Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's envoy, Freddy Galarate Gonzalez Urrutia, is touring Latin America to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power. He was hosted by the president of Panama and met with a group of former and current officials from the region. The tour has received support from several leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who met with Gonzalez Urrutia in Washington. However, Maduro's government has responded by declaring nine Latin American ex-presidents persona non-grata and accusing them of plotting against him. Maduro has also activated a "integral defense" plan to deploy police and soldiers across the country, citing a plot to prevent his inauguration. The strongman claims that authorities have arrested several foreigners, including two Americans, with "terrorist" intentions.
https://www.montanarightnow.com/national_news/venezuela-opposition-decry-crackdown-before-maduro-swearing-in/article_58daab51-072f-5946-81d9-2a8319dfe35c.htmlEuropean officials have expressed outrage over Elon Musk's statements supporting the radical right in the UK and Germany. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Barrot called on the European Commission to protect member states from external interference, warning that if it fails to do so, responsibility will be handed back to individual countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused Musk of inciting hatred and attacking institutions, while French President Emmanuel Macron described his views as supporting a "reactionary international" that threatens European democracies.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/940259-blinken-musk-has-the-right-to-express-his-position-like-any-american-citizenA group of six former CIA officers have analyzed intelligence on the GRU's operations in Afghanistan, confirming existing US intelligence community views that Russia has been involved in destabilizing efforts in the region. The analysts found evidence of Russian interference, which contradicts previous claims by some that such actions were exaggerated or fabricated for political reasons.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/09/russias-gru-paid-taliban-to-target-us-forces-in-afghanistan-insider-a87540Tensions are rising between Tajikistan and the Taliban, with both sides accusing each other of carrying out attacks in Afghanistan. The situation has prompted Russia and Pakistan to urge the two parties to cool off their rhetoric, as they are concerned about conflict on the border. Meanwhile, France is seeking to strengthen its ties with Tajikistan, which it sees as a key partner in addressing regional security concerns related to Afghanistan. In other developments, China's military is increasing its combat readiness at bases in Central Asia, while India and Pakistan are navigating their complex relationship amidst a thaw in relations between the two countries. The US may also be considering intervening to secure the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan from detention.
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/tajikistan-and-the-russian-scheme-to-pay-taliban-to-target-americans-in-afghanistan/The United States has warned that North Korea is becoming increasingly prepared for war by providing military aid to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. This development has raised concerns about the potential escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, in California, the death toll from the LA wildfires has risen to 5 as firefighters struggle to contain multiple blazes. In a separate incident, a whistleblower has alleged that British soldiers were given a "golden pass" to avoid prosecution for killings committed during their deployment in Afghanistan. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also dismissed former President Trump's suggestion that the US should purchase Greenland from Denmark, stating it is not going to happen.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/after-france-germanys-scholz-warns-trump-against-his-greenland-plans-says-borders-must-not-be-moved-13851148.htmlThe US, UK and South Korea have accused North Korea of stealing military secrets through cyber attacks. This has led to a strong rebuke from China, which is an ally of North Korea. Meanwhile, Google has launched a cybersecurity center in Tokyo to combat threats in the Asia region. Experts note that while AI offers solutions to these issues, it needs to be more transparent in its methods and operations.
https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/turkiye-launches-cybersecurity-agency-to-tackle-growing-digital-threats-18251639Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is set to attend a UN event despite facing an impeachment crisis at home. Meanwhile, international tensions are escalating as Russia and Ukraine engage in aerial strikes against each other. In another development, the FSB has thwarted a bomb attack in Yekaterinburg, detaining four suspects. Additionally, Azerbaijan Airlines has accused Moscow of being responsible for a fatal plane crash that occurred in the country's airspace.
https://www.trtworld.com/europe/over-12300-civilians-killed-in-russia-ukraine-war-un-18251732The international community is struggling to formulate a plan for Gaza after more than a year of war, with diplomats citing a lack of detail from recent talks between Israel and the UAE. The UAE is advocating for a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem under an independent Palestinian state, which Israel has publicly opposed. The PA was established in 1993-1995 but was run out of Gaza by Hamas after a civil war in 2007. The US State Department has been discussing options for governance, security, and reconstruction with partners including the UAE, but declined to comment on private diplomatic conversations. Some diplomats have suggested that Emirati officials proposed using private military contractors as part of a post-war peacekeeping force in Gaza, which would likely spark concerns among Western nations due to past allegations of human rights abuses.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1961286/uae-discusses-post-war-gaza-government-with-us-and-israelHong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was questioned by two High Court judges on January 7, 2024, over his comments calling for Taiwan to join a US-led strategic alliance, known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, to counter mainland China's influence. The Quad, comprising the US, Japan, Australia, and India, is seen as a counterbalance to China's growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Lai, 77, made the remarks on his online commentary program "Live Chat with Jimmy Lai" on November 12, 2020, after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3293792/taiwan-should-join-us-led-alliance-protection-hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-says?module=top_story&pgtype=section