Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Trump claims U.S. control over Venezuela after Maduro detention
U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that Washington now effectively controls Venezuela following the detention of President Nicolás Maduro, warning of further military action if stability is not restored.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said remaining Venezuelan officials must cooperate or face severe consequences. He also outlined plans for U.S. oil companies to invest in rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, invoking what he described as a reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine to justify American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
Tokayev plays down political significance of Putin–Nazarbayev talks
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has publicly dismissed the significance of recent private meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, describing them as personal rather than political.
By portraying the talks as informal exchanges between old acquaintances, Tokayev appeared to underline that authority in Astana now rests firmly with the current administration, amid continued political restructuring following the unrest of 2022.
Azerbaijan and Türkiye agree 33 bcm gas supply deal
Azerbaijan and Türkiye have secured a significant energy agreement for the supply of 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas, set to be delivered over a 15-year period starting in 2029.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the deal would include annual volumes from the Absheron gas field in the Caspian Sea and use the existing Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum pipeline, strengthening energy cooperation between the two countries into the 2040s.
Denmark rejects Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed suggestions that the United States should acquire Greenland, calling the remarks unfounded and urging Washington to stop issuing threats towards a close ally.
The comments followed Trump’s assertion that the Arctic territory is vital to U.S. defence. Copenhagen reiterated that the self-governing island is not for sale, amid growing unease over Washington’s recent rhetoric.
Deadly unrest erupts in Iran amid economic pressure
At least 16 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran as protests over inflation and economic hardship escalated into clashes with security forces.
The protests, described as the most serious in three years, has heightened regional tensions. Donald Trump has suggested possible U.S. intervention if violence continues, while Tehran has warned of retaliation as it seeks to contain unrest amid a collapsing currency and ongoing sanctions.
The European Commission stated that the images of undressed women and children being shared on Elon Musk's social media platform, X, were both unlawfu...
Photos posted by the Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello show armed security forces deployed on the streets of Caracas....
At least 25 individuals have lost their lives in Iran during the first nine days of protests, which began in Tehran's bazaar over the rapidly deprecia...
President Ilham Aliyev has said Azerbaijan is not considering participation in any combat or peace enforcement mission in the Gaza Strip, stressing th...
The European Commission stated that the images of undressed women and children being shared on Elon Musk's social media platform, X, were both unlawful and appalling, joining a growing number of global officials condemning the rise in non-consensual imagery on the site.
At least 25 individuals have lost their lives in Iran during the first nine days of protests, which began in Tehran's bazaar over the rapidly depreciating currency and escalating inflation, according to human rights groups.
Türkiye exported more than $10 billion worth of defence and aviation equipment and services in 2025, according to Haluk Gorgun, the head of Türkiye’s Defence Industries Secretariat.
In late December 2025, protests erupted across Iran after the rial collapsed and inflation soared. Unrest spread from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar as citizens expressed frustration over rising prices, economic hardship, and long‑standing grievances with government policies.
Israeli media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a lengthy security meeting that reportedly focused on the country’s regional threats, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon comments suggesting the United States should take over Greenland, calling the idea baseless and unacceptable.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Flights across Greece were halted for hours on Sunday after a collapse of radio frequencies crippled air traffic communication, stranding thousands of travellers during one of the busiest holiday weekends.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (4 January) that the United States could carry out further military action in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said Washington now effectively controls the country.
The European Commission stated that the images of undressed women and children being shared on Elon Musk's social media platform, X, were both unlawful and appalling, joining a growing number of global officials condemning the rise in non-consensual imagery on the site.
At least 25 individuals have lost their lives in Iran during the first nine days of protests, which began in Tehran's bazaar over the rapidly depreciating currency and escalating inflation, according to human rights groups.
Photos posted by the Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello show armed security forces deployed on the streets of Caracas.
Türkiye exported more than $10 billion worth of defence and aviation equipment and services in 2025, according to Haluk Gorgun, the head of Türkiye’s Defence Industries Secretariat.
Afghanistan is entering winter with a high risk of continued dryness and unusually warm conditions, with mountain snowpack at its lowest level in at least 25 years, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has warned.
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