COPENHAGEN, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The prime minister of the Faroe Islands, a self-governing Danish territory like Greenland, has announced snap parliamentary elections on March 26 following tensions in the ruling coalition. Social Democrat Aksel Johannesen said his decision was prompted by continued disagreements within the coalition. His party won a December 2022 election with 26.6 percent of the vote, giving them nine of the 33 seats in the local parliament. Nestled in the North Atlantic more than 1,100 kilometres from Copenhagen, the 18-island archipelago has been self-governing since 1948 and obtained an expanded autonomy status in 2005. The islands have autonomy in areas such as fisheries, energy and cultural affairs but foreign affairs and defence remain Denmark's responsibility.

MOSCOW, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russia has handed over the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv, a Moscow official said Thursday, with Ukraine returning the bodies of 35 Russians in exchange. "The bodies of 1,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers were given to Ukraine. Russia was given the bodies of 35 dead Russian fighters," Moscow's top negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on social media.

Court sets March 11 for further probe report in Hadi murder caseSharif Osman Hadi. File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS) - A court here today set March 11 for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit a report on its further investigation into the sensational murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order as the investigation agency failed to submit the report today. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Zaber filed the case with Paltan Model Police Station on December 14. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Siddiq Azad on December 20 ordered the inclusion of Section 302 (murder) of the Penal Code in the case, which was initially filed as attempted murder, following Hadi's death on December 18.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman -File photoDHAKA, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today distributed the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2025 to eight distinguished personalities for their significant contributions to the fields of Bangla literature. The premier handed over the award to the eight recipients at the inaugural ceremony of Amar Ekushey Book Fair at the Bangla Academy premises here this afternoon. The fields of Bangla Academy Literary awards cover poetry, fiction, essays, research, children's literature, translation, science and the Liberation War. The names of the awardees were finalized following recommendations by the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2025 Proposal Committee and in accordance with the decision of the Bangla Academy Literary Award Committee. Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Mofidur Rahman, Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association President Md Rezaul Karim Badsha and Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam delivered the welcome address.

A meeting titled "Climate Change: Adaptation Initiatives" was held under the "Cultivating Change" project with the support of Oxfam Bangladesh. Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS) - Climate change adaptation in the Barind area has become an urgent need as the adverse impact of climate change has been posing a serious threat to the living and livelihood conditions of the people, particularly the marginalized ones. Association for Community Development (ACD) organized the meeting titled “Climate Change: Adaptation Initiatives” at Hotel Warisan in the city. The meeting highlighted the realities, inequalities, and capacity development needs of indigenous women agricultural workers in the drought-prone and water-scarce Barind region. Strengthening their capacity through specialized training and policy support is critical to enhancing resilience against climate change impacts.

DHAKA, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team is set to play a tri-nation series in Scotland as part of their preparation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales in June–July this year. The Netherlands, who have confirmed their T20 World Cup berth for the first time in history, and hosts Scotland are the other teams participating in the tri-nation tournament. Bangladesh advanced to the main tournament unbeaten in the qualifiers. They have been drawn in Group 1 alongside Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan and the Netherlands. The tri-nation tournament in Scotland, which offers conditions similar to those in England, is expected to provide Bangladesh with ideal preparation ahead of the global event.

ATHENS, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A Greek court was due Thursday to deliver its verdict on an illegal wiretapping scandal targeting politicians, journalists, business leaders and senior military officials that shook the conservative government in 2022. According to Greek media reports, Dilian, who remains free pending judgement, is not expected to be in court for the verdict. "Predator is not accessible to private individuals; it is only offered for sale to state services," he told the court. In July 2024, the Supreme Court cleared the intelligence services and political officials of wrongdoing, angering victims and human rights bodies. Paris-based media rights campaigners Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has described this case as "a fresh blow to media freedom" in Greece.

TOKYO, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The number of births in Japan fell for the 10th straight year in 2025, official data showed on Thursday, highlighting the challenges for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. A total of 705,809 babies were born in Japan, the preliminary health ministry data showed, down 2.1 percent from 2024. The data includes births to Japanese nationals in Japan, foreign births in Japan and babies born to Japanese nationals overseas. Successive Japanese leaders -- including Takaichi, the country's first woman premier -- have promised to increase births but with limited success. Under pressure from the "Japanese first" Sanseito party, the right-wing Takaichi has however vowed tougher measures on immigration.

DENPASAR, Indonesia, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two British men were given lengthy jail terms Thursday by an Indonesian court after being found guilty of smuggling cocaine into the popular holiday island of Bali. Kial Garth Robinson was sentenced to 11 years, while Paul Ezra Wilkinson landed a term of nine years. Prosecutors said Robinson and Wilkinson were friends who lived in Thailand and had met in Barcelona a week before their arrests. Indonesia has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers, but has maintained a moratorium on executions for several years. Indonesia last carried out executions in 2016, killing one Indonesian and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad.

WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A US federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration policy of deporting undocumented migrants to countries that are not their own is unlawful. District Judge Brian Murphy put his ruling on so-called "third-country deportations" on hold for 15 days to allow the government to file an appeal. Under the DHS policy, however, "immigration officers need not give notice or any opportunity to object before removing someone to an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous country," Murphy said. The Trump administration has defended third-country deportations as necessary since the home nations of some of those who are targeted for removal sometimes refuse to accept them. Donald Trump campaigned for president promising to expel millions of undocumented migrants from the United States, and he has taken a number of actions aimed at speeding up deportations since returning to the White House.

New IGP Md Ali Hossain Fakir paid solemn tribute to the martyred police personnel of the Liberation War by placing a wreath at the Police Memorial at Rajarbagh Police Lines. Photo : Bangladesh PoliceDHAKA, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS) - The newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir today paid solemn tribute to the martyred police personnel of the Liberation War by placing a wreath at the Police Memorial at Rajarbagh Police Lines. The IGP placed a floral wreath at the memorial and stood in silent homage to honor the supreme sacrifice of the brave police members who laid down their lives for the country's independence. Senior police officials, including high-ranking officers from police headquarters and other units, were present at the ceremony. The tribute marks a reaffirmation of the force's commitment to upholding the ideals of the Liberation War and serving the nation with dedication and integrity.

IMF urges US to work with partners to ease trade restrictionsWASHINGTON, United States, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The IMF on Wednesday called on the United States to work with trading partners and find ways to mutually ease trade curbs, as it issued a review of the world's biggest economy. But the fund said Wednesday that Washington should work constructively with partners "to address concerns over unfair trade practices and agree on a coordinated reduction in trade restrictions and industrial policy distortions that have negative cross-border effects." She noted that the fund shares the Trump administration's concern about the size of the US trade and current account deficit. While the economy is "buoyant," the IMF warned that "uncertainty around trade policies could represent a larger-than- expected drag on activity." At that time, it raised concern over growing trade restrictions under then-president Joe Biden's administration, urging officials to unwind obstacles to free trade.

PARIS, France, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United Nations announced Thursday the approval of the first carbon credits under a global market aimed at reducing emissions, a mechanism that has faced scrutiny over greenwashing concerns. The UN-run market, established under the Paris climate accord, allows companies and countries to offset their excess emissions by financing projects that cut greenhouse gases in other nations. The 2015 Paris Agreement, which commits the world to limiting warming to well below 2C and ideally at 1.5C, also envisaged that countries could take part in cross-border trade of carbon reductions. New rules were agreed at the UN's COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan in 2024 for the carbon market mechanism. But other environmentalists said that, while not perfect, it provided some clarity that was absent from global efforts to regulate carbon credits.

WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - NASA on Wednesday was rolling its towering Moon rocket back to its hangar for repairs, after windows for liftoff were pushed back over technical issues. The US space agency said it would roll its 322-foot (98-meter) SLS rocket off the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida after teams detected issues with helium flow. The journey would be a huge step towards Americans once again setting foot on the lunar surface, a goal announced by President Donald Trump in his first term. But due to the technical investigations and repairs needed, the flyby is off until at least April, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said over the weekend. NASA said the rocket and spacecraft's journey back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, which is several miles away from the launchpad, is expected to take around 12 hours.

GENEVA, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Switzerland's government on Wednesday announced that the purchase and import of Russian liquefied natural gas would soon be completely banned, as the Alpine nation aligns itself with the latest round of EU sanctions. "From 25 April, a complete ban on the purchase and import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) will apply in Switzerland," the government said in a statement. It added though that in the case of pre-existing long-term supply contracts, a transition period would apply until the end of the year. Non-EU member Switzerland has since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago matched the bloc's economic sanctions on Russia. Among other measures decided Wednesday was tightening restrictions on Russian diplomats accredited in the EU, who will now need to give advance notice if they transit through or enter Switzerland.