Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. issues new sanctions on Maduro’s family and oil tankers
The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Venezuela, targeting three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro and six crude oil tankers accused of facilitating the country’s illicit oil trade. This escalation coincides with a significant U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean and the recent seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker, as Washington intensifies pressure on Caracas. President Maduro’s government continues to deny criminal links, dismissing the measures as imperialist tactics designed to seize control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves.
Zelenskyy reveals U.S. proposal for ‘free economic zone’ in Donbas
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that the United States has proposed creating a ‘free economic zone’ in the Ukraine-controlled parts of the Donbas as a compromise to resolve territorial disputes with Russia. While Kyiv has presented a revised 20-point peace framework, Zelenskyy emphasised that ceding territory remains a major sticking point and insisted that any land concessions would require a national referendum. The ongoing negotiations also include discussions on a potential Russian withdrawal from the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, freezing the contact lines in the south, and establishing joint governance over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Thai PM to speak with Trump regarding Cambodia clashes
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing border clashes with Cambodia, which have resulted in at least 20 casualties. Trump, who previously brokered a ceasefire between the two nations, has pledged to intervene again to halt the violence along the 817-km disputed border. The conflict involves heavy artillery exchanges and has displaced hundreds of thousands, prompting the U.S. President to assert his confidence in getting the ceasefire back on track.
Turkic States mark new era in energy cooperation
Energy ministers from the Turkic States have agreed to a new phase of collaboration focused on expanding joint investments in oil, gas, and green energy projects. During a meeting in Türkiye, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov highlighted the strategic importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the development of a ‘Green Energy Corridor’ connecting Central Asia to Europe. With a joint investment portfolio exceeding $20 billion heavily concentrated in the energy sector, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to regional energy security and sustainable economic growth.
Pakistan signals openness to regional bloc with Bangladesh
Pakistan has expressed openness to establishing a regional bloc with Bangladesh that excludes India, following a proposal by Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain. Islamabad’s Foreign Office confirmed it would consider such a proposal in the spirit of multilateralism, noting that a trilateral mechanism involving China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh is already in place to foster cooperation. While Bangladesh views this arrangement as strategically feasible, it acknowledged that other neighbours such as Nepal or Bhutan would likely remain unable to join a grouping without India.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two ...
Bulgaria marked its entry into the euro zone on Thursday with a display of euro coins on the front of the central bank in the capital, Sofia....
Chelsea Football Club have parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca, after the London side have won just one of their last seven English Premier League g...
Israel will revoke the licenses of 37 aid organisations from operating in Gaza and the West Bank, stating the groups have failed to meet the requireme...
Shusha, the historic jewel of Karabakh, is rising again—where geography, history, and modern innovation converge to shape a city reborn.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 1st of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ukrainian and European officials have rejected Moscow's claims that Ukraine targeted a personal residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin with a drone attack this week, an incident that threatens to disrupt U.S.-led peace negotiations heading into the new year.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
The Russian radio station known as 'Doomsday Radio' (or UVB-76) unexpectedly began playing ‘Swan Lake’, music from a ballet composition. The last time this was done was during the deaths of Soviet-era leaders and the 1991 coup.
Protests in Iran over soaring prices and a plunging rial have spread to universities in Tehran, as students join shopkeepers and bazaar merchants in demanding government action. With inflation above 42% and the rial at record lows, unrest continues to grow across the country.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, rising casualties, economic struggles, and mounting unrest expose cracks in society. Despite Kremlin propaganda, frustration is growing as more Russians question the government’s narrative, according to The Washington Post.
European leaders held talks on Ukraine after Russia said it would revise its negotiating position, citing an alleged Ukrainian drone attack that Kyiv has firmly denied.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
Bulgaria marked its entry into the euro zone on Thursday with a display of euro coins on the front of the central bank in the capital, Sofia.
Chelsea Football Club have parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca, after the London side have won just one of their last seven English Premier League games.
Israel will revoke the licenses of 37 aid organisations from operating in Gaza and the West Bank, stating the groups have failed to meet the requirements under new registration rules.
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