Venezuela releases Spanish activists, local political prisoners still held
Venezuela has released prominent Venezuelan-Spanish rights activist Rocío San Miguel and four other Spanish citizens, Spanish authorities said on Thu...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Protests broke out in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old U.S. citizen by a federal immigration agent during an enforcement operation. While the Department of Homeland Security maintains the agent acted in self-defence, Mayor Jacob Frey and local officials have condemned the incident as a reckless abuse of power, contradicting the federal narrative. President Donald Trump has defended the agent, blaming the unrest on the ‘Radical Left’, whilst the FBI and local authorities launch a joint investigation into the death.
The rift between coalition allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE has widened after the leader of Yemen’s southern separatists, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, failed to attend crisis talks in Riyadh. As Saudi-backed forces reportedly advance towards Aden and accuse al-Zubaidi of treason, his whereabouts remain unclear, with conflicting reports suggesting he may have fled to Somalia or Abu Dhabi. The diplomatic standoff threatens to escalate military tensions in southern Yemen, further complicating efforts to resolve the long-running conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that Washington will ‘always be there’ for NATO, whilst simultaneously casting doubt on whether the alliance would reciprocate in a crisis. Writing on Truth Social amidst diplomatic tensions with Denmark over Greenland, Trump insisted that Russia and China only respect the alliance due to American involvement. His remarks highlight continued friction regarding burden-sharing and the future role of the U.S. within the transatlantic security pact.
Azerbaijan is set to deliver a commercial consignment of petrol and diesel fuel to Armenia today as part of the two nations' developing peace agenda. The shipment, which follows an initial delivery in December, involves 3,800 tons of oil products sold at international market rates. This latest economic exchange underscores a commitment to strengthening commercial ties between the neighbours following their recent agreements.
Severe winter weather has swept across northwest Europe, forcing around 1,000 stranded passengers to sleep at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport after ice and snow grounded hundreds of flights. Whilst the Netherlands and wider region grappled with significant transport disruption, including flight cancellations in Brussels and trapped trains in the Balkans, Parisians embraced the rare freeze by skiing down Montmartre and sledging beneath the Eiffel Tower. Conditions are expected to ease today, though the storm has already triggered widespread school closures and road delays from Poland to Spain.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Snow and ice stalled travellers in northwest Europe on Wednesday, forcing around a thousand to spend the night in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport but delighting others who set out to explore a snow-blanketed Paris on sledges and skis.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face a strong response from the United States if its authorities kill protesters amid ongoing unrest.
Venezuela has released prominent Venezuelan-Spanish rights activist Rocío San Miguel and four other Spanish citizens, Spanish authorities said on Thursday, 8 January. Local rights groups report that promised releases of Venezuelan political prisoners are yet to materialise.
Türkiye’s UN envoy called on the international community on Thursday to maintain strong support for the elimination of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons, stressing that the task is both a legal obligation and a critical priority for regional security and humanitarian protection.
Georgia has said it will clarify the circumstances surrounding the U.S. seizure of a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic and is seeking information on its Georgian crew members.
In a bold move to prioritise American interests, President Donald J. Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations, including both non-United Nations entities and several UN-related bodies.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it may deploy additional federal agents to Minnesota following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
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