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.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Fra...
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's f...
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public re...
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
Russia has agreed to work with Ghana on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant following talks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said on Saturday.
Foreign ministers from the U.S., Japan, Australia and India raised concerns over export restrictions and economic coercion at a Quad meeting in Atlanta, U.S., on Saturday, 31 October 2026, according to their joint statement.
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