US Military Captures Venezuelan President Maduro in Bold Operation; Trump Promises Transitional Leadership – 1/4/2026, 12:25:01 PM

US military captures Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise overnight operation, with President Trump stating the US will “run” the country until a safe transition, amid reports of explosions in Caracas and Maduro facing US charges like narco-terrorism.[1][2][4] Trump posted a photo of the blindfolded Maduro on a US ship, downplaying opposition leader Maria Corina Machado while consulting Vice President Deli Rodriguez.[4]

Swiss Alps bar fire kills at least 10, with police identifying the first four victims at a Crown Montana ski resort; firefighters paid tribute amid ongoing investigations.[2][4]

Russian strike on Ukraine’s Kharkiv kills at least two and injures scores by destroying a five-story apartment building, following massive drone attacks in Zaporizhzhia; Russia denies it, blaming Ukrainian ammunition.[2][4]

Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei vows to crush rioters amid economic collapse blamed on enemies, as Trump warns of US intervention if Tehran kills peaceful protesters; Iran’s foreign minister calls Trump’s remarks reckless with forces on standby.[2][4]

Ongoing global crises persist: UN Secretary-General Guterres condemns US actions in Venezuela as a “dangerous precedent”; Gaza faces aid strains from winter amid rubble; Sudan’s mass killings continue ignored; a woman dies from cervical cancer every two minutes; Haiti displacement highlights child resilience; UN urges Israel to drop death penalty proposals for Palestinians.[3]

Other notable stories include a machete brawl on Australia’s Monash freeway, heroes of the Bondi massacre honored at the Ashes test with calls for a royal commission, and a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Mexico.[1][2]