YANGON, Myanmar, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Myanmar's main pro-military party won the parliamentary seat of detained democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi in elections run under the junta's rule, a party official told AFP on Monday. A senior official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to disclose results said they "won in Kawhmu" -- Suu Kyi's former seat in Yangon region. The military deposed and detained Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup, claiming she secured a landslide election win over pro-military parties the previous year by means of massive voter fraud. The final phase of the month-long vote is scheduled for January 25, with the junta saying the election will return power to the people. But with Suu Kyi still held in seclusion and her hugely popular party dissolved, democracy advocates say the vote has been rigged by a crackdown on dissent and a ballot stacked with military allies.

DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) – The government is implementing an extensive programme across the country to create public awareness about the forthcoming referendum slated for February 12. As part of the ongoing activities, a divisional officers’ conference and an Imam conference were held separately in Barishal on Sunday. At those events, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Prof Ali Riaz and Special Assistant, Monir Haider delivered training-oriented speeches on the referendum. Similar programmes will be organized in all other divisions across the country in the next few days. The views exchange meetings at divisional, district and upazila levels and with other stakeholders will play a crucial role in creating awareness about the referendum.

DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - Police arrested eight individuals involved in various criminal activities during a day-long special operation conducted in different areas under the Rupnagar Police Station on Sunday. The arrested individuals are Liton (35), Labani (30), Md. Kalu (30), Md. Bashir (30), Md. Rupnagar Police authorities stated that such special operations will continue in the future to ensure public safety and curb criminal activities in the area.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Someone could be dancing around a money matter though not much is likely to go awry even so. CANCER (June 21-July 22): New resources could arise, bringing new insights, new solutions, new excitement for the future. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Something that’s been dragging on at home could come together nearly perfectly, potentially bringing comfort and relief. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Believe in yourself, believe in your mission, believe in your destiny and you’ll stay in self-reference as you navigate the world. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t give away power to someone out there no matter how glowing they appear to be.

The Meteorological Department on Monday said a mild cold wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Jessore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia, and may continue. Weather is expected to remain generally dry with temporary partly cloudy skies over the country, said a Met Office bulletin. Moderate to dense fog may occur at places over river basins while light to moderate fog is likely elsewhere during late night and morning hours. The Met Office also forecast that night and day temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged across the country. The lowest temperature was recorded in Tentulia at 8.4°C.

MELBOURNE, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Trailblazing former world number three Milos Raonic announced his retirement from tennis on Monday, ending a career that earned him eight ATP titles. The big-serving 35-year-old, the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, has not competed in over a year. "This is a moment you know will come one day, but somehow you never feel ready for it," he said. Raonic's best season was in 2016, when he reached the Wimbledon final after defeating Roger Federer in the semis, losing to Andy Murray in the decider. He also advanced to the Australian Open semi-finals and the ATP Finals the same year, finishing the season as world number three.

DHAKA, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS) - In a significant move to bolster government infrastructure through Shariah-compliant financing, Bangladesh Bank (BB) has announced the issuance of the 'Bangladesh Government Special Sukuk-1' with a total face value of Tk 10,000 crore. The decision was finalized during two consecutive meetings held on January 7 and 8, 2026, by the Shariah Advisory Committee under the Debt Management Department. The committee was chaired by BB Deputy Governor Dr. Md. The issuance is scheduled to take place on January 14, 2026, through a private placement in favour of Islami Bank PLC. This strategic financial instrument is designed to support national interests by utilizing Islamic banking principles to fund large-scale public utility and housing developments.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested Milan, a suspected hotel employee, in connection with the murder of schoolgirl Fatema Akhter Lili in the capital’s Banasree area. Milan was arrested in a joint operation by RAB-3 and RAB-6 in the Bagerhat Sadar Police Station area, RAB said on Monday morning. Earlier, on Saturday afternoon, Fatema’s bloodied body was recovered from a house on the main road of South Banasree. The family lived in a rented house at Pritam Villa in L Block on the main road of South Banasree under Khilgaon Police Station. Milan also came to the house again around noon on the day of the incident, she added.

DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - A mild cold wave continued to grip parts of the country today, while dense fog conditions emerged as a more prominent concern, even as both day and night temperatures showed little change, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Compared to yesterday, the cold spell has shifted and narrowed in coverage. Today, the cold wave is affecting the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia, indicating a reconfiguration of the impacted areas rather than an overall intensification. At the other extreme, Sylhet registered the highest maximum temperature yesterday at 28.3 degrees Celsius, underscoring a persistent contrast between cool nights and warm daytime conditions. In the capital, north to north-westerly winds were blowing at 6-12 kilometres per hour, while relative humidity stood at 72 percent at 6 am, lower than the previous day, which may marginally improve daytime comfort despite morning fog.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Monday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 285 at 9:43am. On Monday, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.

PARIS, France, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US-based son of Iran's ousted shah urged Iranian government workers and security forces on Sunday to join the swelling protest movement in the Islamic republic. Pahlavi, who has emerged as an opposition figurehead, also called for replacing the flags outside of Iranian embassies with the pre-Islamic revolution one. "The time has come for them to be adorned with Iran's national flag, in place of the disgraceful banner of the Islamic republic," he said. The ceremonial, pre-revolution flag has become an emblem of the global rallies that have mushroomed in support of Iran's demonstrations. The Iranian foreign ministry summoned the British ambassador in Tehran on Sunday over the flag swapping, according to official outlet IRNA.

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has defended her "conscious choice" to address the plight of her country during the trophy presentation of a pre-Australian Open event in Brisbane. Like many Ukraine players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians following Moscow's invasion of her homeland. In her speech at the trophy presentation, the 23-year-old Kostyuk said: "I want to say a few words about Ukraine. Sabalenka, who has said in the past that she does not support the war, congratulated Kostyuk on reaching the final in her on-court speech. "For me, it's a conscious choice to keep reminding people of what Ukraine and its citizens are going through.

In-form Bencic back in top 10 for first time since having babySYDNEY, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Belinda Bencic powered back into the top 10 Monday for the first time since having a baby, with the in-form Swiss brimming with confidence ahead of the Australian Open. The 28-year-old won all five singles matches at the season-opening United Cup in Perth and Sydney, including victories over world number two Iga Swiatek and seventh-ranked Jasmine Paolini. She finished 9-1 for the tournament, with her only defeat coming in the final mixed-doubles decider against Poland on Sunday. Bencic was ranked 421 at the start of the 2025 season, but making the last 16 at the Australian Open a year ago convinced her she could return to the upper echelons of tennis. "I'm always serious about the Australian Open," said the 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, who reached a career-high number four in February 2020.

Canada's relations with China have been among the worst of any Western nation. China was willing to work with Canada to bring relations "back to the right track", Xi added. - Cosying up to China -While Canadian foreign policy has for years been hawkish towards China, US President Donald Trump's mercurial trade policies and aggression towards allies could prompt a pivot. With Canada and China both heavily targeted by Trump's tariffs, Carney and Xi will likely try to dial down trade tensions between their two countries. China is Canada's second-largest trade partner, Carney's office said, totalling C$118.7 billion ($85.5 billion) in two-way merchandise trade in 2024.

Three teenagers, including a British-Bangladeshi, and an elderly taxi driver were killed in a road accident in Bolton, Manchester, in the United Kingdom. The Bolton Council of Mosques (BCoM) has confirmed the identities of the deceased. The other victim was taxi driver Mosrab Ali, who was in his fifties. Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into the incident. Bolton Council councillor Ayyub Patel described the incident as a huge loss for the entire community and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.