Russia has launched large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages across multiple regions. The strikes have left millions of people without electricity in freezing temperatures, creating severe hardship. According to Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo, the latest assault targeted key power facilities, resulting in blackouts in most areas. Restoration work will begin once security conditions allow.

The attacks come as Ukraine and Russia recently held two rounds of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi since January. During those meetings, both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange, but no progress was made on territorial issues. Meanwhile, in Moscow, a senior military intelligence general was shot on Friday, and Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the incident. Kyiv has not commented on the accusation.

The renewed strikes on Ukraine’s energy network highlight the continuing volatility of the conflict and the humanitarian strain on civilians enduring winter without power.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has pledged to establish a university, cadet college, medical college, airport and IT hub in Thakurgaon. He made the announcement on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. during an election rally held at Thakurgaon Government Boys High School ground. Rahman said the initiatives aim to advance the country and transform Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Dinajpur and Panchagarh into industrial regions. He urged voters to support the BNP symbol to implement these plans.

Rahman stated that the upcoming February 12 election would restore citizens’ voting rights, which he claimed had been taken away. He criticized the past 16 years of rule as self-serving and promised to form a government with public support to achieve food self-sufficiency. He also announced plans to reopen sugar, tea and ration industries in Panchagarh and emphasized developing agriculture-based industries to create employment.

He added that the BNP seeks to rebuild the nation with people’s cooperation, ensuring justice and unity among all religions, and reaffirmed that religion would not be used as a basis for judgment in the country.

Gono Odhikar Parishad has announced its support for the BNP candidate in the Jamalpur-4 (Sarishabari) constituency for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The declaration was made on Friday night, February 6, at the local BNP office in Sarishabari, where a large number of Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders and activists gathered under the leadership of upazila convener Al-Amin Milu. The decision aims to ensure the victory of the BNP candidate, symbolized by the paddy sheaf.

During the announcement, several local leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad, including joint convener Arif Talukdar and joint member secretaries Anwar Hossain, Jahangir Alam, and others, were present. Al-Amin Milu stated that although their party’s candidate Iqbal Hossain received the truck symbol, he is not active in the electoral field. For this reason, and in the interest of restoring democracy and voting rights, the party decided to support BNP’s candidate Faridul Kabir Talukdar Shamim.

The local leadership has instructed all members to work in favor of the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol to strengthen broader political unity in the constituency.

The electoral atmosphere in Narail-2 constituency, covering Lohagara and parts of Narail Sadar, has become vibrant ahead of the upcoming national election. Campaigns, rallies, and door-to-door visits by candidates are taking place from morning until late night. Although eight candidates are contesting, the main competition appears to be among the BNP nominee, a BNP rebel, and the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate.

Historically dominated by the Awami League, the seat now presents a major opportunity for the BNP due to shifting political dynamics. However, internal division has weakened the party’s prospects. The BNP initially nominated district general secretary Monirul Islam but later replaced him with AZM Fariduzzaman, chairman of the NPP and a new BNP entrant. The decision triggered protests, leading Monirul to run independently and his subsequent expulsion from the party. Despite disciplinary actions, local observers say his popularity remains strong.

Meanwhile, Jamaat’s candidate Ataur Rahman has maintained a unified campaign for over a year, pledging to build a corruption-free society. Analysts believe Jamaat’s cohesion and a portion of Awami League’s “reserve votes” could influence the final outcome among the 390,987 registered voters.

Barrister Ragib Rouf Chowdhury, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for the Kushtia-2 (Veramara-Mirpur) constituency, announced a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and extortion during campaign rallies in Veramara on Saturday. He vowed strict enforcement of the law to protect citizens’ lives, property, and dignity, urging voters to support the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol in the upcoming election on February 12.

Chowdhury described the BNP’s election symbol as a representation of democracy and the people’s right to vote. He said Bangladesh is facing a deep crisis marked by drug abuse, terrorism, extortion, unemployment, and rising violence against women. He emphasized that honest leadership and the rule of law are essential to overcome these challenges and cited Tarique Rahman’s leadership as vital for national progress.

The event, chaired by Bulbul Ahmed Bulu and moderated by Shihabul Islam, was attended by several local BNP leaders, including Aslam Uddin, Janbar Hossain, and Advocate Bulbul Abu Sayeed Shamim.

A fierce contest has emerged in the Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj and Bahubal) constituency ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election, following the withdrawal of Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Shahjahan Ali on January 20 for alliance reasons. The race now centers on BNP’s official nominee Dr. Reza Kibria and the party’s expelled rebel candidate Sheikh Sujat Mia. Other contenders include Maulana Sirajul Islam of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Badruddoza of Islami Front, and Kazi Tofayel Ahmed of JASAD, though they are considered less influential locally.

Dr. Kibria, son of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, is expected to benefit from his father’s strong local reputation. His wife, Simi Kibria, has been actively campaigning, drawing attention in the constituency. Meanwhile, Sheikh Sujat, a long-time BNP leader, has leveraged his local popularity and social media presence to appeal to voters despite being expelled from the party. Observers believe Jamaat’s withdrawal may have strengthened Sujat’s position by dividing Islamist support.

Local BNP activists are campaigning intensively for Dr. Kibria, while Sujat’s independent push continues to gain traction, setting the stage for a close electoral battle.

A large women's rally was held in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Saturday morning in support of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Dhaka-15 constituency candidate Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Organized by the party’s women’s wing, the procession began at Faltpotti Mor in Mirpur-10, passed through the 10 Number Circle, and concluded at Kazipara. A significant number of women participated, chanting slogans urging voters to support the 'Dhal' (balance scale) symbol.

Before the march, leaders of Jamaat’s women’s division said Dr. Shafiqur Rahman had pledged to build a humane Bangladesh through victory in the upcoming election and to ensure dignity for women. They expressed hope that electing him in Dhaka-15 would help establish a just and welfare-oriented society. The leaders also called for the success of Jamaat and the 11-party alliance candidates nationwide.

At the rally’s conclusion, Jamaat central executive council member Mobarak Hossain thanked all participants for their involvement.

Authorities have declared all 127 polling centers in Cumilla-11 (Chouddagram) constituency as vulnerable ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12. The seat, where Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher is contesting, has been identified as sensitive due to previous incidents of electoral violence. Installation of CCTV cameras at these centers is reportedly nearing completion.

Across Cumilla district’s 11 constituencies and 17 upazilas, 934 of 1,491 polling centers have been marked as vulnerable and 227 as highly vulnerable. The classification follows a review of past national and local election violence. Recent clashes between BNP and Jamaat activists in Chouddagram left over fifty people injured, prompting heightened security measures.

Assistant Returning Officer and Chouddagram Upazila Executive Officer Nurul Amin stated that comprehensive preparations are underway, with deployment of executive magistrates, army, BGB, police, Ansar battalions, RAB, and judicial magistrates to maintain order during the polls.

The Netherlands has returned a 3,500-year-old statue to Egypt. On Thursday, Dutch Culture Minister Gok Mus handed the artifact to Egyptian Ambassador Imad Hanna in the Netherlands. The statue, believed to depict a senior official from the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, was originally discovered in Luxor, southern Egypt.

The artifact had been displayed at a fair in Maastricht in 2022, but Dutch police later seized it after an investigation revealed it had been smuggled out of Egypt during the 2011 Arab Spring unrest. A joint inquiry by the police and the Ministry of Culture confirmed that the statue had been looted from Egypt.

Minister Gok Mus stated that the Netherlands’ policy is to return items to their rightful owners. Ambassador Imad Hanna described the return as an important event for Egypt’s tourism and economy, noting that such cultural repatriations can make a real difference for visitors to the country.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced plans to transform Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh into industrial regions if his party comes to power. Speaking at an election rally at Thakurgaon Government Boys High School field on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., he urged voters to support the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, to implement these development plans. Rahman also promised to reopen the Thakurgaon airport under a future BNP government.

He said that the February 12 election would restore the voting rights that had been taken away from the people. Criticizing the past 16 years of what he described as autocratic rule, Rahman stated that the regime had served only its own interests. He emphasized that the BNP seeks to form a government with public support and aims to make the country self-sufficient in food production.

The rally highlighted Rahman’s focus on regional industrialization, infrastructure revival, and democratic restoration as key elements of his party’s campaign message.

Pakistan opened their World Cup campaign with a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Netherlands on February 7, 2026. Chasing a target of 148, Pakistan were struggling at 114 for 7 before Faheem Ashraf turned the match around with a blistering 11-ball 29, including two fours and three sixes. His explosive batting sealed the win with three balls to spare, giving Pakistan a thrilling start to their tournament.

Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers had restricted the Netherlands to 147 in 19.5 overs. Despite a quick 24 from Michael Levitt and a steady 37 from captain Scott Edwards, the Dutch side lost wickets regularly. Salman Mirza was Pakistan’s standout bowler, taking three wickets. In reply, Pakistan began strongly through Sahibzada Farhan’s 47, but a middle-order collapse put them under pressure before Faheem’s late heroics secured victory.

The result gave captain Salman Ali Agha’s team a confidence-boosting start to their World Cup journey after a tense finish that tested their composure under pressure.

The United States has announced new sanctions against Iran aimed at curbing the country’s oil exports. According to the report, Washington imposed restrictions on 14 ships, 15 Iranian companies, and two individuals. The U.S. State Department stated that President Donald Trump remains committed to halting Iran’s oil and petrochemical exports. The sanctions also prohibit any transactions involving the 14 vessels, which include ships from Turkey, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

The State Department explained that these measures are part of broader efforts to prevent other countries from purchasing Iranian oil, a policy that has continued since Trump’s first administration. The sanctions are intended to tighten pressure on Tehran’s energy sector and limit its international trade.

In a related development, representatives from the United States and Iran met in Muscat, Oman, on Friday to discuss ways to ease ongoing tensions. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. side included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, presidential adviser Jared Kushner, and U.S. Central Command chief Brad Cooper.

Leaders of the eleven-party alliance have become increasingly active in election campaigns ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election. Jamaat-e-Islami is participating through this alliance, fielding single candidates in most constituencies except a few open ones. Senior leaders from all allied parties are jointly attending rallies, public meetings, and door-to-door campaigns to support each other’s candidates. The alliance aims to secure victory for its nominees and form the next government.

According to Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, the anti-fascist eleven-party unity represents the first step toward realizing the public aspirations of the July Revolution. He stated that all alliance candidates are considered joint nominees, with each party supporting others’ candidates across constituencies. Prominent figures such as Maulana Mamunul Haque of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, and LDP President Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed have joined rallies alongside Jamaat leaders. Even parties without allocated seats, such as JAGPA, are actively campaigning nationwide for the alliance.

The alliance’s coordinated campaign, involving both male and female supporters, is expanding across the country as election day approaches.

The women’s division of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Bagatipara, Natore, organized a large rally and street meeting on Saturday morning demanding justice and fairness. The event began at 10 a.m. from Bagatipara Pilot Field under the leadership of Ishrat Jahan Baby, secretary of the upazila women’s division. The procession marched through major roads of the upazila and concluded at Malanchi Railgate, where a street meeting was held.

The meeting was conducted by Shamsunnahar Ayesha, a member of the women’s division working committee, with Ishrat Jahan Baby as the chief speaker. Other speakers included Fatema Khanam, wife of Jamaat’s nominated candidate for Natore-1 constituency, and former vice-chairman of Bagatipara Upazila Parishad, Sabana Akter. Speakers emphasized that women are no longer behind in society and highlighted their essential role in establishing justice, good governance, and Islamic values.

They urged female activists to stand for truth and justice in the upcoming national election and to make the right choice through their votes. Around a thousand women participated peacefully, carrying banners and slogans to raise awareness about the importance of voting.

The United Nations Security Council’s sanctions committee is preparing to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid projects in North Korea, according to diplomatic sources in Seoul cited by AFP on Friday. The move comes as the nuclear-armed country remains under multiple international sanctions for its weapons program, while facing a stagnant state-controlled economy and prolonged food shortages.

Sources said that 17 humanitarian projects are currently being implemented in North Korea by major international organizations such as UNICEF, as well as South Korea- and US-based NGOs. Analysts believe the relaxation will allow these groups to deliver nutritional supplements, medical equipment, and water purification systems to the country.

A South Korean foreign ministry official stated that Seoul continues efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to North Korea without political considerations, expressing hope that Pyongyang will respond positively to initiatives for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. The development was reported shortly after a senior South Korean official hinted at possible new progress on North Korea issues.