Bangladeshi newspaper Amar Desh has announced it will boycott all coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the exclusion of Bangladesh’s fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad. The decision came after India’s cricket board, the BCCI, instructed KKR to release Mustafizur. The newspaper’s editorial board confirmed the boycott soon after the player’s removal was made public.

According to the report, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had granted Mustafizur permission to play in the IPL at the BCCI’s request, following Bangladesh’s ODI series against New Zealand. KKR had purchased Mustafizur for 92 million rupees in the recent auction, making him the highest-priced Bangladeshi player in the league. However, the BCCI has not yet formally notified the BCB about the release order.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Indian media that the decision was made due to recent events, while other Indian figures, including a religious leader and a BJP politician, had earlier criticized KKR’s signing of Mustafizur. The BCB indicated it has limited options beyond appealing to the BCCI.

The nomination of BNP candidate Morshed Milton for the Bogura-7 (Gabtali-Shajahanpur) constituency, previously held by Khaleda Zia, has been declared valid for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The announcement was made on Saturday by Bogura Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Toufiqul Rahman after verifying five submitted nomination papers, of which three were approved.

The nominations of Begum Khaleda Zia, due to her death, and Muslim League leader Ansar Ali were cancelled for not meeting the required criteria. The two other valid candidates in the constituency are Golam Rabbani of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Md. Shariful Islam of Islami Andolan. This marks the first time a BNP candidate outside the Zia family, Morshed Milton, who is the district BNP vice-president and Gabtali Thana BNP president, has been nominated for this seat.

Local reports indicate that Milton’s nomination as the BNP’s young candidate under the party’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol has generated widespread enthusiasm in the Bogura-7 constituency.

The United States launched a military attack on Venezuela, with President Donald Trump claiming the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Shortly after the assault began, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona denounced the action on social media platform X, calling it an illegal and unjustified war. Gallego, a former US Navy serviceman who served in Iraq from 2002 to 2006, described it as the second unjust war of his life.

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah also questioned the legality of the operation, writing on X that he was eager to understand how the move could be constitutionally justified without a formal declaration of war or congressional authorization for the use of military force. In recent months, several Democratic and Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s military actions in Latin America.

The bipartisan criticism highlights growing unease in Congress over unilateral military interventions in the region, suggesting potential challenges ahead for the administration’s foreign policy approach.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the United States for launching an attack against Venezuela, calling the justification for the assault unacceptable. In a state statement issued on Saturday, Moscow urged Washington to exercise restraint and warned that the situation in Caracas had intensified following a series of early-morning explosions. Russia also reaffirmed its commitment to stand by Venezuela, following the path of Bolivarian leadership.

The ministry emphasized that ideologically driven hostility had overshadowed pragmatic relations and reiterated that dialogue is the only viable solution to the conflict. It expressed readiness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving tensions. The statement further reaffirmed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and support for the country’s sovereignty and national interests.

The Russian Embassy in Caracas reported that it continues to operate normally and maintains constant communication with Venezuelan authorities and Russian citizens in the country. It confirmed that no Russian nationals were injured in the attack.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain stated that there is no external pressure on Bangladesh regarding the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 3, in Munshiganj after a meeting with heads of government offices. Hossain emphasized that Bangladesh maintains good relations with all foreign partners, and the election process is being organized independently within the country.

He added that the government will conduct the election and hand over responsibilities to the newly elected administration by February 12. The adviser noted that how other countries choose to maintain relations with Bangladesh is their own matter. On a separate issue, he said efforts are underway to bring back those involved in the Osman Hadi murder case, though their exact location in India remains unknown.

Hossain clarified that there is no urgency in the judicial process and that once the suspects’ whereabouts are confirmed, the Indian government would be requested to assist in their capture.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced the immediate deployment of the country’s armed forces across Venezuela following what he described as a US attack. In a video message delivered in Spanish on Saturday, Padrino called the assault the “worst act of aggression” against Venezuela and urged citizens to unite in resistance. He stated that the nation was following President Nicolás Maduro’s directives and declared that the attackers would not succeed in suppressing them.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces had carried out a large-scale operation against Venezuela and detained President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump made the statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, adding that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies and that further details would be shared at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago. CBS News cited US officials saying that the Delta Force, an elite counterterrorism unit, had captured Maduro and his wife.

According to BBC sources, explosions were heard across Caracas during the overnight assault, prompting Venezuela to declare a state of emergency.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has published a post on social media platform X identifying Venezuelan regions affected by what he described as United States attacks. According to the report, the strikes targeted both civilian and military installations across several Venezuelan states. The post was shared on January 3, 2026, by the online outlet Amar Desh.

The report states that multiple areas in Venezuela were struck, though it does not specify the names of the affected regions or the scale of the damage. The information was presented as coming from Petro’s social media post, which highlighted the extent of the alleged US operations. The article also referenced related developments involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and broader US actions in Latin America.

The report underscores ongoing tensions in the region, with references to historical US involvement in Latin America and expressions of solidarity from European countries toward the Venezuelan people.

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified the specific procedure for filing appeals against returning officers’ decisions on the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to a directive from the EC Secretariat’s legal wing, any candidate whose nomination is rejected, or any candidate objecting to another’s acceptance, must submit an appeal following the prescribed rules. The directive emphasizes strict adherence to clause 19 of Circular-2 previously issued by the commission.

For candidates’ convenience, the EC stated that appeals must be submitted at designated booths assigned for each region, using the official format provided by the commission. The entire appeal process must be completed within the timeframe set in the announced election schedule. Returning, assistant returning, and regional officers have been instructed to promptly inform candidates about these procedures.

As in previous elections, special booths and hearing courts will be set up at the EC Secretariat, where the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners will conduct hearings to resolve appeals swiftly.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad on Saturday, January 3, 2026, to pay tribute to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia following her death. During the visit, he signed the condolence book placed at the mission in her memory, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq traveled to Dhaka after news of Khaleda Zia’s death. He attended her funeral and met with Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to express condolences on behalf of Pakistan.

The visits by senior Pakistani officials reflect Islamabad’s gesture of sympathy toward Bangladesh’s political leadership following the passing of Khaleda Zia, a significant figure in the country’s political history.

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.