Headlines: 1-11 January 2026

Saturday, 10 January 2026

Gates Foundation: The health issues set to dominate 2026 (LINK) 10 January 2026

2 people were shot by a federal agent after accusations of having ties to a notorious gang (LINK) 10 January 2026

Friday, 9 January 2026

Trump threatens to take Greenland 'the hard way', citing Arctic strategy (LINK) 9 January 2026

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: global health's defining test (LINK) 9 January 2026

US intercepts fifth tanker, third in a week, as it tightens control over Venezuelan oil (LINK) 9 January 2026

U.S. oil giants tell Trump they're noncommittal on Venezuela (LINK) 9 January 2026

Washington National Opera bows out of Kennedy Center (LINK) 9 January 2026

Trump to meet Peace Prize winner Machado, says it would be 'great honour' to "accept" her Nobel Prize (LINK) 9 January 2026

Iran street demonstrations erupt in Iran as anti-government protests spread (LINK) 9 January 2026

Bill Gates warns AI could be used to develop bioterrorism weapons: AI could help non-state groups using open source software (LINK) 9 January 2026

— Gates highlighted that the next big challenge will be the disruption to the job market. He said the pace of growth of AI was already disrupting the job demand in areas like software development.

Gatesnotes: "Optimism with footnotes" — (LINK)

— "The thing I am most upset about is the fact that the world went backwards last year on a key metric of progress: the number of deaths of children under 5 years old."

— "The next five years will be difficult as we try to get back on track and work to scale up new lifesaving tools. Yet I remain optimistic about the long-term future. As hard as last year was, I don’t believe we will slide back into the Dark Ages. I believe that, within the next decade, we will not only get the world back on track but enter a new era of unprecedented progress."

Judge temporarily blocks Trump from freezing $10 billion in child, family aid to five Democrat-led US states (LINK) 9 January 2026

National Review: Renee Good belonged to 'ICE Watch' group that trained activists to interfere with agents, block vehicles (LINK) 9 January 2026

Cell phone footage raises new questions about ICE agent’s tactics before fatal shooting (LINK) 9 January 2026

Renee Nicole Good said 'I'm not mad at you' before ICE agent shot her, video shows (LINK) 9 January 2026

— Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that the footage was authentic while claiming that Good "was impeding law enforcement and weaponized her vehicle in an attempt to kill or cause bodily harm to federal law enforcement" and the "officer was in fear of his own life".

As 'flight risk', Swiss authorities detain French owner of bar where New Year’s fire killed 40 (LINK) 9 January 2026

America's new dietary guidelines ignore decades of scientific research: "An emphasis on fruit, vegetables, and whole foods is welcome — but it's wrong to suggest steak and beef tallow should be prominent" (LINK) 10 January 2026

Thursday, 8 January 2026

US issues 'Do Not Travel' advisory for over 20 countries: complete list (LINK) 8 January 2026

U.S. citizens are now banned from entering Mali and Burkina Faso in retaliation (LINK) 8 January 2026

Spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General on US decision on withdrawal from UN entities (LINK) 8 January 2026

— "As we have consistently underscored, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget and peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all Member States, including the United States."

Donald Trump reacts after Republican Senators vote to curb his war powers (LINK) 8 January 2026

— Democrats were joined by five Republican Senators in the 52-47 vote to advance the war powers resolution, setting up a later vote on final passage. The measure is unlikely to become law because it would need to pass the House and be signed by Trump. But the vote signaled unease among some Republicans after U.S. forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid.

U.S.: House passes bill to extend health care subsidies in defiance of GOP leaders: 230-196 (LINK) 8 January 2026

Judge disqualifies US attorney in New York, tosses out subpoenas against Letitia James (LINK) 8 January 2026

Zelensky's new inner circle: The power shift behind Ukraine's latest reset (LINK) 8 January 2026

GEN: A global hub for environment governance and the host region of the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands, Geneva is key place to protect wetlands and reverse the trend of global loss of wetlands (LINK) 8 January 2026

Eco-friendly toilet papers are trendy, but their environmental impacts vary (LINK) 8 January 2026

— According to the Environmental Paper Network, a coalition of nonprofits, more than 1 billion gallons (3.8 billion litres) of water and 1.6 million trees could be saved if everyone in the U.S.used one roll of toilet paper made from recycled content instead of a roll made from forest fibers. Aria, Green Forest, Natural Value, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods 365 100% Recycled received the highest grade in 2025, with all made entirely from recycled materials. Sustainable toilet paper brands typically cost more per square foot than conventional products. But prices will likely drop if consumers continue buying it and manufacturers expand production.

What is the world’s smartest bird? (LINK) 8 January 2026

Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Trump administration suspends support for 66 international organizations, agencies and commissions (LINK) 7 January 2026

— France24: Most of the targets are UN-related agencies, commissions and advisory panels focused on climate, labour and other issues the Trump administration has categorised as catering to diversity and so-called "woke" initiatives, according to a partial list obtained by The Associated Press.

— "The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation's sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity," the State Department said in a statement.

Trump moves to pull US out of bedrock global climate treaty, becoming first country to do so (LINK) 7 January 2026

France and allies discuss response to possible US invasion of Greenland (LINK) 7 January 2026

US seizes Russian-flagged tanker that broke its blockade of Venezuela (LINK) 7 January 2026

US forces attempt to board oil tanker after pursuit across Atlantic: US officials have confirmed that Russia has sent a submarine and other navy vessels to escort the tanker (LINK) 7 January 2026

— Previously named Bella 1, its name has been changed to Marinera and it has also reportedly been reflagged from a Guyanese to a Russian vessel. The US Coast Guard tried to board it last month in the Caribbean when it was believed to be heading towards Venezuela. The Coast Guard had a warrant to seize the ship over its alleged breaking of sanctions. The US Coast Guard tried to board it last month in the Caribbean when it was believed to be heading towards Venezuela. The Coast Guard had a warrant to seize the ship over its alleged breaking of sanctions.

UN experts condemn US aggression against Venezuela (LINK) 7 January 2026

Trump's attack on Venezuela backs Fifa into a corner over World Cup (LINK) 7 January 2026

Flight of the bullions: Why did Maduro move gold to Switzerland? (LINK) 7 January 2026

— Euronews: Caracas shipped 127 tonnes of central-bank gold to Swiss refineries over a period of five years, seeking cash and collateral as the Venezuelan debt crisis deepened. Switzerland hosts some of the world's biggest refineries. These include Valcambi, PAMP, and Argor-Heraeus, largely clustered in the canton of Ticino. Swiss public broadcaster SRF said Maduro's government shipped gold abroad as an "act of desperation" to avert state bankruptcy, selling part of the bullion and using some as collateral for loans and the refinancing of its debt.

Woman in Minnesota fatally shot by ICE agent during raid, video shows (LINK) 7 January 2026

— Guardian: Mayor says ICE claims incident was self-defense are not true, and tells agency to 'get the fuck out of Minneapolis'. Ilhan Omar, the Democratic Minnesota congresswoman, said the victim was "a legal observer" of action ICE, which had sent a surge of agents into the city in recent days tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. A witness to the incident, Emily Heller, told local media that the victim was shot in the face multiple times. Heller said she saw a car blocking traffic that appeared to be part of a protest against the ICE operation, and heard an agent telling the driver, a woman, to "get out of here". "She was trying to turn around, and the ICE agent was in front of her car, and he pulled out a gun and put it right in — like his midriff was on her bumper — and he reached across the hood of the car and shot her in the face like three, four times," Heller told MPR News, a Minneapolis public radio station.

Turkish man jailed for 11 years in U.K. for supplying people-smuggling gangs with thousands of Channel small boats (LINK) 7 January 2026

Swiss flu wave expected to be one of the most severe on record (LINK) 7 January 2026

Parent warned of $500 fine and permanent ban after 14-year-old child violates Carnival Cruise curfew (LINK) 7 January 2026

— Cruise Fever: According to Carnival's official policy, "Guests 17 years of age and under who are not accompanied by an adult in their traveling party, 21 years of age or older, must be clear of all public areas by 1:00 AM." Mother clarified that the teen wasn't actually alone as he was with cousins who were 19 and older. However, Carnival's rules state that supervising adults must be at least 21.

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

UK and France sign declaration of intent to send forces into Ukraine after a peace deal (LINK) 6 January 2026

Trump suggests US taxpayers could reimburse oil firms for Venezuela investment (LINK) 6 January 2026

U.K. Government demands Musk's X deals with 'appalling' Grok AI deepfakes (LINK) 6 January 2026

5 years after Jan. 6 attack, Senate Democrats seek to ban taxpayer-funded payouts to Capitol rioters (LINK) 6 January 2026

For the first time the Dow closed above 49,000 and comes 36 trading days since the index reached 48,000 (LINK) 6 January 2026

AI-powered browsers can be tricked into stealing your data. The companies building them have decided that's a risk worth taking. (LINK) 6 January 2026

Geneva opera shuts for 18 months (LINK) 6 January 2026

— All opera and ballet performances are taking place at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices on Place des Volontaires.

Monday, 5 January 2026

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty during their first court appearance this afternoon in New York. He is facing drug and weapons charges (LINK) 5 January 2026

Tiny Dominica reaches deal with US government to accept asylum-seekers (LINK) 5 January 2026

Donald Trump has again proposed annexing Greenland, after Denmark's leader urged him to "stop the threats" over the island.' (LINK) 5 January 2026

Trump threatens Colombia with military action (LINK) 5 January 2026

Swiss government freezes assets tied to Venezuela's Maduro as a precautionary measure (LINK) 5 January 2026

— The freeze is an addition to the sanctions against Venezuela that have been in place since 2018. These already included asset freezes. According to the FDFA, the new freezes are aimed at people who have not yet been sanctioned in Switzerland.

U.S.tourists stranded across the Caribbean despite the Federal Aviation Administration reopening the Eastern Caribbean airspace on Monday (LINK) 5 January 2026

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz drops reelection bid: a conservative influencer's viral video alleging fraud by day care centres that receive government aid further fanned the controversy, leading the administration to announce a freeze of child care funding to the state (LINK) 5 January 2026

— In a statement announcing his decision, Walz defended his administration's actions, saying they "made systemic changes to the way we do business" in response to "an organized group of criminals [that] have sought to take advantage of our state's generosity."

Ten people found guilty of cyber bullying France's first lady Brigitte Macron after false transgender claims: The court imposed sentences ranging from cyberbullying awareness training to eight-month suspended prison sentences — (LINK) ground.news: 243 media reports — 5 January 2026 (LINK)

French President Emmanuel Macron to join Friday's ceremony for Crans-Montana fire victims (LINK) 5 January 2026

Nestlé launches large baby food recall in Europe: Beba and special products such as Alfamino (LINK) 5 January 2026

— Controls carried out by the authorities in Austria detected small amounts of cereulide — a toxin that causes food poisoning characterized by nausea and vomiting — in two batches. According to the Ministry of Health, however, the concentrations are so low that they do not pose a danger. The recall affects products sold in Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, among others. So far, there are no known cases of illness related to the consumption of the food

Crypto stocks jump as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP hit multi-week highs: Bitcoin surged past $94,000 on Monday to a 30-day high as crypto stocks rallied, with Coinbase, Robinhood, and BTC miners all rising (LINK) 5 January 2026

For the first time you can see every Jan van Eyck portrait in one blockbuster London show (LINK) 5 January 2026

Sunday, 4 January 2026

Swiss police identify all 116 people injured in deadly New Year's bar fire (LINK) 4 January 2026

— The injured include 68 Swiss citizens, 21 French nationals, 10 Italians, four Serbs, two Poles and one person each from Australia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Republic of Congo, according to a police statement. There were also four dual nationals: of France and Finland, France and Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, and Italy and the Philippines. The Swiss government said that 35 patients were transferred from hospitals in the country to specialized clinics in Belgium, France, Germany and Italy.

Swiss authorities identify all 40 victims of Swiss Alps bar New Year's fire: A total of 21 of the victims were Swiss citizens, seven were French and six were Italian — (LINK)

— Some 26 of the 40 victims who lost their lives were teenagers, with the youngest being two 14-year-olds from France and Switzerland. One victim was a dual Swiss-French citizen, while another, a 15-year-old girl, held French, British and Israeli nationalities. The remaining victims came from Romania, Belgium, Portugal and Turkey.

At least 30 killed when gunmen attack central Nigerian market: survivors said attackers arrived on motorcycles and opened fire for almost three hours — (LINK) ground.news: media reports — 4 January 2026 (LINK)

— Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Sunday that the perpetrators of the latest round of violence, which killed more than 30 people and saw dozens kidnapped at a village market in Niger State, were suspected terrorists fleeing recent airstrikes assisted by the United States.

Israel says ban on Gaza media access should remain, citing security risks — (LINK) ground.news: 17 media reports — 4 January 2026 (LINK)

Flight cancellations in Zurich and Geneva create major travel disruptions in Switzerland: 37 suspensions and 541 delays: Swiss most affected (LINK) 4 January 2026

Maduro in custody at New York detention centre as Trump says US will 'run' Venezuela (LINK) 4 January 2026

Who controls Venezuela's oil now? What Maduro's arrest means for energy markets (LINK) 4 January 2026

— "Since it is unclear at this time who is in charge in Venezuela, we might see exports completely halt as the buyers don't know to whom to send the money."

Heather Cox Richardson: Venezuela, Trump, Rubio (LINK) 4 January 2026

Hundreds march in silence to honor victims of Swiss bar fire that left 40 dead (LINK) 4 January 2026

Sixteen more victims of Swiss ski resort fire identified, including three aged under 16 — (LINK) ground.news: 13 media reports — 4 January 2026 (LINK)

Saturday, 3 January 2026

Venezuela's VP throws cold water on Trump's solution for running the country: It is unclear where Rodríguez currently is. Some media reports have placed her in Russia, others in Caracas (LINK) 3 January 2026

"What the smartest people in foreign policy, business, and economics are saying about Trump's raid on Venezuela" (LINK) 2 January 2026

Britain says it and France bombed suspected Islamic State arms dump in Syria — (LINK) ground.news: 83 media reports — 3 January 2026 (LINK)

Iran's leader says rioters 'must be put in their place' as protest death toll rises to at least 10 (LINK) 3 January 2026

Swiss open criminal case against managers of ski resort bar after deadly fire: suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence: fire killed 40 people and injured another 119 (LINK) 3 January 2026

— In a statement, Beatrice Pilloud, the lead prosecutor in the canton of Valais, said investigators were looking into whether the venue's acoustic foam was "the cause of the problem", as well as "whether it complies with regulations".

CERN's Large Hadron Collider is being shut down: CERN doesn't expect its high-luminosity LHC to be operational again until mid-2030 (LINK) 3 January 2026

Friday, 2 January 2026

New York Mayor Mamdani defends eliminating executive orders on antisemitism, boycotting Israel (LINK) 2 January 2026

— As one of his first acts as mayor, Mamdani declined to renew two executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams: One that adopted a broad definition of antisemitism and another that prohibited city employees from engaging in the boycott, divest and sanctions movement against Israel.

Thursday, 1 January 2026

Dozens presumed dead and 100 injured in New Year catastrophe at Le Constellation in Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana (LINK) 1 January 2026

Dozens presumed dead and 100 injured in New Year catastrophe at Le Constellation in Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana (LINK) 1 January 2026

— Two witnesses told CNN affiliate BFMTV that the deadly fire was caused by sparklers placed in champagne bottles, but officials say it will take time to determine the cause.

Mamdani sworn in as New York City mayor in abandoned subway station (LINK) 1 January 2026