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MADRID, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Angry Real Madrid fans jeered their own team before they went on to beat Levante 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday to record new coach Alvaro Arbeloa's first win at the helm. Villarreal, third, stumbled to a 2-0 defeat at Real Betis, hampering their attempts at mounting a title challenge. Second-place Madrid cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the in-form Spanish champions visit Real Sociedad on Sunday. Star players Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham came in for ire from the home fans after a disastrous week. "Today was a very important day, playing in front of our fans, we wanted to turn around the situation," Asencio told Real Madrid TV.

VIENNA, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An avalanche killed three Czech skiers in central Austria, police said, bringing the total to eight killed in the country's Alps on Saturday. An avalanche swept away three of a group of seven Czech ski tourers in the Murtal district in Styria province, burying them completely, police said in a statement. Earlier Saturday, in the Pongau area near Salzburg, an avalanche hit another group of seven off-piste skiers, killing four and seriously injuring another, media reported, citing rescuers. Earlier Saturday, another avalanche swept away an off-piste skier in the same area. On Tuesday, an avalanche killed a 13-year-old Czech skiing off-piste in the Austrian Alpine resort of Bad Gastein.

NUUK, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Greenlandic minister Naaja Nathanielsen Saturday praised the reaction of European countries targeted by US President Donald Trump's new tariff threats linked to the future of the Arctic island. "I am amazed to witness the first responses from the targeted countries," the minister for mineral resources said in a message posted on LinkedIn. "I am thankful and hopeful for diplomacy and allieship to prevail." Earlier the same day, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on imports from eight European nations that sent troops to Greenland, the Danish territory which Trump seeks control of. Several European leaders condemned the threats as "unacceptable".

One of FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives caught in MexicoMEXICO CITY, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Mexican military and police have arrested a man accused in the 2016 murder of a young woman in the United States, where the FBI had named him one of its 10 most wanted fugitives, authorities said on Saturday. Alejandro Rosales Castillo, a 27-year-old American, is accused of killing Truc Quan "Sandy" Ly Le, a woman with whom he worked at a restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Castillo was captured Friday in the city of Pachuca, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City, the FBI said. Rosales Castillo was brought before the public prosecutor to begin legal proceedings. US media reported that Rosales Castillo had a brief relationship with his victim, then 23, and had borrowed money from her.

# News DeskRajbari, Bangladesh: A Hindu fuel station worker was crushed to death in Bangladesh after he tried to stop a vehicle from leaving a petrol pump without paying, police said, sparking fresh concerns amid reports of rising violence against minorities in the country. When Saha blocked the vehicle to stop it, the driver allegedly ran him over and sped away, killing him on the spot. Another worker, Jakir Hossain, reportedly chased the vehicle and later found Saha’s body on the highway with severe head and facial injuries. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) earlier said communal violence has been rising sharply, claiming 51 incidents were recorded in December 2025 alone, allegedly aimed at intimidating minority voters. In recent weeks, several violent incidents involving members of the Hindu community have been reported across Bangladesh, including lynchings, shootings, and fatal assaults.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson's Adviser and Chief Coordinator of the Dhaka-17 Election Campaign Committee Abdus Salam has called on party leaders and activists to unite behind the Sheaf of Paddy and seek votes through a door-to-door campaign. He said there is no alternative to BNP and its acting chairman Tarique Rahman to save the country and restore democracy. Abdus Salam made the remarks while speaking at an exchange-of-views meeting with members of the Tati Dal at the BNP election office for Dhaka-17 constituency in Banani. He said people want to vote for Tarique Rahman because they love him and believe in his leadership. Martyr President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia worked for the people, and Inshallah, Tarique Rahman will do the same," he added.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Journalists, editors and owners of media outlets in Bangladesh on Saturday demanded that authorities protect them following recent attacks on two leading national dailies by mobs. The newspaper authorities blamed the authorities under the interim government for failing to adequately respond to the incidents despite repeated requests for help to disperse the mobs. Hours later, the trapped journalists who took shelter on the roof of the Daily Star newspaper were rescued. A leader of the Editors Council, an independent body of newspaper editors, was manhandled by the attackers when he arrived at the scene. Several journalists who are known to have close links with Hasina have been arrested and jailed under Yunus.

Private sector estimates suggest the number of e-bikes exceeds 1.1 million, alongside battery rickshaws and other three-wheeled electric vehicles. Across four million vehicles, that means roughly 800 million kilograms of lead entering the environment annually. Daily charging of one million vehicles places enormous pressure on the national grid. Despite official bans, battery-powered rickshaws continue to operate on major roads, including VIP routes. Calls for regulation, not prohibitionPolicy experts argue that outright bans are neither realistic nor fair, given that millions depend on battery-powered vehicles for livelihoods and affordable transport.

A tense, rain-interrupted contest at Bulawayo ended with a show of sportsmanship as Bangladesh Under-19 and India Under-19 players exchanged handshakes after the latter clinched an 18-run victory via the DLS method in their ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup Group B opener on Friday. The match had earlier drawn attention at the toss when Bangladesh’s acting captain Zawad Abrar and India skipper Ayush Mhatre did not shake hands, a moment that briefly sparked discussion on the field. Fahad struck early, removing Indian captain Mhatre and Vedant Trivedi in consecutive deliveries, and later returned to dismantle the lower order. Bangladesh were bowled out for 146 in 28.3 overs, falling 18 runs short. Despite the disappointment of a narrow defeat, the post-match scenes of mutual respect and handshakes between the young cricketers stood out, bringing a fitting end to a hard-fought, rain-affected World Cup opener.

He said that the Constitution explicitly protects two institutions, an independent judiciary and an independent media, because of their central role in upholding democracy. Anam urged journalists to uphold ethical standards in both professional and personal lives, warning that moral failure erodes public trust in the entire profession. He cautioned against assuming that a political transition alone would guarantee press freedom, citing past experiences of repression under different regimes. The convention concluded with broad consensus that defending press freedom is not only a professional struggle but a national responsibility. Organizers said the convention could pave the way for similar initiatives in the future, signaling a renewed effort to confront threats to press freedom through unity and reform.

The aspirations that inspired the Liberation War in 1971 and the mass uprising of 1990 remain unfulfilled, and there is now a growing risk that the July 2024 mass uprising may also be derailed, said Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJON). He added that the framework agreed upon by the three political alliances during the 1990 uprising was also never realised. Whether an authoritarian structure persists, he said, depends on the democratic values and political culture of those parties. Dr Majumdar also emphasised that free and credible elections alone are not enough for democratic transition; structural reforms are essential. In this context, he said, a referendum is extremely important, and added that the government faces no obstacle in campaigning for a “yes” vote in a referendum based on expert opinions.

The spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, has alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is behaving in a biased manner. Asif Mahmud said: “Tomorrow (Sunday) is a ‘red line’ for the Election Commission. He further claimed that the Election Commission is attempting to provide its own interpretation of the Constitution regarding dual citizenship, which he described as extremely dangerous. NCP leaders issued a stern warning, stating that if the Election Commission fails to uphold its dignity as an independent institution, it will be confronted both politically and legally. They reaffirmed that the National Citizen Party will not allow loan defaulters or individuals with dual citizenship to participate in the election by exploiting any legal loopholes.

Despite earning profits, Bangladesh Railway has handed over the operation of Betna Express train, running on the Benapole–Khulna–Mongla route, to the private sector, triggering dissatisfaction among the passengers in the southwestern region. H&M Trading Corporation, a private company, has assumed responsibility for the train’s commercial and ticket management since January 11, 2026. Railway sources said that Bangladesh Railway issued a tender on April 22, 2025 to lease ticket management for the route. Benapole Railway Stationmaster Aynal Hasan said that train fares would remain unchanged despite the shift to private management. Implementation was delayed due to budgetary and administrative issues, he said, adding that the train has been operating under private ticket management since Sunday.