Ukraine strikes Belgorod energy systems leaving hundreds of thousands without heat or power

"A powerful Ukrainian

attack has left more than half a million people without electricity and
heating in Russia’s Belgorod region. The sudden disruption affected six municipalities, leaving residents struggling in freezing temperatures and facing significant hardships.
The overnight strike targeted Belgorod’s utility infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts across the region. Local officials confirmed that 556,000 people were left without power." msn

With Maduro gone, the US sets its sights on driving Hezbollah from Venezuela

"Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro’s capture also marks an advance towards the US goal of uprooting Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah from Latin America, where the movement stands accused of criminal activities linked to drug trafficking, arms sales and money laundering. Washington has warned that it will no longer tolerate the presence of Hezbollah or its Iranian backers in Venezuela.

Washington has used Maduro’s abduction to send an unmistakable signal to the militant group’s leadership as well as its Iranian backers, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio directly threatening them the morning after the attack.

“It's very simple,” he told US broadcaster CBS. “In the 21st Century, under the Trump administration, we are not going to have a country like Venezuela in our own hemisphere in the sphere of control and the crossroads for Hezbollah, for Iran and for every other malign influence in the country, in the world. That's just not going to exist.”
Rubio later told NBC News that the new dispensation would mean the outright elimination of any Hezbollah or Iranian presence on Venezuelan soil, where they have been welcomed for the past three decades in the name of a shared antipathy to the United States. The US designated Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.
Rubio called on the Venezuelan regime – now under the interim leadership of Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez – to break with both Iran and Hezbollah. The Islamic Republic, facing mounting protests first triggered by a cost-of-living crisis, has also found itself under pressure, with US President Donald Trump even threatening to intervene if Iranian security forces kill peaceful protesters.
The US has long been monitoring Hezbollah’s activities in the region. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has said since 2008 that the movement, then led by Hassan Nasrallah, had been financing itself through drug-trafficking, arms sales and money laundering across Latin America and beyond. According to DEA figures, these activities earned Hezbollah about $1 billion a year.
As for Venezuela in particular, US investigators say that Maduro was even more permissive than his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, and that Venezuela had become a safe haven for the Shiite movement, which reportedly set up command structures in the capital Caracas." France24

US And Venezuela Explore Restoring Diplomatic Ties After Maduro's Capture

"The United States and Venezuela announced Friday they are pursuing the possibility of reestablishing diplomatic relations, coming a week after a U.S. military operation that captured former leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and extradited him to face drug-trafficking charges in New York.

A U.S. delegation, including diplomats and security personnel, visited Venezuela to evaluate the potential reopening of the American Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement sent to media outlets.
The embassy has been shuttered since 2019, when ties were severed during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term after the United States, along with multiple other countries, recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president amid allegations of election fraud. U.S. officials have also been accusing Maduro and his regime of backing cartels trafficking illicit drugs into the United States.
Venezuela’s interim government, led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, responded by stating it intends to send a delegation to the United States. No timeline was provided yet.
“The government of Venezuela has decided to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the U.S. government, with a view to reestablishing the diplomatic missions in both countries,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement.
Such a visit would likely necessitate waivers from U.S. Treasury sanctions imposed on Venezuelan officials." ZeroHedge

At least two dead in England and Wales as storm Goretti leaves nearly 1.2 million without power

"Storm Goretti struck the United Kingdom

causing at least 2 fatalities in England and Wales.
Winds reached 160 km/h (100 mph) as the storm brought heavy snow and significant coastal flooding, leaving nearly half a million customers without power — approximately 1.2 million people. The Met Office issued rare red wind warnings for southwest England as power cuts, flight cancellations, and travel disruption spread across the country." W

Russia joins China, Iran for naval drills in South Africa

"South Africa

held on Jan. 10 the opening ceremony for Chinese-led naval exercises taking
place in South African waters until Jan. 16., Bloomberg reported.
Russia, Iran, China and South Africa are participating in the drills, called "Will for Peace 2026," with Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia joining as observers." KI

6.6 Earthquake - Maluku Sea, 18 km east of Pulau Kaburuang Island, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia

"A very strong magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred in the Maluku Sea near Pulau Kaburuang island, Indonesia, late in the evening at 10.58 pm local time (Asia/Makassar GMT +8). The quake had a very shallow depth of 31 km (19 mi) and was felt widely in the area. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

5.5 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 162 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia

"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 377 km (234 mi)
from Kamchatka, Russia, in the late afternoon at 6.57 pm local time (GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.

The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

5.2 Earthquake - 19 km WSW of Miyako, Japan

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit 103 km (64 mi) away from Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan, around noon at 1.15 pm local time (GMT +9). 

The quake had a moderate depth of 80 km (49 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

68 clashes on front lines

"68 combat engagements have taken place between Ukraine's Defense Forces and Russian troops.
Russian forces shelled Ryzhivka, Iskryskivshchyna, Rohizne, and Volfyne in the Sumy region and Karpovychi in the Chernihiv region with artillery and mortars.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, two clashes were recorded. The Russian army carried out two airstrikes, dropped five guided aerial bombs, and conducted 61 shelling attacks, including seven using multiple launch rocket systems.

In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled five enemy attacks near Vovchansk and towards Hrafske and Vilcha.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy continues attempts to advance toward Kupiansk, Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, and Pishchane. Ukrainian defenders repelled three attacks, and three engagements are ongoing.
In the Lyman sector, the invading army launched three attacks near Drobyshcheve, Serednie, and Novoselivka. Fighting continues.
In the Sloviansk sector, Russian troops twice attempted to advance near Dronivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy did not conduct offensive actions.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy attempted nine assaults near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillia, Rusyn Yar, and toward Sofiivka and Torske.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian invading forces made 23 attempts to push back Ukrainian forces near Zatyshne, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and toward Novopavlivka, Novooleksandrivka, Bilytske, and Filiia. Ukrainian forces are holding back the pressure and have already repelled 22 attacks.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled six enemy assault actions. Russian forces are trying to advance near Zlahoda, Rybne, Solodke, and toward Oleksiivka; two engagements are ongoing.
In the Huliaipole sector, 11 clashes occurred near Huliaipole, Varvarivka, Zelene, and toward Dobropillia, Olenokostiantynivka, and Sviatopetrivka. Two clashes are still ongoing. Novoukrainka and Shevchenko came under glide bomb airstrikes." Ukrin