Morning Briefing: Jan. 6, 2026

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleading not guilty to all charges in a US court, the Greenland premier saying the territory is not at a point of "overnight takeover" like Venezuela, and US President Donald Trump saying Venezuela not to have new elections in the next 30 days.

TOP STORIES

• Venezuelan president pleads not guilty to all charges in US court

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, first lady Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty Monday to a series of gun and drug charges brought by the Trump administration.

"I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here," Maduro told US Judge Alvin Hellerstein, according to multiple reports. Flores similarly responded when asked for her plea, telling Hellerstein that she is "not guilty. Completely innocent."

Hellerstein advised Maduro and Flores that they have a right to a consular visit, and both said they would like to have one.

• Greenland premier says territory not at point of 'overnight takeover' like Venezuela

Greenland is not in a situation where an overnight takeover could occur, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Monday, rejecting comparisons with Venezuela and calling for direct communication rather than exchanges through the media.

“Our country is not the right one to compare with Venezuela. We have a country that is democratic. It has been so for many, many years,” Nielsen said at a press briefing.

Addressing concerns following recent US statements, Nielsen stressed there was no need to panic.

“The situation is not such that the United States can take over Greenland. That is not the situation. We should therefore not panic. We should restore the good cooperation we have had,” he said.

• Venezuela not to have new elections in next 30 days, Trump says

Venezuela will not have new elections in the next 30 days, US President Trump said Monday.

"We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote," Trump said in an interview with NBC News.

"No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have to nurse the country back to health," he added.

Trump said Saturday that US military action had resulted in the capture of President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, also pledging to assert American control over the country for the time being, with US troops if necessary. He stressed that the US is not at war with Venezuela.

​​​NEWS IN BRIEF

• Venezuela’s Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez was formally sworn in on Monday as interim president, following the capture of President Maduro in a US operation over the weekend.
• Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said he conveyed Ankara's sensitivities in a call with US President Trump, urging Venezuela not be abandoned to instability.
• A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck western Japan on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
• Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera won a third term in office, according to provisional results Monday from the National Electoral Authority.
• UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday reiterated deep concern over disrespect for international law following recent US military action against Venezuela that resulted in the capture of the country's President Maduro.
• The European Commission said Monday it is "very seriously" examining US social media company X's artificial intelligence chatbot Grok following reports that it generated sexually explicit content involving minors, describing the alleged outputs as "appalling" and "disgusting."
• Greenland’s future should be decided solely by the island and Denmark, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, in response to renewed suggestions from US President Trump that the US should annex the semi-autonomous territory.
• The EU on Monday said the recent US military action in Venezuela has created an "opportunity for a democratic transition led by the Venezuelan people," while stressing the need to respect international law and avoid further escalation.
• Syrian media said Monday that a government delegation is taking part in a current round of negotiations with Israel, in coordination and mediation by the US.
• A Paris criminal court on Monday convicted 10 people of cyberbullying over a coordinated online disinformation campaign that falsely claimed France's first lady Brigitte Macron was "transgender and a pedophile."
• Turkish President Erdogan, in written responses to questions from Bloomberg, called for Türkiye’s re-entry into the US-led F-35 fighter jet program, saying such a step would help strengthen relations between Türkiye and the US, and also enhance NATO security.
• Seven European countries on Monday condemned Israeli legislation that includes measures to cut water, electricity, and communications to facilities run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
• Ukraine’s Security Service chief Vasyl Maliuk said Monday that he is stepping down, following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement earlier this month of a “substantial” reshuffle.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US firm Chevron resumes exports of Venezuelan oil after 4-day pause

An oil tanker chartered by the US oil giant Chevron resumed exports of Venezuelan oil on Monday, after a four-day pause due to the US intervention in Caracas, according to shipping data.

In the midst of an oil embargo that US President Trump said on Saturday was still in effect following the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro, Chevron is the only firm now permitted by Washington to export Venezuelan crude.

Ship monitoring data showed that Chevron's loaded tankers had not sailed to the US in recent days due to the US military operation.

• Türkiye's year-end annual inflation eases to 30.89%

Türkiye's annual inflation rate dropped to 30.89% in December, down from 31.07% in November, official figures from the Turkish statistical office TurkStat showed on Monday.

An Anadolu survey predicted last week that the inflation would be down to 31%.

Consumer prices in the three main expenditure groups with the highest weight increased by 28.31% for food and non-alcoholic beverages, 28.44% for transportation, and 49.45% for housing annually.

The contributions of these main groups to the annual change were 7.07% for food and non-alcoholic beverages, 4.36% for transportation, and 7.52% for housing.