January 9, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 09.01.2026, 20:00
DEAL – EU countries provisionally approved a trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur on Friday after more than a quarter of a century of talks. Romania voted in favor of the deal, after requesting and obtaining, along with other European states, additional guarantees to protect national markets. According to Politico, France, Poland, Austria, Ireland and Hungary expressed their opposition, while Belgium abstained. The decision needed the approval of 15 countries representing 65% of the bloc’s total population. EU capitals are now expected to send written confirmation. Dozens of tractors blocked traffic in Milan, Italy, on Friday in a protest against the deal. Also on Friday, about 50 tractors belonging to French farmers, supported by their German colleagues, blocked the Europe Bridge in Strasbourg, which connects the French city to the German town of Kehl, on the other side of the Rhine, to protest as well. French farmers also drove their machines into central Paris on Thursday to make themselves heard. It is the biggest free trade deal ever signed by the bloc. Opponents, led by France, the EU’s biggest agricultural producer, say it will increase cheap food imports, undermining domestic farmers. From Brussels’ perspective, this is a major geopolitical victory, given China’s growing share of trade and influence in Latin America. The EU-Mercosur agreement will create the world’s largest free trade area, covering some 700 million people.
WEATHER – The General Inspectorate for Emergencies announced on Friday that in the past 24 hours, Romanian firefighters have continuously supported the authorities and citizens, in order to effectively manage the emergencies caused by the unfavorable weather conditions. According to the press release, the strong winds, snowfall and blizzard have affected 32 localities in 15 counties and the capital Bucharest. In this context, the firefighters, together with the other departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and authorities with responsibilities in managing the effects of the unfavorable weather, have been working to evacuate the water from homes, yards, basements and streets. On Friday morning, there were still power outages in 5 localities in 2 counties, affecting over a thousand end consumers.
UKRAINE – The Russian Defense Ministry said that in response to the unprovoked attack by Ukraine on the Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region on the night of January 9, Russian forces launched a massive attack on Ukrainian territory with high-precision long-range weapons, including Oreshnik medium-range missile systems, and drones. According to the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement, the attack hit unmanned aerial vehicle production facilities. At least four people were killed and dozens injured in Kyiv, authorities said on Friday. Police reported that several residential buildings were hit by drones. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that a doctor was among the dead, and four members of the rescue teams were injured. According to him, critical infrastructure was damaged in the attack, and some parts of the city were left without electricity or water.
TEHRAN – EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday that the Iranian leadership’s harsh crackdown on protesters “shows a regime that is afraid of its own people”, while UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for a ‘swift’ and ‘independent’ investigation into the deaths in the demonstrations that have rocked Iran for several days, dpa and France Presse report. Protests in Iran continued on Thursday for the 12th consecutive day, with the biggest rallies taking place in Tehran. Authorities have blocked the internet throughout the country, as well as telephone communications. The protests broke out on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and have spread to more than 50 cities in all provinces of Iran, the BBC reports. They initially broke out due to the severe economic crisis the country is facing and the devaluation of the Iranian currency, but anti-government chants were also heard at the demonstrations. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened protesters and accused them of being “foreign mercenaries” in the service of US President Donald Trump. He told the US leader that he should mind his own business, Reuters reports. Iranian NGOs outside the country say that between 34 and 45 protesters, including children, have been killed and more than 2,000 have been arrested in clashes between security forces and protesters.
US – American President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that, after attacks on maritime vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific, the United States will carry out ‘ground’ attacks against the cartels, without specifying exactly where, France Press reports. In the summer, the US deployed a significant military force to the Caribbean and bombed vessels from Venezuela in the name of combating drug trafficking. The legality of these operations has been questioned by experts, NGOs and United Nations officials. At the end of December, the American leader said that the US had destroyed an anchorage in Venezuela used by vessels for drug trafficking. Meanwhile, the United States Senate agreed to vote on a resolution calling on the president to seek the approval of the Congress for any future military operations in Venezuela. (EE)
