Digital rights activists have warned that Iran’s government is advancing plans to permanently disconnect the country from the global internet. According to a report by the censorship-monitoring group Filterwatch, only a small, government-approved group will be allowed limited access to international networks, while the general public will be restricted to a domestic “national internet” isolated from the global web. Filterwatch chief Amir Rashidi described the system as a state-controlled parallel network containing only government-approved search engines, messaging apps, and streaming services. Activists allege that Chinese technology and Huawei equipment are being used to build this surveillance and censorship infrastructure, enabling authorities to monitor and block internet traffic. Since January 8, Iran has faced one of its longest internet blackouts, lasting over 200 hours, surpassing Egypt’s 2011 shutdown. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani suggested the restrictions could continue until March 20, coinciding with the Nowruz holiday. Analysts cited by The Guardian said the move reflects a decade-and-a-half of planning since the 2009 protests, when Iran began developing its domestic internet system. A 2025 law now criminalizes possession of Starlink terminals, with penalties up to death, as authorities use Russian and Chinese jammers to block satellite signals.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged a siege of the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The protest was organized to denounce three alleged irregularities by the commission, which the group claims undermine electoral neutrality. JCD President Rakib accused the current Election Commission of acting under the influence of a particular political faction and favoring a specific student organization in recent university elections. According to the JCD, the commission’s decisions on postal ballots were biased and questionable, raising doubts about the fairness of the electoral process. The group also alleged that the commission made hasty and short-sighted decisions under political pressure, compromising its independence and professionalism. Additionally, JCD criticized a controversial directive concerning the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology student council election, calling it a threat to democratic practices on campus. The protest highlighted growing tensions over the commission’s impartiality, though no official response from the Election Commission was mentioned in the report.

BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-6 constituency and convener of the Bangladesh Nationalist Freedom Fighters Generation, Engineer Ishraq Hossain, has clarified his party’s stance on the upcoming national referendum. The referendum will be held on February 12, the same day as the 13th National Parliamentary Election. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Ishraq stated that the BNP supports the 'Yes' vote, describing the matter as settled and leaving no room for confusion. The announcement comes amid widespread public curiosity about the BNP’s position regarding the referendum. Alongside the interim government, several political parties are campaigning to secure victory for the 'Yes' vote. Ishraq emphasized that the people’s decision will be final, underscoring the party’s alignment with the referendum’s affirmative side. The clarification from Ishraq Hossain provides a definitive answer to speculation surrounding the BNP’s approach to the February 12 referendum, signaling the party’s active participation in the ongoing campaign.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for an end to the rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it is time for new leadership in the country. Trump made the remarks on Saturday after Khamenei accused him of being responsible for deaths during recent protests in Iran. The comments came in response to a post by Khamenei on social media platform X, where the Iranian leader labeled Trump a criminal and alleged that he incited unrest in Iran. Trump said Iran’s rulers depend on repression and violence to maintain control, claiming that Khamenei’s leadership has led to the country’s destruction and unprecedented levels of brutality. He added that a national leader should focus on governing properly rather than killing people, emphasizing that leadership should be based on respect, not fear and death. Trump further described Khamenei as an unhealthy person who should stop the killings and manage the country responsibly. He asserted that poor leadership has made Iran one of the most unlivable nations in the world.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has been listed among the world’s top Facebook content creators, according to the social media analytics website Social Blade. A statement from the BNP Media Cell on Sunday, January 18, 2026, confirmed that Rahman secured the 63rd position in Social Blade’s top 100 Facebook content creators list, ranking above former U.S. President Donald Trump based on content volume and discussion levels. Social Blade data shows that Rahman’s verified Facebook page has 5,576,776 total likes and 1,648,972 engagements. His page holds the 42nd position in Social Blade’s overall ranking with an A++ grade. Over the past 14 days, the page gained around 48,000 new likes, averaging more than 39,000 daily. Based on these metrics, Social Blade identifies Rahman’s page as one of the most active and influential political Facebook pages globally. According to Social Blade’s definition, individuals about whom the most content is created and shared are considered “content creators,” placing Rahman among the world’s notable political figures.

Formal charges have been filed against former Dhaka South City mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and 26 others in connection with the Mohammadpur massacre case linked to the July uprising. The charges were officially submitted on Sunday morning. Separately, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 has scheduled a hearing today to form charges against seven accused, including suspended Awami League general secretary and former minister Obaidul Quader, in a crimes against humanity case related to killings during the July revolution. The tribunal’s three-member panel, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, will conduct the hearing, with judges Md Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as members. Earlier, on December 30, the court ordered public notices for the accused to appear, and after their absence on January 8, appointed state defense lawyers to represent them. The same order set today’s date for the formal charge hearing. Other accused include Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and Chhatra League leaders Saddam Hossain and Wali Asif Inan.

At least five people were killed in a massive fire that broke out late Saturday night at Gul Plaza shopping mall on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi, Pakistan. Officials said the blaze burned for more than ten hours before being partially brought under control. By Sunday morning, part of the building had collapsed due to intense heat, and firefighters were still unable to enter the structure, severely disrupting rescue and search operations. The Chief Fire Officer said the building’s enclosed design and poor ventilation made firefighting extremely difficult. Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khosa told Geo News that the fire had reignited in the rear section of the first floor and that people might still be trapped between the first and second floors. He added that the lack of emergency exits was under investigation and that the building’s fire safety compliance would be reviewed. Rescue 1122 officials reported that 20 fire tenders and four snorkels were deployed from three directions, but large amounts of flammable materials inside hindered progress. Authorities confirmed that 25 people had been rescued alive, though an unknown number remained trapped as parts of the building continued to collapse.

The Election Commission (EC) is set to announce its decision today, Sunday, on whether candidates holding dual citizenship will be allowed to contest in the upcoming national elections. The appeal hearings began at 10 a.m., marking the final day for reviewing appeals from candidates whose nominations were previously rejected during the verification process by returning officers. According to EC sources, most of the pending applications concern dual citizenship issues, and no decision has yet been made on these cases. On Saturday, the eighth day of hearings, the commission resolved 112 appeals, approving 45 and rejecting 37. Among the approved cases, 43 were appeals against nomination cancellations, while two were against accepted nominations. The revised election schedule set the appeal resolution period from January 10 to 18, with January 20 as the final date for candidate withdrawal. The EC’s decision on dual citizenship candidates is expected to clarify eligibility rules ahead of the national parliamentary election process.

A police officer in Vedarganj upazila of Shariatpur was injured on Saturday afternoon while attempting to detain the president of the banned Sakhipur Thana Chhatra League. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazim Uddin was pushed to the ground by the suspect, Atiqur Rahman Somel Sardar, during an operation at Sakhipur Bazar. The incident occurred after police received a tip-off that the banned student leader was present in the area. According to police, when the suspect was identified and questioned about his identity and organizational role, he suddenly pushed the OC and fled. Nazim Uddin fell and sustained an injury to his left little finger. He stated that he had gone to the market to warn traders about selling loose oil ahead of the upcoming election and attempted to detain the suspect upon receiving information of his presence. Medical officer Dr. Shafiquzzaman Apu confirmed that the OC’s nail was damaged and he received primary treatment. Additional Superintendent of Police Soumya Shekhar Pal said the injured officer has been treated and police operations to arrest the accused are ongoing.

Israel has raised objections to the composition of a panel formed under the 'Board of Peace' announced by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee postwar governance in Gaza. On Saturday, Israel stated that the White House did not consult or coordinate with it regarding the selection of members for the Gaza Executive Board. Tel Aviv argued that the initiative contradicts Israeli policy, particularly criticizing the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a Qatari official. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the formation of the Gaza Executive Board under the Board of Peace was uncoordinated with Israel and inconsistent with its national policy. The Israeli foreign minister has been instructed to contact the U.S. secretary of state on the matter. Meanwhile, the formation of the Board of Peace began Saturday, with invitations extended to leaders from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada. Donald Trump has declared himself chairman of the board and presented an economic reconstruction plan for Gaza that has already sparked debate. The board also includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and senior advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, a total of 107 candidates submitted nomination papers for 11 constituencies in Comilla. After scrutiny, the district returning officer canceled 31 nominations, and three were later reinstated on appeal, leaving 79 candidates in the race as of Saturday. Analysis of their affidavits shows that at least 20 candidates are millionaires, with BNP nominees dominating the list. All 11 BNP candidates in Comilla are millionaires, collectively declaring assets worth about Tk 432 crore. The wealthiest among them is Zakaria Taher Suman, BNP’s candidate for Comilla-8 and president of the party’s southern district unit, with assets totaling Tk 231 crore. Jamaat-e-Islami has six millionaire candidates whose combined assets amount to Tk 16.86 crore. Several BNP rebel and NCP candidates also appear on the millionaire list. Affidavits further reveal that many candidates’ spouses hold significant wealth. Zakaria Taher Suman’s wife owns assets worth Tk 128 crore, while spouses of other BNP and Jamaat candidates also report holdings ranging from several lakh to multiple crore taka.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 is scheduled to hold a hearing today on the formation of charges against Obaidul Quader, the suspended general secretary of the Awami League and former minister, along with six other accused in a crimes against humanity case linked to killings during the July Revolution. The three-member judicial panel, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, will conduct the hearing in Dhaka. Earlier, on December 18, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against the seven accused after the prosecution formally submitted charges. The accused include Awami League joint general secretary A F M Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain, and general secretary Wali Asif Enan. On January 8, as the accused failed to appear, the tribunal appointed state defense lawyers to represent them. The prosecution presented separate charges for each accused, including three specific counts against Obaidul Quader involving instruction, incitement, and provocation. The tribunal accepted the charges and set today’s date for the formal hearing on charge formation.

Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have sharply increased their overseas investments despite sluggish domestic conditions. According to a Bangladesh Bank report, during the first quarter of the 2025–26 fiscal year (July–September), Bangladeshis legally invested a total of 15.8 million US dollars abroad, marking an 829 percent rise from the same period of the previous year, when the figure was only 1.7 million dollars. The report covers only officially approved investments, excluding any unrecorded or illicit capital transfers. The analysis shows that foreign investment by Bangladeshis began rising from the October–December quarter of the previous fiscal year. Meanwhile, domestic private investment remains stagnant due to political instability and high bank interest rates. Private sector credit growth slowed to 6.58 percent in November 2025, down from double digits in July 2024. Sector insiders argue that entrepreneurs should focus on domestic investment to address rising unemployment and declining GDP growth. As of September 2025, total Bangladeshi capital invested abroad stood at 362.1 million dollars, up from 348.3 million a year earlier. India, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong received the largest shares, with financial institutions attracting the most sectoral investment.

French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European countries opposing the U.S. attempt to acquire Greenland. In a message posted on social media platform X on Saturday, Macron described Trump’s position as unjustified and unacceptable, saying that such a threat has no legitimacy in the current context. Macron warned that if the tariff threat is implemented, European nations will respond in a united and coordinated manner. He emphasized that all necessary measures will be taken to protect Europe’s sovereignty and confirmed that he will continue discussions with European partners on this stance. Earlier, Trump had announced plans to impose a 10 percent tariff on goods from several European countries starting in February, which could rise to 25 percent by June 1. He also warned that the tariffs would remain in place until the Greenland acquisition effort is completed.

Bangladesh’s Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service, launched in 2017, has failed to achieve expected success even after eight years. The service allows users to retain their mobile numbers while switching operators, but experts and stakeholders say regulatory and operational barriers have hindered its growth. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) granted licenses to multiple firms, yet the service remains underutilized. According to the report, key obstacles include BTRC and mobile operators’ inaction, high taxes imposed by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and restrictions preventing operators from offering incentives. The current MNP fee of Tk 450 is considered too high compared to neighboring countries, where similar services cost Tk 90–100. Additionally, BTRC’s directive blocking masked SMS messages to MNP users has created further complications, particularly for financial and social platforms. Experts suggest revising the 2018 MNP guidelines, reducing taxes, and allowing promotional incentives to make the service more accessible and attractive. They also emphasize public awareness campaigns to prevent waste of resources and improve adoption.