In 2026, the signs of a deeply divided world

Have you seen the pictures of handcuffed Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, seized by American forces?

- Shashi Shekhar

Isn't it reminiscent of the tragic images of December 2003, in which the handcuffed Iraq president Saddam Hussein looked shocked and dejected? Maduro is an elected president of a sovereign nation. Are international laws and the United Nations subservient to the whims of US presidents? Hussein was hanged but then US President George W Bush couldn't prove a single charge against him. Will Maduro be the next victim of US falsehood?

Donald Trump's invasion of Venezuela is scary. I say this because, like Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin also wants to arrest his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodmyr Zelensky. His wish hasn't been fulfilled yet, but his forces have already annexed a large part of Ukraine. Russian forces are constantly advancing on Ukrainian soil, and Kyiv's situation is now precarious.

On New Year's day, Russian officials claimed 91 Ukrainian drones were directed at Putin's residence. Kyiv denounced the claims, but Moscow is hell bent on its “right” to exact revenge. It may not be too far-fetched to expect a repeat of the drama of Caracas in Kyiv.