Here are the top trending news stories globally for today:
1. Maduro Pleads “Not Guilty,” Claims “Prisoner of War” Status2
Following his capture by U.S. special forces on January 3, deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Monday.3 He pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and weapons charges.4 In a defiant statement, Maduro declared himself a “prisoner of war” and insisted he is still the legitimate leader of Venezuela.5 The judge ordered him to remain in custody until his next hearing on March 17, 2026.
Venezuela crisis explained: US strikes and Maduro’s capture
URL: https://theviralminute.com/what-happened-in-venezuela-us-strikes-and-capture-of-president-maduro/
2. UN Security Council Splits Over Venezuela Intervention
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council held in New York saw a sharp divide among world powers.7 While the U.S. defended Operation Absolute Resolve as a “surgical law enforcement mission,” Russia and China condemned it as a “crime of aggression.”8 Even U.S. allies like France and Denmark expressed concern that the abduction of a head of state sets a dangerous precedent for international law.9+2
3. Nvidia Unveils “Physical AI” and “Vera Rubin” Chip at CES
At the official opening of CES 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang introduced the Vera Rubin AI superchip, designed to be 10x more efficient than its predecessor.11 The keynote focused on “Physical AI”—models that allow robots and autonomous vehicles to “reason” about their environments rather than just detect objects.
Nvidia also open-sourced its Alpamayo AI family for autonomous driving, partnering with Mercedes-Benz for a 2026 rollout.
CES 2026 previews emotional AI breakthroughs
URL: https://theviralminute.com/ces-2026-previews-emotional-ai-breakthroughs-why-this-tech-shift-matters-now/
4. Kim Jong Un Oversees Hypersonic Missile Tests
North Korea confirmed it conducted its first major weapons test of the year, launching hypersonic missiles that traveled 1,000 km into the Sea of Japan. Leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised the drill, explicitly linking the need for nuclear deterrence to the “recent geopolitical crisis” in Venezuela, framing North Korea’s nuclear status as its only protection against similar U.S. actions.
5. Steve Smith Surpasses Don Bradman’s Ashes Record15
In the sporting world, Australian cricketer Steve Smith made history on Day 3 of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG.16 Smith scored his 37th Test century, surpassing Sir Don Bradman’s long-standing record for the most runs scored by an Australian against England.17 He now trails only Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli for the most runs against a single opponent in Test history.18+1
6. Ukraine Peace Summit Convenes in Paris19
A “coalition of the willing” including the U.S., France, and the UK met at the Élysée Palace to discuss a post-ceasefire defense force for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron are pushing for binding security guarantees to ensure the “regeneration of Ukrainian armed forces” as the war enters its fourth year.20
7. Samsung Debuts “AI Living” and 130-inch Micro LED TV21
Samsung’s CES showcase featured the “Companion to AI Living,” a series of smart home devices powered by a localized version of Gemini.22 The highlight was a 130-inch Micro RGB TV, touted as the world’s largest, alongside “glasses-free” 3D gaming monitors that use eye-tracking to create depth without headsets.
Daily AI news: what’s shaping tech in 2026
URL: https://theviralminute.com/daily-ai-news-your-indispensable-tech-briefing-for-january-1-2026/
8. AFCON: Nigeria and Egypt Advance to Quarterfinals
In the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (ongoing in early 2026), Nigeria dominated Mozambique with a 4-0 victory led by Victor Osimhen.24 Egypt also secured their spot in the quarterfinals after a tense 3-1 extra-time win over Benin, with Mohamed Salah scoring a decisive breakaway goal.25+1
9. Golden Globe 2026 Reactions: “Frankenstein” and “Sinners” Lead
Following the 83rd Golden Globe Awards held Sunday night, social media is buzzing with reactions to the winners. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners took home top honors in the Drama categories, while Timothée Chalamet and Cynthia Erivo trended for their wins in the Musical/Comedy categories for Marty Supreme and Wicked: For Good.
10. Bangladesh Bans IPL Broadcast Over Mustafizur Snub
Tensions between the cricket boards of Bangladesh and India reached a breaking point today as Bangladesh officially banned the broadcast of the IPL.27 The move follows the controversial release of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders, which the Bangladesh ministry called a “logical-less” decision driven by unfair directives.
Global Snapshot: January 6, 2026
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| Story | Category | Impact Level |
| Maduro Trial | Politics / Law | Extreme |
| Nvidia Vera Rubin | Technology | High |
| Ashes Record | Sports | High (Cricket nations) |
| Hypersonic Tests | Security | High |
Would you like more details on the specific technological specs of the Vera Rubin chip or the latest updates from the Sydney Test match?
Maduro’s initial appearance in court
This video provides a summary of the legal proceedings and Maduro’s first public comments after being brought to New York.
