DHAKA, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agent Licensing Rules, 2026 with a view to enhancing service quality for importers and exporters in a competitive environment. 04-Law/2026/Customs) on January 8, 2026, repealing the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020, in line with the provisions of the Customs Act, 2023, an NBR press release said today. Earlier, there was no separate and dedicated set of rules for issuing C&F agent licences. Licences were previously issued under the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020. To modernise and streamline the operations of customs clearing and forwarding agents, the NBR has now formulated an independent and updated regulatory framework under the C&F Agent Licensing Rules, 2026.

MELBOURNE, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Carlos Alcaraz is targeting a career Grand Slam at the Australian Open but winning the only major to elude him will be no easy feat with great rival Jannik Sinner standing in his way. "When I just go to the pre-seasons to what I want to improve, what I want to achieve, Australian Open is there." Should he snap his Australia drought at the tournament starting on Sunday, Alcaraz would become the youngest man to bank a career Grand Slam, surpassing retired compatriot Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz faces a significant roadblock in Italy's Sinner, the two-time defending champion who is chasing his own slice of history. - Djokovic record hunt -While Sinner is the defending champion, Alcaraz leads 10-6 in their head-to-head record and bumped Sinner from the season-ending world number one spot.

NEW YORK, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Boeing secured orders for nearly 1,200 commercial planes last year, topping European rival Airbus for the first time since 2018, according to figures released Tuesday. - Progress with FAA -The improvement in orders marks the latest sign of progress for Boeing after a bruising 2024. Boeing said it delivered 63 planes in December, taking the annual total to 600 for all of 2025. Airbus has dominated deliveries in recent years in the aftermath of the two crashes of Boeing 737 MAX planes that occurred in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Boeing currently lists 6,720 unfilled orders with a backlog of 6,130 after an adjustment under US accounting standards.

China says trade in 2025 reached 'new historical high'BEIJING, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - China said Wednesday that trade last year reached a "new historical high", increasing 3.8 percent year-on-year. "In 2025, China's total import and export value of goods reached 45.47 trillion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.8%. The scale surpassed 45 trillion yuan for the first time, setting a new historical high," Wang Jun, vice customs minister, told a news conference in Beijing.

2025 was third hottest year on record: EU, US expertsBRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, extending a run of unprecedented heat, with no relief expected in 2026, US researchers and EU climate monitors said Wednesday. "The warming spike observed from 2023-2025 has been extreme, and suggests an acceleration in the rate of the Earth's warming," Berkeley Earth said in a separate report. Some 770 million people experienced record-warm annual conditions where they live, while no record-cold annual average was logged anywhere, according to Berkeley Earth. An AFP analysis of Copernicus data last month found that Central Asia, the Sahel region and northern Europe experienced their hottest year on record in 2025. Berkeley Earth said it expected this year to be similar to 2025, "with the most likely outcome being approximately the fourth-warmest year since 1850".

LOS ANGELES, United States, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Los Angeles 2028 Olympics chiefs promised an "affordable and inclusive" Games on Tuesday as they prepared to open registration for a lottery to buy tickets. Wasserman was speaking in the shadow of the historic Los Angeles Coliseum on the eve of the first step towards tickets going on sale. "Our tickets are going to be affordable, our games will be accessible, and they're right here in our backyard," LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover said at the event. US swimming legend Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medallist and LA28's chief athlete officer, cited her own experience of going to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as a fan. I think that making tickets accessible and affordable for everyone here in the city of Los Angeles is going to inspire young people...because that's what the Olympics do -- they inspire people."

US stocks retreat from records as oil prices jumpNEW YORK, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Wall Street stocks retreated from records on Tuesday as markets weighed muted US inflation data, mixed bank earnings and a jump in oil prices. The US consumer price index rose 2.7 percent last month, the same rate as in November and in line with expectations. Both the Dow and S&P 500 had finished at records on Monday. "It's like around Liberation Day," Donlon said, recalling Trump's April 2025 announcement of sweeping tariffs that sparked market volatility. European stock markets finished the day little changed.

CARACAS, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Representatives of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA said Tuesday they had appealed the US-forced sale of its prized Houston-based subsidiary Citgo to pay off creditors. In late November, a Delaware court authorized Citgo's sale to settle a long-running legal dispute. Citgo has been under the control of the Venezuelan opposition since 2019, when Washington recognized then opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader. Maduro's vice president Delcy Rodriguez, now the country's interim leader, had rejected Citgo being put up for auction last year, referring to it as a "forced sale." But since Maduro's capture, she has stressed her willingness to cooperate with US demands for access to Venezuela's vast oil wealth.

US allows Nvidia to send advanced AI chips to China with restrictionsSAN FRANCISCO, United States, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US Commerce Department on Tuesday opened the door for Nvidia to sell advanced artificial intelligence chips in China with restrictions, following through on a policy shift announced last month by President Donald Trump. However, uncertainty has grown over how much demand there will be from Chinese companies, as Beijing has reportedly been encouraging tech companies to use homegrown chips. The Information had previously reported that Chinese officials were calling on companies there to pause H200 purchases while they deliberated requiring them to buy a certain ratio of AI chips made by Nvidia rivals in China. The move marked a significant shift in US export policy for advanced AI chips, which Joe Biden's administration had heavily restricted over national security concerns about Chinese military applications. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has advocated for the company to be allowed to sell some of its more advanced chips in China, arguing the importance of AI systems around the world being built on US technology.

International outrage has built over the crackdown that a rights group said has likely killed thousands during protests posing one of the biggest challenges yet to Iran's clerical leadership. Trump -- who earlier told the protesters in Iran that "help is on its way" -- said Tuesday in a CBS News interview that the United States would act if Iran began hanging protesters. "We will take very strong action if they do such a thing," said the American leader, who has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention. Iranian state media has said dozens of members of the security forces have been killed, with their funerals turning into large pro-government rallies. "You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic," he said in a statement.

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Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh is set to reinforce its position as a global powerhouse in the textile sector by participating in Heimtextil 2026,the world’s largest trade fair for home and contract textiles. As a key supplier in the global textile market, Bangladesh’s participation is strategically designed to help exporters engage with European buyers, explore new markets, and gain insights into emerging international trends. Additionally, Jaantex Industries Ltd, Maanuri Textile Mills, and Stylus Towels Ltd will participate under the support of the EPB, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the nation's textile diversity. Heimtextil 2026 will not only focus on finished goods but also on the future of manufacturing. This participation is expected to strengthen Bangladesh's global presence, allowing local manufacturers to connect with new customers and demonstrate the high-quality craftsmanship that defines the nation's textile industry.

A BNP leader has died after being detained during a raid in Jibannagar Upazila of Chuadanga, triggering protests by local party leaders and activists, reports bdnews24.com. After questioning at the Upazila BNP office, he was taken to the health complex, where doctors declared him dead around 11:30pm. "Relatives and BNP leaders and activists demonstrated at the hospital. The BNP secretary general expressed deep sorrow and grief over this inhuman and barbaric incident. The BNP secretary general prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to his bereaved family members.