A landslide in Indonesia’s West Bandung region of West Java province has killed seven people and left 82 others missing, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the country’s disaster management agency. The incident occurred in a village in the region following reports of heavy rainfall across Java. Search and rescue operations are being intensified to locate the missing individuals.

The Indonesian Meteorological Department had earlier issued a one-week weather warning for West Java, forecasting heavy rain and adverse conditions starting from Friday. Local officials confirmed that the landslide was triggered by persistent rainfall in the area.

Last month, severe landslides and floods in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces claimed more than 1,170 lives, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of Indonesia’s regions to extreme weather events.

A final report by the commission on enforced disappearances has revealed detailed witness accounts of a secret Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation known as 'Golf Operation'. The report describes how detainees, blindfolded and bound, were taken to secluded locations and shot at close range, often by then Lieutenant Colonel Ziaul Ahsan, later promoted to Major General. Witnesses said Ahsan personally executed victims and instructed others to learn the method, calling hesitant members 'cowards'. The victims appeared young, weak, and had signs of prolonged detention and torture.

According to the testimonies, bodies were disposed of to erase evidence—sometimes left on railway tracks to simulate accidents, or thrown into rivers from bridges or boats, often weighted with cement bags. The report states that these killings were treated within RAB as acts of 'duty' or 'skill'. Many participants reportedly suffered severe psychological trauma afterward. The International Crimes Tribunal has begun proceedings against dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan for crimes against humanity involving over a hundred enforced disappearances and killings.

The testimonies depict systematic and brutal methods of execution and disposal, suggesting an organized pattern of extrajudicial killings within the force.

Chuadanga district is experiencing severe cold weather, with temperatures recorded at 10.5 degrees Celsius at 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The humidity level stood at 94 percent, while at 6 a.m. the temperature was 10.7 degrees Celsius with 96 percent humidity. The cold intensified overnight, disrupting normal life across the district as people struggled to cope with the biting chill and cold northern winds.

Low-income residents were seen lighting straw fires at street corners and tea stalls to stay warm. The cold wave has caused significant hardship for day laborers and outdoor workers. Hospitals in the district have reported an increase in cold-related illnesses, with elderly people and children suffering from pneumonia and diarrhea.

According to the acting officer of the Chuadanga first-class observatory, the temperature and humidity levels confirm the persistence of severe winter conditions in the region.

A severe cold wave has intensified in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, where the minimum temperature dropped to 10 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning. The biting cold and dense fog have disrupted normal life in both urban and rural areas, affecting daily activities and mobility. The Sreemangal Weather Observation Center recorded the temperature between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

According to the center’s acting officer, Anisur Rahman, the cold conditions are expected to persist for the next few days. The ongoing chill has led to a rise in cold-related illnesses, with tea garden workers, children, and the elderly suffering the most. The situation has particularly affected laborers who depend on outdoor work for their livelihood.

Local residents are struggling to cope with the cold, and health concerns are mounting as the temperature remains low. Authorities have not yet indicated any immediate relief measures, while forecasts suggest the cold spell may continue.

At least eight people were killed and two others injured in a road accident near Hyderabad, Pakistan, according to Geo News. Rescue teams reached the site and transferred the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment. The incident occurred on Saturday, and police confirmed that among the dead were five children and one woman, whose identities have not yet been released.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jamshoro stated that the truck driver involved in the crash has been detained and is being questioned. A case has been filed, and police have launched an investigation into the incident. Road accidents are frequent in Pakistan, often attributed to poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and driver negligence.

In a separate accident on Thursday near Mellowal village in Valwal, a truck carrying animal feed overturned, killing at least four people and injuring eight others. Rescue 1122 reported that the truck lost balance and overturned, trapping several workers underneath. The exact cause of that accident remains unknown.

Road widening and four-lane development work on the Shariatpur–Dhaka highway is continuing despite eight electric poles remaining in the middle of the road. The situation has raised serious safety concerns among drivers, passengers, and local residents, who fear major accidents could occur at any time. The project, approved in 2020 to improve connectivity between Shariatpur and Dhaka via the Padma Bridge, covers 27 kilometers and costs Tk 1,682 crore. Work has progressed slowly over seven years due to various complications.

According to the district Roads and Highways Department, the Rural Electrification Board was formally requested a month ago to remove the poles, followed by several verbal reminders. However, no visible action has been taken, forcing road authorities to proceed with construction. Local residents and drivers have criticized the lack of safety measures, calling the situation dangerous. Officials said the poles were supposed to be removed by contractors who have since absconded, and a new contractor has been appointed to complete the task.

Authorities stated that pole removal work is now in process, but until completed, the highway remains at risk of accidents.

Several Islamic scholars remain imprisoned under death sentences in the controversial Kotalipara bomb case, which involved the alleged recovery of a 76-kilogram explosive near a rally site of Sheikh Hasina in Gopalganj in July 2000. The first charge sheet did not include their names, but after the Awami League came to power in 2009, investigators added them to the case. In 2017, a speedy trial tribunal sentenced them to death, and in 2021 the High Court upheld the verdict.

Case documents show the convictions were based on a coerced confession from Mufti Hannan, later declared legally unreliable by a higher court. Lawyers and family members claim the scholars were falsely implicated for political reasons and remain in prison without final hearings. Human rights representatives described the case as part of a broader attempt to portray Islamic leaders as extremists.

The case files were sent to the High Court in 2017, but repeated bench reorganizations have delayed hearings. As a result, the convicted scholars continue to serve long prison terms while awaiting judicial review.

Venezuelan lawmakers have given preliminary approval to a proposal allowing private investment in the country’s oil sector, paving the way for major U.S. energy companies to return. The bill, approved in its first reading less than three weeks after former president Nicolás Maduro’s removal, would permit private firms to independently explore and extract oil. If passed in a second reading, it would significantly loosen decades of state control tightened under late socialist leader Hugo Chávez.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s deputy, played a key role in advancing the bill and has moved to normalize relations with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump praised Rodríguez’s leadership, noting that the U.S. is already receiving part of Venezuela’s oil. On the same day, Washington appointed Laura F. Dogu as its new chargé d’affaires in Caracas, marking a step toward restoring full diplomatic ties.

Analysts say the oil sector reform and renewed diplomatic engagement could strengthen relations between Venezuela and the United States after years of tension following the 2019 diplomatic break.

At least five people were killed and ten others injured in a suicide explosion at a wedding ceremony in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, on Friday night. Police said the blast occurred at the residence of a peace committee leader in the Qureshi Mor area. District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada confirmed the explosion took place during the wedding of Noor Alam Mehsud’s family, when guests were dancing to drum beats. The intensity of the blast caused the roof to collapse, complicating rescue operations.

According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi, five bodies and ten injured persons were recovered and taken to the district headquarters hospital, where an emergency was declared. Security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Preliminary information indicated that peace committee leader Wahidullah Mehsud, also known as Jigri Mehsud, was among the dead.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohel Afridi condemned the attack, ordered an immediate report from the provincial police chief, and directed that the perpetrators be swiftly identified and brought to justice. He also pledged full support for the families of the victims.

Global oil prices rose sharply on January 23, 2026, following reports that a large US naval fleet was moving toward Iran and after recent remarks by President Donald Trump. The West Texas Intermediate crude price climbed to nearly 60 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude futures increased by about 0.9 percent to 64.61 dollars. The developments triggered investor concerns over potential military escalation in the Middle East and possible disruptions to oil supply.

In a statement, President Trump confirmed that a powerful US fleet had departed for Iran but expressed hope that it would not need to be used. He also warned Tehran against targeting protesters or resuming its nuclear program. Unnamed US officials said the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided missile destroyers could reach the region within days, with additional air defense systems under consideration to protect US bases.

Analysts attributed the price increase to geopolitical tensions and a weaker dollar. Although the International Energy Agency had forecast an oil supply surplus for 2026, Trump’s tougher stance has cast uncertainty over that outlook.

The European Union has suspended the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits for most Indian exports, including apparel, textiles, plastics, and other major sectors. The decision took effect on January 1, 2026, following a regulation issued by the European Commission on September 25. The suspension will apply from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028, and also affects selected products from Indonesia and Kenya.

According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), about 87 percent of Indian exports to the EU will now face full tariffs, with only 13 percent—mainly agricultural and leather goods—retaining GSP benefits. Previously, Indian goods enjoyed lower tariffs than the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rate, but now full MFN duties will apply. For example, apparel tariffs will rise from 9.6 percent to 12 percent. The suspension covers key sectors such as minerals, chemicals, rubber, steel, machinery, and transport equipment.

GTRI’s Ajay Srivastava noted that despite ongoing India-EU free trade talks, exporters will face short-term challenges, compounded by the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Export organizations warned that India’s competitiveness may decline compared to Bangladesh and Vietnam, whose exports still enjoy lower or zero tariffs in Europe.

A bank officer named Subir Biswas, aged 30, died after jumping from the roof of an eight-story building in Dhaka’s Badda area on Friday, January 23. The incident occurred at his sister Nipa Barai’s residence in Ekta Society. Subir was a cash officer at Janata Bank’s Siddhirganj branch in Narayanganj. Police confirmed that they recovered his body from in front of the building after receiving a call through the national emergency number. Following legal procedures, the body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue around 9 p.m.

According to Subir’s cousin Nirmal Barai, he had been visiting his sister’s home since January 17 or 18. The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Family members stated that they did not know why he took such an action. Subir was the elder of two brothers and the son of Sachin Biswas from Baungati village in Rajoir upazila of Madaripur.

Police have not yet disclosed any motive behind the incident, and the cause remains unknown.

A woman named Kaniz Surbana Swarnali, 22, reportedly killed her nine-month-old son by drowning him in water before taking her own life by hanging in Sabekdanga village of Bagerhat Sadar upazila on Friday afternoon. Police recovered both bodies and sent them to Bagerhat 250-bed District Hospital for autopsy. Swarnali was the wife of Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League, who is currently imprisoned in Jessore jail in several cases.

According to her brother Shuvo, Swarnali had been suffering from depression due to her husband’s long imprisonment. He said she deeply loved her husband and had been trying to secure his release since his arrest on August 5 following a student-public uprising. Her father, Ruhul Amin Howlader, a Jatiya Party leader, stated that the family did not wish to blame anyone and had requested to take the bodies before autopsy.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Md. Shamim Hossain said the cause of death would be confirmed after autopsy. No formal complaint had been filed as of Friday evening, and legal procedures were underway.

Two people were killed in separate incidents in Dhaka on Friday. In Shyampur, Sabuj Khan, 55, a manager at a dyeing company, died after his motorcycle was hit by a speeding pickup van while he was on his way to collect dues. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 9 a.m., where doctors declared him dead. Police said the vehicle involved has not yet been identified, and efforts are underway to trace it. His body was handed over to family members without an autopsy following a written request.

In another incident in the South Madartek area of Sabujbagh, Pintu, 35, a leguna driver, died by suicide amid ongoing family disputes. Relatives said the incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. at his rented home. Pintu, originally from Sonargaon in Narayanganj, was the youngest of four siblings and the father of one child. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 4 p.m., where doctors confirmed his death. Police said the body was kept at the hospital morgue and the local station was informed.

The Ninth National Pay Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on January 21, three weeks ahead of schedule. Led by Zakir Ahmed Khan, the commission proposed a 20-grade pay structure for government employees, recommending that the minimum salary rise from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000 and the maximum from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000. Implementing the proposal would require an additional Tk 1.06 trillion, with salaries potentially increasing by 100 to 147 percent and similar adjustments for pensions and allowances.

During a meeting chaired by Dr. Yunus in Tejgaon, members of the interim government’s advisory council discussed the report extensively. Some advisers expressed concern that such a large increase might be inequitable given the current economic conditions and high inflation. They cautioned against placing excessive pressure on the national treasury while many citizens face limited incomes.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed confirmed that no committee has yet been formed to oversee implementation. The absence of this committee has raised uncertainty about whether the new pay structure will be enacted during the current government’s tenure.