BRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - EU countries approved Friday a huge but divisive trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur, diplomats said, giving Brussels the green light to sign an accord championed by business groups but loathed by many European farmers. A majority of the European Union's 27 nations voted in favour of the pact at an ambassadors' meeting in Brussels, despite opposition from France, Ireland and others concerned about its impact on the agricultural sector, several European diplomats told AFP.

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Friday Russia's reported strike on Ukraine using a new Oreshnik ballistic missile was meant to send a message to Europe and the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin "doesn't want peace, Russia's reply to diplomacy is more missiles and destruction," Kallas wrote on X. "Russia's reported use of an Oreshnik missile is a clear escalation against Ukraine and meant as a warning to Europe and to the US," she wrote.

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 09, 2026 (BSS)- Election Commission (EC) Secretariat has published an updated and authentic full Bangla version of the “Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972”. The gazette of the Bangla version of the RPO has been published ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election which is available in the website of the BG Press. With the publication of the new version of the RPO the previous Bengali text published in 2023 has been declared null and void. The EC Secretariat noted that the updated Bengali version has incorporated the provisions of the ordinance promulgated in 2025 aimed at bringing clarity, transparency and authenticity in the electoral laws. The Bangla version of the RPO has been published by virtue of the power conferred by Section 94A of the RPO, EC sources said.

Under the new provisions, the ordinance ensures the strictest punishmentagainst wildlife hunting, cruelty to animals and destruction of forestresources. The hunting of iconic species such as tigers or elephants will nowcarry a maximum punishment of 12 years' imprisonment and a fine of Taka 1.5million. The ordinance also provides for up to five years' imprisonment forpossessing, without permission, any trophy, meat or body parts of a tiger orelephant. The ordinance introduces provisions to preserve ancient trees, heritagetrees, sacred trees, and traditional groves ('Kunjaban'), which serve ascritical habitats for wildlife. Violation of this provision carriesa maximum of six months' imprisonment or a fine of Taka 50,000.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti to speak with media for 1st time since 2022 Bisciotti will hold a news conference Tuesday at team headquarters following the firing of coach John Harbaugh

KYIV, Ukraine, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A "massive" Russian night-time attackon Ukraine damaged 20 residential buildings in Kyiv and its suburbs, as wellas Qatar's embassy, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday. "Twenty residential buildings alone were damaged," Zelensky said, adding that"a building of the Embassy of Qatar was damaged last night by a Russiandrone". "There was a second strike on one of the residential buildings -- preciselyat the moment when first responders were providing assistance after the firststrike," he said. He said the capital and the surrounding region "suffered the most" and that20 other non-residential buildings in Kyiv were also damaged. "Almost all districts in the Kyiv region were under enemy attack," Klymenkosaid.

DHAKA, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - ‎Environment, Forest, Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said continuity of the works taken to protect the environment, forests, biodiversity and rivers must be maintained. She said the interim government has amended the laws and formulated new policies to resolve the long-standing environmental problems. ‎Rizwana, also the information and broadcasting adviser, said although the use of polythene has been banned since 2002, it has not been effective. She urged all to come forward, out of their social responsibility, to preventing environmental and noise pollution. ‎ Rizwana said a project is being taken up in five rivers surrounding capital Dhaka (Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Balu, Turag, Dhaleshwari) and eight rivers of eight divisions.

EC sources said the process of dispatching postal ballots to expatriate voters began in phases on December 20 and was completed within nearly three weeks, covering all registered overseas voters. Assistant Postmaster General of the Airport Sorting Office Shamim Sohani told BSS that the Bangladesh Postal Department completed the dispatch of all postal ballots received from the EC to overseas destinations yesterday. Salim Ahmad Khan cautioned that maintaining the secrecy of postal ballots is the responsibility of the voters themselves and violation of ballot secrecy could result in the blocking of the voter's National Identity Card (NID). Country-wise statistics show that the highest number of ballots, 237,529, were sent to expatriate voters in Saudi Arabia. According to EC data, a total of 1,533,683 voters registered through the 'Postal Vote BD' app for the 13th national parliament election and the referendum, including 772,542 expatriate voters and 761,141 in-country voters.

South Korea's Lee to visit Japan next week for talks with TakaichiSEOUL, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung willtravel to Japan next week for talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Seoulsaid Friday, days after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Lee and Takaichi last met in October on the sidelines of the APEC summit inthe South Korean city of Gyeongju. South Korea's former conservative president Yoon Suk Yeol sought to improverelations with Japan. Lee met with Chinese President Xi this week, the first by a South Koreanleader in six years. "President Lee in fact did not discuss any sensitive issues with the Chineseside," she added.

Sabalenka gets revenge over Keys in repeat of Australian Open finalBRISBANE, Australia, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - World number one Aryna Sabalenka sent an Australian Open warning as she beat Madison Keys on Friday in Brisbane in a repeat of last year's Melbourne final. Keys stunned Sabalenka nearly 12 months ago but the Belarusian took revenge on the American with a statement 6-3, 6-3 victory to reach the semi-finals. She turned in an uncharacteristically error-strewn performance and struggled on serve as Sabalenka struck a series of superb returns. Sabalenka, aiming for her third Melbourne title in four years when the Australian Open begins on January 18, said the Brisbane tournament was helping her find form ahead of the first major of the year. Muchova has won her last three matches against Sabalenka, although the last was in 2024 at the China Open.

LONDON, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Liam Rosenior's first match as Chelseamanager comes laced with giant-killing danger as he takes the Blues tosecond-tier Charlton in the FA Cup third round. Troubled Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is fighting to avoid the sack, whileManchester United are also in turmoil as caretaker manager Darren Fletchertries to lift the gloom. When Rosenior was sacked just days after that loss, a less confidentcharacter would have found it hard to believe they were destined to manageChelsea less than two years later. Despite his solid work at another club controlled by Chelsea owners BlueCo,Rosenior was still a surprise choice to replace Enzo Maresca at StamfordBridge. The club have reportedly spoken to their former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaerand ex-midfielder Michael Carrick, sacked by Middlesbrough earlier thisseason, about returning as interim boss.

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Thursday that superstar French striker Kylian Mbappe is fit to play in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona after a knee sprain. The forward was left out of Madrid's travelling party to Saudi Arabia, with Los Blancos beating city rivals Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the semi-final on Thursday to set up a Clasico final on Sunday. "(Mbappe) is a lot better, he is feeling good, and he has the same chance of playing as his team-mates," Alonso told reporters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Alonso said Mbappe would fly to join the squad on Friday. The 27-year-old is Madrid's top goalscorer with 29 goals this season across all competitions in 24 appearances.

National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman has proposed the US Trade Representative (USTR) to reduce the reciprocal tariff from the current 20%. Both sides agreed to rapidly resolve a handful of outstanding matters in order that the reciprocal tariff agreement could be finalized and executed expeditiously. Dr Khalilur Rahman also took the opportunity to request Bangladesh's access to DFC funding for its private sector. Bangladesh Ambassador to the US, Tareq Md Ariful Islam, accompanied the national security adviser, while Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch and other officials were with the USTR. Dr Khalilur Rahman is also expected to meet senior US State Department officials tomorrow.

SYDNEY, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ashes hero Mitchell Starc insists age is justa number after Australia's 4-1 thumping of England, but the future of the"Dad's Army" is uncertain with a core of players in their mid-30s. Man-of-the-series Starc, 35, was exceptional in leading the home attack inall five Tests, bowling 153 overs and bagging 31 wickets -- more than anyoneelse. Starc said after their five-wicket win in the final Test in Sydney onThursday that "there's so much made about (the team's) age profile". -Playing India away and winning a first Test series in England since 2001 is abucket-list item for players such as Starc and Smith. Looking to the future, the likes of Campbell Kellaway, Matt Renshaw andNathan McSweeney are other top-order options.