Pakistan and the United States began the 13th edition of their bilateral joint anti-terror military exercise, 'Inspired Gambit–2026', on Saturday. The two-week-long exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the two armies and facilitate the exchange of counterterrorism experience and skills. The opening ceremony took place at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Pabbi, northwestern Pakistan, with military officials from both countries in attendance.

According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise focuses on urban counterterrorism operations, tactical procedures, and marksmanship skills. It also seeks to deepen understanding of each other’s operational doctrines and best practices.

The joint exercise is part of the long-standing defense cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. Observers believe it will contribute to strengthening regional security, improving counterterrorism capabilities, and reinforcing bilateral military relations.

Law advisor Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that judges, not he, are responsible for the bail granted to some Awami League activists accused of terrorism. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, at a dialogue on political parties, human rights, and freedom of expression held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. Nazrul said that about 90 percent of the bail orders related to the July cases came from the High Court, and any error in granting bail was the judges’ responsibility.

He argued that many judges were appointed during what he termed the Awami League’s fascist period and that their removal falls under the authority of the Chief Justice through the Supreme Judicial Council. Nazrul emphasized that neither he nor the law minister has the power to remove or act against High Court judges. He criticized attempts to place blame on him, saying such actions serve political agendas and generate online attention and financial gain.

Calling for self-reflection, Nazrul urged everyone to practice self-criticism, describing it as a key virtue in Islam.

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has claimed that Israeli agents are currently active inside Iran during the country’s ongoing protests over the falling value of the rial and a deepening economic crisis. Speaking to Israel’s Army Radio on Thursday, Eliyahu said that Israel had used ground agents during a 12-day war with Iran last June and that similar operations continue now. He asserted that some Israeli operatives remain active on Iranian soil.

According to Eliyahu, these agents are not directly working to overthrow the Iranian government but are focused on weakening Iran’s military and strategic capabilities to prevent it from posing a threat to Israel. Tehran had previously acknowledged Israeli intelligence activity during the 12-day conflict and has since arrested and executed several people accused of spying for Mossad.

Eliyahu’s remarks have intensified Iranian accusations of foreign interference by Israel and the United States. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded sharply, accusing former U.S. President Donald Trump of having blood on his hands and warning that arrogant powers would face the same fate as the pre-1979 monarchy.

Three members of a Bangladeshi family from Fatikchhari, Chattogram, were killed in a road accident in Oman on Friday night. The crash occurred around 8 p.m. local time in the Tambeet area of Salalah when a camel suddenly entered the road, causing their car to lose control and crash. Three other family members were seriously injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital in Salalah.

The deceased were identified as Bilkis Akter, wife of expatriate Md Shafiur Alam; their only son Muhammad Sakibul Hasan (Sabuj); and Bilkis’s son-in-law Muhammad Didar from Harualchhari Union. The injured include Sakib’s sister, his wife, and their young daughter. Relatives said the family had traveled from Muscat to Salalah a few days earlier to visit the shrine of Hazrat Ayub (A.) and were returning home when the accident occurred.

Local representatives in Fatikchhari reported that news of the deaths cast a deep shadow of grief over the family’s village, where residents are mourning the loss of three members from one household.

Several photos of Comilla City Corporation (CUSC) Administrator Md. Shah Alam with Nasir Uddin Lincoln, the general secretary of the banned Barura Upazila Awami League, have gone viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. The pictures were reportedly taken on Saturday, January 10, at Lalmai Lakeland Park in Comilla after a meeting of the Barura Upazila Welfare Association.

Local activists and residents expressed strong disapproval of the administrator’s association with a leader from a banned political organization. Abu Raihan, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Comilla, said that a senior government official should know with whom it is appropriate to take photos. An unnamed city resident alleged that the photos suggested collusion with the Awami League, while BNP leader Mostak Mia demanded that higher authorities investigate the matter.

In response, Administrator Md. Shah Alam stated that he did not notice when the photos were taken and that he had only attended an event.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has appointed Supreme Court senior lawyer Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol as the head of its legal aid subcommittee formed for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Saturday, January 10, through a letter signed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The letter stated that the names of other members of the subcommittee would be announced soon.

Earlier, on January 1, BNP had formed a 43-member central election management committee for the 2026 parliamentary election, with Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan as chairman and Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as member secretary. Begum Selima Rahman and Shamsuzzaman Dudu were made vice chairmen, while Md. Ismail Jobiullah was appointed chief coordinator.

Barrister Kajol, who is also a member of the BNP National Executive Committee, was included in the 43-member central election management committee. He currently serves as the immediate past secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Bar Council.

The Cabinet Division has issued instructions for all government offices to use the referendum logo in official communications until the upcoming national election. The directive also calls for displaying related banners in prominent locations. Letters containing these instructions have been sent to senior secretaries or secretaries of all ministries, divisional commissioners, and deputy commissioners.

According to the notice, the directive follows a letter from the Chief Adviser’s Office to the Cabinet Division, requesting implementation of the measure. The logo, provided by the Chief Adviser’s Office, is to be placed on the upper right side of all official correspondence. The order is linked to preparations for the forthcoming 13th National Parliament election and the associated referendum.

The instruction aims to ensure uniform use of the official referendum symbol across government communications and public displays until the election concludes.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam announced that the final seat-sharing arrangement within the party’s electoral alliance will be declared by January 12, ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. He made the statement on Saturday after a meeting with Ivars Ijabs, the European Union’s chief election observer. The NCP has formed an electoral alliance with several parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, but no formal declaration on seat distribution has yet been made.

Nahid informed the European Union that his party still lacks confidence in achieving a level playing field for the election. He alleged that signals are being sent to favor a particular party, creating bias within the administration. He also expressed concern that nominations of some loan defaulters have been approved and that violations of the electoral code of conduct are occurring.

Nahid further mentioned that insecurity persists due to the lack of justice for the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, and urged the Election Commission to take strict action against code violations.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said that the public often misunderstands police actions taken in accordance with the law. Speaking to journalists on Saturday at the Rangpur District Police Lines School field, he noted that people question why police under the current government make arrests or control traffic. He emphasized that without public cooperation, it will not be possible to hold a fair election.

The IGP stated that he raised these concerns during a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighting that political interference hampers law enforcement decisions. He identified fear and hesitation among police officers as major challenges. Alam urged the media and citizens to criticize any police misconduct, acknowledging that while total crime control is impossible, the force strives to reduce it within its limitations.

Regarding the upcoming election, Alam said maintaining national stability is a collective responsibility. He added that alongside police, a large number of other law enforcement personnel will be deployed on election day. He also mentioned ongoing investigations into the death of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi and several murder cases in Khulna.

The three-day 9th Non-Fiction Book Fair began on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Faculty of Business Studies premises of Dhaka University. The event is jointly organized by the Faculty of Business Studies and the newspaper Bonik Barta. Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha inaugurated the fair as the chief guest. She highlighted the fair’s role in promoting reading, knowledge creation, and social engagement between the university and the wider community.

Professor Bidisha expressed hope that such initiatives would encourage students to develop reading habits and analytical skills. Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Literary and Cultural Secretary Mosaddik Ali Ibn Mohammad remarked that the fair was a welcome initiative, especially as the annual international book fair would be delayed due to upcoming elections. Several other academic and publishing figures also spoke at the opening ceremony.

The fair features 39 publishing houses, including Dhaka University Press, and will remain open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until January 12, 2026.

The Pakistan Navy has successfully conducted a live test of a surface-to-air missile during a military exercise in the North Arabian Sea, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released on Saturday. The test involved the long-range LY-80(H) missile launched from a modern vertical launch system, observed by the Commander of the Pakistan Fleet. The missile hit and destroyed a designated aerial target, demonstrating the navy’s air defense capabilities.

The ISPR statement said the exercise showcased both conventional and unmanned operational capabilities aligned with modern naval warfare requirements. It also included the use of loitering munitions to strike surface targets, highlighting the navy’s precision strike capacity. The exercise further demonstrated advanced tactical maneuvers, accurate navigation, and operational effectiveness under adverse weather conditions.

The successful test validated the Pakistan Navy’s readiness and technological competence in air defense and precision engagement, as emphasized in the ISPR’s briefing.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur announced that at least two large and strong Islamic banks are expected to emerge in the country in the future. Speaking on Saturday at the second day of the International Islamic Finance and Banking Conference at the University of Dhaka, he said these banks would ensure healthy competition and better returns for depositors. The conference was jointly organized by the Central Shariah Board for Islamic Banks of Bangladesh and the university’s finance department.

Mansur noted that although a significant portion of the banking sector operates under Shariah principles, investment opportunities for Islamic banks remain limited, creating liquidity management challenges. He emphasized the need to develop a Shariah-compliant bond or sukuk market to ease liquidity pressure and strengthen the sector. Currently, about one-fourth of the country’s total banking assets are under Islamic management, but the corresponding investment avenues have not developed proportionately.

The governor added that the government’s initiative to establish a sukuk market would reduce financing costs and help Islamic banks manage liquidity more effectively, leading to greater stability in the overall financial system.

North Korea has claimed that it shot down a South Korean drone that entered about eight kilometers into its airspace, describing the incident as a violation of its sovereignty. The state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday, January 4, that the drone took off from an island near Incheon, South Korea, and was destroyed by North Korean forces. KCNA said the drone carried surveillance cameras intended to photograph ‘important’ facilities inside North Korea, and released images showing wreckage and aerial photos allegedly taken by the drone.

The report comes as North Korea prepares for a key party congress to set its five-year policy direction. According to an analyst cited in the report, the timing reinforces leader Kim Jong Un’s narrative portraying South Korea as a foreign and hostile state. KCNA also recalled a similar incident in September when another South Korean drone was shot down.

KCNA, as cited by Reuters, accused South Korea of continuing ‘provocative acts’ near the border despite a change in government, labeling it the country’s ‘most hostile enemy.’ Since taking office last June, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s attempts to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang have been rejected.

Bangladesh’s Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that it is not possible to reduce bank interest rates at this time. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, at an event organized by Banking Almanac at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, where he attended as the chief guest. Ahmed emphasized that given the current realities, lowering loan interest rates is not feasible.

He noted that the banking sector has become relatively stable but cautioned that reducing interest rates remains difficult. The adviser also mentioned that controlling inflation cannot be achieved by the government alone without the cooperation of the business community and the broader society. He expressed hope that he would not fail in his role as economic adviser and that moving Bangladesh forward remains a major challenge.

The comments highlight the government’s cautious stance on monetary policy adjustments amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the financial sector and manage inflationary pressures.

Exiled opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, praised the ongoing protests in Iran on Friday and called for larger demonstrations over the weekend. In a social media video message, he urged Iranians to move beyond street rallies and organize to seize and hold city centers. Pahlavi said he was preparing to return to Iran, believing that change was now very close.

Human rights activists warned that the Iranian government might shut down the internet to conceal its crackdown. According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization, at least 51 people have been killed so far. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi cautioned that security forces could prepare for mass killings under communication blackouts.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the protesters as vandals and insisted the Islamic Republic would not retreat, blaming the United States for the unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned possible new military actions against Iran, further heightening tensions.