MARKET RECAP → The Dow Jones Average (DIA) closed 600 points higher Monday, reaching a new all-time high, as markets rallied after news of the US capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

⚖️ MADURO IN U.S. COURT→ Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in a U.S. federal courtroom on narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking charges after being captured by American forces; both pleaded not guilty and contest the legality of their capture. Global reactions range from support for legal accountability to sharp criticism over sovereignty and U.S. intervention.

⚔️ U.S. STRIKE & TAIWAN FOCUS→ A U.S. strike on Venezuela and capture of Maduro has emboldened China’s criticisms of Washington and may bolster Beijing’s territorial rhetoric, but analysts see no direct link to an imminent Taiwan invasion, as China’s strategy is shaped by separate factors.

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For the week beginning January 05, 2026

⚖️ Former Venezuelan Leader Appears in Court: Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared Monday in a New York federal court after being captured by U.S. forces over the weekend and flown to the United States to face narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges. Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and others are accused of running a cocaine trafficking network that enriched Venezuela’s ruling circle and allegedly involved violent crimes; each faces potential life sentences.

🗣️ Defiant Plea & Sovereignty Claims: In court, Maduro pleaded not guilty and declared himself the legitimate president, claiming he was “captured” and calling himself a “prisoner of war” while protesting the legality of the U.S. operation. Flores also pleaded innocent, reported injuries from their capture, and both were ordered to remain in custody until at least a hearing set for March 17

🌍 Geopolitical Fallout: The extraordinary U.S. military capture and legal action—a rare case of a foreign head of state facing charges in U.S. court—has sparked global condemnation and debates over international law, sovereignty, and U.S. intervention. President Donald Trump’s administration frames the move as law enforcement against narco-terrorism and hints at interim U.S. control, while allies like Russia and China denounce it as aggression

🌎 U.S. Military Action in Venezuela: The United States carried out precision strikes in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and flying him to New York to face charges, prompting global reactions and sparking intense debate over international norms.

⚔️ Beijing’s Diplomatic Backlash: China strongly condemned the U.S. action as a violation of international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty, denouncing it as “hegemonic” and urging respect for the UN Charter. Analysts note Beijing may use the episode politically to push back against U.S. influence and defend its own territorial claims, including over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

🗣️ Taiwan Implications: While China could amplify rhetoric about U.S. aggression, most analysts believe the Venezuela strike won’t speed up a Chinese military attack on Taiwan, a decision driven more by Beijing’s internal strategic calculations and military readiness than by unrelated U.S. actions in Latin America.

Maduro says he was ‘kidnapped’ and is ‘prisoner of war’ in New York court, pleads not guilty (CNBC)

Michael Burry’s big play off the U.S.-Venezuela situation, which the investor has held for years (CNBC)

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Coinbase, Arista Networks, Chevron, Halliburton & more (CNBC)

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