European countries have begun deploying troops to Greenland following U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to take control of the strategically important Arctic territory. The move comes after talks among Denmark, Greenland, and the United States ended without resolution. France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden have started sending military personnel to strengthen the island’s security. France has already dispatched 15 soldiers, while Germany has sent 13 as part of an intelligence unit. The Danish Ministry of Defence announced that Denmark is expanding its military presence in Greenland in close cooperation with NATO allies. Norway and Sweden have also confirmed their participation in the deployment. Following Trump’s remarks about Greenland, a group of European Parliament lawmakers called for immediate suspension of the approval process for proposed U.S. trade agreements with several EU countries, urging new measures in response to Washington’s stance.

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.

The United States has claimed that Iran has suspended the death sentences of nearly 800 protesters. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt made the statement on Thursday, saying President Donald Trump’s administration is closely monitoring the situation in Iran. According to Levitt, the president has been informed that 800 executions have been halted, and all options remain open regarding the U.S. response. The protests in Iran began on December 28 in response to the falling value of the Iranian rial and rising living costs, later evolving into anti-government demonstrations. President Trump has openly expressed support for the protesters and warned of possible tough measures against Tehran. The White House’s remarks highlight Washington’s continued scrutiny of Iran’s internal unrest and signal potential diplomatic or policy actions depending on future developments.

At a White House meeting on January 15, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado symbolically presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump. Machado received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in defending democracy and human rights. Following the meeting, Trump wrote on social media that the gesture represented a unique expression of mutual respect. The Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified its position beforehand, stating that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked. This means that even though the medal was handed to Trump, the recognition and honor remain with Machado. Speaking to reporters outside the Capitol after the meeting, Machado said the gesture symbolized the Venezuelan people's trust and gratitude toward Trump. The event has sparked renewed discussion about political relations between the United States and Venezuela, as well as the future of the South American nation. Machado described her action as a symbol of international support for Venezuela’s struggle for freedom and democracy.

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.

The first day of the Dhaka phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) saw both scheduled matches canceled after players boycotted in protest. The boycott followed harsh comments made by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Nazmul Islam about national cricketers, prompting fears that the entire tournament could be suspended indefinitely. During the scheduled toss at Mirpur’s Home of Cricket, BCB president Aminul Islam was seen standing alone on the field, symbolizing the board’s growing isolation amid the crisis. The controversy began when Nazmul Islam, also the BCB finance committee chairman, made disparaging remarks about players’ performance and questioned their right to seek financial compensation if Bangladesh failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup. His comments drew widespread criticism, including from within the board itself. BCB publicly distanced itself from his statements, and director Shanian Tamim condemned them as personal opinions inconsistent with board policy. The incident has intensified scrutiny of BCB’s leadership and internal politics, with calls emerging for stronger accountability and the removal of unqualified officials to restore the integrity of Bangladesh cricket.

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.

A report by the commission on enforced disappearances has revealed a detailed account of abductions and extrajudicial killings that occurred in 2012 and 2013. The report states that on December 4, 2013, BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon and seven others were abducted from Dhaka, while several members of Islami Chhatra Shibir also went missing. It identifies the involvement of RAB Intelligence, RAB-1, and other battalions, naming several then-senior officers including Lt. Col. Ziaul Ahsan, Lt. Col. Kismat Hayat, Maj. Mahfuzul-Amin Nur, Maj. Abdullah Al Momen, Capt. HM Selimuzzaman, Brig. Miftah Uddin Ahmed, and Lt. Col. Shaheen Azad. The report cites testimony from witnesses and surviving victims, describing operations where detainees were moved between locations, official records were destroyed, and victims’ identities concealed. One officer testified about a “Golf Operation” in which four unidentified persons were shot and their bodies dumped into a river. The commission also linked RAB units to the abductions of BNP leader M. Ilias Ali and Shibir member Hafiz Zakir Hossain. According to the commission, many victims’ fates remain unknown, but evidence confirms direct involvement of RAB Intelligence, RAB-1, and related units in the disappearances and killings.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Nazmul Islam drew criticism after making dismissive comments about players’ earnings, suggesting that large sums spent on cricketers should not be expected to be returned. Responding to questions about possible compensation for players after the World Cup, he remarked that since players have not won major tournaments, the board could theoretically demand repayment of its investments. In response, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CoAB), represented by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, clarified that most of the board’s income comes from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and sponsors, not from individuals. Miraz reminded that BCB’s reported fund of Tk 1,300 crore exists largely due to the contributions of national team players over the years. He emphasized that without matches, there would be no sponsorships or ICC revenue. Miraz also noted that cricketers pay 25–30 percent in taxes to the government and do not receive money from state funds. He described the director’s remarks as disrespectful to all players and the broader sports community.

Police in Tangail have arrested three men, including a bus driver and his assistants, for allegedly gang-raping a college student on a moving bus along the Dhaka–Tangail highway. The arrests were made on Thursday afternoon near the Korotia underpass area, where the bus was also seized. The detainees were identified as driver Altaf, 25, and assistants Rabbi, 21, and Sagor, 24. According to Elenga Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Sharif, the incident occurred late Wednesday night when the victim, a philosophy student from Mirpur Government Bangla College, boarded a Savar Paribahan bus from Radio Colony in Savar to Ashulia. After other passengers disembarked, the suspects allegedly detained her, robbed her of jewelry, money, and mobile phone, and then drove the bus to different locations while assaulting her throughout the night. They also recorded the assault on video. Police discovered the crime when they stopped the bus for questioning after noticing it parked suspiciously on the highway. The victim was rescued and taken to Tangail Sadar Police Station. Journalists later reported being obstructed by police when attempting to gather information and photographs related to the case.

Arab allies of the United States have opposed any potential American military strike on Iran as protests in Tehran entered their 19th day. The demonstrations, which began on December 28 over rising prices and economic hardship, have turned violent. US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would take strong action if Iranian authorities suppress protesters, but Gulf Arab partners are urging restraint and diplomacy instead of aggression. A Norway-based rights group, Iran Human Rights, reported that at least 3,428 protesters were killed during 18 days of unrest, citing Iranian health ministry sources. Iranian Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi dismissed the figures as propaganda by the US and Israel, claiming extremists infiltrated the protests. Trump said he received reports that killings had stopped but did not comment on possible military action. Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, and Qatar have called for diplomatic solutions, warning that a US attack could destabilize the region and damage their own security and economic image. Analysts noted that even Saudi Arabia, despite tensions with Iran, opposes a US strike fearing regional instability and Israeli dominance.

A joint commitment to establish a stable, inclusive, innovative, and globally accepted higher education system in South Asia was expressed through the adoption of the 'Dhaka Declaration' on higher education. The declaration identifies sustained political commitment, strong institutional leadership, effective regional cooperation, and collective participation of all stakeholders as essential elements for meaningful and sustainable transformation of higher education. The declaration was adopted on Thursday, the closing day of a four-day conference titled 'Current Status and Future Directions of South Asian Regional Higher Education' held in Dhaka. It was read out by Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, and was unanimously accepted by the participants without objection. The event was attended by UGC Chairman Professor Dr. SMA Faiz, several UGC members, and representatives from higher education bodies of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal, along with officials from the World Bank and the Higher Education Transformation project.

Bangladesh cricketers have announced a boycott of matches following remarks by BCB director M Nazmul Islam. The players made the announcement after a meeting at a five-star hotel in Dhaka, where they held a press conference to clarify that their decision was not solely based on Nazmul’s comments. During the briefing, they presented five key demands addressing ongoing issues in domestic and women’s cricket. The demands include resolving the crisis in Dhaka’s First Division Cricket, settling sexual harassment allegations involving women cricketers, improving facilities and opportunities for female players, securing the resignation of BCB director M Nazmul Islam, and providing a clear explanation for the exclusion of nine players reportedly under an undeclared ban from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) also informed players about their income structure during the event. The press conference highlighted growing discontent among players over administrative and disciplinary matters within Bangladesh cricket, signaling potential disruptions to domestic competitions if the demands remain unaddressed.