Meteorologist Mostafa Kamal Palash from the University of Saskatchewan has warned of a strong likelihood of a cyclone forming in the southeast Bay of Bengal around November 25–26. According to his latest forecast, the low-pressure area near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands may gradually intensify into a deep depression and eventually a cyclone. The potential storm could make landfall between India’s Andhra Pradesh coast and Bangladesh’s Chattogram coast between December 1 and 4. Light to moderate rainfall is expected across Bangladesh from November 30 to December 5. Farmers have been advised to harvest ripe Aman paddy before the rains and prepare for possible weather disruptions. Fishermen are urged to return from the sea by November 30 and avoid new fishing trips after November 29. Tourists are also advised to avoid travel to St. Martin’s Island and nearby coastal areas between November 30 and December 4 due to anticipated rough seas.

Leaders of various government employee organizations in Bangladesh have announced a mass rally in Dhaka during the first week of December to press for a new pay scale. The decision was finalized on November 22 during a meeting led by the Government Employees Demand Implementation Unity Council. Leaders expressed frustration over delays in the long-awaited pay structure reform, warning of tougher movements if the Pay Commission fails to submit its recommendations by November 30. The commission, however, stated that its draft report is about 50 percent complete, with further progress expected after receiving feedback from secretaries this week. The 23-member National Pay Commission 2025, headed by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, was formed in July and has been tasked with submitting its final report within six months of its first meeting.

Within just 31 hours, four earthquakes struck Dhaka and surrounding areas, prompting renewed warnings from geologists about Bangladesh’s high vulnerability to a major seismic event. The tremors, ranging from magnitudes 3.3 to 5.7, occurred between Friday morning and Saturday evening, killing at least 10 people and injuring over 600. Experts, including former Dhaka University geologist Prof. Syed Humayun Akhter, cautioned that these minor and moderate quakes could be precursors to a much larger one. Bangladesh lies on an active tectonic boundary between the Indian, Burmese, and Eurasian plates, with significant stress accumulated along the Dawki Fault and the subduction zone stretching from Sylhet to Teknaf. Dhaka, with its dense population and poorly enforced building codes, is considered the most at-risk city. Specialists urge immediate structural audits, strict code enforcement, and public preparedness to mitigate potential devastation if a major quake strikes.

After a long wait, tourist trips to Saint Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal will resume on December 1. Ships will depart from Cox’s Bazar’s Nuniachhara Jetty at 7 a.m. and return the following day at 3 p.m., allowing visitors to stay overnight on the island for the first time this season. Authorities have set a daily visitor limit of 2,000 and prepared seven ships for continuous operation over two months. Although the island reopened to tourists on November 1, the absence of overnight facilities kept visitors away. The Sea Cruise Operators Association reported increased interest following the announcement of overnight stays. The Department of Environment in Cox’s Bazar stated that strict monitoring will be enforced for tourist movement. Tickets will be available through the Bangladesh Tourism Board’s online portal, featuring travel passes and QR codes. Officials emphasized that all visitors must comply with environmental protection regulations during their stay.

The Daily Mail’s parent company, Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), has announced a £500 million agreement to acquire The Telegraph newspaper from the US-UAE consortium RedBird IMI. The deal, confirmed in a press release from DMGT, marks a significant consolidation in the British media landscape. Founded 170 years ago, The Telegraph has long been one of the UK’s leading conservative newspapers and a direct rival to the Daily Mail. By securing this acquisition, DMGT is set to become one of the largest right-leaning media groups in the United Kingdom. The move underscores ongoing shifts in ownership within the UK press industry, as traditional media houses seek to strengthen their influence amid changing readership and digital transformation trends.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology has confirmed there will be no return to the outdated telecom licensing system, which was deemed ineffective and obstructive to service growth. The new 'Telecommunication Network and Licensing–2025' policy, now officially gazetted, aims to overhaul the sector by replacing 26 existing license types with a simplified, converged structure. Over 3,000 licenses issued under previous administrations will be reviewed. The ministry clarified that internet prices will not rise under the new framework. The policy emphasizes shifting from a connection-based service model to a digital service–driven economy, promoting competition through four licensing tiers while reducing intermediaries. It also highlights the need for improved fiber connectivity, cybersecurity, and inclusion of emerging sectors such as edtech, fintech, and healthtech. The government expects the reform to expand operational scope for operators, ensure affordable services, and strengthen the foundation for a secure digital economy.

Following Friday’s 5.7-magnitude earthquake, Bangladesh experienced two mild aftershocks on Saturday morning and evening, measuring 3.3 and 4.3 on the Richter scale. According to Md. Mominul Islam, acting director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), these tremors are aftershocks resulting from the earlier quake. He explained that the region’s weak soil composition caused the shaking to last longer than usual. Islam emphasized that the next 72 hours are critical for monitoring potential aftershocks, which typically register at least one magnitude lower than the main quake. He urged the public to remain calm and stay in safe areas during tremors. The expert also highlighted Bangladesh’s high vulnerability to earthquakes and called for stricter adherence to building codes, preservation of open spaces and parks, and widening of roads near buildings to mitigate future risks.

Dhaka experienced another earthquake on Saturday evening at 6:06 PM, marking the third tremor in 36 hours. The quake measured 4.3 on the Richter scale. Conflicting reports have emerged regarding its epicenter: the Bangladesh Meteorological Department identified it as being in Dhaka’s Badda area, while the US Geological Survey (USGS) placed it 11 kilometers west of Narsingdi. Both agencies agreed on the magnitude but differed on the origin point, prompting renewed discussion among experts. The USGS also reported the quake’s depth at 10 kilometers below the surface. Earlier, on Friday morning, a stronger 5.7 magnitude quake struck with its epicenter in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, shaking large parts of Bangladesh and India, killing 10 people and injuring over 600. Another 3.3 magnitude tremor followed on Saturday morning in Narsingdi’s Palash upazila, before the latest quake hit Dhaka in the evening.

RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md. Riazul Islam inspected several earthquake-damaged buildings in Old Dhaka’s Armanitola, Mugda, and Badda areas following the November 21 tremor. During the visit, he expressed dissatisfaction with the owners of a building in Armanitola where three people died after a railing collapse, ordering submission of the building’s design within seven days and removal of risky portions. In Mugda, he inspected a leaning building and directed closure of ground-floor shops and submission of structural designs within a week. He also ordered the immediate removal of unauthorized street food stalls occupying sidewalks. At Alatunnessa School and College in Badda, cracks were found in columns of two buildings, prompting orders for design submission and possible demolition, with classes temporarily suspended. The chairman emphasized that the earthquake served as a warning and urged collective awareness to prevent future disasters. RAJUK officials accompanied him during the inspections.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck near Dhaka on Friday, with its epicenter in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, has left at least ten people dead and over 500 injured across Bangladesh. The quake, originating about 10 kilometers underground, was felt by nearly 70 million people, according to the US Geological Survey. Experts attribute the tremor to movement between the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates, warning that the region has been accumulating seismic energy for over 800 years. Professor Syed Humayun Akhter of Dhaka University cautioned that the quake indicates a potential for a much larger event, possibly between magnitude 8.2 and 9, as the locked plate segment has begun to release energy. A smaller aftershock of magnitude 3.3 was recorded in nearby Palash on Saturday. Authorities and seismologists are urging immediate preparedness measures, warning that a major quake could devastate densely populated Dhaka due to unplanned urbanization and structural vulnerabilities.

Dhaka experienced another earthquake on Saturday evening at 6:06 PM, marking the third tremor in less than 36 hours. The latest quake measured 3.7 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located about three miles from the capital and a depth of 6.2 miles. Earlier, on Friday morning, a stronger 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck with its epicenter in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, shaking both Bangladesh and parts of India. The initial quake caused significant damage, killing 10 people, including a child, and injuring over 460 others across five districts—Dhaka, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Gazipur, and Magura. A smaller 3.3 magnitude tremor was also recorded Saturday morning in Palash, Narsingdi. Authorities are assessing structural damage and continuing rescue and relief operations in affected areas. Residents remain on alert as aftershocks continue to be felt across the region.

A mild earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale was recorded in Palash, Narsingdi, on Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after a stronger tremor struck Madhabdi. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation and Research Center confirmed that the latest quake was an aftershock of Friday’s event. Officials stated that Bangladesh is divided into three seismic zones based on earthquake risk. Zone-1 includes high-risk areas such as parts of Sylhet, Mymensingh, Tangail, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati. Zone-2 covers moderately risky regions, while Zone-3, including Khulna, Jashore, Barishal, and Patuakhali, faces the lowest risk. Historical data show that between 1976 and 2015, at least five major earthquakes were felt in Bangladesh, mostly originating from Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Bandarban, and Cox’s Bazar. Experts warn that these regions remain vulnerable to future large-scale seismic activity due to nearby fault lines and tectonic boundaries.

Oscar-winning Indian composer A R Rahman has spoken candidly for the first time about the personal toll of fame following his divorce from wife Saira Banu after 29 years of marriage. In a recent interview, Rahman reflected on how celebrity status has deeply affected his private life, saying that while fame brought him global recognition, it also took away his freedom and peace. Living in Chennai, he explained, has been both a blessing and a burden—his fans’ love often leaves him with little personal space. Rahman described how public attention follows him everywhere, from airports to weddings, making it difficult to enjoy simple moments. Despite these challenges, he emphasized his attachment to his homeland, saying he never considered moving abroad. Rahman also contrasted the respect for privacy he experiences overseas with the constant public scrutiny in India, acknowledging that fame has come at a heavy personal cost.

Amid global economic instability, inflation, and geopolitical tensions, gold remains a key safe-haven asset for central banks worldwide. According to the latest data from the World Gold Council and international financial institutions, the United States holds the largest gold reserves at 8,133.46 tons, surpassing the combined reserves of the second and third-ranked countries. Germany follows with 3,355.14 tons, while Italy, France, Russia, and China complete the top six. Notably, China increased its reserves by 331 tons between 2019 and 2024. Other significant holders include India (876.2 tons), Japan (846 tons), Turkey (595.4 tons), and Saudi Arabia (323.1 tons). Bangladesh, by comparison, maintains 14.8 tons of gold in its central bank reserves. Although modest globally, this reserve plays an important role in supporting financial stability and international trade confidence. Central banks continue to rely on gold as a core reserve asset due to its enduring value amid global uncertainty.

At least 55 people have died and several remain missing following severe floods in southern and central Vietnam, authorities confirmed on Saturday. Continuous heavy rainfall since late October has inundated coastal cities such as Nha Trang and triggered deadly landslides in the highlands near Da Lat. The Ministry of Environment reported that six provinces have been affected, with Dak Lak suffering the highest death toll. Rescue teams continue searching for missing persons, while floodwaters have rendered multiple highways impassable and left around 300,000 people without electricity. State media noted that over one million residents were initially impacted by power outages. According to Vietnam’s national statistics office, natural disasters have killed or left missing 279 people and caused over $2 billion in damage from January to October this year. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change is intensifying extreme weather events across Southeast Asia, making such floods more frequent and destructive.