{"id":8954,"date":"2026-01-06T19:19:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/06\/live-updates-trump-warns-venezuela-to-cooperate-or-risk-new-u-s-military-attack-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T19:19:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:19:46","slug":"live-updates-trump-warns-venezuela-to-cooperate-or-risk-new-u-s-military-attack-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/06\/live-updates-trump-warns-venezuela-to-cooperate-or-risk-new-u-s-military-attack-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Trump warns Venezuela to cooperate or risk new U.S. military attack &#8211; NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"<div q:id=\"b\">\n<div id=\"rcrd95675\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T18:44:21.709Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"d\">\n<p>31m ago \/ 1:44 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Colombia&#8217;s military is ready to defend the country, foreign minister says<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"j\">Colombia&#8217;s foreign minister said the country&#8217;s military is prepared to defend it in the event of an attack by the United States.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"m\">&#8220;If such aggression were to occur, the military must defend the national territory and the country\u2019s sovereignty,&#8221; Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villaviencio said at a press conference.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"p\">She cautioned that she is hoping to strengthen relations with the United States and improve cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"s\">&#8220;We insist on using diplomatic channels, using international law mechanisms, to talk, to reach agreements. The Trump government must know in more detail everything we do in the fight against drugs,&#8221; Villaviencio said. &#8220;That is a task we have and that we are working on from the embassy to achieve maximum closeness with advisers and people who are close to President Trump, to convey all the results of all the work being done.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95597\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T18:27:17.513Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"u\">\n<p>48m ago \/ 1:27 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Russia monitoring crude oil tanker tracked by U.S. &#8216;with concern&#8217; <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"11\">A crude oil tanker linked with Venezuela but navigating under a Russian flag is being monitored \u201cwith concern,\u201d the Kremlin told state media today.   <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"14\">The \u201cMarinera,\u201d formerly known as the \u201cBella 1,\u201d has been on the U.S. sanctions list since June 2024. It is being \u201cactively pursued\u201d by the United States and was last tracked in the Atlantic Ocean between Ireland and Newfoundland on Jan. 3, according to the Marine Traffic website. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"17\">But in a statement carried by the state-run Tass news agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was \u201cmonitoring with concern the anomalous situation surrounding the Russian oil tanker Marinera.\u201d <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1a\">\u201cFor several days now, Marinera has been followed by a U.S. Coast Guard ship, despite the fact that the vessel is located approximately 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) from the U.S. coastline,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd95597-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"1c\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1f\">\u201cAt present, the vessel is navigating international waters of the North Atlantic under the state flag of the Russian Federation and in full compliance with international maritime law,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1i\">\u201cAt the same time, for reasons that remain unclear to us, the Russian vessel is receiving heightened attention from U.S. and NATO military forces that is clearly disproportionate to its peaceful status,\u201d it added. \u201cWe expect that Western countries, which consistently declare their commitment to freedom of navigation on the high seas, will begin by adhering to this principle in their own actions.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95654\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T17:37:07.352Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"1k\">\n<p>2h ago \/ 12:37 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">National Press Club condemns detention of journalists in Venezuela<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1r\">The National Press Club condemned the detention of journalists in Venezuela and said it &#8220;welcomes their release.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1u\">&#8220;Journalists engaged in newsgathering are civilians, and international law protects the work of reporting the news,&#8221; the statement said. It added that the detention and intimidation of reporters &#8220;violates core press freedom principles and deprives the public of critical information.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1x\">&#8220;Journalists must be able to do their jobs without fear of arrest, retaliation, or expulsion,&#8221; the National Press Club statement said. &#8220;When governments target reporters, it undermines independent journalism and weakens accountability.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"20\">The club said it is &#8220;deeply concerned&#8221; about the climate in Venezuela for reporters and that it &#8220;stands in solidarity with journalists working under threat to inform the world.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95662\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T17:08:39.403Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"22\">\n<p>3h ago \/ 12:08 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Venezuelan AG calls on judge to respect international law<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"29\">Attorney General of Venezuela Tarek William Saab\u00a0addressed the country&#8217;s National Assembly today and called on the judge overseeing Maduro&#8217;s legal proceedings in the U.S. to respect international law. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2c\">&#8220;I call on Judge Alvin Hellerstein to respect international law and recognize the lack of jurisdiction of the court at his disposal to prosecute the head of a sovereign nation such as Venezuela, who is protected by diplomatic immunity,&#8221; Saab said, indicating he believes Maduro&#8217;s capture and prosecution in the U.S. is illegal. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2f\">He also called for the investigation of &#8220;the dozens of innocent civilian and military casualties that occurred in the midst of this war crime,&#8221; noting that the National Assembly has appointed three prosecutors to lead the charge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95634\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T16:19:40.993Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"2j\">\n<p>3h ago \/ 11:19 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Source of Caracas gunfire remains unclear<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2p\">Gunfire rang out near the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, last night, prompting security forces to fire at unidentified drones, witnesses told NBC News. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2s\">The U.S. was not involved in the gunfire, according to two U.S. officials, leaving questions about what exactly happened in the capital last night. <\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"2w\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767712401795_now_mnn_gunfire_caracas_260106_1920x1080-j3fms4.avif\" alt=\"Gunfire rings out in Caracas near Venezuelan presidential palace\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95647\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T16:03:26.027Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"3f\">\n<p>4h ago \/ 11:03 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Families say goodbye at Venezuela&#8217;s border with Colombia<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3l\">At Venezuela\u2019s border with Colombia, families are saying goodbye to one another.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3o\">Patricia Lopez crossed the border Sunday with her two young sons after traveling almost 550 miles from her home in the city of Barquisimeto to the town of C\u00facuta just across the Colombian border.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3r\">\u201cThe truth is I\u2019m in shock,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t believe what\u2019s happening right now.\u201d She added that she was hoping, at least in the short term, to be with relatives in Colombia. <\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-patricia-lopez-mb-1556-3045be.jpg\"  alt width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"3u\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-body\" q:key=\"Gg_3\">Patricia Lopez with her son at the border in C\u00facuta, Colombia.<\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-suffix-space\" q:key=\"Gg_4\">\u00a0<\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Gabe Gutierrez \/ NBC News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"40\">According to the United Nations, around 8 million Venezuelans have been displaced since 2014, and nearly 3 million have stayed in Colombia. There has not been a noticeable increase in migration since Maduro\u2019s capture, but Colombia\u2019s government has surged resources to the border just in case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95644\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T15:53:48.698Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"42\">\n<p>4h ago \/ 10:53 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump praises Venezuela operation: &#8216;It was amazing&#8217;<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"48\">Trump praised the operation in Venezuela, saying in a speech before House Republicans that &#8220;we had a lot of boots on the ground, but it was amazing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4b\">&#8220;Think of it, nobody was killed,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And on the other side, a lot of people were killed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4e\">The president also touted the military as &#8220;fearsome,&#8221; adding that &#8220;nobody can take us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4h\">He said that the U.S. would also start producing weapons &#8220;much faster.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"4l\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767715308244_now_brk_trump_maduro_comments_latest_260106_1920x1080-8sjsgw.avif\" alt=\"'He tries to imitate my dance': Trump speaks about Maduro and praises Venezuela raid\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95637\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T15:31:57.551Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"54\">\n<p>4h ago \/ 10:31 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Gov. DeSantis says Florida is looking at a state case against Maduro<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5b\">Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news briefing today that his government is looking at a state case against Maduro. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5e\">&#8220;We are looking very seriously at &#8230; bringing a state case against Maduro,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5h\">DeSantis alleged that Maduro was &#8220;very involved&#8221; with what he said was Venezuelans smuggling drugs across the border and into Florida. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5k\">He also said Maduro &#8220;would empty his prisons and send them to America across the border,&#8221; alleging that members of the Tren de Aragua gang ended up in Florida and victimized people in the state. This was not listed in the federal indictment against Maduro. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5n\">Venezuela was not the main topic of the news conference. It was addressed during a question-and-answer portion following the speech. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95617\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T15:10:02.080Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"5r\">\n<p>5h ago \/ 10:10 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Who is running Venezuela? Trump says: &#8216;Me&#8217;<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5x\">Speaking exclusively to NBC News, Trump said several top officials will oversee Venezuela, but when asked who will ultimately be in charge, the president said: &#8220;Me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"60\">&#8220;I do get the sense that they&#8217;re cooperating,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They need help.&#8221; <\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"64\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767702079834_tdy_news_7a_welker_trump_venezuela_260106_1920x1080-saouo2.avif\" alt=\"Exclusive: Trump on Maduro capture and future of Venezuela\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6o\">Elections in the Latin American country will take some time, and the president asserted they will not take place within 30 days. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6r\">&#8220;It&#8217;s going to take a period of time. We have to nurse the country back to health,&#8221; he said, seemingly bracing both Americans and Venezuelans that there may be a prolonged presence in the country. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6u\">According to a Reuters poll, 72% of Americans are worried that the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela, but Trump maintained that &#8220;MAGA loves everything I do.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6x\">Trump gave no specific timeline when asked about invading other nations that surround Venezuela, but he made it clear that he is watching countries like Cuba and Colombia very closely. He has been known to be critical of both of the countries&#8217; leaders and of their reputations for trafficking drugs. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95616\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T14:51:50.742Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"6z\">\n<p>5h ago \/ 9:51 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro declared himself a &#8216;prisoner of war&#8217; in court<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"75\">Maduro appeared in court alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, yesterday, where he said he was captured and declared himself a &#8220;prisoner of war&#8221; in the U.S. Both pleaded not guilty to federal charges against them. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"78\">It came as Trump asserted that the U.S. is now in control of the South American nation, and as Stephen Miller, the homeland security adviser, doubled down after Trump left the door open for a potential takeover of Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory. <\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"7c\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767701374026_tdy_news_7a_jackson_venezuela_fallout_260106_1920x1080-2not9z.avif\" alt width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95630\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T14:35:14.162Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"7s\">\n<p>5h ago \/ 9:35 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Senators to receive Venezuela briefing tomorrow<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"7y\">The full Senate will receive a briefing tomorrow on the operation to capture Maduro, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. The full briefing comes after top lawmakers were briefed yesterday afternoon on the operation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"81\">Senators will be briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"84\">The Senate is also expected to vote Thursday on a war powers resolution that would require the Trump administration to get congressional approval before future military operations in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"87\">Yesterday, the same group of administration officials<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/live-blog\/maduro-venezuela-trump-court-live-updates-rcna252230\/rcrd95582?canonicalCard=true\" target=\"_blank\"> briefed the so-called Gang of Eight, <\/a>which includes the top lawmakers in both the House and the Senate, as well as the leaders of the Intelligence committees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95604\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T14:14:25.018Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"89\">\n<p>6h ago \/ 9:14 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">U.S. allies warn Trump over Greenland threats<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8g\">European NATO allies warned the United States on Tuesday that they would &#8220;not stop defending&#8221; the values of sovereignty and territorial integrity following President Donald Trump\u2019s threats against the Danish island of Greenland.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8j\">Trump and his team have ramped up hostile suggestions that they want to seize Greenland, a vast Arctic island of just 50,000 people with mineral and strategic significance. The U.S. attack against Venezuela and capture of President Nicolas Maduro \u2014 which the United Nations said undermined international law \u2014 has raised fears that this might not be an empty threat.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8m\">The European leaders were in Paris meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and others, according to a White House official. It is the latest in frenzied rounds of shuttle diplomacy to end Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8p\">Though these negotiations have accelerated since November, the U.S. attack on Venezuela and continued suggestions of seizing Denmark have cast a shadow over the talks, which are being held with the very allies who \u2014 under NATO\u2019s principle of collective defense \u2014 Trump is suggesting attacking.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8s\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/ukraine\/ukraine-security-guarantees-talks-trump-venezuela-greenland-europe-rcna252513\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Read the full story here. <\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95618\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T13:55:42.737Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"8w\">\n<p>6h ago \/ 8:55 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as Venezuelan president<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"92\">Delcy Rodriguez, the vice president in Maduro&#8217;s regime, was sworn in as interim president yesterday. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"95\">Also yesterday, Rodriguez softened her tone, indicating she is willing to work with the U.S. and the Trump administration, even as she has instructed those in her government to arrest anyone who supported the attack over the weekend. <\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"99\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/tdy_delcy_260106-q6pwfp.avif\" alt=\"Venezuela swears in Delcy Rodr\u00edguez as interim leader\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9t\">A U.S. official told NBC News that a recent classified intelligence assessment determined the top members of Maduro&#8217;s regime, including Rodriguez, were best positioned to lead the temporary government, and that was a factor in Trump&#8217;s administration not backing the opposition leader, Mar\u00eda Corina Machado. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9w\">Trump has predicted that the U.S. may be stationed in Venezuela for months to help oil companies rebuild. He has also indicated there may be an opening for U.S. action in nearby countries Colombia and Cuba. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95603\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T13:39:13.410Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"9y\">\n<p>6h ago \/ 8:39 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Venezuelan opposition movement calls for release of all political prisoners<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"a5\">The Venezuelan political movement led by opposition leader Mar\u00eda Corina Machado has called for the release of all political prisoners in the country after the U.S. military raid and capture of its leader, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"a8\">&#8220;Those who unjustly hold the civilian and military political prisoners should free them immediately,&#8221; the movement said in a statement, reposted on X by Machado.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ab\">Machado won the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/europe\/nobel-peace-prize-awarded-venezuelas-maria-corina-machado-rcna236816\" target=\"_blank\">2025 Nobel Peace Prize <\/a>for her opposition to Maduro.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95615\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T13:20:41.652Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"ad\">\n<p>6h ago \/ 8:20 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Gunfire heard in Caracas as police fire at unidentified drones <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"ak\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/caracs_at_night-fnv8zm.avif\" alt width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"b1\">Gunfire was heard last night in downtown Caracas as Venezuelan police fired at unidentified drones, according to Vice Minister of Communications Simon Arrechider. The White House said in a statement it was &#8220;closely tracking reports of gunfire,&#8221; adding that the U.S. was not involved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95600\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T13:05:12.061Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"b3\">\n<p>7h ago \/ 8:05 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Venezuela-linked vessel pursued by U.S. is in the mid-Atlantic<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ba\">An oil tanker linked with Venezuela that is being \u201cactively pursued\u201d by the United States has been located in the Atlantic Ocean between Ireland and Newfoundland. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bd\">The crude oil tanker \u201cMarinera,\u201d formerly known as the \u201cBella 1,\u201d was last tracked Saturday, according to the Marine Traffic website. It has been on the U.S. sanctions list list since June 2024. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bg\">\u201cThe United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela\u2019s illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order,\u201d a U.S. official with knowledge of the matter told NBC News last month. The tanker is currently sailing under the flag of Russia. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bj\">It comes as the U.S. has been moving military assets to the United Kingdom. Flight tracking data shows that 13 Air Force C-17A Globemaster IIIs, a large military transport aircraft, flew from U.S. Air Force bases to the U.K. between Saturday and yesterday. <\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd95600-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"bl\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bo\">Flight records also show that two Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft, typically used for maritime patrol, flew missions from the U.K. on Sunday and yesterday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95609\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T12:45:38.483Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"bs\">\n<p>7h ago \/ 7:45 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">U.S. intel assessed Maduro regime insiders best positioned to lead Venezuela, official tells NBC News <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"by\">A recent classified intelligence assessment determined that top members of the Maduro regime were best positioned to lead Venezuela\u2019s government and maintain stability if Nicol\u00e1s Maduro lost power, a U.S. official told NBC News. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"c1\">That included Delcy Rodriguez, who was sworn in as the new president of the South American country yesterday, they said, adding that the assessment was a factor in the Trump administration not backing Maria Corina Machado, the opposition leader. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"c4\">Trump said over the weekend that Machado didn\u2019t have enough respect to lead Venezuela.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"c7\">NBC News has not seen the assessment, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd95609-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"c9\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"cc\">The White House is not officially commenting on the intelligence, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt provided this statement on the record: \u201cPresident Trump is routinely briefed on domestic political dynamics all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"cf\">\u201cThe President and his national security team are making realistic decisions to finally ensure Venezuela aligns with the interests of the United States, and becomes a better country for the Venezuelan people,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95593\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T12:35:40.080Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"ch\">\n<p>7h ago \/ 7:35 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Global protests against Trump\u2019s military action in Venezuela <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"cn\">Protests against the U.S.&#8217; capture of Venezuelan leader Nicol\u00e1s Maduro have been held around the world. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"cq\">Before his arraignment at a Manhattan federal courthouse in New York yesterday, some held signs calling for his release. <\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-usa-rs-7cee00.jpg\"  alt=\"APTOPIX Venezuela US\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"ct\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Stefan Jeremiah \/ AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"cy\">In Argentina&#8217;s capital, Buenos Aires  some people burned U.S. flags outside the American Embassy.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-Argentina-rs-8fac1c.jpg\"  alt=\"Rally Against U.S. Intervention In Venezuela In Buenos Aires\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"d1\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Silvana Safenreiter \/ Reuters <\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"d6\">It was a similar story in the Philippines, where some demonstrators burned the Stars and Stripes outside the embassy in Manila.  <\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-Philippines-rs-7d2ae4.jpg\"  alt=\"Image: PHILIPPINES-US-VENEZUELA-CONFLICT-PROTEST\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"d9\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Ted Aljibe \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"de\">Elsewhere, a protester wearing a mask depicting Trump joined other demonstrators in front of the U.S. Embassy in South Korea&#8217;s capital, Seoul.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-South-Korea-rs-18dfa8.jpg\"  alt=\"Image: SKOREA-US-VENEZUELA-CONFLICT-PROTEST\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"dh\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Jung Yeon-je \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"dm\">The U.S. Embassy was also the focal point for protests in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, yesterday. <\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-Cyprus-rs-dcacb3.jpg\"  alt=\"Cyprus US Venezuela\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"dp\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Petros Karadjias \/ AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"du\">And in the Indian city of Jammu on Monday, members of the Indian Communist Party came out in force to express their solidarity with the now-deposed Venezuelan president.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-India-rs-f5c4a8.jpg\"  alt=\"India Venezuela US\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"dx\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Channi Anand \/ AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95602\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T12:15:59.708Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"e3\">\n<p>7h ago \/ 7:15 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Oil giant Trafigura in talks with U.S. about return to Venezuela<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ea\">Trafigura Group, one of the world&#8217;s largest oil traders, will hold talks with the U.S. government over a possible return to Venezuela, a senior executive said today.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ed\">\u201cIt\u2019s the topic everyone\u2019s discussing in the oil industry. I think everyone is looking at what opportunities there may be in Venezuela,\u201d the company&#8217;s global head of oil, Ben Luckock, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-01-06\/trafigura-to-hold-talks-with-us-about-return-to-venezuela?embedded-checkout=true\" target=\"_blank\">told Bloomberg<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95598\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T12:00:15.656Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"ef\">\n<p>8h ago \/ 7:00 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">U.S. seeks to turn &#8216;Latin American republics into colonies,&#8217; Colombia&#8217;s president says<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"em\">U.S. foreign policy seeks colonize Latin American nations, according to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who compared American expansionism to that of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ep\">Petro was responding to a post on X from Paloma Valencia L, a Colombian presidential candidate who defended the U.S. military action and said it \u201copened an opportunity for a free Venezuela.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"es\">&#8220;If you believe that an innocent Colombian woman, elderly Venezuelan women, and young soldiers doing their duty should have died, then you will think the same about the Colombian people if Trump&#8217;s threat becomes a reality. That is simply treason,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ev\">The Monroe Doctrine, the long-standing foreign policy doctrine that justifies the U.S. dominating the Western Hemisphere, &#8220;seeks to turn sovereign Latin American republics into colonies,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd95598-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"ex\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"f0\">&#8220;That breaks the entire order of international law. It is the same doctrine of Lebensraum (living space) that Hitler used, and which triggered the two world wars,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95601\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T11:41:28.005Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"f6\">\n<p>8h ago \/ 6:41 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">NATO allies warn U.S. against Greenland threats<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"fd\">European NATO allies have issued a joint statement on Greenland, warning the United States that they \u201cwill not stop defending\u201d the values of sovereignty and territorial integrity when it comes to the Danish-governed territory.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"fg\">The statement was issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Prime Ministers Mette\u00a0Frederiksen of Denmark, Keir Starmer of Britain, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Donald Tusk of Poland and Pedro S\u00e1nchez of Spain.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2025-08\/250827-trump-plane-greenland-rs-c7a8e5.jpg\"  alt=\"Trump aircraft in Nuuk, Greenland, with a pink sunset behind\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"fj\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-body\" q:key=\"Gg_3\">A Trump aircraft arrives in Nuuk, Greenland, in January 2025.<\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-suffix-space\" q:key=\"Gg_4\">\u00a0<\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Emil Stach \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"fp\">\u201cThe Kingdom of Denmark \u2014 including Greenland \u2014 is part of NATO,\u201d the statement said. \u201cSecurity in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the U.N. Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"fs\">It added that \u201cthe United States is an essential partner in this endeavor, as a NATO ally\u201d and through a 1951 defense agreement allowing Washington to build military bases on the vast island. \u201cGreenland belongs to its people,\u201d it added. \u201cIt is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95599\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T11:35:32.273Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"fu\">\n<p>8h ago \/ 6:35 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">At least 14 media workers were detained in Venezuela, union says<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"g1\">The National Union of Press Workers of Venezuela said 14 journalists and media workers were detained at the National Assembly in the country&#8217;s capital, Caracas, yesterday, 13 of them from international organizations and one from Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"g4\">The union, known by its Spanish abbreviation SNTP, said 13 had been released and one had been deported. The SNTP also said it documented the inspection of equipment and the unlocking of phones.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260106-vz-journalist-rs-32b37e.jpg\"  alt=\"Border between Venezuela and Colombia in Cucuta\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"g7\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-body\" q:key=\"Gg_3\">A journalist works at the border between Venezuela and Colombia, in Cucuta on Sunday.<\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-suffix-space\" q:key=\"Gg_4\">\u00a0<\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Luisa Gonzalez \/ Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"gd\">The union said the detentions were &#8220;alarming&#8221; and repeated its &#8220;demand for guarantees for the free exercise of journalism.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"gg\">It said 23 journalists remain in detention in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95595\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T10:58:27.127Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"gi\">\n<p>9h ago \/ 5:58 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">U.S. &#8216;undermined a fundamental principle of international law,&#8217; U.N. rights office says<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"gp\">The United States has &#8220;undermined a fundamental principle of international law&#8221; with its military operation in Venezuela, the United Nations&#8217; human rights commissioner has said.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"gs\">&#8220;It is clear that the operation undermined a fundamental principle of international law \u2014 that States must not threaten or use force\u00a0against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,&#8221; said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"gv\">&#8220;We fear that the current instability and further militarization in the country resulting from the U.S. intervention will only make the situation worse,&#8221; Shamdasani said.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"gy\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2026\/jan\/05\/trump-military-action-venezuela-us\" target=\"_blank\">Writing in The Guardian<\/a> yesterday, Commissioner Volker T\u00fcrk said he was &#8220;deeply disturbed&#8221; by the raid and seizure of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, which he said &#8220;sends a signal that the powerful can do whatever they like.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95594\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T10:25:18.085Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"h3\">\n<p>9h ago \/ 5:25 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">China says U.S. has &#8216;disregarded&#8217; Maduro&#8217;s status as head of state<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"h9\">China said the U.S. had \u201cdisregarded\u201d Maduro\u2019s status as a head of state, repeating its calls for his release a day after the deposed leader and his wife pleaded not guilty in their first New York court appearance.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_480\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260103-nicolas-maduro-court-sketch-mn-1435-cad9e5.jpg\"  alt=\"Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in court in New York on Jan. 5, 2026.\" width=\"980\" height=\"552\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"hc\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-body\" q:key=\"Gg_3\">Court sketch of ousted Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, yesterday.<\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-suffix-space\" q:key=\"Gg_4\">\u00a0<\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">  Jane Rosenberg<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"hi\">\u201cThe United States has disregarded President Maduro\u2019s status as a head of state, and has openly brought charges and carried out so-called trials against him in its domestic courts, which seriously infringes upon Venezuela\u2019s national sovereignty and gravely undermines the stability of international relations,\u201d Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular briefing in Beijing. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"hl\">\u201cNo country may place its own domestic rules above international law,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ho\">Mao said China calls on the U.S. to immediately release Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, \u201cand to ensure their personal safety.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95590\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T09:48:37.585Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"hs\">\n<p>10h ago \/ 4:48 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Opposition leader Machado says Venezuelans want to \u2018share\u2019 her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"hz\">Mar\u00eda Corina Machado said in an interview on \u201cHannity\u201d tonight that she dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump as soon as she learned she had been awarded it, saying she believed in him even more after Trump\u2019s capture of Maduro.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"i3\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/machado_wide-xarvsg.avif\" alt=\"Trump \u2018deserved\u2019 Nobel Peace Prize, Mar\u00eda Corina Machado says\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"in\">Asked whether she had offered to give Trump the prize, Machado said: \u201cIt hasn\u2019t happened yet, but I\u2019d certainly love to be able to personally tell him that we believe \u2014 the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people \u2014 certainly want to give it to him and share it with him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"iq\">Machado added that international leaders should not trust Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, Venezuela\u2019s interim leader, calling her \u201cone of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco-trafficking\u201d and an ally of Russia, China and Iran. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"it\">Machado said that she hopes to return to Venezuela as soon as possible but that for now she thinks she is more useful to her cause in exile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95591\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T09:48:37.241Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"iv\">\n<p>10h ago \/ 4:48 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump says the U.S. government may reimburse oil companies for rebuilding Venezuela\u2019s infrastructure <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"j1\">President Donald Trump said he believes the U.S. oil industry could get expanded operations in Venezuela \u201cup and running\u201d in fewer than 18 months.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"j4\">\u201cI think we can do it in less time than that, but it\u2019ll be a lot of money,\u201d Trump told\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/trump-says-us-not-war-venezuela-rcna252427\" target=\"_blank\">NBC News in an interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"j7\">\u201cA tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they\u2019ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ja\">Whether the U.S. government ultimately agrees to reimburse the oil industry\u2019s costs in Venezuela, or alternatively, decides that future revenue is sufficient repayment, will likely be a key factor for the oil companies as they consider their options.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"jd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/business\/energy\/trump-venezuela-oil-companies-reimburse-rcna252434\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Read the full story here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd95592\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-06T09:48:36.890Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"jf\">\n<p>10h ago \/ 4:48 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump says the U.S. isn\u2019t at war with Venezuela <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"jm\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767657722381_nn_kwe_trump_to_nbc_were_not_at_war_with_venezuela_260105_1920x1080-f5fgm7.avif\" alt=\"Trump to NBC: We\u2019re not at war with Venezuela\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"k6\">Venezuela will not have new elections in the next 30 days, President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC News, projecting a longer-term engagement two days after U.S. forces captured that nation\u2019s leader, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"k9\">\u201cWe have to fix the country first. You can\u2019t have an election. There\u2019s no way the people could even vote,\u201d Trump said about the possibility of a vote in the next month. \u201cNo, it\u2019s going to take a period of time. We have \u2014 we have to nurse the country back to health.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"kc\">In the roughly 20-minute interview,\u00a0Trump discussed the path forward in Venezuela, including when there will be elections, the opportunities for oil companies and Congress\u2019 role.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"kf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/trump-says-us-not-war-venezuela-rcna252427\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>31m ago \/ 1:44 PM EST Colombia&#8217;s military is ready to defend the country, foreign minister says Colombia&#8217;s foreign minister said the country&#8217;s military is prepared to defend it in the event of an attack by the United States. &#8220;If such aggression were to occur, the military must defend the national territory and the country\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8954\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}