Israel has placed its security forces on the highest alert amid concerns over a possible United States strike on Iran, according to Israeli sources cited by Reuters. The heightened alert follows widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which have intensified since late December due to the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. US President Donald Trump warned Iran against suppressing protesters, stating on his social media platform that the United States is ready to help.

Sources present at Israel’s weekend security meeting did not specify what the heightened alert measures entail. In June, Israel carried out an attack on Iran, with the United States joining in the final days of a 12-day conflict. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran during a phone call, though US officials declined to confirm the details of their conversation.

The protests, which began near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28, have since spread to multiple cities across Iran, reflecting deepening public frustration over the country’s economic decline.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large consignment of illegal Indian cigarettes from the border area of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar on Saturday night. The operation took place near the Alinagar border outpost, where 2,550 packets of Indian cigarettes were recovered without an identified owner. The seized goods have an estimated market value of Tk 510,000.

According to the BGB’s Srimangal Battalion (46 BGB), its border outposts in Kulaura, Kamalganj, and Srimangal upazilas conduct round-the-clock patrols and regular anti-smuggling drives along the district’s border areas. The battalion oversees about 115 kilometers of border, focusing on preventing illegal drugs and other contraband from entering the country.

BGB officials stated that such operations will continue to ensure border security and curb smuggling activities. The seized cigarettes are being prepared for handover to the relevant authorities following legal procedures.

Several major international airlines have suspended operations to and from Iran as anti-government protests intensify across the country. On Saturday, January 10, Lufthansa, Flydubai, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Austrian Airlines announced the suspension of their services, citing safety risks. Dubai airport authorities confirmed that Flydubai alone canceled at least 17 flights to Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad, while Emirates and Oman Air also halted operations. Turkish Airlines suspended 17 flights to Tehran and Tabriz, with its subsidiary A-Jet following suit.

The unrest began on December 28 over the devaluation of the Iranian rial and has since evolved into a broader movement demanding government change. Airlines said they are closely monitoring the situation and have taken these measures to ensure passenger safety. Human rights group Iran Human Rights reported that at least 50 protesters, including children, have been killed in security crackdowns, and hundreds have been detained.

Due to ongoing violence, communication disruptions, and instability, international carriers have decided to keep their services to Iran suspended until further notice.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced a constituency-based campaign strategy to ensure victory for the 'Yes' side in the upcoming referendum on proposed reforms linked to the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The plan was detailed in a message issued on Sunday by Mahabub Alam, the party’s joint chief coordinator and head of its election media subcommittee.

According to the announcement, NCP candidates will lead the campaign in constituencies where the party has its own nominees, directly engaging with supporters and voters to promote the 'Yes' vote. In the 270 constituencies where the NCP has no candidates, the party will appoint 'ambassadors' or representatives to conduct outreach. These representatives will connect with local communities to explain the party’s stance, the significance of the referendum, and the importance of supporting the 'Yes' option.

The NCP stated that this approach aims to create a unified and nationwide campaign, ensuring that its message reaches voters in all constituencies and builds public support for the 'Yes' vote across the country.

Members of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) from Dhaka successfully defused a powerful bomb recovered in Faridpur on Sunday morning. The operation took place around 10 a.m. at the bank of the Kumar River in the Goalachamot area, where the device was detonated in a controlled explosion after being surrounded with sandbags. ATU Inspector Shankar Kumar Ghosh confirmed that the bomb was a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED).

The explosive had been discovered the previous morning, Saturday at around 10 a.m., inside a school bag near the southern side of Alipur Bridge in a slum area of the city. Following the recovery, local police increased surveillance across Faridpur to ensure public safety. Officer-in-Charge of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station, Shahidul Islam, stated that investigations are underway to identify those involved in the incident.

Authorities have not yet disclosed any suspects or motives behind the placement of the device, and the investigation remains ongoing.

A severe winter storm in Gaza has destroyed or damaged thousands of tents housing Palestinians displaced by two years of conflict with Israel, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense Department. The department warned that the damage has deepened the humanitarian crisis, as strong winds reaching 60 kilometers per hour and heavy rain tore through coastal areas, leaving many families exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said the storm’s impact extends beyond weather-related hardship, describing it as a direct result of restrictions on construction materials that have hindered reconstruction. He noted that many displaced families are forced to live in torn tents or unsafe, damaged homes without dignity or protection.

Palestinian meteorologists reported that the storm began on Friday and is expected to continue for several more days. Basal cautioned that large urban areas remain uninhabitable after prolonged Israeli bombardment, forcing many families to set up tents along the coast due to the lack of safer alternatives.

Widespread anti-government protests in Iran have turned violent, leaving hospitals across the country overwhelmed with casualties. Doctors from several hospitals told the BBC that they are struggling to treat the large number of wounded and dead, many suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and chest. In Rasht, one hospital reportedly received 70 bodies in a single night, forcing staff to stack corpses due to lack of space. Most victims are young, aged between 20 and 25. Internet access has been largely cut off, making it difficult to verify information.

The protests began two weeks ago as peaceful demonstrations against Iran’s economic crisis, currency devaluation, and rising prices but have since spread to all provinces and turned violent. Security forces have used live ammunition and rubber bullets, with reports of protesters losing their eyesight from shotgun fire. The Iranian government accuses the United States of inciting unrest, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down.

The United States, European Union, and United Nations have condemned the violent crackdown and urged Iran to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

A pedestrian named Kabir Ali, aged 57, was killed after being struck by an Indian truck at the Sonamasjid land port area in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj on Sunday morning. The accident occurred in the Madhyabazar area of the port while Kabir Ali, a resident of Baliadighi village, was crossing the road. He was severely injured and died on the way to Shibganj Upazila Health Complex.

According to Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir, the Indian truck hit Kabir Ali from behind as he was crossing the road. Local residents rescued the injured man and took him for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries en route. Police later recovered the body and confirmed that locals had detained the truck involved in the incident.

Law enforcement authorities stated that legal action has been initiated regarding the accident.

A severe communal clash erupted in Unakoti district of India’s northeastern state of Tripura, reportedly triggered by a dispute over a donation demand for a local festival. The incident occurred in Kumarghat area under Fatikroy police station, where refusal to pay the donation allegedly led one community to set fire to several establishments, including a timber shop, and vandalize a place of worship. At least five to six people were injured, and several houses and shops were burned. Authorities imposed an internet shutdown and took strict measures to restore order.

Security forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Tripura State Rifles (TSR), were deployed across Kumarghat subdivision and nearby areas. Mobile internet services were suspended for 48 hours, and police used mild baton charges and drone surveillance to maintain control. Eight people were detained in connection with the violence, and special monitoring continues under Section 163 to prevent further unrest.

Officials said the situation is now calm and fully under control. The administration remains vigilant ahead of the upcoming Bhairab Mela to ensure communal peace and prevent renewed tensions.

The High Court has issued a rule asking why the nominations of Jatiya Party and National Democratic Front (NDF) candidates should not be declared illegal. The order was given on Sunday afternoon by a bench led by Justice Razik Al Jalil. The Election Commission has been directed to respond to the rule within two weeks.

The rule followed a writ petition filed by Abdullah Al Mahmud, an organizer of the political alliance July Oikya, represented by Barrister A S M Shahriar Kabir. Earlier, on 7 January, the High Court had postponed until 11 January the hearing of a petition seeking to bar Jatiya Party and NDF from participating in the election.

The court’s directive now requires the Election Commission to clarify its position on the legality of these candidates’ nominations, potentially influencing the upcoming electoral process depending on the response and subsequent judicial review.

At least six people, including a newlywed couple, were killed when a gas cylinder exploded during a wedding ceremony at a house in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ten others were injured in the blast, which caused the roof to collapse, trapping several people under the debris. The incident was confirmed by Additional Deputy Commissioner General Sahibzada Yusuf, according to The Express Tribune.

The explosion also caused extensive damage to four nearby houses. Rescue teams recovered sixteen people from the rubble, six of whom later died. The injured were taken to a hospital for treatment. Officials stated that all trapped individuals have been rescued and that the operation has been completed.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion, while confirming that no one remains trapped under the debris.

The High Court of Bangladesh has ruled that a Muslim man no longer needs his wife's consent to enter into a second marriage. The decision came in response to a petition concerning the Muslim Family Law, with the court clarifying that approval from the Arbitration Council, not the first wife, is the determining factor for a lawful second marriage.

Previously, it was widely practiced that a husband required his first wife's permission before remarrying. The court stated that no such direct obligation exists in the Muslim Family Law. The 24-page verdict explained that the authority to approve a second marriage lies with the Arbitration Council, making spousal consent non-mandatory. Historically, under Section 494 of the Penal Code of 1860, marrying again without spousal consent carried a seven-year prison term, later revised in 1961 to require council approval instead.

Petitioners have announced plans to appeal, arguing that the ruling could weaken regulations on polygamy. Sociologists warned that misuse of multiple marriages could increase inequality and family instability, urging final resolution by the Supreme Court.

A joint force operation in Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila on the evening of January 10, 2026, led to the arrest of ten individuals with local weapons, drugs, and cash. The raid took place near Baligaon Bridge under Tongibari Police Station, conducted by a team from the Munshiganj Sadar Army Camp under the 99 Composite Brigade, based on intelligence information and with police cooperation. Authorities seized approximately 250 grams of cannabis, two yaba tablets, over 200 unidentified drugs, and Tk 494,505 in cash from the scene.

The detainees were identified as residents of Tongibari and nearby areas and described by law enforcement as known drug dealers. Following the operation, the arrested individuals and the recovered items were handed over to Tongibari Police Station for legal proceedings.

The army stated that it remains firm in maintaining law and order in Munshiganj and will continue anti-drug and anti-crime drives regularly to prevent violence and sabotage ahead of the upcoming national election.

Police in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali have arrested Mostafa Mridha, 53, a known drug dealer accused in the sensational Siyam murder case. He was detained on Saturday night from the Subidkhali area. According to police, Mostafa, son of Ketab Ali Mridha from Uttar Subidkhali village, faces six ongoing drug cases in court. Officer-in-Charge Md. Abdus Salam confirmed that Mostafa was sent to Patuakhali jail through the court on Wednesday.

The murder case stems from the death of 18-year-old Siyam, who had visited his aunt’s house in Mirzaganj on December 23. That afternoon, Siyam and his cousin Abdullah Al Mahmud went to the Subidkhali Government College area, where they argued with a local youth named Raiyan. Raiyan and his associates allegedly beat Siyam at a nearby sand field and later took him to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Siyam was the son of Abdul Baset Talukder from Ghopkhali village under Itbaria Union in Patuakhali Sadar Police Station.

Intense fighting erupted along the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar as clashes between Myanmar’s Arakan Army (AA) and Rohingya rebels continued for four consecutive days. The exchange of gunfire, which lasted until 6 a.m. Sunday, shook the border area. The Arakan Army reportedly carried out several drone strikes targeting Rohingya rebels, forcing them to retreat. Pursuing them, AA fighters crossed into Bangladeshi territory and opened random fire, injuring a nine-year-old girl named Huzayfa Sultana Afnan, who was later hospitalized in critical condition.

According to the latest reports, 53 members of Myanmar’s rebel group were detained by Bangladeshi law enforcement while attempting to flee across the border, with three to four of them suffering gunshot wounds. Security personnel have been deployed at the scene, and the situation is currently calm. Local residents lifted a road blockade following army intervention.

Authorities have not reported further casualties, and the condition of the injured child remains under medical observation.