India on Sunday said the situation in Venezuela is a matter of “deep concern” after US special forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas. The foreign ministry said India is closely watching events and supports the safety of the Venezuelan people. It urged all sides to resolve issues through dialogue and to ensure peace in the region. The ministry added that the Indian embassy in Caracas is in touch with the Indian community and is offering help. US President Donald Trump said Maduro was flown to New York to face charges. Venezuelan opposition figures welcomed the move and called for a change in leadership. (PC: NDTV)

Delhi stayed under heavy smog on Sunday as the city recorded a “poor” Air Quality Index of 248, data from the pollution board showed. Several areas such as Anand Vihar, Rohini and Chandni Chowk reported “very poor” levels above 350. Dense fog reduced visibility in many parts of the capital. The weather office said the minimum temperature was near nine degrees Celsius. It also issued cold wave and dense fog alerts for parts of north and central India in the coming days. Snow or rain is likely in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Authorities lifted some emergency curbs but urged people to follow basic pollution rules. (PC: HT)

Leaders across the world reacted after US forces carried out strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. China said it was “deeply shocked” and condemned the use of force. Russia called it an act of armed aggression. Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Cuba and Uruguay criticised the action and said it broke international law. Iran also condemned the raid. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would “shed no tears” over the end of Maduro’s rule but said the UK was not involved. The EU and the UN urged respect for international law. Israel and Argentina welcomed the move. (PC: BBC)

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has revoked several executive orders signed by his predecessor Eric Adams after Adams was indicted in 2024. The отменed orders expanded the city’s definition of antisemitism and barred agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel. Mamdani signed the changes hours after his swearing in. He said new mayors can cancel or change old directives. He also issued new orders on housing. His team must study ways to speed up building and list city land that can be used for homes by summer. Some Jewish groups criticised the move, while civil rights groups supported it. (PC: CNN)

Caracas slipped into darkness and fear after US aircraft hit targets across the city and detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to local reports. Power grids and phone networks were badly damaged. Shops shut and buses stopped running. Streets were almost empty. Sunil Malhotra, an Indian living in Caracas, said supermarkets were closed and long lines formed outside small stores and pharmacies for food. He said people walked far to find places with power to charge phones. Police later asked people to leave these spots. He said officials could not give a timeline for restoring electricity. (PC: India Today)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has arrived in the United States after being captured during US strikes on Venezuela, according to American media reports. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York’s Stewart Air National Guard Base and later taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. President Donald Trump earlier shared an image showing Maduro blindfolded on a US Navy ship. Trump said the United States would run Venezuela for a period to ensure a safe transition. US officials have said Maduro will face criminal charges in New York linked to drugs and weapons offences. (PC: BBC)

The BCCI has reacted to reports that Bangladesh plans to ask the ICC to move its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh is scheduled to play group games in Kolkata and Mumbai in the February–March event. The move is linked to recent tension after Mustafizur Rahman was released by KKR on BCCI orders. A BCCI source said shifting matches would be a “logistical nightmare” as teams, hotels, flights and broadcast crews are already booked. The board added that the schedule cannot be changed at will. Bangladesh officials have said they will write to the ICC citing security concerns. (PC X)

Elon Musk has warned that users who use Grok to create illegal content will face the same action as those who upload such material on X. His comment came a day after India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT asked the platform to remove vulgar and unlawful content linked to the AI tool. The ministry has also sought a detailed action report within 72 hours. Officials said Grok was being misused to create obscene images, including of women, and share them through fake accounts. The order followed concerns raised by lawmakers and public complaints. X has been told to act against offending posts, users and pages. (PC: NDTV)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani strongly condemned the United States’ military action in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling it an “act of war” and a violation of international law. Mamdani said he spoke directly with former U.S. President Donald Trump to register his opposition to the operation and pursuit of regime change. He warned the move could negatively affect tens of thousands of Venezuelan residents in New York City and stressed the need to safeguard their safety. Trump’s administration justified the raid on drug-trafficking charges and plans to bring Maduro to face U.S. courts. 

US officials have released new details about Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. The plan took months of tracking, drills and coordination among military and intelligence teams. Forces trained on a full-size model of the presidential compound and studied Maduro’s daily movements. The raid was delayed several times due to poor weather. It finally began late at night when skies cleared. Helicopters flew low over water to avoid detection, supported by fighter jets, bombers and drones. More than 150 aircraft took part. US troops reached the compound within minutes, cut through secured areas and removed Maduro before he reached a safe room. Several explosions were reported across the city during the operation. US officials said one helicopter was hit but returned safely. Maduro now faces drug and weapons charges in New York. (PC: X)