Bangladesh and Uruguay today signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the State Guest House Padma, Dhaka. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh and Uruguay today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalise regular and structured bilateral political consultations, marking a significant step toward deepening diplomatic engagement between the two countries. The MoU was signed after the first-ever bilateral political consultations between the two countries, established diplomatic relations in 1972. Bangladesh briefed Uruguay on the Rohingya humanitarian situation and sought its continued support. Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement, hold the next round of consultations at a mutually convenient time, and promote high-level exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Moeen Ali Jay Shah Mustafizur Rahman. Image Credits: XThe ongoing India–Bangladesh drama is growing bigger with each passing day, and Mustafizur Rahman’s snub has only added fuel to the fire. Adding fuel to this, English all-rounder Moeen Ali slammed the move as a global crisis. Mustafizur Rahman pays the price despite doing nothing wrongAs the world has been vocal about the issue, Moeen Ali extended his support to Mustafizur Rahman. Moeen Ali condemns Jay Shah's ICCThe India-Bangladesh turmoil emerged as a big issue in the cricket world.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today ordered the confiscation of Taka 65 lakh in favour of the state from 53 bank accounts belonging to prime accused Faisal Karim Masud and his related interests in a case filed over the murder of Inqilab Mancho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. The court also ordered the freezing of those bank accounts. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order, allowing a plea filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID in the plea stated that allegations of money laundering against Faisal and his associates are currently under investigation. During the inquiry, analysis of bank accounts maintained in the names of Faisal, his associated individuals and organisations revealed highly suspicious transactions.

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DHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS) - Police have arrested 11 individuals in a day-long special operation conducted in different areas under the Rupnagar Police Station under Mirpur area, aimed at maintaining law and order in the capital. Sumon Molla (32), Md. Hridoy (20), Shakil Hossain (32), Md. Deputy Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed their arrests. Following their arrest, all the accused were produced before the Special Metropolitan Magistrate.

DHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 197 appeals have been filed with the Election Commission (EC) so far against the returning officers' decisions on acceptance and rejection of nomination papers for the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election, said official today. Earlier, on Tuesday, 122 appeals were filed with the EC on the second day against the returning officers' decisions on acceptance and rejection of nomination papers. On the first day, 41 appeals were filed against rejection of nomination papers and one appeal was filed against acceptance of a nomination paper. Of the total 197 appeals filed so far, 23 came from the Khulna region, 22 from Rajshahi, 16 from Rangpur, 12 from Chattogram, 24 from Cumilla, 42 from Dhaka, 24 from Mymensingh, nine from Barishal and 14 from the districts under the Faridpur region. On the final day of scrutiny on January 4, returning officers or assistant returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid and cancelled the candidacy of 723 aspirants out of a total of 2,568 nomination papers submitted in 300 constituencies across the country.

SYDNEY, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - England youngster Jacob Bethell cracked a maiden century Wednesday in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia to cement himself as a star of the future. The 22-year-old powered to his hundred in style off 162 balls in Sydney, raising his bat towards his emotional family in the stands. Remarkably, it was not just a maiden Test ton but the only one he has scored in red-ball cricket, with his previous best 96 against New Zealand. His progress was then hampered by injury and Pope hitting form back at three. Bethell was recalled for the fourth Test in Melbourne to replace Pope, scoring a gritty 40 in difficult batting conditions with the number three position now his to lose.

DHAKA, Jan 07, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh’s overall Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose slightly in December, indicating a faster pace of economic expansion, driven mainly by continued growth in agriculture, manufacturing and services, according to the latest PMI report. PMI increased by 0.2 points in December from November to 54 point in November, remaining well above 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction. Manufacturing sector remained in expansion for the 16th straight month, though growth slowed slightly compared to November. The new business index showed a faster rate of contraction, while construction activity and employment expanded at a slower pace. The services sector posted its 15th consecutive month of expansion with growth accelerating slightly.

DHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) today launched an automated online Value Added Tax (VAT) refund system, allowing refunds to be transferred directly to taxpayers' bank accounts, a move considered as ending long-standing delays and harassment in the refund process. NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan formally inaugurated the system by transferring Tk 45.35 lakh in VAT refunds to the bank accounts of three taxpayers from three Dhaka-based VAT commissionerates through the electronic platform. Once it stabilises, it will be generalised," he said, adding that income tax refunds would also be brought under a similar automated system after VAT refunds prove successful. Under the new system, taxpayers will only need to provide their bank account details once. The NBR said the system will ensure faster, fully transparent refund processing and eliminate the need for taxpayers to visit VAT offices.

In sharp contrast, Teknaf in Cox's Bazar recorded the country's highest temperature today at 26.5 degrees Celsius, underscoring the wide variation between the northern and southern regions. Met statistics showed that the lowest temperature has steadily declined over the past three days - from 7.5 degrees Celsius on Monday to 7.0 degrees Celsius on Tuesday in Rajshahi, before dropping further to 6.7 degrees Celsius today in Naogaon. In Dhaka, the temperature fell by about two degrees Celsius compared to yesterday, though dense fog was absent in many areas. According to BMD classification, a mild cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature ranges between 8.1 and 10 degrees Celsius, a moderate cold wave between 6.1 and 8 degrees Celsius, and a severe cold wave between 4.1 and 6 degrees Celsius. Temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius are considered a very severe cold wave.

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The Villages, FL (32162)TodayPartly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. Winds light and variable..TonightPartly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. Winds light and variable.

FRANKFURT, Germany, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The pace of German greenhouse gas emissions cuts slowed further in 2025, putting in jeopardy climate goals in Europe's biggest economy, a think tank warned Wednesday. "At the current rate of reduction, there will still be a climate protection gap with regard to 2030," said the study. Overall Germany's 2025 emissions totalled 640 million tonnes, a reduction of nine million tonnes from the previous year, according to Agora. Higher fuel consumption pushed transport emissions up by 1.4 percent compared to 2024. However the think tank warned that "persistently high investment costs continue to slow the ramp-up of electric technologies in industry, buildings, and transport".

Reading time: about 2 minutesFormer Dean of Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences, Ray Jayawardhana, has been named the next president of the California Institute of Technology, announced on Tuesday at a community-wide gathering at CalTech. Jayawardhana served as the 22nd dean of the arts college starting June 2018 and was succeeded by Rachel Bean in July 2023 following his departure to Johns Hopkins University as provost. Prior to his time as dean, Jayawardhana was a professor of astronomy and Hans A. Bethe Professor. "I am deeply honored to have been selected as Caltech's tenth president and to join this remarkable community of trailblazers," Jayawardhana told the Caltech community. Zeinab Faraj Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences.