Pope Leo expected to call for peace during first Christmas blessingVATICAN CITY, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Pope Leo XIV is expected to renew hiscalls for peace Thursday when he delivers his first Christmas blessing fromSt Peter's Basilica at the end of a year overshadowed by conflict, but alsomarked by hopes for peace in Gaza. Before the address, the Pope celebrated his first Christmas Mass Wednesdayevening where he described the celebration as a feast of "faith, charity andhope". He also spoke in front of St Peter's Basilica to offer Christmas wishes andthank those who had come to follow the mass on outdoor screens despite rainyweather. Leo will also hold another mass on Christmas Day, renewing a tradition fromthe times of late pope John Paul II (1978-2005). In Syria, Christmas lights illuminated Damascus's Old City despite theChristian community's fears of violence after a deadly attack in June.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has welcomed the return of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, suggesting that his homecoming after over 17 years in exile will serve as a catalyst for political harmony. The message, carrying the Jatiya Party chairman’s remarks, was signed by his Press Secretary Shourjo Dipto Surjo. During the Awami League’s rule, the Jatiya Party served as the main opposition in the 10th, 11th and 12th parliaments. Because of seat-sharing arrangements with the Awami League in elections and its parliamentary role, the party founded by HM Ershad came to be labelled a “domesticated opposition party”. Since the fall of the Awami League government following the July Uprising, the Jatiya Party has been facing what has been described as the “consequences” of that role.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman went to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Thursday evening to visit his ailing mother and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, shortly after addressing party leaders and supporters at the 300 Feet reception venue. Tarique left the 300 Feet venue around 4:28pm and reached Evercare Hospital at about 5:54pm, traveling in the same bus he had used from the airport. While addressing the gathering at the reception venue, Tarique said that, as a son, his heart lay beside his mother’s hospital bed because of her illness. According to Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman, the aircraft carrying Tarique Rahman, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and Zaima Rahman landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:40am after a one-hour stopover at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport. Tarique Rahman returned home after 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom.

Tarique Rahman spoke with the physicians at Evercare Hospital and inquired about his mother’s latest physical condition. Tarique Rahman returned home after a long 17 years in exile in the UK. Tarique Rahman also replied them with waiving hand on board the bus, making an extra-ordinary emotional scenario. The time in exile in the UK was also a period of immense personal hardship for Tarique Rahman. Tarique Rahman is such a leader, who was the closest even from the farthest distance.

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BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today addressed a historic mammoth gathering at July 36 Expressway in the capital. In his address, Tarique Rahman recalled continuity of various movements and sacrifices of the people in the history of Bangladesh from Liberation War to 2024 mass uprising. Tarique Rahman presented a vision of a pluralistic and inclusive society. "Especially the members of the young generation, you will lead the country in the days to come ... this responsibility must be taken up by the members of the young generation today," Tarique Rahman said. He again urged people from all walks of life to maintain peace and order at any cost, avoid any kind of chaos, and maintain patience.

The 70-year-old former president left prison on Wednesday for the first time since late November to undergo the procedure at the DF Star hospital in Brasilia. "My love has just gone to the operating room," Bolsonaro's wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, said in an Instagram post. "But it is a standardized... scheduled surgery, so we expect the procedure to be carried out without major complications." After the operation, doctors will assess whether Bolsonaro can undergo an additional procedure: blockage of the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm, for recurrent hiccups, Birolini said. Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to prison in September after he was found guilty of having led a scheme to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office and to retain power.

ATHENS, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Greek coastguard were searching Thursday for a missing child off the island of Farmakonisi after rescuing 52 migrants in two separate incidents in the Aegean Sea, local media reported. They found 13 migrants who had arrived on the small, uninhabited island, but one boy was reported missing from the group, said the ANA news agency. Another 39 migrants were found on board an inflatable boat off the southern island of Crete, according to the same source. Many migrants try to reach the Greek islands from Turkey or Libya as a way of entering the European Union. Another 15 people were reported missing.

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RAJSHAHI, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS)- Rajshahi University (RU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) aimed at providing training on environment and climate Change. A RU press release said here last night that Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) signed the deal on behalf of the RU, while the "Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought)" project on behalf of PKSF, supported by Green Climate Fund (GCF). Under the three-year project, four master trainers will be generated to sustain the training programme together with enhancing institutional capacity. RU Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Saleh Hassan Naqib hoped that the partnership between RU's IQAC and PKSF would be strengthened. Apart from this, knowledge, research and capacity development activities related to climate change will be sustained and institutionalized under the venture.

Mild cold wave grips northern Bangladesh, disrupting life as authorities distribute warm clothes to vulnerable riverbank residents. Photo : BSSRANGPUR, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS) - Although the minimum temperatures remained mostly unchanged and maximum temperatures increased slightly, the mild cold wave blowing over the northern region continued affecting the normal life for the third consecutive day today. Officer-in-Charge of Rangpur Meteorological office Md Mostafizar Rahman said that the minimum temperatures remained mostly unchanged with a little rise at places while maximum temperatures marked a rise today. However, the intensity of cold remained almost unchanged in the region. The minimum temperature of 11.2 degrees Celsius was recorded at 6 am today against yesterday's 12.2 degrees and maximum of 20 degrees against yesterday's 17.5 degrees Celsius at Rangpur city.

Mogadishu heads to first local elections in decades under tight securityNAIROBI, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, will head tothe polls on Thursday for local elections -- the first by universal suffragein nearly 60 years -- under a complete citywide lockdown amid securityconcerns. According to the country's electoral body more than 1,600 candidates willcontest 390 local council seats in the southeastern Banadir region. Since the fall of his authoritarian government in 1991, thecountry's political system has revolved around a clan-based structure. In May 2023, the semi-autonomous northern state of Puntland held localelections by direct vote, but later abandoned the system for local andregional polls in January. Nearly 400,000 voters are expected to cast ballots, with Hassan saying buseswill be provided to transport voters to polling stations.

Tarique Rahman also replied them with waiving hand on board the bus, making an extra-ordinary emotional scenario. Tarique Rahman returned home after a long 17 years in exile in the UK. History shows that time answers all questions in politics, and this rings true for Tarique Rahman. The time in exile in the UK was also a period of immense personal hardship for Tarique Rahman. Tarique Rahman is such a leader, who was the closest even from the farthest distance.

Photo: BSSCHATTOGRAM, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS) - Christmas Day, the biggest religiousfestival of the Christian community marking the birth of Jesus Christ, wascelebrated in the port city as elsewhere in the district with festivity andfanfare. Apart from organising special prayers in churches, cutting Christmas cakes,carol singing, the exchange of pleasantries and decoration of Christmas treesand houses of the members of the Christian community were the major featuresof the day. The Christmas festival began with two rounds of special prayers in Bengaliand English at Patharghata Holy Jopmala Rani Church in the city last night. Christian religious leaders in the port city exchanged pleasantries withdignitaries on the occasion. Besides, Hotel Agrabad, Hotel Peninsula Chattogram arranged a "Kids'Partywith Shanta" to mark the holy day.

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