minneapolis on Sunday, saying enforcing the law is a du...
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday the country should not fear pursuing energy ties with the United States, as Caracas see...
A U.S. document setting out security guarantees for Ukraine is fully prepared and Kyiv is waiting for confirmation of when and where it will be signed...
The UN Human Rights Council has condemned Iran for rights abuses and ordered an expanded investigation into a crackdown on anti-government protests th...
Senior Trump administration officials on Sunday reiterated their defence of the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, even multiple videos and witness accounts appear to contradict their account and tensions escalate between local police and federal forces.
A senior US immigration official defended the continuation of a Title 8 enforcement mission in Minneapolis on Sunday, saying enforcing the law is a duty, as tensions simmer following a federal agent’s fatal shooting of a man and widespread criticism from local leaders and unions.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday the country should not fear pursuing energy ties with the United States, as Caracas seeks to expand oil and gas production and attract foreign investment.
A U.S. document setting out security guarantees for Ukraine is fully prepared and Kyiv is waiting for confirmation of when and where it will be signed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday (25 January), suggesting that U.S.-brokered talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi yielded some progress.
The UN Human Rights Council has condemned Iran for rights abuses and ordered an expanded investigation into a crackdown on anti-government protests that killed thousands, as Tehran warned any military attack would be treated as an all-out war.
Firefighters were clearing the charred ruins of a Karachi shopping mall in Pakistan on Tuesday (20 January) as they searched for people still missing after a fire that burned for nearly two days and killed at least 67 people, police said.
Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on 23 January there are signs Israel is still seeking an opportunity to attack Iran, warning that such a move could further destabilise the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Canada is opposing the possible construction of his proposed ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system over Greenland, despite what he claimed would be security benefits for Canada.
Germany is divided over whether to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States if U.S. President Donald Trump were to follow through on remarks about annexing Greenland, a move widely viewed in Europe as a violation of international law.
A mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV was illuminated on Sunday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, continuing a centuries-old Vatican tradition marking the election of a new pope.
A senior US immigration official defended the continuation of a Title 8 enforcement mission in Minneapolis on Sunday, saying enforcing the law is a duty, as tensions simmer following a federal agent’s fatal shooting of a man and widespread criticism from local leaders and unions.
Britain’s Labour Party has blocked Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing to return to parliament, a move that has fuelled accusations from party figures that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to sideline a potential leadership rival.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday the country should not fear pursuing energy ties with the United States, as Caracas seeks to expand oil and gas production and attract foreign investment.
Israeli fire killed three Palestinians in separate incidents across Gaza on Sunday, medics said, as US envoys met Israel’s prime minister to push efforts aimed at advancing talks under a fragile ceasefire.
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