New Delhi: Barely days into the new year, the world is gripped by escalating unrest, with military strikes, widespread protests, and deepening conflicts painting a grim picture of instability across continents.
In a dramatic escalation, the United States launched airstrikes on Venezuela early on Saturday, targeting Caracas and nearby regions like Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.
President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and removed from the country, marking a bold intervention amid long-standing accusations of resource grabs and regime issues. Caracas declared a national emergency, condemning the action as aggression aimed at its vast oil reserves, while international reactions poured in, ranging from outrage to calls for UN intervention.
Meanwhile, in Iran, anti-government protests fuelled by soaring inflation and economic hardship have entered their seventh day, claiming at least eight lives. Demonstrators, chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have spread from Tehran to sensitive areas like Qom, defying heavy security.
Elsewhere, Bangladesh braces for February elections amid violent clashes targeting minorities, particularly Hindus, following the death of a student leader.
In Yemen, the protracted civil war sees fresh rifts, with Saudi strikes complicating the Iran-backed Houthi conflict.
The Russia-Ukraine war, nearing its fourth year, has intensified with mutual accusations of attacks.
As old tensions flare and new crises erupt, 2026 opens on a note of uncertainty, raising fears of wider geopolitical fallout.