Bangladesh votes amid tight security

Today's headlnes: no “definitive” agreement on Iran between Trump and Netanyahu, Israel joins the “Board of Peace” for Gaza; Headmaster of a school in southern Thailand dies after attack by armed assailant; Pakistani militants kill five police officers in north-western Pakistan; Court sentences former interior minister to seven years for his role in declaring martial law; Saudi Arabia ranks second in terms of Russian tourist arrivals, with China remaining in first place.

BANGLADESH

Polling stations have opened in Bangladesh for an election that is crucial for the country's future, its stability and its return to democracy, despite fears on the eve of the vote, particularly among minorities. The vote follows the ousting in 2024 of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after street protests led by Generation Z. The contest is between two coalitions led by former allies: the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, with the former leading in the polls, while the former prime minister's Awami League has been banned. Over 100,000 army, navy and air force soldiers are assisting 200,000 police officers in maintaining law and order.

ISRAEL - IRAN - UNITED STATES

A low-key visit, without cameras or substantial news. This is how analysts and experts are assessing yesterday's meeting at the White House between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. However, Israel's entry into the “Board of Peace” for Gaza, created by the tycoon after the signing of the agreement yesterday in Washington by Netanyahu himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been confirmed. Regarding the Iranian dossier, Trump says he has not reached a “definitive” agreement with Netanyahu on how to proceed, but negotiations with Tehran continue while the Israeli prime minister defines the security of the Jewish state as a priority.

THAILAND

Sasiphat Sinsamosorn, the headmistress of a school in southern Thailand, has died in hospital from serious injuries after being shot by a gunman who broke into the building and also wounded a student. The target was the Phatong Prathan Keeriwat School, near the city of Hat Yai, which was attacked by an 18-year-old armed with a pistol who broke in and opened fire shortly before 5 p.m. yesterday. Another young man was also injured while trying to escape. The suspect surrendered after two hours and is in police custody. The motive for the attack remains unclear, although some sources report a dispute with a teacher. Levels of armed crime are relatively high in Thailand, where legal and illegal gun ownership is widespread, with several fatal incidents. In the south, there is also the struggle for independence by Islamic extremist movements.

PAKISTAN

Militants killed five police officers yesterday in north-western Pakistan, in the latest in a series of attacks and violence by Islamic extremists. According to police sources, the attack took place on their return from an operation against fundamentalist cells on the outskirts of the city of Dera Ismail Khan. The militants, who were hiding in a forest, fired on the officers, who killed four militiamen in a subsequent retaliatory action.

SOUTH KOREA

The Seoul Central District Court today sentenced former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to seven years in prison on charges that include playing a key role in the insurrection related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in December 2024. Lee, 61, allegedly ordered police and firefighters to cut off electricity and water to the media and committed perjury by denying that he had taken these actions. The prosecutor had sought a 15-year prison sentence, while the former minister denied all charges. Lee has been in custody since August after a court approved his detention. He is the second member of Yoon's cabinet to be convicted after former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison in January.

INDIA - BANGLADESH

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the risk of the deadly Nipah virus spreading as “low” after three cases of infection were recently confirmed in India and Bangladesh. It spreads from animals to humans, has no vaccine and has a mortality rate of 40 to 75%, according to the UN health agency. Two cases were confirmed in January in West Bengal, India, while one patient died in Bangladesh last week from the virus.

RUSSIA - SAUDI ARABIA

For the first time in history, Saudi Arabia has reached second place in tourist flows to Russia. This is revealed by 2025 data released by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOP), with 744,919 Saudi citizens (+35.8% on the previous year) after China and ahead of Turkmenistan, Turkey, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, India, Iran, Kazakhstan and Belarus. In total, there are 1.6 million tourists, 4.5% more than in 2024.

CENTRAL ASIA - MONGOLIA

The Eurasian Economic Alliance (Eaes) has introduced a temporary trade agreement with Mongolia, which will make trade with Central Asian countries, and Kazakhstan in particular, much more convenient. Savings of up to 0 million are expected from the reduction in customs tariffs, as announced by Commission President Bakytžan Sagintaev after negotiations with the Chancellor of the Government of Ulan Bator, Nyam-Osoryn Uchral, on the preferences to be granted to EAEU countries.