Every year, we witness a most troubling pattern: Unscrupulous traders exploiting heightened demand to drive up the cost of staples. This is one of the reasons that our ongoing battle with inflation has been so damaging to the country. Food security should never be a luxury for any nation and is indeed the most basic responsibility of the state. Nothing is more important than ensuring that every individual in Bangladesh has food to eat. The guarantee that every citizen can afford a simple meal is far more important than any economic growth numbers.

Bangladesh aligns itself fully with the collective resolve of the OIC to uphold international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, and the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. The Extraordinary Session was convened to deliberate on recent developments concerning Israel’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” and its implications for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as broader regional and international ramifications. During his intervention, Adviser Touhid urged the OIC to categorically reject and condemn Israel's recognition of the so-called "Somaliland" and reaffirm, in the strongest possible terms, its full and unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. He underscored the sovereignty of OIC Member States is non-negotiable, stresaing that illegal negotiations will not be tolerated and that Justce, international law, and multilateralism must prevail over unilateralism and coercion. The meeting also reaffirmed continued solidarity with the Palestinian people and the centrality of the Palestinian cause to the OIC.

EPUYEN, Argentina, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A major forest fire in southern Argentina has burned more than 5,500 hectares, authorities said Saturday, as hundreds of firefighters and volunteers battled to contain the blaze threatening small communities. The governor of the surrounding Chubut province, Ignacio Torres, said on social media that 5,500 hectares had already burned and warned the next 48 hours would be critical due to adverse weather. Firefighters in Argentina face growing challenges from climate change, which brings higher temperatures and lower humidity, while having to accept low wages following government spending cuts. Fires are active in other Patagonian provinces, including Neuquen, Rio Negro and Santa Cruz. The region lost 32,000 hectares to wildfires in early 2025.

Little information is filtering out after an internet shutdown, with monitor NetBlocks showing virtually no connectivity since Thursday. US President Donald Trump said his country was "ready to help" the movement, after warning Iran was in "big trouble" over its efforts to suppress the protests. Other videos, that AFP could not immediately verify, showed demonstrations in other parts of the capital where protesters shouted anti-government slogans. The demonstrations have posed one of the biggest challenges to the theocratic authorities who have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. On Saturday, the start of the working week in Iran, one man in Tehran said he was unable to check his work email.

In Xushui, a district in Hebei roughly 100 kilometres (62 miles) outside Beijing, villagers told AFP they avoided turning on the heating because it drained their incomes. Spending 1,000 yuan ($143) per month on heat -- no one can stand that," a resident in his 60s told AFP at a farmers' market. "But it's not the same in the village," she told AFP. Villagers told AFP they felt the huge price gap was unfair. A local Xushui government platform said in 2017 that some households would be eligible to receive 300 yuan in gas subsidies.

AI toys look for bright side after troubled startLAS VEGAS, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Toy makers at the Consumer Electronics Show were adamant about being careful to ensure that their fun creations infused with generative artificial intelligence don't turn naughty. When PIRG tested the toy for the report, "they used some words children would not use," Wang Le said. - Caution advised -The rapid advancement of generative AI since ChatGPT's arrival has paved the way for a new generation of smart toys. "At the very least, parents should be cautious," Rory Erlich of PIRG said about having chatbot-enabled toys in the house. Olli, which specializes in integrating AI into toys, has programmed its software to alert parents when inappropriate words or phrases are spoken during exchanges with built-in bots.

MUMBAI, India, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - India is aggressively seeking trade deals to open markets for exporters and soften the blow of steep US tariffs, as efforts to secure an agreement with Washington remain elusive. If successful, India would have trade arrangements with "almost every major economy", said Ajay Srivastava, from the New Delhi-based Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). "The strategy was a reaction, as I read it, to what Trump did," trade economist Biswajit Dhar told AFP. India's apparel export promotion council projects that the UK trade deal could help double garment exports to Britain over the next three years. But exporters caution that alternative markets cannot fully replace the United States, with Raghavan saying a US deal is "paramount".

BGB distributed winter clothes among 125 distressed border residents in Maheshpur to ease cold-related suffering. Photo : BSSJHENAIDAH, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS) - The 58th Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) distributed winter clothes to the distressed and helpless people living in the border area of Maheshpur upazila in the district, aimed at alleviating the suffering caused by the cold weather. The distribution programme was held at Khosalpur Government Primary School ground on Saturday evening, where winter clothes were provided to 125 people, a BGB press release said. Rafiqul Alam (PBGM), commander of BGB-58 Battalion, was present at the event as the chief guest and distributed the clothes. Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the BGB for providing essential relief during the harsh winter conditions.

VILA-REAL, Spain, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Villarreal eased to a 3-1 victory over Alaves on Saturday to move clear of Atletico Madrid in third in La Liga and stay in contention to win the Spanish title. Villarreal climbed three points ahead of Atletico and within four of second-placed Real Madrid, who have both also played an extra game. Top two Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday in Saudi Arabia. "In the second half we had put together some superb moves, and we scored three beautiful goals." Marcelino's side grabbed the third through Georgia striker Mikautadze's delightful chipped finish after Moleiro played him in.

AsaduzzamanSATKHIRA, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS) - Mustard flower honey cultivation is emerging as a promising economic activity in Satkhira, with growing popularity among farmers and beekeepers and significant potential for employment generation and export earnings. From these, authorities expect to produce approximately 75 metric tons of mustard flower honey. Currently, mustard flower honey is being sold at Taka 15,000 to Taka 17,000 per maund. Beekeeper Amirul Gazi said mustard honey is collected for about four months a year, from December to April, when flowers bloom extensively. With government cooperation, mustard flower honey can be exported abroad, earning significant foreign exchange,” he said.

What was appearing to be a Cornell power play late in a 2-2 game would instead evolve into four-on-four play instead. 14 men’s hockey secured a 5-2 win and a series sweep against the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday night, extending its record at Lynah Rink in 2025-2026 to a perfect 8-0. After Castagna’s breakaway goal made it 3-2 with 1:19 to play, the Red added two empty-net goals to cap off three Cornell tallies in 58 seconds. “I thought we played a better game tonight [than] last night,” said head coach Casey Jones ’90. After opting to take its timeout earlier in the period, Alaska made it a 1-1 game just 4:41 into the second.

ADEN, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The head of Yemen's Presidential Council on Saturday said all military forces in southern Yemen will now operate under the command of the Saudi-led coalition, following a failed offensive by separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates. "I announce the formation of a Supreme Military Committee under the command of the coalition forces," the leader of the Saudi-backed council Rashad Al-Alimi said in a televised address. He said the committee would be responsible for "training, equipping, and directing all military forces and formations" in southern Yemen. The announcement comes a few days after Yemeni forces supported by Saudi Arabia recaptured large swathes of territory from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists, who seized two key provinces in December. Yemen's internationally recognised government is headquartered in Aden, even as the city remains a stronghold for the STC.

SEOUL, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister has demanded a detailed "explanation" from Seoul over a drone it accused South Korea of flying over its territory, state media reported Sunday. The North alleged on Saturday that the craft crossed from the South Korean border county of Ganghwa into the North Korean city of Kaesong in early January, and released photos of wreckage from the drone it claimed to have shot down. Seoul rejected the allegation, with its defence ministry saying the drone was not a model operated by its military. But Kim said she did not care whether it was a military or civilian drone, saying "that is not the one (detail) we want to know". "Clear is just the fact that the drone from the ROK violated the airspace of our country," she added, according to KCNA.

KSAR EL KEBIR, Morocco, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Achraf Hakimi is an idol across Africa Cup of Nations host country Morocco, but there is a particularly strong feeling of pride in Ksar El Kebir, his mother's home town. The mother of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Hakimi was born there before emigrating in her youth to Spain, where the current African footballer of the year was born in 1998. Residents of Ksar El Kebir who spoke to AFP said their affection for Hakimi was not only down to the family ties to the city, but also to the player's own values. Some critics accused local officials of using Hakimi's visit for political means. The people of Ksar El Kebir are now keenly awaiting Morocco's next game, as the hosts prepare for the Cup of Nations semi-finals on Wednesday.

Soon afterwards, at least 3,000 people were killed when the military crushed protests against its authoritarian rule -- a catalyst moment for Suu Kyi. Her National League for Democracy party nonetheless surged to a landslide election victory in 1990. Suu Kyi spent around 15 of the following 20 years in detention, largely at her Yangon home where she often roused crowds with speeches over her boundary wall. The junta offered to end her imprisonment at any time if she left the country permanently, but Suu Kyi refused and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while detained in 1991. Suu Kyi travelled to The Hague to rebut charges of genocide against them at the UN's top court in 2019 -- tanking her reputation on the international circuit.