Severe wildfires have continued for a third consecutive day in southern Chile, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds. Officials reported at least 20 deaths and widespread destruction across several towns. The fires began Saturday in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago, and quickly spread over an area comparable to the size of Detroit in the United States, destroying or severely damaging around 1,000 homes. President Gabriel Boric said Monday that while some areas were under control, conditions remained “very active and dangerous” in others, with new fires emerging in nearby Araucanía. Both Ñuble and Biobío have been declared disaster zones, and the military has been deployed to assist. More than 3,500 firefighters were working to contain the blazes as temperatures dropped to around 25 degrees Celsius but the situation remained critical. Experts cited climate change as a key factor behind the increasing frequency of extreme wildfires in central and southern Chile during the dry summer months. Past fire seasons in 2016–17, 2022–23, and February 2024 also caused severe destruction and loss of life.

The High Court on Monday suspended the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Central Students’ Union (SUSTCSU or ShakSU) election for four weeks, triggering widespread protests on campus. Following the sudden announcement, students staged demonstrations, blocked highways, and locked the vice-chancellor’s office for nearly 12 hours before releasing him and other officials early Tuesday. The suspension came after three independent candidates filed a writ petition challenging the Election Commission’s approval of the polls. Earlier, nationalist teachers announced they would not participate in election duties, citing internal disputes. The university’s appeal to the Supreme Court’s chamber judge was not heard due to procedural issues. Meanwhile, the Islamist student group Islami Chhatra Shibir called for nationwide protests demanding immediate implementation of the ShakSU election, announcing a four-day program of rallies and human chains. University authorities stated they would comply with the court order, while students vowed to continue pressing for their electoral rights. The next hearing date has yet to be set.

Across Bangladesh, fertile topsoil from agricultural land is being sold and used in brick kilns, severely reducing arable land and threatening crop production. Despite repeated government crackdowns, the illegal trade continues in districts including Chandpur, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur. Officials report that much of the soil is taken from farmlands and riverbanks, leaving deep pits that later turn into water bodies. In Faridganj of Chandpur, around 30 brick kilns, mostly illegal, are reportedly using topsoil from croplands. In Kamalganj of Moulvibazar, soil traders operate day and night despite administrative raids and fines. Similar illegal excavation continues along the Gomti River in Cumilla and in Raipur, Lakshmipur, where fertile land is being stripped to feed brick kilns. Local officials confirm ongoing mobile court operations, fines, and vehicle seizures. Authorities have pledged continued enforcement and investigations, but the persistence of the trade indicates enforcement challenges. The ongoing loss of topsoil poses serious risks to agricultural diversity, economic stability, and food security in affected regions.

Today marks the final day for candidates to withdraw from Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, according to the election schedule. By the end of the day, the list of final or contesting candidates will be confirmed. Rebel independent candidates from any party must also withdraw by today if they wish to do so. After this deadline, there will be no further opportunity to resolve any alliance-related complications. Election Commission officials stated that returning officers will allocate election symbols among candidates tomorrow, Wednesday. If a political party has more than one candidate in a constituency, the party must finalize one name and inform the returning officer. Independent candidates may also withdraw their candidacy if they choose. As per the schedule, the final candidate list and symbol allocation will occur on January 21, campaign activities will begin on January 22, and continue until the morning of February 10. Voting is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Earlier, about 2,500 nomination papers were submitted, 723 were rejected, and 1,842 candidates were declared valid across 300 constituencies, with 645 appeals filed afterward.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has expelled Junayed Hasan for life after he contested the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Central Students’ Union (ShakSU) election as a rebel candidate. The decision was announced following his participation in the election outside the party’s official nomination process. Junayed Hasan had been serving as the joint general secretary of the SUST unit of JCD before his expulsion. According to the report, the expulsion was a disciplinary action taken by the central leadership of JCD for violating party directives during the ShakSU election. The report did not mention any official response from Junayed Hasan or further details about the election outcome or other candidates involved.

A severe cold spell continues in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the lowest temperature recorded at 10.3 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. The humidity level stood at 93 percent, intensifying the cold sensation across the district. Dense fog and chilly winds since dawn have brought daily life to a near standstill, particularly affecting laborers, farmers, day workers, and students. Road traffic has also slowed due to poor visibility caused by the fog. According to Tofazzal Hossain, an official from the Dinajpur Meteorological Department, the cold conditions in the northern region have not yet subsided. The combination of low temperature and high humidity has made the cold more biting and prolonged the foggy conditions. The persistent cold weather continues to disrupt normal activities in Nawabganj, with residents struggling to cope as the chill lingers across northern Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Army conducted a special operation early Monday in Udaypur area of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila, recovering looted tear gas and sound grenades. The raid was carried out by a patrol team of the East Bengal Regiment, which also detained Rubel Hossain, a local resident facing multiple criminal cases. The seized items included a multi-impact sound grenade, a cocktail, and a random-move tear gas grenade. According to army sources, the recovered equipment matches those used by the Bangladesh Police and is believed to be part of the gear stolen or lost during the July protests of the previous year. Local residents said Rubel Hossain had been active in violent activities during that period and had previously been in law enforcement custody. The army stated that the operation followed intelligence reports about attempts by criminal groups to create unrest in the area ahead of the national election. The recovered weapons have been handed over to Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station, whose officer-in-charge confirmed receipt of the evidence.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to deliver its verdict today, Tuesday, in the case concerning the killing of six people, including Shahriar Khan Anas, during the July Revolution in Dhaka’s Chan Kharpul area. The three-member judicial panel, led by Chairman Golam Mortuza Majumdar with members Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, will announce the ruling. The date was fixed on December 24 after closing arguments from both prosecution and defense. The verdict comes about eight months after formal charges were framed. This is the second judgment related to crimes against humanity committed during the 2024 July Revolution. The first verdict, delivered on November 17 last year, sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death. In the current case, eight former police officers stand accused of conspiracy, incitement, assistance, and direct involvement in the killings. Four of them are in custody, while the rest remain fugitives. Prosecutor Gazi Tamim stated that the prosecution presented testimony from 26 witnesses and extensive documentary, audio, video, and forensic evidence, asserting that the charges were proven beyond doubt and seeking maximum punishment and compensation for victims’ families.

Jamaat-e-Islami has intensified preparations for the upcoming parliamentary election, aiming for a major victory through an electoral alliance with ten parties. The party has finalized key policy papers on governance strategies and challenges, which were approved by its central executive council. These policies will be presented at a daylong 'Policy Summit' on Tuesday at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka, attended by political leaders, diplomats, academics, professionals, and policy experts. Party leaders said Jamaat seeks to establish a model of efficiency in governance if it comes to power, with plans to form a national government including coalition partners. Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair stated that the finalized policies will be shared with experts for feedback. The party has also informed foreign diplomats about its plans and claims to have received positive responses. Jamaat leaders alleged that some groups are spreading misinformation about its international support and capacity to govern. According to the report, Jamaat has prepared expert teams comprising professionals from home and abroad to ensure skilled governance. The party’s slogan for this election emphasizes building a just, corruption-free, and citizen-centered Bangladesh.

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.

With only 22 days left before Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, the country’s administration is showing signs of paralysis as ministries and departments await the transition to a new government. Routine work continues in some offices, but many ministries remain inactive. The interim government, in power for a year and a half since the July Revolution, has failed to implement meaningful administrative reforms, leaving bureaucracy and red tape intact. Former bureaucrats and governance experts blame weak government initiatives and excessive reliance on the civil service for the lack of reform. They also cite unhealthy political competition to control the bureaucracy. The Muyeed Commission’s draft reform proposals, which sought to change promotion rules and restructure cadres, angered officials and deepened divisions within the administration. Meanwhile, the government’s demand for asset declarations from all civil servants created unease among officials. Experts warn that the current stagnation poses a serious challenge for the incoming government. Unless political influence is removed from the bureaucracy, they say, the establishment of an effective welfare state will remain elusive.

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.

Popular Islamic scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari has issued a public warning after discovering that a group is using artificial intelligence to clone his voice and misuse his photos and videos for fraudulent activities on social media. In a verified Facebook post on January 19, he said these fake contents and advertisements are deceiving people and damaging his personal reputation. He urged the public not to be misled by such materials and confirmed that legal action will be taken against those responsible. Azhari explained that the fraudulent campaigns include false product promotions and misleading medical advertisements, particularly for unscientific herbal products. He noted that Hasanah Foundation’s official phone number has been receiving frequent calls about these fake products, disrupting its official work. He clarified that neither he nor his foundation has any connection to these promotions. He stated that a list of the fraudulent media pages has already been prepared and will soon be submitted to the police cybercrime unit. Azhari warned that if the fake content is not removed immediately, strict legal measures will follow.