Lai, the Apple Daily founder who pleaded not guilty in the case, was convicted in December . Under the security law, a reduced penalty may be granted to those who report on offenses committed by others. Li said Chan, who started working at Apple Daily in 1996, regretted not resisting even more firmly when matters arose that made her uncomfortable. Apple Daily closure dealt a blow to Hong Kong press sceneLai founded Apple Daily in 1995, two years before Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule. Being openly critical of the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, the newspaper was well-received among pro-democracy readers.

The BMD said a mild cold wave is currently affecting Panchagarh, Kurigram and Nilphamari districts and it may continue. This marks a reduction in the number of districts under cold wave conditions compared to yesterday, indicating a gradual easing of the cold spell. The lowest temperature was recorded today 7.5 degrees Celsius at Tetulia in Panchagarh, while the highest maximum temperature yesterday was 29 degrees Celsius at Sylhet. The lowest temperature of 7.5 degrees Celsius at Tetulia in Panchagarh confirmed that the northern fringe of the country remains the cold core, influenced by cold air inflow from the Himalayan foothills. In contrast, the highest maximum temperature of 29 degrees Celsius at Sylhet yesterday reflects a warmer daytime environment in the north-eastern region.

DHAKA, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS) - A Dhaka court today set February 18 to submit a probe report in the case lodged over the Bangladesh Bank (BB) reserve heist that took place in 2016. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam set the new date as the investigation agency Criminal Investigation Department (CID) failed to submit the report today. According to the case documents, unidentified Hackers stole $101m from BB's accounts with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on February 5, 2016. However, the transfer of $20 million to Sri Lanka failed because of a spelling error by the hackers. Then Deputy Director (accounts and budgeting) of Bangladesh Bank Zobayer Bin Huda filed the case with Motijheel Police Station on March 15, 2016.

When global leaders gathered in Brazil for COP30 to discuss the future of forests, Bangladesh did not need reminding why those discussions matter. National plans such as the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 and the National Adaptation Plan recognize mangrove restoration as central to climate resilience. Protecting the Sundarbans is not a symbolic environmental act -- it is a matter of national survival. Email: [email protected]. Email: [email protected].

Xabi Alonso's reign as Real Madrid coach lasted less than eight months as the Spaniard agreed a deal to depart from the Spanish giants on Monday. At Real Madrid the squad's biggest names tend to rule the roost and despite a good start in terms of results, cracks began to show as Alonso's approach did not suit them. After being substituted in a 2-1 Clasico victory in La Liga in October, Vinicius showed his rage at Alonso. Along with the return of the stars, some of Alonso's concepts were faded out too. - Downward spiral -A 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in September was an early blot in Alonso's copy book, while even when Madrid were winning games, they were not overly convincing.

Real Madrid has ended its partnership with Xabi Alonso and promoted B team manager Álvaro Arbeloa to lead the first team, the club announced Monday. Reports of conflicts with players, including Vinícius Júnior, and ongoing locker room tensions marked his tenure. In 34 matches under Alonso, Madrid won 24, drew four, and lost six. Despite a 2-1 win over Barcelona in the season’s first clasico, Real Madrid trails the Blaugrana by four points at the halfway point of La Liga. Álvaro Arbeloa, 42, a former teammate of Alonso at Madrid and Spain, enjoyed a decorated playing career, winning eight titles with Real Madrid, including two Champions League trophies, and Spain’s 2010 World Cup and two European Championships.

Gold prices in Bangladesh soared to an all-time high as the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (Bajus) raised the price of gold by Tk4,199 per bhori, effective from Tuesday morning. Bajus announced the price hike late Monday night, citing an increase in the price of pure gold (tejabi gold) in the local market. Considering the overall market situation, the association said it has revised gold prices accordingly. Bajus last revised gold prices on January 10, when it increased the price of 22-carat gold by Tk1,050 per bhori to Tk227,856. This marks the fourth adjustment of silver prices in the local market this year, with prices increased twice and reduced twice.

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the authorities concerned not to allow elections of any organisation or association, including professional bodies, across the country before the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, 2026 - the same day as a key referendum. The Commission on Monday issued the directive in a letter sent to the returning officers. In the letter, the Commission said the 13th parliamentary election and referendum will be held on February 12, 2026, and to keep the electoral process completely free from any kind of influence, the EC has instructed that elections of all professional bodies be held after that date. The restriction will apply to elections of professional organisations, educational institutions, transport owners’ and workers’ associations, journalists’ associations, traders’ bodies, cooperative societies, trade unions and all other organisations, the letter said. The EC asked them to take necessary measures in line with the decision.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), 1989 specifies a collective commitment to protecting children’s rights. The Act was considered as a great achievement for ensuring the care and protectionand best interests of children under the juvenile justice system in Bangladesh. However, major concerns persist in establishing a truly welfare-based model in which the needs of children are prioritized. However, there are no up-to-date statistical records of how many children and young people come under the justice system. According to national and international guidelines, detention should be used only as a measure of last resort for children.

Students came out of their residential halls and marched in processions from four directions before gathering in front of the SUST Central Students’ Union (Sucsu) office. During the demonstration, protesters chanted slogans demanding the student union election be held on schedule and accused authorities of unnecessary delays. Sust unit General Secretary of Chhatra Dal, Naim Sarker, said universities are autonomous institutions with the authority to make their own decisions. Meanwhile, Sust unit Chhatra Shibir Secretary, Masud Rana Tuhin, alleged repeated delays in announcing the Sucsu election. The Sucsu election was scheduled for January 20, and candidates have already begun campaigning.

A van driver has been killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in the Jurain Balur Math area under Shyampur police station in the capital. The victim’s wife, Minara Begum, said that while Ibrahim was returning home after work at night, a speeding unidentified vehicle struck him and fled the scene, leaving him critically injured. He was immediately rescued and taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead. Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police Outpost In-charge (Inspector) Faruk Ahmed confirmed the incident, saying the body is currently being kept at the hospital’s morgue. Police are trying to identify the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has clarified that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to issue a formal response to its request to relocate Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from India, despite recent comments from Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul citing letter of ICC security team. The board stressed that this communication does not amount to an official reply to its request for relocating matches outside India. Earlier in the day, Asif Nazrul told reporters during a visit to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) House that Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup campaign had been thrown into further controversy after the ICC security team flagged several factors that could heighten security risks if the team travels to India. Nazrul said these concerns were outlined in a separate letter from the ICC security team, even as the government and cricket authorities await a formal response to two letters already sent to the ICC. The developments come as the BCB continues to push for Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 T20 World Cup to be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, pending an official response from the ICC.

This is the empire of the lens at work. The longue durée in a time of blackoutsThe Western script is seductive in its simplicity: Economic suffocation leads to protests, protests reveal a regime’s fragility, and external “liberation” becomes inevitable. His voice, amplified by Farsi-language satellite channels and social media, has become a central node in the Western narrative. As a new media alliance rises from the Global South, as Iranians navigate both internal repression and external manipulation, and as alternative corridors of trade bypass Western chokeholds, the empire of the lens finds its focus blurring. The empires of the lens, like those of clay and stone, will eventually crumble to dust.

DHAKA, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS) - The fourth day of hearings on appeals against the acceptance and cancellation of nomination papers for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections began this morning at the Election Commission (EC). The hearings started at 10:00 am Tuesday at the auditorium of the EC headquarters in Agargaon here. According to the schedule announced by the Commission, appeals numbered 211 to 280 are being heard today. Meanwhile, on Monday, the third day of hearings, 41 candidates regained their candidacy. EC officials said that over the past three days, a total of 150 candidates have regained their candidacy through the appeal hearings.

MELBOURNE, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Australia captain Alyssa Healy said on Tuesday she will to retire from cricket in March after the team's home series with India, ending a storied career. "It's with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia," said Healy, whose husband is Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc. One of the most destructive batters and finest wicketkeepers in world cricket, she has been part of eight World Cup titles. "Alyssa is one of the all-time greats of the game and has made an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field over her 15-year career," said Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg. "On behalf of Australian cricket, I'd like to thank Alyssa and congratulate her on an incredible career that has inspired so many and changed the game for the better."