7 January
Germany
Tens of thousands of homes in Berlin remain without power after left-wing terrorists on Saturday sabotaged power infrastructure to protest AI and climate change. Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group) said it had deliberately targeted some of the city’s wealthiest districts to “cut the juice to the ruling class.” Complete power restoration is only expected by Thursday. The local district heating system, which transports heat around a pipe network in the area, is affected as it is powered by electricity.
Greenland
Emboldened by seizing Maduro from Venezuela’s capital, President Trump and his allies continue the rhetoric that the United States needs Greenland. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen even said “that’s enough now.” Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called for Trump to stop making such remarks and that Greenland is Denmark’s.
Chechnya
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has appointed his son, Akhmat Kadyrov, as the republic’s acting deputy prime minister. There has been much speculation about Ramzan’s health, including rumours of kidney dialysis. Ramzan apparently was hospitalized last week in Moscow, the night before the pre-New Year meeting of the State Council of Russia, chaired by President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine-Europe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy is once again in Paris to meet with European leaders and American envoys to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. Representatives of 35 countries, including 27 heads of state, gathered in Paris for the meeting.
Pakistan
Pakistani security forces seized 2,000kg of explosives in the port city of Karachi. The seizure occurred during an operation against the Balochistan Liberation Army. The explosives had not been “deployed” and there will be an investigation into the network that smuggled the explosives into the country.
Canada
A Toronto adult store has received two letters from the US Department of War in two packages returned to the seller. Apparently, the packages were forwarded to the US naval base in Bahrain, where sex toys are banned. The US Department of War told the company to stop shipments of butt plugs to the US Naval Base in Bahrain.
Social media wires
Hegseth mocking Russian air defences in Venezuela
Protests in Iran seem to be growing
Featured Photo: “Brandenburg Gate” Wikimedia Commons, 2026
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.