United News of Bangladesh

Opposition activist María Corina Machado of Venezuela won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The former opposition presidential candidate in Venezuela was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided — an opposition that found common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government,” said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee. “In the past year, Miss Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.” Hungarian Author László Krasznahorkai awarded Nobel Prize in literature There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to U.S. President Donald Trump, fueled in part by the president himself, amplified by this week’s approval of his plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Experts say the committee typically focuses on the durability of peace, the promotion of international fraternity and the quiet work of institutions that strengthen those goals. Last year's award went to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain a taboo around the use of nuclear weapons. As Nobel week peaks, eyes turn to Literature, Peace, and Economic prizes The peace prize is the only one of the annual Nobel prizes to be awarded in Oslo, Norway. Four of the other prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm this week — in medicine on Monday, physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The winner of the prize in economics will be announced on Monday. Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for CO₂ capture and desert water breakthrough

Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai, known for his darkly humorous and surreal depictions of human despair, has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in literature for what judges called his “epic, absurdist and grotesque” body of work that upholds “the power of art amid apocalyptic terror.” The 71-year-old author — whose novels often unfold in a single, marathon sentence — is the first Hungarian to win the Nobel Prize in literature since Imre Kertesz in 2002. “I am calm and very nervous,” Krasznahorkai told Radio Sweden after learning of the award, which carries a prize of over $1 million. “This is the first day in my life when I got a Nobel Prize. I don't know what's coming in the future.” A master of “apocalyptic” fictionOften described as the “contemporary master of the Apocalypse” by the late Susan Sontag, Krasznahorkai’s fiction blends bleakness with dark humor, echoing literary giants like Franz Kafka and Samuel Beckett. Zsuzsanna Varga, a Hungarian literature scholar at the University of Glasgow, said his novels explore the “utter hopelessness” of existence while remaining “incredibly funny.” His debut novel Satantango (1985), which follows the last residents of a decaying collective farm, established his distinctive, relentless prose style — so dense, Varga joked, “it’s the Hotel California of literature: once you get in, you can never leave.” Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for CO₂ capture and desert water breakthrough Krasznahorkai’s other major works include The Melancholy of Resistance — a surreal story involving a circus and a giant stuffed whale — and Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming, which earned him the 2019 U.S. National Book Award for Translated Literature. His 2021 book Herscht 07769, written as letters to Angela Merkel, runs nearly 400 pages with a single full stop. Several of his novels, including Satantango and The Melancholy of Resistance, were adapted into films by acclaimed Hungarian director Béla Tarr. From the periphery to the Nobel stageBorn in Gyula, near Hungary’s Romanian border, Krasznahorkai studied law before turning to literature. His cult status emerged in the 1980s, when Hungarian writers were viewed as cultural icons during the waning days of Communism. “He writes about life on the periphery and the techniques of power,” said János Szegő, his editor at Magvető Publishing. “All the populist tendencies of our time — from barbarism to mass manipulation — are present in his novels.” Krasznahorkai has been an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government and its stance on Ukraine. Earlier this year, he told Svenska Dagbladet that “there is no hope left in Hungary today,” blaming both politics and society. Despite his criticism, Orbán congratulated him in a Facebook post, calling him “the pride of Hungary” and “the first Nobel Prize winner from Gyula.” “A life of permanent correction”Krasznahorkai said his literary journey was never planned. “I wanted at first to write only one book,” he said. “Then I reread Satantango and found it wasn’t perfect. So I wrote another to correct it — and another to correct that. My life is a permanent correction.” The Nobel Prize in Literature has now been awarded 117 times to 121 laureates. Last year’s winner was South Korean author Han Kang, and in 2023, Norwegian writer Jon Fosse received the honor. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday, followed by the economics prize on Monday. Nobel awards are presented each year on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Each Nobel carries a reward of 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1.2 million), along with an 18-carat gold medal and diploma. Source: AP 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai and described Mumbai as the "City of Energy, the City of Enterprise, and the City of Endless Possibilities." He specially welcomed his 'friend', Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, and expressed gratitude for his presence at the Global Fintech Festival, acknowledging the time he took to attend the event. Recalling that five years ago, when the Global Fintech Festival was launched, the world was battling a global pandemic, the Prime Minister highlighted that today, the festival has evolved into a global platform for financial innovation and cooperation. He noted that this year, the United Kingdom is participating as a partner country, and emphasized that the partnership between two major democracies will further strengthen the global financial landscape. Modi remarked on the vibrant atmosphere, energy, and dynamism at the venue, calling it remarkable. He stated that this reflects global trust in India’s economy and growth. The Prime Minister congratulated Kris Gopalakrishnan, all organizers, and participants for the successful conduct of the event, according to Press Information Bureau of India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer met in Mumbai on Thursday to strengthen cooperation in trade, defense, and technology, and to advance a landmark trade deal between the two nations. The meeting marked Starmer’s first official visit to India since taking office in July 2024. His two-day trip comes as New Delhi intensifies efforts to attract global investment for its rapidly growing economy. Modi said the discussions focused on expanding collaboration in digital infrastructure, defense, education, and critical minerals while building on the trade agreement signed during his visit to London in July. The two sides also sealed a new defense pact under which the UK will supply missiles, launchers, and electric engines for Indian naval ships, according to the British defense ministry. Calling India and the UK “natural partners,” Modi said the strengthened ties represent “stability in an uncertain world.” He added that the relationship is now “a crucial foundation for global stability and economic progress.” Modi also announced a new military training cooperation framework and confirmed that nine UK universities will open campuses in India. Starmer, who led a 125-member delegation of business, education, and cultural representatives, said his visit aims to “double down on the potential of the trade deal” to create growth and jobs in both countries. “We are creating a new, modern partnership focusing on the future,” he said. The trade deal, expected to be implemented within a year, will cut tariffs on key products — including Scotch whisky, English gin, and Indian food exports — and could boost bilateral trade by $34 billion while increasing UK exports to India by nearly 60%, according to the British government. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including Indo-Pacific stability, the war in Ukraine, and the situation in Gaza. Starmer welcomed the first phase of a peace plan between Israel and Hamas, saying it brought “profound relief” for hostages, families, and civilians after two years of conflict.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen easily survived two no-confidence votes on Thursday, as a clear majority of EU lawmakers rejected censure motions brought by far-right and far-left groups. In the first vote, 378 lawmakers opposed a far-right motion, while 179 supported it and 37 abstained. A separate motion from the far-left was rejected by 383 votes to 133, with 78 abstentions. This marks the third time in a year that von der Leyen has faced — and survived — no-confidence votes since starting her second five-year term as head of the EU’s executive body. She is the first European Commission president in over a decade to be subjected to such motions. The European Commission is responsible for proposing EU laws, enforcing their implementation, managing trade for the 27 member states, and overseeing competition policy. The nationalist Patriots for Europe group accused von der Leyen of letting migration “explode,” claiming it endangered Europe’s “identity and security.” They also alleged that her environmental policies harmed farmers and consumers. Meanwhile, The Left group blamed her for backing “detrimental trade deals” and for failing to “act against the Israeli government’s systemic violations of international law in Gaza.” Despite the criticism, von der Leyen was strongly supported by the main pro-European centrist blocs in the European Parliament, which hold a majority and dismissed the motions as political theatrics by extremist parties. Still, the votes have reignited criticism of von der Leyen and her center-right European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the chamber, with opponents accusing them of aligning too closely with right-wing forces to advance their political agenda.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday acknowledged for the first time that Russia’s air defenses were responsible for downing an Azerbaijani passenger jet in December, which killed 38 people. Speaking during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, Tajikistan — where both leaders are attending a summit of former Soviet nations — Putin described the incident as a “tragic mistake.” The Azerbaijan Airlines flight, traveling from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic, crashed on December 25, 2024. According to Azerbaijani authorities, the aircraft was accidentally struck by Russian air defense fire and attempted an emergency landing in western Kazakhstan before crashing, killing 38 of the 67 people onboard. Putin offered an apology to Aliyev for the “tragic incident,” marking his first public acknowledgment of Russia’s role. Aliyev, however, criticized Moscow for initially attempting to “hush up” the matter.

Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his “visionary and powerful body of work” that, according to the Nobel Committee, “reaffirms the power of art in the midst of apocalyptic terror.” Krasznahorkai, 71, is known for his dense, philosophical novels often composed in sprawling single sentences. His debut novel Satantango, along with The Melancholy of Resistance, were adapted into critically acclaimed films by Hungarian director Béla Tarr. The Nobel judges lauded his distinctive literary style and outlook, saying his work reflects “an artistic gaze free from illusion, revealing the fragility of the social order while maintaining an unshaken belief in the transformative force of art.” Krasznahorkai has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the 2015 Man Booker International Prize. The Booker jury highlighted his “extraordinarily long, elaborate sentences” whose tone ranges from “solemn to absurd, inquisitive to despairing.” He also received the 2019 U.S. National Book Award for Translated Literature for his novel Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming. As Nobel week peaks, eyes turn to Literature, Peace, and Economic prizes He becomes the first Hungarian writer to win the Nobel in literature since Imre Kertész in 2002, joining a prestigious list of past laureates that includes literary giants such as Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison, and Kazuo Ishiguro. This marks the 117th time the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded, with 121 individual recipients to date. Last year, the honor went to South Korean writer Han Kang, recognized for works that “confront historical traumas and reveal the fragility of human life.” The literature prize is the fourth Nobel announced this week, following awards in medicine, physics, and chemistry. The Nobel Peace Prize will be revealed on Friday, while the final prize—the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences—will be announced on Monday. Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for CO₂ capture and desert water breakthrough All Nobel awards are presented annually on December 10, commemorating the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prizes. Winners receive 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million), along with an 18-carat gold medal and a Nobel diploma.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the initial phase of a peace initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, marking a potential turning point in the ongoing two-year conflict. The agreement includes a pause in fighting and the release of hostages and prisoners. As part of the deal, Hamas is expected to release all 20 surviving Israeli hostages in the coming days, while Israel will begin withdrawing military forces from most parts of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope on social media, saying, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Hamas confirmed the agreement and stated that it would include an Israeli troop withdrawal, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of detainees. However, several key issues remain unresolved, including how and whether Hamas will disarm and who will take over the administration of Gaza. Tensions Persist Ahead of Ceasefire Implementation Although the ceasefire has not yet been officially approved or enacted, tensions on the ground remain high. Israeli tanks fired warning shots near crowds of displaced Palestinians who had gathered along Gaza’s main coastal highway, hoping to return to their homes in the north. Hundreds of thousands had fled northern Gaza due to Israeli operations that began in late August. The Israeli military continues to warn residents against returning, calling the north a “dangerous combat zone.” Footage from the Associated Press showed smoke rising near the al-Rashid road, with tanks blocking access and scattered gunfire prompting people to flee the area. Israeli Government to Vote on Deal Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to call a meeting of his Security Cabinet Thursday night to approve the ceasefire. Afterward, the full Israeli parliament will vote on the release of Palestinian prisoners. Although some far-right ministers may oppose the deal, both measures are expected to pass comfortably. Once approved, a list of prisoners to be freed will be made public. Families of victims linked to those prisoners will have 24 hours to file objections with Israel’s Supreme Court. However, legal experts note that the court has never previously blocked such releases. Celebrations in Jerusalem During Sukkot In Jerusalem, thousands of religious Jews gathered at the Western Wall to celebrate the Sukkot holiday, with added joy following the announcement of the upcoming hostage release. “We’ve seen God’s miracles before, but today we witnessed one,” said Avi Kozman, celebrating with the traditional Sukkot palm branch after receiving the Priestly Blessing. Sukkot is a time of joy, and many in the crowd saw the news as divine intervention. Hindel Berman, a visitor from New Jersey, said she believed the announcement was an answer to prayers she had been offering since the war began on October 7. “We were screaming and singing last night,” she said.

The Nobel Prize in literature is being announced on Thursday, with the winner joining an illustrious list of laureates that includes Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison and Kazuo Ishiguro. The literature prize has been awarded by the Nobel committee of the Swedish Academy 117 times to a total of 121 winners. Last year's prize was won by South Korean author Han Kang for her body of work that the committee said “confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” The literature prize is the fourth to be announced this week, following the 2025 Nobels in medicine, physics and chemistry. The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump is considered a long shot despite recently telling United Nations delegates “everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize.” The final Nobel, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, is to be announced on Monday. Nobel Prize award ceremonies are held on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896. Nobel was a wealthy Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite who founded the prizes. Each prize carries an award of 11 million Swedish kronor (nearly $1.2 million), and the winners also receive an 18-carat gold medal and a diploma.

World leaders on Thursday expressed hope for peace and urged Israel and Hamas to fulfill their commitments in the hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the parties had agreed to the “first phase” of a deal signaling a major breakthrough in the two-year war in Gaza. Hamas will release all 20 living hostages in the coming days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote on social media. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media: “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Here's how other leaders responded. Turkey Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country played a role in the negotiations, on Thursday hailed the agreement. In a statement posted on X, Erdogan thanked Trump for “demonstrating the necessary political will” as well as Qatar and Egypt for facilitating the deal. Erdogan said Turkey would closely monitor the full implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process. “I extend my heartfelt greetings to my Palestinian brothers and sisters who have endured indescribable suffering for two years,” he said. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said sending humanitarian aid to the region is a priority and stressed the urgent need to begin rebuilding Gaza. Egypt Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi hailed the deal between Israel and Hamas as a “historic moment.” “This agreement does not only close the chapter of war; it also opens the door of hope for the peoples of the region for a future defined by justice and stability,” el-Sissi wrote on social media. United Nations “The United Nations will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement. The U.N. chief urged all parties “to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.” China China hoped for a “lasting and comprehensive” ceasefire in Gaza, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun saying that Xi Jinping's government expects the agreement to ease the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza and calm tensions in the Middle East. “We are ready to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to promote a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue and the realization of peace and stability in the Middle East,” he said, noting that China advocates for a two-state solution. France French President Emmanuel Macron said the agreement is a “great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region.” In a message posted on X, Macron commended “the efforts of President @realDonaldTrump, as well as the Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators who helped make it happen,” and called on the warring parties “to strictly uphold” the terms of the deal. Macron added that the deal will be discussed in Paris later Thursday during a meeting between European and Arab countries’ foreign ministers on the future of Gaza. “This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution,” he said. Britain British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed news of the agreement and urged an immediate lifting of restrictions on aid. Speaking while on a trade mission to India, Starmer praised the “tireless diplomatic efforts” of the U.S., as well as Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in bringing about the deal. The U.K. will support efforts to turn the ceasefire into a “sustainable path” to long-term peace, he said. “This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years,” he said. Germany German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the agreement and said he was hopeful for a full deal this week. Merz said the developments are encouraging and there’s “a great opportunity to reach an agreement with Hamas in the coming hours already” for the remaining hostages to be released this week and for the Israeli military to pull back. He told reporters that “hopes regarding Israel and the Gaza Strip increased again last night, but this is not yet really concluded, so we are of course watching the situation very closely and remain optimistic that … a solution will be reached there this week.” Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia welcomed the possible start of a ceasefire, with the foreign ministry expressing “its hope that this important step will lead to urgent action to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, a complete Israeli withdrawal, the restoration of security and stability and the initiation of practical steps to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.” Jordan Jordan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, praised the efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States and thanked Turkey for its role in the deal. Safadi stressed the need for aid to enter Gaza and said Jordan was ready to resume aid deliveries. LebanonLebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said he hoped the initial agreement would “constitute a first step toward a permanent ceasefire and an end to the humanitarian suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people in Gaza.” Aoun called for “continued international and regional efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the region that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people” and for Israel to “halt its aggressive policies in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.” Italy Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni hailed the agreement, calling it “extraordinary news.” “This agreement and the broader path outlined by the Trump plan constitute a unique opportunity to end this conflict that must be seized,” Meloni said. “Therefore, I urge all parties to fully respect the measures already agreed upon and to work to swiftly implement the next steps envisaged in the peace plan.” Meloni said Italy will continue to support the mediators’ efforts, standing “ready to contribute to the stabilization, reconstruction, and development of Gaza.” Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel, speaking during a visit to Indonesia, said the agreement is “a significant step and a historical turning point for peace and stability in the Middle East.” “It can put an end to two years of unimaginable suffering. But the full implementation of this plan is crucial. And that starts with the release of hostages, the unhindered access for humanitarian aid, and the cessation of all hostilities,” he said. Canada “I am relieved that the hostages will soon be reunited with their families,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media. “After years of intense suffering, peace finally feels attainable,” he said. “Canada calls on all parties to swiftly implement all agreed terms and to work towards a just and lasting peace.” Carney, like several other leaders, praised Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for their role in the negotiations. Argentina “I want to take the opportunity to say that I will sign the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to international peace,” Argentine President Javier Milei posted on X. “Any other leader with similar achievements would have received it a long time ago,” the libertarian leader and Trump ally wrote. Australia Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the agreement as a “ray of light.” The announcement brought “hope that after eight decades of conflict and terror, we can break this cycle of violence and build something better,” he said. “Today the world has cause for real hope,” the Australian leader added. India “We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X. Japan “Japan welcomes that the agreement on the ‘first phase’ has been reached among the involved parties,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters. “This agreement is an important step toward de-escalating the situation and achieving the two-state solution,” he said. He also praised the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and other mediating countries for their “relentless effort” and sought “sincere and steady implementation” by all involved parties. Hayashi promised Tokyo’s support and contribution to improving Gaza’s humanitarian conditions and reconstruction.