Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed authorities to take firm measures against the forgery and misuse of skill development certificates to preserve Bangladesh’s reputation in the international labor market. He issued the directive on Sunday at the Governing Body meeting of the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) held at his office in Tejgaon. This was the second meeting of the NSDA Governing Body since its establishment in 2018.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser emphasized that NSDA provides a strong framework for developing skilled human resources based on national and international labor market demands. He warned that certificate fraud undermines the credibility of Bangladeshi workers and could erode employer trust. He highlighted the importance of a unified certification system across all training institutions to curb such malpractice and strengthen Bangladesh’s brand image abroad.

The meeting also reviewed progress on previous decisions and approved plans to establish an integrated skills ecosystem. This system aims to standardize training curricula across ministries, reduce public spending waste, and enhance the reliability of Bangladeshi skill certificates in global markets.

A recent survey in Poland found that most respondents favor banning social media use for children under 16. Conducted by SW Research for the newspaper Rzeczpospolita and reported by TVP World on February 8, 2026, the poll showed that 64.3 percent supported the restriction, while 21.9 percent opposed it and 13.8 percent had no opinion. The survey, held on February 3–4 among 800 internet users aged 18 and above, indicated that support for the ban increased with age.

Lower-income respondents and residents of medium-sized cities showed stronger support. Among those earning less than 3,000 zlotys (about 840 dollars) per month, 71.9 percent backed the ban. Lawmakers from Poland’s centrist Civic Coalition are drafting a bill to restrict social media use for children under 15. Former education minister Roman Giertych said the measure aims to protect children from algorithmic influence and addiction risks that could harm their mental health and education.

Poland’s consideration follows similar actions in other countries, including Australia’s ban on under-16 users and regulatory plans announced in France and Spain.

An intense Arctic cold wave has swept across the eastern United States, placing about 80 million people under weather alerts. According to ABC News, extreme cold warnings have been issued across most of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The combination of frigid air and strong winds has driven wind chills far below freezing, with dangerous conditions reported from the Great Lakes to the Carolinas since early Saturday.

In coastal New England, snowfall has begun to ease, though an inverted trough caused heavy snow in some areas, with rates reaching up to 2.5 inches per hour. Temperatures across much of the Northeast have dropped into single digits, and wind chills are expected to remain below zero. Major cities such as New York, Boston, and Buffalo may experience wind chills near minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while parts of upstate New York and northern New England could see readings between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius.

The weather service indicated that conditions may gradually improve from Monday as winds weaken and temperatures begin to rise across the eastern region.

At least 12 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been affected after Tropical Storm Basyang, the Philippines’ second-strongest storm of 2026, struck Mindanao Island. The country’s Civil Defense Office reported that continuous heavy rainfall and landslides caused widespread destruction. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, abnormal rainfall levels were recorded in Northern Mindanao and nearby Negros Island, directly impacting about 232,000 people. Floodwaters submerged numerous villages, forcing around 64,000 families to leave their homes.

The Philippine weather bureau said Northern Mindanao experienced its heaviest rainfall in a century, causing rivers to overflow and three major bridges to collapse in Iligan City and surrounding areas. Drainage systems were damaged, leading to severe flooding. Around 16,000 families have been relocated to government shelters, while at least 82 seaports in Mimaropa and Caraga regions were temporarily closed, stranding over 4,000 passengers and several cargo vessels.

Although the storm weakened into a low-pressure area early on February 7, authorities remain on alert as heavy rain and landslides continue to threaten affected communities.

The European Union has declared that TikTok is violating online content regulations and must modify its “addictive” design features to safeguard minors from compulsive use. The European Commission released preliminary findings from its probe on Friday, identifying infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and a personalized recommendation algorithm as elements that encourage addiction. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said TikTok must redesign its service in Europe to protect young users, while Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier noted that the company’s current measures are insufficient.

The Commission stated that these features contribute to compulsive use, posing major risks to children’s mental health and wellbeing, and cited a breach of the Digital Services Act. Regulators warned that TikTok could face a fine of up to 6 percent of ByteDance’s global turnover. TikTok rejected the findings, calling them false and meritless, and vowed to challenge them. The investigation, launched in February 2024, was based on data showing high late-night usage among teens and significant daily screen time among younger users.

The probe reflects the EU’s broader push to impose stricter oversight on major tech and social media platforms to better protect minors online.

Bangladesh has expressed interest in buying freight wagons and coaches from Pakistan at a lower cost, according to a report by Pakistani newspaper The Dawn on February 8. A two-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by a senior official, visited Pakistan Railway’s carriage factory and workshop in Mughalpura, Lahore, as well as facilities in Islamabad. During the visit, they observed the production process of train coaches, wagons, and related components.

Officials from Pakistan Railways said the delegation included Bangladesh’s Secretary for International Organization and Consular Affairs and the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan. Chief Mechanical Engineer Muhammad Nasir Khalili briefed them on the workshop’s operations, technical capacity, and ongoing projects, and a short documentary was shown. The delegation also toured the locomotive workshop, where they were informed about engine maintenance and production. At the end of the visit, Bangladeshi representatives said the trip reflected the strong relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that enhanced railway cooperation would benefit both nations. He added that Bangladesh is also in talks with India for similar purchases but has shown interest in Pakistan as well.

Syria has signed several multi‑billion‑dollar investment agreements with Saudi Arabia aimed at rebuilding its war‑torn economy after 14 years of civil conflict. The deals, announced on Saturday by Syrian Investment Authority chief Talal al‑Hilali, cover aviation, energy, housing and telecommunications. Projects include constructing a new international airport in Aleppo, launching a low‑cost airline named Flynas Syria, and implementing a major telecom initiative called SilkLink to strengthen regional connectivity.

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al‑Falih said the newly launched Elaf Fund will invest about US$2 billion to develop two airports in Aleppo, while Syria’s ICT Minister Abdul‑Salam Haykal confirmed a US$1 billion telecom investment to lay thousands of kilometers of fiber‑optic cables linking Asia and Europe. The Syrian Energy Ministry also signed a separate deal with Saudi firm ACWA Power for water and energy projects. Analysts view the agreements as politically significant following Bashar al‑Assad’s ouster in December 2024 and the lifting of U.S. sanctions.

International reactions have been largely positive, though some analysts caution that many previous investment pledges in Syria have yet to become binding contracts.

Bangladesh’s Payra Port, once envisioned as the nation’s third major seaport to boost southern regional growth, has become mired in political interference, questionable contracts, and escalating costs. The project’s dredging expenses have reached 500 million dollars, financed not through regular taxation but by drawing from the country’s foreign currency reserves. Experts warn that this approach undermines economic stability and transparency, as the port continues to struggle with heavy sedimentation and limited operational progress.

The article highlights that successive governments have promoted Payra as a symbol of progress and climate resilience, despite repeated scientific warnings about the site’s unsuitability due to high silt levels. German geologist Dr. Hermann Kudrass and Bangladeshi economist Wahiduddin Mahmud both criticized the project’s economic and environmental logic, calling it a drain on public funds. Officials privately acknowledge that continuous dredging has become a permanent financial burden.

The report concludes that Payra Port now represents a broader pattern of politically driven megaprojects in Bangladesh—visibly grand but economically unsustainable, with taxpayers bearing the long-term cost while accountability remains elusive.

As Bangladesh’s new government prepares to assume power following the election, public concern is rising over rapidly increasing prices of essential goods ahead of Ramadan. The article warns that controlling the soaring market will be the administration’s first major challenge, as past political transitions have often been exploited by unscrupulous traders to destabilize prices. Commodities such as rice, lentils, oil, sugar, and vegetables have already begun to rise sharply, threatening affordability for middle- and low-income families.

The report highlights that around 2.1 million tons of food products are currently stuck at Chattogram Port, creating fears of an artificial shortage if clearance delays persist. A lack of lighter vessels and storage facilities is worsening the situation. The piece attributes market instability not to supply shortages but to syndicates that hoard goods and manipulate prices, taking advantage of weak monitoring by local authorities.

It urges immediate government intervention to dismantle these syndicates and ensure stable supply before Ramadan, emphasizing that maintaining reasonable prices will be the new administration’s first and most critical test of credibility.

Syria and Saudi Arabia have signed a multibillion-dollar investment package covering aviation, energy, real estate, and telecommunications as Damascus’s new leadership moves to rebuild after a 14-year civil war. Syrian Investment Authority chief Talal al-Hilali announced the agreements, which include developing a new international airport in Aleppo, launching a low-cost Syrian-Saudi airline, and creating a telecommunications project called SilkLink to position Syria as a regional hub. Saudi Arabia’s Elaf fund will invest $2 billion to develop two airports in Aleppo, while nearly $1 billion will go into telecommunications infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia has been a key supporter of Syria’s new government, which took power after toppling Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The deals mark the largest investment since the United States lifted sanctions on Syria in December. The Ministry of Energy also signed a water agreement with Saudi firm ACWA Power, and Flynas partnered with the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority to establish “Flynas Syria,” expected to begin operations in late 2026.

US envoy Tom Barrack praised the agreements as a boost for reconstruction, while analyst Benjamin Feve cautioned that the deals may carry more political than immediate economic weight.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has informed Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur that amending the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972, is not feasible during the tenure of the interim government. In a letter sent on February 5, he stated that such a fundamental law should not undergo major revisions until a new government assumes office. Consequently, the proposed amendment to the central bank order has been put on hold.

The adviser’s letter noted that the proposed changes involved key issues such as appointment and removal of top officials, elevation of the governor’s status, restructuring of the board, financial liability of the republic, and conflict of interest prevention. He emphasized that as the 1972 order forms the foundation of the country’s central banking system, any amendment must be carefully reviewed with input from stakeholders and experts.

Earlier, Bangladesh Bank had submitted a reform proposal aimed at enhancing its autonomy and insulating it from political influence. The governor’s draft suggested merit-based appointments through a search committee and legal safeguards for removal procedures.

A technology report published on February 7, 2026, describes how Google Maps continues to collect and store user location data even when location services are turned off. The article explains that activities performed through various Google apps still send information to Google servers, allowing the Maps timeline to record where and when users travel. Even deleting the timeline does not remove detailed location data from Google’s servers, which may later be used for targeted advertising.

The report outlines several steps to reduce data creation, including regularly deleting activity from the Google Account’s ‘My Activity’ page and using alternative apps that prioritize privacy. It mentions that Waze, being owned by Google, faces similar issues, while Apple Maps offers better privacy but is limited to iPhones. Apps like HereWeGo and MapQuest are suggested as alternatives.

It further advises users to manage smartphone settings carefully, review app permissions, and monitor the Google Maps timeline regularly to delete stored data. The article emphasizes that awareness and proper settings can help maintain privacy even while using Google Maps.

Fisheries and Livestock Ministry adviser Farida Akhter said destructive human activities are the main threat to the Halda River. She made the remarks on Saturday at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in Dhaka during an inception workshop organized by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute and Nodi Kendra, Chandpur, for the 2025–26 Halda River natural fish breeding project. Akhter emphasized that fisheries and livestock work is not only economic or scientific but also deeply tied to religion, culture, and social behavior.

She urged that research reports be written in Bangla for public understanding and called for women’s inclusion in socio-economic studies to reflect the realities of riverside communities. Akhter highlighted the need for immediate corrective actions where necessary, including removal of the Bhujpur rubber dam if found harmful, and warned against tobacco cultivation along riverbanks. She also stressed effective management of sluice gates and control of invasive sucker fish species.

Akhter proposed a mid-term workshop in late 2026 or early 2027 to evaluate project progress and expressed optimism that coordinated efforts would ensure successful conservation and management of the Halda River.

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb announced on Saturday that it accidentally distributed more than $40 billion worth of Bitcoin to customers while attempting to issue promotional rewards. The error occurred on Friday and immediately caused significant operational pressure on the exchange. Bithumb said it managed to recover 99.7 percent of the 620,000 Bitcoins mistakenly sent, valued at about $44 billion. Within 35 minutes of the incident, trading and withdrawals were restricted for 695 affected users.

According to local media, the exchange had planned to give each participant at least 2,000 Korean won in cash as part of a promotional event. However, due to a technical glitch, selected users received at least 2,000 Bitcoins instead. Bithumb stated that the incident was not related to any external hacking or security breach and claimed that its system security and asset management remained intact.

Following the incident, Bitcoin prices on Bithumb temporarily dropped 17 percent to 81.1 million won before recovering to around 104.5 million won later in the evening.

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) inaugurated two air-conditioned buses built under its own management and funding at the central repair workshop in Gazipur on Saturday. The event was attended by senior officials, including the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Sheikh Moinuddin, who described the achievement as a matter of national pride and a step toward greater self-reliance in public transport operations.

BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla stated that the corporation has evolved into a comprehensive state service institution, integrating passenger and freight transport with training, technical education, and workshop facilities. He said the new bus production demonstrates BRTC’s growing technical and operational capacity. The corporation also operates a central control room that monitors all buses and trucks nationwide in real time through a vehicle tracking system.

According to BRTC, the process of importing 340 modern buses from Korea is in its final stage, and plans are underway to add new trucks and coaster buses to the fleet within the year.