Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Jan. 12

HAVANA -- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Sunday demanded that the United States stop illegally detaining Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

"It has been eight days since the brutal kidnapping of the legitimate president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Moros, and his wife Cilia Flores," said Rodriguez on X.

"We demand that the U.S. government put an end to this illegal detention, respect his immunity, stop the judicial and media farce that this trial has turned into and ensure his life and care," he added. (Cuba-U.S.-Maduro)

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HELSINKI -- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Sunday criticized recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and what he described as "threatening rhetoric" toward Denmark and Greenland, warning that such moves undermine international law and increase risks for smaller countries.

Kristersson made the remarks at the annual Swedish security policy conference in the western resort town of Salen, saying the international environment has become more dangerous and unpredictable.

Describing the U.S. action related to Venezuela as a breach of international law, he warned that the precedent could encourage similar actions and further disrupt the international order. (Sweden-U.S.-Greenland)

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BEIRUT -- A Lebanese government employee was killed Sunday night in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The strike, carried out by an Israeli drone using a guided missile, targeted a car in southern Lebanon's Bint Jbeil city, according to the report.

A local newspaper identified the victim as Mohammad Adel al Saghir, a resident of Bint Jbeil. (Lebanon-Israeli Airstrike)

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LISBON -- More than 218,000 registered voters began casting ballots on Sunday through Portugal's early and mobile voting system for the presidential elections, as the country prepares to choose a successor to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Sunday's early voting took place one week ahead of the main election day on Jan. 18, using a flexible system that allows voters to cast ballots at any designated polling station nationwide.

The candidates in the race include Antonio Jose Seguro, Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Luis Marques Mendes, Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo, among others. (Portugal-Election) Enditem