US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. According to Bondi, the charges against Maduro include narcoterrorism, cocaine importation, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such devices against the United States. She stated that the couple will soon face American justice in a US court, though she did not specify the charges against Maduro’s wife.

Bondi expressed gratitude to the US military, crediting them for conducting what she described as an incredible and highly successful operation to capture the two accused international drug traffickers. The announcement was reported by BBC and repeated across multiple statements in the source.

The indictment marks a significant legal escalation against Venezuela’s leadership, though details about the timing of court proceedings or the specific evidence presented were not disclosed in the report.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be tried in the United States. The statement followed confirmation from Senator Mike Lee, who said he had spoken with Rubio by phone regarding Maduro’s detention. Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that Maduro and his wife had been arrested following a large-scale US military operation in Venezuela.

According to a BBC report cited in the source, Senator Lee said Rubio did not expect further action in Venezuela now that Maduro was in US custody. Lee added that the US attacks were carried out to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrants. However, he also expressed concern on social media about the constitutional justification for such actions without a formal declaration of war or authorization for military force.

Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies and that more details would be released later.

The United States launched a military attack on Venezuela, with President Donald Trump claiming the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Shortly after the assault began, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona denounced the action on social media platform X, calling it an illegal and unjustified war. Gallego, a former US Navy serviceman who served in Iraq from 2002 to 2006, described it as the second unjust war of his life.

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah also questioned the legality of the operation, writing on X that he was eager to understand how the move could be constitutionally justified without a formal declaration of war or congressional authorization for the use of military force. In recent months, several Democratic and Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s military actions in Latin America.

The bipartisan criticism highlights growing unease in Congress over unilateral military interventions in the region, suggesting potential challenges ahead for the administration’s foreign policy approach.

On January 1, 2026, Zohraan Mamdani was sworn in as the new mayor of New York City in a special ceremony. Immediately after taking office, he signed an executive order canceling several directives issued by former mayor Eric Adams, including measures supporting Israel. According to the order, all directives signed on or after September 26, 2024, and effective through December 31, 2025, have been revoked, while earlier executive orders will remain in force until amended or withdrawn.

This decision effectively nullifies several of Adams’s policies, including one that prohibited New York City agencies from boycotting or disengaging from Israel. However, the Office for Combating Anti-Semitism, established under the previous administration, will continue to operate.

Following the announcement, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Mamdani on social media of inciting anti-Semitism, marking an early diplomatic tension in his tenure.

Australian captain Steve Smith has said that teammate Usman Khawaja faced unfair treatment during his international cricket career. The 39-year-old left-handed batter is set to retire after the Sydney Test, which will be his final match in the ongoing Ashes series. Smith voiced his support for Khawaja, noting that the player had been dropped from the national team multiple times, including eight occasions in his Test career and again during the current Ashes.

Smith refrained from commenting directly on Khawaja’s criticisms but described some of the claims against him, such as being injured while playing golf before a match, as unjust. He praised Khawaja’s 15-year career and his consistent improvement over time. Smith recalled that Khawaja had also been dropped during the 2017 series against India but used that setback to refine his playing techniques.

Smith concluded by calling Khawaja an exceptional talent whose development over the years had been remarkable, highlighting their early days playing together in New South Wales youth cricket.

At the official swearing-in ceremony of New York’s new mayor, Zohra Mamdani, congressional representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on New Yorkers to celebrate the event as their own victory. Speaking at City Hall, she praised residents for choosing courageous and historic leadership during uncertain times, emphasizing that they opted for collective prosperity over fear and inequality.

Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic representative from New York’s 14th Congressional District, had endorsed Mamdani in June 2025 and actively mobilized voters in the months leading up to the election. She previously told a rally of 13,000 people in Queens that Mamdani’s victory would send a clear message rejecting authoritarianism. During the inauguration, she congratulated citizens for electing a mayor committed to building a hopeful future for working people.

Echoing Mamdani’s campaign promises, Ocasio-Cortez praised plans for universal childcare, affordable housing, and accessible public transport. She described the city’s choice as a rejection of division and extreme inequality, expressing confidence that New York’s example could inspire broader change.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited debate about his age and health after claiming in a lengthy interview that he is in 'perfect' condition. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he takes more aspirin than doctors recommend, uses makeup to cover hand injuries, and avoids regular exercise because he finds it boring. He also clarified that he underwent a CT scan in October, not an MRI as he had previously told reporters.

At 79, Trump is the oldest president in U.S. history, and reports suggest he has shown signs of aging, including dozing off during meetings and occasionally missing questions. The Journal reported that Trump expressed irritation over public discussions about his health.

Trump said he has taken 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for 25 years, despite doctors advising 81 milligrams. He explained that he does not want to change his routine due to superstition and prefers golf as his only form of exercise.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing US intelligence sources, American officials have stated that there is no evidence Ukraine attempted to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin or his residence. The CIA’s assessment indicates that Ukraine did not target Putin or any of his residences in the recent drone incident. Officials clarified that Ukraine’s intended target was a military site located in the same region as Putin’s residence but not near it.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia has failed to provide credible evidence supporting its claim of a Ukrainian drone strike on the president’s residence in the Novgorod region. Former US President Donald Trump also dismissed the Russian claim in a social media post linking to a New York Post editorial that criticized Putin’s reaction to the alleged attack. Trump later said he believed the attack might not have occurred after speaking with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky denied the allegation, arguing that such claims undermine Ukraine’s diplomatic progress with Trump’s team and could be used to justify further Russian aggression.

US President Donald Trump said he is seriously considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The discussion took place during Netanyahu’s fifth visit to the United States since Trump’s second term began, centered on the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire plan. When asked whether the US would approve the sale, Trump said the matter was under serious consideration.

Trump described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “very good friend” and assured that Turkey would not use the aircraft against Israel. He also said there would be no problems between the two nations. The US had previously suspended Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system, imposing sanctions on several Turkish defense entities under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Trump added that he would discuss Turkey’s potential participation in a multinational Gaza mission with Netanyahu and maintained that his relationship with Erdogan remained strong.

Zohraan Mamdani was sworn in as the mayor of New York City, becoming the first in the city’s history to take the oath of office on the Holy Quran. The ceremony took place in an abandoned subway station, where Mamdani used a 200-year-old copy of the Quran borrowed from the New York Public Library. The event was conducted by New York Attorney General and political ally Letitia James.

Mamdani’s swearing-in marks several firsts for the city: he is the first Muslim, the first of South Asian descent, and one of the youngest mayors in generations. He described the moment as the greatest honor and privilege of his life. Later, he is scheduled to take a more formal oath at City Hall, administered by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.

The subway station, built during America’s “Golden Age,” was chosen to symbolize the beginning of a new era. Mamdani previously stated that the location reflects the city’s legacy of ambition and transformation for working people. He won the mayoral election on November 4, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa by a wide margin.

The United States has carried out another strike on a vessel accused of drug trafficking, resulting in at least five deaths. The attack was announced in a statement by the US military’s Southern Command on Wednesday, though the location of the operation was not specified. Previous similar strikes had taken place in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to Al Jazeera. The US Coast Guard has been directed to conduct search and rescue operations at the site, but no evidence supporting the attack has been presented.

The statement detailed that three alleged traffickers were killed in the first operation, while others from two additional boats jumped into the water to escape. Those boats were later sunk in a subsequent strike, which killed two more people. The military said the Coast Guard was instructed to activate its search and rescue system. A similar incident in September had drawn heavy criticism after reports that survivors were targeted, with some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts calling it a crime, while the Trump administration and some Republican lawmakers defended it as lawful.

Zohraan Mamdani will be sworn in as the mayor of New York City at midnight on December 31, 2025, in an abandoned subway station built during America’s ‘Golden Age’. The location was chosen to symbolize the beginning of a ‘new era’. The station currently serves as a turnaround point for the local No. 5 train. Thousands of New Yorkers will be gathered in Times Square for the New Year countdown as the ceremony takes place underground.

In a statement, Mamdani described the site as a monument to a city that once dared to build beautifully and transform the lives of working people. He said the ambition represented by the station should not remain confined to the past or the tunnels beneath City Hall. He expressed honor at the opportunity to lead millions of New Yorkers.

Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will introduce Mamdani at the ceremony, which will also feature Senator Bernie Sanders. New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the oath. Mamdani, 34, won the November 4 election by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian–descended mayor in U.S. history.

U.S. President Donald Trump this week vetoed two major bipartisan bills, marking his first use of veto power in his second term. According to reports from Washington, the vetoes targeted the 'Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act' and the 'Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act'. The White House confirmed that Trump issued the vetoes on Monday. To override them, both chambers of Congress would need a two-thirds majority vote.

The Arkansas Valley Conduit Act aimed to implement a long-standing clean water supply project in Colorado’s Eastern Plains. Trump argued the project was too costly and described it as an unreliable policy for American taxpayers. The second bill sought to expand the Miccosukee tribe’s control in Florida’s Everglades National Park. Trump stated he would not allow the tribe residential rights in that area and criticized spending taxpayer money on projects inconsistent with his administration’s immigration policies.

The move marks a significant political moment, as presidential vetoes are relatively rare. Trump had vetoed ten bills during his first term, while his predecessor Joe Biden vetoed thirteen over four years.

The United States has announced new sanctions targeting Iran and Venezuela, accusing them of assisting in drone and ballistic missile trade. The measures, announced on Tuesday, apply to ten individuals and entities from both countries. According to the report, the Trump administration stated that such trade poses a threat to the United States and its allies in the Middle East.

The sanctions include a Venezuelan company and its chairman, accused of purchasing Iranian drones, as well as three Iranian nationals allegedly involved in procuring chemicals used in ballistic missile production. Several Iran-based individuals and organizations linked to the previously sanctioned ‘Rayan Fan Group’ were also named. The US Treasury Department said the sanctions aim to restore UN restrictions related to Iran’s nuclear activities and increase economic pressure on Tehran.

The Treasury further stated that Iran’s supply of conventional weapons to Venezuela threatens US interests in the Western Hemisphere and pledged to take all necessary measures to halt such trade.

The United States has signed a defense agreement with Israel to strengthen the latter’s military capabilities. According to the Pentagon, the deal, valued at $8.6 billion, involves the supply of 25 F-15IA fighter jets manufactured by Boeing. The aircraft will be designed, integrated, tested, and produced in Missouri, with final delivery to Israel scheduled for December 31, 2035. The announcement followed a meeting in Florida between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which Netanyahu also held a closed-door discussion with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The report noted that since the Gaza conflict began two years ago, the United States under both the Biden and Trump administrations has provided Israel with at least $21.7 billion in military assistance. This support includes unconditional arms aid, annual privileges, additional wartime funds, and limited congressional oversight, which have collectively bolstered Israel’s defense sector.

The new F-15IA deal further deepens US-Israel defense cooperation and underscores Washington’s continued commitment to Israel’s military modernization.