Reuters World News - Iran, Cuba and Golden Globes

Episode Date: January 11, 2026

Iran warns the U.S. and Israel of retaliation as nationwide protests escalate. Ukraine launches one of its heaviest drone strikes in Russia. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signals she may call a snap election. A CIA report highlights Cuba's grim economy, but is inconclusive on whether that could lead to the government's collapse. And Hollywood kicks off awards season at the Golden Globes - where early winners may influence the Oscars race. Recommended Read: Everyone's talking about Greenland. This is why Listen to the latest On Assignment on Trump and Venezuela. Find our Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.  You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi, I'm Sharon Reisch Garson in New Jersey. It's Sunday, January 11th. Today, Iran vows to strike back if the U.S. attacks as unrest spreads across the country. President Trump blocks creditors from seizing Venezuelan oil revenue. Japan's prime minister signals a snap election, and Hollywood gets ready to put on the glitz at the Golden Globes. This is Reuters World News, bringing you everything you need to know from the front lines in 10 minutes, seven days a week. Iran is warning the U.S. and Israel of retaliation if Washington launches strikes as anti-government protests escalate across the country. The country's parliamentary speakers says U.S. bases and Israeli territory would be, quote, legitimate targets in the event of an attack. The threat follows President Trump's pledge that the U.S. is ready to help demonstrators. Sources tell Reuters that Israel is now on high alert and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio spoke by phone about the

situation on Saturday. The U.S.-based human rights activists news agency is reporting that at least 116 people have died since protests began in late December. Ukraine has launched an overnight drone strike into southern Russia, hitting the city of Vronnij. At least one woman has been killed and three others injured at the time of this recording, according to regional officials. The governor says more than 10 apartment buildings, private homes, a secondary school and government offices are damaged, calling it one of the heaviest drone attacks on the city since the war began. The attack follows Russia firing a hypersonic missile close to the Ukraine and Polish border.

Human remains have been found in Southeast Australia as bushfires ripped through the area. Police say the discovery was near Longwood in Victoria, where fires raging during a summer heat wave have destroyed hundreds of buildings, cut power to thousands, and scorched more than 350,000 hectares. Authorities are calling this the region's worst fire emergency since the deadly black summer blazes of 2019-2020. Harcourt resident Noel Brown says he's extremely lucky, warning of people worse off than him. It's terrible, terrible to see. You just don't realize how bad it is until you're in the middle of it. With dozens of fires still burning, officials warn that containment could take weeks.

Japan's Prime Minister, Sanaya Takaiichi, is hinting at an early election, possibly as soon as February. It would be her first national test since taking office. Markets are already reacting, the yen is slipping, and critics warn that timing could derail a massive budget meant to shield families from inflation. Speaking of markets, joining us from our sister podcast Morning Bid is Elena Kassas. Hi, Elena. What can you tell us about the week of half? Hi Sharon. The fourth quarter earnings season kicks off this week with the big banks. J.P. Morgan get us started on Tuesday and Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup all deliver their numbers later in the week. Banking analysts are expecting a blowout quarter because 2025 was a really strong year for dealmaking.

There's a few reasons for that. The Trump administration has shown itself much friendlier to deals that might have been stopped by antitrust legislation in the past. And as the Fed cuts rates, the cost of doing those deals is getting cheaper. so the banks are expected to report very strong numbers. We'll drop a link in the pod description. Musician Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78. In a statement posted to his verified Instagram account, his families say Weir was diagnosed with cancer in July

and died from underlying lung complications surrounded by loved ones. Weir was the band's rhythm guitarist and one of its two front men, singing on truckin, and writing classics, including sugar magnolia and Jack Straw. He survived by his wife and two daughters. President Trump has signed an emergency order blocking courts and creditors from seizing Venezuelan oil revenue held in U.S. Treasury accounts. The White House says the funds must stay under Venezuelan control, protected from private claims, and reserved for economic and political stabilization.

The move shuts out companies owed billions, including Exxon and ConocoPhillips. Meanwhile, the CIA is warning that Cuba's economy is in dire shape, with blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day and key sectors like energy and tourism collapsing. But sources familiar with CIA reports tell Reuters that they were inconclusive on whether the worsening economy would destabilize the government. The assessments are particularly notable following President Trump's suggestion last week that shutting off Venezuelan oil to the island after the Caracas operation could topple the government in Havana. That Cuba is ready to fall. Yes. Cuba looks like it's ready to fall.

We spoke to Reuters Latin American news editor Christian Plum to get a better snapshot of the situation. I have to say that none of the things that the CIA reports say, are surprising for outside observers. Like a lot of them are in line with what Reuters and other news organizations have reported. It is a fact that there is an energy crisis in Cuba. It is a fact that their economy is in a very weak state. One of the big puzzles for the Diaz-Cannell government, which is in charge of Cuba now, is where do they find fresh oil to make up for the lost supply from Venezuela?

And part of that is coming from Mexico, obviously, sort of steady supply. But Claudia Scheinbaum made clear in her remarks this week that there are no plans for Mexico to increase those shipments. And so where do they fill the gap? One of the problems that Cuba has is that they have a lack of hard currency, right? Their economy is just in very poor shape. Venezuela, on the other hand, because they were a much closer nearby ally provided fuel for, you know, certainly a very discounted rates. Hollywood's award season kicks off with the Golden Globes tonight. The Globes are the first big stop on the road to the Oscars.

And tonight's winners could shape the season ahead. Nikki Glazer will be back this year hosting, and it appears that some topics will be off limits. I'm looking forward to seeing, you know, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Timothy Salome, Kylie Jenner, Michael B. Jordan, Tiana Taylor. I mean, yeah, I mean, no, they shouldn't be worried because I really have, like, made this set so that it doesn't ruin anyone's night. And I really know how to go this far, but not that far. You know, like, I don't think that I'm going to have to avoid anyone at the after party. To get a sense of the big moments to watch, I checked in earlier with entertainment reporter Lisa Rich Wine.

One of the interesting races is Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. We've got Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothy Salome in that race. And they're both very well-liked people in Hollywood, which helps with these voters. It's your performance, but it's also, you know, what people think of you. So I think that one is kind of a toss-up, and, you know, it could go either way. One battle after another leads the pack with nine nominations. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio. He plays a one-time revolutionary who is many years later kind of washed up,

smoking weed, and needs to jump back into action to try to save his daughter who is in trouble. It sounds like a serious topic, but it really had an edge to it, some dark comedy. It's a very well-rounded kind of offbeat film that people are really loving. This week, we've got a recommended view for you about Greenland. A picture report that traces the island's colonial rule under Denmark, its move toward gradual self-rule, and it looks at why renewed interest from President Donald Trump has reopened debate over who ultimately controls the Arctic Island.

We'll drop a link in the pod description. For more on any of the stories from today, check out Reuters.com or the Reuters app. Don't forget to follow us on your favorite podcast player. And if you're listening on a smart speaker, just ask for the latest news from Reuters seven days a week. We'll be back tomorrow with our daily headline show.