Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 7th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Nationwide protests in Iran have continued with crowds returning to the streets during daylight hours and moving into major economic hubs. Security forces have deployed tear gas and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators, and reports suggest Iranian-backed Iraqi militias are assisting in the crackdown. Human rights organisations have raised alarms over increasing casualties and detentions, while the country continues to downplay the scale of the movement which now includes direct calls for political change and leadership transition.
Leaders from the U.S. and Europe have moved closer to finalising a legally binding security package for Ukraine, which includes a high-tech ceasefire monitoring system and a multinational force led by France and the UK. The guarantees are modelled on NATO’s Article 5 to provide long-term defence assistance and deter future Russian aggression, though the deployment would operate away from the contact line. While President Zelenskyy welcomed the initiative as a major step forward, the agreement still faces significant hurdles regarding ratification by Western parliaments and the U.S. Congress.
The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump is actively exploring options to acquire Greenland, viewing the resource-rich Arctic island as a vital national security priority to deter adversaries such as Russia and China. Despite adamant rejections of the idea from NATO and Danish leaders, U.S. officials indicate that the administration is considering various strategies, ranging from an outright purchase to a Compact of Free Association. While diplomacy remains the preferred route, the White House noted that the use of military options remains theoretically available, underscoring the President’s determination to secure a deal.
Tensions between Tbilisi and Brussels have deepened after the speaker of Georgia’s parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, publicly questioned the European Union’s ability to function as a global geopolitical guarantor. Citing recent international events, Papuashvili argued that the bloc has lost its capacity to uphold the global order and accused it of applying undue pressure on Georgia regarding democratic reforms and visa policies. Despite the sharp rhetoric, the government maintains that its strategic priorities remain the restoration of territorial integrity and the well-being of the Georgian people.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake has struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, prompting residents to flee buildings but causing no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage. Seismologists confirmed that the tremors occurred at a significant depth, which effectively ruled out the threat of a destructive tsunami hitting the region. Authorities in the archipelago, which sits on the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire", have advised the public to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuw...
The bodies of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and members of his household killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids were laid to...
At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey buil...
At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey building. Authorities said more than 200 people escaped, while others were unable to get out before the blaze spread.
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza to mourn Mohammad al-Waheidi, an aid worker remembered for bringing rare moments of happiness to families displaced by war by organising public screenings of World Cup matches.
Azerbaijan should unlock the full potential of its tourism sector to drive long-term economic growth, diversify its economy and create jobs as reliance on hydrocarbons declines, the World Bank has said.
The South Caucasus is increasingly being viewed not only through the lens of past conflicts but also as a strategic bridge linking Europe, the Caspian region and Central Asia. One analyst says this presents an opportunity for a new Euro-Atlantic approach focused on long-term regional cooperation.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph (124 mph), as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey building. Authorities said more than 200 people escaped, while others were unable to get out before the blaze spread.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
Western Europe experienced its hottest June since records began in 2026, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The record-breaking month brought extreme heat, widespread disruption and thousands of excess deaths across parts of the continent.
South Korea's Supreme Court has upheld former President Yoon Suk Yeol's seven-year prison sentence in a case linked to his 2024 attempt to impose martial law.
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