The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced a constituency-based campaign strategy to ensure victory for the 'Yes' side in the upcoming referendum on proposed reforms linked to the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The plan was detailed in a message issued on Sunday by Mahabub Alam, the party’s joint chief coordinator and head of its election media subcommittee.

According to the announcement, NCP candidates will lead the campaign in constituencies where the party has its own nominees, directly engaging with supporters and voters to promote the 'Yes' vote. In the 270 constituencies where the NCP has no candidates, the party will appoint 'ambassadors' or representatives to conduct outreach. These representatives will connect with local communities to explain the party’s stance, the significance of the referendum, and the importance of supporting the 'Yes' option.

The NCP stated that this approach aims to create a unified and nationwide campaign, ensuring that its message reaches voters in all constituencies and builds public support for the 'Yes' vote across the country.

Widespread anti-government protests in Iran have turned violent, leaving hospitals across the country overwhelmed with casualties. Doctors from several hospitals told the BBC that they are struggling to treat the large number of wounded and dead, many suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and chest. In Rasht, one hospital reportedly received 70 bodies in a single night, forcing staff to stack corpses due to lack of space. Most victims are young, aged between 20 and 25. Internet access has been largely cut off, making it difficult to verify information.

The protests began two weeks ago as peaceful demonstrations against Iran’s economic crisis, currency devaluation, and rising prices but have since spread to all provinces and turned violent. Security forces have used live ammunition and rubber bullets, with reports of protesters losing their eyesight from shotgun fire. The Iranian government accuses the United States of inciting unrest, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down.

The United States, European Union, and United Nations have condemned the violent crackdown and urged Iran to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The High Court has issued a rule asking why the nominations of Jatiya Party and National Democratic Front (NDF) candidates should not be declared illegal. The order was given on Sunday afternoon by a bench led by Justice Razik Al Jalil. The Election Commission has been directed to respond to the rule within two weeks.

The rule followed a writ petition filed by Abdullah Al Mahmud, an organizer of the political alliance July Oikya, represented by Barrister A S M Shahriar Kabir. Earlier, on 7 January, the High Court had postponed until 11 January the hearing of a petition seeking to bar Jatiya Party and NDF from participating in the election.

The court’s directive now requires the Election Commission to clarify its position on the legality of these candidates’ nominations, potentially influencing the upcoming electoral process depending on the response and subsequent judicial review.

A report by Amar Desh alleges that Wikipedia, which presents itself as a free and neutral encyclopedia, has been used to distort history and promote communal hatred, particularly against Muslims, in its Bengali-language articles. According to several experienced contributors, since 2014 Hindu nationalist groups have systematically influenced Wikipedia’s content, inserting anti-Muslim narratives and exaggerated historical claims. Articles on events such as the Noakhali riots, Calcutta riots, and the Chuknagar massacre reportedly contain false or politically biased information portraying Muslims as aggressors and Hindus as victims.

The investigation claims that after Hindu nationalist groups gained political power in India in 2014, they began attempting to control Wikipedia’s editorial space. Contributors who try to correct or challenge these narratives allegedly face account suspensions or blocks, discouraging neutral editing. Some editors cited examples where historical figures like Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy were misrepresented, and verified historical data replaced with inflated or fabricated numbers.

The report further states that repeated complaints to Wikipedia administrators have gone unanswered, and that the platform’s Bengali administrators are accused of religious and political bias, violating Wikipedia’s neutrality policy.

Mass anti-government protests continued across Tehran on Saturday night despite an almost complete internet shutdown, according to AFP. The demonstrations, which began two weeks earlier over economic hardship, have evolved into calls for the overthrow of Iran’s religious leadership. Authorities have blamed the United States for inciting unrest, while human rights groups report dozens killed and warn of escalating violence. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed that connectivity in Iran has been nearly nonexistent since Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his country is ready to support the movement, while reports indicate he has been briefed on possible military options against Iran. Former crown prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to organize and seize control of key urban centers. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused protesters of acting under Trump’s direction. Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights reported alarming use of lethal force, with at least 51 deaths confirmed.

The Iranian army vowed to act firmly against those disrupting order, as the EU and other world leaders called for restraint. Residents in Tehran described daily life paralyzed by the blackout, saying they are prepared to endure hardship until victory.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signaled a willingness to use force regarding Greenland, disregarding Denmark’s sovereignty over the autonomous Arctic island. Speaking at the White House during a meeting with oil industry executives, Trump said he preferred to reach an agreement on Greenland “the easy way,” but warned that if that failed, the United States would proceed “the hard way.” He described control of the resource-rich island as vital to U.S. national security, citing increased Russian and Chinese military activity in the Arctic.

Trump stated that the United States would not allow Russia or China to take over Greenland, asserting that if Washington did not act, those powers would. His remarks drew surprise from Denmark and other European allies. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cautioned that any aggression in Greenland would end “everything,” including NATO and the post–World War II security framework.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet next week with Denmark’s foreign minister and Greenlandic representatives to discuss the issue.

Thousands of people across the United States took to the streets on Saturday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an immigration officer in Minneapolis. Demonstrators demanded the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, with protests spreading from Minneapolis to major cities including New York, Los Angeles, El Paso, Washington DC, Boston, and others.

In Minneapolis, about a thousand people gathered outside a hotel on Friday night, where some threw ice and stones at police officers, slightly injuring one officer. Several protesters were detained but later released. In Austin, Texas, demonstrators rallied outside a federal building carrying placards calling for an end to ICE and its alleged abuses. Similar protests were held outside the White House and in Philadelphia, where participants voiced fears that such incidents could recur and urged legislative reform of ICE.

The widespread demonstrations reflect growing public anger over immigration enforcement practices and calls for systemic change within the agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to safeguard funds from Venezuelan oil sales held in U.S. Treasury accounts following the ouster of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The White House said the order, signed on Friday, declares a national emergency to prevent the oil revenues from being seized by courts or creditors, describing the move as necessary to advance U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.

The decision followed a meeting in Washington where Trump urged top oil executives to invest in Venezuela. However, executives responded cautiously, with ExxonMobil’s chief calling the country “uninvestable without major reforms.” ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips had previously withdrawn from Venezuela in 2007 after refusing nationalization demands by then-president Hugo Chávez and are still pursuing legal claims against the country. Chevron remains the only U.S. company licensed to operate there.

According to the White House, the protection of Venezuelan oil revenues aims to prevent disruptions to U.S. efforts supporting Venezuela’s economic and political stability. The order came a week after U.S. forces reportedly captured Maduro in a nighttime raid in Caracas that left several Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel dead.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is reportedly in good condition while being held in a New York prison, according to his son Nicolás Maduro Guerra. Guerra said in a video message released on Saturday that his father had personally conveyed that he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were doing well and described themselves as fighters. The message was shared by Venezuela’s ruling PSUV party. Flores is currently awaiting trial.

According to the report, the United States conducted a special military operation in Venezuela on January 3, detaining Maduro and his wife. They were taken to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters for legal processing before being transferred to a detention facility in Brooklyn, New York. Both face charges related to drug and arms trafficking, allegations that Maduro has consistently denied.

The report did not specify when court proceedings might begin or provide further details about the conditions of their detention.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced the recovery of the country’s southern and eastern regions from the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). On Saturday, Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), said government forces had regained control of two key provinces and now hold full authority over southern Yemen. He specifically assured citizens that Hadramaut and Al-Mahra provinces had been restored under government control.

Al-Alimi added that former STC members have been invited to Riyadh for discussions on Yemen’s future and that all military forces will now operate under the Saudi-led coalition’s command. His statement followed a Saudi-supported campaign in late December that expelled STC forces from Hadramaut and Al-Mahra, two provinces bordering Saudi Arabia and comprising nearly half of Yemen’s territory.

Meanwhile, thousands of STC supporters rallied in the group’s stronghold of Aden, particularly in Khor Maksar district, chanting slogans against Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government.

The Indian Navy has initiated plans to set up a new naval base in Haldia, West Bengal, to reinforce its military presence in the northern Bay of Bengal. According to Indian media reports citing defense sources, the facility will operate as a naval detachment rather than a full command, focusing on deploying small, high-speed warships. The Navy intends to use existing port infrastructure to expedite operations, with initial construction including a separate jetty and essential coastal facilities to minimize costs.

The proposed base will host Fast Interceptor Crafts and New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts weighing around 300 tons, capable of speeds between 40 and 45 knots. These vessels will be equipped with CRN-91 guns, and surveillance or strike drones such as Nagastra may be used to enhance monitoring and response capabilities. Experts link the move to growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean, concerns over illegal maritime intrusions, and the strategic value of shallow coastal waters near India and Bangladesh.

Officials view the Haldia project as part of India’s broader naval expansion plan aimed at strengthening maritime security and safeguarding sea routes.

A commentary by political analyst Saiful Khan argues that India bears responsibility for the deterioration of its relationship with Bangladesh. The article, published on January 11, 2026, asserts that many Bangladeshis believe India has long sheltered convicted criminals, fugitives, and politically controversial figures from Bangladesh, eroding bilateral trust. It further claims that India’s approach to Bangladesh relies on power dynamics rather than equality, citing issues such as border killings, water-sharing disputes, and cultural dominance.

The author traces the mistrust to historical experiences since Bangladesh’s independence, noting that cooperation initially gave way to suspicion over security and political matters. The piece highlights allegations of India’s reluctance to extradite fugitives, unilateral control of transboundary rivers, and the influence of Indian media on Bangladeshi culture. These factors, the article contends, have deepened public resentment and created a perception of inequality.

Khan concludes that India must choose between maintaining dominance or rebuilding ties based on justice, transparency, and mutual respect. Failure to do so, he warns, could push Bangladesh toward alternative strategic alliances and further regional instability.

Myanmar’s military junta began the second phase of national voting on Sunday, marking the continuation of a three-stage election process set to conclude on January 25. Polling started at 6 a.m. local time in Kawhmu, the former constituency of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, located about 25 kilometers south of Yangon. Democracy observers and rights activists have alleged that the election is designed to prolong military rule under a civilian façade.

Since independence, Myanmar has spent most of its history under military control. A brief period of democratic reform about a decade ago ended when the army seized power again in 2021, annulling the previous election results and arresting Suu Kyi. The coup plunged the country into civil conflict. Analysts noted that the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) already won about 90 percent of lower house seats in the first phase.

With Suu Kyi imprisoned and her National League for Democracy dissolved, pro-democracy groups claim the current election favors military-aligned parties. Many citizens reportedly show little interest, believing the outcome is predetermined by the army.

Iran’s government has declared anti-government protesters as 'enemies of God' and warned that those participating in or aiding the demonstrations could face the death penalty. The announcement came on Saturday from Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad’s office, citing Article 186 of the Iranian constitution. The statement, broadcast on state television, said that even individuals who assist the so-called rioters would face the same charges.

According to Article 186, any group opposing the Islamic Republic through armed resistance, and anyone knowingly supporting such groups, can be deemed 'mohareb' or 'enemy of God', even if they do not directly engage in armed activity. The declaration follows nearly two weeks of widespread anti-government protests across Iran, which have intensified over time.

Footage sent to Iran International from Kahrizak, south of Tehran, reportedly shows multiple bodies in body bags. Eyewitnesses described seeing dozens of dead bodies at the site and more inside a nearby industrial shed, with two witnesses reporting over forty bodies while searching for their relatives.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were reportedly detained and taken from the country following a military raid in Caracas on January 3. According to the report, nine military helicopters carried out the operation around 2 a.m. local time, removing Maduro from power. The incident has been described as a dramatic example of a 'decapitation strike'—a sudden military action targeting a state’s top leadership.

The analysis warns that such actions, often justified as quick solutions, historically lead to instability and prolonged violence rather than resolution. Venezuela’s political and economic crises, compounded by sanctions and internal division, have made it a focal point of foreign intervention and regime change efforts. The article argues that forcibly removing a sitting president undermines international law and state sovereignty, turning diplomacy into coercion.

The commentary concludes that Venezuela’s crisis must be resolved through inclusive dialogue, fair elections, and international mediation, not through abduction or military threats. It cautions that legitimizing such tactics could endanger weaker nations and erode the foundations of global order.