Morning Briefing: Jan. 5, 2026

ANKARA

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including China urging the US to "stop toppling" Venezuela’s government and release President Nicolas Maduro and his wife "at once," an announcement that Venezuela's Maduro is set to appear Monday in federal court in New York, and Pope Leo XIV calling for an end to violence and respect for sovereignty after the US capture of Maduro and his wife.

TOP STORIES

• China urges US to ‘stop toppling’ Venezuelan government, release Maduro, his wife ‘at once’

China urged the US to “stop toppling” the government of Venezuela and called for the release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife “at once.”

“China expresses grave concern over the US forcibly seizing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country,” said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

“The US’s move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” the spokesperson added, according to a statement on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

• Venezuela's Maduro set to appear in New York federal court on Monday

After his capture in a weekend US military operation, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro will appear in federal court in New York at 12 noon (1700GMT) on Monday, local media reported.

His wife Cilia Flores is also scheduled to appear in the court, according to a spokesperson for the district court in the Southern District of New York.

The pair landed in New York late Saturday and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. They face US federal charges tied to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.

• Pope urges end to violence, respect for sovereignty after US capture of Venezuela’s Maduro

Pope Leo XIV called for peace, respect for sovereignty and the protection of human and civil rights in Venezuela following US strikes in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by US forces.

Speaking at the midday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican News, the pope expressed concern over recent developments, saying: "The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration and lead us to overcome violence and to undertake paths of justice and peace, safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution."

He called for "respecting the human and civil rights of each person and of all, and working to build together a serene future of collaboration, stability, and concord, with special attention to the poorest who suffer because of the difficult economic situation."

​​​NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Israeli army killed three Palestinians and carried out a series of airstrikes across various parts of the Gaza Strip.
• Venezuela’s Supreme Court of Justice ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to immediately assume and exercise all presidential powers in an acting capacity after the US captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and took them to New York.
• India called for dialogue a day after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a military operation in Caracas, with New Delhi dubbing the developments as a "matter of deep concern."
• Four police personnel were killed in two separate attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, authorities said.
• Australia called on “all relevant parties” to support dialogue and diplomacy following US strikes against Venezuela.
• Israel began revoking the operating licenses of 37 international organizations delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, saying they failed to meet requirements under new registration rules, according to the Israeli broadcasting authority KAN.
• Yemeni government forces entered the city of Mukalla, the capital of eastern Hadhramaut province, after the withdrawal of Southern Transitional Forces (STC) fighters, local media reported.
• Russia said it took control of a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region.
• Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian from the Bedouin village of Al-Tarabin in the Negev, local media reported.
• Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that while Venezuela's leadership lacks democratic legitimacy, all states must respect international law following US military action in the Latin American country that captured President Nicolas Maduro.
• At least 25 people were confirmed dead in a canoe accident in Nigeria, officials said.
• German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil criticized the US attack on Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, calling it “very worrying,” DPA news agency reported.
• Valais cantonal police said they have identified 16 more victims who died in a fire that broke out at a bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland during a New Year’s party.
• Yemen’s presidency urged the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to immediately lift restrictions on movement to and from Aden, the country’s temporary capital in the south.
• The Spanish prime minister said he has "strongly condemned" the violation of international law in Venezuela, referring to recent US strikes and the capture of the country's president, Nicolas Maduro.
• The US Embassy in Yemen warned of reports of closures, cancellations and redirected flights on commercial airline travel to and from Socotra Island to nearby airports.
• The Hadhramaut governor announced full control of the eastern Yemeni province following clashes and the withdrawal of Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces.
• North Korea strongly condemned the latest US raid on Venezuela that led to the capture of its president, calling Washington’s actions a “flagrant violation” of international law and yet another example of its “rogue and bestial nature,” the state news agency KCNA reported.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the recent US military operation in Venezuela does not amount to a war against the country, arguing instead that Washington is targeting drug trafficking organizations.
• Oman called for de-escalation and dialogue in Venezuela following US strikes on the capital Caracas and the detention of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
• Clashes broke between Israeli police and ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters outside a military recruitment office in West Jerusalem amid rising opposition in the community against compulsory military service, Israeli media reported.
• Myanmar’s military junta granted amnesty to over 6,000 prisoners nationwide as the Southeast Asian nation marked its 78th Independence Day, local media reported.
• South Korea’s president described China as a "very important partner" for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to South Korean media.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree imposing sanctions on 95 individuals and 70 legal entities, claiming that they are involved in supplying Russia's military industry.
• Somali special forces killed 15 and captured eight al-Shabaab terrorists in southern Somalia, the country’s Defense Ministry said.
• Russia said it shot down 24 Ukrainian drones flying toward the country’s capital Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Telegram.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhii Deineko, according to a presidential decree.
• US Vice President JD Vance pushed back against criticism of Washington’s actions toward Venezuela, arguing that the country plays a significant role in global drug trafficking and has long benefited from expropriated American oil assets.
• A protest was held outside the US Embassy in Brussels against Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela that captured its president.
• More than 12,000 Palestinian children are living in a state of “forced displacement” in the West Bank as a result of Israel’s ongoing military operation in the north of the occupied territory, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said.
• A protest was held in Amsterdam against the US military intervention in Venezuela that captured President Nicolas Maduro and flew him out of the country to face drug trafficking charges.
• A large part of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's security team was killed during Saturday's US operation, the country’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said.
• Two people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire in place since late 2024, the Health Ministry said.
• Nigerian authorities have seized more than 31 kilograms (nearly 70 pounds) of cocaine and detained 22 Indian crew members after intercepting a merchant vessel at Nigeria’s largest port, the country’s drug enforcement agency said.
• US President Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela are “illegal” but also have a “certain consistency,” Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev said.
• At least 30 people were killed when terrorists attacked a village market in Kabe District, Borgu Local Government Area of Nigeria’s Niger State, police said.
• US President Donald Trump warned Venezuela's new acting president that there will be a price to pay if she fails to “do what’s right."
• Türkiye is "closely" following developments in both Yemen and Somalia, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call with the Saudi crown prince, stressing the importance of stability of protecting both countries' territorial integrity.
• China's foreign minister decried Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela that captured its president, saying Beijing always opposes the use or threat of force and that no country can act as "world policeman," according to Chinese state-run media.
• The death toll from Saturday’s US military operation in Venezuela has risen to 80, the New York Times reported.
• US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the Trump administration has failed to provide evidence justifying its recent military operation in Venezuela that captured the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro.
• Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials to discuss ways of pushing toward the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
• Spain and five Latin American countries -- Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay -- expressed deep concern after the US military operation on Venezuela, warning of risks to regional stability.
• Israel committed 99 violations against Palestinian journalists in December 2025, ranging from killings and physical assaults to arrests and bans on media coverage, a report by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Radio frequency problem severely disturbs air traffic in Greece

A radio frequency problem severely disturbed air traffic in Greece.

In a statement, the country’s civil aviation authority said some frequencies that serve the Athens FIR (Flight Information Region) have faced problems, which eventually led to restrictions on air traffic across the country’s international and regional airports.

Public broadcaster ERT confirmed that the technical problem affected all flights to and from the country, adding that work to restore air traffic was underway.

• Pakistan, China renew commitment to peace, stability as top diplomats meet in Beijing

Close allies Pakistan and China renewed their commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and discussed trade and multilateral cooperation during talks in Beijing.

The 7th round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue was co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar.

"The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-China relations and discussed key issues at the regional and global levels. Views were exchanged on CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), trade, multilateral cooperation and people-to-people exchanges," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.