January 6, 2026

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• In action the Israeli military said targeted weapons storage facilities and infrastructure used by the Hezbollah and Hamas militant groups, Israel carried out airstrikes yesterday and early today on sites in southern and eastern Lebanon. The strikes came just days ahead of a planned Lebanese government summit to discuss the military's mission of disarming militant groups in areas along the border with Israel. [more]

JANUARY 6 | Today marks the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. Congressional Democrats have scheduled a hearing for today with witnesses to the violence, while Republican lawmakers are expected to attend a policy forum with President Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center. Participants in the 2021 riots and attacks are expected to take part in a midday march from the White House to the Capitol to mark the anniversary. [more]

U.S. MILITARY | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced yesterday that he has formally censured Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over the former Navy pilot’s participation in a video, along with other lawmakers, that called on members of the U.S. military to resist unlawful orders. Hegseth said the censure was a necessary step toward seeking reductions to Kelly's retired military rank and retirement pay. [more]

U.S. PUBLIC BROADCASTING | Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, said yesterday that the organization's board of directors voted to dissolve the CPB, which has acted as a private agency to steer federal funding to PBS, NPR, and hundreds of public broadcasting stations across the U.S. since 1967. Harrison cited last year's Congressional defunding of the CPB as the reason for the move. [more]

U.S. VACCINES | The Department of Health and Human Services announced yesterday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cut the number of vaccines that it recommends for all children in the U.S. – removing recommendations for vaccination against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis, RSV, and COVID-19. Physician groups have criticized the move as undermining protections for children and creating confusion for parents, while government supporters note that vaccinations removed from the list of those recommended for all children will still be available. [more]

U.S. POLICE FATALITIES | According to a new report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 111 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2025 – a 25% decrease from the 148 deaths in 2024. The report notes that, for 2025, firearms-related deaths were down 15%, traffic-related fatalities were down 23%, and that deaths from other causes, including physical or medical issues from on-duty incidents, dropped 37%. [full report] [more]

U.S. TRAVEL VISAS | The State Department added seven countries – Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan – last week to its list of countries whose passport holders are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States. U.S. officials have described the bond policy as a move to help ensure that visitors do not overstay their visas. [more]

MINNESOTA | Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic candidate for vice president, ended his bid for a third term as governor of Minnesota yesterday, citing ongoing attacks by the Trump administration amidst fraud investigations into the state’s childcare programs as among the chief reasons for the move. Reports say Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is considering entering the Minnesota governor's race following Walz's withdrawal. [more]

U.S. AND VENEZUELA | In his first court appearance since being taken into custody by U.S. forces and transported to the U.S., deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty yesterday in a New York City federal courtroom to drug trafficking- and weapons-related charges. Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado praised the weekend U.S. action to capture Maduro yesterday, saying it was a key step toward a democratic transition for Venezuela, while the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said today that the U.S. military action in Venezuela was a violation of international law that makes the world less safe. [more]

MORE VENEZUELA | In an emergency decree dated January 3 but published officially yesterday, the government of Venezuela directed authorities to “immediately undertake the search for and arrest ... of any person involved in the promotion of or support for the armed attack by the US against the territory of the republic.” [more]

DENMARK AND GREENLAND | Amidst renewed calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for Greenland to come under U.S. control, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said yesterday that a U.S. takeover of the self-governing Danish territory would mark the end of the NATO alliance. [more]

IRAN | The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency cites reports from Iran as showing that the death toll amidst ongoing economic-driven protests in the country has risen to at least 35 and that more than 1,200 demonstrators have been arrested. [more]

CHINA AND JAPAN | China's commerce ministry, without identifying specific items, announced a ban yesterday on the export of Chinese dual-use goods that can serve military purposes to Japan. The move comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two countries over Japan's support for Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. [more]

INDONESIA | Local emergency officials say at least 16 people were killed in flash floods triggered by heavy rains yesterday in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province. [more]

EUROPE INFANT FORMULA | Swiss consumer product giant Nestle announced a "preventive and voluntary recall" today of batches of its infant formula products across Europe over concerns of possible contamination with a toxin that could cause nausea and vomiting. The company says no illnesses linked to the risk have yet been reported. [more]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | Montana State beat Illinois State, 35-34, in overtime last night to win the 2025-26 Football Championship Subdivision title – the school's first national championship since 1984. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 2021, supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump, fueled by his claims of a stolen election, assaulted police and smashed their way into the U.S. Capitol to interrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election victory, forcing lawmakers into hiding. Congress reconvened hours later to finish certifying the election result.  [more history]