HONG KONG, Jan 21, 2026 (AFP) - Asian equities stabilised Wednesday after a rough start to the week fuelled by Donald Trump's Greenland-linked tariff threats, though uncertainty rattling through trading floors saw safe-haven precious metals hit fresh record highs. Japanese bond yields also settled back following Tuesday's surge on the back of a pledge by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to cut taxes. In response, US Treasury chief Scott Bessent said Monday that any retaliatory EU tariffs would be "unwise". Markets have sunk globally this week, and Wall Street's three main indexes tanked Tuesday as they reopened after a long weekend. The moves saw US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent call Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama following a lift in Treasury yields.

ADAMUZ, Spain, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Spain's king and queen visited on Tuesday the site where two high-speed trains collided at the weekend, killing 42 people, as a second deadly rail accident overshadowed the start of national mourning. The country's deadliest rail accident in more than a decade took place late Sunday when a train operated by rail company Iryo, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed near Adamuz in the southern Andalusia region. It crossed onto the other track, where it crashed into an oncoming train heading to the southern city of Huelva, which also derailed. Santiago Salvador, a Portuguese national who broke a leg in the accident, said he felt lucky to be alive. In Catalonia, emergency services responding to Tuesday's train accident said their teams had treated 37 people, mostly for light injuries.

SEOUL, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - North Korea is producing enough nuclear material a year for up to 20 weapons, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday. "Even now, nuclear materials sufficient to produce 10 to 20 nuclear weapons a year are still being produced" in North Korea, Lee told reporters at a New Year news conference. A pragmatic approach was needed in addressing North Korea's nuclear issue, he said. "The suspension of nuclear material production and ICBM development, as well as a halt to overseas exports, would also be a gain," he said. But Pyongyang has not responded to his overtures and recently accused South Korea of flying a drone into the border city of Kaesong.

MELBOURNE, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova has called for world number one Aryna Sabalenka and other Belarusian and Russian players to be banned from tennis, saying their presence was "very wrong" with the conflict ongoing. But in an interview with the Melbourne Age newspaper she took aim at Russian and Belarusian players, despite them competing under a neutral white flag as independents. Oliynykova said she did not speak with Russian and Belarusian players in the locker rooms or on the practice courts. Unlike other professional Ukrainian tennis players, Oliynykova still lives and trains in her homeland despite the constant threat of Russian attacks. Fellow Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk has also been outspoken about the war and refuses to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players, most recently Sabalenka after losing in the Brisbane International final.

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DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - Islami Andolan Bangladesh will contest 259 seats in the upcoming elections with its electoral symbol "Hat Pakha". Maulana Lokman Hossain Jafri, member secretary of the party's central election management committee, came up with the development in a press release today. He said some candidates were withdrawn from a few constituencies after the Election Commission's scrutiny and in the spirit of political goodwill. Maulana Jafri urged all party leaders and workers to conduct election activities peacefully and ensure protecting voters' rights and property.

BAGERHAT, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 2,000 blankets were distributed among cold-stricken, helpless and distressed people in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district today to alleviate their sufferings amid the prevailing cold wave. The blanket distribution programme was organised by the Rampal Coal-Based Thermal Power Plant at the Rajnagar Union Parishad premises in Rampal upazila. Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten attended the programme as the chief guest. He added that the power plant has been carrying out various welfare activities for the benefit of the local community, which people should accept positively. Local officials, representatives of the power plant, and residents of the area were present at the programme.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Bank (BB) today purchased US$ 45 million from two commercial banks through multiple auction methods as part of its ongoing strategy to curb the depreciation of the US dollar against the taka and revitalise the remittance and export sectors. According to central bank data, it bought dollars today at the rate of Tk 122.30. Accordingly, total purchases stood at $743 million in January 2026 and $3,878.50 million in FY 2025–26 to date.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan spoke at a referendum campaign in Rajbari. Photo: BSSRAJBARI, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today urged voters to vote for ‘Yes’ in upcoming referendum so that no dictatorship can return in the country in future. “Give your opinion through referendum so that no other dictatorship can take away your voting rights in future,” she said while speaking at a referendum campaign in Rajbari. Rizwana said the young people who took part in the July Uprising wanted a democratic government instead of dictatorship. Rizwana came to Rajbari this afternoon on the occasion of the referendum campaign.

“We will eliminate the criminals’ safe haven no matter how long it takes,” he said, addressing repeated attacks on law enforcers in the area. He added that all law-enforcing agencies would work together to recover government land from illegal occupation in Jungle Salimpur. Authorities have long described Jungle Salimpur, on the outskirts of Chattogram, as a hotspot for crime and illegal settlements. An estimated 400 to 500 miscreants launched a sudden attack on RAB members after announcements over a loudspeaker, the statement said. Police say Jungle Salimpur is a zone where outsiders outnumber locals.

Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today attended a view-exchange meeting organised at Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium in Naogaon. Photo: BSSNAOGAON, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today said the scenario of the election will change after the allocation of symbols. “Once the campaign begins, a fair voting atmosphere will be created,” he said responding to a question from journalists before a view-exchange meeting organised at Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium in Naogaon. Prof Bidhan Ranjan said the referendum campaign vehicles may not be able to go everywhere due to the lack of wide roads. Later, he joined the view-exchange meeting as the chief guest.

Nagorik Oikko President Mahmudur Rahman Manna has expressed frustration after the BNP kept its own candidate in Bogura 2, despite a seat sharing understanding with allies. The district administration confirmed that Mir Shahe Alam is the BNP's final candidate for Bogura 2, covering Shibganj Upazila, reports bdnews24.com. Bogura's returning officer and district administrator Toufikur Rahman said: "Shahe Alam is the sole BNP candidate in Bogura 2. Speculation had lingered that BNP might withdraw Shahe Alam to support Manna, but no withdrawal occurred by Tuesday's deadline. Local BNP leaders confirmed Shahe Alam will receive the party's Paddy Sheaf symbol on Wednesday.

He added that all law-enforcing agencies would work together to recover government land from illegal occupation in Jungle Salimpur. Authorities have long described Jungle Salimpur, on the outskirts of Chattogram, as a hotspot for crime and illegal settlements. An estimated 400 to 500 miscreants launched a sudden attack on RAB members after announcements over a loudspeaker, the statement said. Asked whether the Jungle Salimpur raid was conducted with a small number of personnel, the RAB DG said around 50 officers took part in the operation. Police say Jungle Salimpur is a zone where outsiders outnumber locals.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman addresses a gathering at Mohakhali T&T Colony ground in the capital on Tuesday. -AgencyBNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has promised flats, schools and healthcare for Korail slum residents in his Dhaka 17 constituency, seeking their prayers ahead of the Feb 12 election. As the BNP candidate for Dhaka 17, Tarique pledged to establish two schools, a playground and healthcare facilities in Korail, alongside introducing "family cards" for mothers and "farmer cards" for cultivators, reports bdnews24.com. He stressed that all plans depended on divine mercy and the prayers of residents. Tarique added that his party's politics was for ordinary people and vowed to continue standing by Korail residents.