Questa releases a Privacy focused AI Analytics Assistant that first anonymizes all sensitive information from documents to prevent AI training on them. AI Privacy is not an abstract academic concept anymore but rather a real world challenge. Questa Safe AI tries to answer that question with a clear and confident “yes” as they introduce their new and unique Safe AI Assistant called Novara. Novara empowers users to find answers and insights from their own everyday business files using any AI model like GPT, Claude or Gemini without the risk of AI Training on confidential information. Questa itself provides more AI based services like Business Analytics but the Blackbox Anonymizer works for all 3rd party Agentic AI services too.

LOS ANGELES, United States, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig will miss a second straight Major League Soccer season in 2026 after another surgery on his left knee, the Los Angeles Galaxy said Saturday. Puig missed all of the 2026 campaign after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference final, missing the Galaxy's title-clinching victory in the MLS Cup final a week later. The 26-year-old had returned to training with the Southern California club last autumn, but the Galaxy said Friday he'd suffered a setback. "Puig is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to rejoin the team for the start of the 2027 MLS season." Puig, a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, arrived in the United States in 2022.

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Nearly three months since border clashes prompted the closure of land crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, university students, merchants and families are left hanging with no way of getting back. But the border has been shut since October 12, leaving many like him with no viable option of making it home. Relatives in Afghanistan have hosted the family, but he said he felt a sense of "embarrassment" for overstaying their welcome. Neither government has given any clear signal about when or under what conditions the border could reopen. "All our livelihoods depend on this gate," he said, hoping the border would reopen soon.

Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad leaders today meet Tarique Rahman in Gulshan, Dhaka. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Jan 03, 2026 (BSS) - Leaders of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad expressed deep grief over the death of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, during a visit to her political office in Gulshan this afternoon. Following this, the leaders met with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to console him and convey their sympathies to his family. BNP senior leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party's standing committee, were present to welcome the delegation. Among the parishad leaders present were Bangladesh Puja Udjavan Parishad President Basudeb Dhar, General Secretary Santosh Sharma, Oikya Parishad Acting General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath, Presidium members Kajal Debnath and Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Sri Sri Dhakeshwari National Temple Management Committee President Chitta Ranjan Majumder, General Secretary DN Chatterjee, and Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Udjapan Committee General Secretary Dr Tapas Chandra Pal.

Root and Brook dig in as England reach 114-3 in 5th Ashes TestSYDNEY, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Joe Root and Harry Brook led a rescue mission after England lost three wickets in a torrid opening session of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney on Sunday. At lunch, Root was not out 31 and Brook on 23 to steer them to 114-3 after opting to bat at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground. England came into the game buoyed by a four-wicket win inside two days at the previous Test in Melbourne, desperate to keep the momentum going. It is the first time in almost 140 years that the hosts have not played a front-line spinner during a Sydney Test. Root joined Brook at the crease and they began to rebuild, putting on an unbroken 57 to reach the interval unscathed.

Photo : BSSDHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) today launched a shuttle bus service on the occasion of 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair to ensure smooth transportation for visitors. Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque inaugurated the service. BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Mollah, along with BRTC directors, officials and employees, was present at the ceremony. According to the revised schedule of the trade fair, the shuttle bus service has started operation today and will continue until the fair concludes. The final return trip from the fair venue will depart at 11:00 pm.

CARACAS, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela's Supreme Court late Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to become the country's interim leader, after the United States seized President Nicolas Maduro and whisked him out of the country. The high court ruled that Rodriguez "assume and exercise, in an acting capacity, all the attributes, duties and powers inherent to the office of President...to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation." The judges stopped short of declaring Maduro permanently absent from office, a ruling that requires holding elections within 30 days.

Maduro arrives in New York after capture by USNEWBURGH, United States, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) -Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived Saturday evening at a military base in the United States and was transferred to New York City, after his capture by US forces in Caracas. FBI agents surrounded Maduro as he descended from a US government plane and slowly escorted him along the tarmac at a National Guard facility in New York state. The detention center is the same jail where rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs was held throughout his trial last year. Maduro and his wife are to be arraigned at an unspecified date before a judge in New York. They have been charged with "narco-terrorism," importing tons of cocaine into the United States, and possession of illegal weapons.

BANDARBAN, Jan 3, 2025 (BSS) - A man was trampled to death by wild elephant at Baishari union under Naikhongchhari upazila of the district on Saturday morning. The victim, 30-year-old Abdus Salam, son of Abdus Sattar, a resident of the same area, was a local tubewell mechanic. As the locals came out to see the wild animal, a dog began barking, disturbing the elephant. The elephant trampled him, causing serious injuries. "It has been initially confirmed that the person died as a result of a wild elephant attack," he said.

Photo : BSSJASHORE, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - The scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliament election took place on January 3, with the District Returning Officer declaring the nomination papers of six candidates invalid in the Jashore-5 and 6 constituencies. The scrutiny process, which began at 10 am in the meeting room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, revealed several errors and discrepancies in the nomination papers. Among the affected candidates were those from the Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and independent candidates. Of these, the nomination papers of four candidates were declared invalid due to various issues identified during the scrutiny. Iqbal Hossain (Independent, BNP leader)In Jashore-6 constituency, five candidates submitted their nomination papers, two of which were declared invalid.

The protests began on Sunday as an expression of discontent over high prices and economic stagnation, but have since expanded to include political demands. "The president and high-ranking officials are working to resolve" the economic difficulties in the sanctions-battered country, Khamenei said in a speech marking a Shiite holiday. But Khamenei nonetheless warned that while "authorities must have dialogue with protesters, it is useless to have dialogue with rioters. At least 25 cities have seen protest gatherings of varying sizes, according to an AFP tally based on local media. However, local media do not necessarily report on every incident, and state media have downplayed coverage of protests, while videos flooding social media are often impossible to verify.

DHAKA, Jan 03, 2026 (BSS) - The admission test for the first-year (honours) programmes of 2025-26 academic sessions under the agricultural cluster of nine public Agricultural Universities was held today in a peaceful manner. The test held in MCQ system had began at 2:00 pm and continued till 3:00 pm, sources said. This admission test was held simultaneously at 20 sub-centers across the country, including nine universities at present. The Gazipur Agricultural University was in charge of coordinating all administrative and technical aspects of the examination. The nine universities currently operating under the Agricultural Cluster are: Bangladesh Agricultural University, Gazipur Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Sylhet Agricultural University, Khulna Agricultural University, Habiganj Agricultural University and Kurigram Agricultural University.

Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 nets 98 in Dhaka in 24 hoursDHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 98 people in the last 24 hours under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 through coordinated drives conducted by Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mirpur Model, Jatrabari, Darus Salam and Rupnagar police stations. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police arrested the highest number of suspects, 50, followed by Darus Salam with 14, Jatrabari 12, Mirpur Model 11 and Rupnagar 11. During the operations, police seized marijuana, knives and mobile phones from the detainees. The arrests were made in connection with regular cases, execution of warrants and involvement in various criminal activities. All the arrested individuals were produced before the court.

President Donald Trump posted a photo Saturday of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in custody on a US naval ship and wearing both a blindfold and handcuffs. “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, along with a picture showing Maduro hours after he was snatched by US forces. The Venezuelan leader had on what appeared to be noise-canceling ear muffs and grey Nike-branded sweatpants and jacket.

In a move condemned by global leaders as a blatant violation of international law, US forces stormed Caracas in a nighttime bombing raid before abducting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife will face the “full wrath” of the courts on drugs and terrorism charges. Maduro -- in power since 2013 after taking over from Hugo Chavez -- long accused Trump of seeking regime change in order to control Venezuela’s huge oil reserves. We can’t take a chance at letting somebody else run and just take over where he left, left off,” Trump told Fox News. However, he told Fox News yesterday that he had spoken with Maduro just last week and told him “You have to give up.