U.S. Military Targets Venezuela Amid Rising Tensions; Global Leaders Condemn Strikes – 1/9/2026, 12:25:09 PM

Here are the main world news developments as of this morning:

1. Venezuela & U.S. military escalation
– The U.S. military is preparing land strikes against drug cartel facilities in Venezuela, following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a recent U.S. operation.[3]
– Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez has launched a government agenda to rebuild areas hit by the January 3 U.S. strikes and insists the country is not “subjugated” to the United States.[1]
– Brazil and Mexico jointly condemned recent U.S. attacks on Venezuela’s sovereignty and rejected a division of the world into spheres of influence.[1]
– Colombia and Brazil’s presidents discussed Venezuela by phone, and Rodríguez is set for an official visit to Colombia for peace and reconciliation talks.[1]

2. Russia–Ukraine war and Western involvement
– Russia says it has carried out a massive strike, including use of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, against critical infrastructure in Ukraine.[1]
– Moscow warns that any Western military units in Ukraine will be treated as “legitimate targets.”[1]
– German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says a ceasefire is a necessary precondition for any international troop deployment to secure peace in Ukraine and that the world is still “far off” from that stage.[1]

3. Shifts in U.S. alliances & Macron’s criticism
– In his annual address to French ambassadors, French President Emmanuel Macron accused the United States of “gradually turning away” from certain allies and “breaking free from international rules.”[1][2]

4. Iran protests and U.S. warning
– Large protests have erupted in Tehran, described as the most serious challenge to Iran’s leadership since the 2022 nationwide uprising.[2][3]
– Donald Trump has warned Iran that the U.S. will hit it “very hard” if authorities start killing protesters, saying he has “put Iran on notice.”[1][3]

5. Korea–Russia alignment
– Kim Jong Un has pledged to “unconditionally” respect and support all policies and decisions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to North Korean state media.[1]

6. U.S.–Russia arms control
– Trump has suggested he may allow the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia to lapse, signaling further strain in arms-control architecture.[1]

7. Europe: Storm Goretti & severe weather
– Storm Goretti has caused major disruption across northern Europe, with travel chaos reported and heavy snowfall affecting several countries.[2]
– In France, about 380,000 households lost electricity on Friday morning due to strong winds from Goretti.[1]
– Romania faces severe winter weather, with orange and yellow alerts for heavy snow, blizzards, strong winds and extreme cold.[1]

8. Middle East & Gaza
– Jordan and the European Union issued a joint statement calling for scaled‑up humanitarian access to Gaza and reiterating support for a two‑state solution.[1]

9. Syria & regional security
– The Syrian army has heavily shelled positions of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts, with civilian casualties rising amid escalating clashes.[1]

10. Afghanistan & regional migration
– Nearly 2,500 Afghan nationals detained in Iran and Pakistan have been released and returned to Afghanistan over the past month, according to local Afghan media.[1]

11. European politics & trade
– Macron has said France will vote against signing the EU–Mercosur free trade agreement.[1]
– Belgium is urging the EU to use development aid as leverage to increase migrant returns and is open to housing foreign prisoners abroad in certain partner countries.[2]

12. Economic & corporate news (global)
– Trump has ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower U.S. housing-loan rates, boosting mortgage debt and home-lender stocks.[3]
– Mining giants Rio Tinto and Glencore are in talks to create what Bloomberg describes as the world’s biggest miner.[3]
– In China, inflation has rebounded, and AI firm MiniMax surged on its market debut, drawing investor attention to Chinese tech.[3]

13. Asia & domestic governance
– China plans in 2026 to intensify earthquake disaster prevention and early‑warning systems, shifting toward pre‑disaster risk reduction.[1]
– Singapore has launched an Inclusive Justice Taskforce to improve support for people with disabilities and mental health conditions in the criminal justice system.[1]

14. Other notable developments
– Direct flights between Israel and Belarus have resumed after nearly four years, following a suspension since February 2022.[1]
– Greek farmers continue nationwide protests and road blockades, but show cautious optimism following a new invitation for talks with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.[1]

If you want, I can narrow this to specific regions (e.g., only Europe, only the Middle East) or to specific themes like security, economy, or climate.