Commonwealth, EU to deploy large observer teams for Bangladesh election
The Commonwealth and the European Union are set to deploy large election observation missions for Bangladesh’s general election and the referendum on the July reform charter, both scheduled for February 12. Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator, who is supporting the coordination of election observer visits on behalf of the government, on Thursday said confirmations from international organisations and countries were increasing daily. “We feel really encouraged to see the growing interest from election observers from countries and organizations, which reflects their confidence in the interim government and the Bangladesh Election Commission to hold a free and fair election,” she said. Former president of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo will lead the 14-member Commonwealth Observer Group, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey announced in London earlier this month. The Observer Group will be supported by a Secretariat team led by Linford Andrews, Head and Adviser of the Electoral Support Section.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 09:56 UTC
Application complexities for journalists to cover elections to be resolved
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday said the application complexity would be resolved to help journalists obtain press cards and vehicle stickers for covering the national election scheduled for February 12. Since it (online application process) is for the first time, it is definitely a problem. Inshallah, it will be resolved,” he said in a meeting with journalist leaders at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission has already issued a circular regarding the security of journalists during the elections. You, but I mean, if you keep your eyes on the elections, it will enhance transparency in my things (works).
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 09:56 UTC
Sri Lanka boosts T20 World Cup security with eye on India-Pakistan games
The island is co-hosting the biennial cricket tournament with India and will hold 20 games between February 7 and March 8. Sri Lanka maintained a studious silence throughout the India-Bangladesh row. But he added that Sri Lanka would be willing to host future tournaments for any of the countries if asked. Sri Lanka has also used the T20 World Cup as an opportunity to upgrade its international venues. The Pallekele Stadium in Kandy was unaffected by a deadly cyclone that damaged buildings in the region in November, and will host a T20 international between Sri Lanka and England from Friday.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 09:56 UTC
Bangladesh brings back 128 fishermen detained in India
DHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh brought back 128 Bangladeshi fishermen detained in India today through a reciprocal repatriation arrangement while 23 Indian fishermen detained in Bangladesh were also returned to India. The handing over of the fishermen was conducted by coastguards of the two countries at the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Bay of Bengal, said a foreign ministry's press release here. Bangladesh Coast Guard received 128 Bangladeshi fishermen along with five Bangladesh-owned fishing boats from the Indian Coast Guard while handed over 23 Indian fishermen and two India-owned fishing boats to the Indian Coast Guard. The repatriation was carried out through coordinated efforts among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Shipping, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Police, the local administration, and other relevant agencies.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 29, 2026 09:55 UTC
Russian strikes push Ukraine towards catastrophe, says EU
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas warned Thursday that Ukraine was facing a "humanitarian catastrophe" as Russian strikes cut power in frigid winter conditions. Russia has stepped up its strikes against Ukraine's power and heating infrastructure, plunging residents into darkness and cold as temperatures have dropped as low as -20C. The EU is looking to step up support for Ukraine's power grid and is preparing a new round of sanctions on Moscow for the fourth anniversary of its invasion next month. Sweden's foreign minister Maria Stenergard called for "a full services maritime ban on all Russian vessels that transport energy" to further curb Moscow's revenues. Estonia has already taken the first step itself by blacklisting hundreds of fighters from specific Russian military units.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 29, 2026 09:51 UTC
Toyota car sales climb despite US trade tensions
Sales, including those of subsidiaries Daihatsu and Hino Motors, rose 4.6 percent to 11.3 million vehicles, the company said. That far outstripped Volkswagen's total of 8.98 million vehicles, which was down 0.5 percent from the year before. The overall increase came despite flat sales for Toyota in China, a crucial market where it faces intensifying competition from local automakers including electric-car champion BYD. The United States is a key market where Toyota generates almost a quarter of its sales. But of the 2.52 million vehicles it sold there in 2025, only 1.39 million were produced in the country.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 29, 2026 09:28 UTC
Denmark hails 'very constructive' meeting with US over Greenland
Denmark hails 'very constructive' meeting with US over GreenlandBRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Denmark's foreign minister said Thursday he was "more optimistic" after technical talks kicked off with the United States over Greenland. "We have had the very first meeting at senior official level in Washington yesterday regarding the Greenlandic issue," Lars Lokke Rasmussen told journalists at an EU meeting in Brussels. Trump's threats over Greenland plunged the transtatlantic alliance into its deepest crisis in years. But few concrete details appear to have been agreed -- with authorities in Denmark and Greenland refusing to discuss handing over any sovereignty. As part of the compromise with Washington NATO is expected to bolster its activities in the Arctic, while Denmark and Greenland could renegotiate a 1951 treaty on US troop deployments.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 29, 2026 09:19 UTC
Commonwealth, EU to deploy large observer missions for upcoming polls
DHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - The Commonwealth and the European Union (EU) are among the leading international organizations set to deploy large teams of election observers for Bangladesh's upcoming general election and the referendum, scheduled for February 12. Former President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo will lead the 14-member Commonwealth Observer Group, Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. The Observer Group will be supported by a secretariat team led by Linford Andrews, Head and Adviser of the Electoral Support Section. The EU EOM will be led by Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, a Member of the European Parliament from Latvia. Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator, who is supporting the coordination of election observer visits on behalf of the interim government, said confirmations from international organizations and countries were increasing daily.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 29, 2026 09:13 UTC
BNP calls Sherpur killing ‘unwarranted,’ demands quick probe
BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Thursday called the clash between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Sherpur, which left one person dead, "unwarranted" and called for a quick and impartial investigation. Replying to journalists’ questions at a press conference at the BNP Election Office in Gulshan, Mahdi also said it should be examined whether the clash could have been avoided. The BNP spokesperson said many questions have naturally arisen about how the Sherpur incident began, who was behind it, and why the administration and law enforcement agencies failed to keep the situation under control. He also said more than 40 BNP leaders and activists were injured, several of them critically. Calling for stronger action from the administration and law enforcement agencies, the BNP spokesperson urged them to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 08:29 UTC
What’s Happening at the Library
Every day is an opportunity to discover something new, especially if, like me, you’re a librarian (or at least know where your local library is). Every day when I come into the library starts off as a good day because there’s always the potential of finding a new read. This is in spite of the fact that librarians don’t just read books all day. I have sadly never read this one, but it is soon to be on my To Be Read pile (one of the downsides of being a librarian, sadly, is having a To Be Read pile that is at least a couple of stories tall). The library has many books to discover and many voices to hear, so stop by and feel the joy of discovering an author.
Source:Daily Sun
January 29, 2026 08:04 UTC
EC orders printing presses not to print election posters
The Election Commission has directed printing presses across the country not to print any posters for the 13th parliamentary election. The directive was sent to returning officers on Wednesday by Election Commission Deputy Secretary Monir Hossain. Under the election code of conduct, the use of posters in campaign activities is prohibited. Under the circumstances, the relevant authorities have been instructed to ensure that no candidate uses posters. The Election Commission has also asked for administrative measures to be taken to issue necessary instructions to printing presses to stop printing election posters.
Source:bd News24
January 29, 2026 07:33 UTC
‘Something Close to a Miracle’: How Donations and Community Efforts Saved the Museum of the Earth
In Ithaca, PRI is more well-known through its public-facing counterpart, the Museum of the Earth, which showcases its vast fossil collections and brings earth science exhibits to the public. An Outpouring of Community SupportAllmon credits individuals in Ithaca, as well as across New York State, nationally and internationally, for helping save PRI and the Museum of the Earth. Beyond exhibits, PRI remains deeply embedded in the Ithaca community. “I think that museums play an important role in improving science literacy in a community,” Ross said. Cornell students also play an ongoing role in PRI’s work through volunteering, work-study positions and individual research projects, Ross told The Sun.
Source:Daily Sun
January 29, 2026 07:03 UTC
Cornell Appoints Prof. Thorsten Joachims As New Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence Strategy Position
Reading time: about 3 minutesProf. Thorsten Joachims, computer science and information science, was appointed to the new position of vice provost for artificial intelligence strategy on Jan. 1, according to a University press release sent on Tuesday. The Cornell AI Initiative, which Joachims currently directs, will be expanded under the position, Provost Kavita Bala told The Cornell Chronicle. The vice provost for artificial intelligence strategy will coordinate AI efforts across the university, from furthering research to strategizing classroom use. Created alongside the new position was the AI Strategy Council, consisting of Natalie Bazarova, associate vice provost for research; Steve Jackson, vice provost for academic innovation; Ben Maddox, chief information officer; Vinay Varughese, Weill Cornell chief information officer; and Fei Wang, Weill Cornell associate dean for AI and data science. This council will collaborate with Joachims on AI research and work in tandem with the Cornell AI Initiative, launched in 2021, which researches and evaluates the ethical, educational, health and labor effects of new generative technology, according to its website.
Source:Daily Sun
January 29, 2026 07:01 UTC
Air quality worsens as Dhaka tops global pollution ranking
At 9:20am, Dhaka recorded an air quality index (AQI) score of 257 and classified it as ‘very unhealthy’ as reported by IQAir. According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 06:28 UTC