Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that his country is prepared for war but remains open to dialogue. He accused US President Donald Trump of inciting violence through interference in Iran’s internal affairs, irresponsible remarks, and threats. The statement was made amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. According to a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the US threats and what it called an irresponsible stance constitute a clear violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and amount to incitement of violence and terrorism against Iranian citizens. The ministry added that threats from US officials align with Israeli government policies that increase regional tensions. The statement warned that any aggression against Iran would be met with a swift, precise, and extensive response, and that such a situation could push the entire region toward greater crisis and instability, for which the United States would bear full responsibility.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has condemned alleged question leaks, irregularities, and negligence by authorities in the recruitment of assistant teachers for government primary schools. In a statement issued on Monday by NCP’s Joint Member Secretary and Education and Research Secretary Faisal Mahmud Shanto, the party demanded that if any truth is found in the allegations, the examination held on January 9 should be canceled and retaken. The NCP expressed deep concern over reports of question paper leaks and irregularities in the recent primary teacher recruitment exam, noting that similar incidents had previously occurred in the Directorate of Primary Education’s office assistant recruitment test. The party criticized the interim government formed after the 2024 student uprising for failing to establish a transparent and fair recruitment system, accusing ministries and departments of focusing instead on tender and recruitment trade. The NCP urged an impartial investigation into all allegations and called for withholding publication of results until the probe is complete. It also warned that if negligence persists, the party will join job seekers in protest to demand justice.

North Korea has issued a strong condemnation of the United States, calling it 'shameless' and accusing Washington of actions that undermine the dignity of the United Nations. The statement, released Monday by Pyongyang’s mission to the UN, described U.S. behavior as a 'heinous crime' and urged that discussions at the UN should focus on such conduct rather than imposing sanctions on other countries. According to the statement, North Korea views the United States’ actions as showing contempt for the UN. Although no specific incident was mentioned, analysts cited in the report suggested the reaction may have followed international criticism of the U.S. after the detention of Venezuela’s president. The report noted that North Korea remains under long-standing UN Security Council sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programs. The statement reflects Pyongyang’s continued opposition to U.S. influence in international institutions and its ongoing frustration with global pressure over its weapons development.

An awareness meeting on the upcoming National Parliament Election and Referendum 2026 was held at the Taraganj Upazila Parishad hallroom in Rangpur on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. The meeting was presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Monabbir Hossain. Among those present were Taraganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ruhul Amin, Upazila Livestock Officer Md. Ifthekharul Islam, Upazila Election Officer Shimu Parvin, other local officials, and journalists from print and electronic media. Discussions at the meeting focused on the importance of the Referendum 2026 program, raising voter awareness, adherence to the electoral code of conduct, and expanding public outreach on election-related information. Participants emphasized the need for collective efforts by all concerned to ensure a fair, free, and peaceful election process. The meeting underscored the role of local administration, law enforcement, and media in promoting transparency and voter participation ahead of the national election.

A seven-year-old Bangladeshi girl named Afnan has been placed on life support after being critically injured by gunfire that crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar’s ongoing internal conflict. The incident occurred in the Hwaikyang border area of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday afternoon. She was brought to Chittagong Medical College Hospital around 4:30 p.m. in critical condition, where doctors performed emergency surgery on her head that night. Hospital Director Brigadier General Taslim Uddin confirmed that the bullet struck Afnan’s head, leaving her in a highly critical state. A CT scan and emergency operation were conducted, and she was later placed on life support due to deterioration. Earlier in the day, rumors of her death spread in the area, prompting local unrest. The shooting followed intense clashes between the Arakan Army and Rohingya armed groups in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, which escalated Saturday night. A stray bullet from the Myanmar side hit Afnan’s home in the Techchibridge area. Local residents staged protests after hearing of her supposed death, but law enforcement and community leaders later restored calm.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced plans to make Mumbai free of alleged illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants. The declaration came as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance released its manifesto for the upcoming Mumbai municipal elections. Fadnavis stated that with assistance from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), an artificial intelligence tool will be developed to identify Bangladeshi migrants. The source notes that there is no concrete data showing any negative economic or social impact from such alleged infiltration. In recent years, the issue of so-called illegal Bangladeshis has become a recurring political theme in India, raised by the ruling BJP and its allies during various state and local elections, including in Bihar and West Bengal. According to the report, several Indian migrant workers have been beaten to death on suspicion of being Bangladeshis in states such as Kerala, Odisha, and Bihar. Analysts believe that reckless political rhetoric has endangered the lives of poor and migrant communities, particularly Muslims and Bengali-speaking citizens.

Pro-government supporters in Iran launched nationwide counter-demonstrations on January 12, 2026, targeting what authorities described as foreign-backed rioters. According to Press TV, rallies began in some provinces between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. local time, with larger gatherings scheduled for 2 p.m. in Tehran and other major regions. The demonstrations followed weeks of unrest that began on December 28, when Iranian shopkeepers closed their businesses to protest the falling value of the rial. Those protests evolved into anti-government movements. Iranian officials alleged that the United States and Israel incited the unrest, turning peaceful demonstrations violent. Tehran has blamed U.S. sanctions for the economic crisis and currency depreciation. The government acknowledged that grievances over rising living costs were legitimate and pledged to take steps to address the economic challenges. Authorities maintained that the situation across the country remained under control.

Myanmar’s ruling military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has won the parliamentary seat formerly held by detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A senior USDP official told AFP on Monday that the party secured victory in the Kawhmu constituency, located in Yangon Region. The official added that the USDP won 15 of 16 lower house seats in the region. Voting in Kawhmu and several other constituencies took place on Sunday as part of the second phase of a three-stage national election. Suu Kyi was ousted and detained following the 2021 military coup, after the junta alleged widespread fraud in the previous year’s election, which her National League for Democracy (NLD) had won by a landslide. The final phase of the month-long election is scheduled for January 25, with the junta claiming the process will return power to the people. Pro-democracy groups have accused the authorities of staging a controlled election that suppresses dissent and favors military-linked candidates, particularly after the NLD was dissolved and Suu Kyi remained under house arrest.

A joint operation by the army and the local administration was carried out in Ward 6 of Bajalia Union under Satkania upazila in South Chattogram to prevent illegal hill cutting. According to the upazila administration, the raid took place around 1 a.m. on Sunday, January 11, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shamsuzzaman, following a tip-off. Clear evidence of hill cutting was found at the site, but no suspects were apprehended. The perpetrators fled, leaving behind an excavator, which was later disabled with army assistance to prevent future misuse. The upazila administration stated that operations against environmentally destructive activities such as hill and farmland soil cutting will continue. It also warned that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for environmental damage and threats to public safety. Local residents reported that illegal hill cutting and soil sales had been ongoing in the Bajalia area for a long time, and the recent operation has brought relief to the community.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said her country is facing a 'critical crossroads' following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to take control of Greenland. Speaking in Washington, D.C., ahead of a meeting on global mineral supply, she stated that the crisis involves not only Greenland’s future but also broader strategic and policy interests. Frederiksen emphasized Denmark’s readiness to defend its values, particularly in the Arctic, and reaffirmed her belief in international law and the right to self-determination. Germany and Sweden have expressed support for Denmark in opposing Trump’s claim over the autonomous Danish territory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson warned that any U.S. attempt to seize Greenland would constitute a serious violation of international law. Several Nordic, Baltic, and European nations have also voiced solidarity with Denmark. According to The Telegraph, military leaders from the United Kingdom and other European countries are discussing a potential NATO mission in Greenland to counter Russian and Chinese influence. Public opinion polls indicate that most Greenlanders oppose any U.S. takeover, while regional governments are reinforcing cooperation under international legal frameworks.

A Palestinian detainee from Gaza, identified as Hamza Abdullah Abdulhadi Adwan, has died in an Israeli prison, according to a joint statement by the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners Society. The statement said Adwan had long suffered from heart disease and required medical treatment. He was arrested on November 12, 2024, at a military checkpoint in northern Gaza. Adwan was married and the father of nine children, two of whom were killed in Israeli attacks in October 2023. Rights groups have accused Israel of systematic abuse of Palestinian prisoners, including starvation, medical neglect, sexual assault, humiliation, and detention under degrading conditions. The statement noted that since the start of the Gaza war, more than 100 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli custody, though Israeli authorities have officially confirmed the identities of only 87. The continuing deaths in custody have drawn attention to the conditions of Palestinian detainees and the lack of transparency surrounding their treatment and deaths.

Two senior staff nurses at Feni General Hospital have been temporarily suspended after a video surfaced showing cooking on a gas stove inside the labor ward’s operation theater. The suspension order, signed on Sunday evening by Md. Anwar Hossain Akand, Acting Director General of the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery and Joint Secretary of the Health Services Division, named Nursing Supervisor Kalpana Rani Mondal and Senior Staff Nurse Rani Bala Halder. The order stated that the incident, which occurred at the 250-bed district hospital, was a serious breach of discipline and professional conduct. The video’s circulation on social media and subsequent news coverage reportedly damaged public health confidence, patient safety, and the reputation of the nursing profession. Authorities said the nurses failed to maintain discipline and hygiene in the sensitive operation theater environment. Hospital Superintendent Dr. Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed receipt of the suspension order and said further action would follow after the investigation committee submits its report. The incident had earlier sparked widespread discussion and criticism across the district.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman has accused the government of surrendering to bureaucratic power. Speaking at a press conference on Monday morning at TIB’s headquarters in Dhanmondi’s Midas Center, he said the bureaucracy has become more powerful than the advisory council, reflecting group and political interests. He argued that a section of the bureaucracy is stronger than government advisers. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that the government has given no importance to the urgent recommendations of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Reform Commission. He alleged that as long as the bureaucracy maintains exclusive control, the ACC’s full independence will remain deliberately excluded. He further said that the formation of the Police Commission contradicts the July Charter. The remarks highlight TIB’s concern over bureaucratic dominance in governance and the lack of priority given to institutional reforms aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability.

S M Jilani, the BNP-nominated candidate for the Gopalganj-3 constituency and president of the party’s central volunteer wing, carried out a grassroots campaign in Tungipara’s Patgati Dakshinpara area on Monday, January 12, 2026. Starting early in the morning, he met farmers in the fields and visited local homes to exchange greetings and discuss community issues. He listened to residents’ concerns about local hardships and expectations. During the campaign, Jilani stated that standing beside the people in their joys and sorrows is the core of his political philosophy. He pledged to work for the rightful interests of the people of Tungipara and Kotalipara if elected. Local residents shared their views on development, employment, education, and healthcare, while Jilani assured them of sincere efforts to address their problems. Local BNP leaders and representatives from affiliated organizations were present during the campaign and interactions with residents.

Japan has launched a deep-sea expedition to extract rare minerals in an effort to reduce its dependence on China. On Monday, the scientific drilling vessel Chikyu departed from Shimizu Port in Shizuoka at 9 a.m. local time, heading toward the remote Pacific island of Minami Torishima. The area is believed to contain vast reserves of rare minerals. The mission, led by JAMSTEC, involves experimental drilling at a depth of 6,000 meters, marking a world first, and will continue until February 14. The initiative comes as China, the world’s largest supplier of rare minerals, exerts pressure on Japan amid heightened political tensions following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Taiwan in November. Cabinet Office program director Shoichi Ishii stated that Japan aims to diversify supply sources and build domestic production capacity to avoid overreliance on any single country. Researcher Takahiro Kamisuna noted that regular extraction near Minami Torishima could secure a stable domestic supply chain for Japan’s industries. Reports indicate that China has recently delayed imports of Japanese goods and slowed rare mineral exports, further motivating Japan’s push for resource independence.