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Venezuela鈥檚 Nicol谩s Maduro, captured by the United States and flown to New York over the weekend, is set to appear in federal court today. He faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, part of a new indictment unsealed Saturday. The Venezuelan Constitution requires elections within 30 days, but President Donald Trump claims the U.S. will 鈥渞un鈥� Venezuela until there is a 鈥渟afe, proper, and judicious transition.鈥� Interim President Delcy Rodr铆guez, who was vice president under Mr. Maduro, shifted her tone by calling for cooperation in a statement last night.

Cuba said 32 of its officers died in the U.S. operation, with police and security forces reportedly on a mission at the request of the Venezuelan government. The longtime Venezuelan ally condemned the strikes as an 鈥渁ct of State terrorism.鈥� Venezuela has not confirmed a death toll from the raid, but The New York Times reported a preliminary count of 80 people between civilians and security forces.

Iran condemned President Trump鈥檚 threat to intervene if Tehran kills demonstrators taking part in widening protests over the country鈥檚 economy. On Friday Mr. Trump vowed Washington was 鈥渓ocked and loaded.鈥� Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called the comments 鈥渞eckless.鈥� As of Saturday eight people had reportedly died in the protests, which began last week after another drop in Iran鈥檚 currency sparked anger among shopkeepers.

Britain and France struck Islamic State targets in Syria on Saturday, bombing an underground facility believed to store weapons near the ancient site of Palmyra. The U.K. defense ministry said the area was 鈥渄evoid of any civilian habitation.鈥� The move follows a wave of U.S. strikes last month in response to an attack by an IS supporter that killed three Americans. The group has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters across Iraq and Syria, which joined an anti-IS coalition late last year.

Mourners in Switzerland gathered for a special Sunday Mass to honor the victims of a fire that broke out at a bar in a Crans-Montana ski resort on New Year鈥檚 Eve.聽At a makeshift memorial nearby, flowers, candles, and handwritten notes have piled up for the 40 victims,聽many of them teenagers. Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the owners amid allegations of lax fire inspections, unauthorized renovations, and flammable soundproofing materials.

Stargazers can look forward to an exciting 2026. Get ready for a total lunar eclipse in March if you鈥檙e in the Americas, Asia, Australia, or the Pacific Islands, and a total solar eclipse if you find yourself in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, or Russia in August. And watch out for the launch of NASA鈥檚 Artemis II, planned for April, which will take a crew of astronauts past the moon, the farthest humans have traveled in space.

鈥� Our writers around the world

What was behind the seizure of Venezuela鈥檚 Nicol谩s Maduro? The Trump administration鈥檚 hemispheric strategy recalls the 1904 Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which asserts a U.S. right to intervene in Latin America in cases of 鈥渃hronic wrongdoing.鈥�

Israel鈥檚 and Iran鈥檚 defenses are vulnerable and rebuilding after the June war聽鈥� and not yet ready for another round聽鈥� so why is the leaders鈥� rhetoric so bellicose? Both governments have an interest in deflecting dissent, but the rationale for renewed hostilities still exists.

The American capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicol谩s Maduro as an alleged fugitive from U.S. justice 鈥� while an impressive military feat 鈥� has opened a vigorous, global debate about its legality. Is unilateral foreign intervention justified when a failing authoritarian state commits atrocities at home and exports drugs and migrants?

Yet for millions of Venezuelans 鈥� joyful over a dictator鈥檚 exit 鈥� the question is less about international law than about their quest for the very basis of law: the freedom of sovereign individuals to choose their government and maintain a shared civic identity.

鈥淭he time has come for popular sovereignty and national sovereignty to prevail in our country,鈥� Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mar铆a Corina Machado declared in a weekend social media post.

鈥淚n a free republic the only sovereign is the people,鈥� she pointed out in a 鈥淔reedom Manifesto鈥� published in November.

鈥淔reedom is not a privilege that is bestowed by a government; rather, it is an inherent right,鈥� the manifesto stated. 鈥淣o regime, political system, or tyranny has the power to rob us of what is divinely ours: the right to live with dignity, speak freely, create, dream, and prosper as individuals.鈥�

As Ms. Machado鈥檚 ally, Edmundo Gonz谩lez Urrutia 鈥� whom the United States and European Parliament recognize as the rightful winner of the country鈥檚 2024 presidential vote 鈥� noted last month, 鈥淭he sovereign mandate of the Venezuelan people in favor of a profound change has already been issued.鈥�

Recognizing the intrinsic dignity and sovereignty of individuals can help both Venezuela and the U.S. better navigate the political uncertainties that lie ahead. Many of the estimated 8 million Venezuelans who have fled the country over the past 12 years or so are hopeful 鈥� but still hesitant about returning. Mr. Maduro鈥檚 deputies and his military officials, who disregarded Mr. Gonz谩lez鈥檚 victory at the polls, have so far shown little sign of ceding power.

And President Donald Trump鈥檚 intention for the U.S. to 鈥渞un the country鈥� until a 鈥渏udicious transition鈥� has sown confusion 鈥� and concern. Writing in The Free Press, former Trump envoy Elliott Abrams questioned whether the U.S. will help Venezuelans recover freedom 鈥渙r try to 鈥榬un鈥� Venezuela with the ... discredited regime.鈥�

In rebuilding its economy, reuniting families, and respecting self-government, the country that produced Latin America鈥檚 first republican constitution in 1811 faces challenges. As its famed independence leader Sim贸n Bol铆var reportedly said, it can be 鈥渉arder to maintain the balance of liberty than to endure the weight of tyranny.鈥�

鈥淔reedom requires moral, spiritual, and physical strength,鈥� Ms. Machado acknowledged in a speech broadcast at a forum in Barcelona, Spain, last October. 鈥淎nd we have it,鈥� she affirmed.