Analysts suggest that India’s expanding role as one of Israel’s key defense partners signals a deep moral and geopolitical shift in New Delhi’s foreign policy. Once known for its non-aligned stance and vocal support for Palestinian self-determination, India is now seen as moving toward transactional alliances with powers criticized for violating international law. The shift has become more visible amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, as India quietly fills part of the supply gap left by European countries constrained by legal and political pressures on arms exports to Israel.

Under the “Make in India” initiative, joint production, technology transfer, and domestic manufacturing of Israeli weapon components have tied India more closely to Israel’s military-industrial network. Experts describe the partnership as pragmatic and mutually beneficial: Israel provides advanced military technology, while India offers production capacity, markets, and diplomatic backing. Critics, however, argue that this pragmatism comes at the cost of moral clarity and silence on international law.

Observers also note that India’s abstentions at the UN on Gaza-related votes and cautious diplomatic language reflect risk management rather than neutrality, potentially weakening its traditional Global South leadership role.

The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party has joined the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon after the party’s general secretary, Asaduzzaman Fuad, submitted nomination papers at the Barishal returning officer’s office. He stated that seat-sharing discussions had already taken place and that further talks were ongoing. The party plans to formally join the alliance in Dhaka following the nomination submission.

According to AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, the party is now part of Jamaat’s eight-party electoral understanding, with discussions continuing on several constituencies. Jamaat has not fielded candidates in Feni-2, Barishal-3, and Patuakhali-1 constituencies. On Sunday, the NCP and LDP also announced their inclusion in the Jamaat-led coalition.

With AB Party’s entry, the Jamaat-led alliance will expand to a total of eleven political parties participating in the upcoming election.

China has announced a reduction in import tariffs on several categories of goods starting January 1, 2026. According to a statement from the State Council’s Customs Tariff Commission, the Ministry of Finance’s website detailed that the ‘2026 Tariff Adjustment Plan’ will take effect on the first day of the new year. The plan, guided by Xi Jinping’s socialist thought with Chinese characteristics, aims to optimize tariff classifications, implement preferential rates, and promote high-quality development.

The plan introduces temporary import tariff rates lower than the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rates for 935 products across three categories. These include key industrial components such as CNC hydraulic cushions and composite contact strips, resources like recycled black powder for lithium-ion batteries, and medical products such as artificial blood vessels and diagnostic kits for infectious diseases. However, products like micro motors, printing machines, and sulfuric acid will retain MFN rates in line with China’s WTO commitments.

China will continue reducing tariffs under 24 free trade agreements with 34 partners, adding items like intelligent bionic robots and sustainable aviation fuel to support scientific progress and circular economy goals.

Egypt has rejected several large financial proposals that were conditioned on accepting the forced displacement of Palestinians, Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty said in an interview with MBC Egypt’s program Al-Hekaya. He stated that accepting such offers would mean endorsing the 'law of the jungle.' Abdel Aty revealed that Egypt received three separate proposals, each offering significant economic incentives, including debt cancellation and financial rewards.

The minister emphasized that Cairo firmly rejected all offers and that Egypt’s position remains clear and unchangeable. He added that Israeli negotiators fully understand Egypt’s stance. Abdel Aty noted that Egypt and Israel, having maintained diplomatic relations for over 45 years, are aware of each other’s positions and limitations.

He further accused Israel of failing to meet its international legal obligations as an occupying power to open border crossings and allow humanitarian aid. Abdel Aty concluded that Egypt will remain steadfast in upholding international law, warning that abandoning it would lead to a world governed by the law of the jungle.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) held a celebration in Uttara on Monday marking the restoration of the long-lost Konai River within the capital. The event, titled “Lost Konai River Restoration Celebration,” was attended by DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz as chief guest, along with environmental leaders from BAPA and the Water Development Board. DNCC reported that the river, once vanished from city maps, now flows again through a nine-kilometer navigable stretch following field studies, eviction drives, and cleaning operations.

Speakers at the event praised the initiative as a model for reviving Dhaka’s waterways. Local residents expressed gratitude, noting that areas once walkable are now navigable by boat. Environmental activists highlighted the importance of maintaining the restored river through community stewardship and tree planting instead of embankments. BAPA’s general secretary suggested that properly planned river restorations around Dhaka could create attractive tourism zones.

According to DNCC, dredging from Abdullahpur embankment to Bawnia canal recovered a 3.18-kilometer section, reconnecting the full nine-kilometer waterway known locally as Khidir Khal, which joins the Turag River.

Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state has complicated its efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, according to a senior source from the Saudi royal family quoted by Israel’s Channel 12 on Sunday. The source said the move angered Riyadh and pushed the possibility of diplomatic normalization further away, warning that it increases Israel’s isolation across the region.

The Saudi source described the recognition as equivalent to endorsing separatism and a violation of regional security. He cautioned that the decision challenges Arab and Muslim nations that have not recognized Somaliland, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The source also argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pursuit of a second term is fueling regional instability and undermining Somalia’s UN-recognized borders, which include Somaliland.

The source concluded that Netanyahu’s policies disregard international law and diplomatic norms, further straining Israel’s standing in the Middle East.

Dr. Tasnim Jara has completed the first stage of the election process by submitting her nomination to contest as an independent candidate for the Dhaka-9 constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. She collected the required voter signatures and submitted them to the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer in Segunbagicha.

According to the Election Commission’s rules, an independent candidate must gather signatures from at least one percent of registered voters in their constituency. For Dhaka-9, this meant a minimum of 4,693 signatures. Jara began collecting signatures last Sunday, setting up booths in Khilgaon and Basabo areas. Her team reportedly exceeded the required number by Monday afternoon.

Jara decided to run independently after leaving her party following the formation of an alliance between Jamaat and the NCP. Her submission marks a key procedural milestone ahead of the national polls.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has submitted his nomination papers to contest the 13th National Parliamentary Election from Dhaka-15 constituency. According to his election affidavit, he holds Tk 6,076,497 in cash, 10 bhori of gold worth Tk 100,000, and a duplex house on 11.77 decimals of land valued at Tk 2.7 million. His total declared assets amount to approximately Tk 10,273,640.

The affidavit further states that Dr. Rahman, a physician by profession, has no loans from any bank or financial institution. He owns 2 acres and 17 decimals of agricultural land valued at Tk 1,771,000 and earns Tk 300,000 annually from agriculture. His other assets include shares worth Tk 2,716,880 in both listed and unlisted companies, electrical goods worth Tk 200,000, a vehicle valued at Tk 450,000, and furniture worth Tk 240,000.

The nomination papers were submitted on Monday, December 29, at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Abdul Halim on behalf of Dr. Rahman.

Israel has released 10 Palestinians detained in Gaza under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, according to Anadolu Agency on Sunday. The released individuals were taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical examinations and necessary treatment.

Human rights organizations from both Palestine and Israel reported that more than 9,300 Palestinians remain imprisoned in Israel, including women and children. The report cited allegations of torture, starvation, and medical neglect among detainees, leading to several deaths. Rights groups also stated that mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners has intensified during Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Since the conflict began in October 2023, over 70,900 people have been killed—mostly women and children—and about 171,200 injured, while large parts of Gaza have been reduced to rubble.

The United States has allocated $2 billion to support United Nations humanitarian operations, with Bangladesh among 17 countries set to benefit. The funding will be distributed through an 'umbrella fund' targeting specific agencies and priority sectors. The US administration described the move as part of a new financial approach under the Trump administration, which seeks to reduce foreign aid while maintaining the country’s position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.

Although the $2 billion allocation is lower than previous levels, the administration called it a generous contribution. However, the new funding model has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations due to significant program cuts. Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories are excluded from the list, with aid for Palestine expected to come through Trump’s incomplete Gaza peace plan.

According to UN data, the current amount represents only a small fraction of recent humanitarian assistance levels, as the US once provided up to $17 billion annually. Critics worldwide warn that reduced Western aid could increase hunger, displacement, and disease risks for millions and weaken international influence.

Mahfuz Alam, a former information adviser to the interim government and a leading figure in the July uprising, has announced plans to pursue a new political solution. He made the declaration on Monday, December 29, through a Facebook post, emphasizing a fresh start driven by vision, honesty, and commitment to Bangladesh and its youth. Alam reiterated that there would be no compromise in this new journey.

Earlier, he had confirmed through his verified Facebook page that he would not join the National Citizens Party (NCP). He had also previously stated that he would not participate in the upcoming national parliamentary election. His latest statement signals a shift toward forming or supporting a new political direction rather than aligning with existing parties.

The announcement highlights Alam’s intent to channel the spirit of the July movement into a renewed political effort, though details of the initiative or its structure have not yet been disclosed.

More than 3,090 migrants died in 2025 while attempting to reach Spain from various countries, according to Spain’s migrant rights organization Caminando Fronteras. The group reported that the number of deaths, though still high, marked a significant decrease compared to 2024 as fewer people attempted the perilous crossings. Most fatalities occurred along the Atlantic migration route from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, one of the world’s most dangerous sea passages.

The report noted that while arrivals to the Canary Islands have fallen, a new, longer, and more dangerous route from Guinea has emerged. Among the dead were 437 children and 192 women. Caminando Fronteras also observed a rise in migrant boats departing Algeria toward Ibiza and Formentera in the Mediterranean, a route increasingly used by migrants from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan in 2025. Deaths on this route doubled from the previous year to 1,037.

Spain’s Interior Ministry stated that by December 15, 2025, a total of 35,935 migrants had reached Spain, about 40 percent fewer than during the same period in 2024, with roughly half arriving via the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.

A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for Ahsan Ullah, accused of sheltering the main suspect in the Keraniganj madrasa explosion case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The order was issued on Monday, December 29, 2025, by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Tajul Islam Sohag after police sought a ten-day remand. The investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Zahurul Islam of South Keraniganj Police Station, argued that Ahsan Ullah had given refuge to fugitive Sheikh Al Amin, the madrasa director and main accused, after the blast.

According to the case details, the explosion occurred on December 26 at a madrasa building in Hasnabad Housing area, damaging walls and the roof. Following the incident, law enforcement agencies including the CID Crime Scene Unit, Anti-Terrorism Unit, RAB, and Fire Service conducted a two-day recovery operation. They seized around 400 liters of liquid chemicals, bomb-making materials, and several explosive devices from Al Amin’s rented residence.

Six other suspects arrested earlier were also placed on remand for varying periods as the investigation continues to identify additional individuals linked to the banned militant organization.

Bangladesh is experiencing severe cold across the country despite the absence of an official cold wave, according to the Meteorological Department on December 29, 2025. Persistent dense fog has blocked sunlight for days, causing daytime temperatures to fall unusually low. Northern regions have faced this condition for a week, while the capital has endured it for four days. Meteorologists said the situation may continue for another three to four days, with a possible cold wave around January 3.

The lowest temperature on Monday was recorded at 10°C in Nikli, Kishoreganj, while Naogaon’s Badalgachhi saw 11.7°C. Dhaka recorded a minimum of 13.8°C and a maximum of 15.5°C. The department described the situation as severe and disaster-like, noting that the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures has narrowed, intensifying the cold feeling. Dense fog and chilly winds have disrupted daily life, transport, and business activities.

Hospitals are seeing rising numbers of patients with cold-related illnesses such as fever, cough, and respiratory problems. Street vendors in Dhaka reported increased sales of winter clothing, while day laborers continue to struggle in the biting cold.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a ceremony in Hatay province on December 27 to hand over the 455,000th new home built for survivors of the 2023 earthquakes that devastated southern Turkey. The February 6 quakes, measuring 7.8 and 7.5 in magnitude, killed more than 53,000 people and displaced millions across southern Turkey and northern Syria. Erdogan said over 55,000 housing units were delivered in Hatay and about 22,000 in Kahramanmaraş, slightly exceeding his earlier pledge of 453,000 units.

During the event, Erdogan criticized opposition parties, calling them “earthquake tourists” who sought political advantage from the disaster. He emphasized that his administration had rebuilt infrastructure in affected provinces including Adıyaman and Gaziantep. The president also linked Turkey’s internal stability to the broader Middle Eastern situation, warning against “merchants of blood and chaos” seeking to destabilize the region.

Erdogan reiterated that Turkey’s progress depends on a strong ruling party and national unity, highlighting solidarity with neighboring peoples in Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. The 2023 earthquakes were the deadliest in two decades, destroying over 35,000 buildings and severely damaging 200,000 more.