Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Trump orders blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a "total and complete blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, designating the Maduro regime a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" in a major escalation of pressure. While the specifics of enforcement remain unclear, the move targets the government's primary revenue source and has already pushed crude oil prices higher, drawing fierce condemnation from Caracas which views the action as a "grotesque threat" aimed at destabilising the country.
Australia charges alleged Bondi Beach gunman with 59 offences
Australian police have charged a man with 59 offences, including a terror charge, following the deadliest mass shooting in more than 30 years at a Jewish Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach on Sunday. The attack, believed to be inspired by Islamic State, resulted in the deaths of 15 people, the suspect's father, and left the alleged gunman hospitalised. The incident has sparked national outrage, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to pledge stricter gun laws and a crackdown on rising antisemitism.
Trump expands travel ban to seven more nations
President Trump has expanded the U.S. travel ban to include citizens from seven additional countries, including Syria and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, bringing the total number of restricted nations to 39. The White House cited severe deficiencies in security screening and information-sharing as justification for the measure, which is set to take effect on 1 January and has drawn sharp criticism despite the administration's insistence that it is necessary for national security.
Eurovision host Austria will not block Palestinian flags
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, host of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, has announced it will not suppress Palestinian flags or audience dissent during Israel’s performance, breaking with previous practices of masking negative crowd reactions. Broadcaster executives emphasised a commitment to presenting events authentically, even as the contest faces a significant boycott from five nations protesting Israel’s participation amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
International Claims Commission launched for Ukraine reparations
European Union and Ukrainian leaders have officially launched an International Claims Commission in The Hague, endorsed by 35 nations, to process compensation claims for the hundreds of billions of dollars in damage caused by Russia’s invasion. While the mechanism aims to hold Moscow accountable—potentially using frozen Russian assets—legal debates over financing continue, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserting that every war crime must carry financial consequences.
Kremlin rejects Christmas ceasefire proposal
The Kremlin has firmly rejected proposals for a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov staying that Moscow is uninterested in a ceasefire that might allow Kyiv to regroup. Although Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Western allies supported the holiday pause, Russia insists that any cessation of hostilities must be contingent upon reaching a broader, comprehensive peace agreement rather than a short-term measure.
American Airlines said on Thursday it plans to resume daily service to Venezuela once regulators approve and security assessments are complete, markin...
Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente said on Thursday that the government has stepped up investment across the railway network after years of und...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for o...
Gaza families are watching the Rafah crossing closely as expectations build for a phased reopening under the peace plan, though no timetable has been ...
U.S. border czar Tom Homan, newly appointed to oversee President Donald Trump's immigration surge in Minneapolis, said agents would concentrate on tar...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, citing extreme cold weather across Ukraine.
The European Union has added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations, citing the group’s role in recent deadly crackdowns on protesters. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it a “decisive step” to ensure that “repression cannot go unanswered.”
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as American military assets arrived in the Middle East amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing forces from its facility in northeastern Syria amid shifts in the country’s political and security landscape.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase match. Despite the setback, Qarabağ secured a play-off spot, with results elsewhere going in the Azerbaijani champions’ favour on the final matchday.
Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said on Wednesday that he rejects U.S. interference in Iraq's internal affairs, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off support to the country if Maliki was picked as prime minister.
China is supplying key industrial equipment that has enabled Russia to speed up production of its newest nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, an investigation by The Telegraph has found, heightening concerns in Europe over Moscow’s ability to threaten the West despite international sanctions.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stressed to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Tuesday the importance of unifying international efforts to prevent the return of "terrorist groups", including Islamic State.
American Airlines said on Thursday it plans to resume daily service to Venezuela once regulators approve and security assessments are complete, marking the carrier's return just weeks after the U.S. military operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power.
Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente said on Thursday that the government has stepped up investment across the railway network after years of underfunding, a point he underlined while senators pressed him over two recent train accidents.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, citing extreme cold weather across Ukraine.
Gaza families are watching the Rafah crossing closely as expectations build for a phased reopening under the peace plan, though no timetable has been confirmed.
U.S. border czar Tom Homan, newly appointed to oversee President Donald Trump's immigration surge in Minneapolis, said agents would concentrate on targeted, strategic enforcement following weeks of criticism over heavy-handed tactics.
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