Markets snap higher as Venezuela shock ripples through oil and risk assets
U.S. stocks surged to start the week after American forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, with the Dow industrials up roughly 600 points as energy shares rallied. Benchmark yields eased, with the 10‑year at about 4.17%, while Bitcoin hovered near $93,600 and the dollar index edged up to 98.55. The move comes as Donald Trump said the U.S. is “in charge” of Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest oil reserves, sharpening investor focus on crude supply, sanctions, and regional stability [1].

Venezuela reverberations reach Europe’s front pages
British papers splashed images of a cuffed but defiant Maduro and parsed Trump’s rhetoric. The Daily Mail’s front page warned that a Greenland “raid” would “finish NATO,” and the BBC roundup noted Denmark’s pushback and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s public support for Copenhagen—a rare break with Washington on the day’s dominant story. The press digest underscores how the Venezuela operation is feeding a wider debate over U.S. power projection and alliance strain, even as Trump’s “in charge” comment fuels speculation about next moves [2]. Separately, Maduro is set to appear in federal court in New York today, a legal spectacle likely to keep geopolitical risk elevated and oil in focus [1].

Tech’s big week: robots and self-driving cars headline CES 2026
On the Las Vegas strip, the future is rolling on two wheels—and four. From warehouse automatons to home assistants and pilotless shuttles, robots and self-driving demonstrations are a central draw at CES 2026, with exhibitors pitching safer streets, leaner logistics, and eldercare support as near-term use cases. Expect autonomous systems, AI copilots, and sensor suites to crowd the show floor and investor chatter alike as supply-chain and labor themes meet mobility tech [3].

A moment of grace in Switzerland after New Year’s tragedy
High above the Alps, skiers carved a giant heart into the snow to honor those killed in a New Year’s bar fire—an alpine tribute that captured a country’s grief and resilience. The aerial tableau, shared widely by Swiss media, offered a measure of collective solace as investigators continue their work and communities mourn the victims [4].

Commodities snapshot
Global agriculture prices were mixed in early trading: corn at $445.50, soybeans $1,047.25, wheat $512.50, and cattle $235.88 as of 0200 GMT, per London Stock Exchange Group data published by Xinhua. The readings add context to the broader risk rally as traders parse weather, freight, and geopolitical headlines alongside the Venezuela shock [5].

What I’m watching next

• Maduro’s New York court appearance and any signals on U.S. policy toward Caracas-linked oil flows [1].
• NATO/EU reactions after Denmark’s public warning and U.K. positioning, as reflected in Europe’s press and chancelleries [2].
• CES keynote reveals on autonomy and AI that could shape 2026 investment themes [3].

References

1. Dow Jones Today: Stock Indexes Surge After US Captures Venezuelan President Maduro; Dow Adds 600 Points; Energy Shares Jump — Investopedia (https://www.investopedia.com/dow-jones-today-010526-11878921)
2. Newspaper headlines: ‘I’m a prisoner of war’ says Maduro and ‘that’s Amorim’ — BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wxlq0pplko)
3. Video Robots, self-driving cars highlight CES 2026 — ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/video/robots-driving-cars-highlight-ces-2026-128938935)
4. Video Skiers in Switzerland form a heart in honor of people killed in New Year’s fire — ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/International/video/skiers-switzerland-form-heart-honor-people-killed-new-128935917)
5. Latest updates on agriculture prices worldwide at 0200 GMT, Jan. 6 — Big News Network.com (https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/278792872/latest-updates-on-agriculture-prices-worldwide-at-0200-gmt-jan-6)