World’s longest expressway tunnel opens to traffic in Xinjiang, China
China has opened the world’s longest expressway tunnel to traffic in the Xinjiang region, across one of the country’s most challenging mountain ar...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. China rejects US proposal on Gaza, backs Arab-led peace plan
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi rejected a plan by US President Donald Trump to take control of Gaza, Xinhua News Agency reported.
"China supports the plan for restoring peace in Gaza initiated by Egypt and other Arab countries. Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of the Palestinian territory," Wang said at a news conference during China’s annual legislative session.
2. Azerbaijan Defense Ministry advances work on new military regulations
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced on Friday that preparations for new military regulations are ongoing, as part of an effort to update rules governing discipline, garrison operations, guard services, and internal affairs within the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The meeting, held under the leadership of First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, brought together senior officials from various military authorities. Participants engaged in a broad exchange of views, drawing on the successful reforms, achievements, and innovations implemented under President Ilham Aliyev, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
3. South Korean court releases impeached president from detention
South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from a detention center where he was being held after a Seoul court accepted a plea to cancel his arrest for his failed Dec. 3 imposition of martial law.
Yoon filed the request with the Seoul Central District Court last month, pleading that his indictment over the short-lived martial law declaration was illegal.
Yoon, who was indicted on charges of leading an insurgency for martial law, will stand trial without being detained.
4. Israeli defense minister orders army to stay in northern West Bank camps until year's-end
Israel’s defense minister instructed the military to remain in refugee camps in the northern West Bank until at least the end of the year, according to media reports.
According to the Israel Hayom daily, defense chief Israel Katz said, “More than 40,000 people have been evacuated so far from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams," referring to soldiers forcing out residents.
“I have directed security forces to remain in these refugee camps until at least the end of the year,” he added.
5. Trump says he sent letter to Iran leader to negotiate nuclear deal
"I said I hope you're going to negotiate, because it's going to be a lot better for Iran," Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network broadcast on Friday.
6. China hits back at Canada with fresh agriculture tariffs
China announced tariffs on over $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products on Saturday, retaliating against levies Ottawa introduced in October and opening a new front in a trade war largely driven by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats.
The levies, announced by the commerce ministry and scheduled to take effect on March 20, match the 100% and 25% import duties Canada slapped on China-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products just over four months ago.
A majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, state pollster VTsIOM said on Wednesday, in a sign that the Kremlin could be testing public reaction to a possible peace settlement as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify.
In 2025, Ukraine lived two parallel realities: one of diplomacy filled with staged optimism, and another shaped by a war that showed no sign of letting up.
It’s been a year since an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Relatives and loved ones mourn the victims, as authorities near the final stage of their investigation.
The White House has instructed U.S. military forces to concentrate largely on enforcing a “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil exports for at least the next two months, a U.S. official told Reuters, signalling that Washington is prioritising economic pressure over direct military action against Caracas.
Polish fighter jets on Thursday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland’s airspace over the Baltic Sea and escorted it away from their area of responsibility.
China has opened the world’s longest expressway tunnel to traffic in the Xinjiang region, across one of the country’s most challenging mountain areas.
South Korea’s special prosecutor has requested a 10-year prison sentence for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of attempting to obstruct his arrest following his failed bid to impose martial law.
Japan's cabinet has approved a record-high $785 billion budget for the next fiscal year - including the largest allocation for defence spending ever.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 26th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Missile development in North Korea is set to continue over the next five years. The country’s leader Kim Jong Un made the remarks during visits to major arms production facilities in the final quarter of 2025, the state news agency KCNA reported on Friday.
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