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 Russia’s claim that Ukraine tried to strike a residence of President Vladimir Putin with drones, calling the allegation unfounded and destabilising for peace talks. U.S. intelligence assessments reported by the Wall Street Journal found no evidence of such an attack, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the claim was a “deliberate distraction” as negotiations continue.
People around the world marked the arrival of 2026 with fireworks, traditions and muted commemorations, as hopes for peace and stability shaped New Year messages. Celebrations began in the Pacific and spread west, from Sydney’s major fireworks display to Seoul’s bell-ringing ritual, while some cities scaled back events after recent tragedies. In Kyiv and Moscow, residents welcomed the new year with renewed calls for an end to the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine wants the war to end but will not accept a “weak” peace that risks prolonging the conflict. In his New Year address, he said a U.S.-led deal is about 90% ready, with territory the main obstacle, and insisted any agreement must secure lasting peace without sacrificing Ukraine’s future.
President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan closed 2025 as a year of peace, security and stability, crediting national unity for the country’s achievements. In the New Year and World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day address, he said the Patriotic War victory was sealed politically and internationally, reconstruction is advancing, and Azerbaijan remains committed to peace while staying vigilant amid global instability.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has criticised Israel’s decision to ban electricity or water supplies to facilities run by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, warning it would seriously hinder humanitarian operations. Several Western countries said the move, alongside restrictions on international NGOs in Gaza, could force the closure of vital services, including healthcare facilities.
Centre-right leader Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister on Saturday, propelled i...
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing w...
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A rep...
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermin...
SOCAR has completed the acquisition of a 99.82% stake in Italiana Petroli (IP) from API Holding after receiving all r...
Centre-right leader Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister on Saturday, propelled into office on promises of change after years of economic stagnation and strained ties with key allies under his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermining the self-determination rights of the Kanak Indigenous People in New Caledonia amid proposed political and constitutional reforms.
The U.S military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday (7 May). Meanwhile, Iran's Joint Military Command accused the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire, by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on several Iranian cities.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
Singapore has isolated and is testing two of its residents who travelled aboard a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Thursday.
Countries worldwide sought to prevent the further spread of the hantavirus on Thursday, after an outbreak on a cruise ship, by tracking those who had disembarked before the virus was detected and anyone who had close contact with them since.
Centre-right leader Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister on Saturday, propelled into office on promises of change after years of economic stagnation and strained ties with key allies under his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermining the self-determination rights of the Kanak Indigenous People in New Caledonia amid proposed political and constitutional reforms.
Somalia is facing a severe malnutrition crisis and urgently needs additional humanitarian funding to prevent conditions deteriorating further, the World Food Programme has warned.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to carry on as leader on Friday (8 May) after his ruling Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections. Labour lost hundreds of councillors across the country, as some figures in the party said he should stand down.
Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment