Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 31st of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Protests over Iran’s soaring cost of living have spread across the country, with students joining shopkeepers and merchants in Tehran. The rial’s sharp decline and inflation surpassing 42% have fueled frustration. President Pezeshkian has called for dialogue, but unrest continues to grow amid a worsening economic crisis.
Russia carried out an overnight drone attack on Ukraine’s Odesa region, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure, and injuring four people, including three children. The attack adds to a series of Russian strikes on the key Black Sea port, with extensive damage to high-rise apartments.
Germany’s military planners warn that cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation could signal the onset of a new war, according to a confidential government document. The Operational Plan for Germany (OPLAN) details how the country would defend itself in a major NATO conflict. The plan underscores the importance of civilian infrastructure in military operations and highlights Germany’s role as a critical NATO logistics hub. Hybrid warfare tactics from Russia have already been on the rise.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's airstrikes on Gaza following a ceasefire, stating U.S. President Donald Trump expressed no concerns about the actions. Netanyahu emphasised the need to disarm Hamas for peace in Gaza and warned Iran over its missile drills, stating any escalation would have serious consequences.
Thieves took advantage of the Christmas holiday closure to drill into a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, making off with at least €10 million in cash and valuables from customers’ deposit boxes. Police confirmed the crime was discovered early on 29 December after a fire alarm was triggered. Authorities are investigating the break-in, which involved drilling through a concrete wall and accessing several thousand vaults. Witnesses reported seeing suspects with large bags in a nearby parking garage and a stolen black Audi leaving the area. Police are still working to identify the perpetrators.
More than 8,300 participants from 100 countries have gathered in Uzbekistan's capital for the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026...
Pakistan's heavy reliance on imported energy was laid bare by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which disrupted regional supplies, drove up costs and exposed vu...
Following Armenia’s parliamentary vote, AnewZ spoke to people in Yerevan about the mood in the capital, relations with Azerbaijan and the country’...
The UK has unveiled a major new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting the shadow fleet, military supply chains and financial networks that su...
China’s retail sales fell for the first time in more than three years in May, while urban investment contracted more than expected, signaling furthe...
The UK has unveiled a major new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting the shadow fleet, military supply chains and financial networks that support the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.
France has continued activities that undermine the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, including espionage and information campaigns targeting Baku, according to Azerbaijan’s State Commission Against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats.
Russian sailors aboard a naval frigate fired warning shots at a civilian yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday after the vessel reportedly came too close, according to a source familiar with the incident.
QatarEnergy is prepared to rapidly restore liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Ras Laffan complex once shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz return to normal, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring four, according to emergency authorities.
Pakistan's heavy reliance on imported energy was laid bare by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which disrupted regional supplies, drove up costs and exposed vulnerabilities in the country's energy security. However, a proposed peace agreement now offers hope for economic relief.
The UK has unveiled a major new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting the shadow fleet, military supply chains and financial networks that support the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.
Russian sailors aboard a naval frigate fired warning shots at a civilian yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday after the vessel reportedly came too close, according to a source familiar with the incident.
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) have called for a strong and coordinated international response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, urging countries to commit more resources to contain the spread of the virus.
Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned against actions in the Black Sea that could threaten regional stability, saying he raised the issue directly with Russia during talks in Moscow.
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