The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Science For All The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in!

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

Updated - January 04, 2026 05:23 am IST - New York

One of three helicopters believed to be carrying Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores leaves after they were captured overnight in Venezuela by U.S. forces, at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, U.S. on January 3, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he spoke with President Donald Trump “directly” to register his opposition to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the U.S. military, as he termed the unilateral attack on a sovereign nation an “act of war”.

Mr. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York and are being brought to the city to face the charges against them.

Responding to a question on the situation in Venezuela and Mr. Maduro’s capture at a press conference, Mr. Mamdani said he “called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act".

“I registered my opposition. I made it clear and we left it at that,” Mr. Mamdani said, giving no details of what Mr. Trump’s response to him was.

The extraordinary international development has come just two days after Mr. Mamdani was sworn-in as New York City Mayor.

Mr. Mamdani was briefed Saturday (January 3) morning by his administration officials, including his chief of staff and the police commissioner, on the U.S. military capture of the Venezuelan president and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody in New York City.

Mr. Mamdani said the “blatant pursuit of regime change” impacts New Yorkers, including Venezuelans who live in the city.

“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” the newly sworn-in mayor said in a statement.

“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance,” Mamdani said.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a post on X that Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the U.S..

“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Ms. Bondi said, as she thanked Mr. Trump for “having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers”.