HANOI, Vietnam, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A bus overturned and crashed in northern Vietnam on Saturday, killing nine people and injuring another nine, state media reported. Most of the 18 passengers were teachers from Hanoi on a charity trip to Lao Cai province, where the accident occurred on a long downhill stretch in Phinh Ho commune. Rescue workers used specialised equipment to pry survivors from the wreckage, the local Lao Cai newspaper reported. Fatal road accidents, often involving buses or trucks, are common in Vietnam. According to finance ministry figures, 8,515 people were killed and 10,204 others injured in road accidents in the first 10 months this year.

The crowd of visitors to see these two tiger cubs Raja and Rani is increasing every day. Talking to BSS today, Rangpur Zoo Officer Dr H M Shahadat said that Rangpur Zoo is one of the two government zoos in the country. A number of cubs born at Rangpur Zoo have been sent as gifts to several countries, including the Dhaka Zoo. Meanwhile, a huge crowd of visitors from different districts has been observed at Rangpur Zoo to see the two tiger cubs. Talking to BSS, housewife Monwara Begum, 33, who came to see the tiger cubs from Parbatipur upazila in Dinajpur, said that she came to see the two tiger cubs with her two daughters Aklima, 12, and Parul, 10.

Photo : BSSDHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has undertaken a tree plantation programme to compensate for damage caused to trees near the designated reception venue for the return of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. BNP Central Sports Affairs Secretary and Convener of Dhaka Mohanagar North, Aminul Haque, led the programme and personally planted several saplings. Speaking on the occasion, Aminul Haque said some trees were damaged due to the massive public gathering during the reception programme. Following a party decision, BNP has taken steps to compensate for the loss by planting various fruit-bearing and shade trees, including neem saplings. Earlier on Friday, Dhaka Mohanagar North BNP launched a clean-up and waste removal drive in and around the reception venue as part of its efforts to restore the area.

Three-day Bangladesh Model United Nations (BANMUN) 2025 began on Friday under the theme ‘Just Energy Transition’. The 11th edition of the model UN is taking place on the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) campus. Asad Alam Siam highlighted that Bangladesh Model United Nations offers young people an important platform to understand the complexities of real-world diplomacy. Special guest Syed Muntasir Mamun, director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the United Nations as an institution built on sacrifice rather than abstraction. BANMUN 2025 is jointly being organized by Unysab and TIMES of Bangladesh.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday visited Dhaka University and offered fateha at the grave of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, on the third day of his return to the country. He also offered fateha at the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, located beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reached the grave premises earlier to accompany Tarique Rahman. Tarique Rahman left his Gulshan Avenue residence around 10:40am in a white bulletproof SUV and arrived at the Dhaka University campus at about 11:15am amid tight security. Hadi was laid to rest beside the grave of Kazi Nazrul Islam on December 20.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, hif wife Dr Zuraida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman have completed their voter registration formalities, said Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Saturday. The EC will decide on their inclusion in the voter list at a meeting on Sunday, he said. Tarique and Zaima submitted forms, provided biometric data, and applied for inclusion in Ward-19 of Dhaka-17 constituency. The EC senior secretary said although the registration process was complete, the commission needed time to finalize the remaining procedures. Tarique Rahman completed his registration at 1:18pm, while Zaima Rahman and Zubaida Rahman completed theirs earlier in the day.

Inqilab Mancha on Saturday moved its blockade from Shahbagh to in front of Aziz Super Market ahead of the arrival of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The platform withdrew the blockade from Shahbagh around 8:30am and took position near Aziz Super Market. In a post on its official Facebook page, Inqilab Mancha said it cleared the Shahbagh area to facilitate Tarique Rahman’s movement. It said it will return to Shahbagh after Tarique Rahman visits the grave of Sharif Osman Hadi, the platform’s spokesperson, who died in a Singapore hospital after being shot in Dhaka. As part of a pre-announced program, Inqilab Mancha staged an overnight sit-in at Shahbagh from Friday night.

But they finally came good and will head to Sydney for the fifth and final Test brimming with confidence. England had not won a Test in Australia since January 2011 at Sydney, losing 16 and drawing two since, and openers Crawley and Ben Duckett had a clear objective to snap the streak -- play ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style. They brought up a whirlwind fifty opening partnership but next ball Duckett was bowled by a Starc yorker for 34. Crawley fell lbw to Scott Boland after a gritty knock and Bethell was caught by Usman Khawaja from the same bowler. It was the most wickets to tumble on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on day one of the series opener in Perth.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to receive his National Identity Card (NID) within 24 hours of completing his voter registration, ASM Humayun Kabir, Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing at the Election Commission, said on Saturday. Besides, he said, an SMS will be sent to Tarique Rahman’s mobile phone, from which he can also download the NID. The BNP leader arrived at the Election Commission’s National Identity Wing at 1pm. Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday morning after nearly 17 years abroad. His homecoming has drawn widespread attention and strong emotions among BNP leaders, activists and supporters across the country.

Ferry services on Paturia–Daulatdia and Aricha–Kazirhat river routes resumed on Saturday morning after remaining suspended for nearly 15 hours due to dense fog. Ferry services on the Aricha–Kazirhat route were also halted from 8pm on Friday as fog density increased, leaving more than 200 vehicles waiting at the Aricha and Kazirhat terminals. Due to the suspension on both routes, hundreds of vehicles, including buses, night coaches, private cars, microbuses and goods-laden trucks were stranded at four ferry terminals. As the night progressed, the number of waiting vehicles continued to rise, with more vehicles arriving at the terminals on Saturday morning. At Paturia Ghat, the queue of stranded vehicles stretched three to four kilometres from the terminal onto the highway.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman arrived at the Election Commission’s National Identity Wing in the city’s Agargaon area on Saturday to complete his National Identity Card (NID) registration and enlist himself as a voter. As part of the registration process, Tarique Rahman will provide biometric data and submit the required documents. According to BNP sources, Tarique, Zubaida and Zaima have already completed the online voter registration form. Members of the police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed across the Shahbagh and Dhaka University areas to maintain security. Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday morning after nearly 17 years abroad.

Foolproof security measures have been taken in and around the Election Commission (EC) building at Agargaon in the capital ahead of the arrival of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. After paying homage at the grave of Shaheed Osman Hadi in the Dhaka University area, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the EC on Saturday afternoon. The Election Commission sources said Tarique Rahman will complete necessary formalities for voter registration and take part in the process of obtaining his National Identity Card (NID). Earlier, Tarique Rahman returned home on Thursday morning after a long 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom (UK). The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying him first landed at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet before arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:40am.

The country's 25th Chief Justice, Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, will retire on Saturday upon attaining the age of 67, as mandated by the Constitution. Meanwhile, Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has already been appointed as the country's 26th Chief Justice. Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed took the oath as the Chief Justice on August 11, 2024, following the July Mass Uprising. Syed Refaat became a lawyer in the Dhaka District Court in 1984 and in the High Court Division in 1986. Soon after assuming office as Chief Justice, Dr Ahmed announced a roadmap for the country's judiciary.

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MELBOURNE, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A relieved Ben Stokes hailed his team's "courage and bravery" Saturday after they finally won a Test in Australia, calling it "really special". The four-wicket victory at the fourth Test in Melbourne -- their first in Australia since January 2011 -- came after an intense build-up. "It's been a massive effort from everyone, and to come out on the right side of the result feels really special," said Stokes. "We showed bravery and were courageous." We showed a bit of bravery today in the way that we approached things with the bat.