Saturday

January 3, 2026

Armed conflicts and attacks

Operation Southern Spear, War on drugs

2026 United States strikes in Venezuela

The United States carries out airstrikes around Caracas, Venezuela, killing at least 40 people, including civilians and military personnel. A national state of emergency is declared following the strikes. (The Times) (CNN)

After being held aboard the USS Iwo Jima, Maduro is taken to New York, where U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi says he has been indicted on drug and weapons charges. (BBC News) (AP)

Russo-Ukrainian war

2025 Sumy offensive, Kharkiv strikes, Kherson strikes, Mykolaiv strikes

At least eight people are killed and 42 others are injured in overnight Russian attacks on the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Sumy Oblasts of Ukraine. (RBC-Ukraine) (The Kyiv Independent)

Nigerian bandit conflict

At least 30 people are killed and others kidnapped by armed bandits in a raid on a village market in Borgu, Niger State, Nigeria. The market was also looted of food before being set on fire. (AP) (The Punch)

War against the Islamic State

British and French aircraft carry out a joint strike on an underground facility alleged to be occupied by the Islamic State near Palmyra in central Syria. (The Guardian)

2026 Berlin power outage [de]

An arson attack on the Teltow Canal targeting the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant causes a power outage in south Berlin, with tens of thousands affected. (Politico.eu) (Deutsche Welle)

Business and economy

Economy of Syria

The Central Bank of Syria begins exchanging old banknotes for a new currency that removes two zeros from the previous denominations, with 100 old pounds converted to one new pound, as part of economic stabilization measures following the change in government. (AP)