Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 19th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
EU leaders agree €90bn loan for Ukraine, shelving Russian asset plan
European Union leaders have agreed to a joint borrowing scheme to raise €90 billion (£75bn) for Ukraine’s defence over the next two years, sidelining a controversial plan to utilise frozen Russian assets directly. The funding, intended for 2026 and 2027, aims to provide urgent financial stability for Kyiv amidst the ongoing conflict. While Belgium raised concerns over the legal risks of touching frozen funds, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic agreed not to obstruct the alternative borrowing plan, ensuring the aid package proceeds as a matter of urgency.
Suspect in Brown University shooting found dead in New Hampshire
The suspect linked to the fatal shooting at Brown University has been found dead in a storage unit in New Hampshire, with authorities indicating the individual likely committed suicide. Federal officials are now investigating a potential connection between this attack and the subsequent murder of an MIT professor in Massachusetts just days later. As the investigation continues, law enforcement agencies remain focused on establishing a full timeline of events following the violence that shook the Ivy League campus and prompted a multi-state manhunt.
Australia announces gun buyback following Bondi Beach massacre
In the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre that claimed 15 lives during Hanukkah celebrations, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a nationwide gun buyback scheme to remove surplus and prohibited firearms from circulation. Echoing the strict reforms introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur tragedy, the government aims to tighten public safety while simultaneously strengthening hate speech laws to combat rising antisemitism. Police have also stepped up security, detaining seven individuals in Sydney amid fears of further extremist violence inspired by the attack.
EU-Mercosur trade deal delayed until January amid farmer protests
The long-awaited free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur bloc has been postponed until January after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen failed to secure the necessary backing from member states. Opposition from France and Italy, coupled with violent farmer protests in Brussels over agricultural safeguards, forced the delay just ahead of a planned summit in Brazil. While leaders like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni have requested more time to garner domestic support, proponents argue the deal is vital for reducing Europe’s economic reliance on China.
Azerbaijan and Armenia take historic step towards economic cooperation
Marking a significant shift in relations, Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed on a trade deal involving the shipment of Azerbaijani petroleum products, signalling a new era of economic cooperation despite the absence of a final peace treaty. MP Qaya Mammadov described the move as a pragmatic step to rebuild trust and revive direct commercial ties that had been dormant for decades. Observers view this development as a vital milestone for stability in the South Caucasus, demonstrating that practical engagement can proceed alongside ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a pre...
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provisi...
Curaçao celebrate first World Cup goal despite heavy defeat against Germany, Sweden move to top of Group F with five-goal display and Japan fight...
Monday 15th June, marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Shusha Declaration, a landmark agreement that formally elevated relations between ...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Curaçao celebrate first World Cup goal despite heavy defeat against Germany, Sweden move to top of Group F with five-goal display and Japan fight back twice to hold Netherlands.
Monday 15th June, marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Shusha Declaration, a landmark agreement that formally elevated relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye to the level of an alliance and further strengthened the long-standing ties between the two nations.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are aiming to establish a railway connection linking the two countries through Syria and Jordan within the next three to four years, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a preliminary pact that sent oil prices falling but leaves the fate of Iran's nuclear program to further negotiations.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on Monday, adding that he will impose restrictions on gaming and livestreaming platforms as well.
The stepson of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon has been found guilty of two counts of rape as well as domestic violence and other crimes and is sentenced to four years in prison, an Oslo court ruled on Monday.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 15 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations will meet at a French lakeside resort on Monday against a backdrop of preliminary deal to end U.S. and Iran war reached by both sides.
Four people were killed while the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a symbol of Ukrainian spiritual and cultural history, caught fire, in the heaviest Russian air attack on the Ukrainian capital in two weeks, authorities said on Monday.
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