Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 22th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. and Ukraine call Miami talks productive despite no breakthrough
In an effort to end the nearly four-year war, officials from the U.S., Europe and Ukraine met in Florida for discussions described by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff as "productive and constructive". While the talks focused on a 20-point plan and security guarantees, significant differences remain. The Kremlin insists on retaining seized territory, a condition Kyiv says it will not accept despite pressure from President Trump for a swift resolution.
Israel authorises 19 new West Bank settlements
Israel’s government has approved the construction of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the total to a record 69 under the current administration. Analysts warn the move further undermines the viability of a two-state solution and complicates U.S.-brokered diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, particularly amidst rising violence that saw two Palestinians killed during recent Israeli raids.
Remaining abducted schoolchildren released in Nigeria
The final group of 130 students kidnapped last month from a Catholic boarding school in Niger state has been freed, bringing the total number of rescued pupils to 230. The release follows a tense period after gunmen seized over 300 individuals in November, an incident that reignited public outrage over insecurity and ransom-driven kidnappings in northern Nigeria.
U.S. pursues oil tanker near Venezuela enforcing ‘blockade’
The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, marking the third such interception in less than two weeks. The action forms part of President Trump’s pressure campaign against the government of Nicolás Maduro , a move that has begun to affect global markets, with oil prices rising in early Asian trading amid supply concerns.
Strategic focus shifts to EU enlargement in the Balkans
As concerns grow over potential conflict with Russia, the European Union is reportedly prioritising the accession of Montenegro and Albania, reportedly by 2028, to strengthen its south-eastern flank. However, while these nations may fast-track their integration to bolster the bloc’s defence, other candidate countries, including Serbia, remain stalled due to unresolved geopolitical issues, particularly regarding the recognition of Kosovo.
Major power outage hits San Francisco
A large-scale power outage hit San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without power and causing widespread traffic disruption across the city. While Pacific Gas and Electric crews restored power to many areas, about 40,000 homes and businesses were expected to remain without electricity overnight, prompting officials to issue safety warnings.
Iran has warned it will retaliate against any future U.S. attacks, saying American energy interests and infrastructure across the Gulf could become...
Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW) 2026 has begun in Azerbaijan’s capital, bringing together government representatives, business leaders, inves...
Pakistan faces a fresh test over preferential access to one of its biggest export markets as the European Union introduces a new GSP+ framework fro...
An eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau has disrupted air travel, school activities and fishing operations, with hundreds of passengers stranded at Jakarta’s main airport on Sunday.
At least five people were killed and five others injured when an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway and crashed while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, 6 September, local officials said.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” in its war against Iran had changed “before it is too late”, a day after Washington struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
Two Greek military pilots were killed on Saturday when an F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an air show at Tanagra air base, north of Athens, officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end the Ukraine war.
U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday on efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A battle over the future of the European Union’s diplomatic service is deepening divisions over who controls the bloc’s foreign policy, as EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas pushes back against plans to overhaul her service.
The Strait of Hormuz is moving into a more complicated stage of the U.S.-Iran war. Tehran says it will establish a new restricted maritime zone around the waterway, while Iran and Oman are preparing to formalise a separate shipping route intended to restore at least part of commercial traffic.
The European Union is preparing to boost investment in Greenland, as Brussels moves to deepen political and economic ties with the Arctic territory amid growing strategic competition involving the U.S., Russia and China.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said a newly commissioned destroyer will become part of the country's nuclear response system, capable of delivering what he described as “annihilating retaliatory strikes”.
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