IRGC says it has ‘full control’ over Strait of Hormuz
Iran is setting conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to the war, the lifting of the U.S. blockade and sanctions. At the ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least 47 people were killed and more than 110 injured after a fire tore through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations. The blaze broke out just after midnight at Le Constellation, triggering panic among revellers. Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation, ruled out terrorism and warned the death toll may rise as victims are identified, with several European countries taking in injured survivors.
Several people have been killed as nationwide protests in Iran over a collapsing currency and soaring prices escalated into violence across multiple provinces. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces were reported in western and central regions, with authorities and rights groups giving conflicting accounts of the deaths. The unrest, fuelled by inflation above 40% and the rial’s sharp fall, poses a growing challenge to Tehran despite government pledges of dialogue.
Zohran Mamdani has officially taken office as New York City’s mayor following a public swearing-in ceremony at City Hall, becoming the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor and its first immigrant leader in decades. The 34-year-old democratic socialist pledged to tackle cost-of-living pressures, outlining priorities such as universal childcare, rent stabilisation and expanded public transport, as progressive leaders hailed his election as a historic shift for the city.
Venezuela has released 88 more people detained after protests over last year’s presidential election, marking the second mass release in two weeks as pressure mounts from Washington. The government says at least 187 detainees have now been freed, though rights groups dispute the figures and estimate around 900 political prisoners remain in custody, a claim Caracas denies.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of targeting civilians during New Year attacks, with Moscow reporting at least 24 deaths from a Ukrainian drone strike in Russian-controlled Kherson, while Kyiv said Russia launched more than 200 drones overnight, hitting energy infrastructure across seven regions. The renewed fighting comes as U.S.-led efforts intensify to push both sides toward ending the nearly four-year war.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has dismissed media reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow earlier this week to warn Russia against attacking NATO, dismissing them as "scare stories," which had nothing to do with reality.
Rescuers in Nepal used helicopters on Thursday to scour for hundreds still missing after a wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border with China's Tibet, sending catastrophic floods through towns and valleys, killing 162 people.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for greater economic cooperation among Muslim countries, saying their combined economic weight remains disproportionately small compared with their population, strategic location and resources.
Iran is setting conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to the war, the lifting of the U.S. blockade and sanctions. At the same time, Washington is stepping up economic pressure on Tehran through what the White House calls “Operation Economic Outcast.”
Mail sorting centres used by Nova Poshta, Ukraine's largest private postal company, were destroyed in Russian strikes overnight, the firm said. Elsewhere, four people were injured after drones struck an apartment building in Sevastopol, Crimea, according to the Moscow-installed governor.
Icelanders will vote on Saturday, 29 August, on whether to resume negotiations with the European Union, in a referendum that could reopen the country’s long-debated membership question.
Iran is setting conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to the war, the lifting of the U.S. blockade and sanctions. At the same time, Washington is stepping up economic pressure on Tehran through what the White House calls “Operation Economic Outcast.”
Mail sorting centres used by Nova Poshta, Ukraine's largest private postal company, were destroyed in Russian strikes overnight, the firm said. Elsewhere, four people were injured after drones struck an apartment building in Sevastopol, Crimea, according to the Moscow-installed governor.
The United Nations refugee agency is planning further reductions to its workforce and budget in 2027 as it adapts to severe funding pressures, even as global displacement is forecast to reach a record high.
Türkiye has dramatically increased diesel imports from the United States and India this month as Russian supplies have been diminished and Middle East energy flows disrupted.
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