United News of Bangladesh

Venezuelan security forces detained at least 14 journalists on Monday as armed police and intelligence agents increased patrols across the capital following the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. The journalists were detained while covering developments after Maduro’s arrest, according to a union representing media workers. Most of those held worked for foreign news outlets and were released later in the day, though one reporter was deported. The detentions took place near the National Assembly, where Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, and in other areas of Caracas, including Altamira. Two reporters were also detained near the Colombia-Venezuela border before being sent back to Colombia. The union said journalists had their phones checked, equipment searched, and messages reviewed by security personnel. It described the incidents as “alarming” and called for the release of 23 journalists still in detention in Venezuela. Residents reported a heavy presence of police, military forces, and armed pro-government groups on the streets, creating fear among people critical of the authorities. Rights groups say more than 800 political prisoners remain in custody, as repression has intensified since the disputed 2024 election.   With inputs from BBC

Leaders of Ukraine’s allies met Tuesday in Paris for talks aimed at shaping the country’s security after any potential peace deal with Russia, amid shifting U.S. priorities and renewed tensions over Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron said the meeting of 35 officials, including 27 heads of state, would result in “concrete commitments” to protect Ukraine and ensure a lasting peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held preparatory talks with Macron, while French, British, and Ukrainian military chiefs, joined by NATO’s top commander, discussed security guarantees and multinational force deployment. The summit comes as Washington’s focus has turned to Venezuela and Trump’s calls to take control of Greenland have drawn European pushback. Despite these distractions, participants aim to agree on monitoring a ceasefire, supporting Ukraine’s armed forces, and long-term defense cooperation. Zelenskyy stressed the importance of European deployments, including Britain and France, while noting many countries must secure parliamentary approval.

Most Americans appear reluctant to see the United States deepen its involvement in foreign conflicts, even as many Republicans initially supported the recent military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolás Maduro, according to an Associated Press analysis of recent polls. An AP-NORC survey last month found that Americans wanted the government in 2026 to focus on domestic concerns such as health care and rising costs, rather than foreign policy. Polling after the Venezuela raid showed that many remain unconvinced that the U.S. should intervene to control the country. Nearly half, 45%, opposed taking control of Venezuela, while about 90% said Venezuelans should decide their own leadership. Republicans were more supportive of the Maduro operation, but only about one in ten favored a more active U.S. role in global issues. Most Americans, including Trump supporters, prioritized domestic economic concerns over foreign policy, reflecting the challenges the president may face in balancing “America First” promises with overseas actions.

Greenland’s location above the Arctic Circle makes the world’s largest island a key factor in global security and trade, drawing international attention amid rising tensions and climate change. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in controlling the mineral-rich island, but both Denmark and Greenland’s government have firmly opposed any U.S. takeover, emphasizing that Greenlanders will decide their own future. The island, home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit residents, has been strategically important since World War II, hosting U.S. military bases and guarding North Atlantic shipping lanes. Its rare earth minerals are crucial for electronics, batteries, and other high-tech industries, attracting interest from the U.S. and other Western nations seeking to reduce dependence on China. The U.S. operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland for missile defense and space surveillance, while Denmark is strengthening its Arctic military presence with new naval vessels, surveillance drones, and satellites. Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk and the elite Sirius Dog Sled Patrol enforce sovereignty across Greenland. Security concerns in the Arctic have increased with China declaring itself a “near-Arctic state” and Russia expanding its military presence. Experts warn the region could see heightened competition over trade routes, resources, and strategic control, making Greenland central to Arctic security debates.

Fire safety inspections had not been conducted since 2019 at Le Constellation, the Swiss bar where a New Year’s party fire killed 40 people and injured over 100, authorities said Tuesday. Investigators believe the blaze was triggered by sparkling candles on Champagne bottles that came too close to the ceiling. Authorities are examining whether ceiling soundproofing met regulations and if the candles were allowed. A criminal investigation has been launched against the bar’s two managers for involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire, the Valais chief prosecutor said. Crans-Montana municipality said fire safety checks were carried out in 2016, 2018, and 2019, with modifications requested, but no issues were raised regarding soundproofing. Municipal head Nicolas Féraud said inspections were not done between 2020 and 2025, a lapse he described as “bitterly regrettable.” Severe burns complicated victim identification, requiring DNA samples. Investigators confirmed all 40 deceased and 116 injured, including nine French citizens, have been identified. The Paris prosecutor’s office opened a probe to support the Swiss investigation. Authorities noted the bar’s capacity was 100 on the ground floor and 100 in the basement, though the exact number present during the fire remains unknown. Following the tragedy, the municipality banned indoor fireworks and will commission external agencies to inspect similar venues.

Following last weekend’s U.S. military operation in Venezuela, the Trump administration publicly thanked news organizations for not jeopardizing the mission by reporting on it in advance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that several media outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, had prior knowledge of Saturday’s raid that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro but refrained from publishing details to protect operational security. “We thank them for doing that or lives could have been lost. American lives,” Rubio said. The acknowledgment is notable amid Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s restrictive press rules at the Pentagon, which many mainstream news organizations have refused to accept. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Rubio said Congress was not briefed beforehand partly because the information could have leaked, but the primary concern was the safety of U.S. personnel. Semafor reported that some outlets intentionally held the story to avoid endangering military personnel, a practice considered routine among national security reporters. Dana Priest, former Washington Post reporter, noted that news organizations routinely weigh operational risks before publishing sensitive information. Most Americans learned of the Venezuela operation early Saturday when President Trump announced it on his Truth Social platform. While The Associated Press did not have prior notice, its journalists in Venezuela reported explosions hours before the announcement, though U.S. involvement was confirmed only after Trump’s post. Hegseth has defended Pentagon press restrictions, citing the need to prevent solicitation of sensitive information, a policy challenged in court by The New York Times. Experts emphasize that, despite such rules, the ultimate decision to report sensitive information lies with news organizations, balancing public interest with the safety of personnel.

Several European leaders on Tuesday firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion of an American takeover of Greenland, emphasizing that the Arctic island “belongs to its people.” France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in reaffirming Greenland’s sovereignty. The self-governing territory of Denmark is part of the NATO alliance. “It is for Denmark and Greenland alone to decide on matters concerning them,” the leaders said in a joint statement. Trump has argued that the U.S. should control Greenland to safeguard NATO territory against growing Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told CNN on Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States as part of its overall security strategy, questioning Denmark’s claim over the territory. Frederiksen and Greenland’s leaders, however, have repeatedly rejected any U.S. takeover, warning that such a move could undermine NATO. Miller clarified that the discussion did not involve any military action, saying, “Nobody is going to fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland.”

The Venezuelan government on Tuesday sought to demonstrate that the country remains governed from Caracas, not Washington, following the dramatic U.S. military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend. Ruling-party lawmakers, including Maduro’s son, convened in the capital to carry out the previously scheduled swearing-in of the National Assembly, which will serve until 2031. The session was intended to project institutional continuity and national sovereignty. Former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who has pledged cooperation with the Trump administration, was sworn in as interim president by her brother, National Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodríguez. In her remarks, she expressed grief over what she described as an “illegitimate military aggression” that caused suffering among Venezuelans. Lawmakers used the session to denounce Maduro’s seizure by U.S. forces. Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, warned that accepting the abduction of a sitting head of state would endanger all nations. “Today it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any nation that refuses to submit,” he said, calling the episode a threat to global political stability. He also demanded the return of his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, and rejected allegations that he was part of the alleged conspiracy. As lawmakers met in Caracas, Maduro appeared in a U.S. courtroom in New York, pleading not guilty to federal narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges. He described himself as innocent and denied wrongdoing. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio later clarified that Washington would not manage day-to-day governance, aside from enforcing an oil embargo aimed at forcing political and economic changes. Rodríguez struck a more conciliatory tone on Sunday, calling for “respectful relations” and cooperation with the U.S. within international law, a shift that followed Trump’s warning that she could face consequences if she resisted U.S. demands. Venezuela’s Supreme Court appointed Rodríguez interim president, declaring Maduro’s absence “temporary,” despite constitutional provisions that would normally require elections within 30 days. The court did not specify a time limit, prompting speculation she could remain in office beyond the usual interim period. U.S. officials said preliminary steps are also underway to potentially reopen the American embassy in Caracas.

The U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife has raised unease about the future of the international legal framework. Experts warn that the mission signals a shift toward unilateral use of force, challenging norms established after two world wars and codified in the United Nations Charter. U.N. Undersecretary-General Rosemary A. DiCarlo told the Security Council that international peace and security depend on all nations adhering to the Charter’s provisions. The Trump administration maintains that the seizure was legal, citing the designation of Venezuelan drug cartels as unlawful combatants and describing the operation as part of an armed conflict. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz called it a justified “surgical law enforcement operation.” The mission aligns with the administration’s National Security Strategy, which emphasizes restoring “American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.” However, the action has drawn criticism worldwide. Leaders from China, Mexico, and Europe condemned the operation, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stating it violated the principle of non-use of force central to international law. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya warned the operation marked a “return to lawlessness.” Analysts say the operation could embolden similar unilateral actions, potentially destabilizing regions like Ukraine, Greenland, Taiwan, and the Middle East. Trump’s criticism of Colombia and speculation about Greenland have already heightened tensions, while Maduro’s capture has alarmed Beijing regarding U.S. unpredictability in global affairs. European leaders have called for upholding the principles of international law, though some allies, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, argue that major powers often act beyond such legal constraints. Observers say the Venezuelan operation underscores the fragility of postwar international norms and the growing tension between national interests and global legal order.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that a U.S. military takeover of Greenland would effectively end NATO, responding to renewed comments by President Donald Trump suggesting the United States should control the Arctic territory. Frederiksen’s remarks came amid heightened global unease following a U.S. operation over the weekend that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The episode has intensified concerns in Denmark and Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom and a NATO member by extension. “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has existed since the end of the Second World War.” Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland since his transition back into office and has refused to rule out the use of force. His latest comment, “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days”, fueled fears of imminent action. Frederiksen said Trump “should be taken seriously” and stressed that Denmark and Greenland would not accept threats to their sovereignty. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen also rejected comparisons with Venezuela and urged calm. “The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland,” he said, adding that Greenland wants cooperation, not confrontation. Trump has criticized Denmark’s security presence on the island, mocking its defenses and claiming Greenland is strategically vital due to alleged Russian and Chinese activity. However, Danish security experts have disputed those claims. Tensions were further inflamed by a social media post from a former Trump administration official depicting Greenland draped in U.S. flag imagery with the caption “SOON.”   Despite the dispute, the U.S. maintains a longstanding military presence at Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base under a 1951 defense agreement, and Denmark remains a close U.S. ally, hosting American forces and purchasing U.S. military equipment, even as critics warn that recent agreements risk eroding Danish sovereignty.