Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 4th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korea's President Yoon ousted as court upholds impeachment after martial law
South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously upheld President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment on Friday over his declaration of martial law last year, ending months of political turmoil. The crisis had hindered Seoul’s engagement with the new Trump administration amid slowing economic growth.
A presidential election must now be held within 60 days, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo serving as acting president in the meantime.
“The ruling removes a major source of uncertainty,” said Professor Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha University, noting the urgency as the next leader faces challenges from North Korea, China, and U.S. trade policies.
Deadly drone strike hits Kharkiv as Russian attacks intensify
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Kharkiv late Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 32, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Fires broke out on rooftops in the Novobavarskyi district, and a third victim’s remains were later found, according to the mayor.
Nearby, one person was injured in a drone strike on the village of Ruski Tyshky. In Dnipro, three were wounded in a separate attack, while seven drones hit sites in Zaporizhzhia, injuring one.
The strikes are part of an escalating Russian campaign targeting Ukrainian cities and infrastructure as the war nears its third year.
Ukraine and NATO reaffirm commitment to long and lasting peace
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for increased pressure on Russia to push it toward a peace agreement during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday.
Rutte emphasized that any ceasefire or peace deal must be durable. “I commend the American efforts to break the deadlock — that’s important,” he said. “But we must ensure any agreement is lasting.”
He underscored the global stakes of the conflict, stating that the war is not just a regional dispute but a “global conflict,” with Russia backed by allies like China, North Korea, and Iran.
Rutte warned that the outcome will have far-reaching consequences, especially for global security and stability in regions such as the Indo-Pacific.
EU announces new strategic partnership with Central Asia at Samarkand summit
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, already in Samarkand, called the summit a launchpad for a “new Strategic Partnership,” stressing its importance in today’s global context.
Key priorities include an EU investment package focused on transport, natural resources, energy, and digital infrastructure. Green energy, mining, and mineral processing will also feature prominently. The EU will highlight its €300 billion Global Gateway project, which includes developing the Trans-Caspian Corridor to cut EU-Central Asia transport time to 15 days.
Security issues, including terrorism and migration, are also on the agenda.
Uzbek President Mirziyoyev noted EU-Central Asia trade has quadrupled in seven years, now reaching €54 billion. The EU accounts for over 40% of the region’s foreign investments
Pentagon watchdog to review Hegseth's use of Signal to convey Yemen strike plans
The Pentagon’s acting inspector general has launched a review into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss plans for a military strike on Houthi militants in Yemen.
The investigation will also examine the use of the app by other defense officials. Signal, while secure, is not authorized for classified communication and falls outside the Defense Department’s secure networks.
The issue surfaced after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was accidentally added to a Signal group chat by national security adviser Mike Waltz. The chat included high-ranking officials such as Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and others, who were discussing military operations planned for March 15 against Iran-backed Houthi forces.
Jean-Claude Van Damme accused of involvement with victims of human trafficking
The Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) has reportedly filed a criminal complaint against Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme.
According to CNN affiliate Antena 3, the 64-year-old actor—known for films like Kickboxer, Double Impact, and Street Fighter—is accused of knowingly engaging with women who were victims of human trafficking.
Van Damme allegedly met with individuals already under investigation for trafficking-related crimes, who arranged private encounters with five Romanian models as a “gift.” One of those individuals is said to be Romanian businessman and modeling agency owner Morel Bolea.
The incident reportedly took place in Cannes, though no specific timeframe has been confirmed.
Estonia’s defense minister Hanno Pevkur says the U.S. will keep its 80,000 troops in Europe, calling bases like Ramstein and Naples crucial to NATO’s eastern shield and American power projection despite Washington’s growing Indo-Pacific focus.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed Tuesday to enhance economic and defense cooperation, affirming their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas through force or coercion.
At the Three Seas Initiative summit, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković briefed reporters after talks with leaders from 11 Central- and Eastern-European states, underscoring regional cooperation on energy.
One hundred days into his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has reasserted his leadership with sweeping domestic crackdowns and disruptive foreign policies, reshaping America’s direction at home and abroad.
Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic cooperation, with a shared goal of boosting bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion in the coming years.
Estonia’s defense minister Hanno Pevkur says the U.S. will keep its 80,000 troops in Europe, calling bases like Ramstein and Naples crucial to NATO’s eastern shield and American power projection despite Washington’s growing Indo-Pacific focus.
Mark Carney walked into the Prime Minister’s Office on Wellington Street Tuesday morning, his first official act after steering the Liberals to a decisive election triumph and reclaiming the reins of Canada’s government.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed Tuesday to enhance economic and defense cooperation, affirming their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas through force or coercion.
At the Three Seas Initiative summit, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković briefed reporters after talks with leaders from 11 Central- and Eastern-European states, underscoring regional cooperation on energy.
Meta is launching its first-ever AI developer conference, LlamaCon, on Tuesday, aiming to re-engage the developer community and spotlight the company’s Llama family of open AI models.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 23rd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
For three generations, the Liebigs built railcars in Görlitz. Now, the factory that shaped their lives will produce parts for battle tanks.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 40 dead, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
Amazon says it never planned to display Trump-era tariffs on product pages, disputing a report that drew a sharp response from the White House.
Nearly 39,000 people have been deported to Mexico since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, and 33,000 of them are Mexican nationals, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday.
Prince William and Princess Kate marked their 14th wedding anniversary Tuesday with a rare joint appearance on Mull and Iona, their first major public trip since the princess’s cancer treatment.
Estonia’s defense minister Hanno Pevkur says the U.S. will keep its 80,000 troops in Europe, calling bases like Ramstein and Naples crucial to NATO’s eastern shield and American power projection despite Washington’s growing Indo-Pacific focus.
Mark Carney walked into the Prime Minister’s Office on Wellington Street Tuesday morning, his first official act after steering the Liberals to a decisive election triumph and reclaiming the reins of Canada’s government.
Estonia’s defense minister Hanno Pevkur says the U.S. will keep its 80,000 troops in Europe, calling bases like Ramstein and Naples crucial to NATO’s eastern shield and American power projection despite Washington’s growing Indo-Pacific focus.
Mark Carney walked into the Prime Minister’s Office on Wellington Street Tuesday morning, his first official act after steering the Liberals to a decisive election triumph and reclaiming the reins of Canada’s government.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed Tuesday to enhance economic and defense cooperation, affirming their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas through force or coercion.
At the Three Seas Initiative summit, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković briefed reporters after talks with leaders from 11 Central- and Eastern-European states, underscoring regional cooperation on energy.
Meta is launching its first-ever AI developer conference, LlamaCon, on Tuesday, aiming to re-engage the developer community and spotlight the company’s Llama family of open AI models.
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