Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 16th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Trump unveils 'Board of Peace' to oversee Gaza transition
U.S. President Donald Trump has officially announced the formation of a "Board of Peace" to supervise Gaza’s reconstruction and governance, describing the body on Truth Social as the "most prestigious" ever assembled. While specific members are yet to be revealed, the initiative marks the launch of the second phase of the U.S. ceasefire plan, which involves full demilitarisation and the backing of a newly appointed "Palestinian Technocratic Government" to manage the Strip during the transitional period.
Carney and Xi seek to reset Canada-China relations
In a significant move to rebuild diplomatic ties, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, suggesting that a renewed strategic partnership could deliver "historic" economic gains for both nations. The visit, the first by a Canadian leader since 2017, focuses on deepening collaboration in agriculture and finance as both Ottawa and Beijing seek to diversify their trade interests amidst escalating tariff pressures from the Trump administration.
Stun grenade explosion injures 18 at Russian training centre
Russian authorities have launched an investigation after a stun grenade explosion at an Interior Ministry vocational training centre in the Republic of Komi left at least 18 people injured. The blast, which occurred during a personnel exercise in the regional capital of Syktyvkar, sparked a fire and forced the evacuation of 200 people, with health officials confirming that four of the victims remain in an extremely serious condition.
White House reports halt to 800 executions in Iran
The White House confirmed on Thursday that Iranian authorities have suspended 800 scheduled executions amidst ongoing anti-government protests, though President Donald Trump has warned that "all options remain on the table" regarding a U.S. response. As Washington imposes fresh sanctions on senior officials and tracks illicit financial flows from the regime, human rights groups estimate that the crackdown has already resulted in more than 2,600 deaths. Iran says it doesn't seek escalation or confrontation but says that any act of aggression "will be met with a decisive, proportionate, and lawful response."
Venezuelan Machado gifts Nobel medal to Trump during White House visit
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump during an historic meeting at the White House, describing the gift as a symbolic gesture of brotherhood in the fight against tyranny. While the President accepted the honour and praised Machado’s bravery, administration officials clarified that U.S. policy remains focused on rebuilding Venezuela’s economy and oil sector following the recent capture of Nicolas Maduro.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Fra...
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's f...
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public re...
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
Russia has agreed to work with Ghana on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant following talks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said on Saturday.
Foreign ministers from the U.S., Japan, Australia and India raised concerns over export restrictions and economic coercion at a Quad meeting in Atlanta, U.S., on Saturday, 31 October 2026, according to their joint statement.
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