Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for fighting dictatorship in the country and dedicated the award in part to US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly insisted he deserved it. "When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist," the Nobel Committee said in its citation. Machado is the first Venezuelan to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the sixth from Latin America. "It's not our task to tell other people or other countries what to do, our task is to give out the peace prize.... The peace prize, worth 11 million Swedish crowns, or about $1.2 million, was the fifth Nobel awarded this week, after literature, chemistry, physics and medicine.

The Election Commission has made it clear once again that the “Shapla”, or water lily, symbol cannot be allotted as a party emblem under any circumstances. “Legally, constitutionally, and according to the rules on symbol allocation, we cannot give the Shapla symbol,” Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told bdnews24.com on Friday. The party urged the commission to amend the list of election symbols if necessary to accommodate their request. The commission has previously clarified that the national emblem “Shapla” cannot be used as a voting symbol under its existing policy. Earlier, the political platform Nagarik Oikya had also applied to replace its “kettle” symbol with “Shapla”, but the commission rejected that application as well.

Bangladesh crumble in chase as New Zealand cruise to 100-run winBangladesh’s batting unravelled in dramatic fashion as they crashed to a 100-run defeat against New Zealand in their Women’s World Cup fixture. After an opening-match win against Pakistan, Bangladesh have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the tournament, including Tuesday’s loss to England. Earlier, disciplined spin bowling had restricted New Zealand to 227 for nine, but the chase quickly fell apart. New Zealand’s bowlers shared the spoils -- Jess Kerr (3-21), Tahuhu (3-22), and Mair (2-20) leading the way -- as Bangladesh were bowled out 10 overs early. Bangladesh will next face South Africa on Monday, needing a win to keep their campaign alive.

The National Consensus Commission has said it is “considering” a proposal to remove Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portraits from public and private institutions. To that end, the commission has sent letters to political parties, seeking their views by Saturday. “We received the letter from the Consensus Commission on Thursday,” said Mustafizur Rahman Iran, chairman of the Bangladesh Labour Party. The debate over whether portraits should remain in public and private institutions resurfaced after Aug 5 last year. Nearly two weeks later, on Nov 24, Bangabandhu’s portrait was also removed from the conference room of the Nirbachan Bhaban.

Law enforcement officers guard a gate outside the Accurate Energetic Systems military explosives plant, after an explosion at the facility in Bucksnort, Tennessee, US Oct 10, 2025 in a still image from video. Photo: ReutersLaw enforcement officers guard a gate outside the Accurate Energetic Systems military explosives plant, after an explosion at the facility in Bucksnort, Tennessee, US Oct 10, 2025 in a still image from video. Photo: ReutersMultiple people are dead and several others are unaccounted for after a blast on Friday morning in Tennessee at a military explosives plant, according to law enforcement. The explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems about 50 miles (80km) west of Nashville occurred at 7:45am local time (1245 GMT), Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told a press conference. "We do have several people at this time that's unaccounted for," he said, without providing precise figures.

Emeritus Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, one of Bangladesh’s most respected literary figures, will be taken to Dhaka University on Saturday morning for a final farewell before his burial. Teachers, students, and well-wishers will pay their respects in front of the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture at 10:30am, after which he will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 11am. Abdur Razzak, vice-president of the English Department Alumni Society, said the funeral will take place at the university’s Central Mosque after Zuhr prayers, followed by burial at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur. Manzoorul Islam, a writer, critic and columnist and former English department professor at Dhaka University, passed away at Dhaka's LabAid Hospital on Friday afternoon. He was 75 years old.

Charges have been filed against unnamed suspects in the killing of businessman Abdul Hakim near Madunaghat Bridge in Chattogram, three days after the shooting. Hakim’s wife Tasfia Alam Tanju, lodged the complaint at Hathazari Police Station on Friday, said Circle’s Additional Superintendent Md Tarek Aziz. Known as a BNP supporter and follower of party vice chairman (suspended) Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, Hakim lived in Raozan’s Panchkhain area. Police detained four suspects the day after the murder during a raid and sent them to jail under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Officer Tarek said three of the four will be shown arrested in connection with the killing.

Former British Prime Minister and current Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak looks on as he walks between venues during the Britain's Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham, Britain, September 29, 2024. REUTERSFormer British Prime Minister and current Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak looks on as he walks between venues during the Britain's Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham, Britain, September 29, 2024. REUTERSFormer British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Thursday he has joined US tech giant Microsoft and AI startup Anthropic as a senior adviser. Sunak, who stepped down as the leader of the opposition Conservative Party following a defeat in the general election last July, continues to serve as a member of the British Parliament. At Microsoft, Sunak will provide strategic perspectives on macroeconomic and geopolitical trends.

"This has broken a 19-year tradition," said Satyen Sen Shilpi Group General Secretary Manzar Chowdhury Sweet. "We have been organising the festival at Bakultala in Charukola for 19 years. It was only suspended during the COVID pandemic.This time, we couldn't hold it at all. "Despite the obstacles, organisers performed the national anthem, held a brief children's art session, and observed a minute's silence in memory of late musician Farida Parveen.When contacted, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Wari Division) Mohammad Harunor Rashid told bdnews24.com, "No prior permission was taken to hold the Autumn Festival in Gandaria." �"bdnews24.com

Swapan Sen, vice-president of the Chattogram district unit of the Ganatantri Party, has died at the age of 73. Swapan Sen began his political career in the 1960s through the Chhatra Union. He was later involved with the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and the National Awami Party before joining the Ganatantri Party. He was an organiser of the anti-autocracy movement in the 1990s as well as different social and civic movements in Chattogram. On Friday afternoon, Swapan was taken to Cheragi Pahar in the city, where people from different walks of life paid their last respects.

Photographer Shahidul Alam, freed from Israel, to arrive in Dhaka SaturdayRenowned Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam, who was released by Israeli authorities, is set to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday morning. Earlier in the day, Shahidul arrived in Istanbul from Israel on a Turkish Airlines flight around 2:30pm local time. CAO released photos and a video showing Shahidul holding Bangladesh’s national flag in Istanbul and shouting slogans in support of Palestinian freedom. Shahidul had been on board a ship named “Conscience”, which was part of the Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza. With support from the Turkish government, Shahidul was eventually freed and allowed to leave Israel.

Telecom antennas stand on top of a hill, amid telecom shutdown across the country, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept 30, 2025. Photo: ReutersTelecom antennas stand on top of a hill, amid telecom shutdown across the country, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept 30, 2025. Photo: ReutersAfghanistan's Taliban governmentaccused Pakistan on Friday of carrying out airstrikes on its territory and warned of "consequences" as Islamabad said it was taking action against militants. Islamabad says militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan group operate from Afghanistan, a charge denied by Kabul. "This is an unprecedented, violent and provocative act in the history of Afghanistan and Pakistan," an Afghan Defence Ministry statementsaid.

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend a cabinet meeting at the White House, in Washington, DC, US, Oct 9, 2025. Photo: ReutersUS President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend a cabinet meeting at the White House, in Washington, DC, US, Oct 9, 2025. Photo: ReutersThe White House on Friday criticised the Nobel Prize committee's decision to grant the peace prize to a Venezuelan opposition leader instead of US President Donald Trump, who aggressively lobbied for the awardand touted his role in brokering international ceasefire deals. "Will you get the Nobel Prize? Trump returned to the White House for his second term in office on Jan 20.

Legal basis of July Charter ‘a matter of life or death’, says Khelafat’s MamunulBangladesh Khelafat Majlish chief Mamunul Haque has demanded that the general election be held under the legal framework of the July Charter, calling it “a matter of life or death”. Addressing the interim government, he accused the authorities of failing to establish the Charter’s legal foundation despite “sitting in power on the blood of children”. The election in February must take place only after ensuring the legal basis of the Charter.”Mamunul was speaking at a rally organised by Khelafat Majlish on Friday afternoon, after Jummah prayers, at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The event was part of a mobilisation in support of the party’s five-point charter, including full implementation of the document. “We are making our stance clear -- we will build the future of Bangladesh on the foundation the Uprising,” he added.

Rights activist Shahidul Alam arrives in Istanbul after release from Israeli custodyProminent Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam has arrived in Turkey’s Istanbul after being released from Israel. It also released photos and a video showing Shahidul holding Bangladesh’s national flag in Istanbul and shouting slogans in support of Palestinian freedom. Shahidul had been on board a ship named “Conscience”, which was part of the Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza. On Wednesday, Israeli forces seized the vessels and detained those on board, including journalists and rights activists. With support from the Turkish government, Shahidul was eventually freed and allowed to leave Israel.