Happy Sunday, good people!

Do you remember Bruce Wayne, the rich brat from The Dark Knight? Christian Bale, the man behind the mask, is now building a $22 million foster care village in California called Together California, designed to keep siblings in foster care under the same roof.
The idea came to him while his daughter was growing up, and after years of planning, construction finally began in 2024. The 4.67-acre village in Palmdale will include 12 homes and a large community space, with families expected to move in by 2026.

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Bangladesh Discussed with US | Iranian Protest

🤝 Bangladesh signals willingness to join Gaza stabilisation force.

In Washington, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman told US Under-Secretary Allison Hooker and Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur that Bangladesh is “in principle” ready to be part of the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for post-war Gaza, to which Hooker said U.S. is eager to work with Bangladesh on this "important matter.". The move follows a US-backed UN Security Council resolution adopted last November endorsing President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, including an ISF to oversee disarmament, collect weapons and dismantle militant infrastructure in Gaza. Pakistan has also expressed interest but said it will decide only after the force’s mandate and terms of reference are set, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said “many countries” have offered to participate.

Rahman sought exemption for Bangladeshi B-1 business visas from the new US visa bond of USD 5,000–15,000 due to take effect on January 21, and a proposal to reduce the 20% reciprocal tariff on Bangladeshi garments. Bangladesh requested continued US funding for Rohingya refugees, which Washington, the largest donor, acknowledged while urging broader burden-sharing. Following these talks, the U.S. confirmed its support for Bangladesh’s upcoming February elections and agreed to discuss the tariff reductions directly with President Trump.

👍GOOD NEWS

UN "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026" report forecasts Bangladesh's economy will grow by 4.6% in FY26, with inflation easing to 7.1%.

🚩 Bangladesh now has the highest number of recruiting agencies in South Asia with 2,646 licensed agencies—more than India's 1,988 despite India receiving $135 billion in remittances compared to Bangladesh's $31 billion in 2025. The interim government's Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, led by adviser Asif Nazrul, approved licenses for an additional 252 recruiting agencies in November 2024, despite the Economic White Paper Committee's recommendation to reduce agency numbers to ensure transparency and combat human trafficking. Experts warn that excessive agencies enable fraud through sub-agents and dalals, with 13.5 lakh crore taka reportedly moved through hundi transactions over the past decade and 19% of aspiring migrants losing money without going abroad. 

💊 Bangladesh expands its National Essential Medicines List to 295 drugs and brings them under govt-set prices after the advisory council approved both the updated list and new pricing guidelines on January 8 in Dhaka. Health Adviser Prof Md Sayedur Rahman said 135 medicines were added, covering about 80% of people’s basic treatment needs, and that prices will be fixed to reduce the burden of drug costs, which make up two-thirds of household health spending. He said companies will get four years to adjust prices, while non-essential medicines will also face government ceilings allowing only a 15% variation, and at least 25% of each firm’s production must come from the essential list.

⛽ Severe gas shortage hits Dhaka as pipeline damage disrupts supply: Residents in Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Shyamoli, New Market, Hazaribagh, Gabtoli, Mirpur, Khilgaon, Badda, and Nakhhalpara are facing very low gas pressure, forcing many to cook with electric stoves or rice cookers. Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC reported that a pipeline under the Turag River at Aminbazar was damaged by a cargo trawler anchor on 4 January, and a four-inch valve in front of Gonobhaban on Mirpur Road recently burst, while water entered the pipeline during repairs, further reducing supply. While also experiencing limited LPG availability, with 12-kg cylinders now costing 2,000–2,500 BDT. Titas said repair work and technical measures are ongoing to restore normal gas supply and expressed regret for the inconvenience to consumers.

📊Data Point

76% of candidates are highly educated, with Jamayat-e-Islami leading at 94% bachelor’s or master’s degree holders, followed by BNP at 81%. Of 1,842 validated nominations, 1,398 candidates hold bachelor’s or higher degrees, while 8% have secondary or lower education.

🤖 Google is introducing a new AI Inbox for Gmail that provides personalized summaries, suggested to-dos, and updates on important topics, replacing the traditional email list view. The AI Inbox features “Suggested to-dos” for actionable emails and “Topics to catch up on” for updates like purchases or financial statements, while AI Overviews in Gmail search allow natural language queries to quickly find relevant information. Google is also launching a Grammarly-like “Proofread” tool and expanding previously paid AI features—Help Me Write, AI Overviews for threads, and Suggested Replies—to all users. Initially available to trusted testers and paid subscribers, Google says all AI features are optional, process data in isolated environments, and do not use personal content to train foundational models.

🚨 Russia launched a major overnight attack on Ukraine using the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile for only the second time, alongside dozens of other ballistic and cruise missiles and nearly 250 drones, striking Kyiv, Lviv, and other regions. Ukrainian authorities reported four deaths, including a paramedic, and 25 injuries in Kyiv, with significant damage to residential buildings and critical energy infrastructure, leaving nearly 6,000 apartments without heat during severe winter conditions. Moscow claimed the strike targeted facilities linked to an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Putin’s residence, which Kyiv and international observers deny. Kyiv released a video of that attack.  

✊ Iranian protests continue nationwide amid mounting deaths. Anti-government demonstrations, which began in Tehran on December 28 over the failing economy, have spread to all 31 provinces, with at least 65 protesters and 21 security personnel reported killed and more than 2,300 arrests, according to U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total internet and phone blackout, labeled demonstrators as “terrorists,” and issued warnings of harsh punishment, including the death penalty, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the U.S. of instigating unrest. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has urged protesters to seize city centers, claiming his return is imminent. U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for protesters and warned Iran against using force, as hospitals report being overwhelmed with casualties.

📺: Yesterday was the homecoming day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Do not go quietly. Do not accept defeat passively. Push back with everything you have, even when the odds are against you."

— Tasnim Jara, independent candidate for Dhaka-9 constituency.

> Bangladesh has limited Indian tourist visas at Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai missions, leaving only Guwahati operational, while commercial visas continue. (more)

> European Union will deploy 200 observers to monitor Bangladesh's upcoming national election, with long-term observers already working since December and short-term observers joining February 12. (more)

> Election Commission has validated Tasnim Zara’s nomination as an independent candidate for Dhaka-9, which she regained through an appeal, thanking everyone involved in supporting her campaign. (more)

> Trump announced Washington will withdraw from 66 international bodies, including 31 UN agencies such as UNFCCC, UN Women and UNFPA, citing national interest, with funding and participation to cease. (more)

> Meta signed nuclear power deals with TerraPower, Oklo and Vistra to supply up to 6.6 gigawatts for its Ohio AI data centers, targeting delivery through 2035. (more)

> OpenAI has launched "ChatGPT Health" to provide a dedicated space for 230 million weekly users to discuss wellness. The feature integrates personal health data but is not intended for medical diagnosis. (more)

> US will provide $45 million in aid to Thailand and Cambodia for border stabilization, demining operations, and combating trafficking following last year's border clashes. (more)

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