ANKARA, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - At least 16 people were killed in two road accidents in southern Turkey on Sunday, authorities said. Seven people died and five were injured in a second accident at Burdur, on the highway from Antalya to Isparta, the DHA news agency reported. The bus was carrying 34 people from the western city of Tekirdag to Antalya when it rolled off the highway, the official said, without stating whether foreign nationals were involved. "It's an intersection where you shouldn't drive fast, yet it appears the bus entered it at high speed," he said, adding that rain had made the road slippery. The coastal region around Antalya is a popular resort destination that draws many foreign tourists each year.

KYIV, Ukraine, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A Russian drone attack on a bus carrying mine workers in Ukraine's central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region Sunday killed at least 12 people, officials said. Preliminarily, 12 people were killed and seven more were wounded," the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Ganzha, said on Telegram. An earlier drone attack in the region overnight killed a man and a woman in the central city of Dnipro, Ganzha said in an earlier post. The attacks came the same day a unilateral reduction in Russian strikes on Ukraine announced by US President Donald Trump was due to end. Earlier Sunday, a Russian drone struck a maternity hospital in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, wounding at least seven people including two women receiving a medical examination, the region's governor said.

PARIS, France, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was hopeful of agreeing a deal with Iran after the country's supreme leader warned that any US attack on the Islamic republic would trigger a regional war. "The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war," he said, telling Iranians they "should not be scared" of Trump's rhetoric. He said Iran has lost trust in the United States as a negotiating partner, adding that some countries in the region were acting as intermediaries to rebuild trust. The step matched similar classifications enacted by the United States, Canada and Australia. The US president previously said he believed Iran would make a deal over its nuclear and missile programmes rather than face military action.

- Jitters in Frankfurt -The moves are causing jitters at the ECB -- a stronger euro makes imports cheaper, potentially adding to downward pressure on inflation, at a time officials were already worried about too sharp a slowdown. The ECB does not target any particular exchange rate, but officials do monitor currency movements as they could impact inflation. A stronger euro is also problematic for the region's export-driven economies, particularly Germany, as it makes the cost of companies' goods pricier overseas. - 'Global euro' -A stronger euro is not all bad news -- it boosts household spending power, at home and on holidays overseas. Still, ING economist Carsten Breski said the jitters over the stronger euro show that it is "hard to reconcile the ambition of a global euro with an export?orientated economy".

Oil prices plunge after Trump says hopeful over Iran talksHONG KONG, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Oil prices plunged Monday after Donald Trump said he was hopeful of reaching a deal with Iran, easing concerns about a conflict between the two in the crude-rich region. West Texas Intermediate sank 3.4 percent to $62.99 while Brent shed 3.2 percent to 67.09 in early Asian trade following the US president's comments.

Reading time: about 3 minutesConvicted child sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein maintained a correspondence in 2016 with then-Cornell undergraduate David Karp ’16, son of Brad Karp, the chairman of powerful law firm Paul Weiss, according to emails released by the Department of Justice on Friday. In the emails, Epstein connected Karp, an aspiring filmmaker, to meet with Woody Allen, the controversial actor-director, through Karp’s father, Brad Karp. On Jan. 3, 2016, David emailed Epstein 20 questions for Woody Allen, who he was to have dinner with on Jan. 7. Epstein and David remained connected through 2018, when Epstein asked Brad, “does your son have time to screen woodys new movie with me today at 2 pm. David Karp co-founded Thrice Cooked Media, a music and film production company, in 2018 and now works as a creative director at the company.

Photo: BSSCHATTOGRAM, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman will address three major public rallies in Chattogram tomorrow as part of his election tour ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections, party sources said. Dr Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to speak in support of the 'Scales' symbol at rallies at 11:00 am in Padua, Lohagara of South Chattogram, at 2:00 pm in Sitakunda of North Chattogram and at 6:30 pm at the Bandar School and College ground in Chattogram city. According to Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Chattogram Division Chief Mohammad Shahjahan, an estimated 15 to 20 lakh people are expected to attend the three rallies combined. Ahead of the Chattogram programme, Dr Shafiqur Rahman will also attend public meetings of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance in Maheshkhali and Baharchhara areas of Cox's Bazar. Jamaat Chattogram City Assistant Secretary Mohammad Ullah said all preparations for the city rally at Bandar School and College ground have been completed and leaders and activists of the 11-party alliance will attend the event.

For the first time in 39 years, the National Poetry Festival was held at the Shaheed Minar instead of Dhaka University's Hakim Chattar. Dhaka University is the heart of Bengali culture, a birthplace of secularism and democracy, behind which the Dhaka University Central Students' Union, or Ducsu has played a major role." As a result, for the first time today, we're having to hold at the Shaheed Minar the festival we've been organizing within the Dhaka University area for 40 years." National Poetry Festival 2026After the opening ceremony at National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's tomb, poets took out a colorful procession that wound through TSC before culminating at the Central Shaheed Minar. This year's National Poetry Festival is being held with this challenge in mind."

Following the mass uprising of July 2024, the interim government announced a reform agenda that placed the banking sector at its core. So far, the interim government has issued only two ordinances related to the banking sector: the Bank Resolution Ordinance, and the Deposit Insurance Ordinance. Officials of Bangladesh Bank privately and publicly acknowledge that, without the necessary legislation, central bank independence remains largely nominal. A draft amendment to the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972 was sent to the Ministry of Finance nearly four months ago. Bangladesh Bank argues that without these measures, it will be impossible to curb non-performing loans, internal misappropriation, and the dominance of powerful owners.

Reading time: about 4 minutesCornellians for Israel, a pro-Israel organization, is set to host former Israeli Defense Force soldier Sam Fried on Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. as a guest speaker. Fried served as a lone soldier, the term for an IDF soldier without family in Israel, typically international volunteers, orphans or people from estranged families. Zoe Reisman ’29, Cornell Young Democratic Socialists of America chairperson, takes issue with Cornell’s approach to freedom of speech. However, the investigation closed in December 2025 and Cornell was not found in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Everett Chambala Everett Chambala is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

It’s a passing phase for just a few hours, a little space to reset should be the solution. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A partner could need a counterbalance for a few hours today to get back into a more stable place; you should be able to offer that today. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be an informed consumer of health services as with any other service. This not-quite two-month period represents your window of biggest challenges for 2026, get through this period and 2026 has lots of gifts on tap. 2026 is lining up to be a great year for you after the early hiccups.

File photoDHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has urged all election officials not to respond to fraudulent phone calls. "It has recently been noticed that a fraud group is attempting to collect bKash numbers from officials engaged in election duties by falsely claiming that election-time honorariums will be provided. The fraudsters are making deceptive phone calls using the numbers 01342046232 and 01612677074," said a press release issued by the EC today. It further said that after the completion of voting in the upcoming referendum and national parliamentary elections, election-time honorariums will be paid in accordance with the rules to all officials assigned to respective polling centers through the Presiding Officers. "There is no need to contact any individual or institution for this purpose," the release said, adding, the EC has, therefore, specially requested all officials involved in election duties not to respond to any phone calls from such fraud rings.

Banks to remain closed on 11-12 February for electionPhoto: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - All scheduled banks will remain closed on 11 and 12 February on the occasion of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. Bangladesh Bank(BB) today issued a circular to this end. The circular stated that in line with a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on 25 January, government holidays have been declared on 11 and 12 February in observance of the election and referendum. Accordingly, all scheduled banks operating in Bangladesh will remain closed on those two days, it added. Bangladesh Bank issued this directive under the Bank Company Act.

BAGERHAT, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - An election rally in support of the 'Daripalla' (the Scales) symbol was held by the 11-party alliance this afternoon in the Mandra Badokhali area of Bishnupur Union, Bagerhat Sadar Upazila. The rally was presided over by Bishnupur Union Jamaat-e-Islami President Saidur Rahman. He urged voters to support the "scales" symbol for justice-based politics. Sheikh Mohammad Yunus, Bagerhat District Secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, spoke as a special guest, praising Sheikh Rahat as an honest and capable candidate. Speakers said that the victory of the "scales" symbol in the upcoming election would help secure people's rights and establish justice in the region.

Photo: BSSCHATTOGRAM, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Director General of the Department of Mass Communication Md Abdul Jalil today urged citizens to vote spontaneously in national elections to truly realise their ownership of the country, saying the people are the ultimate custodians of the state. Abdul Jalil emphasised that exercising the right to vote is essential to understanding and establishing people's ownership of the country. The Director General assured that this year's election would be held in a festive, peaceful and orderly environment. Among others, Director of the Department of Mass Communication Mir Md Aslam Uddin and Director of the District-Level Modern Information Complex Establishment Project Md Moniruzzaman addressed the meeting. Women voters also took part actively, exchanging views with the Director General on various aspects of voting and electoral conduct.