The global political landscape has been rocked by an unprecedented military operation, with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro captured by US forces inside a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters in lower Manhattan, New York. The incident, depicted in images circulated on social media, shows Maduro escorted by agents, sparking immediate and fierce international debate.
International Condemnation and a Defiant Successor
Reaction to the seizure has been swift. A coalition of six nations has warned that Donald Trump's direct action against a sitting head of state sets an "extremely dangerous precedent" for international relations. European allies appear divided, while renewed anxieties about American territorial ambitions, notably regarding Greenland, have surfaced globally.
In Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, who has held the posts of foreign minister and vice-president, delivered a defiant first speech as interim leader. She lambasted Washington and pledged continued loyalty to the captured Maduro. However, analysts suggest the Trump administration is operating on a cold political calculation that Rodríguez will ultimately be compelled to negotiate with US interests.
Tragedy in the Alps and Tribute in Sydney
In a separate, sombre development, forensic teams in Switzerland have confirmed that two girls, aged 14 and 15, are among the 40 victims of the devastating New Year's Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana. Hundreds of mourners joined a silent procession in the town, mourning one of the worst fire disasters in the country's recent history.
In Australia, a moving moment of tribute unfolded at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) at the start of the final Ashes Test. The crowd rose in a standing ovation for Bondi attack first responder Ahmed al-Ahmed, who walked onto the pitch with his arm in a sling. This act of recognition came as over 60 Australian sports stars called for a federal royal commission into antisemitism, radicalisation, and the Bondi terror attack.
Other Key Developments from Around the World
The fallout from the Maduro capture continues to dominate headlines. Republican figures in the US have hastily retreated from Donald Trump's initial claim that America would "run" Venezuela, reframing the operation's objective. Meanwhile, in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated his support for a democratic transition in Venezuela but emphasised that international law must be respected.
Elsewhere, a leading UK government AI research figure has warned that the world "may not have time" to prepare for the safety risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence systems. In Berlin, leftwing militants protesting climate and AI issues claimed responsibility for an arson attack that caused a major blackout.
In domestic Australian news, emergency services suspended searches for two missing individuals in waters off Sydney after a deadly period on the nation's beaches. A mining worker was killed in an underground collapse at Queensland's Curragh coalmine, with an investigation into the cause underway.
