On January 5, the most profitable private bank in Bangladesh, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL), which has been controlled by the Islamic political party Jamat-e-Islami, has brought major changes in its top brass. Including appointing pro-government secular personalities as its Chairman and Managing Director, changes were also brought about in the board of directors and management team.

9th January 2016: Syria truce under strain; Assad ready to discuss 'everything' at talks. A Syrian truce brokered by Russia and Turkey was under growing strain on Monday as rebels vowed to respond to government violations and President Bashar al-Assad said the army would retake an important rebel-held area near Damascus.

According to the author of a new Danish book, the wealth and power is growing among a few upper-class families. This is happening without notice because the families are closing in on themselves and live by “a rule of silence”, creating what the author calls a “democratic problem”.

Headlines: Australia:Secret Party Vowing to Reduce Islam Soars in Popularity Russia Hacking Claims: Trump says No Effect on Election America: 'Indus Waters Treaty Made Peaceful Cooperation Possible between India, Pakistan'