BREAKING: US Executes Strike On Venezuela, Captures President Maduro And Wife

President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the United States carried out a major strike against Venezuela, resulting in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.” CNN reporters in Caracas observed multiple explosions and heard aircraft flying overhead in the early hours of Saturday. Several areas of the city experienced power outages following the blasts, with the first explosion recorded around 1:50 a.m. local time (12:50 a.m. ET). In recent weeks, Trump had repeatedly warned that the US was preparing action against alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking networks, stating that strikes on land would commence “soon.” His campaign against Maduro has already targeted over 30 vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as part of a counter-narcotics operation. Last month, Trump also imposed a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Earlier, in December, the CIA reportedly carried out a drone strike on a coastal port facility in Venezuela, marking the first known US attack inside the country, CNN reported, citing sources.

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Trump Vows US Action If Iran Harms Protesters

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran not to harm peaceful protesters, saying the United States “will come to their rescue” if they do. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote: “If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” He did not provide specifics on any potential action. The statement drew a quick response from Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Larijani warned that any US interference would destabilise the Middle East and undermine American interests. The warning comes amid ongoing protests across Iran sparked by worsening economic conditions. At least six people were reported killed on Thursday, according to semi-official media and human rights groups. Hengaw, a Kurdish rights organisation, said two of those killed in Lordegan were protesters, identified as Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh. Fars news agency reported additional deaths in Azna and Kouhdasht, though it did not clarify whether victims were protesters or security personnel. Video footage circulating on social media shows clashes between protesters and security forces, with cars set on fire in several cities including Lordegan, Tehran, and Marvdasht. BBC Persian has verified some of these clips. The protests began in Tehran on Sunday when shopkeepers demonstrated against a sharp drop in the value of the rial against the US dollar. By Tuesday, university students had joined in, and demonstrations spread to multiple cities, with many chanting against Iran’s clerical leadership. Some protesters have called for an end to Supreme Leader Khamenei’s rule, while others expressed support for a return to monarchy. Iranian officials reported a security personnel death on Wednesday in Kouhdasht, though protesters claim the individual was shot by authorities. The demonstrations are the largest since the 2022 nationwide uprising triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, though they have not reached the same scale. President Masoud Pezeshkian said he is willing to listen to the “legitimate demands” of the protesters, while Prosecutor-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned that any attempt to create instability would be met with a “decisive response.” The situation has heightened tensions internationally, with Trump’s warning and Tehran’s response underscoring the risk of a wider conflict.

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Several Killed And Injured In Fire At Swiss Alpine Ski Resort New Year’s Party

A fire at a New Year’s party in a southern Swiss Alpine resort has left several people dead and others injured. Valais police spokesperson Gaetan Lathion confirmed that the blaze broke out around 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026, at Le Constellation lounge bar in Crans-Montana, a canton known for its upscale ski resorts. “There are several injuries and several fatalities,” Lathion said, without providing exact numbers or details on the fire’s cause. Authorities have announced that a joint press conference with police and the canton’s public prosecutor will take place at around 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) to provide further updates.

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Gen Mamady Doumbouya Wins Guinea Presidency Amid Opposition Claims of Fraud

Gen Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president of Guinea, according to preliminary results from the country’s election commission, securing a decisive majority of the vote. The junta leader, who seized power in a coup four years ago, is seeking to legitimize his rule through the election. A civil society group advocating for a return to civilian governance denounced the vote as a “charade,” noting that Doumbouya’s main rivals were barred from running. Opposition figures also raised concerns about irregularities during the election. On Monday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that access to social media platforms including TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook was restricted as citizens awaited the full results. While authorities have not commented on the restrictions, critics view the move as an attempt to suppress dissent. Provisional results released on Tuesday indicated Doumbouya won 86.72% of votes cast on 28 December, well above the threshold required to avoid a runoff, granting him a seven-year term. The Supreme Court has eight days to confirm the results if any challenges are filed. Opposition candidate Faya Millimono alleged “systematic fraudulent practices,” citing incidents of poll observer expulsions, ballot stuffing, and voter intimidation. The government and ruling party have yet to respond to these allegations. After ousting then-83-year-old President Alpha Condé in 2021, Doumbouya had pledged not to contest elections and to transfer power to civilian leadership. “Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything… As soldiers, we value our word very much,” he had said at the time.

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Niger Imposes Indefinite Entry Ban On US Citizens Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Niger has imposed an indefinite ban on United States citizens, suspending all visa issuance and barring entry for Americans with immediate effect. The restrictions cover all forms of travel, including diplomatic, business, humanitarian, and tourist visits, heightening diplomatic tensions between Niamey and Washington. Authorities in Niger cited reciprocity and national sovereignty as the reasons for the move, pointing to what they described as recent hostile and punitive actions by the United States. No timeframe has been provided for a potential review or lifting of the ban. The decision comes amid strained relations between Niger and several Western countries following political upheavals in the Sahel nation. These tensions have already resulted in sanctions, aid suspensions, and changes to security and diplomatic partnerships. In recent months, Niger has sought to pivot its foreign policy away from traditional Western allies, strengthening ties with non-Western nations. Experts warn the ban could significantly affect humanitarian organisations, development agencies, and international bodies that rely on US personnel, while also complicating security and diplomatic cooperation in a region facing insurgency and political instability. The United States has not yet issued an official response, though officials are expected to raise concerns through diplomatic channels. Niger, however, insists the ban will remain in effect indefinitely, signalling a more assertive stance in its international relations.

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Lionel Messi’s Sister Injured in Car Crash, Wedding Postponed

Maria Sol Messi, sister of football superstar Lionel Messi, has been forced to postpone her wedding after sustaining serious injuries in a car crash in Miami. Reports say she suffered spinal fractures, burns, a fractured heel, and a fractured wrist. Argentinian journalist Angel de Brito shared that Messi’s mother confirmed Maria Sol is “out of danger” but will require a lengthy period of rehabilitation. Maria Sol was scheduled to marry Julian “Tuli” Arellano, part of Inter Miami’s under-19 coaching staff, in her hometown of Rosario on January 3, with the entire Messi family expected to attend, including Lionel Messi. De Brito said: “She suffered burns, which are very difficult to treat, as well as displacement of vertebrae. She’s already started her rehabilitation in Rosario. She has two fractured vertebrae, a fractured heel, and wrist. The wedding is going to be put back. Her mum told me she fainted and hit a wall.” Maria Sol, 32, is also a successful designer and entrepreneur, having worked on several of her brother’s projects while establishing her own brand, all while maintaining a relatively private life away from the media spotlight.

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Gaming Icon And Call Of Duty Co-Creator Vince Zampella Dies In Auto Crash

Vince Zampella, a leading force in the video game industry and one of the minds behind the blockbuster Call of Duty franchise, has died after being involved in a car accident, U.S. media reports have confirmed. NBC4 reported that the developer and studio executive died on Sunday while driving his Ferrari along a scenic roadway north of Los Angeles. Zampella’s career spanned decades and produced some of the most commercially successful titles in gaming history. He was widely recognised for co-creating Call of Duty and for founding Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind popular franchises such as Titanfall, Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series. Zampella entered the gaming industry in the 1990s as a designer on shooter games before co-founding Infinity Ward in 2002. The studio released the first Call of Duty title in 2003, a game that went on to redefine the first-person shooter genre. Infinity Ward was later acquired by Activision. After a public and contentious exit from Activision, Zampella launched Respawn Entertainment in 2010. The studio quickly established itself as a major player in the industry and was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017. During his time at EA, Zampella also took on the responsibility of steering the revival of the Battlefield franchise, further solidifying his legacy as one of the most influential figures in modern shooter game development.

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Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against BBC Over Edited January 6 Documentary

Former President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC on Monday, accusing the British broadcaster of defaming him through a misleading edit of his January 6, 2021, speech at the White House Ellipse. The lawsuit targets a 2024 BBC documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance, which Trump’s legal team says spliced different sections of his remarks to make it appear as though he explicitly encouraged the Capitol riot. “I’m suing the BBC for putting words in my mouth, literally,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “They actually put terrible words in my mouth having to do with January 6th that I didn’t say.” The 33-page lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, seeks $5 billion for defamation and an additional $5 billion for allegedly violating Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Trump’s lawyers described the documentary as “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 election. Last month, the BBC issued a formal apology, but maintained that it did not defame Trump. The broadcaster’s director-general and news CEO resigned following the controversy, with BBC chairman Samir Shah describing the edit as an “error of judgment.” The documentary featured an edited clip of Trump saying: “We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be there with you and we fight. We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not gonna have a country anymore.” The clip, however, combined three separate sections of his speech and omitted nearly an hour of content, including Trump’s call for peaceful action. The documentary also showed footage of the Proud Boys heading to the Capitol before Trump’s speech, implying that his remarks inspired their march. Trump’s legal team is requesting a jury trial to pursue the case.

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