AnewZ Morning Brief - 1 January, 2026
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 1st of January, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called on citizens to stand united as the United States increases its military presence in the Caribbean, accusing Western media of waging a psychological war against his country.
Speaking on a national television programme, Maduro criticised Washington’s military activities in the region without directly naming the U.S., urging Venezuelans to focus on building and producing rather than succumbing to external pressure.
“I call on all Venezuelans: the best way to overcome psychological warfare is through work and creation. Western and ‘gringo’ media want to destroy Venezuela because they hate and envy it,” he said.
Maduro condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks labelling Colombian President Gustavo Petro a “drug leader”, praising Petro as a key figure in the fight against narcotics in Colombia.
The Venezuelan leader urged the United Nations not to stay silent over U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and Pacific, welcoming what he described as a “positive and fair” statement by Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. Maduro said Türk “put things in their proper place,” calling him the kind of UN official who defends international law, human rights, and the peace and stability of the Caribbean region.
He also thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for supporting Venezuela, saying Caracas and Moscow maintain regular communication on multiple projects, including 25 years of steady military cooperation that has seen officers trained in both countries—a partnership he described as calm, fruitful, and ongoing.
Maduro further criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of violating the Gaza ceasefire and condemning Israel’s actions in the Strip.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused Trinidad and Tobago of allowing a U.S. warship to deploy in its waters, calling the move a direct provocation. Cabello warned that Venezuela reserved the right to respond if its sovereignty was threatened.
Last week, Venezuela’s parliament declared Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar “persona non grata” following the U.S. warship’s deployment near Venezuelan waters.
The Russian radio station known as 'Doomsday Radio' (or UVB-76) unexpectedly began playing ‘Swan Lake’, music from a ballet composition. The last time this was done was during the deaths of Soviet-era leaders and the 1991 coup.
Protests in Iran over soaring prices and a plunging rial have spread to universities in Tehran, as students join shopkeepers and bazaar merchants in demanding government action. With inflation above 42% and the rial at record lows, unrest continues to grow across the country.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, rising casualties, economic struggles, and mounting unrest expose cracks in society. Despite Kremlin propaganda, frustration is growing as more Russians question the government’s narrative, according to The Washington Post.
The head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has ordered all forces linked to the United Arab Emirates to leave Yemen within 24 hours.
European leaders held talks on Ukraine after Russia said it would revise its negotiating position, citing an alleged Ukrainian drone attack that Kyiv has firmly denied.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 1st of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ukrainian and European officials have rejected Moscow's claims that Ukraine targeted a personal residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin with a drone attack this week, an incident that threatens to disrupt U.S.-led peace negotiations heading into the new year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his New Year address to the nation, said that Ukraine wanted the war to end, but not at any cost, adding he would not sign a "weak" peace agreement that would only prolong the war.
People around the world said goodbye to a sometimes challenging 2025 and expressed hopes for the new year to come. Midnight arrived first on the islands closest to the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean, including Kiritimati, Tonga and New Zealand.
Senior officials from the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, met in Beijing this week for talks with Chinese counterparts, marking a rare in-person engagement between the four-nation grouping and China amid heightened strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment