Darwin, 17 December: The United States has suspended a $416 billion trade deal signed with the United Kingdom due to disagreements over trade concessions. This…

Darwin, 17 December: In the 2025 IPL mini-auction, the most expensive cricketer was Australian fast bowler Cameron Green. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him for…

The revelation that alleged Bondi shooter Naveed Akram, 24, was known to security agencies has deepened scrutiny over the failure to revoke the firearms license of his father, Sajid Akram, who legally owned six rifles. Ex-Police Detective Robert Critchlow criticized the licensing system for failing to remove guns from a household where a family member is deemed a risk, warning that individuals with “bad intentions” often fly under the radar.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan condemned recent assassination attempts against opponents as “cowardly,” revealing that the government needs to strengthen security as opponents are carrying out organized attacks from “behind.” She pledged that the interim government is working to reassure the public and resist forces attempting to disrupt the spontaneous and peaceful February election.

On Victory Day, NCP Convener Nahid Islam paid tribute at the National Memorial, asserting that the July Revolution of 2024 is the successor to the historical struggles of 1947 and 1971. He alleged that Bangladesh was “repeatedly deceived” over 54 years, failing to establish equality and social justice, instead seeing fascism entrenched. The NCP aims to lead the country forward through comprehensive reforms.

Indian political leaders sent sharply contrasting messages on Victory Day, with PM Narendra Modi omitting Bangladesh entirely while EAM S. Jaishankar offered formal greetings. The omission underscores the diplomatic cooling between Dhaka and Delhi, heavily influenced by the interim government’s demands for the extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina from India.

Anonymous artist HOBEKI? released a new, highly symbolic Subodh graffiti on the walls of Agargaon, the birthplace of the series, to mark Victory Day. The mural features the character as a tender guardian, giving his military helmet to a girl holding the flag. The re-emergence is seen as igniting an “unfinished conversation” about the true meaning and protection of Bangladesh’s freedom.

The BNP has launched a national reel-making competition, “Bangladesh in My Thoughts,” as a high-profile preparation for the return of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The initiative is designed to gather political ideas and “share visions” for the country’s future through themes like employment and education, aiming to harness the youth’s expectations ahead of future political activities.

Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus announced that the interim government has declared ailing BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia a Very Important Person (VIP) of the state and is considering arrangements for advanced medical care abroad. The announcement, made during a Victory Day address, underscored the need for national unity to confront “defeated fascist terrorists” attempting to stop the democratic march forged by the July mass uprising.

Darwin, 16 December: The father and son suspected of carrying out a deadly attack during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney were motivated…