Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 26, triggered immediate condemnation from Somalia and across Africa and the Middle East. Yemen’s Houthi movement warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be treated as a military target. The tensions deepened when Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland this month, including the strategic port city of Berbera, and discussed security cooperation. Somaliland officials signalled openness to hosting Israeli military assets, placing Israel directly across the Gulf of Aden from Houthi-controlled areas.

Analysts say Israel’s move reflects a strategic shift toward engaging non-traditional partners amid growing threats from Iran-backed groups. Experts cited Somaliland’s location as a potential intelligence and operational base against the Houthis, who have targeted Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea. Somaliland, facing diplomatic isolation and internal pressure from Somalia, views Israel’s recognition as a crucial breakthrough. Somalia’s government, however, urged renewed dialogue, warning that recognition could only come through negotiations with Mogadishu.

Both Israel and Somaliland appear to be testing the new partnership’s limits, with analysts noting that the relationship remains nascent and its long-term trajectory uncertain.

Manchester United surprised rivals Manchester City with a 2-0 victory in the Manchester derby, ending a difficult spell for the Red Devils. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed the win, dealing a major blow to City’s English Premier League title hopes. The match also marked a strong start for interim coach Michael Carrick in his second stint in charge.

In Spain, Real Madrid bounced back after consecutive defeats to Barcelona and Albacete by defeating Levante 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. The win helped the capital club regain momentum in La Liga after a brief slump. Elsewhere in the English league, Burnley held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw, while Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory over Brentford.

The results reshaped the weekend’s football narrative, with Manchester United’s resurgence and Real Madrid’s recovery standing out as key storylines across Europe’s top leagues.

West Bengal Opposition Leader and BJP legislator Suvendu Adhikari filed a defamation case worth 100 crore rupees against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, January 16, at the Alipore court. The case follows Banerjee’s public remarks linking Adhikari and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to an alleged coal scam. Adhikari stated that if he wins the case, the compensation will be donated to public welfare services.

Before filing the case, Adhikari had sent a legal notice to Banerjee through his lawyer, demanding evidence within 72 hours to support her allegations made on January 8 and 9. After she failed to provide proof, he proceeded with the defamation suit. On his X handle, Adhikari shared a copy of the case and accused Banerjee of misleading the public and remaining silent on the defamation notice.

The case marks an escalation in the political confrontation between the West Bengal Chief Minister and the state’s main opposition leader, centering on allegations of corruption and accountability in the coal sector.

A man named Rafiqul Islam, aged 45, was critically injured after jumping under a moving train in Goaland, Rajbari, on Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. near the Goaland Bazar rail crossing when a shuttle train from Daulatdia Ghat to Kushtia–Poradah was passing. Witnesses said Rafiqul suddenly jumped under the train, resulting in both his legs being completely severed. Fire service personnel rescued him in critical condition and took him to the Upazila Health Complex.

Family sources said Rafiqul had been suffering from mental health issues for a long time and was the father of three sons. The attending doctor at the health complex confirmed that both of his legs were fully detached and referred him to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

According to the Goaland Ghat Railway Police outpost in-charge, the injured man was rescued through the fire service and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for further care.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a two-day program to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman. The announcement was made by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan on Saturday, January 17, 2026. According to the schedule, events will take place across the country on January 19 and 20.

On January 19, BNP leaders and activists will place floral wreaths and offer prayers at Ziaur Rahman’s mausoleum in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11 a.m., with party chairman Tarique Rahman expected to attend. The same day, discussion meetings and special prayers will be held at BNP offices nationwide. On January 20, a discussion meeting will be organized at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Kakrail, featuring senior party leaders, intellectuals, and civil society representatives.

Rizvi described Ziaur Rahman as the architect of modern Bangladesh and the initiator of multiparty democracy. He added that BNP’s affiliated and associate organizations will also hold discussions and prayer sessions at district and metropolitan levels.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman stated that the party’s activists did not disguise themselves under any strategic pretense during their political movement. He made the remarks on Saturday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, during a meeting with families of victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and torture allegedly under the Awami League government. Rahman emphasized that BNP leaders and activists have remained uncompromising against injustice and that no conspiracy or propaganda can suppress the party.

He reflected on the party’s long struggle against what he called fascism, noting that despite years of disappearances, killings, abductions, and false cases, BNP members have continued their movement. Rahman said the days of fear and violence have ended and that Bangladesh is now moving toward democracy. He expressed sympathy for families who lost loved ones and said the state must not forget their sacrifices.

Rahman added that BNP has plans to honor the memory of those who disappeared or were killed, including naming roads and institutions after them if the party forms the government in the future.

In Lalmonirhat’s Kaliganj upazila, Executive Officer (UNO) Shamima Akter Jahan became the focus of public debate after a verbal dispute with an event organizer over being addressed as “Apu.” The incident occurred during a phone call late at night following a picnic organized by the Royal Football Academy to mark its 10th anniversary. When the academy’s vice president Meherban Mithu explained the delay and addressed her as “Apu,” the UNO reportedly reacted angrily. A portion of the call later circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention.

Mithu said he used the term respectfully and apologized when the UNO expressed displeasure, after which the event was stopped. Shamima Akter Jahan denied reacting out of anger, stating that she only intervened because the event continued past midnight. The incident sparked mixed reactions online, with some arguing that “Apu” is a polite form of address and others emphasizing the importance of administrative discipline and official decorum.

The report also noted that Shamima Akter Jahan had previously faced controversy over alleged irregularities in development projects and unilateral decisions in education policy during her earlier postings.

A commotion broke out on Saturday at the Election Commission (EC) headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, during an appeal hearing concerning the validity of dual citizenship for parliamentary candidates. The incident occurred while the EC was hearing appeals related to the cancellation of nominations. Law enforcement intervened to restore order after tensions escalated among participants.

Witnesses said the disruption began when the commission paused the hearing for half an hour during legal explanations on dual citizenship. After the Chief Election Commissioner and other members left the stage, lawyers from opposing sides engaged in heated arguments. The situation intensified when BNP candidate Abdul Awal Mintoo from Feni-3 expressed anger, prompting objections from NCP candidate Abul Hasnat from Comilla-4. Mintoo was escorted away by lawyers, while his son Tabith Awal attempted to calm Hasnat.

Following the break, Hasnat lodged a complaint with the commission, alleging that Mintoo used abusive language and attempted physical aggression. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud described the incident as undesirable and advised filing a complaint with the election investigation committee.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Information and Broadcasting, has called for an end to unnecessary honking to control noise pollution. She made the remarks while inaugurating a motor rally against honking, jointly organized by the Department of Environment and Dhaka Metropolitan Police under the ‘Integrated and Participatory Project for Noise Pollution Control’. The event took place in Dhaka, where the adviser emphasized that both legal measures and behavioral change are needed to address the issue.

Hasan noted that the ‘Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2025’ have been gazetted, assigning responsibilities to both the Department of Environment and the police to take immediate action against offenders. Several areas in Dhaka have already been declared silent zones, and monitoring will be strengthened there. She identified honking and fireworks as major sources of noise pollution and suggested designating specific areas for New Year fireworks. The adviser urged media professionals to promote awareness and called on youth to build a social movement against noise pollution.

The rally, themed “No more noise pollution, let healthy life prevail,” concluded a ten-day mobile court and campaign held at ten key points in Dhaka since January 5, supported by Green Voice volunteers.

The operations of the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (PICT) in Keraniganj, Dhaka, have officially begun under the management of Medlog Bangladesh Private Limited, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based logistics company Medlog. The inauguration took place on Saturday morning, led by Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain, advisor to the Ministry of Shipping. He stated that upgrading the terminal to international standards would enhance domestic container movement and strengthen multimodal transport connectivity, opening a new chapter in the country’s port management and inland water transport.

Shipping Secretary Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury said the 22-year concession agreement would make cargo handling at the terminal more dynamic and positively impact the national economy. The partnership between the government and the private sector is expected to play a key role in achieving set goals. The terminal, built at a cost of about Tk 155 crore, had been incurring losses for a decade before the government decided to bring it under professional private management.

Under the concession signed last November, Medlog Bangladesh will operate, maintain, and modernize the terminal in partnership with the Chittagong Port Authority.

Severe flooding caused by continuous heavy rainfall has killed more than 100 people across southern Africa, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Saturday. The floods have affected South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, where rivers have overflowed and infrastructure has collapsed, cutting off communication in many areas. In South Africa’s Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, at least 30 people have died, prompting the deployment of army helicopters to rescue stranded residents. A border checkpoint near Zimbabwe was evacuated after being surrounded by floodwaters.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited affected areas in Limpopo, reporting nearly 400 millimeters of rain in less than a week and the destruction of 36 houses in one district. Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said more than 1,000 homes were damaged. In Zimbabwe, the disaster management agency confirmed at least 70 deaths since the start of the year, with over 1,000 homes destroyed and multiple schools, roads, and bridges washed away.

The World Food Programme (WFP) stated that over 200,000 people have been affected, with 70,000 hectares of farmland submerged, raising fears of worsening food insecurity for small farmers in the region.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in nationwide protests across Iran, according to the US-based human rights group HANA, which confirmed 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters. The demonstrations began on December 28 over economic hardship and quickly spread across the country. After eight days of a near-total internet blackout, online activity has shown a slight increase, with connectivity reaching only about 2 percent of normal levels.

Residents reported that the crackdown has largely halted protests, and state media continues to report new arrests. In Tehran, the capital, the situation has remained relatively calm for four consecutive days, with drones observed flying over the city but no major demonstrations on Thursday or Friday. A resident from a northern Caspian Sea city also described local streets as quiet.

NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, said connectivity began to recover slightly on Saturday morning after roughly 200 hours of shutdown. Some Iranians living abroad reported being able to send messages to users inside Iran for the first time since the blackout began.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a show-cause notice to its director M Nazmul Islam for making disparaging comments about cricketers. As of Saturday morning, January 17, 2026, he had not responded to the notice within the given deadline. It remains uncertain whether he will submit a reply at all.

The notice followed remarks Nazmul Islam made to the media after an event at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. He had previously made critical comments about player Tamim Iqbal as well. The BCB had set a deadline of 11 a.m. Saturday for his response, but no reply was received by that time.

The board is reportedly still uncertain about whether Nazmul Islam intends to respond, leaving the matter unresolved for now.

Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, has called on deputy commissioners (DCs), upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), and election officials to help explain to citizens the importance of voting 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum. He made the appeal on Saturday, January 17, at a views-exchange meeting held at the BIAM Foundation in Eskaton, Dhaka.

Dr. Riaz stated that the money looted from Bangladesh over the past 16 years could have made the education and health sectors self-reliant. Emphasizing the need for an independent and effective Anti-Corruption Commission, he said that ensuring a 'Yes' victory in the referendum was essential for positive national change. He also criticized the use of the presidency for partisan interests during the Awami League era, including the appointment of election commissioners based on individual decisions.

Riaz added that political parties have agreed to end one-person rule in state governance and urged members of parliament to work for their constituents’ rights rather than party loyalty.

Adilur Rahman Khan, adviser to the interim government for housing, public works, industries, local government, rural development, and cooperatives, said that the people's movement supports the 'Yes' vote, the July Charter, and a new Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at a public awareness meeting on the upcoming referendum, organized by the Cox’s Bazar district administration at the Public Library Hall. He emphasized that citizens should vote for their preferred candidates in the national election and also cast a 'Yes' vote in the February 12 referendum.

Khan stated that the sacrifices of the July martyrs and the contributions of the July fighters led to the birth of a new Bangladesh. To sustain this transformation, he said, a 'Yes' vote in the referendum is essential. He added that Bangladesh should be free from crossfire killings and secret detention centers, envisioning a non-discriminatory and fascism-free country where all ethnic groups enjoy equal rights.

The meeting was chaired by Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md. A. Mannan and attended by senior officials, teachers, students, civil society members, and professionals. Khan later inaugurated campaign vehicles for the referendum and told reporters that ordinary people support 'Yes' as a stand against fascism.