Stories that caught our eye: January 1 to 8

REACTIONS TO VENEZUELA

While the Javier Milei administration wholeheartedly applauded last weekend’s seizure of Nicolás Maduro, only adjusting its stance to tone down support for opposition leader María Corina Machado in line with Donald Trump, there were reactions at other levels. The Obelisk (illuminated at night with the Venezuelan colours of yellow, blue and red on the explicit orders of City Hall) was the rallying-point for the immediate reactions of thousands of jubilant Venezuelan expatriates. Buenos Aires City Mayor Jorge Macri posted an extended message on his social networks speaking of a “historic day” with “the City of Buenos Aires always on the side of liberty” while blasting the Maduro “dictatorship” and concluding: “In moments like this, there is only one correct side of history.” The Security Ministry tightened its protection of the Embassies of both the United States and Venezuela and there was indeed a march by various leftist groupings that same Saturday against the former in repudiation of Trump’s action, which they dubbed “imperialistic aggression” with banners reading: “Yankees out of Venezuela and Latin America.” More moderate voices among the marchers said: “We don’t defend Maduro but we categorically reject any direct military intervention by the United States in our continent” while Buenos Aires Province socialist deputy Mónica Schlotthauer concluded: “All he [Trump] wants is