WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Chinese war games around Taiwan "unnecessarily" spiked tensions in the region, the US State Department said Thursday, calling on Beijing to "cease its military pressure." "China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. China claims that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it. I certainly have seen it," Trump told reporters when asked about the exercises. The United States has been committed for decades to ensuring Taiwan's self-defense, while staying ambiguous on whether the US military itself would intervene in an invasion.

DHAKA, Jan 02, 2026 (BSS) - In a landmark move to strengthen trade justice and accelerate the country's economic development, the government has issued the Commercial Court Ordinance, 2026. Scope of commercial disputes: The ordinance defines a wide range of commercial disputes, including routine business transactions of traders, bankers, merchants, and financial institutions. Establishment and functioning of commercial courts: In line with the ordinance, Commercial Courts will be established across the country. Commercial Courts will have the authority to hear and dispose of all commercial suits and applications within their territorial jurisdiction. However, where other laws limit or exclude civil court jurisdiction, Commercial Courts will not adjudicate such matters.

Nation observing last day of three-day state mourning over death of Begum Khaleda ZiaBNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) – The nation is observing the last day of the three-day state mourning following the death of three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, declared the three-day state mourning starting from Wednesday as well as one-day general holiday on Wednesday. Condolence books remain open at Bangladesh missions abroad at the death of the former Prime Minister. The country’s first female Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who is widely regarded as an uncompromising leader for democracy in Bangladesh, played a crucial role in the country's transition to parliamentary democracy and introducing the caretaker government system.

CARACAS, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela Thursday announced the release of 88 people jailed for protesting President Nicolas Maduro's claim to have won July 2024 elections. Twenty-eight people were killed in the unrest and around 2,400 people, including dozens of minors, were arrested as the authorities cracked down. This is the second such gesture in a week by the embattled Maduro administration, which is in US President Donald Trump's crosshairs. Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed that the strikes targeted a suspected cocaine-making factory in the port city of Maracaibo. Venezuela accuses the United States of trying to oust the leftist Maduro in order to get its hands on the country's oil wealth.

DHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have stood at US$ 33.18 billion. But, as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF) methodology under the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves stood at $28.51 billion, according to the latest data of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) released today.

Photo: CollectedSYDNEY, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Seamer Matthew Potts and spinner Shoaib Bashir were included in a 12-man England squad Friday for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia, with a final decision on who gets the nod likely after a better look at the wicket. Potts is the only unused seamer from the tourists' original 16-man squad and gets his chance after Gus Atkinson limped off with a hamstring issue in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Wood (knee) only played the first Test in Perth while Archer was ruled out after the third Test in Adelaide with a side strain. Bashir was considered England's top tweaker when they arrived, but has yet to play with spinning all-rounder Will Jacks preferred. England squad: Ben Stokes (capt), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue

Jan. 1, 2026, 4:57 p.m. PTFlooding has closed Little Morongo Road between Two Bunch Palms Trail and Dillon Road in Desert Hot Springs on New Year's Day. The city of Desert Hot Springs issued a traffic alert on Thursday, Jan. 1 warning motorists that flooding at the wash has made the roadway impassable. Drivers are urged to use alternative routes, drive slowly and follow all traffic laws. Philip Gonsalves, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, said the storm system brought deep moisture into the Coachella Valley, increasing the risk of flooding in desert washes and low-lying areas that can quickly become hazardous for motorists. Portions of North Gene Autry Trail, Indian Canyon Drive and East Vista Chino continue to be closed in Palm Springs.

According to the bulletin, moderate to thick fog may cover different regions from midnight to morning and may linger till noon at some places. The dense fog could cause temporary disruption to air navigation, inland river transport and road communication. Night temperature may rise slightly, while day temperature is expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country. On Thursday, Teknaf recorded the highest temperature at 26.5 degrees Celsius, while Jashore registered the lowest at 8.0 degrees Celsius today. In Dhaka, sunset will be at 5:23 pm today and sunrise at 6:42 am tomorrow.

Gaibandha, Dec 2, 2026 (BSS) - Two people were killed and two others injured in a collision between a truck and a motorcycle on the Bogura-Rangpur Highway at Fashitala point under Kamardaha union of Gobindaganj upazila in the district on Thursday night. Police said a motorcyclist, along with two co-riders, was travelling on the highway near the Kamardaha flyover when a speeding truck hit the motorcycle from behind. The motorcyclist and one co-rider were killed on the spot, while the truck helper and the other co-rider sustained serious injuries in the accident. On receiving information, firefighters from the Gobindaganj Fire Service station rushed to the scene, rescued the injured and admitted them to the Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex. Officer-in-Charge of Gobindaganj Highway Thana Mojaffar Hossain confirmed the incident and said he visited the spot around 11:30 pm.

The figures from 2025 mark the second consecutive year Saudi Arabia has set a new record for executions, after authorities executed 338 people in 2024. The Berlin-based organisation confirmed that Saudi Arabia executed 356 people in 2025, highlighting it was the first time more foreigners were executed than Saudis in a calendar year. Saudi Arabia resumed executions for drug offences at the end of 2022, after suspending the use of the death penalty in narcotics cases for around three years. Saudi Arabia is spending big on tourist infrastructure and top sports events such as the 2034 football World Cup as it tries to diversify its oil-reliant economy. Rights group Amnesty International began documenting executions in Saudi Arabia in 1990.

KYIV, Ukraine, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine staged the death of an anti-Kremlin Russian fighter to prevent his killing ordered by Moscow's special forces, Ukrainian military intelligence announced Thursday. Denis Kapustin, leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps that had carried out cross-border raids into Russia during Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, was killed on the front line, his group declared Saturday. His assassination, GUR said in a statement, "was ordered by the special services of the aggressor state Russia, which allocated half a million dollars to carry out the crime." "As a result of a comprehensive special operation" his life "was preserved, and the circle of individuals was identified: the masterminds within the Russian special services and the perpetrators." Kyiv sent shockwaves through Ukraine by announcing that Babchenko had been shot dead at his home in a contract-style killing.

BELGRADE, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed hope Thursday that Russia and Hungary could quickly wrap up the sale of a Serbian oil company caught up in Washington's sanctions against the Kremlin over the invasion of Ukraine. According to Belgrade, Gazprom is in negotiation with the Hungarian fossil fuel company MOL to sell the 56-percent stake controlled by Gazprom Neft and Intelligence, two subsidiaries of the Russian giant. "I hope that the Russians and Hungarians will finish their work" by the January 23 deadline, Vucic told the press Thursday. The Serbian president had previously said that Russia, a key ally of Belgrade which supplies the majority of the Balkan country's natural gas needs, was not interested in reselling its shares in NIS to Serbia. Given the firm's importance to the Serbian economy, Vucic had repeatedly promised that the government would step in should no agreement on the sale of Russian shares be reached by January 15.

North Korean leader's daughter in first visit to symbolic mausoleumSEOUL, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The North Korean leader's daughter Kim Ju Ae has made her first visit to a mausoleum housing her grandfather and great-grandfather, state media images showed Friday, further solidifying her place as her father's successor. Current leader Kim Jong Un is the third in line to rule in the world's only communist monarchy, following father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung. The two men -- dubbed "eternal leaders" in state propaganda -- are housed in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a vast mausoleum in downtown Pyongyang. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong Un had visited the palace, accompanied by top officials. North Korean state media have since referred to her as "the beloved child", and a "great person of guidance" -- "hyangdo" in Korean -- a term typically reserved for top leaders and their successors.

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Crab catching banned in the Sundarbans for two monthsPhoto: BSSKHULNA, Jan 1, 2025 (BSS) - The Forest Department has imposed a two-month banon crab catching in the Sundarbans from January 1(today) to February 28 toensure the natural breeding of the species during its peak spawning season. However, residents of areas adjacent to the Sundarbans alleged that somesyndicates continue crab catching during the breeding season by using varioustactics. As January and February are the breeding months for crabs, entry of fishermeninto the Sundarbans for crab catching remains suspended for 59 days. Several forest-dependent fishermen said crab trading is highly profitable,which is why crab catching continues even during the breeding season. Although crab catching remains banned during the breeding season, fishingactivities are allowed to continue.