World News
Maduro detained in New York Jail after Dramatic US Operation
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was being held in a New York jail on Sunday following a dramatic US military operation that saw him removed from power and flown out of the country amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
The arrest followed early-morning air strikes on Caracas on Saturday, as US commandos carried out what President Donald Trump described as a large-scale operation against the Venezuelan leadership. Maduro and his wife were captured during the raid and transported to New York, where they are expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offences.
Video footage shared by the White House showed the 63-year-old leader handcuffed and wearing sandals as he was escorted by federal agents through a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility in Manhattan. In the clip, Maduro was heard saying, “Good night, happy new year,” in English.
Maduro has ruled Venezuela for more than a decade, maintaining power through elections widely criticised by international observers. He succeeded former president Hugo Chávez and presided over years of political repression and economic collapse that forced an estimated eight million Venezuelans to flee the country.
News of his detention sparked celebrations among Venezuelans abroad, with gatherings reported in cities including Madrid, Miami and Santiago. In Caracas, reactions were more subdued. Some residents expressed relief, while others voiced anxiety over the uncertainty surrounding the country’s future.
US President Trump said he was appointing members of his cabinet to oversee a transition but offered few details. He appeared to rule out an immediate handover to opposition figures, suggesting instead that the United States could work with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. However, Rodríguez rejected that possibility, demanded Maduro’s release and vowed to defend Venezuela.
Later on Saturday, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Rodríguez to assume presidential powers in an acting capacity, further complicating an already fluid situation. Trump, however, indicated that US involvement would not be brief, saying American forces would remain until what he described as a “proper transition” takes place.
The operation has also drawn renewed attention to Venezuela’s vast oil wealth. Trump openly signalled US interest in the country’s crude reserves, stating that major American oil companies would invest billions of dollars to rehabilitate infrastructure and expand production. Venezuela holds about 17 percent of global oil reserves but currently produces less than one million barrels per day, much of which is sold on the black market.
According to US military officials, the assault involved around 150 aircraft and months of intelligence gathering on Maduro’s movements and security. General Dan Caine said the president and his wife surrendered without resistance and that no US personnel were killed. Venezuelan authorities have yet to release casualty figures, although Trump claimed that several foreign security operatives attached to Maduro were killed.
International reaction was swift and divided. Allies of Caracas, including China, Russia and Iran, condemned the operation, while concerns were also raised by US partners in Europe. China called for Maduro’s immediate release, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over what he said appeared to be a breach of international law.
At Venezuela’s request, the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the unfolding crisis, as the future governance of the oil-rich nation remains uncertain.
North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Japanese and South Korean authorities confirmed, marking the country’s second missile test this month.
The launch came a day after a senior Pentagon official visited Seoul and praised South Korea as Washington’s “model ally.”
The Japanese Coast Guard, citing the Ministry of Defence, reported that the missiles were detected heading toward the Sea of Japan and landed outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff similarly confirmed that multiple ballistic missiles were fired toward the East Sea.
Analysts say Pyongyang has stepped up missile testing in recent years to enhance its precision strike capabilities, challenge Washington and Seoul, and evaluate weapons for potential export to Russia.
The tests follow increased military tensions on the peninsula, including joint US-South Korea exercises, which North Korea regularly condemns as preparations for invasion. Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized South Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines with US support, describing it as a “threat” that must be countered.
The missile launches underscore ongoing regional security concerns, as the United States continues to station approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea to deter aggression from the nuclear-armed North.
United States President Donald Trump has warned Canada that it will face a sweeping 100 per cent tariff on all exports to the United States if it proceeds with a proposed trade agreement with China, escalating already strained relations between the two North American neighbours.
The warning followed recent comments by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who during a visit to Beijing last week announced what he described as a “new strategic partnership” with China, resulting in a preliminary trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs. Trump reacted sharply, cautioning that any move positioning Canada as a gateway for Chinese goods into the US market would attract severe economic consequences.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Canada would be “sorely mistaken” if it believed it could serve as a transit hub for Chinese products entering the United States. He further claimed that China would “completely devour” Canada’s economy, businesses and social fabric if such a deal were pursued. According to him, the conclusion of a Canada–China trade pact would trigger an immediate 100 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods crossing into the US.
Trump also referred to Carney as “Governor,” a recurring jibe reflecting his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. The US president recently amplified that rhetoric by sharing a social media image depicting Canada, Greenland and Venezuela covered by the American flag.
Diplomatic tensions have intensified in recent days following Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he warned of a “rupture” in the US-led global order, remarks widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of Trump’s foreign policy posture. Trump responded a day later with a speech of his own and subsequently withdrew an invitation previously extended to Carney to join his so-called “Board of Peace,” an initiative initially framed around post-war Gaza but now seen as having broader ambitions.
Trump went further by asserting that Canada’s survival depends on the United States, telling Carney to “remember that” when making public statements. The Canadian prime minister rejected the claim, responding that Canada does not exist because of the United States but thrives because of its own national identity, while still acknowledging the longstanding partnership between both countries.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of deep economic interdependence. More than 75 per cent of Canadian exports are destined for the US market, making Canada particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions. Key sectors such as automobiles, aluminum and steel have already been affected by Trump’s global tariffs, though the impact has been partially softened by existing North American free trade arrangements.
Negotiations to revise the current trade framework are expected to begin later this year, with Trump repeatedly insisting that the United States does not require Canadian products—an assertion that analysts warn could have far-reaching consequences for Canada’s economy.
Despite the rising tensions, the United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly scheduled to host the World Cup later this year, underscoring the complexity of a relationship increasingly defined by sharp rhetoric alongside enduring economic and logistical cooperation.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and several other predominantly Muslim nations have agreed to join the United States–backed Gaza “Board of Peace,” following an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, alongside their counterparts from Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, confirmed their countries’ collective decision to participate in the initiative. Egypt and Pakistan had earlier announced their involvement separately.
The ministers reiterated their commitment to supporting the mandate of the Board of Peace as a transitional administrative authority for the Gaza Strip. They said the board’s mission is outlined in the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and has received backing through United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.
So far, invitations have been extended to 60 countries as part of what is described as the second phase of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, much of which has been devastated by the prolonged conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
However, several European countries, including Germany and France, have adopted a cautious stance toward the initiative.
Diplomats familiar with the board’s charter have described it as a direct challenge to the United Nations, an institution President Trump has frequently criticised as ineffective. There are also indications that the U.S. administration may seek to broaden the board’s scope beyond Gaza to address global crises and conflicts.
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