At least eight people were killed and two others injured in a road accident near Hyderabad, Pakistan, according to Geo News. Rescue teams reached the site and transferred the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment. The incident occurred on Saturday, and police confirmed that among the dead were five children and one woman, whose identities have not yet been released.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jamshoro stated that the truck driver involved in the crash has been detained and is being questioned. A case has been filed, and police have launched an investigation into the incident. Road accidents are frequent in Pakistan, often attributed to poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and driver negligence.

In a separate accident on Thursday near Mellowal village in Valwal, a truck carrying animal feed overturned, killing at least four people and injuring eight others. Rescue 1122 reported that the truck lost balance and overturned, trapping several workers underneath. The exact cause of that accident remains unknown.

Healthcare services at Matlab North Upazila Health Complex in Chandpur have collapsed due to an acute shortage of doctors. Despite being a modern facility upgraded from 31 to 50 beds, only four doctors are currently serving nearly 500,000 residents across one municipality and 14 unions. The hospital has lacked key specialists, including gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, and anesthesia consultants, for years. Cesarean operations have remained suspended for 14 of the hospital’s 16 years, forcing expectant mothers to seek costly private care.

The hospital’s infrastructure, including an X-ray machine and laboratory, remains underutilized due to the absence of technicians and adequate staff. Several doctors are on deputation or absent without cause, further worsening the crisis. Local anti-corruption committee president Matiur Rahman Chowdhury said poor residents depend solely on the hospital, yet essential maternal services have been unavailable for most of its existence. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Mahbubur Rahman stated that despite the hospital’s upgrade, the lack of manpower and technical staff severely limits service delivery.

The ongoing shortage has forced many patients to travel to Chandpur or Dhaka for treatment, increasing both costs and health risks.

Road widening and four-lane development work on the Shariatpur–Dhaka highway is continuing despite eight electric poles remaining in the middle of the road. The situation has raised serious safety concerns among drivers, passengers, and local residents, who fear major accidents could occur at any time. The project, approved in 2020 to improve connectivity between Shariatpur and Dhaka via the Padma Bridge, covers 27 kilometers and costs Tk 1,682 crore. Work has progressed slowly over seven years due to various complications.

According to the district Roads and Highways Department, the Rural Electrification Board was formally requested a month ago to remove the poles, followed by several verbal reminders. However, no visible action has been taken, forcing road authorities to proceed with construction. Local residents and drivers have criticized the lack of safety measures, calling the situation dangerous. Officials said the poles were supposed to be removed by contractors who have since absconded, and a new contractor has been appointed to complete the task.

Authorities stated that pole removal work is now in process, but until completed, the highway remains at risk of accidents.

Independent candidate Barrister Rumin Farhana formally began her election campaign for the Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail–Ashuganj and part of Bijoynagar) constituency on Friday evening with a large rally at the remote village of Parmanandpur in Pakshimul Union. Speaking as the chief guest, she declared that she would no longer tolerate the neglect of the area and pledged to ensure its development regardless of which party holds power. She emphasized that development should not be the monopoly of any political group.

Farhana described the severe communication problems in the region, recounting her own difficult journey to reach the rally site by car, boat, and autorickshaw through sandy roads. She announced plans to build a bridge on the Bhuiashwar–Parmanandpur road and to pave roads across the area as part of her election commitments. She also promised to work for the improvement of schools, colleges, madrasas, mosques, and temples using both government and personal initiatives.

The rally, attended by a large number of local voters and BNP-affiliated leaders, marked the official start of her campaign under the ‘duck’ symbol.

Election Commissioner Md. Abdur Rahmanel Machud stated that the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum will be completely free, fair, credible, and conducted with integrity. He made the remarks on Friday, January 23, during a meeting with polling officials at Sitakunda Degree College in Chattogram, emphasizing that the election will not be a mockery or whimsical process.

The commissioner said that past elections had been turned into a farce, which was undesirable, and stressed that the country should not be a place for such mockery. He assured that the forthcoming election would be fair, accurate, and trusted by the people. He also noted that blaming the patriotic police force for the actions of a few individuals was unjust and that such situations would not be allowed to recur.

The meeting, organized by the Sitakunda Upazila Administration and Election Office, was chaired by Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia and attended by senior officials, including the Divisional Commissioner, Regional Election Officer, and Superintendent of Police.

At least 27 people were killed in separate airstrikes carried out by Myanmar’s military junta on a wedding gathering and a funeral, according to a report by local outlet The Irrawaddy on Thursday. The attacks occurred in Kachin State’s Hpakant Township and Magway Region’s Aunglan Township, leaving many others injured, including women and children.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) stated that 22 civilians died and at least 28 were injured when the junta bombed Kaung Zar village in Hpakant during a funeral. The village, home to displaced families, lies near the Irrawaddy River close to Hpakant town. KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu said there were no KIA members in the area and accused the junta of deliberately targeting civilians. Earlier the same day, another airstrike on a wedding preparation in Magway’s Tat Kone village killed at least five people, including a child.

Days earlier, the junta also bombed a prison run by the Arakan Army in Rakhine State, killing 21 detained soldiers and relatives and injuring 30 others.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to establishing justice in Bangladesh. Speaking on Saturday morning in Rangpur after visiting the grave of Abu Saeed, he said the party is moving forward inspired by Abu Saeed’s sacrifice. He pledged that Jamaat would never compromise the country’s dignity and would resist injustice at any cost.

Dr. Rahman stated that Abu Saeed and others entrusted the nation’s honor to them through their sacrifices, and Jamaat would protect that trust. He emphasized the party’s goal of building a corruption-free and discrimination-free Bangladesh based on justice, aligning its vision with that of the martyrs. He also assured supporters that the party would remain with them through all crises.

After the grave visit, Dr. Rahman met Abu Saeed’s family and prayed for the martyr’s forgiveness. He is scheduled to address a series of election rallies throughout the day in Gaibandha, Bogura, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Ullapara, and Pabna.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited the grave of martyr Abu Saeed in Pirganj, Rangpur, on Saturday morning. After offering prayers, he met Abu Saeed’s father and elder brother at their home. During the visit, he prayed for the forgiveness of Abu Saeed and sought divine help for the nation to resist domination and follow the path of the martyrs.

The Jamaat leader was accompanied by party assistant secretary Maulana Abdul Halim, NCP central member secretary Akhtar Hossain, and Shibir central secretary Sibgatullah Sibga. Following the visit, Dr. Rahman was scheduled to address election rallies throughout the day in several districts, including Gaibandha, Bogura, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Ullapara, and Pabna.

The visit and subsequent rallies mark part of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing political activities ahead of upcoming elections, as the party leadership continues outreach across northern Bangladesh.

Cricket analyst Yasef Imroz Ifaz has alleged that India has turned cricket into a political tool to advance regional agendas, claiming the sport is experiencing one of its darkest periods. He argued that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dominates nearly every aspect of the game, while many key branches of the International Cricket Council (ICC) are controlled by individuals of Indian origin, compromising the organization’s neutrality. Ifaz praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for prioritizing national interest and resisting what he described as unfair pressure from the ICC to play in India despite security concerns.

The commentary links the current dispute to India’s initial security objections involving Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman, which later reversed when Bangladesh raised similar concerns. Ifaz cited past incidents, including umpiring controversies and hostile fan behavior, as evidence of bias favoring India. He warned that India’s approach risks damaging long-standing Bangladesh–India relations and called for mutual respect between the two nations.

Ifaz suggested that Bangladesh’s recent political changes have led it to assert its sovereignty more strongly, urging India to adapt to this new reality.

Pakistani security and geopolitical analyst Ikram Sehgal has said that Bangladesh now holds a strategically vital position in South Asia and that India is in a more vulnerable security situation. Speaking in Islamabad at a meeting with a visiting Bangladeshi media delegation, he asserted that if Bangladesh strengthens its military capacity, India would think twice before taking any aggressive stance. Sehgal emphasized that Pakistan is ready to provide comprehensive assistance to Bangladesh, including military cooperation and training exchanges.

He proposed that future Dhaka-Islamabad relations could be built on the concept of “two countries, one nation,” though he acknowledged this would be challenging. Sehgal also highlighted the need to remove visa barriers, promote duty-free trade, and resolve pending bilateral issues. He expressed support for Bangladesh’s upcoming election and urged a return to democratic processes. Additionally, he criticized India’s role in obstructing SAARC’s effectiveness and called for renewed regional cooperation.

Separately, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) offered technical assistance to Bangladesh to enhance and secure its national database systems, citing concerns over data breaches and the importance of protecting sensitive information.

Electioneering for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary polls, scheduled for February 12, 2026, has intensified across the country, creating a festive mood in the political arena. Top leaders, party nominees, and independent candidates are actively touring their constituencies, seeking votes door-to-door. Despite the enthusiasm, verbal clashes and minor scuffles among rival supporters have been reported. Political analysts view the vibrant campaign as a positive sign, suggesting that earlier public doubts about the election have largely subsided.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman launched his campaign from Sylhet, addressing rallies in seven districts over 16 hours, while Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman began his from Dhaka’s Mirpur before touring northern regions. Both leaders exchanged indirect barbs in their speeches. Other parties, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, also began their campaigns. Analysts noted that enthusiasm for the concurrent referendum on the July National Charter remains low compared to the parliamentary race.

Experts urged all parties to keep rhetoric within healthy limits and avoid violence, emphasizing that the spirited campaigning could ensure a peaceful and participatory election.

Several Islamic scholars remain imprisoned under death sentences in the controversial Kotalipara bomb case, which involved the alleged recovery of a 76-kilogram explosive near a rally site of Sheikh Hasina in Gopalganj in July 2000. The first charge sheet did not include their names, but after the Awami League came to power in 2009, investigators added them to the case. In 2017, a speedy trial tribunal sentenced them to death, and in 2021 the High Court upheld the verdict.

Case documents show the convictions were based on a coerced confession from Mufti Hannan, later declared legally unreliable by a higher court. Lawyers and family members claim the scholars were falsely implicated for political reasons and remain in prison without final hearings. Human rights representatives described the case as part of a broader attempt to portray Islamic leaders as extremists.

The case files were sent to the High Court in 2017, but repeated bench reorganizations have delayed hearings. As a result, the convicted scholars continue to serve long prison terms while awaiting judicial review.

Venezuelan lawmakers have given preliminary approval to a proposal allowing private investment in the country’s oil sector, paving the way for major U.S. energy companies to return. The bill, approved in its first reading less than three weeks after former president Nicolás Maduro’s removal, would permit private firms to independently explore and extract oil. If passed in a second reading, it would significantly loosen decades of state control tightened under late socialist leader Hugo Chávez.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s deputy, played a key role in advancing the bill and has moved to normalize relations with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump praised Rodríguez’s leadership, noting that the U.S. is already receiving part of Venezuela’s oil. On the same day, Washington appointed Laura F. Dogu as its new chargé d’affaires in Caracas, marking a step toward restoring full diplomatic ties.

Analysts say the oil sector reform and renewed diplomatic engagement could strengthen relations between Venezuela and the United States after years of tension following the 2019 diplomatic break.

At least five people were killed and ten others injured in a suicide explosion at a wedding ceremony in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, on Friday night. Police said the blast occurred at the residence of a peace committee leader in the Qureshi Mor area. District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada confirmed the explosion took place during the wedding of Noor Alam Mehsud’s family, when guests were dancing to drum beats. The intensity of the blast caused the roof to collapse, complicating rescue operations.

According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi, five bodies and ten injured persons were recovered and taken to the district headquarters hospital, where an emergency was declared. Security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Preliminary information indicated that peace committee leader Wahidullah Mehsud, also known as Jigri Mehsud, was among the dead.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohel Afridi condemned the attack, ordered an immediate report from the provincial police chief, and directed that the perpetrators be swiftly identified and brought to justice. He also pledged full support for the families of the victims.

Global oil prices rose sharply on January 23, 2026, following reports that a large US naval fleet was moving toward Iran and after recent remarks by President Donald Trump. The West Texas Intermediate crude price climbed to nearly 60 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude futures increased by about 0.9 percent to 64.61 dollars. The developments triggered investor concerns over potential military escalation in the Middle East and possible disruptions to oil supply.

In a statement, President Trump confirmed that a powerful US fleet had departed for Iran but expressed hope that it would not need to be used. He also warned Tehran against targeting protesters or resuming its nuclear program. Unnamed US officials said the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided missile destroyers could reach the region within days, with additional air defense systems under consideration to protect US bases.

Analysts attributed the price increase to geopolitical tensions and a weaker dollar. Although the International Energy Agency had forecast an oil supply surplus for 2026, Trump’s tougher stance has cast uncertainty over that outlook.