'Keep dreaming': NATO chief says Europe can't defend itself without US
'Keep dreaming': NATO chief says Europe can't defend itself without USBRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - NATO chief Mark Rutte warned Monday Europe cannot defend itself without the United States, in the face of calls for the continent to stand on its own feet after tensions over Greenland. The diplomatic crisis gave fresh momentum to those advocating for Europe to take a tougher line against Trump and break its military reliance on Washington. "If anyone thinks here again, that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US -- keep on dreaming. The NATO head reiterated his repeated praise for Trump for pressuring reluctant European allies to step up defence spending. He also appeared to knock back a suggestion floated by the EU's defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius earlier this month for a possible European defence force that could replace US troops on the continent.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 10:09 UTC
Qualifying tournament of National Cup Chess to begin Saturday
DHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) -The qualifying tournament of the Spectrum Bangladesh National Cup Chess will begin from Saturday (Jan 31) at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall room. The qualifying tournament is open to all participants, organised by the Bangladesh Chess Federation under the patronage of Spectrum Engineering Consortium Limited. Interested chess players are requested to submit their names along with an entry fee of Taka 500 by Friday (Jan 30). The qualifying round will be held in a nine-round Swiss-league system and the top sixteen players will qualify for the final round. The final round will be played in a knockout format and will begin from February 16.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 09:31 UTC
Two matches of BCL to be held tomorrow
Two matches of BCL to be held tomorrowDHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) -The second round of the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) football begins tomorrow (Wednesday) with two matches are billed for the day. On the day, BTRC take on Dhaka Wanderers Club at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground while City Club faces Wari Club at Fortis Ground (Jalshiri). Both the matches kick off at 2.30 pm. In the remaining second round matches on the following day (Thursday), Chittagong Abahani Limited will face Little Friends Club at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground, Suktara Jubo Sangsad meet Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity at Fortis ground Jalshiri and Chattogram City Football Club meet Dhaka Rangers Football Club at at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 09:31 UTC
Venezuela forecasts $1.4 bn oil investments in 2026, up 55%: president
CARACAS, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez on Monday forecast a $1.4 billion bonanza from planned reforms to the oil sector aimed at drawing in foreign investors following the ouster of Nicolas Maduro. Rodriguez projected oil investments would rise 55 percent over 2025 after a bill ending decades of tight state control on the energy sector is adopted by parliament. Rodriguez was addressing a business audience as part of public consultations on plans to throw open the oil sector to private investment. The interim leader is under pressure from President Donald Trump to give US oil companies access to Venezuela's rich crude deposits. The hydrocarbons bill currently before the National Assembly stipulates that private companies located in Venezuela would be able to extract oil without having to enter a joint venture with the state oil company PDVSA, which insisted on a majority stake.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 09:19 UTC
Govt. to procure 5 cargoes of LNG
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - The government today approved a proposal for procuring five LNG cargoes in 2026 on G2G basis from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd to meet the country’s rising energy demand. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan briefed reporters after the meeting. The Petrobangla will procure LNG directly from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd under a government-to-government arrangement. Officials noted that the LNG imports will help ensure uninterrupted gas supply for power generation and industrial use.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 09:19 UTC
Hinton’s Late Heroics Fuel Men’s Basketball Comeback Win at Harvard
Reading time: about 5 minutesMen’s basketball appeared on the ropes in the first half against Harvard at Lavietes Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. The surge in the second half was awesome.”Harvard (10-9, 3-2 Ivy) controlled much of the opening half, pushing the lead as high as 16. After teams traded baskets early in the second half, Cornell seized control with an 18-0 run, flipping a nine-point deficit into a nine-point lead. Defensive stops fueled the surge, and the Red punished Harvard in transition as the Crimson went scoreless for nearly five minutes. Junior forward Kaspar Sepp anchored the glass with nine rebounds and four assists as Cornell edged Harvard on the boards.
Source:Daily Sun
January 27, 2026 09:09 UTC
France's president to meet Denmark, Greenland leaders
PARIS, France, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - France's president will meet the leaders of Denmark and Greenland in Paris on Wednesday for "a working lunch", his office said Tuesday. Emmanuel Macron will "reaffirm European solidarity and France's support for Denmark, Greenland, their sovereignty and their territorial integrity", the presidency said. The meeting comes days after US President Donald Trump backed down from threats to seize Greenland, a mineral-rich Arctic island that is an autonomous Danish territory. Trump earlier this month had threatened to seize Greenland and impose tariffs on any European countries -- including France, Germany and Britain -- that opposed him. France has positioned itself at the forefront of European solidarity with Denmark, and is planning to open a consulate in the Greenland capital of Nuuk next month.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 08:39 UTC
Russian strikes kill 2, wound nearly two dozen in Ukraine
Russian strikes kill 2, wound nearly two dozen in UkraineODESA, Ukraine, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russian forces killed two people and wounded nearly two dozen others -- including two children and a pregnant woman -- in separate attacks, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday. Their 20-year-old son survived the attack in the region the Kremlin claims to have annexed, local prosecutors said. A Russian drone barrage meanwhile wounded nearly two dozen people in the southern city of Odesa, the governor said. The Black Sea city key for Ukrainian exports has been pummelled routinely by Russian forces since they invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago. Russian drone and missile attacks have recently knocked out power, lighting and heat to millions of Ukrainians across the country.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 08:39 UTC
Micron builds $24 bn Singapore chip fab as AI demand soars
SINGAPORE, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US chip firm Micron said Tuesday it was building a $24 billion plant in Singapore to help meet soaring AI-driven demand that has caused a global shortage of memory components. Micron said it had broken ground Tuesday on an "advanced wafer fabrication facility located within the company's existing NAND manufacturing complex in Singapore". "This new facility represents a planned investment of approximately US$24 billion (SG$31 billion) over 10 years" with output scheduled for the second half of calendar 2028, Micron said. It said the plant would "address growing market demand for NAND technology driven by the rapid expansion of AI and data-centric applications". Singapore said Saturday it would invest around US$785 million in public research on AI through 2030 to enhance its global competitiveness.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 27, 2026 08:35 UTC
President Shahabuddin to cast vote through postal ballot
President Mohammad Shahabuddin will cast his vote through a postal ballot in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election and referendum. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud confirmed the matter on Tuesday, saying the president had expressed his intention to vote through the postal ballot system, which is being introduced for the first time. “The president has expressed his desire to vote through postal ballot. Accordingly, he will cast his vote in this manner,” the election commissioner said. According to the revised election schedule, election campaigning began on January 22 and will continue until 7:30am on February 10.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 27, 2026 08:26 UTC
RAB raids Gazipur counterfeit currency factory, arrests three
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-1 has busted a counterfeit currency factory in Gazipur and arrested three people along with fake notes and equipment used to produce them. During the operation, RAB members recovered counterfeit notes worth Tk5.4 lakh and arrested three individuals allegedly involved in producing and selling fake currency. Lieutenant Nafiz said RAB received intelligence that a counterfeit currency factory had been set up on the fifth floor of Khokon Villa, from where fake notes were being sold. After confirming the location using electronic surveillance and intelligence sources, RAB conducted the raid and arrested the suspects red-handed with counterfeit notes and equipment. According to RAB, the group was planning to circulate the fake currency in the market during various festivals, including the upcoming Eid.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 27, 2026 07:53 UTC
World Food Program welcomes new contribution from UK for Rohingya Food Assistance
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP)’s lifesaving food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has received new support from the Government of the United Kingdom. The latest contribution of GBP 1.1 million (USD 1.4 million) received in December 2025, follows earlier allocations of GBP 8.7 million (USD 11.6 million) from the United Kingdom in 2025 for WFP’s Rohingya response. Families receive an entitlement of USD 12 per person per month to purchase a variety of staple and fresh food items. “We are deeply grateful to the UK for continuing to stand with the Rohingya community and supporting WFP’s efforts to meet their essential needs,” said Simone Parchment, WFP Country Director a.i. In 2026, WFP faces a USD 147 million shortfall for its lifesaving food and nutrition programs.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 27, 2026 07:29 UTC
Nasiruddin Patwary steps up Dhaka-8 campaign
Nasiruddin Patwary, candidate of the Shapla Koli (water lily bud) symbol in the Dhaka-8 constituency for the 13th national election, has intensified his election campaign. As part of the campaign, Nasiruddin Patwary held an exchange meeting in the morning with teachers and students of the local Misbahul Ulum Kamil Madrasa. After the madrasa meeting, he exchanged greetings with local business owners in the area. Addressing voters, Patwary said: “This time, a single vote against criminals, corruption and extortion is extremely important. Therefore, candidates must be chosen by remembering the past.”Senior leaders of the 11-party electoral alliance were present during the campaign.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 27, 2026 07:29 UTC
Engaging Gen Z: Politics beyond rhetoric
During the July uprising, Gen Z attracted nationwide attention as politically-conscious, yet they express themselves, react, and protest in their own distinct language and style. At the same time, how Tarique Rahman, the leader of BNP, engages with Gen Z has also become a pressing issue of public discussion. Tarique Rahman has his own distinct style of appealing to and impressing Gen Z. As a result, Gen Z largely knew Tarique Rahman not through engagement, but through the narratives constructed by the ruling AL regime. His compassion toward animals’ projects empathy that Gen Z increasingly associates with ethical and humane leadership.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 27, 2026 07:29 UTC