DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has directed presiding officers and other responsible officials to arrange adequate lighting at polling and counting centers to facilitate smooth voting in the upcoming National Parliamentary Elections and the Referendum. It has also asked to ensure alternative lighting arrangements in advance in case of power outages. To guarantee voters' right to vote freely and confidentially, the EC directed that designated secret rooms (marking places) be set up in each polling center. No candidates, their election agents, polling agents or supporters will be allowed to use any type of vehicle to transport voters to the polling centre. The EC emphasized that all instructions must be strictly followed on polling day.

Through this, people of the northern region will be able to receive advanced medical services within their own area," he said. Alongside general medical services, the hospital will provide specialised treatment in departments such as nephrology, cardiology, oncology, and neurology. As a result, a large segment of the district's population is being deprived of timely access to specialized and emergency healthcare services. Currently, healthcare services in the district mainly depend on the 250-bed Nilphamari General Hospital and primary healthcare centres at the upazila level. Consequently, patients suffering from serious and complex illnesses have to be referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) or Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

MELBOURNE, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - United States players are dominating the women's draw at the Australian Open after Amanda Anisimova on Monday made it four Americans in the singles quarter-finals for the first time in 25 years. Anisimova defeated China's Wang Xinyu in straight sets and plays fellow United States title contender Jessica Pegula in the last eight in Melbourne. Half of the women left in the draw are from the United States, and one is guaranteed to reach the last four. The last time four or more American women made the singles quarter-finals of the Australian Open was in 2001 with Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport. Jovic has the stiffest task of the United States quartet, coming up against world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

File photoDHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has asked the authorities concerned to count votes at the polling centres and send reports to the Returning Officers, according to a circular issued by the EC on Saturday. The Returning Officer will consolidate the results of each constituency in line with the Representation of the People Order (RPO). To this end, an ‘Election Results Collection and Presentation Centre’ will be set up at the EC Secretariat. These centers will be open from the morning of the polling day until the final results reach the EC Secretariat, the circular said. In addition, reports on the conditions of the polling centres and constituencies will be collected and reported to the Commission.

Musetti vows to push Djokovic 'to his maximum' in Melbourne quartersMELBOURNE, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Lorenzo Musetti vowed Monday to push Novak Djokovic "to his maximum" after setting up an Australian Open quarter-final against the 24-time major champion. Djokovic, a 10-time winner in Melbourne, will have the benefit of an extra day's rest. I feel ready to try to push him to his maximum." Beating Fritz propelled Musetti, 23, into the last eight at Melbourne for the first time, with clay and grass his usual forte. Musetti will face Djokovic without his coach and physio who have had to leave Melbourne for family reasons.

LONDON, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Irish no-frills airline Ryanair on Monday announced a sharp drop in net profit for its third quarter, weighed down by a hefty fine from Italy's competition authority. Profit after tax stood at 30 million euros ($36 million) in the three months to the end of December compared with 149 million euros one year earlier, the Dublin-based carrier said in a statement.

MEXICO CITY, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - At least 11 people were killed and 12 more wounded Sunday in an armed attack at a soccer field in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, local authorities reported. The attack occurred in a neighborhood in the town of Salamanca, with officials in the mayor's office saying in a statement that they had launched an operation to find those responsible for the assault.

YANGON, Myanmar, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Myanmar's dominant pro-military party has won junta-run elections, a party source told AFP on Monday, after a month-long vote that democracy watchdogs dismissed as a rebranding of army rule. "We won a majority already," a senior official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to share preliminary results. "We are in the position to form a new government."

JERUSALEM, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United Nations' agency for Palestinian refugees said Sunday that its partially demolished headquarters in east Jerusalem was set on fire. The agency, UNRWA, did not offer details on the cause of the incident at their premises, which Israeli authorities seized and began dismantling last week after banning the organisation from operating in the country in 2025. "After having been stormed and demolished by the Israeli authorities, the UNRWA Headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem has now been set on fire," the agency said in a statement. Its compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has been empty of staff since January 2025, when the law banning its operations took effect. Israel accuses UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas militants, and a series of investigations found "neutrality-related issues" at the agency but held that Israel had not provided conclusive evidence.

Campaign for 'Yes' vote in referendum to begin in universitiesDHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - A massive campaign is set to begin in the country's universities to promote 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum. As per the decision, public universities have been divided into six zones - Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Jashore, Mymensingh and Sylhet - for the convenience of the campaign. The campaign will commence by exchanging views with students. The views-exchange meetings will be held so that the youths of the country can motivate the citizens to vote for 'Yes' in the upcoming referendum. Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Monir Haider, and UGC members Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan and Professor Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossen were present at the meeting.

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi spoke at WEF Meeting in Davos. Photo : CA's Press WingDHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Lutfey Siddiqi, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs, represented Bangladesh at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting held last week in Davos, Switzerland. The Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy called on the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr Harini Amarasuriya which was also attended by Sri Lanka’s Labour Minister Anil Fernando. Furthermore, he exchanged greetings with and provided brief updates on Bangladesh to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, IMF President Kristalina Georgieva, Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Governor of California Gavin Newsom, Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear, and Saudi Ambassador to the USA Princess Reema, amongst others. Throughout the week, Siddiqi was accompanied by Abdullah Mahabub, First Secretary at the Bangladesh mission in Geneva.

Photo: PIDDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved 25 development projects worth Taka 45,191.27 crore including a 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital in the northern region. Of the total project cost, Taka 10,881.40 crore will come from government funds, Taka 32,018.09 crore from project loans and Taka 2,291.78 crore from the implementing agencies' own resources. Among the approved projects, 14 are new, six are revised and five involve extension of project duration. Two revised projects under the Textiles and Jute Ministry were approved for the establishment of Sylhet Textile Engineering College and Sylhet Textile Institute. The Agriculture Ministry had two projects approved, including the Ashuganj-Palash Green Project and the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (third revision).

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× Expand Graphic by Erin Nelson SweeneyDue to the potential for icy weather conditions, Hoover City Schools will be closed on Monday, Jan. 26, school officials said. With the rain that came Sunday, freezing temperatures overnight and prediction of freezing temperatures almost all day Monday, there is potential for black ice on the roads and dangerous travel conditions, Hoover City Schools spokeswoman Merrick Wilson said. “The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority,” the school system said in a news release. The Hoover system will not use Monday as an e-learning day either. The temperature in Hoover is forecast to drop to 21 Monday morning and 14 Tuesday morning, according to weather.com.

Winter Weather AlertsThe National Weather Service uses a watch, warning and advisory system to categorize hazardous weather events. A winter storm watch indicates that conditions are favorable for a winter storm event within the next 24 to 72 hours. A winter storm warning advertises a winter storm event causing a significant threat to life or property. NWS also issues warnings for other types of winter weather, such as lake effect snow, ice storms, and blizzards. Issuance criteria varies across the country and scales with how well-equipped an area is to deal with winter weather.