Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to direct talks with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed. Despite questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy after his term ended, Russia is willing to negotiate if peace is the goal. Meanwhile, a summit in Riyadh aims to discuss the Ukraine war and U.S.-Russia relations. However, Ukraine has been excluded, prompting Zelensky to reject any peace deal made without Kyiv’s involvement. The summit may lead to a Putin-Trump meeting.

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in India for a two-day visit, receiving an exceptional welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi Airport on Monday. Breaking usual protocol, Modi personally greeted the Emir, emphasizing the strong ties between the two nations. Sheikh Tamim is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Modi on Tuesday. India’s Foreign Ministry stated that this visit will further enhance diplomatic and economic cooperation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met the Emir on Monday night.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is set to undergo a name change and restructuring, according to Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Speaking after a law and order meeting at the Secretariat, he stated that discussions are ongoing, and the new name may be finalized in the next meeting. Established in 2004 to combat crime and militancy, RAB has faced allegations of human rights violations, leading to U.S. sanctions. A recent report found RAB linked to 172 out of 400 analyzed enforced disappearance cases.

Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has questioned the prolonged delay in renovating the country’s national stadium, stating that two or three new stadiums could have been built in the time it has taken. Speaking at an event on Monday, he stressed the need for an investigation into potential irregularities in the renovation project. He also revealed that an appeal for additional time had been rejected, insisting that the project be completed within the original timeline. Bhuiyan expressed hope that the work would be finished by March and raised concerns about the feasibility of the overall renovation initiative.

Internal conflicts among Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate are escalating over Trump’s two key legislative agendas, with lawmakers employing conflicting strategies to push them forward. The House Budget Committee has advanced a massive spending bill incorporating various Trump-backed initiatives, following weeks of internal disputes. The bill is set for a vote next week, though opposition from moderates and conservatives could hinder its passage. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have also cleared their own proposal through the Budget Committee, with a vote expected this week. Both chambers are now in a race to pass their respective bills, while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is attempting to mediate a compromise.

Police in Tongibari, Munshiganj, arrested a woman named Latifa Begum (42) with 97 bottles of Indian Phensedyl on Monday night. According to Officer-in-Charge Mohibul Islam, law enforcement raided the Abdullahpur Paikpara area at around 3 AM, acting on a tip-off. The bottles were recovered from a wardrobe in Latifa’s house. She will be presented in court under narcotics charges.

Expressing sympathy for protesting assistant teachers, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy stated that the government’s teacher recruitment process adhered to all legal procedures. During a briefing on Tuesday, he acknowledged the teachers’ dissatisfaction with the court ruling and confirmed that an appeal had been filed. He explained that the ministry followed the recommendations of the Law and Public Administration ministries before announcing the results. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, the administration currently has no further actions to take.

After three days in captivity, 25 abducted workers were rescued in Lama, Bandarban, by law enforcement agencies. They were found in the Baishari Jhir area near the Naikhongchhari border. According to security forces, the kidnappers fled the scene, leaving the hostages behind during the rescue operation. Local sources reported that armed militants raided six rubber plantations on February 15 and abducted the workers, demanding a ransom of 100,000 BDT per person. Sources suggest the hostages were released after the ransom was paid.

On Monday, an anti-settlement watchdog reported that Israel has issued tenders for the construction of approximately 1,000 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The organization stated that the new settlements will increase the population of the Efrat settlement by 40%, negatively impacting the development of nearby Bethlehem. Israel has occupied the West Bank, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem, since the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians claim these areas for their future state and view settlement expansion as a major obstacle to peace. Despite international criticism, the Trump administration previously expressed support for Israeli settlement construction.

Keith Kellogg, a special envoy for former U.S. President Donald Trump, stated that no peace deal would be imposed on Kyiv. Speaking at a press conference at NATO headquarters, he said discussions about Washington’s commitment to European peacekeeping efforts would take place later. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia today to discuss the Ukraine war and bilateral relations. Kellogg also announced that he would visit Kyiv this week to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. European leaders are pushing for broader participation in Ukraine peace talks, but the U.S. envoy clarified that not all parties could be included.

A new political party emerging from recent mass uprisings is set to launch later this month. However, internal leadership conflicts have already begun, even before its official formation. In response to inquiries from BBC Bangla, National Citizen Committee leaders acknowledged that while there is consensus on Nahid Islam as the party’s convener, disagreements persist over three key leadership positions. The issue has divided the party into four factions. Former Dhaka University student leader Rafe Salman Rifat claims that past affiliations with Shibir are being used to sideline him from higher positions. In reaction, his supporters have taken to social media, highlighting the role of Shibir and its former members in the recent uprisings. Party leaders have stated that sincere discussions are ongoing and that a resolution will be reached soon.

On Saturday, a U.S. citizen in Florida shot and injured two Israeli tourists, mistakenly identifying them as Palestinians. The suspect, Mordechai Brafman, has been arrested, and a case was filed against him on Sunday. According to police reports, Brafman admitted that while driving his truck in Miami Beach, he fired at the two men, believing them to be Palestinians and intending to kill them. However, they survived. Authorities later confirmed that the victims were Israeli tourists, not Palestinians.

In an interview with The Hindu on Monday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Tauhid Hossain stated that Bangladesh-India relations should not be limited to specific governments. Earlier, he met Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in Oman. When asked about the meeting, he mentioned that after 15 years of a stable relationship, tensions have arisen due to recent changes. However, he believes such tensions should subside within six months. Hossain also emphasized that minorities in Bangladesh are not facing persecution and that everyone enjoys equal rights. He confirmed that Bangladesh has sent a letter regarding Sheikh Hasina’s return and recommended maintaining restrictions until a response is received. Additionally, he stressed the need to take a strict stance against border killings and called for a review of the Adani agreement.

A tribunal has ordered the completion of the investigation into war crimes allegations against Sheikh Hasina by April 20. The case pertains to crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July-August massacres. The three-member tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, issued the directive following a petition by Chief Prosecutor Mizanul Islam. Previously, on December 17, the court had instructed investigators to complete the probe within two months against Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and 44 others. Sheikh Hasina and her associates are currently facing trial on charges of orchestrating mass killings, with allegations that at least 1,500 people were murdered.

The Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal challenging the High Court’s ruling that declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s political registration illegal. The case is on Tuesday’s cause list before Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed’s bench. Earlier, a second hearing on the matter took place on January 14, with the next hearing scheduled for January 21. However, it was postponed due to a judge’s illness. Today’s proceedings will determine the fate of the Islamist party’s electoral registration.