Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to holding the general election and referendum on February 12, according to an official statement released Wednesday. Yunus made the remarks during a late-night meeting on Tuesday at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka with two former senior US diplomats, Albert Gombis and Morse Tan, who served during the Donald Trump administration.

He acknowledged the widespread circulation of misinformation and deliberate attempts to create confusion around the election process but emphasized that the Interim Government remains resolute in its decision to proceed with the polls as scheduled. “Regardless of what anyone says, the election will be held on February 12 — neither earlier nor later,” Yunus stated, assuring that the vote would be free, fair, peaceful, and conducted in a celebratory atmosphere. The Chief Adviser further stressed that the Interim Government would maintain strict neutrality during the election period, ensuring fair administration and equal opportunities for all political parties.

Gombis, a former Acting Under Secretary of State, and Tan, a former Ambassador-at-Large, are visiting Bangladesh ahead of the pivotal elections. During their hour-long discussion, the participants covered a broad range of issues including the upcoming elections, the July Revolution and its aftermath, youth activism, the July Charter and referendum, misinformation targeting the polls, the Rohingya crisis, and the potential for truth and reconciliation in post-July Bangladesh.

Yunus said his government is actively advocating for a “Yes” vote in the referendum, noting that public approval of the July Charter would mark the beginning of a new democratic era and eliminate any future possibility of authoritarian rule. He added that supporters of the former autocratic regime were behind much of the fake news campaign but noted that citizens are becoming increasingly capable of identifying AI-generated misinformation. Gombis agreed that disinformation has become one of the major threats to democracy globally and called for stronger measures to counter it. Both diplomats praised Yunus for his leadership in guiding the nation over the past 18 months.

When asked about the feasibility of a truth and reconciliation process similar to post-apartheid South Africa, Yunus said such an initiative was not currently possible in Bangladesh due to the former regime’s refusal to acknowledge its actions. He noted that truth and reconciliation require admission of wrongdoing, remorse, and a supportive environment — conditions he said were still absent. SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@ChiefAdviserGoB.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe at noon today to express serious concern over a recent incident in which gunfire from Myanmar targeted Bangladesh near Whykong Union in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. A 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl was seriously injured during the cross-border shooting, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Bangladesh emphasized that the unprovoked attack constitutes a clear violation of international law and undermines good neighborly relations. The ministry urged Myanmar to take full responsibility and implement measures to prevent such cross-border incidents in the future, stressing that conflicts between Myanmar authorities and armed groups must not endanger the lives and livelihoods of people in Bangladesh. The Myanmar ambassador assured that his government would act to prevent such incidents and expressed sincere sympathy for the injured girl and her family.

Bangladesh shares a 271 km (168-mile) eastern border with Myanmar, which runs through forests and rivers and is largely unmarked. Villagers frequently cross the border to collect firewood or engage in small-scale trade, as has been done for generations. Myanmar has been identified as the world’s most dangerous country for landmine casualties. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the use of landmines in Myanmar has risen sharply, with over 2,000 casualties reported in 2024—double the previous year.

Over a million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar also live near Bangladesh’s border, caught between Myanmar’s military and separatist forces. Bangladesh authorities reported at least 28 landmine injuries in 2025, including a border guard killed in November when a mine explosion severed both his legs. While the border force has put up warning signs, red flags, and conducts regular mine-clearance operations, villagers continue to face danger, as survival often depends on entering mine-laden forests.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad, marking the Chancellor’s first official visit to India. The two-day visit coincides with the celebrations of 75 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, aiming to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

The meeting at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation across trade, investment, technology, education, skilling, and mobility, while also exploring collaboration in defense, security, science, innovation, research, and sustainable development.

Prior to the talks, PM Modi welcomed Chancellor Merz to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, where they paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, with Merz also signing the visitors’ book. The leaders then jointly inaugurated the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront, highlighting the cultural and diplomatic significance of the visit, and flew a kite featuring Lord Hanuman.

The German Chancellor’s visit, from January 12 to 13, builds on prior high-level engagements, including discussions with PM Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where both leaders agreed to further expand the bilateral strategic partnership. During that meeting, PM Modi invited Chancellor Merz to visit India officially. On January 13, Chancellor Merz will visit Bosch, Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), before departing for Germany. The visit also serves as a precursor to the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, met with Tomasi Tunabuna, Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, on Friday at Krishi Bhawan to discuss ongoing collaboration and explore future areas of cooperation, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

The ministers held productive talks on various issues of mutual interest. They agreed to extend the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for another five years and to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to further bilateral cooperation. Key areas discussed included student exchanges, training and capacity-building programs, technology sharing for small-scale machinery, and digital agriculture tools. The discussions also focused on enhancing research infrastructure, genetic exchange initiatives, and sharing knowledge to reduce food loss and waste.

Minister Chouhan shared details of the meeting on X, highlighting India’s historical ties with Fiji, strengthened by mutual respect, cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people connections. He emphasized that both nations recognize agriculture and food security as crucial areas of bilateral engagement.

The Fijian delegation included CharanJeath Singh, Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and the Sugar Industry; Jagannath Sami, High Commissioner of Fiji; Vinesh Kumar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sugar; Nitya Reddy, Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Corporation; and Paulo Daurewa, Counsellor at the High Commission of Fiji. Representing India were Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; M. L. Jat, Secretary of DARE; and other senior officials.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@ChouhanShivraj.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan on January 13–14 for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The leaders are scheduled to meet in Nara City on January 13, followed by a dinner, where discussions are expected to cover regional and global matters, as well as economic and social issues. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Michiyo Ishida, CNA’s senior correspondent, for more details.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Singapore’s “dead birds” hotline recorded its highest number of reports last year, reflecting a growing toll of birds killed after colliding with glass surfaces on buildings. The museum notes that the problem is expanding beyond sheer numbers, now affecting newer and sometimes rarer species as urban development intensifies. The report explores the causes behind these collisions, the reasons bird-friendly architecture has yet to become common practice, and the practical solutions—such as specially treated glass and façade modifications—that could significantly reduce bird deaths. Andrea Heng and Rani Samtani discuss these issues with Dr Tan Yen Yi, Research Fellow at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party has selected 46-year-old academic Yodchanan Wongsawat, a nephew of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as its leading candidate for the premiership in the February election. The move brings the influential Shinawatra family back into focus as Thailand grapples with deadly border clashes with Cambodia and internal challenges within the party. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the implications of his candidacy for party cohesion, border security, and the country’s political trajectory with Kevin Hewison, Emeritus Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Starting 6 pm tomorrow (13 Dec 2025), train commuters can check a single webpage for updates on trip delays. Daniel Martin talks with Professor Raymond Ong, Transport Analyst and Deputy Head (Research) at NUS’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.