Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 11th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United Nations Security Council is set to convene today to vote on two competing resolutions aimed at addressing the escalating crisis in the Middle East. A major draft, sponsored by over 90 nations, demands an immediate halt to all Iranian and proxy attacks against six Gulf states and Jordan, whilst explicitly condemning any threats to international shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz. Conversely, a rival resolution tabled by Russia avoids naming specific countries entirely, instead offering a broad condemnation of violence against civilians and urging all parties to lay down their arms and return to the negotiating table.
Meteorological services across Central Asia have firmly dismissed widespread social media rumours suggesting that "acid clouds", formed by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure, are drifting towards the region. Following reports of dark, acidic precipitation in Tehran after approximately 30 oil storage tanks were targeted, experts from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan clarified that hazardous pollutants dissipate significantly over long distances through natural atmospheric mixing. With monitoring data showing no trace of harmful emissions approaching their borders, authorities are urging the public to rely exclusively on official environmental updates and disregard the unfounded speculation.
The United States has officially designated Taliban-led regime in Afghanistan as a "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention", accusing the regime of utilising hostage diplomacy to extract political concessions from Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded the immediate release of multiple detained American citizens, warning that the U.S. will impose "harsh consequences" for the continued use of such terrorist tactics. In response, the Afghan foreign ministry expressed regret over the designation, denying that foreign nationals are being held for diplomatic leverage and insisting that ongoing talks with Washington remain constructive.
China's top economic planner has announced significant increases to the retail prices of petrol and diesel, raising costs by approximately 695 yuan and 670 yuan per metric tonne respectively in response to surging global crude oil prices. While the immediate adjustments are a direct result of the geopolitical volatility gripping international energy markets, the price hikes coincide with Beijing's aggressive, long-term strategy to reduce fossil fuel dependency. Under its 15th Five-Year Plan, the world's largest electric vehicle market is heavily investing in smarter, greener transport networks and expansive charging infrastructure to accelerate the transition away from combustion engines.
Iran has launched its "most intense and heaviest" missile barrage to date against U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, according to state media reports cited by AFP. The unprecedented overnight salvo comes just as Washington significantly escalates its own military campaign; the U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously warned that Tuesday would mark the absolute peak of 'Operation Epic Fury', featuring the highest volume of American bombers and fighter jets deployed against Tehran since the conflict began.
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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