PARIS, France, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The French economy grew 0.9 percent in 2025, statistics office INSEE said in a preliminary estimate Friday, a slowdown from the 1.1 percent growth seen the previous year. Most economists had tabled on fourth-quarter growth of 0.2 to 0.4 percent as consumer spending remained subdued while the government wrestled with passing a budget widely expected to slash spending. But President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government is struggling to get a 2026 budget passed in a hung parliament, raising doubts about its ability to cut the deficit to five percent of GDP. The credit ratings agency Moody's said this week it expected the deficit to fall to just 5.2 percent this year. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is widely expected on Friday to force through the spending section of the 2026 state budget without a parliamentary vote.

Photo: BSSRANGPUR, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) - With the improvement of cold wave conditions, the pace of planting Boro rice seedlings is increasing day by day, keeping farmers busy and creating huge jobs for agricultural workers in Rangpur agricultural region. "The momentum of the transplantation process of Boro rice seedlings is increasing everyday amid sunny weather in all five districts of the region," Additional Director (Incharge) of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Shirajul Islam told BSS. "Farmers have already transplanted Boro rice seedlings on 73,080 hectares of land by Thursday as the process will get full momentum by this month end in," Shirajul Islam said. Of them, farmers will produce 11,13,909 tonnes of hybrid variety Boro rice from 2,30,316 hectares of land, 11,75,867 tonnes of high yielding variety rice from 2,77,753 hectares and 1,939 tonnes of local variety Boro rice from 1,025 hectares of land. The authorities concerned are ensuring smooth supply of high quality Boro rice seeds, fertilisers, modern technologies and power to farmers for even cultivation of Boro rice.

You have permission to edit this article.

You have permission to edit this article.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed a public meeting in his constituency as the chief guest after 19 years. Photo: BSSBOGURA, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman became visibly emotional as he returned to his electoral constituency after 19 years, saying he struggled to find words upon coming back home. Mentioning that there had been no real progress in healthcare, education, or other sectors, Tarique Rahman said that mega projects had turned into avenues for mega corruption. Earlier, at 11:48 pm on Thursday night, Tarique Rahman set foot on Bogura soil for the first time in 19 years. Many people waited until midnight on the rooftops of nearby high-rise buildings just to have a glimpse of Tarique Rahman.

ROME, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Six members of Italy's police and coastguard go on trial Friday over a 2023 shipwreck that killed at least 94 migrants, accused of failing to intervene on time. Four officers from Italy's Guardia di Finanza (GDF) financial crimes police and two members of the coastguard are standing trial in nearby Crotone. They are accused of involuntary manslaughter and "culpable shipwreck", a crime in the Italian penal code punishing negligent actions or omissions leading to a shipwreck. But a boat subsequently sent by the GDF police turned back due to the bad weather, and the migrant boat eventually capsized on rocks near the beach. All those on trial worked from various control centres far from the site of the shipwreck.

DHAKA, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) – The government has taken a groundbreaking initiative to ensure affordable travel facilities for expatriate Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia. “Through this initiative, expatriate workers will benefit directly, while the state-owned airline, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is also expected to gain significant financial benefits,” he said. Bashir informed that under this special arrangement, the minimum one-way fare on the Madinah–Dhaka and Jeddah–Dhaka routes has been fixed at Taka 20,500 while the minimum return fare on the Madinah–Dhaka–Madinah and Jeddah–Dhaka–Jeddah routes has been set at Taka 42,000. This special fare will be applicable for arrivals in Bangladesh from April 18, 2026 to May 25, 2026, and for departures from Bangladesh from May 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026, he said. Therefore, it must be ensured that this initiative is implemented with 100 percent effectiveness,” Prof Yunus said.

Bangladesh has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for the year 2026. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for the year 2026. Bangladesh assumed charge as Vice-Chair during the first PBC meeting of its 20th session after a brief ceremony. The members of the Commission during its first meeting of the 20th session elected Morocco as Chair while Germany, Brazil, Croatia and Bangladesh were elected as Vice-Chairs. The Peacebuilding Commission is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries.

DHAKA, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) - Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country during the next 24 hours commencing from 9 am today, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during late night to morning, it said. Night temperatures may fall slightly and day temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The highest temperature recorded yesterday was 32.2 degrees Celsius at Teknaf in Chattogram division, while the lowest minimum temperature recorded today was 11.4 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat under Rangpur division. Today's sunset at Dhaka will be at 5:43 pm, while tomorrow's sunrise is expected at 6:40 am.

Cuba, which has largely been under a US embargo since 1962, until recently received most of its oil from Venezuela. The United States has been mum on what kind of deal it is seeking with the island's communist government. The order signed Thursday threatens added tariffs on any "country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba." Declaring a "national emergency" related to Cuba, Trump made similar claims to those made against Venezuela, such as providing support nations hostile to the United States. US neighbor Mexico has become a significant provider oil to Cuba, though media reports have suggested that flows could be slowing under pressure from Trump.

As a result, the Library’s final day to offer passport services will be Thursday, Feb. 12. “Libraries provide accessible and convenient passport services, especially in rural communities like ours. 6997, the Community Passport Service Access Act, bipartisan legislation to restore eligibility for nonprofit public libraries. Call for actionCommunity members who value accessible passport services can help by contacting their federal elected officials and urging them to support H.R. 6997, the Community Services Access Act, which would preserve equitable passport services through nonprofit public libraries.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump on Thursday said all Canadian-built aircraft would lose their US certification until Canada approves American-made Gulfstream business jets, a stunning move threatening major travel disruptions if enacted. "We are hereby decertifying their Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada, until such time as Gulfstream, a Great American Company, is fully certified, as it should have been many years ago," Trump wrote. He additionally threatened a 50 percent tariff on all Canadian aircraft sold to the United States. It was not immediately clear through what process Trump could unilaterally decertify aircraft or what that decertification would entail. Earlier in the week, Trump threatened Canada with 100-percent tariffs after Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to China and struck several economic deals.

Asian stocks hit by fresh tech fears as gold retreats from peakHONG KONG, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Asian stocks sank Friday amid fresh worries over vast investments in artificial intelligence, gold and silver tumbled after hitting multiple record highs and oil retreated on hopes for an easing of US-Iran tensions. Fresh optimism in the tech sector about the future of AI has provided support, however, with healthy earnings from companies including Meta, Samsung and SK hynix providing much cheer. "Concerns centred on rising investment spending, slower Azure (cloud service) growth, and a longer runway to monetising AI." Hong Kong and Shanghai fell more than one percent while Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Manila were also down. Still, concerns remain about a conflict in the crude-rich region, which would send prices soaring, also putting upward pressure on inflation.

WELLINGTON, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand rejected an invitation to take part in US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" on Friday, joining a small list of nations to knock back the proposal. "New Zealand will not be joining the Board in its current form but will continue to monitor developments," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. Wellington did not reject the idea of the board entirely, but reiterated its commitment to the United Nations. "We see a role for the Board of Peace in Gaza, to be carried out as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 2803," Peters said. Trump launched his "Board of Peace" initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week.

MELBOURNE, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Wildcards John Peers and Olivia Gadecki became the first team to retain the Australian Open mixed-doubles title since 1988-89 when they outlasted French pair Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard on Friday. They came through 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 on Rod Laver Arena to deny France a first mixed-doubles crown at a Grand Slam since Roland Garros in 2004. It was a third Slam mixed-doubles title for Peers, to go with one men's doubles crown, and the second for Gadecki. The last team to retain an Australian Open mixed-doubles title was the Czech Jana Novotna and American Jim Pugh.