Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has fallen by 40 percent due to ongoing tensions and border clashes, according to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The closure of key border crossings has disrupted the movement of goods, severely affecting bilateral trade. Official Afghan data show that total trade between the two countries declined from 2.461 billion dollars in 2024 to 1.766 billion dollars in 2025, a decrease of 695 million dollars. During the same period, Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan dropped from 817 million dollars to 505 million dollars, while imports fell from 1.644 billion dollars to 1.261 billion dollars. Economic analysts have emphasized that Afghanistan should not rely on a single trade partner or transit route. They suggest developing alternative corridors through Iran, Central Asia, and air routes to reduce dependence on Pakistan and achieve long-term economic stability. Major trade crossings such as Torkham and Spin Boldak have remained completely closed for about three months, halting cargo transport and causing financial losses for traders on both sides.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute has reiterated that once the Nobel Peace Prize is announced, it cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked under any circumstances. The clarification came following recent comments by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who said she wished to give her Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump as a gesture of gratitude for a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela. According to the Institute’s statement, the decision to award a Nobel Prize is final and irreversible, as explicitly stated in the Nobel regulations. Machado received the Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts to defend democratic rights and promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela. Her remarks sparked international discussion after the U.S. military detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3. Responding to Machado’s comments, Trump said he would consider receiving the prize a “great honor.” The Nobel Committee emphasized that the prize cannot be altered or transferred based on political decisions or personal wishes, reaffirming that this principle is central to the award’s credibility and prestige.

The Habiganj Battalion (55 BGB) seized Indian goods worth Tk 15.5 million during an operation in Jagdishpur, Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj, along the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. The operation took place on Sunday evening following a tip-off, according to a BGB press release issued at night. The seized items included various cosmetics, sarees, and cumin seeds hidden inside a truck loaded with old paper cartons. The BGB patrol team conducted the raid around 5 p.m. at the Jagdishpur Muktijoddha Chattar area, uncovering the smuggled goods concealed in an unusual manner. The seized products are currently being processed for handover to the customs authorities for further action. The operation highlights ongoing efforts by border security forces to curb illegal cross-border trade and smuggling activities along key transport routes in the region.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun a landmark trial against Myanmar over allegations of genocide against the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority. The hearing, which started on Monday at 10 a.m. local time, will continue for three weeks. Myanmar has denied the genocide accusations. This is the first full genocide trial to be held at the ICJ, and due to sensitivity and confidentiality, the proceedings will remain closed to the public and media. The case was filed in 2019 by the West African nation of The Gambia, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide in Rakhine State. The complaint was based on a 2017 UN fact-finding mission report that described Myanmar’s military operations as “genocidal acts.” The UN’s independent investigative mechanism chief, Nicholas Koumjian, said the case could set an important precedent for defining and proving genocide and determining remedies for violations. The outcome of this trial may have implications beyond Myanmar, potentially influencing other genocide-related cases, including South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ over the Gaza conflict.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused the government of failing to recover illegal weapons ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. Speaking in Thakurgaon on Monday morning, he said the law and order situation has not improved yet, though the BNP hopes it will soon. He reiterated that the party had earlier proposed a 31-point reform plan aimed at building a modern and well-governed state. Fakhrul stated that all major achievements of the country were made under BNP’s leadership and that the party has always worked for public welfare. He added that if BNP comes to power, it will continue to work tirelessly to meet people’s expectations. Regarding national cricketer Mustafizur Rahman, he said insulting a cricketer means insulting Bangladesh, and the BNP agrees with the government’s decision on the matter. He also commented that the current electoral environment is satisfactory but will become clearer after January 22. Fakhrul further pledged that a future BNP government would secure Bangladesh’s fair share of water from rivers including the Teesta from India.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to deliver its order today on whether formal charges will be framed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq. The case concerns alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The three-member judicial panel, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar with Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, will issue the order following hearings from both prosecution and defense sides. According to the prosecution, five charges were presented against the two accused, including allegations of incitement, conspiracy, and aiding security forces and armed cadres in multiple killings and injuries across Rangpur and Dhaka between July and August 2024. The charges also include joint criminal enterprise and superior command responsibility. The defense had earlier filed a petition seeking discharge on January 6, 2026. The tribunal’s decision will determine whether the case proceeds to trial, marking a significant step in the ongoing investigation into alleged atrocities linked to the July uprising.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed special forces commanders to prepare a plan for a possible attack on Greenland, according to a report by the UK-based Daily Mail published on Sunday. The report states that Trump issued the order to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as part of an effort to secure the island before China or Russia could take control of it. The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reportedly opposed the move, arguing that such an action would be illegal and unlikely to gain congressional approval. Meanwhile, leaders of Greenland’s political parties said on Friday that they do not wish to become part of either the United States or Denmark, emphasizing their desire to remain Greenlandic. At a White House event on Friday, Trump said the United States would act in Greenland regardless of local approval, asserting that inaction could allow Russia or China to seize the island. He added that the U.S. would not accept either country as a neighbor.

Cuba has issued a strong response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warning that the country must immediately come under a deal or face unspecified consequences. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said no one has the right to speak on behalf of Cuba. In a post on social media platform X, he asserted that Cuba is an independent and sovereign nation and that no one can dictate its actions. He added that the Caribbean island is ready to defend its homeland to the last drop of blood. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated that Cuba has the right to import fuel from any country willing to export to it, noting that most of its energy imports come from Venezuela and Mexico. Rodríguez accused the United States of engaging in “criminal” acts that threaten global peace. The report also mentioned that Trump has recently issued threats to Colombia, Mexico, Iran, and Greenland. The exchange underscores renewed tensions between Washington and Havana, with Cuba emphasizing its sovereignty and trade independence in the face of U.S. pressure.

Two unexploded hand grenades were recovered on Sunday, January 11, from the yard of a house under construction in Bara Gariyala village of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Construction workers discovered the grenades while digging soil and immediately informed the local police camp. A joint security team later arrived at the scene and safely recovered the grenades, which are now kept at Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station. House owner Babu Mia said the workers found two round metallic objects while digging and reported them to the police. Officer-in-Charge Md. Samsul Arefin of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station stated that the grenades are believed to have remained buried since the 1971 Liberation War. He added that the grenades will be neutralized later by the bomb disposal unit of the joint forces. Authorities have secured the area and are preparing for the safe disposal of the explosives to prevent any potential danger to local residents.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Monday morning at the party chief’s office in Bashundhara, Dhaka. The meeting began at 9 a.m. and was attended by Deputy Chief of Mission Dr. Liu Yuyin, Political Director Zhang Jing, Ru Qi (Raki), and Ms. Nafisa (Liang Shuin). From Jamaat, Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, academic Dr. Zubair Ahmed, development team lead Dewan Alamgir, and foreign affairs adviser Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan were present. According to Jamaat’s central publicity department, the meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. The Chinese ambassador and the Jamaat leader discussed various issues of mutual interest between China and Bangladesh. They emphasized the historical friendship between the two nations, noting its importance in promoting public welfare, development cooperation, trade, and cultural exchange. Both sides expressed optimism that bilateral relations would continue to strengthen in the future.

At least eight people were injured in a violent clash between residents of Palgaon and Naljuri villages in Mohanganj upazila of Netrokona on Sunday morning. The conflict erupted over a dispute regarding tractor plowing of farmland. Several houses were reportedly attacked and vandalized during the incident. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, according to Mohanganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizul Islam Harun. Local sources said the dispute began three to four days earlier when farmers from the two villages argued over the use of a tractor for cultivation. Attempts at local arbitration failed to resolve the tension. On Sunday morning, more than a hundred villagers from both sides engaged in a confrontation using local weapons, leaving eight people injured. The injured were taken to the upazila health complex for treatment. Police confirmed that the situation is now under control and normal. No formal complaint has yet been filed, but authorities stated that an investigation and necessary action will follow if a complaint is received.

Jamaat-e-Islami activist Jamal Uddin was shot dead in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Saturday evening in what investigators believe was a planned targeted killing. According to police, three assailants arrived on a motorcycle and fired multiple shots from close range, hitting Jamal in the head and neck. Thirteen bullet wounds were found, and he died instantly at the scene in Shahnogor Dighirpar area of Lelang Union. Police said the attack was executed with precision, suggesting the killers were professionals. Jamal, son of Muhammad Yusuf of Lelang village, ran a garment business in the city and was known locally as a businessman. However, police confirmed his name had appeared in three unresolved murder cases from 2001. Fatikchhari Jamaat’s Naib-e-Ameer Ismail Gani described the killing as politically motivated and demanded an impartial investigation. Local representatives said the attackers were highly organized and escaped quickly. The incident has caused widespread fear in the area, with residents avoiding going out after dark. Police stated they are close to identifying the perpetrators and expect arrests soon.

The Trump administration has become divided over how to respond to ongoing protests in Iran, with discussions reportedly covering options such as sanctions, cyber measures, and potential military action. According to reports from TRT World and The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump is expected to be briefed on Tuesday by senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane. A senior U.S. military official told The New York Times that any potential strike would require more time for troop deployment and defensive preparations against possible Iranian retaliation. Officials have warned that military action could produce unintended consequences, including uniting the Iranian public behind their government or triggering regional escalation. Lawmakers from both major U.S. parties have also questioned whether military action is the best course, with some senators expressing caution in recent interviews. The protests in Iran began in late December over the sharp devaluation of the rial and worsening economic conditions. Trump has publicly warned Tehran against suppressing demonstrators, while Iranian officials have dismissed his comments as reckless interference.

A young man was killed in a train accident on Sunday morning in Netrakona Sadar, marking the third fatality on the Dhaka-Mohanganj railway line within 14 hours. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. near Raju’s Bazar area of Paur town. The victim, Yasin Ahmed Sayem, 20, son of Ruhul Amin from Dhanpur village in Barhatta upazila, fell from the door of the moving Haor Express train bound for Dhaka. He died on the spot, and police later sent his body to Netrakona Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. Earlier, on Saturday evening, two laborers were killed when a train hit them near Challisha Bazar on the same route. The deceased were identified as Akash Roy, 24, from Dinajpur’s Churiyapara village, and Rasel Mia, 25, from Sherpur district. According to police, the two men were standing beside the railway track when the Mohanganj Express train from Dhaka struck them. Locals took the injured to Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Police said legal procedures are underway regarding the fatalities.

The Australian government has advised its citizens currently in Iran to leave the country immediately due to fears that the situation could deteriorate rapidly amid ongoing protests. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued an updated travel advisory warning that while commercial flights out of Iran are still available, they are becoming increasingly limited. The advisory cautioned that airspace closures and flight cancellations could soon make departure impossible. According to the DFAT notice, anyone choosing to remain in Iran despite the government’s advice will be responsible for their own safety. Citizens were urged to prepare for extended sheltering by securing adequate supplies of water, food, and essential medicine. The advisory was issued in response to the uncertainty surrounding the protests and the broader security environment in Iran. Authorities emphasized that the warning reflects the unpredictable nature of the current unrest and the potential for further disruption to travel and safety conditions.