AnewZ Morning Brief - 30 December, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 30th of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
Cissy Houston, Grammy-winning soul and gospel icon and mother of the late Whitney Houston, passed away at 91 in her New Jersey home. Known for her powerful voice, Cissy's remarkable career included singing backup for legends and winning two Grammys for her gospel work.
Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist and mother of the late Whitney Houston, passed away at 91 in her New Jersey home on Monday.
Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, shared the news on Instagram, writing: “It saddens my heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston today! Please keep the Houston family in your prayers,” accompanied by a photo collage of the singer.
Houston was born as Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933, in Newark, New Jersey, and later took on the stage name Cissy Houston. She first gained recognition as part of the gospel group the Drinkard Four and went on to help form the R&B group, the Sweet Inspirations.
Throughout her career, she sang backup for iconic musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Otis Redding, and Dionne Warwick.
Breaking barriers in both gender and race, Houston also worked alongside artists like Elvis Presley, Bette Midler, and Linda Ronstadt—a significant achievement for a Black woman in the industry at the time. In 1970, she embarked on a solo career, earning two Grammy Awards for her contributions to gospel music.
Cissy Houston’s daughter, Whitney Houston, passed away in 2012 after being found unresponsive in a hotel bathtub.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore near Taiwan’s north-eastern county of Yilan late on Saturday, shaking buildings across the island, including in the capital Taipei, authorities said.
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress whose barefoot mambo in And God Created Woman propelled her to international fame and reshaped female sexuality on screen, has died at the age of 91, her foundation said on Sunday.
Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire and former Chelsea Football Club owner, has assembled a “top tier” legal team, including a former White House advisor, as he prepares for a legal battle in Jersey.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Sunday praised the country’s armed forces as “invincible warriors” during a year-end ceremony honouring the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, held in the coastal city of La Guaira.
Iran successfully launched three satellites on Sunday using a Russian Soyuz rocket from Russia’s Far East, marking the latest stage in growing Iran-Russia space cooperation.
Beyoncé has officially joined the billionaire club, becoming the fifth musician to reach a 10-figure fortune, Forbes reports.
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress whose barefoot mambo in And God Created Woman propelled her to international fame and reshaped female sexuality on screen, has died at the age of 91, her foundation said on Sunday.
Director James Cameron has shared the key reasons behind the global success of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time. In an interview with China Media Group in Hainan Province, Cameron spoke about the universal appeal of the film.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become the world’s richest individual, with a net worth of US$749 billion, after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated $139 billion in stock options that were voided last year, according to Forbes’ billionaires index.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
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