RABAT, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Africa Cup of Nations reaches the quarter-final stage this weekend with a series of mouthwatering ties between the continent's heavyweights. AFP Sport picks out five stars enjoying their first AFCON to look out for in the last eight:Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/Morocco)Moroccans were perhaps pinning their hopes of Cup of Nations glory on home soil on skipper Achraf Hakimi. Diaz, 26, has scored in every game including the crucial strike to beat Tanzania in the last 16. Born in Malaga, Diaz was capped by Spain at full international level in 2021 but later switched allegiance to Morocco, from where his father hails. Again appearing from the bench, Mbaye scored the third goal in the 3-1 win over Sudan in the last 16.

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and FIFA President Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino. In a condolence message sent to BFF president Tabith Awal, reads that Begum Khaleda Zia was an important and pioneering figure in the political history of Bangladesh. As the country's first female Prime Minister, she has left a lasting legacy for future generations. The BFF also expressed its gratitude to the FIFA President and the international football community for this message of condolence, the message concluded. It can be mentionable that Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30 last while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital.

6 held for primary teacher recruitment test fraud in RajshahiPolice arrested six people for primary teacher recruitment test fraud in Rajshahi. Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - Police arrested six people on charges of fraudulence for allegedly assuring the supply of question papers for government primary school teacher recruitment tests in Rajshahi last night. The arrestees were identified as Al Mamun, 42; Mahbub Alam, 46; Anjuara Khatun, 25; Zulfiker Ali, 40; Noyan Ali, 27; and Raihan Kabir, 30. Acting on tip-off, police conducted raids in various areas and arrested the suspects from Upashahar and Malopara under Boalia Police Station. A case has been filed with Boalia Police Station in connection with the incident.

Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - Forest guards arrested two fishermen for illegally catching crabs in the Nilbariya forest canal in the eastern Sundarbans, seizing three dinghy boats and more than 50 crab traps. A two-month ban on crab catching is currently in effect in the Sundarbans. Forest Department sources said a patrol team, led by Officer-in-Charge of the Dubla Forest Patrol Outpost, Forest Ranger Milton Roy, conducted a routine patrol on Thursday evening. During the operation, the team caught the fishermen red-handed in the Balir Khal area of the Nilbariya forest. Forest Ranger Milton Roy said the fishermen were apprehended for violating the crab-catching ban.

Photo : BSSSATKHIRA, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) today seized Indian sarees and medicines at different points along the Satkhira border during a special anti-smuggling operation. The recoveries took place in border areas under Madra and Hijaldi Border Out Posts (BOPs) in Kalaroa upazila. According to BGB sources, acting on intelligence, a team from Madra BOP recovered Indian sarees from Chanda Math, while another team from Hijaldi BOP seized Indian medicines from Ambagan, both in the same upazila. Confirming the operation, Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Ashikur Rahman, Commanding Officer of Satkhira 33 BGB Battalion, said the goods have been handed over to Satkhira Customs. He added that BGB will continue such drives to curb revenue evasion and promote local industry development.

Photo : BSSBAGERHAT, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - Forest Department personnel today recovered and destroyed a 500-metre-long garland trap, locally known as "Mala Fad", used by poachers to hunt deer in the Sundarbans of Bagerhat district. During the operation, a live deer caught in the snare was rescued and released safely back into the forest. He said the forest officials also recovered and removed 67 more "Sitka traps" from different locations of the forest under the Ghagramari range during the same operation. The DFO said Forest Department staff are carrying out regular and risky foot patrols across their jurisdictions to curb deer poaching in the Sundarbans. Using the "parallel line searching" method, the teams are continuing systematic drives to locate, recover and remove illegal deer traps, he added.

KHULNA, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - Rapid Action Battalion-6 personnel arrested a drug dealer with 734 Tapentadol tablets from the Nilganj Tatipara area under Kotwali Model Police Station in Jashore on Wednesday. The arrestee was identified as Abdul Majid, 45, a resident of Nilganj (Tatipara) in the district. RAB sources said the arrest was made during a special drive by RAB-6, CPC-3, Jashore Camp, at around 2:30 pm. The tablets were recovered from his possession. A case was filed under the Narcotics Control Act with Kotwali Model Police Station, and the accused was handed over to the police for further legal action.

LOCALTake a photo tour of the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm ShowJan. 9, 2026, 7:41 a.m. Paul Kuehnel/ York Daily RecordI giant carved eagle at the Pennsylvania Hardwoods display at the 2026 PA Farm Show. Paul Kuehnel/ York Daily RecordAbout 1,500 apples are on display at the PA Apple Growers Apple Wall at the 2026 PA Farm Show. Paul Kuehnel/ York Daily RecordHog judging at the 2026 PA Farm Show. Paul Kuehnel/ York Daily RecordA ride is prepared for the 2026 PA Farm Show.

ETThe 2025 York Daily Record/Hanover Evening Sun Christmas Emergency Fund drive raised over $23,721 to help York County police officers get the wellness counseling they need to help them cope with with the stress and trauma of their jobs. The nonprofit York County Safety Collab created the Officer Wellness Fund to raise money for the counseling services that officers sometimes need. The York Daily Record and Evening Sun asked readers to consider donating to this important effort to help these everyday heroes via the Christmas Emergency Fund. Each holiday season, the York Daily Record and the Hanover Evening Sun offer readers the opportunity to help our community via the Christmas Emergency Fund. In 2025 year, that "emergency" was providing for the mental wellness of emergency responders − police officers − who run toward danger.

BERLIN, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Germany's foreign minister plans to visit Washington and meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, a ministry spokeswoman said in Berlin. "The main topics of the trip are our bilateral relations with the US, continued support for Ukraine in light of Russia's war of aggression, and transatlantic security and defence policy," the foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Friday. Before reaching Washington, Wadephul plans to make a stopover in Reykjavik to meet Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir on Sunday evening. The ministry spokeswoman did not directly address whether the German foreign minister would discuss Greenland's status with Rubio, but said that "relevant foreign and security policy issues will also be on the agenda". German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil also plans to be in Washington on Monday for a US-hosted gathering to discuss access to critical raw materials.

The exercises draw together several nations feuding with the US administration and come at a time of heightened tensions following Washington's raid on Venezuela. AFP journalists near the Simon's Town base saw the Russian-flagged corvette vessel pull into False Bay. - Global tensions -Washington this week seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker it said was part of a shadow fleet that carried oil for countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran. The joint drills were initially scheduled for November 2025 but were postponed due to a clash with the G20 summit in Johannesburg. Washington boycotted the summit amid a row with Pretoria that includes anger over its ties with Russia and Iran.

Stocks rise ahead of US jobs data and key tariffs rulingLONDON, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Stock markets advanced Friday as traders awaited the release of crucial US jobs data and a possible Supreme Court ruling on US President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs. "Global markets await two key events in the US later today which could significantly impact volatility," said Emma Wall, chief investment strategist at Hargreaves Lansdown. The US Supreme Court's possible ruling on the legality of many of Trump's punishing tariffs is also keeping investors occupied. Wall Street ended Thursday on a mixed note, but Asia saw a more positive run ahead of the weekend. Stock markets in Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok and Manila rose, though there were losses in Wellington, Taipei, Mumbai and Jakarta.

Trump says US oil pledged $100 bn for Venezuela ahead of White House meetingWASHINGTON, United States, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Friday the world's biggest oil companies pledged to invest $100 billion to revive Venezuela's oil sector as he prepared for a meeting with top industry executives. "It's just a meeting to discuss, obviously, the immense opportunity that is before these oil companies right now," Trump's spokesperson Leavitt told reporters Wednesday. Washington now says it is "selectively rolling back sanctions" to enable the sale and transport of Venezuelan crude oil on global markets. Wright said that the Trump administration would also help major US oil companies to establish a long-term presence. Venezuelan crude is known to be viscous and difficult to refine.

Italy PM says does not believe US will attack GreenlandROME, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saidFriday she does not believe the United States will attack Greenland, but thatits "assertive methods" were intended to dissuade interference from othercountries. Meloni said NATO should focus more on the Arctic region and ensure a"significant presence" of allies to preserve security and keep out hostilecountries. "I still do not believe in the hypothesis that the United States will takemilitary action to take control of Greenland, an option that I clearly wouldnot agree with," Meloni told journalists in an annual New Year's pressconference. Such an option would not "be in anyone's interest, not even in the interestof the United States of America". It was up not just to Europe but to NATO to "initiate a serious debate" onthe Arctic as a priority.

Fouzul Kabir Khan said that in the past, people were deprived of exercising their voting rights. Fouzul added that if people give their verdict in favour of the reform proposals through the referendum, the reform process will continue. He further said the upcoming national election will be held under a neutral, non-partisan government, ensuring that no one can obstruct anyone from voting. The government has instructed the local district administration and police to ensure that they can exercise their voting rights without hindrance. He sought cooperation from all to ensure a peaceful national election.