PARIS, France, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A red stencil of a hand pressed against the wall of an Indonesian cave is the oldest rock art ever discovered, scientists said Wednesday, and sheds light on how humans first migrated to Australia. The cave art dates back at least 67,800 years, according to research published in the journal Nature by a team of Indonesian and Australian archaeologists. However the dating of that cave art "has been controversial," the study cautioned. The scientists also established that the Muna caves had been used for rock art many times over a long period. "These paintings provide the first evidence that modern humans were on these Indonesian islands at that time," Aubert said.

Rights groups however say thousands of protesters demanding change were killed by direct fire from the security forces. In the first official toll from the authorities, a statement by Iran's foundation for veterans and martyrs, cited by state television, said a total of 3,117 people were killed during protests. He said the high number of "martyrs" showed the "restraint and tolerance of the security forces" during protests. But Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO, said "all available evidence emerging from Iran indicates that the real number of people killed during the protests is far higher." Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused security forces of deliberately targeting protesters from rooftops and also seeking to shoot protesters in the eyes.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump will show off his new "Board of Peace" and meet Ukraine's leader at Davos on Thursday -- burnishing his claim to be a peacemaker a day after backing off his own threats against Greenland. On his second day at the Swiss ski resort, Trump will seek to promote the "Board of Peace", his controversial body for resolving international conflicts, with a signing ceremony for the organisation's charter. "I think it's the greatest board ever formed," Trump said Wednesday as he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, another of the leaders who have agreed to join. Trump said he was due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the "Board of Peace" meeting as difficult negotiations for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war continue. Rutte told AFP in Davos that the meeting had been "very good" but that there was "still a lot of work to be done" on Greenland.

A mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Panchagarh and Kurigram and it may continue. Light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during late night to morning hours. Night temperature may fall slightly while day temperature may rise slightly across the country. The lowest temperature recorded today was 9.4°C at Tetulia, while the highest temperature recorded yesterday was 31.4°C at Teknaf. The wind direction and speed at Dhaka were west to northwesterly at 8 to 12 kilometres per hour.

DHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confiscated immovable properties of Monirul Islam, a Facebook fraudster, in favor of the state after uncovering a large-scale fraud carried out through Facebook. According to CID officials, the seized assets were purchased with money embezzled by fraudster Monirul Islam, who used Facebook to deceive victims from various professional backgrounds, particularly elderly individuals. Using fake identities, Monirul used to send friend requests to different persons in Facebook impersonating him as a doctor, a college principal, or even the Prime Minister’s personal secretary. Monirul Islam was named as the accused in the case. Based on these findings, the CID applied to the court, which subsequently ordered the confiscation of the illegally acquired properties of Monirul Islam.

As Bangladesh moves closer to a new election cycle, it is disappointing how little attention political parties are paying to the rights and needs of people with disabilities. A thriving democracy should invite conversations that include all citizens, but the silence around disability rights in campaign agendas suggests that one of the country’s most marginalized communities is being overlooked yet again. Bangladesh’s commitment to human rights, equity, and social justice must mean more than mere bold statements. We must also do our part in demanding that disability rights be taken seriously in policy agendas, not treated as an afterthought. Inclusion is not charity, it is justice -- and this pledge to justice must be at the heart of how Bangladesh progresses.

KARACHI, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The death toll from a mall fire in Pakistan's biggest city rose to at least 55 people, a Karachi government official told AFP on Thursday. "A total of 55 bodies have been recovered since Saturday night" when the fire erupted, said Javed Nabi Khoso, deputy commissioner of Karachi's south district. More than 50 families have given DNA samples, provincial health official Summaiya Syed told journalists Wednesday. "We will hand over the bodies (remains) to the family, once DNA samples are matched," she said outside the Civil Hospital Karachi mortuary. Faraz Ali, whose father and 26-year-old brother were inside the mall, told AFP he wants "the bodies to be recovered and handed over to their rightful families".

Liverpool eased to a 3-0 win in Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday as Harry Kane's double earned Bayern Munich a 2-0 victory against Union Saint-Gilloise that secured a place in the last 16 for the German giants. Arne Slot's Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions since a 4-1 hammering at home by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in November. Kane headed in to open the scoring early in the second half, then won and converted a penalty on 55 minutes. However, a brilliant Dani Olmo strike restored Barca's lead just after the hour and Lewandowski sealed the win with his first Champions League goal this season. Juventus continued their Champions League recovery with a third straight European win, beating Benfica 2-0 thanks to second-half goals by Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie.

The code also bans political parties and candidates from holding public meetings, rallies, or campaign activities abroad in connection with the election. Besides, wall writing or drawings for election campaigning are strictly forbidden. Election campaigning is strictly prohibited in mosques, temples, pagodas, churches or any other religious places of worship, as well as in government offices and educational institutions. Regarding election campaigning on social media, the code allows candidates, their election agents, or representatives to conduct election campaigns through social media platforms. The use of artificial intelligence with dishonest intent in election campaigning or election-related matters is prohibited.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday morning held an interactive discussion with hundreds of non-political youths at a hotel in Sylhet, ahead of his scheduled election rally at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground at 11am. Abdul Munaem, a student of Sylhet MC College, urged Tarique Rahman to take initiatives to upgrade Sylhet Osmani International Airport into a fully functional international airport if BNP comes to power through a free and fair election. Tarique Rahman listened attentively to their proposals and exchanged views on employment, education, infrastructure development, and youth empowerment. Tarique Rahman arrived in Sylhet on Wednesday evening to formally begin BNP’s election campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. At around 9:45pm, Tarique Rahman visited the nearby shrine of Hazrat Shahparan (RA).

BNP has fielded the highest number of candidates, 288, while Jamaat-e-Islami is contesting the February 12 parliamentary election with 224 candidates across the country. Of the total candidates, 1,972 are contesting in 298 constituencies and nine have been declared valid candidates in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2. As many as 1,896 contesting candidates and 28 political parties were in the race in the 12th parliamentary election (held on January 7, 2024), while 1,861 candidates and 39 political parties were in the 11th parliamentary election ( December 30, 2018). In the 10th parliamentary election held in 2014, only 390 candidates and 12 political parties contested from 147 constituencies, while 153 other parliamentary seats went uncontested. Earlier, a total of 1,567 candidates and 38 political parties contested the 9th parliamentary election (December 29, 2008), while 1,939 candidates and 54 political parties contested the 8th parliamentary election (October 1, 2001), and 2,574 candidates and 81 political parties in the 7th parliamentary election (June 12, 1996).

ATHENS, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two people died in Greece on Wednesday as violent winds lashed swathes of the country and heavy rainfall flooded roads and confined ferries to port. Reports said he had been hit by a wave and fatally injured while urging local fishermen to leave the area. Meteorologists said the storm had dumped the equivalent of six weeks of rain in some areas, including parts of the capital. Deadly flooding in Greece during intense rainfall in recent years has forced the authorities to improve floodworks to limit damage. In November 2017, heavy rain in Mandra, a semi-rural region near Athens, left 25 dead and dozens injured.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that he had not discussed the key issue of Danish sovereignty over Greenland in his meeting with US President Donald Trump. Rutte, speaking in a televised interview with Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier," offered few details about the supposed "framework" for a deal announced by Trump after his talks with the NATO chief. "We have a good agreement to really start working on these issues," Rutte said, echoing comments earlier to AFP that much work remained to reach an actual deal. "That means that we both agreed, when you look at NATO and what NATO collectively can do to make sure that the whole Arctic region is safe," he said. Asked if Greenland would remain a part of the Kingdom of Denmark under the deal, Rutte said: "That issue did not come up anymore in my conversations tonight with the president."

However, there was no sign that Trump had succeeded in his repeated vow to make Greenland part of the United States. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said that Denmark, Greenland, and the United States will negotiate on "ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold -- economically or militarily -- in Greenland" -- a key stated concern of Trump. - Facing down Trump -Trump has repeatedly said that the United States, the key force in NATO, deserves Greenland as it would be forced to defend the island against Russia or China, although neither country holds any claim to the island. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland," Trump said. Trump attacked both leaders, mocking Macron for wearing sunglasses at Davos, which the French president said was because of an eye condition.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked fourth among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 240 at 9:23am. The city’s air was classified as "very unhealthy", indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.