New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called President Donald Trump to protest the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Speaking at a press conference in New York, Mamdani said he strongly opposes any attempt to change another country’s government. He confirmed that he personally spoke with Trump to express his objection to the operation.

Mamdani stated that his opposition is rooted in what he described as an effort to impose regime change, which he believes violates both federal and international law. Earlier, in a post on social media platform X, he said that a unilateral attack on a sovereign nation amounts to an act of war and breaches international norms. He also noted that such actions affect not only people abroad but also New Yorkers, including thousands of Venezuelan immigrants living in the city.

According to the report, Maduro and his wife were brought to New York after being detained in Venezuela and were later sent to a detention facility in Brooklyn following legal procedures.

The United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores following months of surveillance and secret drills, culminating in a sudden nighttime operation. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the detention in an interview with CBS News, describing it as a law enforcement mission. He stated that the US Congress would be kept informed and emphasized that the future course of Venezuela would be determined by its own people.

Hegseth said the operation also considered America’s security, prosperity, and oil interests. He praised former President Donald Trump for making what he called the right decision and added that peace in a dangerous world requires strength. The defense secretary expressed confidence that both the United States and the Venezuelan people could ultimately benefit from the outcome.

The remarks suggest that Washington views the operation as both a strategic and economic move, with future developments in Venezuela expected to depend on internal decisions by its citizens.

The nomination verification process for the Feni-1 constituency, covering Fulgazi, Parshuram, and Chhagalnaiya, was completed under the supervision of District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque on Sunday, December 4. Among ten parliamentary candidates, the nomination of recently deceased BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was suspended. Three other candidates were disqualified for failing to meet documentation and procedural requirements.

According to the district returning officer, Mohammad Nazmul Alam of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis was disqualified for not submitting an income tax copy, Md. Firoz Uddin Chowdhury of Bangladesh Congress for not paying land development tax, and independent candidate Nizam Uddin Bhuiyan for lacking one percent of required signatures. Six other candidates were declared valid, including Rafiqul Alam Majnu of BNP (Dhaka South), S.M. Kamal Uddin of Jamaat-e-Islami, Kazi Golam Kibria of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Mahbub Morshed Majumdar of Bangladesh Muslim League, Anwar Ullah Bhuiya of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, and Motair Hossain Chowdhury of Jatiya Party.

The verification concluded with one nomination suspended, three canceled, and six declared valid for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.

China has issued a strong reaction following the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by US forces. According to a statement from Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, China called on the United States to immediately release the couple, ensure their personal safety, and resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation. The statement was released after US forces conducted a midnight operation in Caracas, detaining Maduro and transferring him and his wife to the Brooklyn Detention Center in the United States.

Beijing’s statement described the US action as a blatant use of force against a sovereign state and expressed deep concern and condemnation. The Chinese government urged Washington to stop efforts aimed at undermining Venezuela’s governance system. In response to Maduro’s detention, Venezuela’s Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president to carry out executive duties.

The incident has intensified diplomatic tensions between China and the United States, with Beijing emphasizing respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that nearly 2,000 Indian nationals were pushed into Bangladesh over the past three months under a new deportation policy. The move follows rulings by Assam’s Foreigners Tribunals declaring individuals as illegal foreigners, after which they are expelled within seven days. The policy, implemented using a 1950 law, aims to prevent prolonged legal appeals. On December 31 alone, 18 people were reportedly sent across the border.

Currently, 100 Foreigners Tribunals are active in Assam to identify alleged foreigners. Critics claim many of these tribunals issue one-sided rulings, and while some individuals win appeals in the High Court, most cannot afford to challenge the verdicts and end up in detention camps. Reports suggest that some deportees have been returned by Bangladeshi border forces, while others have been jailed in Bangladesh.

Legal experts and human rights groups have questioned the legality of using the 1950 “Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Order,” arguing that it was created in a different historical context and is unconstitutional in today’s reality.

Information and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated that there is a suitable environment for elections in Bangladesh and that citizens have long been deprived of voting. Speaking at a media exchange at the Secretariat on Sunday morning, she said that those advocating for the banned Awami League to be allowed into elections are making irrelevant demands. She emphasized that the party cannot participate in elections or political activities until judicial proceedings against it are concluded.

Hasan also commented that Bangladeshi citizens have the right to express opinions about the Indian Premier League (IPL). She added that the government is considering halting IPL broadcasts based on legal grounds. Her remarks came in response to journalists’ questions during the event.

The adviser’s comments underline the government’s stance on maintaining legal restrictions on banned political entities while also reflecting sensitivity to public sentiment regarding foreign sports broadcasts.

Myanmar’s military junta has announced the release of more than 6,000 prisoners as part of a general amnesty marking the country’s Independence Day. According to a statement from the junta’s National Defense and Security Council, the acting president of the Union of the Republic of Myanmar granted pardons to 6,134 male and female inmates held in prisons, detention centers, and camps across the country.

The announcement, reported by AFP, follows a long-standing tradition in Myanmar where authorities issue general amnesties each year to commemorate Independence Day. The statement did not specify the identities or categories of those released, nor did it indicate whether any political detainees were included.

Such annual amnesties are a customary gesture by the authorities during national celebrations, reflecting a symbolic act of leniency tied to the country’s founding anniversary.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured in a special operation in Venezuela and flown to New York, according to the report. After completing legal procedures at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office, they were transferred to a detention facility in Brooklyn known for its harsh and violent conditions. The prison, built in the 1990s to reduce overcrowding, has previously held high-profile inmates such as Ghislaine Maxwell and P. Diddy.

The couple faces charges of drug and arms trafficking, which Maduro has long denied. Their aircraft landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base, about 70 kilometers from New York City, before they were flown by helicopter to Manhattan’s West Side Heliport and then taken to the DEA office.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Colombia, supported by Russia and China, called an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Venezuela’s Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president to maintain order and continuity of governance, according to Reuters.

India’s top business magnates, including Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, are facing mounting challenges under U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. Expectations that his administration would strengthen U.S.-India relations have faded as tariffs on Indian goods were doubled to 50 percent, following Trump’s frustration over India’s continued oil imports from Russia. The move has directly impacted Indian trade and strained diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Washington.

Ambani’s Reliance Industries, which profited from refining discounted Russian crude, has been hit hard by new U.S. trade measures. Adani, meanwhile, faces corruption allegations in U.S. courts, with cases filed by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Despite lobbying efforts and investments aimed at improving relations, both businessmen are struggling to gain traction with the Trump administration. Analysts note that early optimism about a close Trump-Modi partnership has given way to disappointment as U.S. attention toward India wanes.

Indian business circles now hope that a new trade agreement could ease tensions and reduce tariffs, though many acknowledge that earlier assumptions about Trump’s unwavering support were unrealistic.

Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed the duties of president following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a United States military operation. Under Articles 233 and 234 of Venezuela’s constitution, the vice president takes over when the president is temporarily or permanently absent. Rodríguez, who also served as finance and oil minister, confirmed her assumption of office on Saturday afternoon and chaired a National Defense Council meeting hours after Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were detained. She demanded their immediate release and condemned the US action as a severe violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and international law.

Rodríguez, 56, is a longtime ally of Maduro and a leading figure in the Chavismo movement founded by Hugo Chávez. She previously served as communications minister, foreign minister, and president of the Constituent National Assembly before becoming vice president in 2018. Analysts described her as one of the most powerful and hardline figures in the current system. Although US President Donald Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Rodríguez and that she showed willingness to work with Washington, she publicly denied any cooperation and reaffirmed loyalty to Maduro.

Rodríguez has since become the most visible face of the Venezuelan government amid uncertainty over Maduro’s fate.

A Habiganj court has granted bail to Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the local branch of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, 15 hours after his detention. The bail was approved on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at around 10 a.m. by the Habiganj Judicial Magistrate Court. Hasan had been taken into custody following an altercation with Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam of Shayestaganj Police Station and was later shown arrested in a case accusing him of misconduct toward police and obstruction of government duties.

Following his detention, more than a hundred activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered in front of Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station from Saturday evening until Sunday morning, demanding an immediate court hearing for Hasan’s bail. Meanwhile, a video of Hasan’s conversation with the officer circulated on social media, showing a heated exchange between the two.

The incident has drawn attention locally due to the viral video and the mobilization of student activists demanding Hasan’s release.

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s acting president after the United States detained President Nicolás Maduro and took him to New York. The court issued the order on Saturday night, declaring that Maduro is temporarily unable to perform his duties. The decision was announced during a televised session on state channel VTV, where Justice Tania D’Amelio stated that Rodríguez will assume all powers and responsibilities of the presidency.

According to Venezuela’s constitution, the vice president must take over presidential duties in cases of temporary or complete absence of the president. Reuters reported that the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of Rodríguez’s appointment to ensure administrative continuity and national defense. The court also plans to hold hearings to determine the legal framework for maintaining state continuity and sovereignty in the face of the president’s forced absence.

The ruling marks a significant shift in Venezuela’s leadership structure as the country faces uncertainty following Maduro’s detention abroad.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his administration will work with an interim arrangement to manage Venezuela’s affairs until a safe, fair, and legitimate transfer of power is completed. He expressed support for Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume responsibility in this transitional framework. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is maintaining regular contact with Rodríguez, who appears willing to cooperate in line with U.S. expectations.

According to reports from BBC and Reuters, Rodríguez was a long-time close ally of recently ousted President Nicolás Maduro and served as his vice president. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, currently leads Venezuela’s National Assembly. The Rodríguez siblings have long been influential figures within Maduro’s government. Following a recent U.S. military operation, Venezuela’s political landscape has shifted rapidly, prompting Rodríguez to move toward cooperation with the Trump administration.

Trump’s administration stated that the interim arrangement aims to restore political stability in Venezuela and ensure an internationally recognized transfer of power, with Rodríguez expected to play a central role in the process.

New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has sharply criticized the United States for detaining Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to New York. According to Mamdani, the US operation in Venezuela amounts to an act of war and violates both international and federal law. The statement was reported by CNN.

Mamdani said he had been informed about the operation and Maduro’s detention. He described the unilateral action against a sovereign nation as a clear attempt at regime change that affects not only people abroad but also New Yorkers, including thousands of Venezuelan immigrants who consider the city their home. He emphasized that his administration’s main priority is ensuring the safety of all New Yorkers, including members of the Venezuelan community.

The mayor added that his administration will closely monitor the situation and provide necessary guidance. The report noted that the number of Venezuelan immigrants in New York City has significantly increased over the past three years, with many settling permanently in the city.

The Ministry of Shipping has initiated a move to amend the existing port law to create two new positions on the Chattogram Port Authority board. The proposed amendment, to be titled the Port Act 2025, aims to add one member from the Shipping Ministry and another from the Finance Ministry. These new members would serve as board members but operate from their respective ministries in Dhaka. The initiative has triggered tension between the ministry and the port authority, as current board members and employees fear bureaucratic complications that could slow operational decisions.

According to port sources, the Chattogram Port currently operates under the Port Act 2022 with a chairman and four board members overseeing administration, finance, harbor and marine, and engineering. Two members come from the navy and two from the civil administration. Port officials argue that adding members based in Dhaka would reduce accountability and delay decision-making. A six-member committee has been formed to review the proposed amendment, with instructions to submit a report within one month.

Former port official Jafar Alam and other stakeholders warned that expanding the board with ministry officials could create a top-heavy administration and harm the port’s efficiency.