China has confirmed receiving an invitation from the United States to join President Donald Trump’s proposed ‘Peace Board’. The announcement was made in Beijing on Tuesday by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a regular press briefing. Guo stated that China had received the invitation but did not clarify whether Beijing would accept it.

The board was initially conceived to oversee the reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza region. However, its charter does not specify whether its activities will be limited to Palestinian-controlled areas. According to available information, Washington has invited leaders from several countries to join the initiative. Under the proposed structure, President Donald Trump would serve as the board’s chair, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney among its members.

Guo Jiakun also commented on China–U.S. relations, noting that despite fluctuations over the past year, ties have remained relatively stable. He emphasized that cooperation benefits both nations, while conflict harms both sides.

Nine people have been confirmed dead following an explosion at a steel plant in China’s northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to state media reports on Tuesday. The incident occurred over the weekend at the Baogang United Steel plant, where a water and steam tank with a capacity of 650 cubic meters reportedly exploded. At least 84 people were hospitalized after the blast, and one person remains missing as rescue teams continue search operations.

Videos circulating on social media showed the plant’s collapsed roof, debris, and thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Firefighting vehicles were deployed to the site, and footage captured a large object being hurled into the air during the explosion. Residents living several kilometers away said the blast shook their homes and shattered windows.

The report noted that China has experienced several major industrial accidents in the past, including a fireworks factory explosion in Hunan Province last June that killed nine people and a 2015 chemical warehouse blast in Tianjin that claimed more than 170 lives.

The US Embassy in Dhaka announced on Tuesday that Bangladeshi students studying in the United States under F or M visas are exempt from the newly introduced visa bond requirement. According to the embassy’s statement, the bond applies only to business or tourism (B1/B2) visa applicants in specific cases.

The clarification follows an earlier embassy notice issued on Monday, which stated that from January 21, Bangladeshi citizens approved for business or tourism visas must deposit up to 15,000 US dollars as a visa bond to prevent overstaying. The embassy also noted that those holding valid B1/B2 visas issued before January 21 are not subject to this condition. Applicants were cautioned not to pay the bond before their interview, as early payment does not guarantee visa approval and may expose them to fraudulent third-party websites.

The embassy further stated that the bond amount would be refunded if visa conditions are properly followed. The US Department of State had earlier listed Bangladesh among 38 countries whose citizens may be required to post such a bond when applying for entry to the United States.

A high-speed train operated by Irio derailed and collided with an oncoming train in Adamuz, Andalusia, on Sunday night, killing 40 people and injuring more than 120. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced three days of national mourning following what has become the country’s deadliest rail disaster since 2013.

Regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said rescue operations were still underway and that it could take 24 to 48 hours to confirm the final death toll. Heavy machinery was deployed to remove damaged carriages. Irio stated that the train had been inspected three days earlier and was nearly new, while Renfe president Álvaro Fernández Heredia suggested the cause was likely a mechanical or track fault rather than human error or excessive speed.

Survivors described the crash as a terrifying experience, and local residents rushed to assist with water, blankets, and rescue tools. Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

A massive pileup involving more than 100 vehicles occurred on Interstate 196 in Michigan on Monday morning, January 19, amid a severe snowstorm and whiteout conditions. The crash took place near Ottawa County, about 24 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, prompting authorities to close a 10-mile stretch of the highway between Hudsonville and Zeeland for several hours. According to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, at least 10 people were injured, though none critically, and around two dozen semitrucks were involved. No deaths were reported.

Michigan officials said the region experienced heavy snowfall, strong winds, and poor road conditions throughout the day. The National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids had earlier warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to the Arctic cold front affecting the Great Lakes area. By 6 p.m., the sheriff’s office confirmed that the highway had been cleared and reopened to traffic.

Experts noted that subfreezing temperatures cause ice buildup on roads, significantly increasing accident risks, as even four-wheel-drive vehicles struggle to stop on slippery surfaces.

Iran and Bolivia have withdrawn visa-free travel privileges for Indian passport holders, even as India’s position in the Henley Passport Index 2026 improved from 85th to 80th place. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that Iran made visas mandatory from November 22, 2025, after reports that criminal groups exploited visa exemptions to lure Indians with false job offers and later kidnapped them for ransom. Indian travelers must now apply for a visa before visiting or transiting through Iran, and authorities have urged caution against agents offering visa-free transit.

Bolivia has also revised its visa policy for Indians, replacing its previous visa-on-arrival system with a mandatory electronic visa. Applicants must complete the process online by submitting documents and paying the required fee, with the e-visa issued digitally for travel use. In 2025, Bolivia had introduced visa-on-arrival for Indians, allowing entry without prior approval, which effectively functioned as a visa-free arrangement.

These policy changes come as India’s global travel access improves overall, but with new restrictions from two countries affecting Indian travelers’ mobility.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join the ‘Board of Peace,’ a new initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee global conflict resolution and Gaza’s governance and reconstruction. The invitation was reported on January 19 by Al Jazeera. The move comes as uncertainty deepens over the end of the Ukraine war, which continues despite Trump’s earlier pledge to halt it within 24 hours of taking office.

According to White House sources, the board will be chaired by Trump and include influential leaders and figures from around the world. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin received the invitation and said Moscow is discussing the proposal’s details with Washington, though he did not comment on whether Putin intends to participate. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has also reportedly been invited.

The ‘Board of Peace’ is part of Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending Israel’s war in Gaza and establishing a post-war governance structure. Analysts have criticized the initiative for allegedly giving top roles to controversial figures like Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, while limiting Palestinians to lower-level administrative positions.

At least seven people were killed and more than twenty others injured in a powerful explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. The blast occurred on Monday, January 19, in the Shahr-e-Naw area, which is known for housing foreign residents and is considered one of the city’s relatively secure zones. Taliban officials confirmed the incident through news agencies AFP and Reuters, stating that further details would be released later.

The Italian NGO Emergency, which operates a hospital in Kabul, reported that the explosion took place near its facility. The organization said twenty victims were brought to its surgical center, seven of whom were already dead upon arrival. The cause of the explosion has not yet been disclosed.

Since the Taliban took power following the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces, the frequency of explosions in Kabul has decreased. However, Islamic State–linked militant groups remain active in Afghanistan and have continued to carry out sporadic attacks, including several suicide bombings in 2025.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid a brief two-hour visit to India, arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport where he was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The UAE leader was given a red-carpet welcome and guard of honor before attending a significant meeting with Modi, according to the report.

Despite the short duration, international relations experts described the visit as diplomatically important. Cooperation between India and the UAE has recently expanded in defense, trade, energy, and regional security sectors. During the visit, photographs showed Modi and Sheikh Mohammed smiling together in a car, reflecting the cordial nature of their meeting.

Prime Minister Modi also referred to Sheikh Mohammed as a “brother” in a post on social media platform X, signaling the close and friendly ties between the two nations.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose higher tariffs on countries opposing Washington’s attempt to take control of Greenland. Starmer said the move was “completely wrong” and emphasized that only the people of Greenland and Denmark have the right to decide the island’s future. The UK is among the nations targeted by Trump’s proposed tariffs.

Trump announced that countries opposing his Greenland plan—including the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland—would face an additional 10 percent tariff starting February 1, which could rise to 25 percent by June 1. The White House stated that the United States needs Greenland for its own and global security, and Trump has not ruled out the use of military force.

Starmer ruled out retaliatory tariffs, saying no side wants a trade war. In a separate letter to Norway’s prime minister, Trump wrote that since he had not received a Nobel Prize, he felt no obligation to act purely for peace.

At least 14 people have been confirmed dead and more than 50 remain missing after a massive fire broke out at Gul Plaza Shopping Mall on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi, Pakistan. The blaze began late Saturday night and took firefighters nearly 36 hours to bring under control, allowing rescue teams to enter the building and recover victims. Police Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza said eight more bodies were recovered on Sunday evening, raising the death toll from six to 14.

Authorities are using mobile phone data and contacting families to locate between 54 and 59 missing individuals. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who visited the site on Monday, described the situation as a national tragedy, noting that more than 70 people were still unaccounted for. Officials have warned that the building remains structurally unsafe and could collapse at any time.

Rescue operations resumed later on Monday as flames continued in one section of the mall. The incident recalls Karachi’s 2012 garment factory fire that killed 260 people, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the city’s commercial complexes.

At least 39 people were killed and about 100 injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain’s Andalusia region on Sunday evening, January 19, 2026. The crash occurred near the town of Adamuz when a Malaga-to-Madrid train derailed and entered the opposite track, colliding with another oncoming train. Both trains derailed, carrying over 400 passengers in total.

Andalusia’s emergency services reported that 73 people were hospitalized, including 24 in critical condition and four children among them. Rescue teams said the wreckage was severely twisted, making recovery operations dangerous. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed sorrow, calling it a night of deep grief for the nation. Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the crash as highly unusual but said the official cause remains unknown, with investigations expected to take at least a month.

Following the accident, all rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended, and train operations will remain halted through Monday as recovery and investigation efforts continue.

Large demonstrations took place across several US cities on Sunday as Iranian expatriates protested against Iran’s deadly suppression of anti-government movements and expressed solidarity with demonstrators inside the country. According to AFP, thousands marched in Los Angeles, home to the world’s largest Iranian diaspora, while hundreds gathered in New York. Protesters carried placards reading messages such as “New Holocaust,” “Ongoing Genocide,” and calls to end the Iranian government’s “terror.” One participant, Pery Faraj, said his cousin was killed during protests in Iran earlier in the week.

The protests followed unrest that began in late December over economic hardship and quickly turned into a broader anti-government movement. Iran’s communications blackout and security crackdown since January 8 have largely subdued the demonstrations. The human rights group Iran Human Rights reported verifying 3,428 protester deaths at the hands of security forces, though the actual number may be higher.

Many demonstrators voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former Shah, though experts noted his influence remains limited inside Iran. The rallies aimed to draw international attention to the repression, while observers stressed that Iran’s future will ultimately depend on its people.

European leaders have strongly reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on several European countries if Greenland is not handed over to the United States. The warning, announced in mid-January 2026, prompted Denmark, Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden to issue a joint statement from Brussels condemning the move as a dangerous escalation. The European Council said it would convene a summit within days following an ambassadors’ meeting.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the threat endangers global stability and NATO’s future. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed he had discussed Arctic security with Trump and expected further talks at the Davos summit. European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and ministers from France and the Netherlands, described the tariff plan as unjustified and political blackmail. Thousands protested in Denmark and Greenland against the U.S. stance.

Trump argued that U.S. control over Greenland would serve national security interests, particularly against potential threats from Russia or China. European leaders warned that such measures could harm international cooperation and global trade.

After ten days of nationwide disconnection, Iran briefly restored limited internet access before shutting it down again, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The group reported that minimal connectivity returned to some Google and messaging services but quickly dropped. The blackout began on January 8 following widespread protests over economic hardship. Human rights groups accused the government of using the shutdown to conceal mass killings during security crackdowns.

AFP reported that while authorities claimed calm had returned, armored vehicles and patrols were still visible in Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump’s remark that it was “time for new leadership in Iran” heightened tensions, prompting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to warn that any attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be treated as a declaration of war. The government said it had recommended lifting the internet ban, but the CEO of mobile operator Irancell was dismissed for failing to enforce the shutdown.

Amnesty International said verified evidence showed widespread killings by security forces, while Iran Human Rights confirmed 3,428 protester deaths. Opposition channel Iran International claimed over 12,000 deaths, though none of these figures were independently verified.