Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 23rd of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Trump confirms seizure of Venezuelan oil and vessels
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. will retain control of oil tankers and ships recently seized off the Venezuelan coast, suggesting the confiscated crude may be added to the Strategic Reserves. The move follows Trump’s declaration of a "total blockade" on sanctioned tankers last week, with American forces currently pursuing a third vessel in the region as part of heightened efforts to enforce sanctions and prevent Venezuelan oil from reaching global markets.
Netanyahu to discuss Iranian military drills with Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is closely monitoring recent Iranian missile exercises and intends to raise the matter with President Trump during his visit to Washington next week. Speaking at a trilateral summit with Greek and Cypriot leaders, Netanyahu warned that any hostile action from Tehran would meet a "severe response", whilst also discussing regional security cooperation and energy initiatives intended to link India to Europe via the Middle East.
U.S. unveils plans for new ‘Trump-class’ battleships
President Trump has approved plans to construct a new fleet of "Trump-class" battleships, described as being significantly larger and more powerful than any previous U.S. warship. The administration aims to commission between 20 and 25 of these massive vessels—each equipped with nuclear-armed cruise missiles—as part of a "Golden Fleet" initiative to expand naval power, with the first ship set to be christened the USS Defiant.
Zelenskyy warns of intensified Russian attacks over Christmas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of a heightened risk of large-scale Russian strikes over the Christmas period, citing intelligence reports of increased threats between 23 and 25 December. Whilst Kyiv negotiates with Washington for additional Patriot air defence systems to counter a critical shortage, Zelenskyy noted that Moscow had rejected holiday ceasefire proposals, even as tensions rise following the reported assassination of a Russian general in Moscow.
Ellison backs Paramount’s £86bn bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount has reaffirmed its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, valued at approximately $108.4 billion (£86bn), now bolstered by a $40.4 billion personal equity guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison. Despite the target company’s board urging shareholders to reject the offer in favour of a competing deal with Netflix, Paramount remains committed to the takeover, extending its tender offer deadline to January 2026 and arguing that its proposal delivers superior long-term value.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a ...
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces stru...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
South Korea estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, its defence minister said on Thursday, citing a range significantly higher than U.S. President Donald Trump's recent assertion that Pyongyang has 57 nuclear weapons.
Russian ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has killed at least sixteen people and injured more than forty others, Ukrainian officials said, with fires reported across the city and Poland activating defensive air operations.
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