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You probably heard that Europe is “sending troops” to Greenland after Trump hinted he’d like to take it. Sounds serious, right? Turns out the great military deployment is… about 40 people. Yes. Forty. France sent 15. Germany 13. Norway sent 2. They can’t even run a proper military exercise with that!

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AI-generated fake videos | Iranian Protest

🤖 AI-Generated Misinformation Ahead of Elections

AI-generated fake videos are flooding social media ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, spreading misinformation to mislead voters and stir political and communal tensions. Fact-checkers and research group Dismislab have analyzed over 70 such videos, many created in minutes using AI tools like Google’s video AI. Among them is a viral clip of a middle-aged disabled woman claiming a party took money but failed to provide a welfare card—a character visually modeled on Rana Plaza survivor Rikta. Posted on the Facebook page Uttarbongo Television on January 10, the video received nearly 1 million views, over 55,000 reactions, 1,200 comments, and 21,000 shares. Other AI-generated content includes clips of “army officers” endorsing parties, a bikini-clad woman claiming she would vote for an Islamist party, and even videos of animals seemingly urging votes for certain candidates.

Initially popularized by Jamaat-e-Islami supporters, other parties including BNP and NCP now also produce similar content. These videos target voter perception, attack rivals, or misrepresent candidates, sometimes using provocative or misleading scenarios. Despite an Election Commission ban on AI-driven defamatory or biased content, these videos continue circulating. Experts warn the lack of public awareness and regulatory enforcement could cause voter confusion, unrest, or challenge the credibility of the electoral process.

🚩 BPDB’s net loss jumped 94% in FY2024–25 despite reforms and record subsidies, as Bangladesh Power Development Board reported a net loss of Tk 17,021 crore, up from Tk 8,764 crore a year earlier. The interim government provided nearly Tk 60,000 crore in subsidies, but higher average generation costs, rising system loss, and increased reliance on expensive private power producers offset these supports. BPDB spent Tk 121,420 crore on power supply while earning Tk 69,383 crore, with officials citing gas shortages and capacity charges as key cost drivers. Experts noted that without structural changes to address high capacity charges and reliance on expensive private power, the sector remains at significant financial risk.

💳 Bangladesh’s per capita foreign debt rose to about $655 in FY2024–25, the highest increase since the pandemic, as total external debt climbed by $9.13 billion to $113.20 billion. The central bank said the rise was driven by new loans from IMF and World Bank, along with corrections to previously misreported data. Officials noted growing pressure from debt repayments, though Bangladesh Bank reported that total external debt fell by around $1.5 billion in the first quarter of the current FY2025–26, offering some short-term relief.

🗳️ Islami Andolan Bangladesh will contest the election independently, announced on Friday, fielding candidates in 268 constituencies and backing preferred candidates in 32 others, effectively splitting Islamist votes into three blocs. The move ends its participation in the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 10-party alliance, which had earlier finalised seat-sharing for 253 constituencies and reserved 47 for Islami Andolan. Following their exit, Jamaat, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and the NCP are negotiating the distribution of these vacant seats, with Jamaat likely taking the largest share. Alliance leaders said final allocations will be confirmed after liaison committee meetings, while Islami Andolan could still rejoin the coalition.

📊Data Point

Bangladesh plans a partial rollout of a new government pay scale from January, with Tk 20,000 crore added in the revised budget to cover salaries and allowances for more than 1.5 million government officials and employees.

🔥 Iran protests appear to be temporarily quelled after a violent crackdown by security forces, with human rights groups reporting at least 3,919 protesters killed and thousands more arrested since late December. Demonstrations began over economic hardships and currency devaluation but escalated into anti-government rallies, prompting a 12 days into a nationwide internet blackout and a heavy security presence enforcing a de facto curfew. Iranian authorities claim many of the dead were “agents” of foreign powers, while President Masoud Pezeshkian warned any attack on Supreme Leader Khamenei would be treated as war. Limited internet access has briefly returned, but fears of executions and arrests continue.

🚀 NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, could launch as early as February 6, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center. The 10-day flight will carry four astronauts: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. They will test the Orion spacecraft’s systems in Earth orbit, fly thousands of kilometres beyond the Moon, and gather medical and scientific data, but will not land. Artemis II sets the stage for Artemis III, planned for no earlier than 2027, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface.

🏅 Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump at the White House on January 15, calling it recognition of his support for Venezuela’s freedom following the US-backed ousting of Nicolás Maduro on January 3. The Nobel Committee clarified that the prize itself is not transferable. Trump praised Machado and the gesture but did not endorse her as Venezuela’s new leader, instead engaging with acting head of state Delcy Rodríguez. Machado also met US senators, and the US has begun selling Venezuelan oil and seizing tankers previously under sanctions, while diplomatic contacts continue.

🌐 US-Europe trade relations hit a breaking point as President Trump announced a 10% tariff on eight NATO allies—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland—starting February 1, 2026. This "Greenland Tax" targets nations that sent military forces to the island and will jump to 25% on June 1 unless Denmark agrees to a "total purchase" of the territory. In response, European leaders held an emergency meeting on Sunday, threatening to deploy their never-before-used "trade bazooka" (Anti-Coercion Instrument) to restrict US companies' access to the European market.

📺: Emotions That Only Exist in Japanese:

"No looted police weapons will be used in the upcoming National Parliamentary Election."

— Home Affairs Adviser, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, statement addresses concerns regarding security and the recovery of firearms.

> Chattogram Metropolitan Police barred 329 politically (BAL) linked and criminal suspects from entering the city for up to two years, citing election security, warning violators will be detained and prosecuted. Using rare legal provisions, authorities aim to secure the port city before the February 12 national polls. (more)

> Bangladesh Bank’s decision to close nine non-bank financial institutions has put Tk 1,500 crore of capital at risk, causing panic among stock market investors. While individual depositors are assured, shareholders remain uncertain as many listed companies face potential collapse. (more)

> In 2025, Dhaka saw 643 unclaimed bodies buried across city cemeteries, including 461 at Rayerbazar and 175 at Jurain, averaging about two unidentified burials per day, while many remain unidentified due to lack of records and delayed reporting. (more)

> The Directorate of Primary Education has proposed the Tk 45,000 crore PEDP-5 project to improve learning quality, despite criticisms over high costs and poor results from previous programs. Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud stated the project lacks a proper plan and focuses too much on infrastructure. (more)

> Chief Adviser’s Press Wing reported that out of 645 incidents involving minorities in 2025, only 71 were communal, while 574 were linked to land disputes, politics, or personal enmity. (more)

> Police arrested Moshiur Rahman, alias Somrat, after CCTV footage linked him to the discovery of two charred bodies in Savar's abandoned Municipal Community Center. Authorities stated he confessed to six murders committed over the last six months, leading to a 10-day remand request today. (more)

> At least 21 people were killed and 75 injured, including 15 critically, in Spain when a high-speed train from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Córdoba and collided with an oncoming train; all survivors were rescued. (more)

> A draft Gaza Board of Peace plan proposes $1 billion for permanent membership to help rebuild Gaza, sparking criticism over US control and potential sidelining of the UN. (more)

> Elon Musk is seeking $79–$134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming OpenAI broke its nonprofit mission; the demand stems from his $38 million 2015 seed donation, though his $700 billion fortune dwarfs the claim. (more)

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