🇲🇽 — A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico on Friday morning, sending millions into the streets and briefly interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first press conference of the year. The quake was felt as far as Mexico City, where seismic alarms prompted evacuations. Authorities report no major damage or casualties so far, though landslides and aftershocks have been recorded near the epicenter in Guerrero.

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🇻🇪/🇺🇸 — The United States says it carried out overnight strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro, a claim that Caracas has not confirmed as it says his whereabouts remain unknown. Explosions were reported in the capital and several surrounding states, with residents describing aircraft, flashes of light, and sustained detonations before dawn. President Donald Trump said Maduro was seized by U.S. special operations forces and transferred out of the country to face criminal charges in the United States.

Venezuela’s government condemned the intervention, demanded proof of life for Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, and warned that the strikes violated national sovereignty. With power structures unclear and senior officials issuing conflicting statements, uncertainty has spread over who may govern next and whether further pressure will follow. International reactions have been sharply divided, reflecting broader tensions over U.S. intervention in the region and the risks of prolonged instability.

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🇨🇴 — Colombia has moved to reinforce its border with Venezuela following the U.S. removal of President Nicolas Maduro, warning of possible spillover violence and refugee flows. President Gustavo Petro condemned the strikes and ordered emergency security and humanitarian measures along the frontier.

Officials and analysts cited risks from armed groups such as the ELN and the strain of potential new migration waves. The developments have heightened regional tensions and placed Colombia on alert for instability next door.

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🇻🇪/🇺🇸 — Governments around the world reacted swiftly to U.S. airstrikes in Venezuela and Washington’s announcement that President Nicolas Maduro had been captured, with responses emerging within hours of the operation.

Many countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Iran, and several European states, condemned the action as a violation of sovereignty and international law, while others such as Argentina and Ecuador welcomed Maduro’s removal.

U.S. officials said Maduro will face criminal charges in American courts and indicated no further military action is planned.

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🇺🇸 — U.S. lawmakers are sharply divided after American forces struck Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro.

Democrats say the operation violated international law and bypassed Congress, warning it risks dragging the U.S. into another foreign conflict.

Republicans and Trump administration officials defended the move as a lawful effort to combat drug trafficking and enforce U.S. indictments.

The debate has reignited questions over presidential war powers and the limits of congressional oversight.

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🇨🇭 — Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the managers of a Crans-Montana bar after a New Year’s Eve fire killed 40 people and injured 119 others. Authorities say preliminary findings suggest sparklers used during celebrations ignited ceiling materials, causing a rapid blaze.

The investigation is examining renovations, safety systems, and inspection records, while victim identification continues due to the severity of injuries. Tributes have been left at the site as families await further information.

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🇺🇸/🇻🇪 — President Trump has claimed the U.S. will “run” Venezuela after a military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro, announcing plans to deploy American oil companies to take control of the country’s energy sector. The declaration has sparked global outrage, with the UN and major powers condemning it as illegal aggression and a violation of sovereignty. Critics warn the move sets a dangerous precedent and risks plunging the region into chaos.

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🇮🇷 — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged public anger over economic hardship as nationwide protests continue, calling the grievances “completely fair.” He urged dialogue with peaceful protesters but warned that violence and rioting would not be tolerated. Khamenei also condemned U.S. threats of intervention, accusing foreign powers of exploiting unrest to sow chaos, as officials stress sanctions are a key driver of Iran’s economic crisis.

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🇺🇸/🇻🇪 — Venezuelan officials have vowed resistance after a dramatic U.S. military operation captured President Nicolás Maduro, an action Caracas calls imperialist aggression aimed at seizing its oil wealth. Washington says it will temporarily “run” Venezuela and bring in U.S. oil companies, sparking outrage across Latin America and beyond. As protests and mobilization grow at home, critics warn the intervention risks regional chaos and a new era of open regime change.

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🇾🇪/🇸🇦/🇦🇪 — A deepening rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over southern Yemen is handing a major strategic boost to the Houthi movement. As Gulf allies back rival factions and turn on each other, Yemen has fractured into competing zones, weakening any unified front against the Houthis. Analysts warn the infighting could trigger a wider regional escalation.

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🇻🇪 — Venezuela has entered a new political crisis after U.S. forces abducted President Nicolás Maduro during military strikes on Caracas and other regions. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president following a Supreme Court ruling aimed at preserving state continuity.

While U.S. President Donald Trump described Rodríguez as a viable interlocutor, she publicly condemned the intervention and reaffirmed Maduro’s legitimacy. Rodríguez now faces the challenge of navigating internal loyalty and intense external pressure.

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🇾🇪/🇸🇦/🇦🇪 — Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia have retaken Hadramout and al-Mahra from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, reversing recent separatist gains. Officials say the operation restored control over key border provinces and the port city of Mukalla, with Saudi air support playing a role.

Tensions remain high around Aden, where the government accuses the STC of restricting movement, claims the group denies. Saudi Arabia has offered to host talks as both sides signal cautious openness to dialogue.

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🇻🇪 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is shaping the direction of events in Venezuela after the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. Rubio said the United States is using an oil quarantine and naval enforcement to apply pressure rather than directly governing the country.

He defended the legality of the operation, saying it did not require congressional approval and was not an invasion. Rubio said political transition and elections would take time and remain long term goals.

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🇩🇪 — A fire damaged key power cables in southwest Berlin, leaving tens of thousands of households and businesses without electricity and heat.

Officials said the incident was a suspected arson attack claimed by the far-left Volcano Group, which cited opposition to fossil fuel energy.

Authorities condemned the act, citing risks to public safety as cold weather slowed repair efforts. Power has been partially restored, but some areas may remain affected for days.

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🇬🇷 — Greece partially reopened its airspace after a radio communications failure grounded flights nationwide, stranding thousands of passengers. Airports in Athens and Thessaloniki were heavily affected, with cancellations, diversions, and limited information for travelers.

Backup systems allowed some departures to resume, though inbound flights remained restricted. Authorities are still investigating the cause as neighboring countries assist with air traffic management.

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🇺🇸/🇻🇪 — Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York court after a U.S. military operation captured him in Caracas on drug trafficking charges.

While legal battles loom over jurisdiction and immunity, Venezuela’s acting leadership has signaled cautious openness to dialogue with Washington.

International reactions remain sharply divided, and uncertainty persists inside Venezuela as markets and citizens react.

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🇺🇸/🇻🇪 — About a dozen tankers carrying Venezuelan oil have departed the country despite a U.S. naval blockade imposed last month. Shipping data shows several vessels left with tracking systems disabled, raising questions about enforcement as Washington insists sanctions remain unchanged.

The departures come as PDVSA cuts output and faces mounting storage constraints. U.S. surveillance has expanded beyond the Caribbean, signaling sustained pressure on Venezuela’s oil trade.

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🇺🇸 — The Pentagon has ordered a reduction in Senator Mark Kelly’s military retirement pay after his participation in a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the move includes a demotion in retired grade and a formal letter of censure, calling Kelly’s conduct reckless.

The action stops short of prosecution or recall to active duty, options that had been considered internally. Some lawmakers, including the Senate Armed Services Committee chair, questioned whether punishing a retired officer over political speech is appropriate.

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🇩🇰/🇺🇸 — President Donald Trump has again said the United States needs Greenland for national security, reviving controversy over the Arctic territory’s future.

Greenland’s prime minister rejected the idea outright, calling annexation fantasies unacceptable and insisting on respect for international law.

Denmark and the European Union reaffirmed that only Greenland and the Danish kingdom can decide the island’s fate. The dispute has raised concerns among allies amid wider tensions over U.S. foreign policy actions.

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🇺🇬 — Ugandan authorities have denied opposition claims that the internet will be shut down during the January 15 election, despite recent restrictions on satellite internet services. Officials say there is no plan to disrupt connectivity, even as the government bans live broadcasts of riots and unrest.

The opposition remains skeptical, citing past shutdowns and unveiling an offline vote-monitoring app using Bluetooth technology. The developments highlight ongoing tensions as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his long rule against challenger Bobi Wine.

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