US says all American prisoners released from Venezuela jailsCARACAS, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US authorities said Friday that all Americans known to be held prisoner in Venezuela had been released, a major diplomatic concession from the new leadership in Caracas. "We are pleased to confirm the release by the interim authorities of all known US citizens held in Venezuela," the embassy in Caracas posted on social media. The announcement came hours after the release of Peruvian-American political prisoner Arturo Gallino Rullier. For years, Venezuela has routinely arrested foreigners on a range of charges from spying to plotting attacks. Foreign governments have long alleged the charges were trumped up and the arrests amounted to little more than hostage-taking.

Kremlin says agreed to halt strikes on Kyiv until SundayKYIV, Ukraine, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Kremlin on Friday said President Vladimir Putin had agreed to stop striking Kyiv for a week -- ending Sunday -- following a request by his US counterpart Donald Trump. Trump had said he asked Putin to halt strikes on the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding area due to extreme cold weather. Russia's battering of Ukraine's energy grid has left whole districts without heating, with temperatures expected to plunge to around -30C in Kyiv in the coming days, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis. This week, Ukraine has not reported the usual large-scale barrage of drones and missiles that Russia has launched at Kyiv throughout the war. "There were no strikes on energy facilities last night," Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media Friday.

A recent research, “Disinformation Targeting Female Political Figures in Bangladesh,” investigates how gendered disinformation is produced, circulated, and weaponized against female leaders and student activists in Bangladesh. It reviewed 40 distinct fact-checked reports concerning 12 female student activists, constituting 22.7% of the overall sample. This analysis reveals systematic patterns in gendered disinformation -- several core strategies that work in combination to silence women’s political participation. Disinformation campaigns against female student activists in Bangladesh constitutes deliberate political warfare. Research on gendered disinformation in South Asian contexts demonstrates how attacks often layer gender with ethnicity, religion, and class through digital tools.

International education and cooperation will play an important role. For decades, the European Union has partnered with Bangladesh to strengthen human capital through education and skills development. A central pillar of this cooperation is Erasmus+, the EU’s flagship program for education, training, youth and sport. In this way, Erasmus+ supports systemic reform, helping education institutions become more responsive to labour-market needs, technological change and global challenges such as climate transition. Supporting labour mobility, international skills recognition, and cooperation between education and training systems.

Such an initiative offers a glimpse of what Bangladesh can achieve if inclusivity becomes the cornerstone of governance, an area we have struggled with for far too long. With simple arrangements -- ramps, sign language interpretation, clear visual instructions, and seating for senior citizens -- voting can be transformed into an experience of independence and respect for all. It is imperative, however, that such initiatives scale up, not only for inclusive polling, but overall inclusive public service delivery. Such measures would not only empower persons with disabilities but also benefit senior citizens, pregnant women, and others who often struggle with access. Inclusivity is not charity but justice -- ensuring it will only strengthen our society.

LILLE, France, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - French authorities rescued more than 6,000 migrants attempting to reach Britain in small boats last year, while 25 people died and two remain missing, the maritime prefecture said Friday in its annual report. Despite the dangers, attempts to make the perilous journey in flimsy craft have "not slowed down", said France's maritime prefecture for the Channel and the North Sea (PREMAR). Nearly 50,000 people aboard 795 boats attempted to cross the Channel from France to the United Kingdom in 2025, according to the report. French authorities rescued 6,177 people, while 25 died, it said. The British authorities recorded 41,472 small-boat arrivals in 2025, the second-highest total after a record 45,774 in 2022.

MINNEAPOLIS, United States, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Marchers braving arctic cold to join thousands of others appalled by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis lauded how peaceful the protests have remained despite fury over masked federal agents' arrests and killings. There have been daily noisy protests at the Whipple federal building where ICE agents stage ahead of raids. She added that she was "100 percent" sure federal officers were seeking to provoke local people. There were protest actions and marches in cities across the United States including New York, Boston and Los Angeles. Retiree Lisa Schmid told AFP that Minneapolis would become known as "the city that stood up for freedom."

Putin meets Iran's top security official as Trump ratchets up tensionMOSCOW, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin met the head of Iran's top security body in Moscow on Friday, the Kremlin said, as Donald Trump sought to force Tehran to make a deal on its nuclear programme. Earlier on Friday, US President Trump said he believed Iran -- a close ally of Russia -- wanted to make a deal on its nuclear programme to avoid military action. Trump also renewed his threat to launch strikes against Iran, which recently imposed a crackdown on protesters that observers said killed thousands. The visit had not been previously announced, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. While Iran emerged as one of Russia's main allies during the war in Ukraine, Russia gives Tehran crucial international backing.

US approves nearly $4 bn in Apache war helicopter sales to IsraelWASHINGTON, United States, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United States said Friday it had approved a $3.8 billion sale to Israel of 30 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment, as a fragile ceasefire is in place in Gaza. The sale was within a new package of nearly $6.7 billion in weapons to Israel, for which President Donald Trump has vowed strong support. Also in the package was a $1.8 billion sale of joint light tactical vehicles. The United States sends billions of dollars worth of military supplies per year to Israel, largely in aid rather than sales. Israel and Hamas reached a US-backed ceasefire in October that largely paused two years of war.

Senate leaders say the legislation will nonetheless greatly increase the chances that the shutdown ends quickly, potentially within days. Trump publicly endorsed the deal and urged both parties to support it, signaling his desire to avoid a second shutdown of his second term, following a record 43-day stoppage last summer. And a weekend-long stoppage, with a quick resolution in the House on Monday, would have a negligible impact on federal operations. The broader funding fight has left both parties bracing for at least a brief shutdown. The remaining bills fund large swaths of the government, meaning funding for roughly 78 percent of federal operations is set to lapse.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump predicted on Friday that Iran would seek to negotiate a deal rather than face American military action, despite Tehran warning that its arsenal of missiles would never be up for discussion. "I can say this, they do want to make a deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We have a large armada, flotilla, call it whatever you want, heading toward Iran right now," Trump said, referring to a US naval carrier group in waters off Iran. One senior Gulf official in touch with the Trump administration said that the United States was closely guarded on what it has planned. - 'Reducing' tensions -Iran has warned that it would respond instantly with missile strikes against US bases, ships and allies, notably Israel.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 31, 2026 (AFP) - The United States on Friday approved multibillion-dollar weapons sales to both Israel and Saudi Arabia, at a point of high tensions with Iran. The State Department said it green-lighted a $3.8-billion sale of 30 Apache attack helicopters to Israel, which has agreed to a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The United States sends billions of dollars worth of military supplies per year to Israel, largely in aid rather than sales. Tensions are high elsewhere in the region as the United States deploys a major military contingent in waters near Iran. The State Department also approved a $9-billion sale to Saudi Arabia for 730 Patriot missiles, which are used to defend against incoming attacks.

"This law will serve to heal the wounds left by political confrontation, fueled by violence and extremism. She also announced plans to close the notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas, where rights groups say political prisoners were tortured by Maduro's intelligence services. Formerly Maduro's vice president, Rodriguez, 56, has quickly moved in less than four weeks in power to overhaul Venezuelan society in ways sought by the United States, earning high praise from US President Donald Trump. The government also agreed on January 8, five days after Maduro was seized in a deadly US military operation, to free inmates considered political prisoners by rights groups. "We are pleased to confirm the release by the interim authorities of all known US citizens held in Venezuela," the embassy in Caracas posted on social media.

Building a strong economy and state is what will enhance our national dignity," he said. "We, as the NCP, were born out of a people's uprising," Nahid Islam said, recalling the roots of the party in popular resistance. Nahid added, "We named our manifesto 'Youth and Dignity's Manifesto' for two specific reasons. To enhance national security and defense, Nahid Islam proposed creating a reserve force twice the size of the regular armed forces. Nahid Islam also presented the NCP's pledge to introduce a program called 'Accountability,' where the annual income and budget of ministers and MPs will be scrutinized.

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