Thursday 1 January 2026

Allied Democratic Forces insurgency

At least 15 people are killed in coordinated attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces on three villages in Lubero, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Disasters

Seven people are killed, 96 others are rescued and at least 97 are reported missing when a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsizes in The Gambia.

Crime & Justice

The Venezuelan government releases 88 political prisoners who were detained and jailed during protests against the results of the presidential election last year.

Demographics of China

China ends the value-added tax (VAT) exemption on birth control drugs and devices, which will now be taxed at 13%, as part of efforts to address a continuing decline in national birth rates.

AI boom

South Korea records its highest annual export value of more than US$700 billion in 2025 after semiconductor shipments reach a record $173.4 billion driven by demand for artificial intelligence.

Legality of cryptocurrency by country or territory

Turkmenistan legalizes the mining and exchange of cryptocurrency as digital assets, but maintains that digital currency cannot be used as legal tender.

Disasters

At least 17 people are killed and 11 others are injured in flash floods caused by heavy rains and snowfall across Afghanistan.

2026 Crans-Montana bar fire

Forty people are killed and 116 others are injured in an explosion and fire suspected to be caused by pyrotechnics at a bar in Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland.

Russo-Ukrainian war

One person is killed and another is injured in Russian drone strikes on Dniprovskyi District, Kherson, Ukraine.

Disasters

The Vondelkerk in Amsterdam, Netherlands, catches fire, collapsing the tower and leaving only the exterior walls standing.

Politics

Guy Parmelin is sworn in as President of Switzerland, succeeding Karin Keller-Sutter.

Bulgaria and the euro

Bulgaria adopts the euro, replacing the lev, becoming the 21st member of the eurozone.

2025–2026 Iranian protests

Five civilians are killed in clashes with security forces across Azna, Lorestan, and Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran, during demonstrations over rising living costs.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

A Palestinian is killed and another is injured when Israeli forces open fire on stone-throwers near Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, Nablus, West Bank.