World leaders responded sharply to U.S. strikes on Venezuela on January 3, 2026, which included claims the U.S. captured President Nicolás Maduro. Russia condemned the action as “armed aggression,” urging dialogue and adherence to peace in Latin America. Mexico and Uruguay denounced the strikes as violations of international law, while Britain stressed upholding legal norms. Colombia and Chile expressed deep concern and called for peaceful solutions. Spain offered to mediate, and the EU urged restraint. Conversely, Argentina’s president celebrated the offensive. Many nations highlighted the need to respect sovereignty and prevent further escalation amid rising regional tensions. (PC: X)

India have named their 15-man squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, 2026, with Shubman Gill returning as captain. Veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are included, while Shreyas Iyer is vice-captain subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Rishabh Pant keeps his place as wicketkeeper-batter and Mohammed Siraj returns to the ODI setup. Hardik Pandya is rested due to workload management ahead of the T20 World Cup, and Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are not selected. Venues are Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore. (PC: NDTV)

Khokon Chandra Das, a 50-year-old Hindu businessman from Shariatpur district in Bangladesh, died on January 3 at Dhaka’s National Burn Institute, three days after a mob assaulted him. The attackers intercepted him on December 31 near Keurbhanga Bazar as he returned home, beat him with sharp weapons, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze. Das briefly survived by jumping into a pond but suffered severe burns and multiple injuries. His family is demanding justice, and the incident has heightened fears about rising violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh. (PC: PTI)

Swiss authorities have identified the first four victims of a catastrophic fire that tore through the Le Constellation bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s celebrations, killing 47 people and injuring dozens more. The victims — two Swiss women (16 and 21) and two Swiss men (16 and 18) — have been returned to their families after extensive forensic work. Police say identifying more victims is slow due to severe burns. Investigators believe sparkler-style candles on champagne bottles likely triggered the blaze and continue probing safety compliance at the venue. 

The United States launched large-scale military strikes inside Venezuela, with explosions reported in Caracas and other regions early Saturday. US President Donald Trump claimed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the country” following the operation. Caracas has denied knowledge of their whereabouts and demanded immediate proof of life for both leaders. Venezuela condemned the strikes as an act of aggression and declared a national emergency, urging citizens to mobilize and defend sovereignty. International alarm grew as regional leaders called for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement. (PC: AFP)

Snow and ice warnings have been upgraded as bitter cold weather grips the United Kingdom this weekend. The Met Office said heavy snow is expected in parts of Scotland, with blizzard conditions along England’s east coast. Some areas have already seen up to 10cm of snow. Amber warnings are in place across northern Scotland, while yellow alerts cover much of the UK until Monday. Road closures, power cuts, and delays to rail and air travel are likely. The UK Health Security Agency also issued cold weather alerts, warning of health risks for older people and those with medical conditions. (PC: PA)

The release of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders has triggered strong political reactions. The Board of Control for Cricket in India asked KKR to release the player after public backlash. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sangeet Som called the move a “victory of Hindus”. He said public sentiments were ignored earlier. Several spiritual leaders also supported the decision. They cited alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Critics questioned KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan’s silence on the issue. (PC: PTI)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife after overnight airstrikes on Caracas. Trump said the pair were taken into custody and flown out of the country. Explosions, fires and power cuts were reported across the capital. Residents saw low-flying aircraft and heard multiple blasts. Venezuela has not confirmed any arrests. The government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military sites and called for public mobilisation. Trump said more details would be shared later.

The United States has carried out military strikes inside Venezuela, including near the capital Caracas, U.S. officials told CBS News and Reuters. The White House and Pentagon have not commented. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the attacks as “military aggression” and declared a national state of emergency. Caracas and other areas reported explosions, low-flying aircraft, smoke and power outages early Saturday. Maduro’s government called on citizens and loyal forces to mobilize against what it described as an assault on Venezuelan sovereignty. International reactions are emerging as neighbouring leaders discuss the incidents and the risks of wider conflict. The situation remains fluid with limited official verification. (PC: Reuters)

At least 14 Maoist cadres were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday, police said. Twelve were killed in Sukma and two in Bijapur during ongoing anti-insurgency operations in the Bastar region. The action began late Friday after the District Reserve Guard launched a search based on specific intelligence. The exchange of fire started around 5 am in forest areas under Kistaram and Basaguda police station limits. The bodies of two cadres, including Hunga Madkam, were recovered along with one SLR and a 12-bore rifle. AK-47 and INSAS rifles were also seized. (PC: X)