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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end t...
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” i...
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has left for France for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening ties with Paris, including a summit with Frenc...
An eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau has disrupted air travel, school activities and fishing operations, with hundreds of passengers stranded at Jakarta’s main airport on Sunday.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” in its war against Iran had changed “before it is too late”, a day after Washington struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Two Greek military pilots were killed on Saturday when an F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an air show at Tanagra air base, north of Athens, officials said.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has left for France for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening ties with Paris, including a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Adidas is facing calls for a boycott after featuring former Israeli soldier Shalev Biton in a campaign for its Single Shoe Service, as critics question the choice against the backdrop of the Gaza war and thousands of life-changing injuries.
Two Greek military pilots were killed on Saturday when an F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an air show at Tanagra air base, north of Athens, officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end the Ukraine war.
U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters on Saturday that there is no plan underway to force Palestinians out of Gaza, following Israel's government proposal on relocation plans for people in Gaza.
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