Heavy snowfall has paralyzed life in Manali, a hill town in India’s Himachal Pradesh, as continuous snow for 48 hours has covered the Kothi-Manali national highway, causing a 7–8 kilometer-long traffic jam. Tourists have been forced to spend the night inside vehicles without food or water. Local authorities reported that around 700 roads across the state have been closed due to the snow, making travel through alternative routes extremely difficult.

Tourists visiting Shimla, Kullu, and Manali to enjoy the snow have found themselves in danger, with some walking nearly 20 kilometers through hilly terrain to reach government shelters. The weather office warned that heavy snowfall and rain are expected to continue from January 26 to 28 under the influence of western winds, potentially worsening the situation. Power outages have further complicated conditions.

A taxi driver stranded on the Kothi-Manali road said his passengers remained in the vehicle for 24 hours without food or water and criticized the administration for failing to clear the roads. Authorities have been urged to act swiftly and provide emergency assistance to affected tourists.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the United States could impose 100 percent tariffs on all goods imported from Canada if Ottawa finalizes its new trade agreement with China. He issued the warning on Sunday, reinforcing a similar threat made a day earlier by President Donald Trump. Speaking on ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Bessent said Washington would not allow Canada to become a gateway for cheap Chinese products entering the US market.

The warning follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January 16 announcement in Beijing of a “new strategic partnership” and preliminary trade deal with China. Under the agreement, China would reduce tariffs on Canadian canola oil from 84 percent to about 15 percent by March 1 and grant visa-free entry to Canadian citizens. In return, Canada would import 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at new tariff rates. The deal comes amid rising trade tensions between the US and Canada, as the Trump administration has imposed tariffs on various imports.

President Trump also commented on social media, claiming China was taking over Canada and expressing dismay at the development.

A severe shortage of LPG autogas has crippled operations at seven filling stations in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram. Since midnight on Friday, most stations have displayed notices reading “gas finished,” leaving thousands of transport drivers dependent on autogas unable to refuel their vehicles. The shortage, which has worsened sharply in the past 24 hours, has caused widespread disruption for both drivers and passengers.

The crisis is part of a broader nationwide LPG shortage, though supply in Lohagara had remained relatively stable until recently. Now, filling stations across southern Chattogram—including Karnaphuli, Patiya, Banshkhali, Chandanaish, Satkania, and Lohagara—report having no gas available. Drivers have been seen waiting for hours only to leave disappointed. One CNG driver described the hardship of being unable to operate his vehicle due to the lack of fuel.

Earlier, the Bangladesh LPG Autogas Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association warned that if supply issues persist, the autogas industry could collapse. The group urged the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply nationwide.

Two mobile apps designed to identify and avoid American-made products have surged to the top of the Danish App Store following renewed tensions between Denmark and the United States. The rise comes after Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland, a Danish territory, prompted European consumers to push back. The apps, NonUSA and Made O’Meter, help users scan product barcodes to check their origin and suggest local alternatives. NonUSA reached the No. 1 position on Wednesday, while Made O’Meter climbed to No. 5.

According to market intelligence provider Appfigures, downloads for these apps have increased by 867% over the past week across iOS and Android platforms. The Danish App Store, which also serves Greenland, has seen a wave of grassroots boycotts that include canceling U.S. vacations and dropping subscriptions to American streaming services. NonUSA’s top markets now include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, reflecting a broader Nordic participation in the movement.

Although Denmark’s app market is relatively small, the surge underscores how political tensions can quickly influence consumer behavior and digital trends across the region.

A powerful snowstorm has struck across the United States, leaving at least three people dead and causing widespread disruption. As of Sunday afternoon local time, around 900,000 customers were without electricity, and more than 10,000 flights had been canceled nationwide, according to a BBC report. The National Weather Service said adverse conditions extended from Texas to New England, forcing the closure of schools and roads across multiple states.

Two people in Louisiana reportedly died from hypothermia, while another fatality occurred in Texas. The storm brought heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain that could persist for several days, potentially affecting more than half of the country’s population. Meteorologist Allison Santorelli from the National Weather Service told CBS News that melting would be slow, hindering snow removal efforts.

Authorities warned that the hazardous weather could continue to disrupt transportation and power services in the coming days as cleanup operations face delays due to persistent cold and ice.

The global gold price has reached a new record, surpassing five thousand dollars per ounce for the first time. According to the report, the surge is linked to financial and geopolitical uncertainty arising from tensions between the United States and Europe over Greenland. The market also saw silver prices exceed one hundred dollars per ounce on Friday, marking another historic high.

The report notes that investors often turn to gold and other precious metals as safe-haven assets during times of instability. Factors such as higher-than-usual inflation, a weaker US dollar, and increased gold purchases by central banks worldwide have further boosted demand. Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, along with the US action involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have also contributed to the price rise.

The World Gold Council trade association stated that only 216,265 tons of gold have been mined to date, underscoring the metal’s scarcity as a key driver of its enduring appeal.

The Ministry of Finance’s Social Safety Net Advisory Committee held its 32nd meeting on January 25, 2026, chaired by Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. The meeting approved an increase of Tk 5,000 in the monthly allowance for decorated freedom fighters and families of martyred freedom fighters, raising it from Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000. Several other social welfare allowances, including those for widows, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and mothers under the Mother and Child Support Program, were also raised.

The committee finalized beneficiary numbers and allowance rates for 15 social safety programs for the 2026–27 fiscal year. Recommendations included bringing 273,514 new fishermen under the VGF program, increasing old-age allowance beneficiaries to 6.2 million, and expanding support for widows, disabled persons, and disadvantaged groups. The one-time medical assistance for patients with serious diseases was doubled to Tk 100,000, and the number of beneficiaries under the Food-Friendly Program was raised to 6 million families.

These adjustments aim to strengthen Bangladesh’s social protection framework and expand coverage for vulnerable populations in the upcoming fiscal year.

The interim government’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved an additional Tk 25,592 crore for the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant project, raising its total cost from Tk 113,092 crore to Tk 138,685 crore. The decision was made at ECNEC’s final meeting before the upcoming national election, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud said the entire cost increase will be financed through project loans.

According to the Planning Ministry, the revised Development Project Proposal (DPP) recommends a 22.63 percent cost increase and extends the project deadline from 2024 to June 2028. The government’s direct funding share has been reduced by Tk 166 crore to Tk 21,886 crore, while project loans have risen to Tk 116,799 crore. Implemented with Russian cooperation, the plant aims to generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity from two units with a 60-year lifespan, extendable by 20 years.

The ECNEC meeting also approved 25 projects worth Tk 45,191 crore, including a 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital and several infrastructure, transport, and environmental initiatives.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued an urgent directive to ensure that the January 2026 salaries of MPO-listed teachers and employees are disbursed through the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) system. The directive, released on Sunday, January 25, outlines the procedures for submitting salary bills online through the EMIS system’s MPO–EFT module.

According to the directive, the EFT-based payment process for MPO funds began on January 1, 2025, with direct transfers to individual bank accounts continuing through July 2025. From August 2025, institution heads have been required to submit bills online using their designated IDs and passwords. Each teacher or employee’s payable amount must be calculated separately and submitted accordingly.

The directive further states that any necessary deductions due to death, resignation, suspension, or unauthorized absence must be properly indicated during bill submission. The information submitted by institution heads will be considered final for EFT processing, and any errors leading to overpayment or complications will be the responsibility of the respective head.

Popular Bangladeshi singer Dilruba Khan, known for her hit song 'Pagol Mon', has released a new musical project featuring a traditional Puthi and Kiccha centered on former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman. The artist announced the initiative on her Facebook page on January 25, 2026, explaining that the two pieces will be released on her YouTube channel 'Dilruba Khan Official' on January 25 and 26.

Dilruba Khan said her goal was not only to highlight two political figures but also to revive the fading folk art forms of rural Bangladesh. She described the project as an effort to bring back the melodic storytelling traditions that once enriched village life but are now disappearing amid modernization. Through rhythm and narrative, she sought to portray aspects of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman’s lives and struggles.

The singer, who began her career performing songs by Abdul Alim, has long been recognized for her contributions to Bangladeshi folk music and film songs. This latest work continues her commitment to preserving the country’s cultural heritage.

Interim government’s Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has assured that prices of daily essentials will not rise during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, and that some items may even become cheaper. He made the statement on Sunday, January 25, 2026, following a taskforce meeting held to review the prices and market situation of essential food products ahead of Ramadan.

The adviser said that imports of daily essentials have increased by 40 percent compared to last year, which will help keep prices within people’s reach. He emphasized that the government expects stability in the market due to the higher import volume. Sheikh Bashir Uddin also commented on irregularities in major infrastructure projects such as the Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel, and Payra Port during the previous government’s tenure, claiming that these projects had adverse economic effects.

When asked about any government project to build luxury flats for ministers, the adviser said he was not aware of such an initiative.

A deadly landslide struck a residential area in Indonesia’s West Java province early Saturday, killing at least 10 people and leaving 80 missing. Authorities have relaunched search and rescue operations after heavy rainfall triggered the disaster in a mountainous region. The Indonesian Meteorological Agency had earlier warned of a week of intense rain across West Java and nearby areas.

Local resident Dedi Kurniawan from Pasir Langu village, about 100 kilometers southeast of Jakarta, said he had never seen such a large landslide in the area before. Officials told Kompas TV that unstable terrain and continuous rain prevented rescuers from using heavy machinery, slowing down the operation. Flooding has also been reported in several parts of West Java, including Jakarta and surrounding districts, prompting evacuations to higher ground.

The incident comes just two months after floods and landslides on Sumatra island killed at least 1,200 people and displaced over a million. The new disaster has renewed concerns about Indonesia’s disaster management capacity.

A report presented at a press conference held on Sunday at the Power Division in Dhaka revealed that Bangladesh’s power sector incurred losses of Tk 500 billion over the past 15 years. The findings were shared by National Committee chief Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, who stated that the previous government used the severe power crisis as a means of financial exploitation while shielding wrongdoing through an indemnity ordinance.

According to the report, the ongoing financial strain, high electricity prices, and excessive generation capacity stem from long-term institutional and contractual failures rather than short-term crises. It highlighted that power plants were built without tenders, widespread corruption and irregularities occurred, and capacity payments increased twentyfold. The report also noted misuse of emergency powers, repeated renewals of special provisions, and disregard for competition laws, which led to transaction-based electricity pricing.

The report concluded that the combination of excessive plant construction and inflated pricing has placed the power sector at significant risk, driven by irregularities in contracts and governance failures.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 25 development projects worth Tk 45,191 crore across Bangladesh. The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chair Dr. Muhammad Yunus, was held at the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission on Sunday. Among the approved projects, 14 are new, six are revised, and five have been granted time extensions. Of the total cost, Tk 10,881 crore will come from government funds, Tk 32,018 crore from foreign loans, and Tk 2,291 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources.

The approved projects span communication, health, education, agriculture, water resources, power, transport, and human resource sectors. Major initiatives include widening regional highways, constructing an elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, strengthening the airport runway, and expanding tourism facilities in the hill tracts. Other projects cover rural infrastructure in Cumilla, police facility construction, dual-gauge rail line expansion to Cox’s Bazar, and establishment of a 1,000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship General Hospital.

Officials expressed optimism that these projects will enhance infrastructure capacity, generate employment, and contribute positively to national economic growth.

A powerful snowstorm has disrupted daily life across several regions of the United States, leaving more than 230,000 customers without electricity, mostly in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, and New Mexico. Nearly 13,000 flights have been canceled as the storm continues to affect transportation and utilities. The report, citing Reuters, said the storm began Saturday and is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England through Monday.

Former President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency disaster declaration for multiple states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. On social media, he stated that authorities are monitoring all states in the storm’s path and maintaining communication with them.

The Department of Homeland Security reported that 17 states and Washington, D.C., have declared weather emergencies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said thousands remain without power in southern states, and restoration work is underway as quickly as possible.