U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to mediate the ongoing dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the use of Nile River waters. According to Reuters, Trump made the proposal in a letter to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, which he also shared on his social media platform Truth Social. In the post, Trump said he was ready to responsibly restart mediation between the two nations to find a lasting solution to the issue of Nile water distribution.

The dispute intensified after Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on September 9. The massive dam, built on a tributary of the Nile, has drawn strong objections from Egypt. Ethiopia, with a population exceeding 120 million, views the nearly $5 billion project as crucial for its economic development.

Egypt, however, argues that the dam violates international agreements and could expose the country to both drought and flooding risks. Ethiopia has rejected these allegations, maintaining that the project complies with its rights and development goals.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Pakistan as a close partner of Russia, emphasizing that the relationship between the two nations is essential for protecting mutual interests. The statement came after Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, formally presented his credentials to Putin at a ceremony in Moscow. During the event, Tirmizi conveyed greetings and best wishes from Pakistan’s President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the Pakistani people.

According to the Russian Embassy in Pakistan, Putin noted that Moscow maintains close cooperation with Islamabad in economic, technological, and humanitarian areas, particularly as both countries are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He said bilateral collaboration is expanding in trade, diplomacy, education, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, railways, industry, health, and information technology.

The report added that Pakistan has strengthened ties with Russia in recent years as Moscow seeks new energy markets following Western sanctions over Ukraine, while Islamabad aims to reduce import costs. Pakistan began purchasing Russian crude oil in 2023.

The central committee of the United People's Democratic Front (Democratic) has dismissed as false and baseless the social media reports claiming the party’s dissolution. At a press conference held on Saturday morning at the party office in Madhupur, Khagrachhari, central leaders clarified that the organization remains active and functional. Central General Secretary Amal Kanti Chakma stated that party president Shyamal Kanti Chakma (Taru) and former general secretary Miton Chakma left Khagrachhari with 20–25 followers after being accused of corruption, embezzlement, and other violations of party rules.

Amal Kanti Chakma further alleged that Shyamal Kanti Chakma and his followers took shelter with the Santu Larma-led Jana Samhati Samiti and later issued a fake statement on social media announcing the party’s dissolution. He emphasized that such a declaration was unconstitutional and made without the consent of most central committee members. The committee also denied allegations of maintaining any armed group.

Organizing Secretary Amar Jyoti Chakma said the departure of the president would not affect party activities, which will continue under acting president Samiran Chakma. The party also stated it would not endorse any candidate in upcoming elections.

Dhaka-13 parliamentary candidate and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish leader Maulana Mamunul Haque has submitted a written explanation to the Election Commission (EC) after receiving a show-cause notice for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct. He appeared at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Saturday, January 17, 2026, to provide his statement. The commission will now review his explanation before deciding on further legal action.

The EC had issued the notice on January 14, citing that Mamunul Haque distributed leaflets with his followers in front of the EC building on January 13, an act reported by several media outlets. According to the commission, such activities within three weeks of the February 12 election day constitute a clear breach of clauses 3 and 18 of the “Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025.”

After submitting his response, Mamunul Haque told reporters that he had indeed distributed leaflets urging a “yes” vote in a referendum but denied conducting any campaign activities for his constituency, claiming his actions were misrepresented.

Iranian police announced the seizure of nearly 60,000 illegal weapons during an operation in the southern city of Bushehr, according to a statement released on January 17, 2026. Two suspected terrorists were arrested in the raid, and the weapons were reportedly being transported to the capital, Tehran. The statement, cited by Press TV, said the country’s intelligence forces identified and detained members of a 'dangerous and armed terrorist group' allegedly trained by Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad.

Authorities claimed the group had been assigned to carry out killings and was involved in multiple terrorist activities. The weapons were said to have been obtained from smugglers. The announcement came as Iran faced widespread anti-government protests that have continued for about 20 days across the country.

The demonstrations began on December 28 in response to the falling value of the Iranian rial and rising living costs. The protests have since turned violent, marking the largest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Dr. Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram has strongly condemned and protested the knife attack on July fighters Hasnat and Mahin in Chattogram. The assault took place at midnight on January 16 in Chandanaish upazila, reportedly after a press conference and human chain were organized against Jasim Bahini, a group linked to a cashier of Benazir and an accused in the July student murder case. The condemnation was issued in a statement sent to the media on Saturday.

In his statement, Colonel Oli said that the associates of the fallen fascist government have re-emerged and that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) must take responsibility. He accused the BNP of sheltering individuals loyal to Hasina and oppressing innocent citizens. He urged the BNP to expel such individuals if it truly respects the July fighters.

Oli Ahmed added that attacking the July fighters is an insult to those who fought against fascism in Bangladesh and sacrificed their lives to ensure freedom and dignity for the people.

The Election Commission has cancelled the nomination of BNP-endorsed candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi for the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Saturday, January 17, at 4 p.m. following a hearing held at the commission’s auditorium in the basement of its Agargaon headquarters in Dhaka.

According to commission sources, both BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi and NCP candidate Hasnat Abdullah had filed appeals challenging each other’s nomination validity. After reviewing the appeals, the Election Commission declared Munshi’s nomination invalid while upholding the validity of Hasnat Abdullah’s candidacy. Abdullah is contesting from the same seat under a 10-party electoral alliance.

The ruling clarifies the candidate lineup for Cumilla-4, where the NCP’s Hasnat Abdullah will now represent the alliance in the upcoming national election.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has dissolved its organizational committees in Galachipa and Dashmina upazilas under Patuakhali-3 constituency. The decision, announced on Saturday through a statement signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, was sent to the district BNP leadership. The move came after local units allegedly failed to work in favor of Gonodhikar Parishad president and former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur, whom the BNP had decided to support in the upcoming national election instead of fielding its own candidate.

According to party sources, some local BNP leaders delayed implementing the central decision and were reportedly working for independent candidate Hasan Mamun, a recently expelled member of the BNP executive committee. In response, the central leadership dissolved both upazila committees and warned members to maintain organizational discipline. Hasan Mamun was also summoned to the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office but did not respond.

Local leaders acknowledged receiving the dissolution notice, while some defended their stance, saying they remained aligned with Hasan Mamun despite the central directive.

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned mining company Ma’aden has extracted a total of 7.8 million ounces, equivalent to 221,000 kilograms, of gold from four locations across the country. The extraction took place at Mansourah Massarah, Uruk 20/21, Umm al-Salam, and Wadi al-Jawaa. According to the company, Mansourah Massarah yielded 3 million ounces, Uruk 20/21 and Umm al-Salam produced 1.607 million ounces, and Wadi al-Jawaa contributed 3.08 million ounces.

Ma’aden’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Wilt stated that this achievement strengthens Saudi Arabia’s global position as a leading gold producer. He attributed the success to the company’s long-term strategic plan, emphasizing that the results demonstrate its effectiveness in practice.

The report, citing Gulf News, suggests that the large-scale extraction will enhance Saudi Arabia’s mineral reserves and accelerate Ma’aden’s operations as a world-class gold producer.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) seized narcotics worth Tk 2.9 million during operations along the Naogaon border in Dhamoirhat upazila. The 14 BGB battalion recovered 14,600 tapentadol tablets from a mustard field in Chakshobdol village near border pillar 266/1S late Saturday night. The operation was led by Havildar Mehedi Hasan of the Chakilam Border Outpost, and the seizure was confirmed in a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Mamun, commanding officer of the Patnitala 14 BGB battalion. The confiscated drugs are being processed for handover to Dhamoirhat police.

On the same night, another BGB team from the Kalupara Border Outpost, led by Havildar Badsha Alamgir, seized 126 bottles of narcotic cough syrup from the Ustamabad area near border pillar 272MP. Both operations were conducted inside Bangladeshi territory, and no owners were identified for the seized items.

The BGB stated that the operations were part of ongoing efforts to curb cross-border drug trafficking in the Naogaon region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the current situation in Iran. During the call, Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of inciting violence in recent protests, which he said had turned from peaceful demonstrations into violent unrest. He emphasized that Iran’s domestic policies are people-centered and aimed at addressing citizens’ legitimate demands and challenges caused by sanctions. Pezeshkian also noted that large public gatherings across the country had thwarted what he described as rioters’ conspiracies.

Putin stated that Russia is closely monitoring developments in Iran and acknowledged that long-term sanctions have created economic and social difficulties there. According to a Kremlin statement, Pezeshkian briefed Putin on the government’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the situation and reduce tensions. Both leaders agreed that emerging issues in Iran and the wider Middle East should be resolved through political and diplomatic means.

The Kremlin added that Putin and Pezeshkian also agreed to further strengthen the strategic, mutually committed relationship between Russia and Iran across various sectors.

Syria has officially declared the Kurdish language as a national language through a decree issued by President Ahmed Al-Shara. The decree also recognizes the national rights of the Kurdish community and restores their citizenship, which had been revoked following the controversial 1962 census. Additionally, Damascus has declared Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year, as an official public holiday. The decree will take effect upon publication in the official gazette.

According to the decree, Kurdish citizens are described as an integral part of the Syrian people, and their cultural and linguistic identity is recognized as a vital component of Syria’s unified and diverse national identity. The government pledged to protect cultural and linguistic diversity and to ensure Kurdish citizens’ rights to preserve their heritage, arts, and language development within the framework of national sovereignty.

The decree further allows Kurdish to be taught in public and private schools in areas with significant Kurdish populations, either as an optional subject or as part of cultural and educational activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly thanked Iran for suspending the executions of detained protesters. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said Tehran had halted the death sentences of hundreds of protesters who were scheduled to be executed on Thursday. He expressed gratitude to Iran’s leadership for the move.

Trump dismissed claims that Gulf countries or Israel had influenced him to refrain from attacking Iran, saying instead that Iran’s actions had shaped his decision not to strike. Speaking to reporters while leaving the White House for Florida over the weekend, he said no one persuaded him and that the cancellation of executions had a major impact. The White House confirmed on Thursday that Iranian authorities had suspended 800 planned executions and stated that the situation was being closely monitored.

Trump has repeatedly voiced support for Iranian protesters, urging them earlier in the week to continue demonstrations and seize state institutions, promising that help was on the way.

A nearly 900-year-old madrasa has been discovered in the central Turkish city of Kayseri during ongoing urban renewal work. The structure was found south of the city’s historic Grand Mosque, near the tomb of Malik Muhammad Ghazi. The finding was reported on Thursday by the Turkish news agency Anadolu. Kayseri Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç said the city holds traces of various civilizations and has a significant place in the history of Islam in Anatolia.

According to the mayor, the discovery was made while carefully clearing the area, revealing traces of a religious educational structure built in the traditional style. Malik Muhammad Ghazi, a ruler from the Danishmend dynasty, is regarded as the founder of Kayseri and an important figure in early Turkish Islamic history in Anatolia.

Mayor Büyükkılıç added that the search and excavation work will continue and that the municipality plans to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for restoration efforts.

The United Nations has reported that more than 60 million tons of debris now cover the Gaza Strip after over two years of Israeli military aggression. UN Under-Secretary and Executive Director of the Office for Project Services Jorge Moreira da Silva stated on Thursday that clearing the rubble could take more than seven years. He described the humanitarian situation as dire, with residents exhausted, fearful, and under immense pressure amid cold weather and heavy rain.

Despite a ceasefire declared on October 10, Israeli forces have continued attacks across Gaza. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 12 people were killed and 18 injured in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since the ceasefire to 463. Overall, more than 71,000 people have been killed and over 171,000 injured during the two-year conflict.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced the second phase of its Gaza peace plan. President Donald Trump said a “Board of Peace” had been selected to oversee postwar governance under a Palestinian technocratic committee and reiterated his demand for Hamas to disarm immediately.