Tuesday morning news: January 6, 2025

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UN meeting » At United Nations headquarters Monday, US officials answered critics of the weekend US operation in Venezuela that captured dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Those critics included Denmark. The country’s Ambassador to the U.N. Christina Markus Lassen told the council:

LASSEN: The principles of sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity must be respected. The inviolability of borders is not up for negotiation.

Nations allied with Maduro’s regime were among the loudest critics. China and even Russia piled on. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya heard here through an interpreter:

NEBENZYA: We firmly condemn the US act of armed aggression against Venezuela in breach of all international legal norms.

His remarks came as Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine, in which the UN estimates some 15,000 civilians have been killed.

US Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz fired back, saying Maduro is a criminal whose crimes against the United States will soon be laid bare in a court of law.

He added that a UN panel of experts found that Maduro’s supposed victory in 2024 was not legitimate, that more than 50 nations did not recognize as a legitimate head of state.

WALZ: If the UN and the United Nations in this body confers legitimacy on an illegitimate narco terrorist, and the same treatment in this charter of a democratically elected president or head of state, what kind of organization is this?

Venezuelan anti-corruption activist Mercedes de Freitas, through an interpreter, said Maduro has installed an illegitimate government that oppresses and starves its people.

FREITAS: To date, there are more than 1000 political prisoners at the end of the year, 26 people died during torture or because a, a lack of medical care.

Freitas now operates in exile under threat from the Venezuelan regime.

Maduro pleads not guilty » Meantime, Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom Monday, pleading not guilty to drug-trafficking charges.

He told the court—quote—“I was captured,” insisting he is Venezuela’s rightfully elected president.

Maduro and his wife entered the courthouse under heavy guard two days after U.S. forces seized them in a weekend military operation at a Venezuelan military installation near Caracas.

The FBI took part in that operation. And FBI Director Kash Patel said Maduro was running a criminal regime.

PATEL:  Venezuela acted not only as a large and massive transshipment point by air and by sea, but also allowed drug traffickers to operate, uh, with reckless abandon inside their borders. And their direct target of deployment was the United States of America in large part.

Prosecutors accuse the former dictator of working with drug cartels to move large amounts of cocaine into the United States.

Maduro’s lawyers argue the arrest was illegal.

Ukraine latest » In Washington:

TRUMP: I don't believe that strike happened.

President Trump told reporters yesterday he doesn't believe the Kremlin's claim that Ukrainian drones struck a residence belonging to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Trump admitted that he was concerned about the allegation when Putin first brought it up last week.

TRUMP: I mean that was the first I'd heard about it. He said that his house was attacked. We don't believe that happened, now that we have been able to check. But that was the first we ever heard about it.

Meanwhile in Ukraine ...

SOUND: [Aftermath in Kyiv]

... first responders worked to evacuate the injured earlier yesterday at a medical facility in Kyiv. Officials say one person was killed and three others were injured after a Russian strike on the center.

Congressional briefing  » Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth last night briefed congressional leaders last night about the operation in Venezuela and where things now stand.

Democrats say the briefing raised more questions than answers. And they still insist the Trump administration acted illegally by not consulting Congress before green-lighting the operation. But House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters:

JOHNSON:  Under Article two of the Constitution, the President has the authority, as all presidents do, to deploy military forces to address threats to the US and to enforce US law. That is what happened here.

During last night’s briefing, lawmakers pressed officials on whether American troops could be sent — Johnson said they were told there are no plans for ground troops.

They also pressed for answers on who is now running the country, and how long U.S. naval forces will remain offshore.

CPB to close » Leaders of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting have voted to shut down the organization. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports:

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The announcement will end the group’s nearly 60-year role in directing federal funds to PBS, NPR, and local public media stations.

The board acted after Congress cut off funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting last year.

While CPB is a nonprofit, it was never designed to operate as a public-facing charity. Its core mission was to receive federal taxpayer dollars and pass them along to public broadcasters. Once that funding ended, CPB effectively lost its reason for existing.

Rather than try to reinvent itself or compete with stations for donations, the board chose to dissolve the organization.

CPB says public media outlets will continue operating independently.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Vaccine changes » The U.S. has updated its childhood vaccine guidance, reducing the number of shots recommended for all children. Federal health officials now advise vaccines for 11 diseases, down from about 17 before.

Vaccines for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, RSV, and some types of meningitis are no longer recommended for every child. Instead, doctors may suggest them for higher-risk kids or decide case by case with families.

Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center says doctors need to do a better job helping parents understand vaccines, not just asking for consent.

SCHAFFNER:  There are indeed a lot of new parents who really don't understand this issue and are rather taken aback that their newborn baby is getting an injection with a vaccine.

Some medical groups have raised concerns that the policy shift could confuse parents and weaken protection against preventable illnesses.

But administration officials say the change follows a review of vaccine schedules in other developed countries meant to focus on core protections. They add that the vaccines will remain available and covered by insurance.

I'm Kent Covington.

Still ahead, what’s next for the people of Venezuela? And later, Hunter Baker on Tim Walz’s final act in Minnesota.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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