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.
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.
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