U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a clear warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro following the capture and transfer of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to the United States. Speaking at a press conference in Florida, Trump accused Petro of overseeing cocaine production and trafficking operations that send drugs into the U.S. He claimed Petro runs cocaine factories and urged close monitoring of his activities.

Before the operation in Venezuela, Trump had repeatedly accused Caracas of involvement in illegal drug smuggling into the United States. In his latest remarks, he also criticized Cuba, describing it as a “failed state” and blaming its leadership for decades of economic hardship. Trump suggested that Cuba could soon become a central topic in U.S. policy discussions.

Trump added that the U.S. wants to help the Cuban people and those who have migrated from Cuba to live in America, signaling potential future engagement on Cuban issues.

England’s batting lineup, which struggled in the first three Tests of the ongoing Ashes series, showed renewed form in the fourth match and carried that momentum into the final Test in Sydney. At the time of reporting, Joe Root and Harry Brook were guiding England toward a strong total, remaining unbeaten with scores of 72 and 78 respectively. England reached 211 for 3 in 45 overs before rain interrupted play at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Earlier, England’s top order faltered again as Zak Crawley (16), Ben Duckett (27), and Jacob Bethell (10) failed to build substantial innings against Australia’s pace attack. Root and Brook then steadied the innings with composed yet aggressive batting, both reaching half-centuries and moving toward centuries.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland each claimed one wicket. The match situation suggests England are in a strong position to post a large first-innings total once play resumes.

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence announced that the Royal Air Force, in coordination with France, carried out a joint airstrike on Saturday night targeting an underground facility in Syria. The site was believed to be used by ISIS for storing weapons and explosives. Officials stated that the target was located in a sparsely populated area and that the operation posed no risk to civilians.

Although ISIS was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, the group remains active in the country’s desert regions. Palmyra, known for its UNESCO-listed ancient ruins, was previously under ISIS control. The latest strike follows an attack last month in Palmyra by a lone ISIS gunman that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian. In response, U.S. forces launched airstrikes on several ISIS targets across Syria.

The joint UK-France operation underscores continued international efforts to suppress ISIS activities in Syria’s remote areas following renewed militant attacks.

Anti-narcotics experts have stated that Venezuela’s role in global drug trafficking is relatively small, serving primarily as a transit point for narcotics produced elsewhere. Neighboring Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine producer, but most of its output reaches the United States through routes other than Venezuela. According to a 2020 report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), about three-quarters of the cocaine entering the U.S. travels via the Pacific Ocean, with only a small portion coming through the Caribbean.

Although earlier U.S. operations targeted Caribbean routes, recent enforcement efforts have shifted focus to the Pacific. In September, former U.S. President Donald Trump told military leaders that intercepted boats carried bags of white powder, mainly fentanyl and other drugs. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid about 50 times stronger than heroin, has become a leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. On December 15, Trump issued an executive order designating fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction.”

However, the DEA’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment did not identify Venezuela as a source of fentanyl trafficked into the United States, noting that the drug is primarily produced in Mexico and smuggled across the southern border by land.

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.

Two people were killed when a truck lost control and broke through a bridge railing before plunging into the Kumar River in Shailkupa, Jhenaidah. The accident occurred around 1 a.m. on Saturday night on the Jhenaidah-Kushtia highway near the Bardah old bridge in Garaganj area. The victims were identified as truck driver Sohel Sheikh, 27, and his assistant Mubarak Hossain, 20, both from Gazamanikunda village in Pabna Sadar upazila.

According to Abdus Salam, assistant director of the Fire Service’s Jashore region, the truck was carrying lentils from Jashore to Pabna when it lost control on the bridge and fell into the river. Two fire service units from Shailkupa and Jhenaidah conducted the rescue operation. Mubarak’s body was recovered at dawn, and Sohel’s body was found around 8 a.m.

Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Masud visited the accident site after receiving the news.

At least 40 people were killed in a United States military operation in Venezuela reportedly aimed at abducting President Nicolás Maduro, according to a senior Venezuelan official cited by The New York Times. The casualties included both military personnel and civilians. The report said the US forces launched a large-scale assault to destroy Venezuela’s air defense systems before landing troops on the ground.

US officials were quoted as saying that more than 150 American aircraft were deployed to neutralize Venezuela’s air defenses, allowing military helicopters to safely deploy troops who then attacked Maduro’s position. The operation’s details and the exact number of casualties have not been officially confirmed.

The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately comment when contacted regarding the reported attack or its aftermath.

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.

Large-scale protests took place across major US cities including Washington DC, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles against President Donald Trump’s military operation in Venezuela and the reported abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Demonstrators carried Venezuelan flags and chanted slogans opposing the military action, braving freezing temperatures and rain to express their dissent.

Protesters held placards reading “No war against Venezuela” and “Hands off Latin America.” In Los Angeles, a Party for Socialism and Liberation organizer named Cameron criticized US motives, saying the country prioritizes profit over people. The Chicago-based Anti-War Committee stated that they oppose the use of public funds to fuel imperialist wars and reject any attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty.

The protests reflect growing domestic opposition to US military involvement in Latin America, with participants demanding an end to interventionist policies and respect for Venezuela’s independence.

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.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. In a statement released through his spokesperson, Guterres warned that the operation could have alarming consequences for the entire region. He emphasized that the action in Venezuela set a dangerous precedent and called for full respect for the UN Charter and international law.

The Secretary-General voiced particular concern that international law had not been respected in this case. He urged Venezuela to engage in dialogue while upholding human rights and the rule of law. The statement came as Colombia, backed by Russia and China, called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council scheduled for Monday.

According to reports, the aircraft carrying Maduro landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base, about 70 kilometers from New York City, on Saturday evening. He was later transported by helicopter to Manhattan for initial legal processing at the US Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters before being moved to a Brooklyn prison.

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.