Political Shifts: Venezuelan Exile, Hegseth's Confirmation Fight, and Yoon's Arrest

Good Morning,

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González arrived in Guatemala after postponing his return to Venezuela, Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's controversial nominee for Secretary of Defense, faced intense Democratic scrutiny during a contentious Senate confirmation hearing but secured critical Republican support, and South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a large-scale operation at the presidential compound.

Top Stories

• Venezuelan opposition leader González lands in Guatemala days after Maduro sworn in for 3rd term (AP)

• Trump nominee Pete Hegseth weathers Democrats' grilling to emerge largely unscathed (RT)

• TikTok users in US flock to ‘China’s Instagram’ ahead of ban (AJ)

• Microsoft pauses hiring in U.S. consulting unit as part of cost-cutting plan, memo says (CNBC)

• South Korea’s impeached President Yoon detained in massive law-enforcement effort (AP)

• Four Takeaways From Hegseth’s Confirmation Hearing (NYT)

• Tulsi Gabbard’s Charm Offensive Draws Skepticism From Republican Senators (WSJ)

• 6 killed in Israeli drone strike on occupied West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp (AJ)

• Trump and Biden national and homeland security staff will meet Wednesday for threat exercises (CNN)

• Mexican president might avoid Trump's 'day one' tariffs (RT)

• Ireland moves closer to forming a new government after a deal is reached (AP)

• The Extraordinary Defense of the Getty Museum Against the L.A. Fires (WSJ)

• Economists say Los Angeles fire to have limited national economic impact (RT)

• Zelenskyy, Macron discuss Western troop deployment in Ukraine before German defense chief visits (AP)

United States and Canada

• Federal prosecutors won’t seek charges in deadly arrest of Black motorist Ronald Greene (AP)

• Trump says he will create new agency to collect revenue from foreign sources (RT)

• The Pitched Battles for Partisan Control in State Legislatures (NYT)

• Hawaii’s governor responds to deadly fireworks blast with proposed $300 fines, more prison time (AP)

• Ventura County Braces for Dangerous Fire Conditions Through Wednesday (NYT)

• Canadian ‘Super Scooper’ plane grounded after hitting civilian drone over Los Angeles wildfires (CNN)

• US watchdog sues Elon Musk over late disclosure of Twitter stake (AJ)

• Border crossings in December trend low as Biden administration wraps up (AP)

• FDA proposes putting nutrition labels on the front of packaged foods in health push (RT)

Africa

• South Africa: Miners reappear after a police operation (AN)

• Sudan's army condemns ethnically-targeted killings of civilians in El Gezira (RT)

• Ugandan military court rules opposition figure can be tried for treachery (AJ)

• Ghana to investigate controversial $400m Cathedral project amid economic crisis (AN)

• Mozambique opens new parliament amid opposition protests and boycotts (AJ)

• Sierra Leone declares emergency over mpox outbreak (AN)

• Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF wants to extend president's term by two years (RT)

Middle East

• Gaza ceasefire appears close as US, Egyptian leaders put focus on 'coming hours' (RT)

• UN lays groundwork for Gaza aid surge under ceasefire but still sees challenges (RT)

• Israel’s Ben-Gvir says Gaza ceasefire plan is a ‘surrender’ to Hamas (AJ)

• ICC chief prosecutor wants Israeli objections over Netanyahu warrant to be rejected (AP)

• Estimated Gaza Toll May Have Missed 25,000 Deaths, Study Says (NYT)

• PM-designate Salam extends hand to Hezbollah, aims to rebuild Lebanon (RT)

• Blinken lays out post-war Gaza plan to be handed to Trump team (RT)

Indo-Pacific

• China is pushing the Philippines `to the wall’ with aggression in the South China Sea, Manila says (AP)

• Australia summons Russian ambassador over reports captured soldier killed (RT)

• China’s $1 Trillion Trade Surplus: What to Know as Trump Takes Office (NYT)

• After cable damage, Taiwan to step up surveillance of flag of convenience ships (RT)

• Vietnam and Russia sign an agreement to expand cooperation on nuclear energy (AP)

• China blacklists seven US firms for involvement in Taiwan arms sales (RT)

• Estimated 20 million gather so far for India’s Maha Kumbh Mela (AJ)

Europe

• UK anti-corruption minister resigns over ties to ousted Bangladesh PM (RT)

• Irregular migration into the European Union fell sharply last year, border agency says (AP)

• French Prime Minister Signals He Will Revisit Retirement Law That Led to Mass Protests (NYT)

• NATO launches new Baltic Sea mission to protect undersea cables (AJ)

• The Czech Republic ends its energy dependence on Russian oil imports (AP)

• Leader of Moldova's separatist region travels to Moscow for gas crisis talks (RT)

• Ukraine's Zelenskiy visits Poland after progress in World War Two dispute (RT)

Latin America

• Biden looks to relax Cuba sanctions in final days before Trump (RT)

• Israel’s Genesis Prize awarded to Argentinian President Javier Milei (AP)

• Capturan a integrante de la UNP por traficar armas de las disidencias de las Farc en Medellín (SM)

• Cuba to release 553 prisoners following talks with Vatican (RT)

• Haiti has 1 million displaced people, mostly from gang violence. It’s tripled over the past year (AP)

• Patricia Bullrich anunció la detención de un terrorista vinculado con el Estado Islámico (CA)

• Centrados en la Gente exige un nuevo CNE para garantizar elecciones transparentes en Venezuela (LN)