U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently visited Panama, where he urged Panamanian authorities to exempt U.S. government ships from canal tolls. Following his visit, the U.S. State Department announced that Panama has agreed to waive toll fees for U.S. government vessels, potentially saving millions of dollars. In November, former President Donald Trump had vowed to reclaim control over the Panama Canal. Rubio also raised concerns about Chinese investments in the canal, alleging that Panama had violated the 1997 agreement. As a result, Panama has withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, China has denied any interference in Panama’s sovereignty, reaffirming its commitment to recognizing the canal as a neutral international waterway.

In three separate incidents in recent weeks, one person was killed and 15 others were arrested while attempting to cross into Canada from the United States. The arrested individuals are from various nationalities, while the deceased was confirmed to be a U.S. citizen, according to Canada's Assistant Police Commissioner. Using thermal imaging and aerial footage, authorities demonstrated their advanced border security measures. The U.S. citizen was fatally shot while attempting to flee after being stopped near the Coutts Port of Entry. A day prior to the incident, five individuals were arrested, and six more were detained on January 14.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner has announced plans to equip traffic sergeants with small arms to combat rising incidents of highway robbery. He stated that reforms, including bus counter regulations and e-ticketing, have been introduced to improve passenger safety. He urged transport owners to ensure proper employment contracts for drivers and encouraged commuters to report misconduct. He also mentioned that a recent crackdown has significantly reduced robbery cases over the past 15 days.

Families of those killed in the July-August uprisings have blocked Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection, demanding swift justice and official recognition for the victims. The protest, which began at 11 AM, caused a halt in traffic as demonstrators held placards and pictures of their deceased loved ones. Accusing the government of negligence, they called for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition from India to face trial. The families claim that, despite months of attempts, they have been denied a meeting with the Chief Advisor. They condemned the perpetrators' continued freedom as a disgrace to the memory of the martyrs.

In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs, Mexico has deployed 10,000 National Guard and military personnel along its border. Troops have been seen patrolling areas near Tijuana and Juarez. Despite a decline in drug trafficking and illegal migration over the past year, Trump has declared a border emergency. The U.S. administration aims to curb arms smuggling and violence, as criminal groups compete to control the lucrative migrant smuggling industry.

Tamanna Zerin, the alleged head of a human trafficking network that smuggled Bangladeshis to Russia, has been arrested at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport by the CID. She faces charges of sending individuals to Russia under false job promises, only for them to be forced into fighting against Ukraine. One victim, Humayun Kabir from Natore, was killed in combat, while his brother-in-law, Rahmat Ali, now seeks a way to return home. Following increased surveillance, Zerin was captured while attempting to flee to Nepal.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned U.S. President Donald Trump against supporting actions that could lead to ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Speaking at the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Guterres emphasized the importance of adhering to international law and avoiding policies that could worsen the crisis. He reiterated that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a notice appointing veteran journalist Monir Haider as the Special Assistant to Interim Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, with the rank of a senior secretary. Haider, who has worked for Ekushey TV, Manabzamin, Janakantha, and Ittefaq, confirmed his appointment and stated that he would return from the U.S. soon to assume his duties. He is well-known as a civic rights activist and political analyst. His role will involve maintaining liaison and communication with various political parties and stakeholders to foster political unity.

The United States has deported 104 Indian nationals via a military aircraft as part of its strict immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The C-17 aircraft carrying the deportees from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Punjab landed in Amritsar. This marks the longest-distance deportation flight since military aircraft were allocated for migrant transportation. Relatives of the deported individuals expressed their distress, stating that they endured extreme hardships to reach the U.S., only to be sent back. One returnee, Akashdeep, spent $60,000—selling two-thirds of his property—only to be deported within seven months.

A dispute over TikTok led to a deadly clash in Lohagara, Chattogram, resulting in the death of a school student named Mumin. Another individual, Mukit, was critically injured and has been admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The incident occurred around 8 PM near Tatipara Mosque during its annual gathering when Mumin and Mukit were out for a walk. A verbal altercation over TikTok ensued near a floating cosmetics stall, escalating into violence as the opposing group stabbed both Mumin and Mukit before fleeing. The Upazila hospital authorities confirmed that Mumin succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital. Officer-in-Charge Arifur Rahman assured that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

Russia and Ukraine have successfully exchanged 150 prisoners each under a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The released soldiers have been transferred to Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological support, with plans to reintegrate them into service in the near future. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the exchange and expressed gratitude to the UAE for its mediation. Earlier, in mid-January, both sides had exchanged 25 prisoners each as part of their ongoing negotiations.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, a former Saudi ambassador to the United States, has strongly condemned Donald Trump’s recent comments on Gaza, warning that his proposed plans for control of the region amount to ethnic cleansing. He stated that forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza would lead to bloodshed and conflict. He urged Arab and Muslim nations, along with other global powers and Europe, to raise the issue at the United Nations to demonstrate global opposition to such an extermination plan. He further accused Trump of fully endorsing Israel’s stance, stating that the former U.S. president has aligned his position with that of recently resigned Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The interim government has set a target to bring inflation down to 8% by June of the current fiscal year. This decision was made in a meeting chaired by the Chief Adviser on Wednesday. The meeting also discussed the revised budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The previous government allegedly did not present the real picture of inflation. Although the last finance minister had set a target of 6.5% inflation, post-government collapse instability led the economic adviser to revise the target to 7%. Currently, inflation stands at 9.94%. Additionally, the GDP growth target for 2024-25 was initially set at 6.8% but has now been revised down to 5.25% by the interim government. The revenue collection target has also been reduced from BDT 6.8 trillion to BDT 4.635 trillion.

Beximco Industrial Park has announced the closure of four more factories—Yarn Unit-2, Textile, Denim, and Knitting—due to insufficient work. With this, the total number of shut-down factories now stands at 20. The decision, effective from February 5, was made following a government-formed advisory committee meeting. Laid-off workers will receive wages as per labor laws but are not required to be physically present. Industrial police are ensuring security in Gazipur, while no workers have reported to the factories since the announcement.

Bangladesh has climbed two spots to rank 35th in Global Firepower’s (GFP) 2025 military strength index. The United States remains at the top, followed by Russia and China with the same score, while India ranks 4th. The index evaluates 145 countries based on over 60 factors, including military units, financial stability, and logistics. Pakistan ranks 12th, while Bangladesh’s score is 0.6062. Following Bangladesh in the rankings are Netherlands (36th), Myanmar (37th), Norway (38th), Portugal (39th), and South Africa.