Americas

New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the developments in Venezuela following a US military operation that resulted in the detention of President Nicolas Maduro last Saturday, warning of the risks of escalating instability within the country and its potential repercussions across the region. In a statement delivered on his behalf by UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, Guterres said that the United States did not adhere to international law in carrying out its military operation in Venezuela, describing the action as a "dangerous precedent” that threatens the foundations of international relations and the UN Charter. He stressed that Venezuela's near-term future is highly uncertain and expressed concern about the potential rise in instability within the country, its impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for interstate relations. Guterres noted that Venezuela has suffered for decades from deep internal instability, coupled with a severe social and economic crisis and erosion of democratic principles, which has forced millions of citizens to flee the country. He called on all Venezuelan parties to engage in an inclusive democratic dialogue that allows all segments of society to determine the country's future. The Secretary-General's statement comes two days after US President Donald Trump announced a large-scale strike against Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of President Maduro and his wife and their transfer to US territory. Russia, China, and other countries termed the US military operation in Venezuela as a violation of international law, while US allies, many of whom opposed Maduro, expressed comparatively muted concern over the use of military force.

Americas

New York: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday pleaded not guilty to all U.S. charges during his first court appearance in New York. "I am innocent, I am not guilty," Maduro told the court, adding that he was seized at his home in Caracas and that he remains the president of Venezuela, according to media inside the courtroom. In the early hours of Saturday, USmilitary forces carried out attacks and bombings in Caracas and other parts of Venezuela and took Maduro and his wife by force, before putting them in custody in New York.

Middle East

Damascus: Israeli occupation forces renewed their attacks today on Quneitra Governorate in southern Syria, opening direct fire on agricultural lands west of the town of Al-Rafid in the southern countryside of the governorate. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), citing local sources, reported that the occupation forces targeted agricultural lands, without any civilian casualties. Israeli occupation forces continue their repeated violations and breaches of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement through incursions into southern Syria and attacks on civilians, including raids, arbitrary arrests, forced displacement, destruction of property, and the bulldozing of agricultural land. Syria has repeatedly demanded the withdrawal of occupation forces from its territory, stressing that all occupation measures are null and void and carry no legal effect under international law, and calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities, deter these practices, and compel Israel to fully withdraw and return to the Disengagement Agreement.