Thousands of people across the United States took to the streets on Saturday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an immigration officer in Minneapolis. Demonstrators demanded the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, with protests spreading from Minneapolis to major cities including New York, Los Angeles, El Paso, Washington DC, Boston, and others.

In Minneapolis, about a thousand people gathered outside a hotel on Friday night, where some threw ice and stones at police officers, slightly injuring one officer. Several protesters were detained but later released. In Austin, Texas, demonstrators rallied outside a federal building carrying placards calling for an end to ICE and its alleged abuses. Similar protests were held outside the White House and in Philadelphia, where participants voiced fears that such incidents could recur and urged legislative reform of ICE.

The widespread demonstrations reflect growing public anger over immigration enforcement practices and calls for systemic change within the agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to safeguard funds from Venezuelan oil sales held in U.S. Treasury accounts following the ouster of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The White House said the order, signed on Friday, declares a national emergency to prevent the oil revenues from being seized by courts or creditors, describing the move as necessary to advance U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.

The decision followed a meeting in Washington where Trump urged top oil executives to invest in Venezuela. However, executives responded cautiously, with ExxonMobil’s chief calling the country “uninvestable without major reforms.” ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips had previously withdrawn from Venezuela in 2007 after refusing nationalization demands by then-president Hugo Chávez and are still pursuing legal claims against the country. Chevron remains the only U.S. company licensed to operate there.

According to the White House, the protection of Venezuelan oil revenues aims to prevent disruptions to U.S. efforts supporting Venezuela’s economic and political stability. The order came a week after U.S. forces reportedly captured Maduro in a nighttime raid in Caracas that left several Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel dead.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is reportedly in good condition while being held in a New York prison, according to his son Nicolás Maduro Guerra. Guerra said in a video message released on Saturday that his father had personally conveyed that he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were doing well and described themselves as fighters. The message was shared by Venezuela’s ruling PSUV party. Flores is currently awaiting trial.

According to the report, the United States conducted a special military operation in Venezuela on January 3, detaining Maduro and his wife. They were taken to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters for legal processing before being transferred to a detention facility in Brooklyn, New York. Both face charges related to drug and arms trafficking, allegations that Maduro has consistently denied.

The report did not specify when court proceedings might begin or provide further details about the conditions of their detention.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced the recovery of the country’s southern and eastern regions from the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). On Saturday, Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), said government forces had regained control of two key provinces and now hold full authority over southern Yemen. He specifically assured citizens that Hadramaut and Al-Mahra provinces had been restored under government control.

Al-Alimi added that former STC members have been invited to Riyadh for discussions on Yemen’s future and that all military forces will now operate under the Saudi-led coalition’s command. His statement followed a Saudi-supported campaign in late December that expelled STC forces from Hadramaut and Al-Mahra, two provinces bordering Saudi Arabia and comprising nearly half of Yemen’s territory.

Meanwhile, thousands of STC supporters rallied in the group’s stronghold of Aden, particularly in Khor Maksar district, chanting slogans against Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government.

The Indian Navy has initiated plans to set up a new naval base in Haldia, West Bengal, to reinforce its military presence in the northern Bay of Bengal. According to Indian media reports citing defense sources, the facility will operate as a naval detachment rather than a full command, focusing on deploying small, high-speed warships. The Navy intends to use existing port infrastructure to expedite operations, with initial construction including a separate jetty and essential coastal facilities to minimize costs.

The proposed base will host Fast Interceptor Crafts and New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts weighing around 300 tons, capable of speeds between 40 and 45 knots. These vessels will be equipped with CRN-91 guns, and surveillance or strike drones such as Nagastra may be used to enhance monitoring and response capabilities. Experts link the move to growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean, concerns over illegal maritime intrusions, and the strategic value of shallow coastal waters near India and Bangladesh.

Officials view the Haldia project as part of India’s broader naval expansion plan aimed at strengthening maritime security and safeguarding sea routes.

A commentary by political analyst Saiful Khan argues that India bears responsibility for the deterioration of its relationship with Bangladesh. The article, published on January 11, 2026, asserts that many Bangladeshis believe India has long sheltered convicted criminals, fugitives, and politically controversial figures from Bangladesh, eroding bilateral trust. It further claims that India’s approach to Bangladesh relies on power dynamics rather than equality, citing issues such as border killings, water-sharing disputes, and cultural dominance.

The author traces the mistrust to historical experiences since Bangladesh’s independence, noting that cooperation initially gave way to suspicion over security and political matters. The piece highlights allegations of India’s reluctance to extradite fugitives, unilateral control of transboundary rivers, and the influence of Indian media on Bangladeshi culture. These factors, the article contends, have deepened public resentment and created a perception of inequality.

Khan concludes that India must choose between maintaining dominance or rebuilding ties based on justice, transparency, and mutual respect. Failure to do so, he warns, could push Bangladesh toward alternative strategic alliances and further regional instability.

Myanmar’s military junta began the second phase of national voting on Sunday, marking the continuation of a three-stage election process set to conclude on January 25. Polling started at 6 a.m. local time in Kawhmu, the former constituency of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, located about 25 kilometers south of Yangon. Democracy observers and rights activists have alleged that the election is designed to prolong military rule under a civilian façade.

Since independence, Myanmar has spent most of its history under military control. A brief period of democratic reform about a decade ago ended when the army seized power again in 2021, annulling the previous election results and arresting Suu Kyi. The coup plunged the country into civil conflict. Analysts noted that the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) already won about 90 percent of lower house seats in the first phase.

With Suu Kyi imprisoned and her National League for Democracy dissolved, pro-democracy groups claim the current election favors military-aligned parties. Many citizens reportedly show little interest, believing the outcome is predetermined by the army.

Iran’s government has declared anti-government protesters as 'enemies of God' and warned that those participating in or aiding the demonstrations could face the death penalty. The announcement came on Saturday from Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad’s office, citing Article 186 of the Iranian constitution. The statement, broadcast on state television, said that even individuals who assist the so-called rioters would face the same charges.

According to Article 186, any group opposing the Islamic Republic through armed resistance, and anyone knowingly supporting such groups, can be deemed 'mohareb' or 'enemy of God', even if they do not directly engage in armed activity. The declaration follows nearly two weeks of widespread anti-government protests across Iran, which have intensified over time.

Footage sent to Iran International from Kahrizak, south of Tehran, reportedly shows multiple bodies in body bags. Eyewitnesses described seeing dozens of dead bodies at the site and more inside a nearby industrial shed, with two witnesses reporting over forty bodies while searching for their relatives.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were reportedly detained and taken from the country following a military raid in Caracas on January 3. According to the report, nine military helicopters carried out the operation around 2 a.m. local time, removing Maduro from power. The incident has been described as a dramatic example of a 'decapitation strike'—a sudden military action targeting a state’s top leadership.

The analysis warns that such actions, often justified as quick solutions, historically lead to instability and prolonged violence rather than resolution. Venezuela’s political and economic crises, compounded by sanctions and internal division, have made it a focal point of foreign intervention and regime change efforts. The article argues that forcibly removing a sitting president undermines international law and state sovereignty, turning diplomacy into coercion.

The commentary concludes that Venezuela’s crisis must be resolved through inclusive dialogue, fair elections, and international mediation, not through abduction or military threats. It cautions that legitimizing such tactics could endanger weaker nations and erode the foundations of global order.

An investigative report published on January 11, 2026, reveals that Bangladesh Police’s official monthly magazine ‘The Detective’ became a platform for praising the ruling Mujib family during a 15-year authoritarian period. The publication, originally meant for professional research on law enforcement, shifted its focus to glorifying Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Russel, and other family members. Senior and mid-level officers reportedly used overly reverential writings in the magazine to secure promotions and key appointments, turning it into an informal route for career advancement.

Critics cited in the report argue that this culture of political flattery undermined the force’s professionalism, neutrality, and constitutional obligations. By 2015, professional content such as crime analysis and forensic studies had largely disappeared, replaced by poems and essays extolling the Mujib family. Officers who refrained from participating allegedly faced invisible barriers to promotion, while contributors often rose quickly through the ranks.

Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, many of the officers who benefited from this loyalty-based system reportedly faced demotion or legal action, exposing the long-term risks of politically motivated careerism within the police.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for unity despite differences, urging that disagreements should not lead to division. Speaking at a meet-and-greet with journalists at Hotel Sheraton in Banani, Dhaka, his first public program since assuming the party’s top post, he emphasized maintaining democratic processes and avoiding a return to the violence of August 5. He also highlighted concerns over press freedom and journalist safety, recalling past repression of media figures.

Rahman outlined his party’s future plans if elected, including a proposed “Family Card” program to support women’s economic empowerment for five to seven years, a large-scale recruitment of female health workers, and modernization of vocational education to boost skilled migration. He warned of an impending water crisis in Dhaka and stressed the need for preventive healthcare, road safety, and agricultural representation. He also pledged to ensure accountability through all levels of elections and called for solution-oriented criticism from the media.

Editors from major national and international outlets attended the event, offering congratulations and raising issues such as media independence, economic reform, and climate change as key challenges for Bangladesh’s future.

A protest rally and assembly were held in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, demanding justice for the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha. The event took place on Saturday afternoon, organized under the banner of the Anti-Fascist Student Society and local citizens. The rally started from Gobindaganj Government High School field, marched through the main streets of the municipal town, and ended at Thana Char Matha before converging beside the Dhaka–Rangpur highway for a gathering.

Speakers at the assembly described Hadi as a dedicated and frontline activist of the July 24 Movement who dreamed of building a new Bangladesh free from fascism, extortion, and exploitation. They alleged that a conspiratorial group killed him to obstruct his mission for justice and integrity. The speakers further claimed that the killers fled to India under the influence of a powerful group and are living there safely.

Participants demanded the immediate arrest and trial of those responsible for Hadi’s murder, urging authorities to ensure justice without delay.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will launch his party’s campaign for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from Sylhet on January 22. According to BNP sources, he will first visit the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R) before traveling to Sunamganj to formally begin the campaign with a public rally. This marks his first trip outside Dhaka since assuming the chairmanship and his first visit to Sylhet in 19 years.

Sylhet district BNP president Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury said Tarique Rahman will follow the party’s tradition of starting campaigns after shrine visits, a practice also maintained by Khaleda Zia. After completing his program in Sunamganj, Rahman will address a public rally at Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa field in the afternoon.

Sunamganj district BNP president and Sunamganj-5 candidate Kalim Uddin Ahmad Milon stated that Rahman will speak at a main rally in Sunamganj’s Balur Maath and at three roadside gatherings on his return route through Shantiganj, Chhatak’s Gobindganj Point, and Bishwanath’s Lamakaji Point. He is also expected to attend a rally in Habiganj on his way back to Dhaka.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has called on voters to reject politics of corruption, land grabbing, and extortion, urging them to entrust their votes to honest people. He made the remarks on Saturday during public meetings and yard gatherings in various areas of Atlia Union under Dumuria upazila in Khulna. Parwar warned that if those involved in looting regain power, the lives and property of both Hindus and Muslims would be unsafe.

Recalling his tenure as a Member of Parliament, Parwar said Dumuria was once plagued by severe terrorism, with killings, abductions, and violence occurring daily. He claimed to have fulfilled two election pledges—eliminating terrorism and ensuring transparent development—by implementing development projects worth about Tk 350 crore and publishing detailed accounts. He added that joint forces had arrested many terrorists, while others fled the area.

In the current electoral context, Parwar alleged a conspiracy to return corrupt individuals to power, accusing one candidate of massive corruption, a 13-year court sentence, and links to Hawa Bhaban. Several local Jamaat leaders accompanied him during the campaign.

The Indian Navy is setting up a new naval base at Haldia port in West Bengal’s Medinipur district, according to a report by India Today citing defense sources. The facility, described as a naval detachment, will deploy small, modern warships to strengthen India’s strategic position amid rising Chinese naval activity in the northern Bay of Bengal and growing defense cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Construction of a special jetty and administrative building is already underway, utilizing existing port infrastructure for rapid operational readiness.

Experts cited in the report say the base will help India monitor the movements of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy and prevent infiltration through Bangladesh. The base will host high-speed vessels and 300-ton fast-attack craft equipped with CRN-91 guns and Nagastra precision drones, designed for coastal patrols and anti-infiltration missions. Initially, around 100 officers and sailors will be stationed there under the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.

Defense analysts view the move as part of India’s effort to assert itself as the primary security provider in the Bay of Bengal region.