Police have arrested the main suspect in the fatal shooting of prominent hardline activist Charlie Kirk, authorities disclosed Friday. Utah Governor Spencer Cox identified the arrested individual as 22-year-old Taylor Robinson.

Local jail officials said Robinson is being held on preliminary allegations including premeditated murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and obstruction of justice. Formal charges have not yet been filed; the governor stated prosecutors are preparing an indictment that will detail the potential motives and charges in the coming days.

At least 65 people were killed across the Gaza Valley on Friday in a series of indiscriminate attacks, including 14 members of a single family, according to Gaza’s health authorities. The ministry reported that 48 people were killed in Gaza City and the northern areas alone on that day, with many more wounded.

The strikes included air raids and a ground offensive involving tanks and infantry in Gaza City. Multiple multi-story buildings were destroyed in the attacks, which affected an area populated by nearly one million people. The report noted that roughly two years into Israeli military operations in Gaza, the death toll has reached approximately 63,000.

A large group of local residents blocked the highway on Friday afternoon to demand the withdrawal of the transfer order for Laksam Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kawsar Hamid and his reinstatement at the workplace. Protesters, led by student activists and locals, staged a road blockade and held a demonstration.

UNO Kawsar Hamid appeared at the site and appealed to the crowd to vacate the road, but protesters rejected her request. Overcome with emotion, the UNO began to cry and embraced several demonstrators, saying, “The love I have received from you all is the greatest treasure of my career. I want everyone in the upazila to be well.” She also explained the realities of government service, noting that transfers prevent permanent settlement in any one place and acknowledging both the support she received from colleagues, elected representatives and community leaders and the possibility that her work may have upset some people. “If I have unknowingly hurt anyone or treated anyone unfairly, I apologize,” she said.

The demonstrators warned they would maintain the blockade and continue protests unless the transfer order was withdrawn. About two hours after the blockade began, at around 6:00 pm, the arrival of military personnel prompted the protesters to disperse.

At a memorial event for student martyr Farhan Faiyaz, Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid paid tribute to the young lives lost during the July 24 uprising.
“We remember Farhan and all the children who sacrificed their lives. They remain eternal in our hearts,” she said.
Sharmin praised children with autism who participated in a football match in Farhan’s memory, encouraging them to dream of reaching international stages like the Olympics.
She added: “Next time, we will commemorate not just Farhan, but all the children of this nation who gave their lives, and rebuild our country with them in our hearts.”

The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Association has suspended its ongoing mass leave program and requested all officers and employees to return to work.
In a statement, the association said its reform movement, launched in January 2024, aimed to eliminate rural-urban disparities in electricity supply and build a sustainable distribution system.
While acknowledging government assurances of a solution, the association said it was unfair to label workers—who serve tirelessly in sun, storm, and rain to light up 140 million homes—as “anti-national.”
The decision to suspend the program follows discussions with the government’s power adviser, who expressed commitment to resolving the issues.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has directed officers who faced discrimination during their service between 2009 and August 4, 2024, to submit formal applications.

According to the notice, complaints must be filed to the Armed Forces Division’s committee chairman by September 21.

In a historic development, Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has taken oath as the country’s first female interim Prime Minister. She was sworn in Friday evening at the presidential residence Shital Niwas by President Ram Chandra Poudel.

Karki’s appointment under Article 61 of the constitution marks a significant departure from previous governments formed under Article 76. Political analysts view the move as a major constitutional and political shift for Nepal.

The Shapla Memorial Society has initiated financial support for families of those killed in the May 5, 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Square. The announcement came Friday, with the group pledging monthly stipends ranging from Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 per family, depending on need.

General Secretary Md. Kamal Uddin said families listed as “martyr households” would receive continuous assistance. Hefazat has so far released a draft list of 93 names, though the number could rise after verification.

Tensions flared ahead of the much-anticipated football final in Cox’s Bazar, as clashes broke out between spectators and law enforcement officers. The unrest left at least 20 people injured, including the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

According to reports, the final between Ramu and Teknaf upazilas was scheduled for the afternoon. The stadium filled beyond capacity, prompting many fans to storm the gates. Security personnel from the army, police, and RAB attempted to control the situation, sparking anger among the crowd. Spectators began hurling stones at the galleries and security forces. By 5 p.m., authorities managed to bring the situation under control.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued nine fishermen who were being held hostage by the notorious Ranga gang in the Sundarbans. During the operation, two members of the gang were arrested along with weapons and ammunition.

The detainees were identified as Nasir Molla (31) and Mintu Sardar (40). According to officials, they had long supported the Ranga gang in robbery operations by supplying arms, ammunition, and provisions.

The rescue mission was launched early Friday after intelligence reports indicated fishermen were being held captive in the Adachgi area. Witnesses said the fishermen were abducted on Thursday night while fishing and crabbing, after arriving in the forest on September 3. The gang had demanded ransom before Coast Guard intervention forced them to flee.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has affirmed that the upcoming national election will take place by February 15, dismissing speculation of a delay.

“Differences are natural when multiple parties exist. Otherwise, why would separate parties form? But the election will definitely be held by February 15,” he said while visiting the village home of poet Farrukh Ahmed.

Alam emphasized that attempts to disrupt the election would not succeed. “This is a foundational election. It will set the course for future polls and guide Bangladesh’s political journey forward,” he quoted the Chief Advisor as saying earlier.

He expressed optimism that the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be held in a peaceful, fair, and festive atmosphere. Pointing to the recently concluded DUCSU polls as an encouraging sign, he said security will be ensured with the deployment of nearly 800,000 members of police, BGB, and Ansar.

Sheikh Bashiruddin, Trade Advisor, has acknowledged Bangladesh’s progress in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector but cautioned that the country lags behind in overall competitiveness.

Speaking at the Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition, he noted that Chinese investment in Bangladesh has surged by 300 percent. “We must identify our weaknesses and advance through knowledge-sharing. By utilizing China’s expertise in production and packaging, we can expand our opportunities,” he said.

He further highlighted road safety concerns, stating that annual fatalities from road accidents in Bangladesh remain alarming. “Improving road infrastructure and transport management is a necessity,” he stressed.

Bashiruddin also revealed that a U.S. government delegation will arrive in Dhaka on Sunday to discuss tariff issues, focusing on how to restructure tariff frameworks for trade efficiency.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, senior judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, has been appointed Acting Chief Justice in the absence of Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, who is abroad on an official tour.

According to a Ministry of Law notification, Justice Chowdhury will serve as Acting Chief Justice from September 9 to September 22—or until Justice Ahmed resumes his duties—during his visit to Brazil and Qatar.

The Election Commission has confirmed that counting of votes in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election is progressing. Seventeen hours after polling ended, results from 17 out of 21 residential halls have been finalized.

The university has 11 male halls and 10 female halls. With four halls left, officials expect the counting to conclude by midday. Once the hall-level results are declared, the central union vote count will begin.

Due to manual counting, the process is taking longer than anticipated. Authorities estimate that the final results of the JUCSU election will likely be available in the evening.

Polling took place yesterday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although the Election Commission initially planned to use OMR technology for counting, objections raised by several student panels, including Chhatra Dal, led to the process being conducted manually.

The All-Party United Committee has unveiled a new program demanding the reinstatement of four parliamentary seats in Bagerhat.

Following a two-day strike that ended Thursday evening, the committee announced a series of demonstrations beginning Sunday. On Friday, imams will raise awareness during Jummah prayers. On Sunday, activists will stage sit-ins outside government offices and courts at district and upazila levels.

From Monday to Wednesday, a dawn-to-dusk strike will be enforced. Educational institutions will remain closed, but exemptions will apply between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. Emergency services, law enforcement vehicles, two-wheelers, fresh produce markets, grocery shops, hospitals, pharmacies, ambulances, and essential goods will remain outside the strike’s scope.