The 11th edition of the international photography festival ‘Chobi Mela’ will begin in Dhaka on January 16, 2026, as announced at a press conference held at DrikPath Bhaban. Organized jointly by Drik Picture Library and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, the festival will run for 16 days across five venues, including the Bangladesh National Museum, Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Française de Dhaka, DrikPath Bhaban, and the South Plaza of the National Parliament. This year’s theme, ‘Punah’ (meaning ‘again’ or ‘anew’), reflects a spirit of renewal and fresh beginnings. The event will feature nine exhibitions with 58 participants from 18 countries across five continents. Curators Munem Wasif and Sarker Protick highlighted key exhibitions exploring global conflicts, borders, and identity, including “But a Wound That Fights,” “Rights of Passage,” and “(Un)Learning Palestine.” Other notable displays include solo shows by Alessandra Sanguinetti, Bani Abidi, and Amanul Haque. The festival will also host workshops, public talks, guided tours, and educational outreach involving local schools. Supported by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs and 16 partner organizations, Chobi Mela will continue until January 31, 2026.

Multiple explosions struck military installations in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, around midnight on Saturday, damaging key sites including La Carlota airbase and the main Fuerte Tiuna military complex, according to eyewitness reports. Several areas lost power, and unconfirmed reports described aircraft flying over the city. Following the attacks, the Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and issued a statement condemning what it called a serious act of military aggression by the United States. US officials confirmed to CBS News that President Trump had ordered strikes on various targets inside Venezuela, including military facilities. The Trump administration was reportedly aware of the explosions and air raids over Caracas early Saturday morning. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, as US operations against drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean continued. The United States has long accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being illegitimately elected and personally involved in drug trafficking, while the Venezuelan government claims Washington’s actions aim to remove Maduro from power and seize control of the country’s oil reserves.

The United States has launched attacks on Venezuela, targeting both civilian and military installations across several states. According to the report, US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Venezuelan military bases and other sites. In response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly condemned the assault through social media, declaring his support for Venezuela and denouncing the US actions as criminal. Díaz-Canel described the attacks as a brutal assault on what he called Cuba’s region of peace. He stated that the US move represented not only aggression against the Venezuelan people but also an act of state terrorism against what he termed “our America.” The Cuban leader concluded his statement with a revolutionary slogan expressing defiance and solidarity with Venezuela. The report highlights growing regional tensions following the US military action, with Cuba reaffirming its alignment with Venezuela amid escalating hostilities.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been detained, though he did not disclose how or where Maduro was taken. The Venezuelan government has not yet confirmed the development. Trump stated that further details will be shared during a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. EST at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The United States has long accused Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking organization, allegations that he has consistently denied. Washington had previously offered a $50 million reward for assistance leading to Maduro’s capture. The report did not specify who carried out the detention or under what circumstances it occurred. Further information is expected to be released at the upcoming press briefing, as both U.S. and Venezuelan authorities have yet to provide official confirmation or additional context regarding Maduro’s current location or condition.

Two candidates’ nomination papers for the Moulvibazar-4 (Sreemangal–Kamalganj) parliamentary constituency were canceled following scrutiny at the Moulvibazar District Commissioner’s office on Saturday afternoon. The canceled candidates are independent aspirant Muid Ashiq Chishti and BNP nomination seeker Jalal Uddin Ahmed Zipu. According to the scrutiny findings, Muid Ashiq Chishti’s nomination was rejected due to discrepancies in the required one percent voter signatures, while Jalal Uddin Ahmed Zipu’s nomination was canceled for lacking the party’s official authorization letter. The decision was announced after the verification process concluded at the district office. Following the review, seven candidates were declared valid, including BNP’s Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, independent candidate Md. Mohsin Mia Madhu, Jamaat’s Abdur Rob, NCP’s Pritam Das, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Nure Alam Hamidi, BSD’s Abul Hasan, and Jatiya Party (GM Quader)’s nominee Hossain.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale military operation in Venezuela. Trump made the statement on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the United States had successfully carried out a major strike against Venezuela and removed its leader and his spouse from the country. He added that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of U.S. law enforcement agencies and announced a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11 a.m. local time. According to CBS News, U.S. officials said the elite Delta Force unit was responsible for detaining Maduro and Flores. The report also stated that the U.S. military began its assault late Friday night, with explosions heard across Caracas. Following the attacks, Venezuela declared a state of emergency, according to BBC sources. Further details about the operation and the current status of Maduro and his wife are expected to be released later, as Trump indicated in his post.

The nomination of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for the Dhaka-17 constituency has been declared valid. The announcement was made by Abdus Salam, chief coordinator of the BNP election management committee, on Saturday, January 3, at the returning officer’s office located in the divisional commissioner’s office in Segunbagicha. Salam stated that the BNP aims to restore democracy in Bangladesh and that the Zia family has historically stepped forward during national crises. He added that the people’s right to vote had been suppressed for 17 years under autocratic rule, which has now ended. According to him, the upcoming election will allow Bangladesh to stand as a democratic nation through the people’s mandate, and the next government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership will address the country’s challenges. Earlier the same day, Tarique Rahman’s nomination for the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency was also declared valid following scrutiny at the district commissioner’s office. In that constituency, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate’s nomination was also accepted, while three other candidates, including one from BSD, were disqualified.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has withdrawn the expulsion order of VP Sarkar Zahidul Haque Mithun, former general secretary of the party’s Brahmanpara upazila unit in Comilla. The decision was confirmed through a letter signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on January 1. Mithun had previously been expelled from all party positions and primary membership for alleged violations of party discipline and activities contrary to party principles. Following his appeal, the party reinstated his primary membership effective from January 1. The withdrawal of the expulsion order has sparked enthusiasm and excitement among grassroots BNP leaders and activists in Brahmanpara upazila. Mithun, reflecting on his long political career, stated that he has been involved with the BNP and the Zia family since 1989, serving in various leadership roles including upazila Chhatra Dal convener, upazila Jubo Dal president, and upazila BNP general secretary. The reinstatement marks a significant reconciliation within the local BNP structure, signaling renewed unity among its grassroots members in the region.

Turkey’s security forces arrested 85 suspected members of the militant group ISIS during separate anti-terror operations across the country’s eastern regions on Friday. The arrests took place in multiple provinces, including Şanlıurfa, Ağrı, and Istanbul, as part of a coordinated effort to dismantle ISIS-linked networks. In Şanlıurfa, eight suspects were detained for allegedly posting content on social media praising ISIS. In Ağrı province, police arrested ten individuals accused of having ties to the group and seized banned books and digital materials. Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor’s office detained 67 more suspects. Authorities also transferred 32 individuals to repatriation centers after determining they posed a threat to national security. One alleged leader was identified for conducting illegal classes and recruiting supporters. The operations followed a December 29 terrorist attack that killed three police officers, prompting Turkey to intensify its counterterrorism measures nationwide.

Awami League leader Syed A K Ekramuzzaman, also known as Sukhan, has been declared a valid independent candidate for the Brahmanbaria-1 (Nasirnagar) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Friday, January 2, by District Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharmin Akter Jahan after verifying his nomination papers. Ekramuzzaman was not present during the scrutiny, and police sources confirmed he is currently absconding in multiple criminal cases. Local sources and the Election Office stated that Ekramuzzaman was once an adviser to the BNP chairperson but was expelled from the party for contesting independently in the 2024 general election. After winning that election, he joined the Awami League in February 2024. His affidavit lists seven ongoing cases, most linked to the July 2024 mass uprising. The decision to validate his nomination has sparked mixed reactions locally and criticism on social media. BNP candidate Abdul Hannan has demanded the cancellation of Ekramuzzaman’s nomination, calling him a fugitive. The Returning Officer said the documents were legally sound but noted that complaints have been forwarded to the Election Commission, where appeals can be filed under election rules.

A man named Abdus Salam, aged 35 and a tube-well mechanic by profession, was killed in a wild elephant attack in Baishari Union of Naikhongchhari upazila, Bandarban. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. on Saturday at Titarpara Galasira area along the Alikhyong road. According to local accounts, Salam approached the elephant to take a photograph as it crossed the road near his house. The animal became agitated by barking dogs nearby and suddenly charged at him, trampling him to death on the spot. Salam was the sole breadwinner of his family, supporting three young children and his physically disabled father, Abdus Sattar. Following the incident, the in-charge of Baishari Police Investigation Center, Inspector Md. Anwarul Islam, visited the scene and prepared an inquest report. The tragic death has cast a pall of grief over the entire area. The report highlights the severe impact on Salam’s family, now facing deep uncertainty after losing their only source of income.

The returning officer and Dhaka District Commissioner Md Rezaul Karim has cancelled the nomination of Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Haque for the Dhaka-2 constituency. The decision was announced on Saturday morning during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election at the Dhaka District Commissioner’s office. According to a Bangladesh Bank Credit Information Bureau (CIB) report, Abdul Haque was identified as a loan defaulter. The district commissioner stated that Abdul Haque had taken a loan in the name of an organization called National Development Organization while serving as one of its directors. Based on this information, his nomination was declared invalid. In the same constituency, the nominations of BNP candidate Aman Ullah Aman and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Zahirul Islam were declared valid. The cancellation narrows the field of candidates for Dhaka-2 ahead of the upcoming national election, leaving the BNP and Islami Andolan contenders cleared to continue their campaigns.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that no further action is expected in Venezuela following the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. Rubio also confirmed that Maduro will be tried in the United States. His remarks came after US Senator Mike Lee confirmed Maduro’s detention, which had earlier been announced by former President Donald Trump. According to a BBC report cited in the source, Senator Lee spoke with Rubio by phone and said the secretary of state does not anticipate additional measures in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody. Lee added that the US strikes in Venezuela were conducted to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrants. Earlier, Lee had questioned on social media how such actions could be constitutionally justified without a declaration of war or congressional authorization for military force. Trump had previously written on his social media platform Truth Social that the United States carried out extensive strikes in Venezuela and detained Maduro and his wife with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a letter expressing support for Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student and human rights activist currently imprisoned in India. The handwritten letter was delivered to Khalid’s parents and became public on Thursday, though it had been written several days earlier. In the letter, Mamdani reflected on Khalid’s difficult experiences and praised his resilience, noting his meeting with Khalid’s parents. Umar Khalid has been held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail for nearly six years under anti-terrorism charges related to alleged conspiracy in the 2020 communal violence in Delhi. Although the Delhi High Court released him from one case, he remains detained in another, with multiple bail requests denied. Separately, eight members of the U.S. Congress sent a joint letter to India’s ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, expressing concern about Khalid’s situation. These lawmakers also met with Khalid’s parents in December 2025.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially released Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The franchise confirmed the decision in a statement, saying it acted in accordance with BCCI’s instructions and procedures before the next phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL). BCCI has also allowed KKR to select a replacement player under IPL regulations. BCCI secretary Debajit Saikia told India’s news agency ANI from Guwahati on January 3 that the board instructed KKR to remove Mustafizur from their squad due to political pressure and controversy surrounding his participation in the IPL. Saikia explained that although the board initially adopted a “wait and watch” approach, it ultimately made a difficult decision to resolve the issue. The controversy intensified after a BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh labeled KKR co-owner and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan a “traitor” for signing Mustafizur. Several self-proclaimed spiritual figures in India also criticized Khan over the matter.