NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2026 6AM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. The UN Security Council will meet this morning to discuss the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. NPR's Robbie Griffith's reports they'll examine the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez said he was deeply alarmed by the strike on Caracas by the United States, which he called part of a recent escalation in the region. In a statement, Gutierrez said he was deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected. Council is set to meet at the request of Colombia, with backing from Russia and China. Leaders of several other countries, including Britain and Germany, have emphasized their

belief in the importance of international law in their responses to the strikes. Robbie Griffith, NPR News, London. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration is working toward its goals for Venezuela. Our objectives when it comes to how Venezuela impacts the national interests of the United States have not changed, and we want those addressed. We want drug trafficking to stop. We want no more gang members to come our way.

We don't want to see the Iranian, and by the way, Cuban presence in the past. He spoke to CBS's Face the Nation. Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press, the Secretary of State also suggested Cuba could face similar U.S. action. Rubio said, quote, the Cuban government is a huge problem. Cuba announced that 32 Cuban security officers were killed in the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. President Trump is doing more saber-rattling about other countries. countries. He told reporters yesterday on Air Force One that a U.S. operation in Colombia, which neighbors Venezuela, quote, sounds good to me. And Trump is repeating his claim that the

semi-autonomous Danish island of Greenland should be part of the U.S. Terry Schultz reports Denmark is panning those comments. In Danish Prime Minister Meta Fredrickson's sharpest rebuke yet to the latest Trump claim on Greenland, she says it makes absolutely no sense to talk about this, adding that the U.S. has no legal right to do so. Washington claims it has in Venezuela. Noting mutual security guarantees between the U.S. and Denmark, both bilaterally and within NATO, Fredrickson urges Trump to, quote, stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said they are not for sale. Greenland's Prime Minister Yens Fredrik Nielsen also says he's had

enough. No more pressure, he posts on social media, no more fantasies about annexation. The leaders of Finland, Sweden, and Norway have all stated publicly, they stand with Copenhagen. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz. Back in the U.S., the National Weather Service says the West Coast is getting a lot of precipitation today. That includes winter weather warnings in the eastern mountains with a lot of heavy snow. There are also flood watches that are posted for northern California. A weekend of heavy rain left some flooding in the San Francisco Bay area, and up to three inches of rain are expected today in some of the same Marians. You're listening to NPR.

Hundreds of people marched in Switzerland yesterday to honor the 40 victims of the New Year's Eve barfire. Swiss authorities said late yesterday they have now identified all of the victims. Many more people were injured. The marchers yesterday also attended a mass before walking to the site of the deadly fire. The start of the new year comes with lots of ideas for what we'll be in and out, especially for food, predictions for trains, new foods and flavors to watch in 2026 include cabbage, black current, and cinnamon rolls. And Bairzina Ulibe has more. The predictions come from chefs, industry analysts, and influencers.

And they range from flavors like guava and black sesame to fiber maxing, more fiber in everything. On TikTok, an influencer named Casey Carter responded to a Whole Foods list of 2026 predictions. They say vinegars will be all the rage. as well as beef tallow. But I wonder what a cardiologist have to say about that. Other food predictions for 2026 from other industry leaders include more creative tiramisus, with flavors like banana or peanut butter and jelly, and celery in desserts. Neda Ulibe, NPR News.

The smash South Korean boy band, BTS, has announced its comeback. The K-pop group says it will return March 20th after a nearly four-year break. All seven members of the band paused their musical careers to fulfill South Korea's requirement than all able males serve for a period of time in the country's military. BTS is also going to release their fifth album. On Corva Coleman, NPR News.