The United States lifted its flight ban over Caribbean airspace on Saturday night following a military operation in Venezuela that led to the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. According to AFP reports from Washington, the couple was flown by helicopter to New York, where they face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The U.S. special forces captured them early Saturday after an airstrike in Caracas. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on social media platform X that the restriction was lifted at midnight local time (GMT 05:00), allowing scheduled flights to resume. He stated that airlines had been notified and would promptly update their flight schedules. The Federal Aviation Administration had previously ordered commercial airlines to avoid Caribbean airspace due to safety risks during the ongoing military operation. The lifting of the ban signals a return to normal air traffic in the region after temporary disruption caused by the U.S. military action in Venezuela.

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from its eastern coast, marking its first such test in two months. The launch coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to China, according to TRT World. The previous missile test by Pyongyang took place in November, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump approved South Korea’s plan to build nuclear-powered submarines. The missile launches come just before a historic conference of North Korea’s ruling party, the first in five years, where economic and defense strategies are expected to be discussed. In preparation for the meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the construction of additional factories to expand and modernize missile production. State media reported that Kim recently inspected a weapons production facility and directed a 250 percent increase in production capacity. The timing of the launches and Kim’s directives underscore Pyongyang’s continued emphasis on strengthening its defense capabilities ahead of major political events.

Three people, including two members of the Pakistan Army and a civilian machine operator, were killed while clearing accumulated snow in Gilgit-Baltistan. According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation took place during the night of January 2 to 3, using heavy machinery under the leadership of Captain Asmad. At around 2 a.m. on January 3, heavy snowfall trapped Captain Asmad, two soldiers, and the civilian operator. All four were later rescued, but Captain Asmad, Sepoy Rizwan, and operator Aishar succumbed to their deteriorating conditions. The ISPR stated that they carried out a challenging mission to ensure military movement despite extreme weather conditions and made the ultimate sacrifice. The statement further emphasized that their dedication and sacrifice reflect the Pakistan Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to defending the homeland and fulfilling their duties with devotion.

Police in India-administered Kashmir have placed cricketer Furkanul Haq under surveillance after a video showing him playing with a Palestinian flag sticker on his helmet went viral on social media. Authorities summoned him for questioning on Friday and initiated a 14-day preliminary inquiry to verify the facts, his intent, and any possible links. Police said the action was taken considering the sensitivity of the issue and its potential impact on public order. Under Indian law, such an inquiry can be launched with approval from a deputy superintendent for offenses punishable by three to seven years in prison. The incident occurred during a Jammu and Kashmir Champions League match in Muthi, Jammu, where Haq represented JK Eleven Kings against Jammu Trail Blazers. Reports said he was asked to leave the field after opposing players objected to the helmet sticker. The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association clarified that the matter involved local players and had no connection with the organization. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti expressed support for Palestine on social media following the incident.

The Pakistan Air Force on Saturday successfully conducted a flight test of the indigenously developed Taimur air-launched cruise missile, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The missile is capable of accurately hitting targets up to 600 kilometers away and can engage both land and sea-based objectives. The ISPR described the test as a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s aerospace and defense capabilities. The Taimur missile is equipped with advanced navigation and guidance systems and can fly at very low altitudes to evade enemy air and missile defense systems. Senior military officials, along with scientists and engineers involved in the missile’s development, were present during the test. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu congratulated the team for their professionalism and dedication, calling the achievement a reflection of Pakistan’s technological self-reliance and credible conventional deterrence. According to the ISPR, the successful test demonstrates the Pakistan Air Force’s operational readiness, technological advancement, and continued efforts to achieve national security objectives.

Law and Sports Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has strongly condemned the Indian Cricket Board’s decision to exclude Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a Facebook post published on Saturday night, he called the move unjustified and urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to formally seek an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Nazrul questioned the safety of Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India if a single Bangladeshi player was barred from playing there. He further instructed the BCB to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be relocated from India to Sri Lanka. In the same post, Nazrul criticized India’s decision in strong terms and appealed to the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to suspend IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh. He stated that Bangladesh would not tolerate any insult to its cricket or players. The post reflects growing discontent over Mustafizur’s exclusion and calls for a firm national response through diplomatic and broadcasting measures.

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.

The United Kingdom has asked for clarification from the United States after President Donald Trump said Washington would oversee Venezuela’s government following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. Trump made the remarks on Saturday during a press conference in Florida, where he stated that the U.S. would manage the country until a safe and fair transfer of power could be ensured. Senior U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were present at the event. Speaking to Sky News, UK Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones said it was unclear what Trump meant by saying Washington would “run” Venezuela’s government. Jones emphasized that Britain does not support colonialism and that determining Venezuela’s political future is not the role of any third country. He declined to comment on whether U.S. actions violated international law, saying that was a matter for international courts. The UK’s request for clarity highlights growing international concern over the implications of U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s transitional governance following Maduro’s detention.

The National Poetry Council announced that the “National Poetry Festival 2026” will be held on February 1 and 2 in Dhaka under the theme “Poetry will resist anti-cultural arrogance.” The announcement came at a press conference on January 4, 2026, at the National Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Milonayatan, attended by poets Mohon Raihan, Rezauddin Stalin, Manab Surat, Matin Bairagi, Hasan Hafiz, Anamika Haque Lili, and other council leaders. The festival will be inaugurated by Mir Mostafizur Rahman, father of martyred freedom fighter Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, with Mustafa Sarwar Farooki, adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, as chief guest. The two-day event will feature seminars, poetry readings, recitations, music, and dance performances with participation from poets, writers, journalists, cultural activists, intellectuals, and political figures from home and abroad. Registration for local and foreign poets opened on January 4, with a fee of 200 taka, and the festival office has been set up at Dhaka University’s TSC swimming pool area. Speakers at the press conference emphasized the role of poetry in defending democracy, resisting cultural aggression, and promoting artistic expression for the nation.

A violent clash broke out between police and mobile phone traders in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area on Sunday afternoon, leaving four people injured. The confrontation began around 2:15 p.m. when police attempted to disperse demonstrators who had blocked the road. Witnesses said traders threw bricks at police, triggering panic in the area and forcing nearby shops to close while traffic came to a halt. The traders were protesting the introduction of the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system and demanding the release of detained colleagues. When police moved to clear the road, both sides engaged in chase and counter-chase. Police used batons, tear gas, water cannons, and sound grenades to disperse the crowd, while protesters continued throwing bricks in retaliation. Authorities said efforts were underway to bring the situation under control. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion and the army were also deployed alongside police to maintain order in the area.

Retired US Lieutenant General Ben Hodges has issued a strong warning against American intervention in Venezuela, saying that removing President Nicolás Maduro would be the easy part but the real challenge would begin afterward. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hodges said he doubts the US government has a clear plan for what comes next, drawing parallels between current US confidence and the overconfidence seen during the early stages of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Responding to President Donald Trump’s comments about not fearing to put “boots on the ground,” Hodges cautioned that military involvement without clear strategic goals and solid political and civilian planning is extremely risky. Based on his experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, he warned that lack of preparation could lead to loss of control. Hodges, a former commander of US Army forces in Europe, also noted that Cuba is entangled in the crisis, as Venezuela’s oil supply is vital to Havana. He claimed around 30,000 Cuban workers are in Venezuela and said the US administration’s new national security strategy signals a push to reinforce its influence across the Western Hemisphere.

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.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested three main suspects in connection with the murder of pharmacy owner and mobile financial agent Khokon Das, aged 50, in Shariatpur. Acting on information from RAB-8 and the Intelligence Wing in Dhaka, a RAB-14 team from Kishoreganj Camp, led by ASP Shahjahan, detained the named accused—Sohag, Rabbi, and Palash—from Bajitpur area around 1 a.m. on Saturday night. According to Shariatpur Superintendent of Police Rownak Jahan, the victim had identified the attackers before his death. On the night of December 31, 2025, Khokon Das was returning home after closing his pharmacy at Keherbhanga Bazar when several assailants attacked him with sharp weapons near Tiloi area, robbing him of cash. When he recognized some attackers, they poured petrol on him and set him on fire. Locals rescued him and took him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, from where he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he later died. Police said the arrested suspects were locally known as miscreants and drug users.

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.

Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink has announced that people in Venezuela will be able to use its internet service free of charge until February 3. The company made the announcement through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for Venezuelan citizens during the current situation. According to the BBC, the decision follows a recent large-scale U.S. military operation in Venezuela, during which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were detained and taken to New York. In response to these developments, Starlink said it would provide free access to its high-speed satellite internet service to support communication across the country. The free service is intended to remain active until early February, allowing Venezuelans to stay connected without cost during a period of political and military upheaval.