At least seven people were killed and more than twenty injured in Saudi-led airstrikes targeting fighters and infrastructure of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southeastern Yemen, according to the group. The attacks took place in Wadi Hadramaut and the Hadramaut desert, where STC leader Mohammad Abdul Malik said seven air raids struck a camp in Al-Khasar. Middle East Eye reported that Saudi-backed forces launched the operation to retake areas seized by the STC in December. Hadramaut Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi, supported by Saudi Arabia, had earlier announced a rapid 'peaceful operation' to reclaim military positions captured a month earlier. However, STC officials accused Riyadh of deception, saying the so-called peaceful mission quickly turned into airstrikes. STC’s foreign affairs representative Amr Al-Bidh alleged that Saudi Arabia deliberately misled the international community by labeling the offensive as peaceful. The internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council had granted Khanbashi full military and administrative authority to restore control in Hadramaut. Saudi Arabia has not commented on the airstrikes.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) personnel prevented Indian Border Security Force (BSF) members from constructing a bridge in violation of international border law at Dhabalsuti in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat on Friday, January 2, 2026. The incident occurred near the main border pillar at zero line 828/2 S during Friday prayers, when over a hundred BSF members began the construction. Local residents noticed the activity and informed the Dhabalsuti Border Outpost under Teesta Battalion 61 BGB. Acting promptly, BGB members reached the site and halted the work, forcing BSF personnel to withdraw. Following the incident, a company commander-level flag meeting was held between BGB and BSF, where BSF assured that the construction would remain suspended. BGB lodged a formal protest, condemning the violation of border law. Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Mohammad Musahid Masum, commanding officer of the 61 BGB Battalion, stated that BGB maintains a strict stance on border law violations and will take all necessary measures to protect national sovereignty and uphold international law.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called for national unity to build a truly welfare-oriented and effective state. In a post on his verified Facebook page on Friday, he emphasized that a nation divided by internal discord can never stand tall in the global arena. He urged citizens to overcome divisions and work together for justice and fairness. Dr. Rahman stated that while differences in thought may exist, they should not turn into bitter conflicts. He called on people to leave behind envy and division and move forward shoulder to shoulder toward establishing a just and equitable state. He concluded his message with a prayer for divine assistance in achieving this goal. The statement reflects Jamaat-e-Islami’s emphasis on unity and moral values as essential foundations for national progress and social harmony.

After the scrutiny of nomination papers, eight candidates in three parliamentary constituencies of Chattogram had their nominations canceled on Friday afternoon at the Chattogram Deputy Commissioner’s office. The decision followed verification by the returning officer’s office, which cited irregularities in voter signatures, inclusion of deceased voters, inconsistencies in party nominations, loan default, and missing documents as reasons for the cancellations. In Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai), three candidates were disqualified, including an independent candidate for listing a deceased voter, a BNP rebel for lacking party endorsement, and a Jatiya Party candidate for violating election rules. In Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari), three nominations were canceled due to false voter information, missing documents, and incomplete party approval. In Chattogram-3 (Sandwip), two candidates lost eligibility—one for party nomination inconsistencies and another for being a loan defaulter and having disputed supporter signatures. District Commissioner and Returning Officer Zahidul Islam Miah stated that the disqualified candidates may appeal within the next four working days starting Sunday.

A prayer gathering was held at Jagannath University’s central mosque on Friday, January 2, to seek forgiveness for the soul of Begum Khaleda Zia, the university’s founder, three-time former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and BNP Chairperson. The event was organized by the university mosque committee and preceded by a short discussion session attended by university officials, teachers, students, and staff. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim described Begum Khaleda Zia as a distinguished leader whose contributions were integral to the establishment of Jagannath University. He praised her honesty, unity, and determination, noting her leadership in continuing the political vision of late President Ziaur Rahman. Faculty leaders including Professors Md. Rois Uddin and Imranul Haque highlighted her transformation from a homemaker to a national leader, her steadfastness during political crises, and her lifelong dedication to the nation’s welfare. The prayer was led by the mosque’s senior imam, with participation from university deans, department heads, teachers, students, and journalists, reflecting broad respect for the late leader’s legacy.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that up to five cold waves may sweep across the country during January, with temperatures possibly dropping to as low as four degrees Celsius. Director Md. Mominul Islam stated that two to three of these cold waves are expected to be mild to moderate, ranging between 8–10°C and 6–8°C, while one or two could be moderate to severe, between 6–8°C and 4–6°C. According to the forecast, no cyclones or low-pressure systems are likely to form over the Bay of Bengal this month, and the country’s major rivers are expected to maintain normal water flow. The five-day weather outlook indicates dry conditions nationwide with partly cloudy skies and widespread fog, particularly from midnight to morning, which may persist until noon in some areas. Dense fog may temporarily disrupt air travel, inland water transport, and road communication. The mild cold wave currently affecting several districts could expand further, and temperatures in various regions are expected to drop slightly in the coming days.

The national final selection round of the cultural competition 'Serader Sera Season-6', organized by the Somonnito Sangskritik Songshod (SASAS), was successfully completed on Friday at Tejgaon College premises in Dhaka. Participants from eight divisions of Bangladesh competed in three categories—singing, acting, and recitation—after advancing through upazila, district, and divisional levels. The event aimed to identify talented artists, actors, and reciters from across the country and provide them with a national platform. Out of 300 selected contestants, ten from each category received 'Yes Cards' to move on to the next round, while others were presented with honorary gifts. The program was attended by cultural personality Ustad Tafazzal Hossain Khan as chief guest and former executive director of SASAS Abdullah Al Noman as special guest. The national-level competition was directed by Zakir Hossain, with overall management by SASAS assistant executive director Israil Hossain Shanto. Guests and judges delivered motivational remarks to the participants before officially concluding the audition round.

A senior Iranian security official has warned former U.S. President Donald Trump not to interfere in Iran’s ongoing protests. Speaking to local media on Friday, the official said any U.S. involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would destabilize the entire region and would be met with a strong response. The warning followed Trump’s post on his social media platform Truth Social, where he stated that the United States was ready to act if Iranian authorities violently suppressed peaceful demonstrators. The protests, now in their fifth consecutive day, have spread to more than a dozen cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Lorestan, Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Hamadan, and Fars. Local sources reported at least seven deaths in clashes between protesters and security forces. Demonstrators have been calling for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and an end to the current political system. The exchange of warnings between Washington and Tehran underscores rising tensions amid expanding unrest across Iran, with both sides signaling readiness for escalation if violence intensifies.

A mobile court in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj conducted an operation against the sale of LPG gas cylinders at inflated prices. The drive took place on Friday afternoon at Kamranirchar Bazar, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman Imon. During the inspection, the court fined Satata Enterprise 10,000 taka for selling LPG cylinders above the government-fixed price. Executive Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman stated that selling any product beyond the government-approved rate is a punishable offense under the law. He emphasized that such monitoring and enforcement drives will continue regularly to maintain discipline in the market and protect consumer interests. The operation reflects ongoing efforts by local administration in Narayanganj to ensure price compliance and safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices.

Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, the Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate for the Cox’s Bazar-2 (Maheshkhali–Kutubdia) parliamentary constituency, has had his nomination paper canceled due to complications related to ongoing legal cases. The decision followed a review process on Friday, during which his nomination was initially suspended and later rejected. Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan confirmed that the cancellation was made in accordance with Election Commission regulations after case details surfaced during scrutiny. According to the Returning Officer’s office, the decision was based on unresolved legal issues from cases filed during the Awami League’s tenure. Dr. Azad currently serves as Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and has a long history in student and party politics, having joined Islami Chhatra Shibir in 1977 and Jamaat-e-Islami in 1995. He was previously elected as a Member of Parliament from the same constituency in the 2008 national election. Dr. Azad stated that a document related to a “false case” was not submitted with his nomination papers, leading to the cancellation. He plans to appeal the decision by submitting the necessary documents, expressing hope of regaining his candidacy.

The nomination paper scrutiny for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election in Shariatpur-2 (Naria-Sakhipur) constituency has been completed. Out of ten candidates, four were declared valid while six were disqualified due to inconsistencies in information and failure to comply with election rules. The decision was confirmed on Friday morning by District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Tahsina Begum at her office. The disqualified candidates include Imran Hossain of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Akteruzzaman Samrat of Gono Odhikar Parishad, Parvez Mosharraf of Jonotar Dal, and three independent candidates—Farhana Kadir Rahman, Md. Alamgir Hossain, and Md. Nasir. The returning officer stated that they have until January 9 to appeal the decision. Imran Hossain, the Islami Andolan candidate, told Amader Desh that his nomination was rejected because he failed to mention the opening date of his bank account in the submitted form. He said he intends to appeal the decision.

Bangladesh’s government has confirmed that no illegal or cloned mobile phones will be deactivated within the next 90 days following the official launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) on January 1. The clarification came from Faez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, who addressed public confusion over multiple phone registrations under single national IDs. Tayyeb explained that the NEIR system, which links all mobile devices’ IMEI numbers to a national database, received over three billion data sets from operators, including historical records. This caused some users’ national IDs to show an unusually high number of active devices. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and mobile operators are jointly working to archive old data and display only currently active handsets. He also noted that the system had been initially developed in 2021 and recently upgraded with additional features. According to the government, the NEIR will help identify stolen and illegal phones, raise public awareness, and allow citizens to monitor SIM and device usage linked to their national IDs, enhancing transparency and security in mobile communications.

Defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club started the new year with a disappointing goalless draw against Brothers Union in the ongoing football league. The match, held on Friday at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, ended without goals despite several close chances from both sides. With this result, both teams shared the points. Mohammedan’s struggle to regain form continued as they remained winless in their last few outings. After nine matches, the team has collected only 10 points, placing them sixth on the league table with two wins, four draws, and three losses. Coach Alfaz Ahmed’s side began the match aggressively but failed to convert opportunities, including a missed chance by Hafizur Rahman and a disallowed goal by Samuel Boateng for offside. Brothers Union also had a goal from Anjan Bista ruled out for offside. The league continues today with four scheduled matches: Abahani vs Arambagh, Bangladesh Police vs Rahmatganj, Fakirerpool vs Bashundhara Kings, and Fortis vs PWD, all kicking off at 2:30 p.m.

Gabon’s government has imposed an indefinite ban on its national football team following a disappointing performance in the Africa Cup of Nations. The team lost all its group-stage matches in Group F, which included Mozambique, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon. In response, Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula announced the dismissal of all coaching staff and the suspension of players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele from the national squad. The minister described the team’s showing as shameful and said the technical staff had been dissolved. The decision reflects the government’s frustration with the team’s failure to advance beyond the group stage. However, the move has raised concerns about political interference in sports, which is generally frowned upon by international governing bodies. The report notes that Gabon could face further complications if FIFA views the government’s actions as undue interference in football affairs. Observers are now waiting to see what steps FIFA might take in response to the situation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he will hold a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on January 5 to discuss the Gaza crisis and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Erdogan made the statement on January 2 in Istanbul after Friday prayers, according to a report by Turkey-based Hurriyet Daily News. Erdogan also said that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend a high-level meeting in France next week with the coalition of Kyiv’s allies known as the “coalition of the willing.” Before that, on January 3, a meeting of security advisers from allied countries will take place in Ukraine. Erdogan noted that he maintains regular communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump, and European leaders, with discussions covering both the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in Palestine. The upcoming call underscores Turkey’s continued diplomatic engagement with major global actors amid overlapping crises in Gaza and Ukraine.