MELBOURNE, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Relentless top seed Aryna Sabalenka muscled past American teenager Iva Jovic and into the Australian Open semi-finals Tuesday to accelerate her bid for a third Melbourne title. It booked the 27-year-old a 14th career Grand Slam semi-final and fourth in a row at the season-opening major. Defeat brought an end to a breakthrough tournament for 18-year-old Jovic, the youngest player in the women's top 100 and seeded 29. Jovic made some early errors and sent the ball long on break point to surrender her serve and fall 2-0 behind. Sabalenka held to pile on the pressure before Jovic fended off a break point on her next serve to get on the scoreboard.

Beverly DeMario Shea of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully on December 16 at Bradley Hospice House with her devoted husband of 54 years, Skip, by her side. She was born on January 15, 1950 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While living in The Villages, she was a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Church and its Women's Guild. Memorial mass will be held at St. Mark The Evangelist, Summerfield, FL on February 10 at 10 AM in the Chapel. Reception will follow at St. Mark social hall.

Leonard "Bud" Sawdy passed away January 14th, 2026 at UF Health Leesburg Hospital with his family by his side. Bud was born and raised in the Detroit, Michigan area. Bud and his wife of 66 years, Shirley, moved to The Villages 14 years ago, and he truly loved The Villages experience. You couldn't hang out with Bud and not have a good time and a good laugh. Bud is survived by his wife of 66 years, Shirley Sawdy, three children, Michael Sawdy, Debra Critser (son in law Jerry Critser) of Oxford, Fl, Patrick Sawdy of Utica, MI and two grandchildren Michael and Christopher Sawdy.

DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Champions Bangladesh women's team will return homefrom Bangkok on Thursday (January 29) after finishing their campaign in thejust concluded inaugural SAFF Women's Futsal Championship. A BG 389 flight, carrying the women's team, is expected to land at HazratShahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 6 pm. The Bangladesh women's team, led by Sabina Khatun, emerged champions in theseven-team championship securing highest 16 points in the points table fromsix matches. Earlier, Bangladesh eve team made a winning start in the tournament beatingIndia by 3-1 goals in their match. Meanwhile, Bangladesh men's team is expected to return home tomorrow(Tuesday) from Bangkok and expected to land at 6 pm.

The government is reconsidering the lifting of the existing purchase limit on the purchase of savings certificates, said Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Majumder. He said these at a seminar titled “Bond Market Development in Bangladesh: Challenges and Recommendations” held in the capital on Monday (January 26). The finance secretary said that in the context of the times, reforming the savings certificate system has become urgent. The government is giving importance to making the savings certificate market more realistic and effective through possible changes in the policy. The governor also said that the future of the country's bond market depends on controlling inflation and keeping interest rates stable.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS)- BNP Standing Committee Member and BNP nominated candidate in Dhaka- 8 constituency Mirza Abbas today termed the upcoming national polls February 12 as crucial for the country and people must come forward to protect their voting rights. Mirza Abbas made the remarks at an election opinion exchange meeting organized by the BIWTC Workers' Dal through a public gathering in Ward Number - 37 of Shahbagh Thana. In the afternoon, Mirza Abbas inaugurated an election campaign camp at Bijoynagar Scout Market and participated in a Pitha (pastoral cake) festival on Bijoynagar Main Road. Mirza Abbas said that the BNP was founded by the Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. 21, Mirza Abbas addressed the youth, saying, "We must also learn about the structures or institutions that can be built outside of jobs.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman spoke an election rally in Kanchpur, Narayanganj. Photo: BNP Media CellNARAYANGANJ, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the people must assert their own rights and be entrusted with full guardianship of their voting rights to ensure a truly democratic process. "On the day of voting, you must go to the polling center with the same presence as today's rally. The BNP Chairman said there have been dummy elections for the past 15-16 years while people’s voting rights were deprived. BNP Dhaka Divisional Associate Organizing Secretary Nazrul Islam Azad, Narayanganj-1 constituency candidate Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu, Narayanganj-3 constituency candidate Azharul Islam Mannan, Narayanganj-4 constituency candidate Monir Kasemi, and Narayanganj-5 constituency candidate Abul Kalam, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS)- Speakers at a participatory meeting here todayunanimously said informed electorates are the most important prerequisite fora free, fair, and acceptable election. At the same time, responsible voter participation would help ensuretransparency and accountability in the electoral system. DC Afia Akhtar said that informed and responsible participation by voters isessential to organising a democratic election. Harun Or Rashid told the meeting that the project aims to strengthendemocracy by boosting the participation among women, youth, and marginalisedcommunities, including persons with disabilities and minorities. The key goals include enhancing civic knowledge, fostering informed, peacefulvoting, and increasing the representation of these groups as both voters andcandidates.

By Stephen BeechBeing a grandparent is good for the brain, according to a new study. Lead researcher Flavia Chereches said: “Many grandparents provide regular care for their grandchildren – care that supports families and society more broadly. The participants answered survey questions and completed cognitive tests three times between 2016 and 2022. The survey asked whether they had provided care for a grandchild at any point in the past year. The findings, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, held true regardless of the frequency and type of care the grandparents provided.

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): An impulse money move won’t likely deliver on its promise; too much confusion could obscure significant facts. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): True confidence isn’t built in someone else’s noise, ultimately building that foundation is an inner journey. CANCER (June 21-July 22): A joint venture could yield results if a pre-launch investigation comes up clean. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your confidence should be coming through, people likely trust your recommendations. Opportunities could be actualized for financial growth, commitment in love, a more healed inner child, fame, and clarity around your mission.

DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS)-The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned 16 individuals of Summit Group including its Chairman Muhammed Aziz Khan and his family members in connection with an investigation into allegations of amassing illegal wealth through corruption and laundering crores of Taka abroad. The information was confirmed today by Md Akhtarul Islam, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department of ACC. He said Muhammed Aziz Khan has been asked to appear before the ACC in the morning of January 29 to give his statement. At the same time, letters have been sent to his family members and responsible officials of various institutions affiliated with the Summit Group, asking them to appear before the commission to provide their statements. The notice stated that failure to appear of all the accused and give statements within the stipulated time would be counted as they have no statement of their own regarding the allegations.

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Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today demanded installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at all polling centres across the country to ensure a free, fair and secure election. "We demanded installation of CCTV cameras at all polling centres to ensure security. Zubayer said that the number of centres where cameras have been installed is insufficient and less than half of the total. "We clearly told the commission that effective CCTV cameras must be installed inside polling centres to avoid any untoward incidents and to identify troublemakers," he added, noting that the commission has assured them of taking necessary steps. Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed was present at the meeting.