Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in talks to convert a $2 billion Saudi loan into a defense deal involving JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, according to a report citing sources. The discussions come months after the two countries signed a mutual defense agreement, signaling deepening military cooperation. The proposed deal could be worth around $4 billion, with half covered by the loan conversion and the rest allocated for other military equipment purchases. Sources indicate that the talks primarily focus on the supply of JF-17 jets jointly developed by Pakistan and China. Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu recently visited Saudi Arabia, where bilateral defense cooperation was discussed. Retired Air Marshal and analyst Amir Masood noted that Pakistan is negotiating or finalizing defense export deals with six countries, including Saudi Arabia, though he could not confirm specific details. The discussions reflect Saudi Arabia’s efforts to restructure its security partnerships amid uncertainty over U.S. commitments in the Middle East. Neither Pakistan’s defense ministries nor Saudi officials have issued formal comments on the matter.

The United States has suspended all ongoing food aid programs in Somalia following reports that Somali officials were involved in stealing food assistance. U.S. State Department officials announced the decision on Wednesday, citing a zero-tolerance policy toward theft. The move comes after allegations that Somali officials destroyed a warehouse funded by the U.S.-backed World Food Programme and stole 76 metric tons of food aid intended for impoverished Somalis. According to the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Assistance, and Religious Freedom, the theft deprived vulnerable Somalis of essential food supplies. U.S. officials stated that any future assistance to Somalia will depend on the federal government’s acknowledgment of responsibility and corrective action. Somali officials did not immediately comment on the suspension. The suspension underscores Washington’s insistence on accountability in aid distribution and signals potential delays in humanitarian support until Somalia addresses the allegations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a bill proposing import tariffs of up to 500 percent on India and several other countries that continue to buy oil from Russia. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the bill will soon be presented to the U.S. Congress. He explained that the measure aims to punish nations purchasing cheap Russian oil, which he said supports President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts. Graham also named Brazil and China among the countries that could face these penalties. Currently, India faces an additional 25 percent tariff on crude oil imports from Russia, bringing total tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent. The Trump administration has also imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, while pressuring New Delhi to halt Russian oil imports as a condition for trade agreements with the United States. The bill, co-authored by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, would authorize the Trump administration to impose secondary sanctions and tariffs on imports of Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products, aiming to cut off funding sources for Russia’s military activities.

Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 77 undocumented migrants, including 26 Bangladeshis, during a special operation in Negeri Sembilan. The raid took place on Tuesday, January 6, across 13 locations in Seremban and Nilai, following public complaints and a week of intelligence gathering. A total of 395 foreigners were screened between 9 a.m. and 1 a.m., and those detained were aged between 19 and 47. The operation proceeded peacefully without any untoward incidents. According to Negeri Sembilan Immigration Director Kenneth Tan Ai Kiang, the detainees include nationals from Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, and India. The largest group, 55 individuals, was arrested at a soap manufacturing factory in Nilai. The detainees are accused of lacking valid passes or travel documents, overstaying, and violating immigration laws. They have been sent to the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for investigation and further legal action. Tan also warned that strict measures will be taken against employers or individuals found to be hiring or sheltering undocumented migrants.

A young man named Ratul Islam Robi, aged 21, was killed and four others were injured in a three-motorcycle collision in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. The accident occurred on Wednesday night at the Jalkuri Dashpipe area. The deceased was the son of Md. Faruk from Mizimiji Paglabari. The injured were identified as Nibir, Habib, and Bijoy, while the identity of another injured person remains unknown. Eyewitnesses reported that the collision happened when three speeding motorcycles crashed head-on. One person died on the spot, and several others sustained serious injuries. Local residents immediately rescued the injured and took them to various hospitals in Narayanganj for treatment. Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Barik confirmed the death and said two of the motorcycles involved in the accident had been seized. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

A murder case has been filed at Tejgaon Police Station over the killing of Azizur Rahman Musabbir, former general secretary of the BNP’s Dhaka North volunteer wing. The case, lodged by Musabbir’s wife on Thursday morning, names five unidentified individuals as accused. Musabbir was shot dead on Wednesday night around 8:15 p.m. in an alley behind Star Kabab at Karwan Bazar while returning home. According to CCTV footage, two assailants were seen sitting with a sack in the alley. As Musabbir appeared, they drew a pistol from the sack and shot him from behind. He fell to the ground, tried to run, and dropped his phone, which the attackers took before fleeing. His body is scheduled to be taken to Nayapaltan, where funeral prayers will be held in front of the BNP central office after the noon prayer, as confirmed by the office’s chief administrative officer. Police have begun investigating the incident based on the filed case, though no arrests or further details have been reported yet.

Air travel in the French capital Paris was severely disrupted on Wednesday due to intense cold and heavy snowfall. Around 100 flights were canceled at Charles de Gaulle Airport and at least 40 more at Orly Airport, according to the country’s transport minister. The cancellations began early in the morning as authorities worked to manage runway conditions and ensure passenger safety. The French news agency AFP reported that forecasts on Tuesday night had already warned of possible flight disruptions. Paris Transport Minister Philippe Tabarro told CNews that the situation was expected to normalize by the afternoon. Thousands of passengers were affected by the cancellations, facing delays and travel difficulties. Airport authorities urged travelers to stay in contact with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates as operations gradually resumed.

The 40th National Table Tennis Championship, organized by the Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation, will begin on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium in Dhaka. The tournament will continue until January 16, bringing together players from across the country for one of Bangladesh’s major national sporting events. Ahead of the competition, a press conference was held on Thursday, January 8, at the same venue to brief the media about the overall arrangements and preparations. According to the organizers, around five hundred table tennis players from 50 districts, various public universities, and different organizations will participate in the national-level event. The championship aims to promote table tennis across Bangladesh and provide a platform for players from diverse regions and institutions to showcase their skills in a competitive setting.

Dr. Mohar Ali’s study outlines archaeological and historical evidence of early Muslim presence in Bengal’s coastal areas. Excavations at Paharpur in Rajshahi during 1937–38 uncovered a coin from the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid dated 788 CE, while two similar coins were found at Mainamati in Comilla. These findings suggest that Arab traders or missionaries reached Bengal by the 8th or 9th century. The mention of the term ‘Tajik’ in a 9th–10th century inscription further supports contact with Arab or Persian merchants. The article discusses scholarly debates on whether Arab traders established permanent settlements in Bengal. Historical records from Arakan describe a shipwreck around 780–810 CE that led surviving Arabs to settle near Chittagong. Later accounts mention a local leader named Thura-tan, possibly derived from the Arabic ‘Sultan,’ indicating a Muslim colony’s growth. Scholars like Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haq and Dr. M.A. Rahim interpret this as evidence of an early Muslim community rather than a formal kingdom. The study concludes that Arab merchants likely settled in Chittagong and Noakhali long before Muslim military conquests, with linguistic traces such as the possible Arabic origin of the name ‘Chittagong’ reinforcing this early connection.

Britain and France have agreed to send troops to Ukraine following a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, as part of a 20-point peace plan mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement came after the 'Coalition of the Willing' summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where leaders from 27 nations gathered to strengthen post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. The declaration was signed by Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Starmer stated that Britain and France would establish military bases across Ukraine after the ceasefire, though their forces are unlikely to engage directly with Russian troops if hostilities resume. Macron said the plan includes a multinational European force led by the United States and a ceasefire monitoring mechanism involving European participation. Italy and Poland declined to send troops, while Germany indicated possible contributions to a joint force. The initiative marks a significant step in post-war planning for Ukraine, though Moscow’s acceptance of the arrangement remains uncertain.

The article recounts the story of Habilder Rajab Ali Khan, a key but largely forgotten leader of the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion in Chittagong, southeastern Bengal. On November 18, 1857, Rajab Ali led about 400 soldiers of the 34th Native Bengal Infantry in an armed revolt against British rule. His forces freed imprisoned freedom fighters, seized the treasury and arsenal, and held Chittagong free of British control for nearly 30 hours before retreating toward Tripura and Sylhet. The final battle took place on January 9, 1858, at Malegarh Hill in Karimganj, where around 70 sepoys were killed. Historians differ on Rajab Ali’s origins and fate. Some accounts suggest he disappeared into the forests of Manipur after the defeat, while others claim he was captured and executed in Chittagong, though no British records confirm this. Despite his strategic leadership and prolonged resistance, Rajab Ali remains overshadowed by figures like Mangal Pandey. Local historians and residents continue to demand official recognition, including renaming Chittagong’s parade ground after him and adding his biography to textbooks, to restore his place in national history.

Protests over economic hardship and rising prices have spread across Iran, beginning on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and expanding to 22 of the country’s 31 provinces. The demonstrations, initially led by business owners, have turned violent and evolved into a broader political crisis. In response, the Iranian government has intensified its crackdown on protesters. Amid the unrest, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned that former President Donald Trump would kill Iran’s supreme leader if the government continues its repression. Speaking to Fox News, Graham said the Iranian regime was killing its own people under the pretext of improving living conditions and described the situation as a major turning point in Middle Eastern history. He added that help was coming for the Iranian people. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged that protesters’ demands were legitimate but declared that riots would not be tolerated. Government talks with business representatives in Tehran have failed to yield results, while Iranian officials strongly condemned Trump’s earlier remarks about US intervention if deadly force was used against demonstrators.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela will use its oil sales revenue exclusively to purchase goods produced in the United States. According to Washington sources cited by AFP, the arrangement follows the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power and is based on a new oil agreement. The profits from Venezuela’s oil exports will be directed toward buying American products. Trump shared the information on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that he had been informed about the new oil deal ensuring that Venezuela’s earnings would be spent solely on U.S.-made goods. He specified that the purchases would include agricultural products, machinery, medical equipment, and energy-sector machinery. The report did not provide further details about the terms of the agreement or how it will be implemented, but it highlights a shift in Venezuela’s trade alignment following political changes in the country.

Iran has warned that it may launch preemptive attacks if there are clear signs of enemy aggression. The warning came from Iran’s newly formed Defense Council in a statement broadcast by state media. The council said that crossing Iran’s ‘red lines’ of security, independence, and territorial integrity would not be tolerated. It added that any hostile acts against Iran would be met with a firm response, for which the instigators would bear full responsibility. The statement further declared that any violation of national interests, interference in internal affairs, or attempts to destabilize Iran would be answered decisively. The council emphasized that Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliating after being attacked but would take proactive measures to safeguard its security. Although the statement did not name any specific country, it comes amid heightened tensions involving the United States and Israel. The Defense Council was established last June following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel under the directive of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations. The White House announced on Wednesday that the decision was made because these organizations no longer serve U.S. national interests. According to a statement shared on social media platform X, the order covers 31 United Nations–affiliated bodies and 35 other international institutions, though no specific names were disclosed. The White House explained that continued U.S. involvement in these organizations is no longer aligned with the country’s strategic and economic priorities. The announcement marks another step in Trump’s ongoing effort, during his second term, to reduce U.S. participation in global institutions. Observers note that these moves have sparked renewed debate about America’s role in international affairs, as the administration continues to reassess its global commitments.