PRISTINA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Kosovo voters head to the polls on Sunday for snap parliamentary elections, hoping to end ten months of political deadlock and crisis. MPs needed over 50 sessions to agree on a speaker, but no coalition or government emerged, forcing early elections. Throughout my term, we have never fallen below 4 percent," Kurti told AFP. "Electoral corruption," responded the two other main parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). He criticised Kurti's hard-line policy towards the Serb minority, which has also been lambasted by allies, including the United States.

Now, there is a glimmer of hope for fresh action in the form of the Clean Air bill, which would enshrine the right to breathable air, tax emitters and offer public information on the sources of pollution. Wirun Limsawart, who has helped lead the push for the measure as part of the Thailand Clean Air Network (CAN), grew up in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat. - 'My problem too' -Wirun's pollution worries led him to a panel discussion in Bangkok on the issue in 2019, and the conversations evolved into CAN, which has spent several years advancing clean air legislation. An outdoor run in 2018 drew Weenarin into clean air activism. More than 10 million people required treatment for pollution-related health problems in Thailand in 2023, according to the health ministry.

Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder. File photoDHAKA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today said quality textbooks are indispensable for building an educated, skilled and disciplined nation. Prof Bidhan said the government has printed and distributed more than 30 crore textbooks across the country, describing the task as massive and highly challenging. He said that with Bangladeshis now spread across the globe, delivering printed textbooks everywhere is often time-consuming or nearly impossible. Prof Bidhan said there is scope for further reflection on whether textbook content is truly appropriate for specific age groups and how effectively it is presented.

Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. File photoDHAKA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - Police have confirmed that the main accused in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi has fled to India, as authorities prepare to submit a charge sheet within the next seven to ten days. "The investigation into the murder of Hadi is nearing completion, with the charge sheet expected to be submitted within the next seven to ten days," he said. Nazrul Islam confirmed that the prime accused, Faisal Karim Masud, fled the country following the attack. According to police, Faisal Karim Masud and an accomplice, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on Hadi while he was heading towards Suhrawardy Udyan after conducting a campaign from Motijheel Mosque.

Russian strikes cut power to more than 1 mn homes in Kyiv regionKYIV, Ukraine, Dec 28, 2025 (AFP) - Russian strikes that were carried out on Saturday cutpower to more than a million homes in and around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, energy company DTEK said. "Kyiv has experienced extensive power outages as a result of a massive missile attack by Russia on 27th December," the company said in a post to social media. "Energy crews from DTEK are working to restore electricity as air raids continue to sound," it added.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali. File photoDHAKA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali vowed to expose all those involved in the murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi and bring the perpetrators to justice. Speaking at a sit-in programme organised by Inqilab Mancha at Shahbagh on Saturday, the DMP Commissioner described the killing as a "mysterious" incident and said there are indications that multiple individuals were involved in the crime. He expressed hope that the charge sheet in the murder case would be submitted to the court by January 7, adding that the investigation is progressing swiftly. The DMP Commissioner said significant progress has already been made, with 11 people arrested so far.

WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Milwaukee's GiannisAntetokounmpo made a triumphant return from an eight-game NBA injury layoffon Saturday while San Antonio's win streak was ended at eight games by theUtah Jazz. The 31-year-old Greek star, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, made 10-of-15 shots from the floor and 8-of-10 free throws as Milwaukee improved to 13-19. OG Anunoby made four free throws in the last 30 seconds for the final pointsand Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a final three-point shot. Devin Booker scored 20 points and Dillon Brooks added 18 to lead Phoenix to a 123-114 win at New Orleans. Sacramento's Russell Westbrook and Keon Ellis each scored 21 points to lead the host Kings over Dallas 113-107.

DHAKA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has dispatched 338,697 postal ballots to Bangladeshi expatriate voters in different countries over the past nine days, enabling them to participate in the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum. He said the number of postal voters inside the country is likely to increase substantially, noting that registrations by government employees, election-duty officials and voters in legal custody could reach nearly one million. He also expressed optimism that the total number of registered expatriate voters may exceed six lakh. According to EC sources, 45,550 postal ballots were sent to expatriate voters in Saudi Arabia on Saturday alone. Earlier on Friday, the EC dispatched 57,360 postal ballots worldwide, with Saudi Arabia receiving the highest number at 22,000.

New year will bring new hope for Indian women's hockey: Drag-flicker DeepikaVartha Bharati | 28-12-2025 | 11:55:00 ISTDeepika Sehrawat (PTI)New Delhi (PTI): After a challenging year marked by injuries, inconsistent performances and missed opportunities, Indian women's hockey drag-flicker Deepika Sehrawat is confident the new season will bring renewed hope and momentum for the national team. The World Cup qualification will be our first challenge, and then there are the Asian Games,” Deepika told PTI Bhasha. The national team endured a disappointing season, finishing last in the FIH Pro League and getting relegated to the second-tier Nations Cup. It also missed out on direct qualification for the World Cup after losing to China in the Asia Cup final. We need to bring back the momentum that women's hockey gained after finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics," Deepika said.

Had insightful discussions on governance, reforms at chief secretaries' meet: PM ModiVartha Bharati | 27-12-2025 | 23:35:00 ISTPrime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a national conference of chief secretaries where he had insightful discussions on various issues relating to governance and reforms, officials said. "Had insightful discussions on various issues relating to governance and reforms during the National Conference of Chief Secretaries being held in Delhi," Modi wrote on X. The event was attended by P K Mishra and Shaktikanta Das, principal secretaries to the prime minister, Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan, members of the NITI Aayog, and chief secretaries of all the states and Union territories. The national conference of chief secretaries is being organised annually since the past four years. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.

Nomination paper collected for Tarique Rahman from Dhaka-17BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. File photoDHAKA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - A nomination paper has been collected for BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman from the Dhaka-17 constituency for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election. Private Secretary to BNP Chairperson, ABM Abdus Sattar, collected the nomination paper at 11:10 am today. He said Abdus Sattar collected the nomination paper on behalf of Tarique Rahman from the office of Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Shofiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury at Segunbagicha. Additionally, Tarique Rahman will contest the upcoming National Parliament Election from Bogra-6 constituency as well.

DHAKA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted that the weather will remain dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky over the country in the next 24 hours commencing 9 am today. Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country from midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places, a BMD bulletin said this morning. Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be temporarily disrupted due to thick fog, it said, adding that night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Due to foggy conditions, cold feelings may persist in many places throughout the country. The highest temperature on Saturday was recorded 28.6 degrees Celsius at Teknaf in Chattogram division and today's minimum temperature is 9.8 degrees Celsius at Nikli in Dhaka division.

Md Asaduzzaman. File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - Md Asaduzzaman, the 17th Attorney General of Bangladesh has resigned from his post to participate in the 13th national parliamentary election. Deputy Attorney General Md Asad Uddin told BSS that Md Asaduzzaman has signed his resignation letter, which will be forwarded to the President tomorrow. A senior Supreme Court lawyer, Md Asaduzzaman was appointed Attorney General on August 8, 2024. Before serving as Attorney General, Md Asaduzzaman held the position of Human Rights Secretary of the BNP Central Executive Committee and served as an adviser to party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

NIAMEY, Niger, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Niger's military rulers have approved a general mobilisation and the requisition of people and goods to fight a long-running jihadist insurgency, according to a government statement seen by AFP Saturday. Since toppling democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a July 2023 coup, the military junta in Niger has been forced to contend with attacks from Islamist militants on multiple fronts. The country's new rulers adopted the mobilisation and requisition measures at a cabinet meeting on Friday. Soon after taking power, the junta asked French and US soldiers who had been fighting jihadists, notably in the west of the country, to leave Niger. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso -- all three run by military juntas -- have created a joint anti-jihadist force of 5,000 troops.

Zelensky talks with allies en route to US as Russia pummels UkraineOTTAWA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky consulted with allies on Saturday and won renewed expressions of support ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, hours after Russia pummelled Kyiv with drones and missiles in its latest attack on the capital. During a stopover in Canada en route to Florida for the Trump meeting, the Ukrainian president spoke first with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. And this really showed that Putin doesn't want peace, and we want peace," Zelensky said before meeting the Canadian premier. Russia has accused Ukraine and its European backers of trying to "torpedo" a previous US-brokered plan to stop the fighting. Adding to pressure on the battlefield, Russia announced on Saturday it had captured two more towns in eastern Ukraine, Myrnograd and Guliaipole.