By admin 
Introduction
US Strikes Venezuela: President Trump Claims Capture of Nicolas Maduro Amid Global Turmoil
January 3, 2026, has marked a seismic shift in international relations following a series of dramatic military and political developments across the globe. Topping the headlines is a bold announcement from the United States regarding a major military operation in South America, signaling a point of no return in the long-standing tension between Washington and Caracas.
The Fall of Caracas? According to a BBC World News report anchored by Lisa Costello, President Trump has announced that United States forces have successfully captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. This high-stakes claim follows a wave of large-scale, precision air strikes launched by the U.S. against various targets across Venezuela. In a statement released via social media, the U.S. President detailed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been apprehended and flown out of the country.
The impact of the military action was felt immediately in the Venezuelan capital. Large explosions rocked Caracas and several other key regions, specifically targeting military installations. The Venezuelan government has been quick to denounce the strikes, labeling the U.S. intervention as a “colonial war.”
However, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the situation. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has stated that the government remains unaware of Maduro’s current location. In a televised address, she demanded that the United States provide “immediate proof” that the President and the First Lady are still alive, highlighting the chaotic and potentially lethal nature of the extraction.
A Buildup to Conflict This escalation follows months of intensifying pressure and a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean. For years, the U.S. and a coalition of international allies have refused to recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, citing the 2018 and subsequent elections as rigged. Furthermore, Maduro has long been wanted in the U.S. on federal drug trafficking charges—allegations he has consistently denied as politically motivated.
The international community is deeply divided over the strikes. While Washington views this as a liberation effort, close allies of Venezuela, including Russia and Cuba, have issued scathing condemnations. Moscow described the attack as “deeply concerning,” while Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed profound anxiety over the stability of his neighboring nation.
Unrest Across the Continents While the eyes of the world are on Venezuela, other regions are facing their own crises. In India, security forces reported a major blow to domestic insurgency, killing 14 Maoist rebels during two separate armed encounters in the central state of Chhattisgarh.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, fresh violence has erupted near the town of Uvira. Reports indicate heavy clashes between the Congolese national army and the Rwandan-backed M23 fighter group. The humanitarian cost of global instability was also highlighted off the coast of Gambia, where a migrant boat capsized; while 102 people were rescued, seven bodies have been recovered so far.
A Somber Farewell to a Legend In a brief moment of quietude amidst the geopolitical chaos, conservationists are mourning the loss of one of Africa’s most iconic animals. “Craig,” a Kenyan elephant known as one of the continent’s last “super tuskers,” has died of old age. For many, the passing of the magnificent bull marks the end of an era for African wildlife, providing a somber conclusion to a day defined by transition and volatility.