Armed conflicts and attacks
- Syrian conflict
- SDF–Syrian transitional government clashes
- January 2026 Aleppo clashes
- The Syrian Democratic Forces withdraw from Aleppo following negotiations with the Syrian transitional government. (Al Jazeera)
- January 2026 Aleppo clashes
- SDF–Syrian transitional government clashes
- Russo-Ukrainian war
- Attacks in Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian war
- A woman is killed and around a dozen residential buildings are damaged in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Voronezh, Russia. (Reuters)
- Russian attacks on civilians in the Russo-Ukrainian war
- At least four people are killed and 20 others are injured in overnight Russian drone attacks across Ukraine. (Euronews)
- Attacks in Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian war
- 2025–2026 Iranian protests
- 2026 Los Angeles ramming attack
- Two people are injured in a suspected vehicle-ramming attack when a U-Haul truck strikes multiple people during an anti-Iranian government protest in Los Angeles, California, United States, after protesters strike the vehicle with hands and flags. No one is hospitalized after the incident. (BNO News)
- Non-governmental organization HRAI verifies the deaths of 483 protesters and 47 security personnel in Iran since the start of the protests. (Sky News) (Reuters)
- Amidst the ongoing internet blackout, the Iranian government successfully shuts down the Starlink internet for the first time. (The Times of Israel)
- 2026 Los Angeles ramming attack
- Sudanese civil war
- Sudanese prime minister Kamil Idris announces that the government will return to the capital of Khartoum after previously operating out of Port Sudan for much of the conflict. (Al Jazeera)
Arts and culture
- 83rd Golden Globe Awards
- At this year’s Golden Globe Awards, Hamnet and One Battle After Another win Best Dramatic and Best Comedic or Musical Film, respectively, while The Pitt and The Studio win Best Drama and Best Comedy or Musical in television, respectively. (Los Angeles Times)
Business and economy
- China–Egypt relations, Foreign relations of Norway
- Egypt signs renewable energy agreements worth US$1.8 billion with China and Norway. (Al Arabiya)
Disasters and accidents
- 2025–26 Australian bushfire season
- One person is killed and at least 300 properties are destroyed by wildfires across Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. A state of emergency is declared in Victoria with thousands of firefighters and more than 70 aircraft deployed to combat the fires. (BBC News)
- Eight people are killed and 12 others are injured in an explosion during wedding festivities at a house in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Dawn)
- The death toll from avalanches in the French Alps over the weekend rises to six as three more skiers are killed. (AFP via South China Morning Post)
- Four people are killed and five others are injured after two cars collide head-on in Bolton, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. (BBC News)
Law and crime
- Three inmates are killed and 14 others are injured, including a corrections officer, in a prison fight at the Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, United States. (AP)
Politics and elections
- 2025–26 Myanmar general election
- Citizens of Myanmar vote in the second phase to elect the nation’s bicameral legislature. One more phase of voting is expected in late January. (AP)
- 2026 Beninese parliamentary election
- Citizens in Benin vote to elect the 109 members of the National Assembly more than one month after a thwarted coup attempt. (RFI)
Sports
- 2026 United Cup
- In tennis, Poland win their first United Cup title after defeating Switzerland 2–1 in the final at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, Australia. (Reuters)