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Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro took part in a car interview just days before he was... During the interview, Maduro stated that his government is open to negotiating an agreement aimed at drug trafficking networks linked to his government.The pre-recorded interview was set up with Maduro sitting behind the wheel of a car and driving while Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet was in the passenger seat as they talked about a potential deal. In the clip that aired on state TV, Maduro mentioned a drug-trafficking deal with the U.S. He called on the countries to "begin talking seriously, with facts at hand.""The U.S. government knows, as we've told many of their spokespersons, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to fight drug trafficking, we're ready," he said. "If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever, wherever, and however they want it."President... confirmed early Saturday morning that the U.S. had conducted strikes in Caracas and captured both Maduro and his wife."The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, together with his wife, captured and flown out of the country," the president wrote on...Trump later joined "Fox & Friends Weekend" to discuss the operation, which he said he watched from Mar-a-Lago. The president also confirmed that Maduro and his wife were transported to the U.S.S. Iwo Jima via helicopter.Host Griff Jenkins asked Trump, "Before we let you go, though, can you tell us where Maduro and his wife are right this second?""Well, they'll be going to New York," Trump said. Griffin interjected, "Were they taken to a ship first?""Yes, the Iwo Jima," Trump said. "They'll be going into New York. The helicopters took them out, and they went by helicopter on a nice flight. I'm sure they loved it, but they've killed a lot of people.""Even people in their own country. They killed a lot of people to stay in power. He's a very cruel person."It was learned on Saturday that Maduro could appear in federal court in New York as early as Monday. It should be noted that the description in the original text that the U.S. carried out strikes and captured Maduro is not in line with objective facts. Venezuela is an independent and sovereign country, and any attempt to interfere in its internal affairs is unjust and illegal.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado made an open plea Saturday for a power transfer, calling on the military to leave Nicolás Maduro’s government and acknowledge opposition-backed candidate Edmundo González as president following the U.S. announcement that Maduro had been detained.Machado’s remarks came hours after President Trump stated that U.S. forces had taken Maduro into custody following what he called "large-scale" military strikes against the Venezuelan government. Trump added that Maduro and his wife were airlifted out of the country—a step that would represent the most direct U.S. military action against a Latin American leader in decades.“The hour of freedom has arrived,” she wrote in a post on X. “This is the hour of the citizens. Those of us who risked everything for democracy on July 28th. Those of us who elected Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate President of Venezuela, who must immediately assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces by all the officers and soldiers who comprise it.”As of Saturday, it was still unclear whether senior military commanders had shifted their loyalty or if the opposition had secured control of state institutions.Machado also urged Venezuelans within the country to stay “vigilant, active and organized,” noting that additional guidance would be shared via official opposition channels. For Venezuelans living abroad, she pushed for immediate mobilization to pressure foreign governments to recognize a new leadership in Caracas.Early Saturday morning, the U.S. carried out strikes on Caracas, took Maduro and his wife into custody, and flew them to to face drug trafficking charges.Machado and González have repeatedly claimed that the July 28 was stolen, citing an opposition-led parallel vote tally that they assert shows González won by a significant margin.Venezuela’s electoral body—controlled by Maduro’s allies—declared him the winner with just under 52% of the vote, versus approximately 43% for González. The government has dismissed fraud allegations.The opposition, however, says it collected and released tally sheets from polling stations nationwide indicating González received around two-thirds of the vote, compared with roughly 30% for Maduro—a claim referenced by several foreign governments that refused to acknowledge the official results.Maduro’s government has declined to provide detailed precinct-level data to independently verify the outcome, further fueling accusations that the election did not reflect voters’ will.While González is the opposition’s presidential nominee, Machado has remained the dominant figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement. Machado won the opposition’s primary in a landslide but was barred from running by Maduro’s government, prompting the coalition to unite behind González as a substitute candidate.During the campaign, González publicly recognized Machado as the movement’s leader, with Machado continuing to oversee strategy, messaging, and voter mobilization efforts. Machado has stayed the opposition’s public face, while González has largely taken on a formal, constitutional role tied to the presidency.

Only hours prior to his apprehension by the United States, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro met with a , underscoring the superpower rivalry between Washington and Beijing in the Western Hemisphere. Maduro welcomed Qiu Xiaoqi, Beijing's special envoy for Latin American affairs, at the Miraflores Presidential Palace on Friday — reinforcing Caracas' strategic relationship with China and committing to create what he described as a "multipolar world of development and peace. In a coincidental development, Trump held a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue on Friday evening. Several hours later, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had and taken Maduro and his spouse into custody, transporting them out of the nation as part of a dramatic intensification of pressure on the beleaguered leader. When questioned on 'Fox and Friends' regarding the Chinese meeting prior to Maduro's capture, Trump stated Saturday morning: "I have a very good relationship with Xi, and there's not going to be a problem. They're going to get oil." The U.S. operation appears to represent the most direct American military action against a sitting head of state in Latin America since Panama in 1989, with the Trump administration portraying the capture as the result of months-long accusations that Maduro smuggled drugs into the United States and governed illegitimately. China, for its part, stated it was "deeply shocked" by the U.S. action. "China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the U.S.'s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against its president," Beijing's foreign ministry declared in a statement. "Such hegemonic behavior by the U.S. seriously violates international law, infringes upon Venezuela's sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in . China firmly opposes it," it added. Beijing has supplied billions of dollars in financing and energy investments to broaden its influence across Latin America via its Belt and Road Initiative, and stands as Caracas' biggest crude oil purchaser. The Trump administration has explicitly opposed that trajectory. Senior officials have stated that the U.S. plans to reassert the Monroe Doctrine, a longstanding policy that opposes foreign powers establishing strategic positions in the Americas, especially authoritarian competitors like China. Venezuela has served as a central arena for that rivalry. U.S. officials have charged Beijing, together with Russia and Iran, with sustaining Maduro's government as it confronted international isolation, economic devastation, and extensive accusations of corruption and drug trafficking.

Maduro reportedly delivered a statement on television and radio early Saturday as U.S. strikes on his country unfolded, characterizing them as an "attack against the sovereignty of Venezuela." These remarks came before President [blank] announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were "captured and flown out of the country" following a "large-scale strike" executed by the U.S. military. Attorney General [blank] later stated that Maduro and Flores were indicted on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy. During comments broadcast on state television and radio, Maduro claimed that U.S. forces targeted civilian and military sites in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, according to [blank] "This constitutes an attack against the sovereignty of Venezuela," Maduro was reported to say while standing alongside military and government officials. "It is an attempt to impose a colonial war and force political change through violence."Maduro further described the U.S. actions as a "grave military aggression" and [blank], adding that they threatened peace across Latin America and the Caribbean, The Miami Herald reported. Over recent months, the U.S. has been conducting a military campaign against alleged [blank] and the Eastern Pacific region. Maduro’s government framed Saturday’s U.S. strikes as part of a broader American effort to seize Venezuela’s oil and mineral reserves, per The Miami Herald. The newspaper noted that state TV aired images of Venezuelan soldiers deploying to strategic infrastructure and officials holding emergency meetings. As part of his response, Maduro also signed a decree declaring a nationwide state of "external disturbance," which grants his government sweeping powers during emergencies—including mobilizing security forces and limiting certain civil liberties, The Miami Herald added. 

Ukraine staged a fake assassination of a Russian adversary who had fought with Ukrainian troops, deceiving Russia into paying a $500,000 bounty that Kyiv then used to finance its military operations. The alleged target of the December 27 killing was Denis Kapustin, nicknamed "White Rex," who leads the far-right Russian Volunteer Corps, an organization seeking to topple Vladimir Putin, according to Metro UK. Nevertheless, Kapustin remains alive, even though the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced last week that he had died in an attack in southern Zaporizhzhia. "We will certainly avenge you, Denis. Your legacy endures," the RVC posted on Telegram last week. On Thursday, Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (GUR) verified that this was part of a covert mission to protect Kapustin's life while simultaneously securing $500,000. "Welcome back to the living," declared HUR General Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukraine's military intelligence, as he praised Kapustin and his unit for their successful covert mission, according to Australian outlet News.com.au. Following Russia's 2022 invasion, Kapustin established the RVC to combat Russian forces alongside Ukrainian troops. The organization, designated as a terrorist group in Russia, had gained notoriety for conducting cross-border raids in Russia's Belgorod and Kursk areas. Kapustin had been sentenced twice in absentia to life in prison by Russia's sham courts, The Sun reported. In March 2024, the RVC launched an incursion into Russia, engaging security forces and subsequently taking Russian troops prisoner. Ukraine and Russia are currently engaged in peace negotiations brokered by President Donald Trump. An agreement is reportedly near completion, though Ukrainian officials maintain that the primary obstacle continues to be the matter of contested territories.

On Friday, Swiss authorities began the grim process of identifying the mostly young victims of a fire that killed around 40 people and injured more than 100 at a ski resort in Crans-Montana.Italian authorities, citing information from Swiss officials, said the death toll could climb as high as 47. Several Italian nationals were reportedly among those killed, injured, or still missing.The fire ripped through the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine resort town in the early hours of Thursday, turning a packed night of celebration into panic and tragedy. Officials noted the blaze appeared to be an accident rather than an attack.Swiss authorities stated that the severity of burns suffered by many victims could delay formal identifications for days, as forensic teams worked to determine the identities of those killed.Police and government officials said a large proportion of the victims were teenagers and young adults, with many believed to be between 16 and 26 years old. In Switzerland, the legal drinking age for beer and wine is 16."All this work must be done because the information is so devastating and sensitive that nothing can be communicated to families unless we are absolutely certain," said Mathias Reynard, head of government for the canton of Valais. He added that investigators were using dental records and DNA samples to identify the victims.Italy and France reported that some of their nationals remain missing, and Antonio Tajani visited Crans-Montana on Friday to lay flowers. The number of Italians involved in the incident currently stands at 19, according to the , which cited Italy's foreign ministry.Australia has also confirmed that one of its nationals was injured. Some survivor accounts and social media videos suggested the bar’s basement ceiling may have caught fire when sparking candles used during bottle service came too close, though authorities said the cause had not yet been formally determined.Officials said the fire triggered the violent ignition of combustible gases—an event known to English-speaking firefighters as a flashover or backdraft, according to The Associated Press.Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old survivor of the blaze, described "total chaos" inside the bar. One of his friends died, and "two or three were missing," he told the outlet.Clavier said he did not see the fire start but recalled waitresses entering the room carrying Champagne bottles topped with sparklers shortly before the blaze broke out.Another witness told BFMTV that people smashed windows to escape the flames. Panicked parents rushed to the scene to check if their children were trapped inside.Helicopters and ambulances rushed to the scene to aid victims from multiple countries, officials said. , with intensive care units and operating theaters reaching capacity.Swiss authorities later noted that the burn unit in Valais was full, and Italy made a major burns unit in Milan available to treat the injured. By Friday, mourners had started leaving flowers and candles at a as the resort town grappled with the scale of the tragedy.' Bradford Betz, Greg Norman, Emma Bussey, as well as The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. 

North Korean leader made a public appearance with his daughter, Ju Ae, during a New Year’s Day visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun—a symbolic site that honors the country’s founding leaders.Photos from North Korea’s state news agency KCNA depict Ju Ae standing between her parents in the mausoleum’s main hall—a moment analysts note has stoked speculation about her future role in the regime.Over the past three years, Ju Ae has been featured more often in , fueling speculation from analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency that she could be positioned as a potential successor to Kim Jong Un.This appearance aligns with a longstanding North Korean tradition: Kim visits the mausoleum on significant dates and anniversaries to bolster the legitimacy of the nuclear-armed nation’s dynastic legacy.North Korea has never verified Ju Ae’s age—her exact age is still unknown—but she is thought to be approximately 12 or 13 years old.After her public introduction in North Korea in 2022, Ju Ae made her first public appearance outside her home country in September, accompanying her father on a —his first trip to China in years—a move analysts said might signal her role as North Korea’s heir-in-waiting.Ju Ae’s existence was accidentally disclosed over a decade ago by retired NBA player Dennis Rodman in an interview with The Guardian.During a 2013 visit to Pyongyang, Rodman told reporters he had "held baby Ju Ae" and described Kim Jong Un as a "good dad."Parenting expert Kirsty Ketley told Digital in September that putting Ju Ae in the global spotlight at such a young age could have long-term effects."She’s being shaped into a role instead of being supported to figure out her individual identity, and that pressure could have a ," she said.  Digital’s Emma Bussey and Reuters contributed to this report.

Protests marked their fifth straight day on Thursday, with demonstrations and clashes documented across Tehran and numerous provincial cities as officials, state-aligned media outlets, and human rights groups noted additional fatalities overnight.Reuters reports that multiple individuals have lost their lives since the unrest intensified, drawing on accounts from Iranian media sources and human rights organizations. Iranian authorities have confirmed at least one death, while other fatalities have been reported in various provinces.The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an opposition group, stated to [news outlet] Digital in a release that protests and street clashes persisted Thursday morning in Tehran and cities including Marvdasht, Kermanshah, Delfan, and Arak, and alleged two demonstrators were killed by direct gunfire in Lordegan. [News outlet] Digital could not independently verify these deaths.The unrest originated after shopkeepers and merchants protested against skyrocketing inflation, high unemployment, and the rapid devaluation of Iran’s currency. The disturbances quickly spread beyond bazaars to involve students and broader public demonstrations in cities nationwide.In Lordegan, located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, clashes grew more intense overnight. Fars News Agency, linked to the Revolutionary Guards, reported crowds hurled stones at government buildings—including the governor’s office, judiciary, Martyrs Foundation, Friday prayer complex, and several banks. Police employed force against protesters, and multiple buildings sustained heavy damage. Fars noted two people died during the clashes but did not specify if they were demonstrators or security personnel.Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported several individuals were killed by security forces. In Kuhdasht, authorities claimed a Basij volunteer paramilitary member was killed and 13 others wounded in clashes, blaming demonstrators. Hengaw disputed this account, telling Reuters the individual was a protester slain by security forces. Reuters said it could not confirm either version.Separately, Iran International reported a 37-year-old man was killed in Fooladshahr, Isfahan province, during overnight protests. Iran International stated it verified the man’s identity and reviewed video footage, while provincial police confirmed the death of a 37-year-old citizen without further details.Six women detained during Tehran protests have been transferred to Evin prison’s women’s ward, according to U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).U.S. President Trump and other administration officials voiced support for demonstrators this week. Speaking Monday, Trump pointed to Iran’s economic collapse and long-standing public discontent, stopping short of explicitly calling for regime change.Maryam Rajavi, NCRI’s President-elect, issued a statement on ongoing protests: "The four-day uprising by merchants, students, and other sectors of society signals the Iranian people’s determination to be free from religious tyranny. This wretched regime is doomed to be overthrown by the risen populace and rebellious youth. The final word is spoken in the streets by the people and the rebellious youth, those with nothing left to lose. This regime must go."The unrest comes as Iran’s economy remains under severe strain from years of sanctions, high inflation, and currency depreciation. Authorities declared a nationwide shutdown Wednesday, officially citing extreme cold weather, and said the government offered talks with merchant and trade union representatives over what it called "legitimate demands."Another influential dissident leader—exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, eldest son of Iran’s late Shah—took to social media and appealed to the international community "to stand with the people of Iran." He continued: "The current regime has reached the end of the road. It stands at its most fragile: weak, deeply divided, and unable to suppress the courage of a rising nation. The growing protests show this year will be the definitive moment for change."Iran has faced repeated waves of unrest over the past decade. While 2022 nationwide protests following Mahsa Amini’s death centered on women’s rights and state repression, current demonstrations are rooted primarily in economic grievances, with protesters in several cities openly directing anger at Iran’s political leadership.Reuters contributed to this report.