48 hours in pictures, 4 January 2026

January 4, 20269xz6r

Through the lens: The Citizen’s Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world.

Venezuelans living in Panama

A man walks past a mural depicting the Venezuelan national flag — A man walks past a mural depicting the Venezuelan national flag and reading “Long live the motherland!” in Caracas on January 4, 2026, a day after Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro was captured in a US strike. A lingering smell of explosives hung over Venezuela’s capital Caracas on Saturday as shocked residents took stock after an early-morning US strike that ousted strongman Nicolas Maduro. (Photo by Juan BARRETO / AFP)

US military intervention in Venezuela — People react to the news of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after US military actions in Venezuela this morning, in Doral, Florida, near Miami, on January 3, 2026. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived Saturday evening at a military base in the United States after his capture by US forces in Caracas. Maduro was seen surrounded by FBI agents as he descended the boarding stairs of a US government plane at a New York state National Guard facility, and was slowly escorted along the tarmac. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP)

Picture showing damages to the port of La Guaira, Venezuela — Picture showing damages to the port of La Guaira, Venezuela, after a US military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, on January 3, 2026. The US operation that led to the capture of Maduro sparked alarm across the international community, with allies and foes of Washington and Caracas expressing disquiet. Charged with “narco-terrorism,” the leftist strongman and his wife are being taken to New York to stand trial in federal court, according to US President Donald Trump. No casualty figures are yet available. (Photo by Pedro MATTEY / AFP)

US military intervention in Venezuela — This screengrab taken from the X account of Rapid Response 47, the official White House rapid response account, shows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) escorted by DEA agents inside the headquarters of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in lower Manhattan, New York, on January 3, 2026. President Donald Trump said January 3 that the United States will “run” Venezuela and tap its huge oil reserves after seizing leftist leader Nicolas Maduro during a bombing raid on Caracas. Trump’s announcement came hours after a lightning pre-dawn attack in which special forces grabbed Maduro and his wife — while air strikes pounded sites in and around the capital city — then whisked him out of the country. (Photo by X account of Rapid Response 47 / AFP)

Strong southwesterly winds impact Istanbul — Strong south-westerly winds known as ‘Lodos’ affecting Sarayburnu coast and surrounding areas as waves hit the shores in Istanbul, Turkiye on January 4, 2026. (Photo by Fatma Nur Arslan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

People gather around a makeshift memorial — People gather around a makeshift memorial to pay their respects by laying flowers, candles and messages near the Constellation bar, on January 4, 2026, in Crans-Montana in honour of the victims of the fire that ripped through the venue in the luxury Alpine ski resort on New Year’s Eve. Authorities investigating the New Year’s blaze in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana have identified 24 of the 40 people killed, including 11 minors and six foreign nationals, police said on January 4, 2026. Also 119 were injured during the fire, most of them seriously, according to the latest toll. (Photo by MAXIME SCHMID / AFP)

A Senegal supporter — A Senegal supporter cheers before the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) round of 16 football match between Senegal and Sudan at Grand Stadium in Tangiers on January 3, 2026. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP)

A Venezuelan woman living in Peru dances — A Venezuelan woman living in Peru dances as she celebrates with a national flag at the Miguel de Cervantes park, near the Venezuelan Embassy in Lima on January 3, 2026, after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. President Donald Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro after bombing the capital Caracas and other cities in a dramatic climax to a months-long standoff between Trump and his Venezuelan arch-foe. (Photo by Connie FRANCE / AFP)

Israeli police use a water cannon — Israeli police use a water cannon to disperse protesting Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men against Israeli army conscription outside a military recruitment center in Jerusalem on January 4, 2026. (Photo by ILIA YEFIMOVICH / AFP)

Indian artists wait to perform Mohiniyattam — Indian artists wait to perform Mohiniyattam, an indigenous classical dance form of Kerala, during a cultural event in Chennai on January 2, 2026. (Photo by R.Satish BABU / AFP)

The Durban Carnival procession — The Durban Carnival procession makes its way through the streets of Durban, 2 January 2026. Durban Tourism, in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality, hosted a New Year Carnival Parade through Durban’s central streets, celebrating South Africa’s rich cultural diversity with vibrant participation from various communities. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal

The Wolf supermoon — The Wolf supermoon sets, seen from Richmond Park, south west London early in the morning of January 3, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)

People walk on the south bank with the Palace of Westminster — People walk on the south bank with the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament behind, in the sunshine on a cold afternoon in London, January 4, 2026. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)

PICTURES: South Africa and the world welcome the new year

#hours #pictures #January

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