January 12, 2026

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• Reports say tens of thousands of people took part in pro-government counterprotests in Iran today amidst ongoing nationwide anti-regime demonstrations in which more than 500 people are believed to have been killed. Following earlier U.S. threats that it could take action in defense of protesters, U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that Iran wants to negotiate the issue. [more]
• According to an organization spokesman, Hamas will dissolve its existing government in Gaza when a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee takes over the territory, as mandated in the Israel-Hamas cease-fire plan. No specific timeline for the change was given. [more]
• The U.S. military's Central Command says dozens of suspected Islamic State sites were targeted in U.S. strikes across Syria on Saturday in continuing response to an attack last month that killed three Americans. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,416 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Thousands of residences in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv remain without electricity today after a Russian missile strike on Friday knocked out power to most of the city. The power outage comes amidst bitter winter temperatures and ongoing Russian attacks targeting Ukraine's civil infrastructure. [more]

U.S. AND GREENLAND | U.S. President Donald Trump continued his rhetoric about the United States taking control of Greenland yesterday, saying that while he'd rather "make a deal" for the semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, "one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.” Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner for Defense and Space, said today that It would be the end of NATO if the U.S. takes Greenland by force and that European Union member states are under obligation to come to Denmark's assistance if it is faced with military aggression. [more]

U.S. AND VENEZUELA | The U.S. State Department on Saturday urged United States citizens to leave Venezuela immediately as international flights to and from the South American country resumed following the U.S. seizure of now-deposed President Nicolas Maduro and reports began to emerge of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the U.S. actions. [more]

U.S. AND CUBA | Amidst his ongoing threats aimed at multiple countries, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Cuba yesterday of having "long lived off Venezuelan oil and money" and said the Caribbean island nation should "make a deal before it's too late." Trump did not specify what any deal with Cuba should include or detail the nature of what he intends in the absence of a deal. Responding to Trump's statements, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said yesterday that his country would defend itself "to the last drop of blood." [more]

U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE | Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said yesterday that the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into his testimony last year about the cost of renovations to the Fed's building. Powell said federal prosecutors have threatened a criminal indictment over the matter, which he characterized as a pretext to undermine the Fed's independence in setting policy and interest rates, saying "The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President." [full Powell statement] [more]

MINNESOTA | Following last week's fatal shooting of 37-year-old US citizen Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and amidst ongoing protests around the country sparked by the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said this weekend that hundreds of additional federal agents would be sent to Minnesota to augment the approximately 2,000 agents already operating in the state. [more]

U.S. CREDIT CARDS | President Donald Trump on Friday proposed imposing a one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates, reviving a pledge from his 2024 presidential campaign. Trump said he hoped to have such a cap in place by January 20, but it remains unclear if he intends the move to be imposed through executive action or legislation. [more]

U.S. INFLUENZA | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 15 million flu illnesses, which have led to 180,000 flu-hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths in the current flu season. The CDC's latest Influenza Surveillance Report says that while "some indicators have decreased or remained stable this week compared to last, this could be due to changes in healthcare seeking or reporting during the holidays rather than an indication that influenza activity has peaked." [full CDC report] [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION | U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said Friday that she intends to issue a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration's plan to end temporary immigration and legal protections for more than 10,000 family members of citizens and green card holders admitted to the U.S. under the Family Reunification Parole program. [more]

MISSISSIPPI | Authorities say a suspect has been arrested in connection with setting a fire that severely damaged the 160-year-old Beth Israel Congregation synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, early Saturday morning. Reports note that the same synagogue was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 in an attack linked to the congregation's role in civil rights activities. [more]

MYANMAR | Opening statements were heard before the U.N.'s International Court of Justice today in a case first filed by the West African country of Gambia in 2019 that accuses Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority. [more]

JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA | Amidst regional concerns about China's growing influence and territorial claims, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung are scheduled to meet tomorrow for talks aimed at stabilizing ties between their sometimes-rival countries. [more]

ARGENTINA | Emergency officials say ongoing wildfires in Argentina's Patagonia region had burned nearly 12,000 hectares (or about 29,600 acres) as of yesterday and were threatening local communities. Chubut Province Gov. Ignacio Torres said last week that there are indications that one of the largest active fires was deliberately set. [more]

EUROPEAN UNION AND CHINA | Measures aimed at resolving disputes over E.U. imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles have been agreed upon, according to both Chinese and E.U. officials. China’s Commerce Ministry said today that the European Union would issue guidelines on minimum pricing for Chinese auto exports but did not directly address if the agreement included an end to E.U. tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese EVs. [more]

PAKISTAN | Authorities in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province say six police officers were killed in a roadside bombing that targeted a police vehicle early today. Reports note that while no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the bombing took place in a region in which the Pakistani Taliban has carried out numerous similar attacks. [more]

SOCIAL MEDIA | The artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, which is integrated into the X (formerly Twitter) social media platform, was blocked by Malaysia and Indonesia over the weekend due to what the countries said was its misuse to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual images, including of children. [more]

FOOTBALL | The Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers all advanced to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs with wild card round wins over the weekend. The final wild card game is scheduled for tonight between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans. [full playoff bracket] [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "Avatar: Fire and Ash" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $21.3 million in receipts, followed by "Primate" and "The Housemaid." [more]

ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS | "One Battle After Another" and "Hamnet" were among the top winners at last night's 83rd Golden Globes, winning the best comedy or musical film and best drama film awards, respectively. "The Pitt" won for best drama series, while "The Studio" took the award for best comedy series. [full list of winners and nominees] [more]

R.I.P. | Musician and songwriter [Bob Weir](R.I.P. | Musician and songwriter Bob Weir, best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Saturday at the age of 78. [more]), best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Saturday at the age of 78. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 2010, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, especially Port-au-Prince, killing more than 200,000 people and leaving more than 1,000,000 homeless. [more history]