MADRID, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Atletico Madrid signed midfielders Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas on Monday, as well as confirming the arrival of forward Ademola Lookman. Coach Diego Simeone had asked for reinforcements with his team third in La Liga, 10 points behind leaders Barcelona, after Conor Gallagher and Giacomo Raspadori left earlier in the winter transfer window. Mendoza joined from Elche for a reported 20 million euros ($23.5 million), although Atletico did not specify a price. Vargas, 20, moved from MLS side Seattle Sounders and played against Atletico last summer at the Club World Cup. The Rojiblancos completed that transfer on Monday, handing the Nigeria international a contract at the club until 2030.

PARIS, France, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - French authorities have issued warrants for two Franco-Israeli nationals for "complicity in genocide" over allegations that they tried to stop humanitarian aid entering conflict stricken Gaza, a legal source said Monday. In an interview with The News website, Kupfer-Naouri, 50, called the French investigation "anti-semitic madness". The two activists are also suspected of "public provocation for genocide" by calling for aid to be prevented from reaching Gaza, the source said. Another source close to the investigation said warrants could be issued for about 10 other people. Clemence Bectarte, a lawyer for the groups, said it was the first investigation of its kind in genocide law.

WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal Monday to reduce tariffs on India, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to stop buying Russian oil over the war in Ukraine. "Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. A White House official told AFP that an additional 25 percent tariff Trump had slapped on India in August for its purchase of Russian oil would also be dropped. Trump added that Modi "agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela. "Even though it has and will change its oil import structure away from Russia, India would still want to keep relations steady," Aamer added.

Trump urges 'no changes' to bill to end shutdownWASHINGTON, United States, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump urged the House of Representatives on Monday to swiftly adopt a spending bill and end the three-day government shutdown. "I hope all Republicans and Democrats will join me in supporting this Bill, and send it to my desk WITHOUT DELAY," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. In his Truth Social post, Trump said "there can be NO CHANGES at this time" to the legislation and called for its immediate passage. Republican defections could force Johnson to rely on Democratic votes to advance the funding bill and end the shutdown. If the House approves the Senate deal, lawmakers would then have just two weeks to negotiate a full-year DHS funding bill.

LONDON, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Liverpool were set to win the race to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet on a quiet final day of the Premier League transfer window, while Crystal Palace swooped for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen despite the collapse of Jean-Philippe Mateta's move to AC Milan. The Reds reportedly agreed a fee of up to œ60 million ($82 million) for the highly-rated Jacquet before the window closed at 1900 GMT. But the 20-year-old will not join the Premier League champions until the summer despite Liverpool's need for defensive reinforcements. The France striker was left out of Palace's squad for their Premier League draw at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, in anticipation of a transfer to AC Milan. Mateta's proposed switch to Serie A fell through on Monday after medical concerns over a knee injury, but Palace still brought in Strand Larsen.

KHARTOUM, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Sudanese army and paramilitary forces traded strikes on each others' positions in the west and south of the country on Monday, a military source and witnesses told AFP. In Darfur in the west, army strikes hit the town of Zalingei, one of five state capitals in the vast region controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Confirming the attack, the military source told AFP that the building was an RSF warehouse. After announcing last week that it had opened two corridors around Dilling, the army was continuing to advance towards South Kordofan capital Kadugli, the military source said. The secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Jan Egeland, called South Kordofan "Sudan's most dangerous and neglected frontline".

PARIS, France, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - France adopted a 2026 government budget on Monday following months of fraught negotiations after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived the latest in a string of no-confidence motions. Lawmakers rejected two no-confidence motions from the hard left and far-right parties tabled after the premier on Friday forced his budget through parliament without a vote for the third and final time. The outcome cleared the way for the budget's final approval after four months of political deadlock over government spending. Motions tabled by the France Unbowed, the Greens and other left-wing groups drew 260 of the 289 votes needed to oust the the government. The plan boosts military spending by 6.5 billion euros, a move the premier last week described as the "heart" of the budget.

The genre of dark academia seeks to capture this feeling. Gang of Youths: “Achilles Come Down”What would dark academia be without references to Greek mythology? “Young and Beautiful” was released specifically for the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, emphasizing Gatsby’s distinctive yearning and adhering perfectly to the ‘classic literature’ element of the dark academia genre. The abrupt switch in tone from Phoebe Bridgers’ “Garden Song” to this only amplifies the alarming nature of the narrative. ‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community.

NCP Election Management Committee Chairman Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan today spoke at Satmero High School field in Goaljhora in Panchagarh. "Sarjis Alam has worked for the development of tourism and roads here even without being an MP. Addressing the rally, Sarjis Alam, the 11-party alliance candidate for Panchagarh-1, urged voters to reject those involved in filing false cases, extortion, terrorism and violence against women. If he cannot, he can never be a good leader," Sarjis Alam said. "We will work together to ensure Sarjis Alam's victory in Panchagarh-1, Insha'Allah."

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed-File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS) – Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today said that the interim government has tried to keep the economy relatively stable and has tackled many challenges. “The interim government has tried to keep the economy relatively stable and has tackled many challenges. Advising Sonali Bank officials to maintain professionalism during the tenure of an elected government, the finance adviser warned that political pressure would inevitably arise. At the event, Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury stressed the need for greater autonomy under the bank’s new PLC structure. Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury presided over the conference, while senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and Sonali Bank were present.

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The remarks were made at the inauguration of the three-day 2nd Bangladesh Light Engineering Expo 2026, organised by the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA), which began in the capital today. The expo will run until February 4 and remain open daily from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, showcasing the latest technologies, components, machinery, and innovative products from the country’s light engineering sector. But, the next step — light engineering — has not seen the kind of transition it should have,” he said. If these issues are addressed, light engineering products from Bangladesh would gain a strong competitive edge in international markets. At present, exports from the light engineering sector stand at approximately $795 million.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS)- Vice-President of Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) DrZubaida Rahman today exchanged views with underprivileged working womenresiding in the slums (Korail, Shattola, and TNT) of the Dhaka-17 NationalParliamentary Constituency Electoral Area. The Ziaur Rahman Foundation organised the meeting this afternoon whileExecutive Director of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation Prof Dr. Farhad HalimDonar, Director of Planning Dr. Syeda Tajnin Waris Simki, and the ChiefCoordinator of the Dhaka-17 constituency electoral area valiant FreedomFighter Abdus Salam were present. Everyone openly and lively discussed their problems with Dr. Zubaida Rahmanduring the meeting. She listened to everyone's problems with great importanceand assured them of taking practical steps in accordance with BNP's electionmanifesto.

Ranjit Das, one of the finest goalkeepers in the history of Bangladeshi football, has passed away. He breathed his last in the early hours of today (Monday) after suffering a heart attack at a hospital in Sylhet. A shining star of football in the pre-independence era, Ranjit Das regularly guarded the goalposts of the East Pakistan team from 1955 to 1961. His cremation will be held this evening at the Chalibandar crematorium in Sylhet.”Renowned for his exceptional skills on the field, Ranjit Das played for Ispahani Club, Azad Sporting Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club before independence. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to football, Ranjit Das was honoured with the National Sports Award.

Money supply is the sum of cash in circulation and bank deposits. Bangladesh Bank statistics show that money supply grew rapidly during the tenure of the last government. The most widely used measure of money supply, M2 or “broad money”, increased from Tk13.7 lakh crore in June 2020 to Tk18.9 lakh crore in June 2023. In just three years, money supply grew by roughly Tk5.2 lakh crore. Economists agree that the combination of low interest rates and sustained fiscal deficits fuels money supply growth and inflation.