NEW DELHI, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - India's navy boasts aircraft carriers, submarines, warships and frontline vessels of steel, as it spreads its maritime power worldwide. "We are not only retracing ancient pathways of trade, navigation, and cultural exchange, but also reaffirming India's position as a natural maritime bridge across the Indian Ocean." "It is of deep strategic and cultural significance to our nation as we aim to resurrect and revive ancient Indian maritime concepts and capabilities in all their forms." The ship's 18-strong crew has already sailed north along India's palm-fringed coast, up from Karnataka to Gujarat. "The monsoon winds that once guided traditional ships between our ports also carried a shared understanding that prosperity grows when we remain connected, open and cooperative."

Kremlin agrees with Trump that Ukraine talks in their final stageMOSCOW, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The Kremlin on Monday said it agreed with US President Donald Trump that talks to end the Ukraine war were in their final stage. Asked by journalists if Moscow agreed with Trump's assessment following his talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Of course".

Bangladesh’s foreign loan and grant disbursements have risen by 26 per cent year-on-year in the first five months of the fiscal year 2025-26. The current fiscal year, however, began with a surge in growth, which is now somewhat slowing. In the ongoing fiscal year so far, foreign assistance amounting to $1.22 billion has been committed. The government repaid $1.89 billion of its dues to financing institutions in the five months of the current fiscal year. In the first five months of the previous fiscal year, $1.71 billion was repaid in principal and interest.

KYIV, Ukraine, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine's President VolodymyrZelensky said Monday that Russia's strikes on Ukraine and Vladimir Putin'sdomestic messaging on the war do not correspond to his "peaceful rhetoric" toUS leader Donald Trump. "On the one hand, he tells the president of the United States that he wantsto end the war and that this is his desire," Zelensky told journalists. "And on the other hand, he openly communicates in the media all his messagesabout being ready and wanting to continue the war -- he strikes us withmissiles, openly talks about it, celebrates the destruction of civilianinfrastructure, gives instructions to his generals about where to advance andwhat to seize, and so on." Zelensky added: "In my view, these actions do not correspond to thesupposedly peaceful rhetoric that he uses in dialogues with the president ofthe United States."

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain today spoke as the chief guest at the Rangpur District Workshop-2025. Photo : BSSRANGPUR, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) – Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain today said that achieving the country’s desired development is not possible without an atmosphere of communal harmony. The workshop was organised by the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust under the Temple-Based Children and Mass Education Activities (6th Phase) project. Under the project, 7,400 temple-based education centres, including 149 in Rangpur, are being operated across the country. Of these, 5,000 are pre-primary centres, 1,400 adult religious education centres and 1,000 children’s religious education centres.

Adviser Farida Akhter today spoke as the chief guest at a de-briefing workshop following participation in the UN Climate Conference 2025. She made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a de-briefing workshop following participation in the UN Climate Conference 2025 (Conference of the Parties -COP 30), said a ministry press release. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Cotton Development Board this morning. Farida Akhter said that Bangladesh receives significantly more attention and importance in international forums when represented by top leadership, which is not possible with lower-level representation. She stressed that such participation is vital to present the country’s climate challenges, priorities, and achievements effectively.

After more than one and a half decades, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman visited the party’s central office at Nayapaltan on Monday. However, due to the presence of a large number of party leaders and activists, it took until around 4pm for him to enter the central office. Senior BNP leaders welcomed Tarique Rahman at the entrance, as leaders and activists chanted slogans in his honour. Ahead of his arrival, party leaders and supporters began gathering at the Nayapaltan office from noon, displaying banners and festoons bearing images of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, former prime minister Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. Security was tightened in and around the party office to prevent any untoward incident.

Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US to Bangladesh today paid a farewell call on the Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka. “We are fully prepared,” Professor Yunus said, adding that any attempts to disrupt peace ahead of the elections would be dealt with firmly. The Chief Adviser thanked the United States for continued support for the Rohingyas. The Chief Adviser thanked the US Chargé d’Affaires for her “critical work” during her year-long tenure and for being a “friend to Bangladesh" and extended an invitation to her to visit in future. National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were also present during the meeting.

Photo : BSSRAJBARI, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) – The ‘Voter Gari’, a mobile campaign initiative aimed at creating mass awareness ahead of the upcoming referendum and national elections, has arrived in Rajbari district. As part of a special campaign to raise awareness and disseminate important information ahead of the ‘Referendum ’26’ and the 13th National Parliament Election, the ‘Voter Gari’ was stationed at Freedom Fighter Shahid Khushi Railway Ground on Sunday. During the campaign, videos related to the referendum and the parliamentary elections were screened alongside documentaries on the July Uprising. Messages from the Chief Advisor regarding the national elections and the referendum were also broadcast through the Voter Gari. Among others present at the event were Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Shankar Chandra Vaidya, Additional District Magistrate Uchiha May, Rajbari Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nirupama Roy, and District Information Officer Rekha Islam.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS)- The Trophy of first CAS International Squash 2026has been formally unveiled at Bangladesh Olympic Association Bhaban today(Monday). This competition, one of the largest in the subcontinent, will begin fromFriday (Jan 2) at the Army Squash Complex in Dhaka Cantonment and BashundharaSports City. For the first time, world-ranked players from India, Pakistan, Malaysia Egyptand Japan will be competing in this prestigious international squash meetwhich will be held under the direct patronage of the Army Chief. Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) vice-president Major Imroz Ahmed (retd)was present as the chief guest in the trophy unavailing ceremony, presided bythe Bangladesh Squash Racket Federation (BSRF) general secretary BrigadierGeneral GM Quamrul Islam. Participating 10 countries are host Bangladesh, Belgium, Bahrain, Egypt,Hongkong, India, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia and Pakistan.

This lack of technological transparency is part of what the Colorado legislature has been grappling with since 2024 as part of its effort to regulate so-called high-risk AI systems. But I think tech companies have gotten used to a world in which nobody asked that question,” Burke said. But during the special session, she says large tech companies didn’t want to compromise about any proposed liability. Robinson also is concerned about what the law would mean for deployers, who often use AI systems with little to no understanding of how they work. Boucher believes that for smaller AI companies, the bill would need to offer financial incentives for compliance, such as tax breaks or other legal incentives.

Photo : BSSRANGAMATI, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - The para-military Border Guard Bangladesh(BGB) has provided humanitarian aid to the families affected by the fire inthe remote Chhota Harina area under Barkal upazila here this morning. Harina Zone BGB Commander Lieutenant colonel Imrul Kayes Mehedi donated theconstruction materials to fire victim Samar Kanti Chakma for thereconstruction of his burnt homestead, said a BGB release here today. Earlier on December 26, a fire broke out at the homestead of Samar KantiChakma under the remote Jirakhamar BGB camp in the upazila. Following the fire, the house of Samar Kanti Chakma was entirely destroyed. However, the BGB camp in Jirakhamar came to assist the victims of the fire aspart of its role in disaster management and humanitarian aid.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman disclosed the information today at a press conference held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - The month-long 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2026 will begin on January 1 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman disclosed the information today at a press conference held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center regarding the organization of DITF-2026. With the participation of 11 foreign stalls and pavilions, the event will be recognized as an international trade fair. Additionally, a 500-seat cafeteria inside the exhibition center will serve quality food at fixed prices in a pleasant environment.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md. File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today asked members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to demonstrate maximum professionalism and competence in resolving border issues with neighboring countries to ensure cent percent protection of national interests. Later, he awarded 72 BGB members with various medals for their outstanding services and attended a reception arranged for freedom fighters of BGB and their families. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Nasimul Ghani and Director General of BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui were present.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, waves to supporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after returning from London, ending more than 17 years of self-imposed exile, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. AP/PTITarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh National Party and ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son, will fight the upcoming General Elections of Bangladesh from two constituencies, reported Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune. Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after a 17-year exile, applied for voting rights in Bangladesh on Saturday, December 27. On Sunday, he signed his nomination papers to contest the 13th national parliamentary election from the Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 constituencies on the BNP’s electoral symbol — the Sheaf of Paddy.