Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 16th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ukraine peace talks in Berlin focus on security guarantees
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined Western leaders in Berlin to negotiate a potential peace framework, with discussions centering on "Article 5-like" security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. The meeting, attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.S. envoys, proposed a multinational force and legally binding commitments requiring U.S. Senate approval. While President Donald Trump described a deal as "closer than ever", significant hurdles remain regarding territorial disputes and the finalisation of a ceasefire mechanism.
Australia vows stricter gun laws following Bondi Beach terror attack
Australia is in mourning after a terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor. Police have linked the shooters - a father and son - to Islamic State extremists, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to promise a review of the country’s gun laws. As the nation faces its worst mass shooting in decades, security has been heightened at Jewish sites, and international leaders have condemned the act as a brutal display of antisemitism.
Flash floods claim 37 lives in Morocco
Torrential rains have triggered severe flash floods in Morocco’s Safi province, killing at least 37 people and leaving dozens of homes and vehicles submerged. The downpour, which follows seven years of drought, caused significant damage to infrastructure in the port city, forcing the suspension of schools and the launch of emergency rescue operations. Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the devastation as the country faces unusual weather patterns affecting the Atlas Mountains.
Trump sues BBC for $10 billion over edited 6 January footage
President Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC, seeking $10 billion in damages over a documentary that edited his 6 January, 2021 speech to omit his call for peaceful protest. While the broadcaster apologised for the error, Trump’s legal team argues the edit was malicious and has caused significant reputational harm. The case, filed in a U.S. federal court, marks an escalation in Trump’s ongoing battles with media organisations he accuses of bias.
Trump claims Ukraine peace deal is ‘closer than ever’
Speaking from the White House, President Trump asserted that an agreement to end the war in Ukraine is within reach following constructive talks with European and Russian leaders. He confirmed direct communication with Vladimir Putin and noted that, despite lingering disagreements, both Moscow and Kyiv appear open to a negotiated settlement. The proposed deal relies heavily on Western security guarantees, with negotiations set to continue as officials work to narrow the remaining gaps.
Türkiye targets $100 billion trade volume with Turkic states
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced an ambitious goal to boost Türkiye’s trade with Turkic states to $100 billion in the long term. Launching the "Turkic World Vision Document", Erdoğan emphasised the integration of energy corridors, logistics, and digital infrastructure to transform the region into a global economic power. The initiative also focuses on security cooperation and cultural exchange to strengthen ties across the Turkic world.
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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