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DHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - Contrasting half-centuries from openers Dawid Malan and Towhid Hridoy helped Rangpur Riders post a competitive 181-4 against Dhaka Capitals in a crucial Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. A victory in this match would confirm Rangpur's playoff berth as the final team in the last four. Former England opener Malan top-scored with a fluent 78 off 49 balls, an innings laced with eight fours and four sixes. Despite the strong platform, Rangpur failed to breach the 200-run mark due to poor finishing from the middle order. For Dhaka Capitals, Mohammad Saifuddin was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 2-33.

PARIS, France, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Internet connectivity in Iran rose "very" sightly, monitoring group NetBlocks said on Saturday, more than 200 hours into a nationwide internet shutdown during protests against authorities. "Metrics show a very slight rise in internet connectivity in Iran this morning after the 200 hour mark," Netblocks said on X, but added that connection was only around 2 percent of ordinary levels and there was no sign of "a significant return". Protests in Iran have subsided after a crackdown that has killed thousands, monitors said Friday, a week after the start of the largest demonstrations in years challenging the country's theocratic system. Demonstrations sparked by economic grievances started with a shutdown in the Tehran bazaar on December 28 but turned into a mass movement demanding the removal of the clerical system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - China on Friday proposed to host the secretariat of a new treaty governing the high seas, a surprise bid that underscores Beijing's desire to have greater influence over global environmental governance. China "has decided to present its candidature of the city of Xiamen to host the Secretariat" of the treaty, the Chinese mission to the United Nations wrote in a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to a copy seen by AFP. The treaty will officially enter into force on Saturday, and the host country of the eventual secretariat will be decided later this year. They include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the parent treaty underpinning all major international climate agreements, ratified by almost every country in the world. After years of delays, the treaty to protect the high seas was ratified in September by 60 countries.

US Fed official says bank should be ready to cut ratesWASHINGTON, United States, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A key US Federal Reserve official said Friday that central bank policymakers should be ready to lower interest rates further, citing "fragility" in the jobs market. But her views changed as she began observing "clearer signs of slowing economic growth and increasing fragility in the labor market." "My view is that we should continue to focus on risks to our employment mandate and preemptively stabilize and support labor market conditions," she said. She also warned that the employment market could weaken further: "The labor market can appear to be stable right up until it doesn't." But Trump has repeatedly called for rates to be slashed more to boost the economy, slamming Fed chair Jerome Powell for not backing aggressive rate cuts.

CAPE TOWN, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Gunmen killed seven people in a township outside the South African city of Cape Town early on Saturday in an incident believed to be extortion-related, police said. The attack is the latest in a string of mass shootings that have shaken the crime-weary country of 63 million people. South Africa, the continent's most industrialised nation, is grappling with entrenched crime and corruption driven by organised networks. Two separate mass shootings in December, in which gunmen stormed a hostel and a bar, left two dozen people dead, including several children. Saturday's attack occurred in the city's Cape Flats area, which has a reputation for gang violence and where over 2,000 murders were recorded in the first nine months of 2025.

PARIS, France, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The European Union Aviation Safety Agency on Friday advised airlines to avoid Iranian airspace, after threats of US attacks that have put the Islamic republic on guard. "Given the ongoing situation and the potential for US military action, which has placed Iranian air defence forces on a heightened state of alert, there is currently an increased likelihood of misidentification," the regulator said. Protests linked to the cost of living broke out in Iran on December 28, spiralling into one of the largest protest movements against the clerical leadership since the Islamic republic was founded in 1979. Until Wednesday, the United States had threatened military action if Iran did not abandon plans to execute arrested protesters. US President Donald Trump on Thursday thanked the Iranian government for cancelling "all scheduled hangings" after threatening Tehran with "serious consequences" if the crackdown continued.

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Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan spoke at a public meeting helid in Cox's Bazar today. Photo : BSSCOX’S BAZAR, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) – Adviser of the Ministries of Housing and Public Works , Industries and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Adilur Rahman Khan today urged people to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum scheduled for February 12 to uphold the spirit of a new Bangladesh. The meeting, chaired by Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md. A. Mannan, was attended by senior officials, civil society members and people from different walks of life. After the meeting, the adviser inaugurated the 'Voter Gari' for the referendum at the Deputy Commissioner’s office premises.

The long-awaited agreement comes amid the sweeping use of tariffs and trade threats by US President Donald Trump's administration, which has sent countries scrambling for new partnerships. Together, the EU and Mercosur account for 30 percent of global GDP and more than 700 million consumers. They fear the deal will lead to an influx of cheaper South American products due to production standards they consider less stringent. - 'A powerful message' -European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council head Antonio Costa and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will attend the signing ceremony in Asuncion. On Friday, Trump threatened to slap trade tariffs on countries that do not support his plans to take over Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark.

Djokovic says 'addiction' to tennis keeps him going at 38MELBOURNE, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Novak Djokovic said Saturday he still gets a "drug-like" adrenaline rush from tennis and is not thinking about retiring anytime soon. The 38-year-old is about to embark on his 21st Australian Open and remains among the top contenders, behind defending champion Jannik Sinner and top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz. "I'm still living my dream to be honest," the former world number one said on the eve of the opening Grand Slam of the year. "I think that a lot of the top athletes from different sports can relate to that. His long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have both hung up their racquets and Djokovic said he constantly got asked about when he would join them.

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The 46 displaced residents were “relocated to other buildings on campus” according to a Friday afternoon follow up email sent to the residents of Ganędagǫ: Hall. After spending Thursday night at Statler Hotel, Saraf was informed that she would be staying at Carl Becker Hall for the next six weeks. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Ganędagǫ: Hall began to flood at all levels on Thursday. Residents that remain in the building will receive temporary access to Toni Morrison Hall’s laundry space as a result of the flooding impacting the laundry room in Ganędagǫ: Hall. Residents seeking support were encouraged by a University spokesperson to reach out to Elliot Hickey, the Ganędagǫ: Hall Residential Hall Director and Jie Zhao, the Assistant Director of Student Behavior & Support.

DHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS)- The Bangladesh men's team will take on Bhutan in their third match of the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 scheduled to be held at the Nonthaburi Stadium in Nonthaburi, Thailand tomorrow (Sunday). Bangladesh currently stand bottom of the table with one point from three matches Bhutan inch up from Bangladesh also with one point playing the same number of matches. Bangladesh team who played a fighting 4-4 goals draw with India in their tournament opening match, failed to keep the tempo after losing a 6-1 goal defeat to Maldives in their second match. Bhutan earlier played out to a 3-3 with Sri Lanka in their opening match but they lost to Pakistan by 4-2 in their second match. The table toppers at the end of all seven rounds of matches will be crowned the first-ever SAFF Men's Futsal champions.