China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has warned that Beijing will take measures to protect its companies’ interests if Australia forcibly reclaims control of the strategically important northern Darwin Port. The warning came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated his government’s intention to bring the port back under national control, calling the 2015 lease to China’s Landbridge Group a short-sighted decision in terms of economic and national security. The Darwin Port was leased to Landbridge for 99 years in 2015, a move that sparked intense domestic debate in Australia and led to stricter oversight of foreign ownership of critical infrastructure. Xiao Qian told Australian media that if Landbridge is forced to relinquish the lease, Beijing will act to safeguard the legitimate interests of Chinese companies. He cautioned that such a move could harm Chinese investment, cooperation, and trade in the region, ultimately affecting Australia’s own interests. Darwin is one of Australia’s closest cities to its Asian neighbors and hosts a U.S. Marine base. The port lease had previously drawn criticism from Washington for lack of prior consultation.

At least five people have been killed as powerful storm Christine swept through central and northern Portugal, causing widespread flooding, landslides, and severe damage. The storm, which struck on Wednesday, left more than 850,000 people without electricity and forced the closure of schools and colleges. Civil Protection authorities reported wind speeds reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour and more than 3,000 incidents across the country. According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the Leiria district was the hardest hit, where three deaths occurred. One person was struck by a metal sheet, another was trapped under a collapsed house structure, and a third died when a tree fell on a car in Vila Franca de Xira. Another fatality was reported in Marinha Grande. The storm also severely disrupted transportation, blocking major highways and rail lines between Lisbon and northern regions. The event follows a series of storms that have battered Portugal in recent days, including one over the weekend that caused flooding and claimed another life.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on the United Nations to ensure Palestine’s full membership and to take urgent measures to uphold international law and accountability amid ongoing ceasefire violations in Gaza. The appeal was made in a statement to the UN Security Council, as reported by TRT World. Turkey’s UN envoy Ahmet Yildiz, speaking on behalf of the OIC, said the October 2025 ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas marked a significant step toward peace but warned that its implementation remains at risk. He noted that while the truce has reduced violence and increased humanitarian aid, repeated Israeli attacks and continued blockades are obstructing the delivery of life-saving supplies to Palestinians. Yildiz praised international efforts to maintain the ceasefire, including those of U.S. President Trump, but stressed that Israeli actions continue to hinder peace progress in Gaza. He also drew attention to Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including violations of the historical and legal status of Jerusalem’s holy sites.

A joint forces operation in Boalmari, Faridpur, led to the arrest of Mahbub Hasan (Sajib), the joint convener of the Boalmari Upazila Jubo Dal, on Wednesday night. The raid took place around 8:30 p.m. at his home in Moinedia village under Parameshwardi Union. Authorities recovered a pistol, a magazine, and two rounds of ammunition from his possession. Police confirmed that a case under the Arms Act is being processed. According to army sources, the operation was conducted based on secret intelligence under the leadership of the Boalmari-Madhukhali Army Camp of the 15 Riverine Engineer Battalion, in coordination with local administration. The arrest was made swiftly, and the seized items were secured as evidence. The army further stated that, following government and Election Commission directives, it is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against drugs, extortion, and armed crime ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Citizens have been urged to assist army camps with information to curb criminal activities.

A dramatic night in the Champions League saw Real Madrid, PSG and Benfica secure playoff spots despite mixed results. Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4–2 to claim the 24th position and eliminate Marseille, while Real finished ninth with 15 points to also qualify for the knockout playoffs. PSG, the defending champions, drew 1–1 at home with Newcastle, finishing tenth with 14 points and missing a direct berth in the round of 16. Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt surprised by beating Atlético Madrid 2–1 to reach the playoffs. Arsenal topped their group after defeating Kairat Almaty, and Liverpool crushed Qarabag 6–0. The top eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16 are Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP and Manchester City. The playoff round will feature teams ranked ninth to twenty-fourth, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, PSG, Newcastle, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodø/Glimt and Benfica.

Election campaigns in Dhaka have intensified ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, with candidates focusing their outreach on religious and spiritual sites. Since January 22, contenders from various parties have been seen visiting mosques, temples, shrines, and the homes of martyr families to connect with voters. They are emphasizing messages of peace, harmony, and unity while pledging development, security, and justice. Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP candidates have been particularly active in these efforts. Jamaat leaders have conducted prayers and voter meetings across multiple mosques in constituencies such as Dhaka-15, Dhaka-16, and Dhaka-18, while BNP candidates, including Ishraque Hossain and Mirza Abbas, have attended Hindu religious events and met with community members. Several candidates have also begun their campaigns by visiting shrines and martyr families to honor national sacrifices and call for democratic restoration. The campaign period, which began on January 22, will continue until February 10. Observers note that candidates’ visible presence in religious venues has added a new dimension to the capital’s election atmosphere, with attention now on how their appeals for unity will influence voters.

SM Jilani, the central president of the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal and BNP candidate for Gopalganj-3 (Tungipara-Kotalipara), called on voters to support him with the 'Sheaf of Paddy' symbol. Speaking at an election rally on Wednesday evening at Pakurtia Bazar in Dumuria Union, Tungipara, he said that if elected, the people of Tungipara and Kotalipara would live with peace, security, and dignity. He added that residents currently feel unsafe and even hesitate to reveal their home district in Dhaka. Jilani stated that change is necessary to overcome this situation and accused anti-liberation forces of using religion to mislead voters during elections. He emphasized that his campaign does not personally attack any candidate but seeks to expose those who exploit religion for political gain. The rally was chaired by Sheikh Salahuddin Ahmed, president of Tungipara Upazila BNP, and attended by district and upazila BNP leaders. Earlier, Jilani conducted door-to-door campaigning in several villages, including Sriramkandi and Patgati, urging voters to support the BNP symbol in the upcoming election.

United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen held a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday morning at the party’s office in Bashundhara, Dhaka. The meeting was confirmed through a verified post on Jamaat-e-Islami’s official Facebook page, which described the discussion as cordial and friendly. According to the post, the two sides exchanged views on Bangladesh’s current political and economic situation, trade and industry, the upcoming national election, state reforms, and the Rohingya issue. Ambassador Christensen reportedly praised Jamaat-e-Islami’s positive role in the country’s economic development and democratic progress. Both parties expressed optimism about strengthening future bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States. The meeting was attended by officials from the US Embassy, including Political and Economic Counselor Eric Gillman, Public Officer Monica L. Sai, Political Officer James Stewart, and Political Specialist Firoz Ahmed. Jamaat representatives included Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Executive Council Member Md. Mobarak Hossain, and Foreign Affairs Adviser Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan.

Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Principal Maulana Nur Ahmad Anwari for Cox’s Bazar-4 (Ukhiya–Teknaf) constituency called on voters to reject extortion, land grabbing, terrorism, and legal exploitation by showing a 'red card' to such practices. Speaking as the chief guest at an election rally held on Wednesday evening at Inani Government Primary School field in Jaliapalong Union, he urged citizens to vote for the 'scale' symbol to build a jobless, exploitation-free, and oppression-free Bangladesh. Anwari criticized those who governed the country over the past 54 years, saying they failed to meet the people's aspirations and basic needs. He said establishing a people's government would require bringing the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat to power in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He described the election as a red card against dominance, tyranny, terrorism, and the trade of legal cases. The rally was chaired by Maulana Muhammad Shah Alam and attended by local leaders from Jamaat and allied parties, including district and upazila representatives of the 11-party coalition.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has responded to BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s recent question about why former Jamaat leaders Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid did not resign when they served as ministers in the BNP-led four-party alliance government. Speaking at a rally in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Thursday in support of 11-party alliance candidate Saiful Alam Milon for the Dhaka-12 constituency, Dr. Rahman said that during their tenure in three ministries, even their strongest critics could not accuse them of dishonesty, corruption, or nepotism. He further alleged that attacks on Jamaat activists across the country were destroying the “level playing field” for elections, claiming that women were being assaulted and the electoral environment was being disrupted through violence. Dr. Rahman warned that if the election process was hindered, the interim government and the Election Commission would have to bear responsibility. He added that since August 5, Jamaat had not filed unjust cases or harassed anyone and pledged to congratulate whichever party forms the next government through a fair and acceptable election.

A young man named Maruful, aged 19, was killed when a Nosimon overturned after losing control in Fatehpur Union of Araihazar upazila, Narayanganj. The accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday near Fatehpur Government Primary School. Maruful was the son of Monir from the Gopaldi area. According to eyewitnesses, the Nosimon lost control and overturned on the road, leaving passenger Maruful seriously injured. Local residents rescued him and took him to Araihazar Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead after examination. Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Alauddin of Araihazar Police Station confirmed the incident. The report did not mention the cause of the vehicle’s loss of control or whether any other passengers were injured.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that any potential US attack on Iran would be a major mistake. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, he called on both Washington and Tehran to resolve their differences through dialogue rather than military action. His remarks come amid reports of increased US military presence in the Middle East. Fidan emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation at a time of heightened tension. He stated that starting another war would be wrong and stressed that there is still an opportunity for a diplomatic solution between the two countries. According to him, Iran remains ready to resume discussions on its nuclear program. The Turkish minister also urged Iran to build trust with its neighboring countries, saying that Tehran must work to foster confidence across the region.

Iran’s national currency, the rial, fell to a record low against the US dollar on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. In the free market, one dollar traded for 1,620,500 rials, marking the steepest decline in the country’s currency history. According to currency tracking website Bonbast, the previous day’s rate was around 1.5 million rials per dollar, meaning the rial lost about 150,000 in value within a single day. The sharp depreciation comes amid ongoing anti-government protests that began late last month. In response to the unrest, Iran’s government shut down internet access on January 7, making it difficult to obtain reliable exchange rate data from regional markets in Istanbul, Baghdad, and along the Afghan border. Bonbast noted that the blackout has obscured the rial’s true market value. Market instability intensified after US President Donald Trump announced that a large American naval fleet was moving toward Iran. Analysts fear possible naval blockades or attacks on Iran’s oil and gas facilities. Economists believe continued political tension, economic crisis, and international pressure could further weaken the rial.

After successful negotiations with Syria’s new government, President Donald Trump reversed long-standing US policy toward the country by lifting several sanctions and ending Washington’s cooperation with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The move left the SDF without protection and effectively ended hopes for Kurdish autonomy in northeastern Syria under American backing. Following the shift, Syrian government forces captured large territories from SDF control on January 20, prompting the group to renew a ceasefire with Damascus that includes integrating SDF fighters into the national army. The policy change marks a major geopolitical turn in Syria’s prolonged civil conflict, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Arabia reportedly playing key roles. The SDF, once a key US partner in the fight against the Islamic State, now faces isolation as Washington aligns with Damascus in the anti-IS coalition. US envoy Tom Barrack stated that the SDF’s original mission had effectively ended, angering Kurdish leaders who had relied on earlier US assurances. Analysts suggest the withdrawal of US support signals the end of over a decade of Kurdish self-rule in Syria’s northeast, consolidating President Ahmed al-Sharar’s control over the country’s largest territory since the war began in 2012.

Bangladesh’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector has plunged into severe instability over the past month, with widespread shortages, closed filling stations, and prices soaring beyond consumers’ reach. Despite steady demand growth, supply has sharply declined as several major private companies reduced or halted imports. Officials and industry insiders attribute the crisis to long-term planned decisions and the dominance of a powerful business syndicate, rather than solely to international sanctions or Middle East unrest. According to official data, LPG demand has increased 25-fold in 15 years, but imports fell from 1.61 million tons in 2024 to 1.47 million tons in 2025. Eight large companies, many linked to the former ruling party, have cut imports over the past 18 months, creating a severe supply gap. U.S. sanctions on Iranian-linked vessels further disrupted shipping, leaving many LPG pumps closed nationwide. Experts and industry leaders have urged the government to intervene directly in LPG trading to stabilize the market. They argue that with proper monitoring and infrastructure development, the state could regain control within six months and restore order to the energy sector.