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.
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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