Campaigning has started in Bangladesh for its national elections set for February 12, 2026. The vote comes after the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in 2024. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus aims to ensure a fair election and proposes political reforms to prevent authoritarianism.
Key Facts
Bangladesh is preparing for its first elections since the 2024 uprising that removed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The elections are scheduled for February 12, 2026.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus leads the interim government and aims to hold a fair election.
About 170 million people in Bangladesh will elect 350 lawmakers.
Proposed reforms include more power to the presidency, term limits, and measures against corruption.
A referendum on these reforms will coincide with the elections.
Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death for crimes during the 2024 protests and is hiding in India.
Tarique Rahman, leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has returned from exile and is campaigning for the election.
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit near the border of Utah and Wyoming, affecting residents in Salt Lake City. The earthquake's epicenter was roughly 25 miles south of Evanston, Wyoming, and was noticed by nearly 1,600 people.
Key Facts
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake occurred near the Utah-Wyoming border.
The earthquake's epicenter was about 25 miles south of Evanston, Wyoming.
The quake had a depth of 8.4 miles.
Around 1,600 people reported feeling the earthquake.
Salt Lake City has a population of over 217,000 people.
The area is part of the Intermountain seismic belt, known for its earthquake activity.
The largest recorded earthquake in the area was a 6.6 magnitude quake in 1934.
President Donald Trump is meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, mentioned that the war's resolution comes down to one key issue, possibly related to Ukraine's Donbas region. Talks also involve potential security guarantees and economic plans for Ukraine's post-war future.
Key Facts
President Trump will meet Ukraine's President Zelensky in Davos on Thursday.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff believes one main issue remains to end the war in Ukraine.
Discussions may focus on Ukraine's eastern region, Donbas, possibly creating a demilitarized zone.
Trump expressed optimism, saying Putin and Zelensky might reach a deal soon.
Zelensky had postponed his Davos visit due to Russian attacks on Kyiv's infrastructure.
Zelensky mentioned that a U.S. plan to end the war was almost complete.
Talks include Ukraine's security and future economic recovery plans.
There is concern over Trump's tensions with NATO allies affecting the peace process.
A TikTok video featuring a golden retriever named Ziggy became widely popular after showing him meeting a group of puppies for the first time. Although his exact relationship to the puppies is unclear, Ziggy's excitement and gentle behavior made a strong impression on viewers. The American Kennel Club provides guidelines for introducing male dogs to puppies, emphasizing careful and controlled interactions.
Key Facts
Ziggy, a golden retriever, became popular in a TikTok video meeting puppies.
The video gathered over 991,000 views.
Ziggy showed excitement and gentle behavior around the puppies.
It's unclear if Ziggy is biologically related to the puppies.
Male dogs typically don't take on caregiving roles with newborn puppies.
The American Kennel Club advises controlled introductions of fathers to puppies after they are 4-6 weeks old.
Many viewers praised Ziggy's affection and restraint in the video.
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos. They discussed issues including a request from Zelensky for more air defense missiles. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
President Trump and President Zelensky met during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Zelensky requested additional air defense missiles from the U.S.
Steve Witkoff, an envoy, and Jared Kushner are visiting Moscow to meet with President Putin.
This visit to Russia is part of efforts to address the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Witkoff mentioned that the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine had narrowed down to one issue.
Witkoff expressed optimism about resolving the conflict.
A new TV show called "Elle," which is a prequel to the movie "Legally Blonde," is getting a second season even before the first one airs. The first season, made by Reese Witherspoon’s company and Amazon's MGM Studios, will start on July 1 on Prime Video. It explores the early years of the main character, Elle Woods, before she became a lawyer.
Key Facts
The TV show "Elle" is a prequel to the 2001 movie "Legally Blonde."
The series will air on Prime Video starting July 1.
Actress Lexi Minetree will play a young Elle Woods.
Reese Witherspoon's company, Hello Sunshine, is producing the show.
The first season focuses on Elle Woods's high school years.
A second season is already confirmed before the first season has aired.
Reese Witherspoon played Elle Woods in the original "Legally Blonde" movie.
A woman in Georgia filmed her 12-year-old dog named Ryder experiencing what her vet later diagnosed as a focal seizure. The video, shared on TikTok, showed Ryder acting stiff and unresponsive but later improving after a trip to the vet. The vet advised monitoring Ryder closely and explained that another seizure could happen again or not at all.
Key Facts
Ryder is a 12-year-old dog who became stiff and unresponsive as his owner was leaving for work.
His owner, Karen Kriegbaum, thought Ryder might be dying when he didn't respond to his name.
Kriegbaum's son, Mikey, managed to get a response from Ryder, who wagged his tail when Mikey entered the room.
A vet diagnosed Ryder with a focal seizure, which affects a specific area of the brain.
Focal seizures can cause symptoms like stiffness and dazed behavior but often resolve on their own.
The vet found Ryder to be generally healthy, aside from mild arthritis and glaucoma.
The TikTok video of Ryder has received over 124,000 views and many supportive comments.
The nominations for the 98th annual Oscars have been announced, with some unexpected results. The film "Sinners" set a record with 16 nominations, while several expected nominees were snubbed. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026.
Key Facts
"Sinners," directed by Ryan Coogler, received 16 Oscar nominations, the most ever for a film.
"Wicked: For Good" received no nominations, despite previous nominations for major awards.
The third "Avatar" film, which made $1.3 billion worldwide, did not get a Best Picture nomination.
Paul Mescal was not nominated for his role in "Hamnet," despite expectations.
Kate Hudson received a surprise nomination for Best Actress for "Song Sung Blue."
Elle Fanning was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Sentimental Value."
Timothée Chalamet made history as the youngest man to receive three Oscar nominations.
The Oscars ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026.
A viral TikTok video shows a dog named Harlow jumping onto a bed, excited to see his favorite human. However, Harlow discovers it's not his favorite person, leading to a disappointed reaction. This highlights how dogs may show preference for one person over another based on factors like temperament and time spent together.
Key Facts
A TikTok video features a dog named Harlow, who is a Labrador retriever mix.
The video went viral, receiving over 7.7 million views and 1.9 million likes.
Harlow jumps on the bed expecting his favorite human, but finds another, showing disappointment.
Dogs often have a favorite human based on temperament, emotional cues, time, and scent.
Dogs may prefer the person who offers more fun or positive experiences.
The American Kennel Club explains reasons behind dogs' preferences for certain people.
Users on TikTok shared similar experiences of being the "backup human."
A pro-Palestine activist named Umer Khalid has been on a hunger strike in a UK prison for 13 days and plans to stop drinking any fluids. Khalid is protesting for immediate bail, better prison conditions, and an inquiry into British involvement in Gaza. He is one of several activists linked to incidents at a UK airbase involving Palestine Action, a group the government has labeled a "terrorist" organization.
Key Facts
Umer Khalid is a pro-Palestine activist on hunger strike in a UK prison.
He plans to start refusing fluids on top of his 13-day hunger strike.
Khalid's demands include immediate bail, better prison conditions, and an inquiry into British involvement in Gaza.
Khalid and his group, Palestine Action, are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton airbase and causing damage.
The UK government considers Palestine Action a "terrorist" organization due to past activities.
The hunger strike by Khalid and other activists is meant to draw attention to their cause and demands.
Three other activists recently ended their hunger strikes, claiming some level of success in their goals.
Singer Meghan Trainor and actor Daryl Sabara welcomed their third child, Mikey Moon, through a surrogate on January 18. Trainor faced online criticism for using a surrogate, with many people discussing the broader topic of surrogacy and its implications. Trainor stated she chose surrogacy after medical advice, saying it was the safest option for expanding her family.
Key Facts
Meghan Trainor had her third child, Mikey Moon, via a surrogate.
The child was born on January 18, 2025.
Trainor faced criticism online for using a surrogate.
Public discussions about surrogacy often center on ethical and financial issues.
Trainor's decision for surrogacy came after medical discussions.
She expressed gratitude for having the option of surrogacy.
The Instagram photo Trainor shared with her baby also received mixed reactions.
The topic of surrogacy often leads to widespread debate on social media.
Ryan Coogler's film "Sinners" set a new record by receiving 16 nominations for the 98th Academy Awards. This broke the previous record of 14 nominations held by films such as "Titanic." The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15 in Los Angeles.
Key Facts
"Sinners," a film directed by Ryan Coogler, received 16 Oscar nominations, setting a new record.
The previous record for most nominations was 14, held by films like "Titanic."
"One Battle After Another" received the second most nominations, with 13.
"Sinners" includes nominations for best picture, best director, and best actor for Michael B. Jordan.
Warner Bros. had a strong showing with "Sinners" and "One Battle After Another" among its nominations.
Warner Bros. is in the process of being sold to Netflix for $72 billion.
The Academy Awards will occur on March 15 and be broadcast live on ABC and Hulu.
The UK has decided not to join President Donald Trump's proposed Board of Peace due to concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin's potential involvement. The board, aimed at addressing global peace issues, is being discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Several countries have expressed interest in joining, but the UK is hesitant due to broader issues and Putin's ongoing actions in Ukraine.
Key Facts
The UK was invited to join President Trump's Board of Peace but chose not to sign up at this time.
The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, cited concerns over Vladimir Putin's possible involvement.
The board is intended to address global peace and could take over some functions of the United Nations.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel have agreed to join the board.
President Trump stated that Putin accepted an invitation, but Putin has not confirmed this.
The UK supports Trump's plan to end the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza but worries about broader issues.
UK is concerned about Putin's role due to Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
President Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos to discuss the war in Ukraine.
Netflix is releasing a new documentary titled "The Investigation of Lucy Letby" on February 4, 2026. The film covers the story of Lucy Letby, a British neonatal nurse found guilty of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven more. This documentary includes exclusive footage and firsthand accounts from people involved in the case.
Key Facts
Netflix will release "The Investigation of Lucy Letby" on February 4, 2026.
Lucy Letby is a British nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill seven others.
The film will include unseen footage from Letby's arrests and police interviews.
The documentary features interviews with British police who worked on the case and legal experts.
The film is the first to include public testimony from the mother of one victim.
Dominic Sivyer directed the documentary and announced it via Instagram.
The documentary will require a Netflix subscription, with plans starting at $7.99 per month.
A trailer for the documentary is available on Netflix's platforms.
Ryan Coogler's movie 'Sinners' set a new record by getting 16 Academy Award nominations, the most ever for one film. This movie, which includes themes about America's racial history, got nominations in major categories like best picture, director, and actor.
Key Facts
'Sinners' is directed by Ryan Coogler.
The film received 16 Oscar nominations.
It set a new record for the most nominations for a single movie.
Previous record holders with 14 nominations each were 'All About Eve,' 'Titanic,' and 'La La Land.'
The film covers themes related to America's racial history.
It received nominations in major categories including best picture, director, and actor.
The movie also got nominations for technical categories like cinematography and the Oscars' new casting award.
Two people died, and several others are missing after landslides hit New Zealand's North Island, triggered by recent heavy rains. Rescue teams are searching in areas like Welcome Bay and Mount Maunganui, where the landslides caused significant destruction. A state of emergency is in effect, with power outages affecting thousands.
Key Facts
Two people have died due to landslides in New Zealand's North Island.
Several individuals are missing, including at least one young girl.
Heavy rains caused flooding, which led to the landslides and power outages.
Rescuers are actively searching damaged areas, such as Mount Maunganui.
A state of emergency has been declared in affected areas, including Bay of Plenty.
Mount Maunganui is a popular campsite and sacred Māori site hit by landslides before.
Some 8,000 residents lost power due to the adverse weather conditions.
The family of Chloe Mitchell, who was killed in 2023 in Northern Ireland, is experiencing distress due to a strike by barristers, which has delayed court trials, including the one for her accused murderer. The strike involves a disagreement over legal fees and means that some Crown Court cases cannot proceed. The Justice Minister is trying to resolve the situation, but families affected by the delays are asking for a quick solution.
Key Facts
Chloe Mitchell was killed in Ballymena in June 2023, and her remains were found nearly a week after she went missing.
The man accused of her murder is supposed to go on trial in February, but the trial is delayed due to a barristers' strike over legal fees.
The strike started on January 5 and affects Crown Court cases involving people who need legal aid in Northern Ireland.
Chloe’s family is asking for the dispute to be settled soon to prevent more trauma from trial delays.
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, plans to meet with Chloe's family and is working to resolve the strike.
The strike impacts other murder trials, including that of Natalie McNally, who was also killed in 2022.
The Criminal Bar Association says the strike is a last resort and is trying to engage with the Department of Justice to end it.
Chloe’s family is feeling additional distress, with her mother struggling since Chloe's death and being unable to attend court dates.
Japan temporarily stopped the operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant shortly after restarting it due to an alarm issue. The plant is the largest of its kind in the world and this occurred during a reactor start-up. The reactor is stable, and there is no radioactive danger reported.
Key Facts
Japan suspended operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant shortly after its restart.
An alarm was triggered during the reactor start-up, but the reactor stayed stable.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's largest nuclear power plant by capacity.
All Japanese nuclear reactors were shut down after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Reactor number six was restarted, marking the first since the Fukushima incident.
The plant's operator, Tepco, is investigating the cause of the alarm.
There is no reported radioactive impact outside from the incident.
Japan aims to restart more reactors to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050.
President Donald Trump announced a framework deal regarding Greenland at the World Economic Forum in Davos, easing tensions between the U.S., Denmark, and NATO. Trump declared the deal a success, and it removed the threat of military action against Greenland. The situation calmed global markets and strengthened Arctic security plans.
Key Facts
President Trump revealed a new framework deal related to Greenland at the Davos conference.
The deal ended a four-day crisis involving global market instability and NATO concerns.
Trump claimed the deal benefits the U.S., although details remain unclear.
Denmark and Greenland avoided military conflict and affirmed Greenland's sovereignty.
Europe avoided a trade war and used the situation to reduce reliance on the U.S.
Markets responded positively as Trump's tariff threats diminished and stocks improved.
The World Economic Forum in Davos played a key role in resolving the crisis.
Guinea-Bissau's military government has announced that national elections will occur on December 6, after a coup ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embalo last year. The military set a one-year transition period and barred its leader from running in the elections. West African leaders have urged for a quick and clear transition to civilian rule.
Key Facts
A coup in November 2022 removed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo from power in Guinea-Bissau.
The military, led by Major-General Horta Inta-a, is overseeing a transition period.
Legislative and presidential elections are scheduled for December 6, 2023.
Inta-a, now head of the military government, is not allowed to run for election.
The coup aimed to prevent violence between political supporters, according to the military.
Guinea-Bissau is a nation of 2.2 million people and has a history of instability and coups.
The country is known as a drug trafficking hub, which has worsened its political issues.
An ECOWAS delegation recently visited to push for a speedy and structured transition.
