Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, January 15, 2026. During the meeting, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which she had received in 2025. Following the meeting, Trump publicly praised Machado, calling her an extraordinary woman who had endured much. The meeting and exchange were reported by ABC News.

Trump described receiving the Nobel medal from Machado as a wonderful symbol of mutual respect. On social media, he wrote that María had given him her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work. Machado confirmed to reporters after the meeting that she personally handed the medal to Trump but did not provide further details about the gesture or its purpose.

The exchange highlighted a moment of symbolic diplomacy between the two figures, though neither side elaborated on any political implications or future cooperation.

Yemen’s Prime Minister Salem bin Breik has resigned, and Shaya Mohsen Jindani has been appointed as his successor. Jindani previously served as the country’s foreign minister. According to Yemen’s official news agency Saba, bin Breik submitted his resignation to the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council on Thursday, which promptly accepted it. Within hours, the council announced Jindani’s appointment as the new prime minister.

The political backdrop in Yemen remains complex. Since 2014, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have controlled the capital Sana’a, forcing then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to seek refuge in Saudi Arabia. In response, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemeni government forces formed a coalition to restore Hadi’s government and counter the Houthis.

The coalition has been conducting military operations against the Houthis since 2015. Nearly eleven years into the conflict, northern Yemen remains under Houthi control, while the Saudi-backed Presidential Council governs the southern region.

Independent candidate and expelled BNP international affairs secretary Rumin Farhana has alleged that plans are being made to cast votes the night before and seal polling centers in several areas of Sarail upazila under the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency. She made the allegation on Thursday afternoon during a courtyard meeting at Alinagar Government Primary School field in Sarail’s 7th ward, urging her supporters to guard the polling centers.

During the meeting, Farhana pledged to establish municipalities in Sarail and Ashuganj if elected, ensure quality healthcare at the upazila health complex, and improve roads, schools, mosques, and madrasas. She also vowed to remain uncompromising in demanding that Brahmanbaria’s gas be used locally. Addressing voters emotionally, she said she had left her ailing mother in Dhaka and placed her trust in the people of the constituency.

Rumin Farhana is contesting as an independent candidate in Brahmanbaria-2, where the BNP-led alliance has nominated Maulana Junaid Al Habib of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh. Farhana was expelled from the BNP on December 30.

An opinion piece by Khandaker Nur Hossain, published on January 16, 2026, warns that the growing use of 'photocards'—images with short, bold text used as news summaries—has become a dangerous trend in Bangladesh’s media landscape. The article argues that this oversimplified form of news, popular on platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram, often prioritizes excitement over truth, spreading misinformation and intensifying social and political divisions.

The author describes how these photocards frequently distort context, provoke anger, and deepen polarization, particularly between major political groups such as the BNP and Jamaat following the July uprising. The piece calls this phenomenon a reflection of journalism’s ethical crisis, where competition for views and engagement undermines accuracy and balance. False or misleading photocards can go viral before corrections appear, eroding public trust in media.

To address the crisis, the article urges responsibility from three sides: media outlets must ensure accuracy and restraint, the state should create effective policies against misinformation while protecting free expression, and readers should verify full reports before reacting.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in what officials described as a positive meeting. However, Trump’s public remarks about Machado’s political standing and her Nobel Peace Prize sparked new debate. He said that even though President Nicolás Maduro had been ousted, Venezuelans did not fully support Machado, and hinted at maintaining contact with Maduro’s deputy Delcy Rodríguez due to U.S. energy interests.

Machado, seeking to strengthen her political position, proposed sharing her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, who said he would be honored to accept it. The Norwegian Nobel Committee later clarified that the prize cannot be shared or transferred. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said this was their first direct meeting since the January 3 U.S. military operation to detain Maduro. The two discussed Venezuela’s political situation and possible future elections, though no timeline was given.

Machado, who remains in exile after receiving her Nobel Prize in Oslo last month, met supporters outside the White House and called for restoring democracy in Venezuela.

According to a report published by Amar Desh on January 16, 2026, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was evicted from her residence on Mainul Road inside Dhaka Cantonment on November 13, 2010. The house, associated with her late husband President Ziaur Rahman, was described as a place of deep personal and historical significance. The eviction followed a government decision in April 2009 to cancel the property’s lease, citing irregularities and claiming that such an allocation to a political figure violated cantonment regulations.

The report alleges that several political, judicial, and military figures were involved in the eviction process. It names Sheikh Hasina, her military adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, former chief justices A.B.M. Khairul Haque and S.K. Sinha, and other senior officials as key actors. The article also describes the judicial proceedings that finalized the eviction without a hearing and recounts Khaleda Zia’s emotional reaction during a subsequent press conference.

The report further claims that the eviction was politically motivated and coordinated through multiple state institutions. It presents the incident as a significant episode in Bangladesh’s political history, linking it to broader tensions between the Awami League and the BNP.

Russia has accused a British diplomat stationed in Moscow of engaging in espionage, prompting a swift rejection from the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office. The accusation was followed by Russia’s announcement on Thursday that the diplomat would be expelled from the country.

According to a report from London citing AFP, the UK Foreign Office dismissed the charge as malicious and entirely unfounded. In its statement, the ministry said that such politically motivated allegations from the Kremlin against British diplomats were not new. It added that London was reviewing possible responses to the expulsion and the accusation.

Observers noted that this incident could further escalate diplomatic tensions between Moscow and London, which have already been strained by previous disputes.

Two major opposition parties in Japan have decided to contest the upcoming election together to challenge Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling coalition. The decision was made on Thursday with the aim of attracting undecided voters ahead of a possible snap election. Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister in October, currently leads in opinion polls, and her coalition is expected to strengthen its majority in the powerful lower house of parliament.

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) leader Yoshihiko Noda announced that his party would form a new alliance with Komeito, a former partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, to jointly contest the election. Noda described the alliance as a centrist alternative to Takaichi’s right-leaning coalition. Media reports suggest the election could take place as early as next month.

Officials from Takaichi’s party and its ally, the Japan Innovation Party, said the prime minister has informed them of her plan to call the vote soon after the parliamentary session begins.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has approved the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) central student council (ShakSU) and hall council elections to be held on January 20. A formal notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain of the EC’s Election Management-2 branch, was issued on Thursday night confirming the decision. The EC stated that the elections may proceed subject to compliance with the code of conduct.

ShakSU Election Commission spokesperson Professor Nazrul Islam said they had been waiting for the national EC’s approval and that there were now no remaining obstacles to holding the polls. Earlier uncertainty arose after an EC directive on Monday restricted all professional and organizational elections until February 12 to ensure the national parliamentary election and referendum remained unaffected. In response, ShakSU candidates submitted a memorandum requesting permission to hold the vote on January 20.

The EC’s latest approval resolves the earlier uncertainty, allowing SUST to proceed with its student council elections as planned.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance has finalized its seat-sharing arrangement ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. At a press conference held at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka on Thursday night, the alliance announced a list of candidates for 253 constituencies. Under the agreement, the National Citizens Party (NCP) will contest in 30 constituencies. Representatives from Islami Andolon Bangladesh were not present at the event.

According to the announced distribution, Jamaat-e-Islami received 179 seats, NCP 30, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis 20, Khelafat Majlis 10, LDP 7, AB Party 3, Nezame Islami Party 2, and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) 2. The remaining 47 constituencies have been reserved for Islami Andolon Bangladesh.

The finalization of this seat-sharing deal marks a significant step in the alliance’s preparation for the national election, clarifying the internal distribution of constituencies among its member parties.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced that it will contest 179 constituencies in the upcoming national parliamentary election as part of an 11-party electoral alliance. The final declaration of the coalition was made on Thursday night at a press conference held at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, where a total list of 253 candidates was unveiled by the participating parties.

According to the announcement, Jamaat-e-Islami will field candidates in 179 seats, while the National Citizen Party (NCP) will contest 30, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish 20, Khelafat Majlish 10, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 7, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) 3, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party 2, and Bangladesh Development Party 2. Representatives from Islami Andolan Bangladesh were not present at the press conference.

The declaration marks the formalization of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the national polls, signaling coordinated participation across multiple constituencies.

Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and parliamentary candidate for Narayanganj-4, has filed a general diary (GD) at Fatullah Model Police Station citing security concerns. The GD was recorded on Thursday, January 15, 2026, according to Inspector (Investigation) Anwar Hossain. The filing followed an attempted attack on Al Amin in the Bashmuli area of Kashipur Union, Sadar upazila, on Wednesday evening.

In his GD, Al Amin stated that an unidentified caller had threatened to kill him and verbally abused him. He also reported that his party’s leaders and activists were receiving threats from various phone numbers. Al Amin said he and his family were living in fear due to these threats.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police, have confirmed the detention of two individuals allegedly involved in the attempted attack on Al Amin.

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Thursday, marking his formal assumption of duties in Dhaka. According to the US Embassy, Christensen said the United States is proud to call Bangladesh a friend and expressed honor in presenting his credentials to the President.

Christensen highlighted that for over 50 years, the two nations have worked together to enhance regional stability, promote economic growth beneficial to both peoples, and strengthen mutual respect for sovereignty. He stated his eagerness to continue this collaboration and deepen bilateral ties. Senior officials from the President’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the ceremony.

Christensen arrived in Dhaka on Monday evening as the 19th US Ambassador to Bangladesh. He later met with senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to working closely with Dhaka to advance regional peace and prosperity.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has interrogated Bushra Afrin, the first Chief Heat Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal wealth accumulation by her father, former DNCC mayor Atiqul Islam. The questioning took place on Thursday at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. According to the ACC, Afrin was summoned to determine whether she had any involvement in her father’s alleged acquisition of illicit assets.

Bushra Afrin, who completed her secondary education in Dhaka and pursued higher studies in Canada, was appointed DNCC’s Chief Heat Officer in May 2023. The ACC’s Deputy Director (Public Relations), Akhtarul Islam, confirmed that the commission conducted the questioning. Atiqul Islam was arrested on October 16, 2024, in Dhaka’s Mohakhali DOHS area after going into hiding following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.

The ACC is investigating allegations that Atiqul Islam and others misused power, manipulated tenders, and engaged in corruption and money laundering related to the purchase of mosquito control equipment.

A group of writers organized a memorial meeting in remembrance of former three-time Prime Minister and political leader Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the Al Mahmud Writer’s Corner of Bangla Academy. BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu attended as the chief guest, while writer and publisher Saeed Bari presided over the session.

The program featured poetry recitations, reminiscences, and discussions highlighting various aspects of Khaleda Zia’s life and political career. Participants included poets, writers, researchers, and journalists such as Mahmud Shafik, Razueddin Stalin, Asad Kajol, Kalam Fayezi, and others. Speakers recalled that during Khaleda Zia’s tenure, Bangladeshi writers enjoyed significant freedom and that even those with differing opinions received state recognition.

Speakers expressed that her liberal political philosophy would continue to inspire future generations of writers and intellectuals in Bangladesh.