United News of Bangladesh

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has warned of a “real threat” of US military action against the country. He made the comments in an interview with the BBC, citing recent remarks by US President Donald Trump about a potential operation in Colombia. Petro said the United States treats other countries as part of its “empire” and risks becoming isolated from the world. He also criticised US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), accusing agents of acting like “Nazi brigades” and of killing US citizens during enforcement operations. The warning came after Trump described a military operation in Colombia as “sounds good” following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Petro said the phone call with Trump was largely dominated by discussions on drug trafficking, Colombia’s position on Venezuela, and broader Latin American affairs. Protests erupted across Colombia in response to Trump’s remarks. Petro said the comments threaten Colombia’s sovereignty and cited the country’s history of foreign interventions as a concern. He stressed that dialogue remains the preferred method to resolve tensions but said Colombia is prepared to defend itself using its terrain and population if needed. Colombia is a major cocaine producer and holds significant reserves of oil, coal, and precious metals. Petro denied allegations linking him to drug trafficking and highlighted his two-decade-long fight against cartels. The president said his “total peace” strategy balances dialogue with armed groups and targeted military action against those who reject peace, leading to a reduction in coca cultivation and homicides in parts of southern Colombia. Petro also confirmed talks with Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez to prevent covert operations on Colombian soil.   With inputs from BBC

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Wednesday publicly expressed gratitude for China’s support for his country’s full sovereignty over its territory and natural resources, and for its strong criticism of recent U.S. actions. In a post on his X account, Gil highlighted China’s condemnation of what Beijing and Caracas describe as serious violations of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, along with acts of intimidation by the United States. At a regular press briefing in Beijing the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed that Venezuela — as a sovereign state — has complete and permanent control over its natural resources and all economic activities within its borders. Mao said U.S. operations “seriously violate international law, gravely infringe upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and severely undermine the rights of the Venezuelan people,” and that China “strongly condemns these actions.” This statement reflects China’s consistent diplomatic stance following the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which has sparked international criticism and heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.

At least 100 people were killed in the U.S. military operation that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, authorities in Venezuela said Wednesday, as tensions over the dramatic assault escalate. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told state television that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured during the raid early Saturday and later taken into U.S. custody. Cabello condemned the U.S. action as “barbaric and despicable,” saying it harmed many innocent people and could not be concealed. He paid tribute to the president, Flores and those killed in the operation. This is the first official death toll released by Venezuelan authorities. Earlier, the Venezuelan army had published a list of 23 military personnel killed in the operation, and Cuban officials said 32 members of their military and intelligence services stationed in Venezuela also died. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a week of mourning for the fallen, and videos of funerals for soldiers killed in the operation have been shown on state media. The United States has described the mission as a lawful operation but has not confirmed casualty figures provided by Caracas.  

Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s fierce criticism of the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has pushed Colombia into a delicate standoff with its most important ally, even as both sides move to dial back tensions. Petro denounced the U.S. operation as an “abhorrent” violation of sovereignty and compared it to a “spectacle of death,” drawing some of the harshest condemnation of Washington from any world leader. His rhetoric escalated after President Donald Trump said a U.S. military operation in Colombia “sounds good.” Thousands rallied across Colombia Wednesday after Petro called for protests to defend national sovereignty. But the president surprised supporters by softening his tone after a last-minute phone call with Trump. “I had one speech prepared for today, but I have to give another one,” Petro told the crowd. “The first speech was quite harsh. I had to change it.” Petro said he urged Trump to restore direct dialogue, warning, “If there is no dialogue, there will be war.” Trump later described the call as a “Great Honor” and invited Petro to the White House. Despite months of insults, sanctions threats and visa revocations, both leaders appear eager to protect a relationship vital to U.S. counternarcotics efforts and Colombia’s security, underscoring how political pragmatism has tempered an explosive confrontation.

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

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.

Delcy Rodríguez has assumed the role of interim president of Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States in a nighttime military operation, amid growing uncertainty over the country’s political future. Rodríguez, who has served as Maduro’s vice president since 2018, was next in the constitutional line of succession and has been a central figure in managing Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy and its powerful intelligence apparatus. On Saturday, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered her to take over as interim leader, a move that was swiftly backed by the military. In a televised address, Rodríguez showed no sign of cooperating with the Trump administration, referring to the US government as “extremists” and insisting that Maduro remains Venezuela’s legitimate president. She described the US action as an “atrocity” and a violation of international law. US President Donald Trump, however, offered mixed signals about Rodríguez. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, he said she was “cooperating” and that he wanted full access to Venezuela’s oil facilities and infrastructure so they could be rebuilt. At the same time, he warned that she could face consequences “probably worse than Maduro” if she failed to work with Washington. Earlier, Trump had said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in contact with Rodríguez and described her as someone the US could work with, unlike Maduro. Rubio later told US television networks that he did not view Rodríguez’s government as legitimate, arguing that Venezuela had not held free and fair elections. Rodríguez, a 56-year-old lawyer educated in Britain and France, has long been a prominent defender of the socialist movement launched by the late Hugo Chávez. Along with her brother Jorge Rodríguez, head of the pro-Maduro National Assembly, she rose to prominence from a political legacy shaped by their father, a leftist leader who died in police custody in the 1970s. Although she has avoided US criminal indictments that have targeted other senior Venezuelan officials, Rodríguez was sanctioned during Trump’s first term for actions Washington said undermined democracy. Over the years, she has held several senior posts, including foreign minister and petroleum minister, and played a key role in stabilizing the economy after years of crisis. Analysts say Rodríguez has cultivated close ties with the military, which has long been a decisive force in Venezuelan politics, as well as with international oil industry figures wary of abrupt regime change. It remains unclear how long she will remain in power. Venezuela’s constitution requires a presidential election within 30 days if a president is deemed permanently unable to serve. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Maduro’s absence is temporary, allowing the vice president to assume power for up to 90 days, extendable to six months with parliamentary approval. The court did not specify a time limit in its ruling, raising speculation that Rodríguez could seek to extend her hold on power as she navigates internal party divisions and external pressure from Washington.

Cuba has said that 32 of its military and police officers were killed during a US military operation in Venezuela over the weekend, marking the first official confirmation of the casualties by the Cuban government. A statement read on Cuban state television on Sunday night said the officers were deployed in Venezuela as part of a mission requested by the Venezuelan government. However, it did not specify the nature of their assignment. Cuba is a long-time ally of Venezuela and has for years sent military and police personnel to assist the South American country in various operations. US President Donald Trump acknowledged the deaths while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night as he returned to Washington from Florida. “A lot of Cubans were killed yesterday,” Trump said. “There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.” The US operation on Saturday resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were taken into custody to face prosecution under an indictment accusing them of involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. Cuba announced two days of national mourning for the officers who were killed. According to the official statement, the officers “fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism” and died after intense resistance in direct combat with the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities where they were stationed.

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.

At least 40 people, including civilians and members of the armed forces, were killed in U.S. airstrikes on Venezuela on Saturday, The New York Times reported, citing a senior Venezuelan official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The large-scale strikes were carried out in the early hours as U.S. forces conducted an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who are now being held in custody in New York. The newspaper said it verified video footage showing heavy smoke and repeated explosions near La Carlota Airport in Caracas. In Catia La Mar, west of the capital, an airstrike reportedly hit a three-storey residential building, destroying parts of its exterior walls. At least one elderly woman was killed and another person seriously injured. EU urges de-escalation in Venezuela U.S. media, citing Venezuelan government sources, reported that military targets in Caracas as well as the coastal states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira were struck during the operation. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez earlier confirmed casualties among both civilians and military personnel but did not provide figures. U.S. President Donald Trump said some American personnel were injured during the operation, though no U.S. troops were killed.