In a dramatic turn of events, the United States conducted a "large scale strike" in Venezuela, leading to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. President Trump announced the capture early Saturday morning, stating that Maduro was "flown out of the Country". The operation, which Trump described as "brilliant", was reportedly carried out in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement.
The U.S. Army's Delta Force, an elite special forces unit, executed the capture. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly indicated that Maduro would face criminal charges in the U.S., where he was previously indicted. Trump has long accused Maduro of drug trafficking and working with terrorist organizations. The strikes follow months of U.S. military buildup in the region.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stated she was unaware of Maduro's whereabouts. Venezuela's defense minister, Gen. Vladimir Padrino Lopez, denounced the strikes as an "invasion". Russia and Iran have condemned the U.S. strikes, calling it a "flagrant violation" of Venezuela's sovereignty and "an act of armed aggression". Spain has called for de-escalation and respect for international law.
In other news, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) decision to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. Tharoor called the move a "mindless politicising of sport" and questioned the logic behind punishing a player for events in another country.
KKR confirmed that the release was instructed by the BCCI, following concerns about India-Bangladesh relations. Tharoor argued that cricket should not be dragged into political disputes and that Mustafizur Rahman should not be penalized for issues he is not personally involved in. He cautioned against isolating neighboring countries, stating it would not serve India's long-term interests. The BCCI will allow KKR to name a replacement player.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high as the world awaits further developments in Venezuela and debates the role of politics in sports.
