Armed conflicts and attacks

At least 27 rockets are fired by Hamas shortly after midnight at cities and towns in central and southern Israel. (Times of Israel) (Ynet)

• https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-stroke-of-midnight-hamas-attacks-israel-with-heavy-new-year-rocket-barrage/
• https://www.ynetnews.com/article/34k49w124

Armed conflicts and attacks

The Republic of Artsakh officially ceases to exist, in accordance with a decree signed by former president Samvel Shahramanyan. (Interfax)

• https://www.interfax.ru/world/938736

Arts and culture

The animated short film Steamboat Willie, the German-language version of the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, and other works published in 1928 enter the public domain in the United States. (Mashable)

• https://mashable.com/article/major-public-domain-day-2024

Disasters and accidents

One person is killed and 21 others are injured in a fire at a bar in Graz, Austria, that was hosting a New Year's party. (AP)

• https://apnews.com/article/austria-graz-fire-injuries-death-bar-67738121e4237358a86f1df66c1c60c4

International relations

Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates formally join the BRICS group as new members. (Tehran Times)

• https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/493180/Iran-joins-BRICS-group-formally-in-2024

Law and crime

Estonia becomes the 36th country in the world where same-sex couples can marry. (Postimees)

• https://www.postimees.ee/7930244/uus-aasta-tuli-abieluvordsusega-avalduse-on-esitanud-juba-kaheksa-samasoolist-paari

Law and crime

Bangladeshi economist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus and three people that worked at his company Grameen Telecom are sentenced to six months in prison for violating Bangladesh's labor laws. (Al Jazeera)

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/1/nobel-laureate-muhammad-yunus-convicted-in-bangladesh-labour-law-case