United News of Bangladesh

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says she wants to share her Nobel Peace Prize with U.S. President Donald Trump, praising his administration’s military action that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, even as she acknowledged she has not spoken to Trump since October. Speaking on Fox News’ Hannity on Monday, Machado described Maduro’s capture as “a huge step for humanity, for freedom, and human dignity,” and said her decision to dedicate the Nobel Prize to Trump was based on her belief that he deserved it, reports Al Jazeera. Read More:  Machado’s daughter receives Nobel Peace Prize in her absence “I dedicated it to President Trump because I believed, at that time, that he deserved it,” Machado said. “Now, after deposing Maduro, he has proven to the world what he means.” Machado said she last spoke with Trump on October 10, the day the Nobel Peace Prize was announced. “Not since then,” she said, adding that she hopes to thank him personally. “On behalf of the Venezuelan people, how grateful we are for his courageous vision, the historical actions he has taken against this narcoterrorist regime.” Read More:  Nobel Peace Prize for Maria Corina Machado sparks outcry over Israel ties The right-wing opposition figure welcomed Trump’s remarks about U.S. energy interests in Venezuela, saying the country could become an “energy hub” for the United States. “We will bring rule of law, we will open markets, we will bring security for investments,” she said. Trump, however, later questioned Machado’s political standing, telling reporters she “doesn’t have the support or the respect” to lead Venezuela. Following Maduro’s removal, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim leader. Machado won 93 percent of the opposition’s 2023 primary vote but was barred from running for president, forcing her into hiding for more than a year. After traveling to Norway to accept the Nobel Prize, her current whereabouts remain unknown. She said she plans to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible.”

North Korea announced on Monday that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw test flights of hypersonic missiles, emphasizing the need to strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrent as it ramps up weapons demonstrations ahead of a major political gathering. The announcement came a day after neighboring countries reported multiple ballistic missile launches, condemning the tests as provocative. The launches occurred just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for China to meet President Xi Jinping. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Sunday exercise aimed to assess the readiness of a hypersonic weapons system, enhance operational skills of missile troops, and evaluate the effectiveness of the country’s war deterrent. Kim stated that the drill confirmed a “very important technology task for national defense” and emphasized the need to continuously upgrade military capabilities, particularly offensive weapons. Possessing operational hypersonic missiles would allow North Korea to bypass U.S. and South Korean missile defense systems. While Pyongyang has conducted multiple tests in recent years to achieve this, foreign experts remain skeptical about whether the missiles have reached the required speed and maneuverability. North Korea fires ballistic missiles into sea ahead of south korean leader’s China visit In recent weeks, the country has test-fired long-range strategic cruise missiles, new anti-air missiles, and released images showing progress in building its first nuclear-powered submarine. Analysts believe these demonstrations aim to highlight weapons development achievements ahead of the Workers’ Party congress, the first in five years, where attention will focus on potential shifts in U.S.-North Korea relations and the resumption of stalled negotiations. The nuclear issue is expected to feature in the Lee-Xi summit, with South Korea urging China to play a constructive role in promoting peace on the peninsula. The missile tests followed a bold U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which North Korea criticized as evidence of American aggression. Kim defended his nuclear ambitions, citing recent geopolitical tensions and complex international developments as justification for strengthening his country’s defense.

Starlink has announced it will provide free broadband internet services across Venezuela until February 3, following the recent U.S. operation that led to the removal of President Nicolás Maduro. The satellite internet service, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, said in a post on X that it is committed to ensuring “continued connectivity” for Venezuelans. The country has long faced internet restrictions, with previous governments blocking platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram during periods of unrest. Starlink delivers mobile broadband through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, enabling internet access even in areas with limited infrastructure. Internet monitoring group Netblocks reported a sudden loss of connectivity in parts of Caracas on Saturday, which it said coincided with power outages during the U.S. military operation. Local media also reported that several areas of the capital were experiencing internet blackouts. Venezuelans question leadership after Maduro’s capture The move by Starlink is expected to help restore communication for residents amid ongoing uncertainty and disruptions to power and digital services across the country.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has announced a 28-man squad for the upcoming international friendly matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico in the United States, featuring a mix of World Cup veterans and promising newcomers. The call-ups follow Argentina’s successful conclusion to their South American qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, which they topped with a commanding 38 points from 18 matches. Debut call-ups and recalls Scaloni introduced several surprises in his latest selection, handing out first-ever senior national team call-ups to three players. They are: midfielder Aníbal Moreno (28), who plays for Brazilian club Palmeiras; defender Lautaro Rivero (21) from Argentine club River Plate; and goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses (28), who represents Racing Club. In addition to the debutants, defender Marcos Senesi (28) has been recalled to the squad after a long absence. The defender, who has only played once for the national team back in June 2022, will be looking to earn his second cap in Albiceleste colors. Midfielder Enzo Fernández also returns to the squad after serving a two-match suspension during the World Cup qualifiers. Fixtures and Captain’s status The reigning world champions will travel to the United States for two friendlies. They will face Venezuela on October 10 at Miami Gardens in Florida, and then play Puerto Rico on October 13 at Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago. Captain Lionel Messi and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul have both been included in the squad for those games, but their participation in the first friendly against Venezuela is uncertain. Inter Miami, the club for both players, has a key MLS home match against Atlanta United the very next day, October 11. Inter Miami are currently locked in a battle for the Supporters’ Shield and a top spot on the Eastern Conference table for playoff home-field advantage. Currently fourth in the East with 56 points, Miami needs to win their three remaining league matches, and hope the Philadelphia Union lose their final two games, to clinch the Supporters’ Shield. When asked about the possibility of Messi and De Paul featuring in the October 10 match against Venezuela, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano was non-committal on Friday, stating, “We are discussing the matter right now; you will know soon.” Inter Miami’s Telasco Segovia was also called up to the Venezuela squad for the friendly. Full Argentina Squad Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Walter Benitez, Geronimo Rulli, Facundo Cambeses Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, Lautaro Rivero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Anibal Moreno, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Paz, Giovanni Lo Celso, Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Almada, Franco Mastantuono Forwards: Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lionel Messi, Jose Manuel Lopez, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez

For three years, Juan Guaidó led the Venezuelan opposition’s efforts to bring about new elections and remove socialist President Nicolás Maduro. But on Friday, dozens of politicians who once backed Guaidó voted in favor of removing the 39-year-old engineer and replacing his U.S.-supported “interim government” with a committee to oversee presidential primaries next year and protect the nation’s assets abroad. The vote reflects a changing balance of power within the opposition, which is trying to find new ways to connect with voters ahead of the nation’s 2024 presidential election. Three of Venezuela’s four main opposition parties backed the proposal to remove Guaidó, who was supported only by his own Popular Will party. After the vote, Guaidó said the move would create a “power vacuum” that could encourage more foreign nations to recognize the Maduro administration. “If there is no interim government, who will they recognize in its place,” he said. “Today we have jumped into the abyss. And given up on an important tool in our struggle.” Guaido's opponents said new ways of connecting with voters should be found. The interim government has no sway over local institutions and is unable to provide basic services, with some Venezuelans mocking it as a “fake” government. “It's with a heavy heart that I make this vote,” said Luis Silva, a member of the Democratic Action party who participated in the online session for the vote. “We haven’t been able to come up with a unanimous decision, but we need to look for new strategies.” Daniel Varnagy, a political science professor at Simon Bolivar University in Caracas, said the opposition had generated high expectations under Guaidó’s leadership but then failed to keep its promises to people yearning for a change in Venezuela's governance. "He promised to cease (Maduro’s) usurpation, lead a transition and organize fair elections, and none of that happened,” Varnagy said. Guaidó rose to leadership of the opposition in 2019 when he was president of the then opposition-controlled legislature, which had begun its five-year term in 2015 after what many observers considered Venezuela’s last fair elections. It was the last instution not controlled by Maduro's socialists. The National Assembly argued Maduro won his second presidential term illegally in 2018 because his main rivals were banned from running. So the opposition legislators created an “interim government,” headed by Guaidó, that was meant to last until Maduro stepped down and free elections could be held. Guaidó organized protests in Venezuela, snuck out of the country for an international tour and was recognized as the nation’s legitimate leader by the United States and dozens of European and Latin American governments that rejected Maduro’s rule. His interim administration was also given control of Venezuelan government assets abroad that had been frozen, including Citgo, the Houston-based oil refiner. But the Guaidó-led opposition failed to win over the Venezuelan military or the nation’s courts to its side, while Maduro’s administration faced down street demonstrations and tightened its grip even more on the South American nation. The failure to drive out Maduro frustrated Venezuelans, who are struggling with high inflation, food shortages and the lowest wages in South America — hardships that prodded millions of people to migrate in recent years. In a poll taken by Venezuela’s Andres Bello University in November, only 6% of Venezuelans said they would vote for Guaidó if he participated in presidential primaries next year while a few other opposition leaders got bigger numbers. Guaidó’s influence has also diminished since late 2020, when the National Assembly that elected him as interim president was replaced by new legislators chosen in elections boycotted by opposition parties. Many members of the 2015 National Assembly are now in exile, but they continue to claim to be Venezuela’s legitimate legislative branch and hold online meetings in which they make decisions on issues involving the “interim government.” On Friday, 72 of the 109 former legislators who participated in the online session voted in favor of a measure calling for replacing Guaidó’s interim administration with a committee made up of several opposition leaders. ___ Rueda reported from Bogota, Colombia.

At least 12 permanent residents of Moulvibazar district found their birth place mentioned as South American country Venezuela in their National Identity Cards (NID). The comical mistake occurred after these NID holders living in the country or outside as expats submitted their cards to district and upazila election offices to correct some previous mistakes. “I was born in Moulvibazar but now I have become a citizen of Venezuela, a country I didn’t know existed until now. My children are making fun of the fact that their mother has become an American citizen!,`` Romana Begum from Talimpur village of Baralekha upazila told the UNB reporter on Sunday.   Read: HC: Bangladesh Railway gets 7 days more to submit report on mismanagement Romana said her second name was mistaken as Akter in the NID so she submitted an application in May to fix it instead she now received the card with a more serious mistake. ASM Sadikur Rahman, Upazila Election Officer of Baralekha upazila said, “ The mistake occurred due to a glitch in the central server of Election Commission. EC has been informed about this situation.” According to the district election office the same kind of mistakes occurred in recently issued NIDs of several districts including Sunamganj, Moulvibazar in the country due to the technical glitch in EC server. EC is trying to resolve the issue.    

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Chair of Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana, on Tuesday reaffirms the proposal of the group for peaceful settlement of the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela through the intervention of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). ''Bangladesh looks forward to steering the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana to reach a peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and international adjudication which also is in line with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visionary foreign policy doctrine," Momen said. The foreign minister attended the virtual meeting for the second time during his tenure as the chairman. Bangladesh took over the chairmanship from South Africa for this Ministerial Group. Read: Bangladesh to be voice of climate vulnerable countries: FM The Group is currently overseeing the long-standing territorial dispute between the British Guyana and Venezuela over their maritime territory. Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland and Foreign Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Guyana, Jamaica and the UK were present in the meeting. Momen reiterated firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana. He assured that Bangladesh would steer the deliberations of this Ministerial Group's work towards a peaceful settlement of the territorial dispute between Guyana-Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has authorized the dispatch of oxygen to Brazil to help its South American neighbor treat people sickened amid another wave of the coronavirus, despite frosty relations between the two governments and Venezuela’s own lack of hospital supplies.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said Friday that authorities haven't detained opposition leader Juan Guaidó because the courts haven't ordered it, but he warned: "It will come."

Russia's foreign minister visited Venezuela on Friday in a show of support for President Nicolás Maduro as U.S. vows of more pressure threaten to cut off the socialist leader from a key financial ally in Moscow.