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US Plans New Phase of Operations to Pressure Venezuela’s Maduro
The United States is preparing to begin a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four US officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration escalates its campaign against President Nicolás Maduro.
Although the exact timing and scale of the planned operations remain unclear, officials said covert actions are expected to be the first step. The moves come amid a major US military buildup in the Caribbean and rising tensions with Caracas.
The Pentagon referred questions to the White House, while the CIA declined to comment. A senior administration official, speaking anonymously, said President Donald Trump was prepared “to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice.”
Washington accuses Maduro of overseeing drug trafficking through the Cartel de los Soles, an organisation the US plans to designate as a foreign terrorist group as soon as Monday. Maduro has denied the allegations, calling them part of a long-running US attempt to remove him from power.
Covert Operations and Growing Military Presence
Two officials said the new phase could involve steps to overthrow Maduro, though they acknowledged that discussions are still ongoing. Trump has previously authorised covert CIA operations in Venezuela, and a significant military deployment is already in place.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean on November 16, joining seven other warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 fighter jets. Officially, US forces have been focused on counter-narcotics operations, though analysts note the firepower deployed far exceeds what is typically required for such missions.
Since September, US forces have carried out at least 21 strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, reportedly killing 83 people. Human rights organisations have condemned these operations as potential extrajudicial killings, warning they could violate international law.
Terrorist Designation Expands US Options
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the upcoming terrorist designation of the Cartel de los Soles would “bring a whole bunch of new options to the United States.” Trump has said the move would allow Washington to target Maduro’s assets and infrastructure in Venezuela while keeping open the possibility of renewed diplomatic talks.
Two US officials confirmed that conversations between Caracas and Washington are ongoing but said it is unclear whether those talks will influence the timing or extent of the new operations.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has also warned airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela, leading three international carriers to cancel flights on Saturday.
Maduro Defiant as US Pressures Mount
Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013, accused Washington of seeking regime change and vowed that the nation’s military and citizens would resist any attempt to topple his government. On Saturday night, he appeared at Caracas’s main theatre for the premiere of a television series based on his life.
The Venezuelan military remains under strain from low wages, poor training, and outdated equipment. Some commanders have reportedly resorted to trading with local food producers to feed their troops.
Facing the possibility of a US intervention, Maduro’s government has discussed adopting a “prolonged resistance” strategy involving small, decentralised military units conducting guerrilla-style operations and acts of sabotage from over 280 locations, according to Venezuelan sources and military planning documents seen by Reuters.
The escalating standoff underscores Washington’s determination to force change in Venezuela and Maduro’s resolve to resist it, even as his country grapples with deep economic and humanitarian crises.
(with inputs from Reuters)
U.S., Ukraine Discuss ‘Refined’ Peace Plan To End Russia War
The United States and Ukraine were set to continue work on Monday on a plan to end the war with Russia after agreeing to modify an earlier proposal that was widely seen as too favorable to Moscow.
The two sides said in a joint statement they had drafted a “refined peace framework” after talks in Geneva on Sunday, although they did not provide specifics.
The White House separately said the Ukrainian delegation had told them it “reflects their national interests” and “addresses their core strategic requirements,” although Kyiv did not issue a statement of its own.
It was not clear how the updated plan would handle a host of issues, including how to guarantee Ukraine’s security against ongoing threats from Russia. The United States and Ukraine said they would continue “intensive work” ahead of a Thursday deadline, although U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the American delegation during the talks, was flying back to Washington late on Sunday.
Pressure On Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump has kept up the pressure on Ukraine to reach a deal. On Sunday, he said Ukraine had shown “zero gratitude” for American efforts over the war, prompting Ukrainian officials to emphasize their thanks for Trump’s support.
Trump previously set a Thursday deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a peace plan, but Rubio said on Sunday that the deadline might not be set in stone.
Zelenskyy could travel to the United States as soon as this week to discuss the most sensitive aspects of the plan with Trump, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The initial 28-point proposal put forth by the United States last week called on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military, and abandon its ambitions to join NATO. Those terms would amount to capitulation for many Ukrainians after nearly four years of fighting in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
The original plan came as a surprise to U.S. officials across the administration, and two sources said on Saturday it was crafted at an October meeting in Miami that included special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy who is under U.S. sanctions.
Counter Proposal By Europe
Democratic lawmakers have criticized it as essentially a Russian wish list, but Rubio has insisted that Washington authored the plan with input from both sides in the war.
European allies said they were not involved in crafting the original plan, and they released a counter-proposal on Sunday that would ease some of the proposed territorial concessions and include a NATO-style security guarantee from the United States for Ukraine if it is attacked.
The talks come as Russia has slowly gained ground in some regions, while Ukraine’s power and gas facilities have been pummeled by drone and missile attacks, leaving millions of people without water, heating, and power for hours each day.
Zelenskyy has also been under pressure at home, as a major corruption scandal has ensnared some of his ministers, stirring fresh anger at pervasive graft. That has complicated the country’s efforts to secure funding to keep its economy afloat.
Kyiv had taken heart in recent weeks after the United States tightened sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, the main source of funding for the war, while its own long-range drone and missile strikes have caused considerable damage to the industry.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Malaysia To Ban Social Media For Children Amid Safety Concerns
Joining a growing list of countries, Malaysia plans to ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting from next year following concerns about child safety.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday the government was reviewing mechanisms used to impose age restrictions for social media use in Australia and other nations, citing a need to protect youths from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.
“We hope by next year that social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to bar those under the age of 16 from opening user accounts,” he told reporters, according to a video of his remarks posted online by local daily The Star.
Impact of Social Media
The effects of social media on children’s health and safety have become a growing global concern, with companies including TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta Platforms – the operator of Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp – facing lawsuits in United States for their role in fueling a mental health crisis.
In Australia, social media platforms are poised to deactivate accounts registered to users under 16 next month, under a sweeping ban for teenagers that is being closely watched by regulators around the world.
France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are also jointly testing a template for an age verification app.
Social Media Companies under Scrutiny
Malaysia’s neighbour Indonesia said in January it planned to set a minimum age for social media users, but later issued a less stringent regulation requiring tech platforms to filter negative content and impose stronger age verification measures.
Malaysia has put social media companies under greater scrutiny in recent years in response to what it claims to be a rise in harmful content, including online gambling and posts related to race, religion and royalty.
Platforms and messaging services with more than 8 million users in Malaysia are now required to obtain a license under a new regulation that came into effect in January.
(With inputs from Reuters)
India and Canada Agree To Resume Trade Talks After Two-Year Diplomatic Rift
Canada and India have agreed to restart long-stalled negotiations for a comprehensive trade deal, signalling a thaw in relations after a two-year diplomatic freeze. The decision came following a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to a statement from India’s Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders agreed to relaunch talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the goal of doubling bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.
“Prime Minister @narendramodi and I met at the G20 Summit today, and launched negotiations for a trade deal that could more than double our trade to over C$70 billion,” Carney posted on X. “India is the world’s fifth-largest economy, and that means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.”
Rebuilding Ties and Expanding Trade Horizons
The resumption of talks marks an important step in repairing ties between Ottawa and New Delhi. Canada halted negotiations in 2023 after accusing India of involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist an allegation New Delhi strongly denied.
Despite the tensions, bilateral trade continued to grow modestly. Two-way trade in goods and services reached about C$31 billion (USD 21.98 billion) in 2024, with Canada maintaining a surplus largely due to C$16 billion in services exports. By comparison, Canada’s total trade with China that year was nearly four times higher.
Both sides also reaffirmed their civil nuclear cooperation, including discussions on long-term uranium supply arrangements. The statement noted that the two leaders were committed to expanding collaboration across energy and technology sectors.
Canada’s Push to Diversify Trade
Prime Minister Carney has pledged to double Canada’s non-US exports over the next decade as part of a broader strategy to reduce economic dependence on the United States, its largest trading partner. Strengthening ties with India the world’s most populous nation and a rapidly expanding market is central to that goal.
Speaking earlier on Sunday, Carney described India as a “reliable trading partner,” though he acknowledged that “some sources of friction” may remain. “What we’re looking to do is to put that commercial relationship on a sound footing through a trade agreement that provides protections to businesses on both sides, clear rules, and dispute resolution mechanisms,” he said.
Carney also held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the G20, where the two agreed to accelerate negotiations on a Canada-Mercosur free trade agreement involving Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The revival of trade talks with India underscores a growing effort by Canada to deepen engagement with emerging economies as it repositions itself in an increasingly complex global trade environment.
(with inputs from Reuters)
China, Germany Eye Deeper Cooperation Amid Trade Pressures
China’s Premier Li Qiang, during a Sunday meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the G20 summit, called for deeper cooperation in areas such as new energy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, and intelligent driving, according to Xinhua.
Relations between the world’s second- and third-largest economies have improved significantly over the past month, after Chinese export curbs on chips and rare earths caused major disruptions for German firms and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to cancel a visit to Beijing last month due to China rejecting all but one of his meetings.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil paid Merz’s first official visit last week, meeting Vice Premier He Lifeng to steady ties as Trump’s tariffs pressure both exporters.
Merz is also expected to visit China soon.
Call for Closer Cooperation
“China is willing to work with Germany to seize future development opportunities … in emerging fields such as new energy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, hydrogen energy technology, and intelligent driving, Li said in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is hosting the first G20 summit on the continent.
China bought $95 billion worth of German goods last year, around 12% of which were cars, Chinese data shows, putting it among the $19 trillion economy’s top 10 trading partners. Germany purchased $107 billion of Chinese goods, mostly chips and other electronic components.
Trade Relations
But Berlin stands out for China as an investment partner, having injected $6.6 billion in fresh capital in 2024, according to data from the Mercator Institute for China Studies, accounting for 45% of all foreign direct investment into China from the European Union and the United Kingdom.
For Germany, China represents a practically irreplaceable auto market, and is responsible for almost a third of German automakers’ sales. German chemicals and pharmaceuticals firms also have a large presence in the country, although they are facing increasing pressure from domestic competitors.
(With inputs from Reuters)
G20: South Korean President Meets Chinese Premier, Japanese PM
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during last weekend’s Group of 20 (G20) summit in South Africa, Lee’s office said in a statement on Monday.
During a speech on Sunday, Lee pledged to make the G20 gathering remain the most influential forum for international cooperation when South Korea hosts the event in 2028.
Mutual Trust
South Korea’s President told Li that he was hoping for a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing in the near future, and that Li said he would deliver the message to Xi, according to a statement.
Lee said communication is important to build up mutual trust between the two countries, and that Li agreed with that, the statement said.
At the meeting with Japan’s Takaichi, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral relations amid a precarious international order, Lee’s office said.
Lee and Takaichi emphasised their commitment to “shuttle diplomacy” and their future-oriented cooperation in the economy, security and other areas, reports The Korean Herald.
The Korea Herald reported that this is their second meeting between Lee and Takaichi, having sat down for talks on Oct. 30 on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
Japan-China Spat
The Kyodo News reported that Sanae Takaichi and Li Qiang did not exchange words during the G20 summit, as the two nations remain divided over the Japanese PM’s comments on a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan.
In a fresh warning from Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted Sunday by his ministry as saying the current Japanese leader had openly sent a wrong signal by attempting to intervene militarily in the Taiwan question, crossing a red line that should not have been touched.
After attending the two-day summit in her G20 debut, Takaichi told reporters that she had not arranged a meeting with Li.
“Japan is open to dialogue at various levels,” Takaichi said. “There are concerns and issues between Japan and China. That’s why we should work to reduce them, understand each other and cooperate more,” she added.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Pakistan: Suicide Bombers Kill 3 At Paramilitary HQ In Peshawar
Three suicide bombers targeted the headquarters of a Pakistani paramilitary force on Monday, killing three personnel and wounding at least five, authorities said.
The attackers opened fire as they forced themselves into the headquarters of the frontier constabulary in Peshawar city before blowing themselves up inside the complex, police said.
Three paramilitary personnel were killed, said Javed Iqbal, the deputy commandant of the force.
Attack Details
The Express Tribune, A Pakistani news organisation, reported that nine injured victims from the blast have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, spokesman Mohammad Asim said. “The injured are in stable condition and are receiving medical treatment”. The wounded include three Federal Constabulary personnel and civilians.
“All injured are currently out of danger, while an emergency has been declared at LRH,” the spokesman added.
“The first suicide bomber carried out an attack on the main entrance of the constabulary and the others entered the compound,” a senior official told Reuters on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
“Law enforcement personnel, including the army and police, have cordoned off the area and are carefully handling the situation as we suspect there are some terrorists inside the headquarters,” the official added.
No Specific Threat
The headquarters of the force is located in a densely populated area of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Inspector General also told Express Tribune News that there had been no specific threat alert regarding the assault on the FC headquarters, but added that timely action allowed security personnel to bring the situation under control quickly. The IG noted that similar attacks in the province’s southern districts had recently been foiled and that a province-wide security review was conducted last week.
“The road has been closed for traffic and cordoned off by the army, police and (security) personnel,” Safdar Khan, a resident of the area, told Reuters.
The five wounded people, including two paramilitary personnel, were taken to Lady Reading Hospital, its spokesperson Mohammad Asim said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack and lauded security forces for their “timely action,” as per a statement issued by the PM Office, reported the Dawn.
Repeated Attacks
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
This attack is the latest one in a string of suicide blasts in Pakistan lately. On November 11, at least 12 people were killed and several others injured in a suicide bombing outside a local court in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
Islamist militants operating in the region have ramped up attacks in recent weeks after last month’s deadly border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan blames the Afghan Taliban for harbouring the militants who it says launch cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies.
(with inputs from Reuters)
‘Refining Critical Minerals Is Low-Hanging Fruit For India’
In the last week, two countries have shown interest in exploring a critical minerals partnership with India: Canada and Venezuela. This is a welcome step for New Delhi, which is seeking to capitalise on its vast reserves of rare earth elements (REEs), thorium, niobium, and other critical minerals. With these resources, the nation is uniquely positioned to transform its mineral wealth into the backbone of defence, clean energy, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.
However, the thought to implementation process for this is taking a while. Anindita Sinh, Research Associate at Centre for Social and Economic Progress, told StratNewsGlobal on The Gist that the turnaround time to set up a mine that is viable is somewhere around 7-10 years. “Exploration itself has been an underfunded sector historically, so there has to be a push for that. Environmental clearances need to be done, which takes a lot of time. Getting a mine to work is often hard.”
Even if extraction is outsourced, India faces other challenges, says Sinh: There is no manufacturing capacity within India. “Even if we do get a lot of these minerals and raw materials from other nations, we don’t have the capacity within the nation to actually do something with them,” she adds.
Simply said, mineral extraction alone cannot help, and India needs to look downstream as part of its framework. Refining and recycling of critical minerals is the low-hanging fruit that India can achieve and be competitive in, even if the raw imports come from India’s own resource pool or from its investments abroad.
This is where Sinh believes international partnerships would play in. In her paper, “Partnerships for Self-Reliance: Internationalising India’s Critical Minerals Sector”, she suggests that India’s rare earths industry can benefit in partnerships with more like-minded nations in the Global South, versus the current scenario where we focus on the Global North. “We can look at Indonesia, different partners in Africa, Latin America, and perhaps even Brazil. We have similar economic needs, experiences, culture with these nations, so there is a lot more in tandem with them.”
In fact, she also suggests that India can consider increasing its engagement with China, the world’s largest rare earths exporter. While it has to be done with caution, limited interaction can help India diversify its supply chains, build technology and capacity within the country too.
Her other suggestions also include focusing more on partnerships, processing and getting the private sector involved. Policy recommendations on relaxing overlapping mandates and providing tax incentives were also made. Sinh is confident that these measures will help India achieve self-reliance in this sector.
To watch the whole interview, click here.
Not Mentioning Tibet With China Is India’s Strategy: Penpa Tsering
Penpa Tsering, President, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), or the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, spoke to Nayanima Basu for ‘The Gist‘ on StratNews Global on the upcoming elections to select the next ‘President’ or Sikyong and on the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama and the stance taken by China.
During the conversation, Tsering said, there might come a situation where the world will end up having two Dalai Lamas – one who will be born in the “free world” as the 14th Dalai Lama has said, and the one selected by China.
In his view, the latter will not have any freedom to move around the world because he will be a Chinese puppet, answerable only to Beijing and therefore lacking credibility. The one selected by the Dalai Lama or through the trust he has set up, will be the true successor.
His Holiness has already indicated that there will be a “framework” to discuss the succession, one that abides by Tibetan tradition and will respect the immense faith reposed in him by followers all over the world.
Tsering was clear that China “is using the reincarnation issue as a political tool. The next Dalai Lama can be a woman, or a successor can be selected by the Dalai Lama even while he is living.”
Only the Dalai Lama can decide on this issue, one which touches the heart of the spiritual seat of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsering was clear that China was only intent on finessing its control over Tibet. It made no sense that an officially atheist state is meddling in what is a purely religious matter. The world also needs to recall how China has dealt with Tibet and the Tibetan people.
He said that since the Central Tibetan Administration is headed for general elections in February and April 2026, his office is focussed on bringing the entire Tibetan community worldwide together.
Tune in for more in this conversation with Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration.
G20 Adopts Declaration As Summit Begins
G20 leaders in Johannesburg adopted the summit declaration at the outset of today’s proceedings, an unusually early move that came even as the United States refused to participate.
Diplomats were taken aback by the timing, which followed strong support from attending nations for a document heavily influenced by India’s priorities and the concerns of the Global South.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the decision, telling leaders there was “overwhelming consensus and agreement” to adopt the declaration. He urged them not to “allow anything to diminish the value, the stature and the impact of the first African G20 presidency.”
The U.S. objections and absence did not shift the hosts. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson said the declaration “can’t be renegotiated” and noted that “the past week has been quite intense” as negotiators finalised support for the text.
Vincent Magwenya, speaking for the South African presidency, said the decision to adopt the declaration at the start was deliberate, explaining that “normally, the adoption of the declaration happens right at the end. But there was a sense that we should actually move to have the summit declaration adopted first as the first order of the day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump objected to the wording on climate change and announced Washington would not attend the summit. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola rejected the idea that proceedings should be delayed, stating, “The multilateral platform cannot be paralysed on the basis of the absence of someone who was invited. This G20 is not about the U.S.”
The declaration carries forward India’s themes from its 2023 presidency. It reinforces New Delhi’s position on terrorism, condemning it in all forms, and places India’s digital vision at the core by highlighting Digital Public Infrastructure and reaffirming commitments to developing artificial intelligence that is “safe, secure and trustworthy.”
Women-led development features prominently, with calls to expand opportunities for women and girls.
India’s work on disaster resilience remains visible. The outcomes of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group are strengthened, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure receives continued support. The Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition, shaped during India’s presidency, are reaffirmed in discussions on global food insecurity.
Health provisions reflect India’s influence, recognising the role of traditional and complementary medicine in national systems. On climate finance, the declaration acknowledges that developing countries will need USD 5.8–5.9 trillion before 2030 to meet their goals. India’s LiFE initiative on sustainable lifestyles also reappears.
New Delhi’s long-standing push for UN Security Council reform is reflected directly in the document, mirroring the growing backing from Global South nations for updated global governance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told leaders that global development metrics must be reassessed. In a post on X, he wrote, “Now is the right moment for us to revisit our development parameters and focus on growth that is inclusive and sustainable. India’s civilisational values, especially the principle of Integral Humanism, offer a way forward.”
Leaders also endorsed a new G20 Critical Minerals Framework designed to help developing countries capture more value from their mineral wealth. The blueprint calls for investment in exploration, responsible mining and local processing, while emphasising the right of mineral-rich nations to benefit from their own resources.
Modi also met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines.
Following these meetings, a trilateral joint statement announced a new Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership on critical and emerging technologies alongside their existing bilateral initiatives.
The partnership will leverage the three countries’ strengths with a focus on green energy innovation, resilient supply chains—including in critical minerals—and deeper collaboration toward net-zero goals. It will also explore the development and wide adoption of artificial intelligence to improve public services and quality of life. Officials from all three sides will meet in the first quarter of 2026 to advance the initiative.
The summit remains underway, but the early adoption of the declaration—despite U.S. objections—has already marked the direction of the meeting, underscoring India’s continuing influence and the deeper integration of Global South priorities.