Thursday, January 8, 2026

2026 United States strikes in Venezuela

The death toll from the U.S. airstrikes on Caracas, Venezuela, five days ago increases to 100 people, including 23 Venezuelan military personnel and 32 Cuban personnel.

January 2026 Aleppo clashes

As fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Army continues in Aleppo, Syrian authorities open an evacuation corridor for tens of thousands of civilians to evacuate the city.

January 2026 Aleppo clashes

The Syrian Army captures the Ashrafieh neighbourhood of Aleppo after three days of fighting with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

2025 Southern Yemen offensive

The Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen claims that Southern Transitional Council (STC) president Aidarus al-Zoubaidi has fled to the United Arab Emirates through Somaliland.

2025 Southern Yemen offensive

Government forces enter Aden and capture Aden International Airport as STC forces collapse in Aden Governorate.

2025–2026 Iranian protests

A police officer is reportedly killed during clashes with anti-government protesters in Malard, Iran, as the number of injured police officers rises to 568.

2025–2026 Iranian protests

The Iranian opposition in exile calls for a general strike in the Kurdish areas in western Iran, which is widely observed.

2025–2026 Iranian protests

NetBlocks reports a total internet outage in Tehran and other Iranian cities, continuing the following day.

2025–2026 Iranian protests

Videos are shown of protesters in Ilam, Iran chanting Death to Khamenei. Additionally, a statue of former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in 2020, is toppled.

Gaza war

The Israeli military launches multiple attacks in Gaza, killing thirteen Palestinians, including five children.

12th Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party

Laos' top leader, Thongloun Sisoulith, is re-elected as the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the most powerful position in the one-party state.

Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Europe

The Spanish Episcopal Conference and the national government agree to let the ombudsman determine compensation for victims of clergy sexual abuse whose cases are time-barred or whose alleged abusers are deceased, opening a one-year claims process funded by the Catholic Church.

Detention of Rocío San Miguel

Acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodríguez's administration releases several political prisoners, including human rights activist Rocío San Miguel.

2026 Portland shooting

Two people are hospitalized after being shot by Border Patrol officers in Portland, Oregon, United States.

Killing of Renee Good

Protesters and police clash in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., after an ICE agent fatally shot a civilian woman yesterday. Pepper balls and a gas-like substance are fired toward the protesters outside a federal building.

Justice

Honduran congresswoman Gladys Aurora López is injured after being struck in the head by an explosive when entering the National Congress building in Tegucigalpa.

2026 Binaliw landslide

At least one sanitation worker is killed when a landfill collapses in Cebu City, Philippines. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for the 34 others reported missing, while 12 people are hospitalized.

Disasters

A woman is killed in a shark attack off the coast of Saint Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. The species of the shark involved is currently unknown.

Cambodia–China relations

The Cambodian central bank orders the liquidation of Prince Bank and suspends its operations after founder Chen Zhi was indicted by the United States for large-scale fraud and extradited to China.