US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Wednesday that Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, could face the same fate as ousted former president Nicolas Maduro if she fails to comply with US conditions. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, Rubio said Rodriguez is well aware of Maduro’s downfall and that Washington believes her personal interests align with US objectives. He emphasized that the US is prepared to use force if other means fail, citing President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks.

Rubio strongly defended the January 3 US commando raid in Caracas that captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were later taken to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. He described the operation as a success that avoided American casualties or a prolonged military occupation. Venezuelan authorities, however, claimed that over a hundred Venezuelan and Cuban nationals were killed while trying to resist the raid.

President Trump is reportedly pressuring Rodriguez to ensure her government acts in favor of US oil company interests, according to the report.

BNP National Standing Committee member and Cox’s Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency candidate Salahuddin Ahmed said the upcoming national election will strengthen Bangladesh’s democratic process. Speaking at an election rally on Tuesday evening at North Kakara Government Primary School field in Chakaria, he urged voters to freely exercise their voting rights in the February 12 national election and support the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol.

Ahmed claimed that under the previous Awami League government, citizens lacked freedom of speech and could not vote safely. He said that after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina through a student and public uprising, people regained their rights. He called on all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to vote for the BNP to uphold democracy and national independence.

Addressing Hindu community members, Ahmed assured that BNP would ensure their safety and religious freedom during the election. The rally was chaired by Kakara Union BNP president M. Mohiuddin and attended by several local BNP and allied leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration is moving to reduce tensions in Minnesota following a second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers that killed American citizen Alex Pretty. The incident, which occurred during an ICE arrest attempt, reignited protests across the state and drew bipartisan criticism. Trump described the shootings as “horrible” in a Fox News interview and called Pretty’s death “very unfortunate.” Homeland Security reassigned Minnesota mission chief Gregory Bovino and deployed border czar Tom Homan to meet local officials.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretty was shot after pointing a gun, though local authorities claimed the weapon was legally registered and had been removed before the shooting. Witnesses disputed the DHS account, saying Pretty held a phone, not a gun. Republican leaders, including Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Senator Pete Ricketts, called for a transparent investigation. A federal judge barred DHS from altering evidence related to the case.

White House adviser Stephen Miller said DHS was instructed to use additional personnel as a buffer between arrest teams and protesters, while Trump maintained his immigration crackdown remains effective.

A devastating snowstorm has paralyzed life across 14 U.S. states, with the death toll rising to 38. The storm has blanketed roads in the central and eastern regions under thick snow, severely disrupting transportation and leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights. The U.S. weather agency has warned that the extreme cold is expected to persist for several more days.

Temperatures have dropped below freezing in Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina, with forecasts indicating further decline by Wednesday night. The National Weather Service has cautioned that conditions could worsen in the eastern United States on Friday and Saturday, with another winter storm expected to hit parts of the East Coast and record low temperatures predicted as far south as Florida.

More than 550,000 homes and businesses have lost power, including over 135,000 in Nashville, Tennessee. Local authorities there reported that homeless shelters are full, and police and firefighters are working extended hours to manage the crisis.

Bangladesh’s Health Reform Commission has submitted a 322-page report to the government led by Professor Yunus following the July Revolution. The report, based on input from 12 commission members and over 400 participants—mostly doctors—marks the largest health reform document in the country’s history. It includes 32 key short- and medium-term recommendations, prioritizing primary healthcare and proposing that more than half of the national health budget be allocated to this sector.

However, the report has been criticized for lacking historical context and failing to address core systemic weaknesses. It omits references to major past initiatives such as the 1982 National Drug Policy and offers no clear roadmap for solving long-standing problems like bureaucratic inefficiency, unregulated private clinics, and weak preventive health measures. Despite mentioning health insurance, e-prescriptions, and AI use, the report provides no concrete implementation strategy.

The analysis concludes that without specific guidance on accountability, decentralization, and disease prevention, the proposed reforms are unlikely to bring meaningful improvement to Bangladesh’s fragile healthcare system.

Two people, including a madrasa student, were killed and at least three others seriously injured when a speeding truck lost control and rammed into a stationary CNG-run autorickshaw in Mirsarai, Chattogram. The accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday near the Zahedia Madrasa area of Baratakia Bazar along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway. Witnesses said the autorickshaw was stopped for passengers when the truck, heading toward Chattogram, struck it from behind, crushing the vehicle and killing two people on the spot. The truck then plunged into a roadside pond.

One of the deceased was identified as Khadija Mashmum, a tenth-grade student of Baratakia Zahedia Dakhil Madrasa, while the other victim was an unidentified pedestrian. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment. Police and fire service teams quickly reached the scene to conduct rescue operations and restore traffic flow.

According to police, the crash caused temporary congestion on the Chattogram-bound lane, which was later cleared after rescue efforts.

The United States has announced plans to conduct a military exercise in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with Iran. According to the US Central Command’s Air Forces Central, the drill aims to demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy, expand, and conduct air operations in the region. The announcement was reported on Tuesday, with the exercise described as part of efforts to strengthen coordination with regional partners and enhance readiness for potential crises.

US President Donald Trump referred to the operation as a powerful “armada,” led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. However, no details were released regarding the exact schedule, location, or specific military assets involved in the exercise. Analysts cited in the report suggested that the move signals an increase in US military pressure on Iran and serves as a show of strength.

The exercise underscores Washington’s intent to reinforce its strategic presence in the Middle East while maintaining readiness for any escalation involving Iran.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi on Thursday, marking the restoration of air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan after 14 years. The inaugural 162-seat flight will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8 p.m. and is fully booked. Managing Director and CEO Dr. Shafiqul Rahman confirmed that the flight will take about three hours to reach Karachi.

According to airline officials, Biman had suspended operations on the Dhaka-Karachi route in 2012. The plan to reopen the route emerged after the formation of an interim government in 2024. Following official approval from the Bangladeshi government, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority granted Biman permission to operate flights until March 30, 2026, subject to review.

Under the new authorization, Biman must strictly follow designated routes and operational protocols. Karachi airport has allocated a separate slot for the airline, and detailed flight information must be shared before each departure. Officials from both sides expect the route to strengthen bilateral connectivity and cooperation.

A major portion of Mamar Ghat, an important river transport hub under Mongla municipality in Bagerhat, has collapsed into the Pashur River due to severe erosion. The incident has left around 10,000 daily commuters facing acute travel disruptions, while fear and uncertainty spread across the area. Residents along the riverbank are relocating homes and belongings to safer places as the erosion continues.

According to local accounts, the erosion has been ongoing for three years but intensified recently due to heavy upstream runoff that raised river levels and increased current pressure. Illegal sand extraction along the riverbank has worsened the situation, destabilizing the river’s natural flow and embankments. Locals allege that unregulated sand lifting over the past decade has triggered the current crisis, severely affecting transport to the nearby Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

Mongla municipal administrator and Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi said sand-filled geobags are being placed to curb the erosion. Residents, however, question why preventive measures and enforcement against illegal sand mining were not taken earlier.

A joint operation by the Bangladesh Army and Tungipara police in Gopalganj led to the arrest of one person with 36 kilograms and 600 grams of cannabis. The operation took place on Tuesday evening between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. near Nilfa Bazar highway under the initiative of the Tungipara Army Camp. The detained individual, identified as Md. Kawsar, 28, from Pirojpur’s Shankar Pasha Union, was apprehended during a search of a passenger bus named Welcome Express.

According to an army press release, the checkpoint was set up based on secret intelligence. The army official stated that a large quantity of cannabis was recovered and reaffirmed the army’s zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics. A police officer from Tungipara confirmed that a case under the Narcotics Control Act is being processed against the detainee.

Authorities said the suspect was handed over to Tungipara police after initial questioning. The joint forces, including the army, police, and district administration, plan to continue regular checkpoints and patrols to maintain security and curb drug trafficking in Gopalganj.

Israel’s High Court has ordered the forced eviction of Palestinian residents from the Batn al-Hawa area of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem. The court also directed that the properties be transferred to Israeli settlers, according to Middle East Monitor. The ruling has raised fears among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem of further forced displacement.

Silwan, located near Jerusalem’s Old City, has long been a focal point of Israeli settlement activity and demolition policies. Thousands of Palestinians live in the area, which has seen accelerated house demolitions and evictions. In the nearby al-Bustan neighborhood, Israel plans to build a park called “King’s Garden,” demolishing dozens of homes and threatening many more.

Human rights organizations have stated that Israel’s actions in Silwan are part of a broader policy aimed at displacing Palestinian residents. East Jerusalem remains surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire, much of it built on West Bank land. Israel claims the barrier is for security, while Palestinians and the United Nations view it as part of a land seizure strategy.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson and head of the election management committee of the National Citizens Party (NCP), is scheduled to attend a rally at the Sarail Shaheed Minar in Brahmanbaria today at 4 p.m. The event is part of the NCP and its 11-party alliance’s ongoing nationwide campaign in support of the ‘Yes’ vote, aimed at mobilizing public opinion ahead of upcoming political processes focused on state reform.

Party sources said the rally will feature central and local leaders of the alliance. Asif Mahmud is expected to emphasize the need for reforming the current state structure, restoring democratic rights, and highlighting the importance of public opinion. NCP candidate Maulana Ashraf Mahadi will also speak, asserting that genuine public freedom requires state reform and direct citizen participation in governance.

According to party leaders, the ‘Yes’ campaign has gained strong response across Sarail, Ashuganj, and Bijoynagar areas of Brahmanbaria-2. They expressed optimism that the rally will raise public awareness and positively influence voter sentiment.

A joint army team arrested a notorious criminal, Sajjad Hossain, and his wife, Jannat Akter, in Ashakpur Union of Shahjahanpur upazila, Bogura, around 9 p.m. on January 27, 2026. Acting on intelligence information, the operation was led by Captain Sadif and Lieutenant Fahad. The couple was detained with a foreign-made firearm, and several sharp local weapons were also recovered from their residence.

During interrogation, Sajjad admitted to possessing a 9mm pistol made in Germany. When the army team went to recover the weapon, Jannat attempted to dispose of it by throwing it into a nearby drain. Later, under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir, the search team recovered the pistol and seized additional weapons from the house. The arrested couple and the recovered arms were handed over to the police for legal proceedings.

According to the army, such operations will continue to maintain law and order during the election period in the region.

Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Muslim lawmaker from Minnesota, was attacked during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday night, January 27, while criticizing former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the role of the Department of Homeland Security. According to eyewitnesses, an unidentified man approached the stage and sprayed a clear liquid toward Omar’s podium before being detained by security. Omar was shaken but unharmed and resumed her speech shortly afterward, declaring she would not be silenced.

Following the incident, Omar posted on social media platform X that she was safe and that such provocations would not deter her from fulfilling her duties. Minneapolis police later arrested a 55-year-old man identified as Anthony James Kazmierczak in connection with the attack.

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the assault, saying such attacks have become disturbingly frequent, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) described it as a result of racist and Islamophobic incitement. Omar, of Somali descent, has long been a vocal critic of Trump, who has previously used inflammatory language against her and the Somali community.

V Kamakoti, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras since 2022, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to education and research in India. Following the announcement, Kerala Congress made sarcastic remarks on social media platform X about Kamakoti’s past research related to cow dung and cow urine, sparking widespread debate and verbal exchanges online.

In response to the criticism, Zoho Corporation founder Sridhar Vembu publicly defended Kamakoti, leading to an open exchange between the two sides on X. Kamakoti later issued a statement describing the Padma Shri as an inspiration toward the national goal of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” emphasizing that the honor represents collective effort rather than individual achievement.

The controversy highlights differing perspectives on traditional and cultural aspects of research in India, while Kamakoti expressed motivation to continue contributing to the country’s development and innovation.