Protests are intensifying in Iran as an economic crisis fuels anger over soaring prices and falling living standards.

Israels threat to withhold registration for NGOs: A grave blow to humanitarian aid in Gaza and the West Bank  MSF - Médecins Sans FrontièresIsrael says it will bar aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, from Gaza  NPRIsrael says it will bar dozens of aid groups from operating in Gaza  The Washington Post“One More Step to Push Out Principled Humanitarian Actors”: NRC on Israel Ban on Aid Groups in Gaza  Democracy Now!Why Israel is right to blo…

Japan’s parliament building was built in 1936, a decade before women were given the right to vote.

Japan’s prime minister joins female lawmakers in fight for more toilets in parliament  CNNJapan PM joins fight for more female toilets in parliament  bbc.com​Two cubicles, 73 women, one long queue: Japan’s female MPs fight for more loos  The GuardianJapan’s female lawmakers call for more restrooms in Lower House, complain of daily inconveniences  Asia News NetworkJapan PM Sanae Takaichi joins other women legislators’ fight for more toilets in parli…

Country star Jelly Roll opens up about treating food addiction like cocaine addiction, sharing his honest struggle with overeating and weight loss therapy.

Micah Parsons defended his reaction to Cowboys coach Matt Eberflus’ remarks, citing comments from owner Jerry Jones after the star pass rusher’s blockbuster trade.

Jordon Hudson, the 24-year-old girlfriend of Bill Belichick, faced controversy in 2025 after leaked emails, a CBS interview moment and criticism over her UNC involvement.

Kim’s daughter visits family mausoleum, promoting her potential status as heir  ABC NewsNew public appearance by North Korean leader’s daughter fuels succession speculation  France 24Kim Jong-un’s daughter visits state mausoleum, fuelling speculation she will be next North Korean ruler  The GuardianNorth Korea leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter makes public visit to state mausoleum  ReutersNorth Korea’s Kim Jong Un attends New Year celebrations with daughte…

Kremlin prepares large-scale provocation with human casualties on January 6-7 — intelligence  UkrinformUkraine warns Putin plans false flag attack inside Russia to derail peace talks  politico.euIntelligence warns Kremlin is preparing large-scale provocation with casualties  Українська правдаUkraine warns Russia plans false-flag attack on place of worship with ‘significant’ casualties  Новая газета ЕвропаRussia-Ukrain…

Austria's Katharina Liensberger to miss Milano Cortina Winter Games after knee injury in alpine skiing training fall.

Separatist Southern Transitional Council accuses Saudi Arabia of bombing its forces near the border.

London coroner calls for circumcision safeguards after baby death  bbc.comCoroner calls for circumcision safety measures after baby’s death in London  The GuardianBaby died after botched circumcision  The TelegraphWarning after six-month-old baby boy dies in West London days after circumcision  My LondonBaby boy dies after catching infection in botched circumcision  Metro.co.uk

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says his government is ready to negotiate a drug trafficking agreement with the U.S. after months of military pressure.

In an interview with state TV, the Venezuelan president also evaded a question about an attack in his country claimed by the US.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani suggested the IHRA antisemitism definition does not protect Jewish New Yorkers amid blowback over his Day 1 directives affecting that community.

Mayor Zoran Mamdani referenced Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson during his inaugural speech, making a gesture that resembled the player's celebration and drawing mixed reactions online.

Dr Dirk Brandherm and his colleagues have identified more than 600 suspected house platforms in the Brusselstown Ring.

New Trump-ordered immigration restrictions go into effect Jan. 1  ABC NewsWhy are some African countries banning US citizens from entry?  Al JazeeraMali and Burkina Faso impose travel ban on US citizens in tit-for-tat move  bbc.comUS tourists banned from entering two countries  The IndependentIn 2026, Citizens From These 7 Nations Are Limited From Entering The U.S. – Along With 19 Others  Forbes

Families face agonising wait as investigators work to identify at least 40 people killed, many others wounded in blaze.

Crash kills two men and injures British boxer Anthony Joshua in Nigeria.

North Korea’s Kim hails ‘heroic’ troops fighting alongside Russia  Euronews.comNorth Korea’s Kim Welcomes 2026 With a Salute to Russia  The Wall Street JournalKim Jong-un hails North Korea’s ‘invincible alliance’ with Russia in New Year’s message  The GuardianN Korea, Russia bound in ‘blood’ of war, Kim tells Putin in New Year note  Al JazeeraKim Jong Un attends New Year celebrations with daughter in North Korea  New York Post

Northwick Park knife attack: Five sought over Tube train incident  bbc.comPolice release images after gang threaten elderly man on Metropolitan Line  My LondonMan slashed in face on Tube in ‘attempted robbery’ days after Christmas  Kilburn TimesCCTV images released following knifepoint robbery – Northwick Park  ParikiakiMan ‘slashed with knife’ as elderly passenger targeted at Northwick Park station  Harrow Online

Off-duty ICE agent confronted armed neighbor firing rifle shots into the air at Los Angeles apartment complex on New Year's Eve, fatally shooting the gunman.

Deadly New Year's Eve bar fire at Swiss ski resort kills around 40 people, mostly young victims as the investigation and identification process continues.

Oldest known cremation in Africa poses 9,500-year-old mystery about Stone Age hunter-gatherers  The ConversationCremation pyre in Africa thought to be world’s oldest containing adult remains  The GuardianRecent discovery reveals Africa’s oldest cremation pyre and complex ritual practices  Phys.orgArchaeologists Discover The Earliest Confirmed Adult Cremation  ScienceAlertDiscovery of Africa’s oldest cremation leaves archaeologists perplexed  …

An Ole Miss star accused Lane Kiffin of trying to "steal our shine" after the team's upset win over Georgia, calling his former coach a "troll."

Court sentences journalists in absentia over alleged links to violent unrest after ex-PM Imran Khan's May 2023 arrest.

Pakistan court sentences journalists to life over links to protests after Imran Khan’s arrest  ReutersPakistan sentences journalists, YouTubers and ex-military officers to life over inciting violence  AP NewsPakistan court sentences journalists to life over 2023 pro-Khan protests  Al JazeeraIslamabad ATC hands double life sentences to YouTuber Adil Raja, 6 others for ‘waging war against Pakistan’  DawnAdil Raja, six others handed double life sentences …

Pakistan sees deadliest year in a decade, with combat deaths surging 74% in 2025, report says  AP NewsView Full Coverage on Google News

Israeli government hits out at newly sworn-in New York City mayor, falsely calling him a 'Muslim Brotherhood Islamist'.

Federal appeals court dismisses copyright lawsuit concerning "Top Gun: Maverick," ruling the $160M blockbuster wasn't substantially similar to 1983 article.

Tourist Niels Honkoop says shattered glass littered the carriage floor and injured people were lying in the aisles.

Photos: Thousands march in Turkiye in support of Gaza on New Year’s Day  Al JazeeraHundreds of Thousands March in Istanbul to Demand End to Israel’s Genocide in Palestine  Democracy Now!500,000 turn out for pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul  The Times of Israel‘A nation stands against genocide’ in pro-Palestine rally in Istanbul | Daily Sabah  Daily Sabahİstanbul Gaza march seen as PR for Erdoğan’s son, slammed for excluding critics of gov’t …

Politicians have given away too much power to deliver pledges, says PM’s ex-aide  bbc.comDowning Street has only itself to blame for lack of grip on Whitehall, say experts  The GuardianBritain Should Have Read the Tweets First  The AtlanticAlaa Abdelfattah and Britain’s selective outrage  Al JazeeraMore art and less politics please, celebrities  thetimes.com

Iran's parliament speaker threatens U.S. military bases as 'legitimate targets' after Trump vows action over protest crackdowns. Tensions escalate.

Ukraine says it only conducts strikes against military targets and adheres to international law.

Russia accuses Ukraine of killing 27 people in New Year attack in occupied Kherson region  bbc.comRussia puts death toll from Ukrainian strike at 27 as Zelenskyy names intelligence chief to new role  ABC NewsRussia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,408  Al JazeeraNew year drone strike kills 24 in Russian-occupied Ukraine, Moscow says  The GuardianRussia and Ukraine trade allegations of civilian attacks on New Year’s Day  Reuters

Russia downs 4,300 Ukrainian drones in December, setting new record, Moscow claims  ABC NewsUkraine updates: Russia says hit by drone attack  DWAir Defense Forces destroy 86 of 116 drones used by Russians to attack Ukraine  UkrinformRussia claims to have destroyed 66 drones overnight  Українська правдаRussia shoots down 11 Ukrainian drones  breakingthenews.net

According to reports, the boat had suffered motor failure before drifting to the edge of the dam

Saudi Arabia bombed separatist STC positions in Yemen amid a push to take back control from the UAE-backed group.

A task force is trying to save seabirds from getting caught and killed in fishing boat nets.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani reversed New York City's antisemitism policies and Israel boycott restrictions on his first day, drawing criticism from Israeli officials.

War-ravaged Sudan have defied the odds to reach the last 16, but, face their toughest test against heavyweights Senegal.

Seven dead, dozens missing after boat bound for Canary Islands capsizes in Gambia  bbc.comSeven bodies recovered, 96 rescued after migrant boat capsizes, Gambia says  ReutersAt least seven dead, dozens missing as migrant boat capsizes off The Gambia  Al JazeeraThe Gambia: 7 confirmed dead in shipwreck with scores still missing  InfoMigrantsSeven die, 96 rescued as migrant boat sinks off Gambia  The Irrigator

Should the NHS use magic mushrooms to treat mental health?  bbc.com

To succeed in office he will need to keep his supporters engaged with day-to-day governing, experts say.

The outbreak comes after the US charted its highest number of annual measles cases in more than three decades in 2025.

Stateless in South Africa: ‘You’re invisible, you don’t exist’ - life without a birth certificate  bbc.com

T.J. Watt will return just three weeks after surgery on a collapsed lung for the Pittsburgh Steelers' win-or-go-home AFC North showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.

Fans gathered at premieres in cities across the US and Canada to watch the finale on the big screen.