Australia returns ancient Chinese statue heads stolen from imperial tombs
Australia has returned two ancient stone statue heads to China, more than 30 years after they were taken from imperial tombs in central China....
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 7 April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel has intensified strikes on Iranian infrastructure, while Iran has rejected a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire proposal. The escalation comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline for a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz expires later today, with warnings that no targets will be off limits without an agreement. Tehran insists it will not bow to pressure, demanding a permanent end to hostilities, sanctions relief, and security guarantees for maritime routes.
Iran’s military has dismissed Trump’s warnings as “delusional”, rejecting proposals for a temporary ceasefire and instead calling for a comprehensive end to the conflict. Washington has threatened large-scale strikes on critical infrastructure if no agreement is reached, raising concerns over potential violations of international law. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely restricted, continuing to disrupt global energy flows and drive volatility in oil markets.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote today on a revised resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest draft removes authorisation for the use of force following opposition from China and Russia, instead encouraging coordinated defensive measures such as escorting vessels. Diplomats say the softened language improves the chances of adoption.
NASA’s Artemis II crew has reached a record distance from Earth, surpassing the milestone set during Apollo 13. The astronauts experienced a 40-minute communication blackout while passing behind the Moon, before successfully re-establishing contact. The mission is already delivering valuable scientific observations, including meteor impacts on the lunar surface, as part of preparations for future Moon landings and eventual missions to Mars.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is due in Hungary to support Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of a closely contested parliamentary vote. The visit highlights Washington’s more direct backing of political allies abroad, as Orbán faces a strong challenge from opposition leader Peter Magyar. The election is expected to shape Hungary’s political direction and its relationship with the European Union.
The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia remains willing to rebuild relations with European countries but warned that any wider conflict on the continent would leave no winners, as he commented on recent diplomatic contacts with Nordic leaders and growing security concerns in the Baltic region.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global body responsible for monitoring money laundering and terrorist financing risks, has removed four countries from its so-called “grey list” after determining they had made sufficient progress in addressing weaknesses in their financial cr
The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 5,000, according to government figures released on Friday, as health authorities continue to struggle to contain the country's worst-ever Ebola epidemic.
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.
Poland's long-running conflict over judicial independence and control of the Constitutional Tribunal intensified on Friday after the head of the country's top court was suspended, prompting President Karol Nawrocki to cut short an overseas trip and return to Warsaw amid mounting political tensions.
China’s GJ-21 carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone has completed its first take-off and landing on board the Sichuan, the country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, state media reported on 30 October.
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