File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 5, 2025 (BSS) - The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today released the names and addresses of eight martyrs of the July Uprising-2024 after confirming their identities through DNA profiling and forensic examination. Mahin Mia (25), son of Gazi Mamud and Josna Begum of Phulpur village, Phulpur Thana, Mymensingh. According to the CID, DNA samples collected from nine families, resulting the successful identification of eight martyrs. Internationally renowned forensic expert Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz provided training to CID forensic, DNA and medical teams through a two-day workshop. CID officials said the process of identifying the remaining martyrs will continue until all possible victims are accounted for and returned to their families with dignity.

DHAKA, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS) - A mild cold wave is sweeping over Rajshahi division and the districts of Dinajpur, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia and it may continue, while the overall weather across the country is likely to remain dry, according to a weather outlook. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) this morning made the forecast for the next 24 hours, beginning from 9:00 am. It said that the weather is expected to remain dry with a temporarily partly cloudy sky over the country. Besides, moderate to thick fog may occur over different parts of the country from midnight to morning and, at places, the fog may persist until noon. Due to thick fog, air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may face temporary disruptions, the forecast said.

BEIJING, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin urged "open trade" in talks with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, during a five-day visit aimed at strengthening economic ties with the world's second-largest economy. Martin's China trip, the first by an Irish Taoiseach since 2012, comes against the backdrop of trade tensions between China and the European Union, of which Ireland will assume the rotating presidency in July. "We believe in open trade, in open relationships and in particular in terms of our trading relationship, we believe it's fundamental that we try and work towards open trade", Martin told Xi during talks in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. Xi hailed growing bilateral trade and investment between the two countries and called for the "long-term, stable development" of ties. Key Irish exports to China include medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, computer services and agricultural products.

TOKYO, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Tea leaves spilt from a truck caused a multi-vehicle collision in Japan that killed one person and injured three others, local media reported. Four people aged from their 50s to 70s were taken to hospital and one man aged 78 was later confirmed dead, the Mainichi said. The man who died had been driving a small commercial vehicle, which is believed to have skidded and mounted the median strip. After he got out of the vehicle, he was reportedly struck by a truck. The truck carrying the tea leaves had no roof, and police are investigating the accident, reports said.

CONAKRY, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Guinea's Supreme Court on Sunday validated an overwhelming presidential election victory for junta chief Mamady Doumbouya, crediting him with 86.72 percent of votes. This confirms provisional results announced on Tuesday, following the December 28 election that excluded opposition heavyweights from the ballot. Bangoura then declared Doumbouya "president of the Republic of Guinea for a seven-year mandate". Balde, who had challenged the election result in a filing with the Supreme Court, had since "voluntarily withdrawn" the complaint, Fode Bangoura said. - Civil rights crackdown -In September 2021, Doumbouya led a coup to topple Guinea's first freely elected president, Alpha Conde.

NEW DELHI, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A moderate 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern India's Assam state early Monday morning, according to the US Geological Survey. The shallow quake was centered three kilometres outside of the village of Dhing near India's border with Bhutan and hit around 4:17 am (2247 GMT on Sunday). The Himalayan region experiences big earthquakes each year, and has been the site of some of India's largest and deadliest tremors. A 1950 quake killed about 4,800 people in Assam and Tibet. The Great Assam Earthquake of 1897 is said to be one of the most powerful to have hit India, leaving hundreds dead in the remote hills.

TOKYO, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Asian stocks opened higher on Monday as investors weighed the impact of the US ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. In early trade the Nikkei in Tokyo was up 1.50 percent at 51,097 points while South Korea's Kospi was 2.09 percent higher at 4,399. Oil prices recovered from earlier lows while gold moved higher.

SYDNEY, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An imperious Joe Root hit a magnificent 160 before England were dismissed for 384 at tea on day two of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia on Monday. Root's superb innings was ended courtesy of a brilliant caught-and-bowled by Michael Neser, who ended with 4-60. Will Jacks (27), Brydon Carse (1) and Josh Tongue (0) also departed in the second session at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate to keep the momentum going after clawing back a win at the previous Test in Melbourne. Jamie Smith lived dangerously and was fortunate to survive after chipping Cameron Green to Labuschagne at cover on 22.

Over 30 killed, several kidnapped in NigeriaLAGOS, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Armed gangs killed more than 30 people and kidnapped others in a raid in Nigeria in the same state where hundreds of schoolchildren were abducted late last year, police said Sunday. "Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, some persons were also kidnapped," Wasiu Abiodun, Niger state police spokesman said. Images viewed by AFP showed some of those killed in the raid had their hands tied behind their backs. Gangs -- known in Nigeria as "bandits" -- frequently carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and loot villages in parts of Nigeria. On Christmas Eve, a suspected suicide bomber killed at least five people in an attack on a mosque in northeastern Borno state.

Manchester City's Premier League title challenge suffered a huge setback as managerless Chelsea salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw, while Harrison Reed's stunning last-gasp strike gave Fulham a 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday. Just days after Chelsea parted company with boss Enzo Maresca, the Blues were managed by Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane. City, who host Brighton on Wednesday, have gone two games without a win following their 0-0 draw at Sunderland on January 1. "We recover people and we see on Wednesday," Guardiola said of City's title chances. Ben Davies put Spurs in front, but they were unable to hold out for just a second home league win since the opening weekend of the season.

HONG KONG, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Asian stocks rose Monday on the back of a fresh rally in tech firms and oil fluctuated as investors weighed the impact of the US ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. In early trade, Asian stocks were up across the board, led by markets with heavy tech presence. Tokyo surged 2.8 percent thanks to tech investor SoftBank's four percent gains and chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron's five percent advance. Trump said the United States will now "run" Venezuela and send US companies to fix its dilapidated oil infrastructure. Investing today also holds little appeal as oil prices are weighed down by a supply glut, and fell last year.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked eighth on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 159 at 8:57am on Monday. An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered “moderate,” usually prompting sensitive individuals to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Its air quality typically worsens during winter and improves in the monsoon season.

TOKYO, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A Japanese sushi entrepreneur paid a record $3.2 million for a giant bluefin tuna Monday at an annual prestigious new year auction in Tokyo's main fish market, smashing the previous all-time high. Dave Gershman at the Pew Charitable Trusts' international fisheries team used news of the auction to highlight that stocks of Pacific bluefin tuna were improving after being "near collapse". The 510.3 million yen price at the new year's auction was the highest since comparable data started being collected in 1999. The top bidder last year paid 207 million yen for a 276-kilogramme bluefin. Gershman said in an emailed statement that a 2017 recovery plan "is working, and if decision makers take further action in 2026, the future for Pacific bluefin will be bright".

England all out for 384 in final Ashes TestSYDNEY, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - England were all out for 384 in their first innings of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia on Monday, with Joe Root hitting a majestic 160. The tourists resumed on 211-3 with Root on 72 and Harry Brook 78 at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground. Root plundered a 41st century before becoming the ninth wicket to fall. Australia lead the five-Test series 3-1 after victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, which saw them retain the urn. England restored pride with a lightning-quick win inside two days at Melbourne.

A mild tremor was felt in different parts of the country. The epicentre was approximately 3 kilometres west of Dhing town and 76 kilometres northeast of the state capital, Guwahati. The first tremor occurred at 2:20:31am, followed by a second at 2:25:14am. The epicentres of both quakes were located in Biyanibazar, a border area between Bangladesh and India in Sylhet’s Jokiganj upazila. Mild tremors were also felt across the country on November 22, 23 and 26, as well as on December 2.