MELBOURNE, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Australia will rest five top players, including Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, for a three-match Twenty20 series in Pakistan ahead of the World Cup, selectors said Monday. Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will also skip the series starting later this month. Their absence opened the door to fringe players Sean Abbott, Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mitch Owen, Josh Phillippe and Matt Renshaw, who come into the 17-man squad. Chief selector George Bailey said the five were either returning from injury or having their loads managed ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka which begin on February 7. Australia will play Pakistan in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1, before travelling to Sri Lanka where they are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.

The second phase of deployment will be vote-centric, with law enforcement personnel remaining on duty for seven days from February 8 to 14, he also said. To enhance security, 25,000 body-worn cameras will be used at important polling stations, while CCTV cameras will be installed in all 42,761 polling stations nationwide. For the first time in a national election, 418 drones from various law enforcement agencies will be deployed for surveillance, alongside dog squads and area-based operations to recover illegal weapons and arrest suspected miscreants. The Home Advisor said the newly introduced “Election Security App–2026”, developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), will play a crucial role in real-time monitoring and rapid response to law and order issues. He reiterated that law enforcement agencies have been instructed to take immediate legal action against any attempt to disrupt or influence the election, ensuring a festive and peaceful voting environment across the country.

Photo : BSSDHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) – Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said the government will deploy 25,000 body-worn cameras and 418 surveillance drones to strengthen security during the upcoming 13th national election scheduled for February 12. “Body-worn cameras will be used by police members at more important and important polling stations, enhancing real-time monitoring and accountability,” he said. A total of 418 drones from various law enforcement agencies will be used for aerial surveillance during the election, he said. “The use of modern technology like body cameras, drones and a centralized security app will significantly enhance our ability to maintain law and order during the elections,” he added. He said that the Election Security App–2026, developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), will play a crucial role in law enforcement coordination.

China's population fell for the fourth year in a row in 2025 after the country's birth rate dropped to its lowest point since records began almost 80 years ago, according to figures released by the national statistics office in Beijing on Monday. Only 7.92 million babies were born in the country last year, pushing the birth rate down 17% to 5.63 births per 1,000 people — the lowest since the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The population of India surpassed that of China back in 2023 and currently stands at approximately 1.464 billion people. At this rate, the Chinese population could shrink to around 800 million by the year 2100, according to calculations made by the United Nations. Nor has a 13% tax increase on condoms and other contraceptives, with the fertility rate estimated to have flatlined at 1 child per woman in her lifetime, far below the 2.1 rate that would maintain the size of China's population.

Passengers on buses operating in Dhaka and its suburban routes will now have to purchase e-tickets before boarding. The initiative will be executed with support from Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association, the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, the Dhaka District Road Transport Workers Union, and several other workers’ organisations. UrbanMove Tech, a company specialising in digital transport solutions, is providing technical assistance for the e-ticketing system. “Discussions have been held over the past eight months with the road transport and bridges ministry, the home ministry, Dhaka North and South City Corporations, Dhaka and Gazipur Metropolitan Police, the Roads and Highways Department, district administrations, Highway Police, transport workers, and companies,” he said. IMPLEMENTATIONUrbanMove Tech Managing Director Junayed Abdullah said QR codes will be installed at more than 800 bus stops across Dhaka.

Uncontrolled wildfires tore through communities in southern Chile, leaving charred ruins in their wake and at least 19 dead, authorities said, announcing the latest toll on Sunday. There was a whirlwind of fire that consumed the houses in the town below,” Matias Cid, a 25-year-old student in Penco, told AFP. Most of the fatalities from the wildfires in the region have so far been in Penco, Mayor Rodrigo Vera said. “Nothing was left standing.”In the town of Lirquen, soldiers were patrolling the streets as night fell on Sunday. Wildfires have severely impacted south-central Chile in recent years amid growing signs of the impact of climate change in the South American country, including extreme weather, droughts and floods.

Bangladesh women’s national futsal team continued their impressive run in the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship 2026 with a commanding 3–0 victory over Nepal at the Nonthaburi Stadium in Bangkok. From the opening minute, Bangladesh played aggressive, attacking futsal and created several scoring opportunities. Just five minutes later, Krishna Rani Sarkar, who had provided the assist for the first goal, doubled the lead in the 19th minute, as Bangladesh went into halftime leading 2–0. Bangladesh have enjoyed a strong start to their SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship campaign. With the win against Nepal, Bangladesh now have seven points from three matches and sit at the top of the points table, underlining their growing confidence and consistency in the tournament.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday issued warrants for the arrest of 12 people including former MP Shamim Osman and his son Ayan Osman in a case filed over the crimes against humanity during July-August movement. A three-member ICT bench led by its chairman Justice Golam Martuza Majumdar passed the order after taking charges into cognisance. The tribunal also asked police to produce them before January 26 after their arrest. At least ten people were killed during on July 19, July 21 and August 5 at Fatullah-Signboard during mass uprising in 2024. Earlier in the day, the prosecutor submitted chargesheet against 12 people.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said Europe will not bow to pressure from US President Donald Trump, as European leaders rallied behind Greenland in response to Washington’s threat of tariffs over the autonomous Danish territory. In a joint statement, the countries threatened with tariffs said Trump’s move could spark a “dangerous downward spiral” and undermine transatlantic relations. Writing on Facebook, Frederiksen said Europe wanted cooperation, not conflict, but would stand firm on its core values. Trump has threatened a 10% tariff on goods from the eight countries from February 1, with the possibility of raising it to 25% until a deal is reached. European leaders have warned the move would damage long-standing alliances, while public protests have already taken place in Denmark and Greenland against Trump’s takeover plan.

Starting January 21, 2026, all Bangladeshi nationals approved for a B1/B2 (business and tourist) United States visa will be required to post a bond of up to $15,000. The US Embassy in Dhaka said on Monday that this requirement does not apply to people holding a valid B1/B2 visa issued before January 21, 2026. "Do not pay your bond in advance. Paying early does not guarantee you a visa, and third-party sites can be scams," said the Embassy in a notification through its verified Facebook page. The bond will be returned if you respect the terms of your visa," the notification reads.

At least 10 people have died in a massive fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping complex as rescue teams continue searching for dozens reported missing, officials said Monday. Firefighters brought the blaze under control late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it started, allowing rescuers to recover four more bodies overnight, raising the confirmed death toll to 10. The fire, which broke out late Saturday, spread quickly through shops storing cosmetics, garments, and plastic goods, said Dr Abid Jalal Sheikh, the city’s chief rescue officer. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said around 60 people were reported missing, prompting a large-scale search operation. In November 2023, a shopping mall fire killed 10 people, and a 2012 garments factory fire claimed 260 lives.

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Government officers and employees are allowed to campaign in favour of the referendum, according to Ali Riaz, special assistant to the chief advisor. Speaking at a divisional exchange meeting at the Tarek Smriti Auditorium in Mymensingh Town Hall, he clarified the legal position of public servants, noting that existing laws impose no restrictions on such activities. “It doesn’t matter who comes to power. The white ballot is for a five-year term, while the pink ballot will create the roadmap for state reform,” he said. Riaz mentioned that political parties have pledged their consensus on the matter, suggesting that those attempting to spread confusion would not succeed.

LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry arrives at London court for privacy suit against publisher of the Daily Mail.

Internet access was down again in Iran after a brief restoration of limited services, a monitor said on Sunday. “As of internet shutdown hour 240, traffic levels have fallen after a brief, heavily filtered restoration of select Google and messaging services in Iran,” Netblocks said on X. “During this time, some Iranians were able to give updates detailing the severity of the crisis on the ground,” it added. It had earlier reported some internet access had been restored in Iran 238 hours after authorities imposed a shutdown on January 8 over mounting protests. “Traffic data indicate a significant return to some online services including Google, suggesting that heavily filtered access has been enabled, corroborating user reports of partial restoration,” Netblocks said earlier.