The United Kingdom has imposed visa restrictions on the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing the country's refusal to take back illegal migrants and criminal offenders. The British Home Office announced the decision in a statement issued on Saturday night, noting that the move follows Congo’s failure to meet cooperation requirements. Under the new restrictions, fast-track visa services for Congolese citizens will be suspended, and VIPs and politicians from Congo will no longer receive priority services.

The Home Office said the measure marks the first major change under Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s recently launched immigration reform program, which aims to make refugee status temporary and accelerate the deportation of undocumented migrants. The statement also mentioned that Angola and Namibia have agreed to strengthen efforts to repatriate their citizens, though none of the three countries immediately commented on the issue.

Mahmood warned that if Congo does not improve cooperation, the UK could impose a complete visa ban. She thanked Angola and Namibia for their collaboration and urged Congo to act responsibly by repatriating its nationals.

Hasan Al Mamun has been appointed as the new General Secretary of Gana Odhikar Parishad. He confirmed the appointment himself on Sunday, according to a report by Amar Desh published on December 28, 2025. The position became vacant after former General Secretary Rashid Khan recently joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Rashid Khan’s move to the BNP reportedly stemmed from the belief that contesting the national election under the party’s ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol would increase his chances of winning. His departure created speculation within Gana Odhikar Parishad about who would succeed him. Hasan Al Mamun, who previously served as the party’s Senior Joint General Secretary, has now taken over the role.

Before joining Gana Odhikar Parishad’s leadership, Hasan Al Mamun was known for his role as a convener of the 2018 quota reform movement. His appointment marks a leadership transition within the party following Rashid Khan’s defection.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has extended the deadline for submitting online income tax returns by one month. According to an order signed by NBR Secretary Md. Ekramul Haque, the new deadline has been moved from December 31 to January 31. This marks the second extension of the filing period for the current fiscal year 2025–26.

Previously, the NBR had already extended the submission deadline once from the original legal deadline of November 30 to December 31. The extension applies to all taxpayers who are now required to file their returns online, following a directive issued in August making e-filing mandatory for all. So far, more than 2.6 million taxpayers have submitted their e-returns for the fiscal year.

The decision aims to provide additional time for taxpayers to complete their online submissions and ensure compliance with the mandatory e-filing system introduced earlier in the year.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, filed a case at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The case accuses two individuals, Rashedul Haque Mallik alias Maruf Mallik and A.K.M. Wahiduzzaman Apollo, of spreading false and fabricated allegations on Facebook that linked Amar Desh to recent attacks and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. The case was filed under sections 500, 505, and 10 of the Penal Code. Magistrate Jewel Rana of Court No. 10 stated that an order would be issued subject to government approval under section 505.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly posted false claims on December 19 intended to incite public hatred against Amar Desh. Mahmudur Rahman requested the court to issue arrest warrants and seek exemplary punishment for the accused. Barrister Tanvir Al Amin represented Amar Desh during the hearing.

The background of the case involves violent incidents on December 18, when unruly groups attacked and set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo’s associate publication Prothoma and The Daily Star following reports of Shahid Osman Hadi’s death in Singapore. Police have already arrested 18 people in connection with those attacks.

A severe winter storm has blanketed the northeastern United States in snow, disrupting transportation and prompting emergency measures. As of Saturday evening local time, about 29 million people across Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Vermont were under winter weather alerts. According to the National Weather Service, Connecticut’s New Haven County saw more than 10 inches of snow between Friday and Saturday, while Fairfield County recorded over 9 inches. New York’s Phoenicia reported the highest snowfall at 13 inches.

Central Park in New York City recorded 4.3 inches of snow, the highest since January 2022. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in more than half of the state’s counties as snow and ice made roads hazardous for travel. Flight tracking website FlightAware reported over 8,700 flight delays and more than 1,400 cancellations across the United States by Saturday night.

Authorities warned that icy conditions could continue to disrupt travel and essential services as cleanup efforts proceed across affected regions.

The Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) in Keraniganj, Dhaka, is set to resume full operations in early January after years of losses and inactivity. The Chittagong Port Authority confirmed that Swiss company Medlog will take over management for 22 years, beginning in the first week of January. The terminal, built in 2013 on 64 acres at a cost of Tk 154 crore, can handle up to 200,000 containers annually. Officials expect the new arrangement to make the terminal profitable and strengthen Bangladesh’s trade and transport network.

Business leaders and port users have expressed both optimism and concern. They argue that profitability will depend on reducing customs delays, shipping costs, and vessel charges. Medlog Bangladesh Private Limited plans to invest about Tk 490 crore to modernize the terminal, add new cranes, and automate transport systems. The company will also introduce specialized vessels and barges for efficient cargo movement.

Experts believe the revived terminal could become a major logistics hub for Dhaka and surrounding industrial areas, easing pressure on road transport and boosting inland waterway trade efficiency.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury was sworn in as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh on Sunday morning at Bangabhaban. President Md. Shahabuddin administered the oath at 10:30 a.m., with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and outgoing Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed present. The ceremony was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar. His appointment, made on December 24, took effect following the oath.

According to an earlier presidential order issued on December 20 under Article 95(1) of the Constitution, Justice Chowdhury was appointed from the Appellate Division. He began his legal career in 1985 at the Judge Court and joined the High Court Division in 1987. He became an additional judge of the High Court Division on August 27, 2003, and was confirmed two years later. On August 12, 2024, he was appointed as a judge of the Appellate Division.

Justice Chowdhury holds LLB (Hons) and LLM degrees from the University of Dhaka and a master’s degree in international law from the United Kingdom.

Thousands of Palestinians displaced by two years of Israeli military operations in Gaza are facing severe hardship as winter rains flood their makeshift tents. A strong low-pressure system brought heavy rain and gusty winds across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, further worsening conditions for families already living in temporary shelters. Meteorologist Laith al-Allami told Anadolu Agency that this was the third low-pressure system of the season, with a fourth expected to begin on Monday.

Since Israeli attacks began in 2023, many families have been living in tents after their homes were destroyed or damaged. Local authorities warned that continued rainfall could escalate into a full storm. Displaced residents described collapsing tents, lack of income, and difficulty obtaining clothing and bedding for children. Earlier this month, heavy rains inundated camps and temporary shelters across Gaza.

At least 15 people, including three children, have died this December due to hypothermia and collapsing structures amid the cold, wet weather. Humanitarian organizations have urged that more shelters and relief supplies be allowed into the territory.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Saturday that the death toll from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 71,000 after more than two years of conflict. Despite a ceasefire announced on October 10, Israeli forces have continued operations targeting local Palestinians, killing over 400 people in the past two and a half months. In the last 48 hours alone, four people were killed and eight injured, while 25 bodies were recovered from rubble.

According to the ministry, since October 11, a total of 414 Palestinians have been killed and 1,142 injured, with 679 bodies recovered. Cumulatively, from October 7, 2023, to the latest reporting date, 71,266 people have been killed and 171,219 injured in Gaza. The report also noted fresh Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Jabalia, and Khan Younis, as well as shelling in Maghazi and Nuseirat refugee camps.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces and settlers have continued raids and arrests, including operations in Kabatiya village near Jenin and attacks in Nablus, Hebron, and surrounding areas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, where he is expected to press for additional military action against Iran. The meeting follows the U.S. bombing of Tehran’s nuclear facilities in June, an operation that Trump claims destroyed three sites completely. Analysts believe Netanyahu remains unsatisfied and is now emphasizing Iran’s missile program as the next target.

Israeli officials and their allies are again calling for urgent measures against Iran’s missile capabilities, while analysts warn that another conflict would contradict Trump’s stated foreign policy priorities. Sina Toossi of the Center for International Policy noted that Trump seeks to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab states, whereas Netanyahu aims to expand military dominance in the region.

Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute told Al Jazeera that Israel is pressuring the U.S. to remain engaged in a prolonged confrontation with Iran, shifting focus to missiles since Trump has declared the nuclear issue resolved.

More than 24,600 Indian nationals were deported from 81 countries in 2025, according to a report presented by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in the Rajya Sabha. Saudi Arabia led the list, deporting over 11,000 Indians within the year, while the United States deported 3,800, the highest figure from that country in the past five years. The ministry’s data was cited in a report published by the Times of India.

The report stated that most deported Indians from Saudi Arabia were low-skilled workers employed in construction, domestic, and caregiving sectors. Many were expelled due to false documentation or fraud by Indian manpower export companies. In contrast, deportations from the U.S. were linked to visa overstays and enforcement actions under the Trump administration. Washington D.C. recorded the highest number of deportations among U.S. cities.

Myanmar ranked third with 1,591 deportations, followed by Malaysia, the UAE, Bahrain, Thailand, and Cambodia. The ministry also noted that some Indians deported from Myanmar and Cambodia had fallen victim to cyber fraud schemes that lured them with promises of high-paying jobs but forced them into illegal activities.

Somalia has demanded that Israel withdraw its recognition of Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war. Somaliland has operated independently with its own currency, flag, and parliament, though it remains unrecognized by any United Nations member state and faces territorial disputes in its eastern regions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recognition as part of the spirit of the Abraham Accords and announced plans to advocate for Somaliland’s cause during an upcoming meeting with United States President Donald Trump. Somaliland’s leader Cirro has accepted Netanyahu’s invitation to visit Israel.

The United States has recently voiced frustration with Somalia’s government, criticizing its failure to improve national security despite substantial international aid. At a UN Security Council meeting, Washington signaled it may end funding for a costly peacekeeping mission. Somalia’s relations with Israel have long been strained, rooted in Israel’s historical military and intelligence support for Ethiopia, Somalia’s regional rival. The 1977 Ogaden War, in which Somalia was defeated, deepened this animosity and contributed to decades of instability.

The diplomatic developments highlight shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa and could further complicate Somalia’s internal and regional politics.

Several extremist Hindu organizations staged a violent protest on Saturday near the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati, India. According to a diplomatic source cited by the report, hundreds of protesters under the banners of Hindu Yuva Chhatra Parishad, Rashtriya Hindu Front, and Hindu Ekta Manch attempted to enter the mission premises while carrying saffron flags and chanting anti-Bangladesh slogans. Police intervened before they could reach the mission, after which the protesters blocked a nearby road and held a rally. During the rally, effigies of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus were burned, and a memorandum was later submitted to the mission.

The demonstration followed a series of violent incidents targeting Bangladeshi missions across India, including an attack on the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on November 20. The report alleged that the attack occurred with the encouragement of the Modi government and included threats against High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah. In response, Bangladesh summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka and demanded stronger security for its missions.

Subsequent unrest spread to Mumbai, Kolkata, and Agartala, with extremists setting fire to the Bangladesh visa center in Siliguri. Bangladesh has since suspended visa issuance for Indian nationals, heightening diplomatic tension between Dhaka and New Delhi.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of A.K.M. Shahidul Islam, who was arrested on charges of making derogatory remarks about the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. The demand was made through a press statement issued on Saturday night by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the statement, Tarique Rahman visited the graves of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Shaheed Osman Hadi and national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on Saturday. During that time, police arrested Shahidul Islam under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and later produced him before a court, which ordered his imprisonment.

The BNP stated that freedom of expression is a fundamental human and civic right in a democratic country and argued that Shahidul Islam’s arrest and imprisonment solely for expressing his opinion were unjustified. The party urged the authorities to release him immediately and uphold citizens’ democratic rights.

In Patuakhali-3 constituency, covering Galachipa and Dashmina, BNP grassroots leaders have declared Hasan Mamun as an independent candidate opposing the alliance nominee Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad and former DUCSU vice president. The decision followed BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s December 24 announcement endorsing Nur as the joint candidate of the BNP-led alliance. Local BNP leaders, angered by the nomination, collected nomination papers for Mamun, with Galachipa BNP president Md. Siddiqur Rahman leading the effort.

At an extended meeting in Dashmina, BNP activists rejected the alliance’s choice, pledging unified support for Mamun in the upcoming 13th national election. Mamun, a former president and general secretary of the Dhaka University Chhatra Dal and a BNP national executive member, said he would contest based on grassroots demand, noting that BNP had not won the seat in 46 years. Both BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad have collected nomination papers for their respective candidates.

As of the report’s filing, Mamun and his supporters were in Dhaka seeking a meeting with BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman.