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.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi ...
The 25th World Petroleum Council (WPC) Energy Congress began in Riyadh on Sunday (11 October), running from 11 to 15 October under the theme &ldquo...
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to...
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
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The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to respect the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but only if Russia does the same, saying Moscow has already violated the agreement.
China has announced sanctions against Belize’s foreign minister and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move comes as Beijing continues to pressure the few remaining nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
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