A BBC Verify analysis of satellite imagery has revealed that Israeli forces destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in Gaza after a ceasefire with Hamas began on October 10. The images, taken up to November 8, show widespread destruction in areas under Israeli control, raising concerns that the actions may violate ceasefire terms brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Experts suggest the actual number of destroyed buildings could be higher. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maintain that their operations comply with the ceasefire framework. The ceasefire, based on a 20-point peace plan, was supposed to halt all military actions, including air and artillery strikes. However, visual analysis indicates continued large-scale demolitions in Gaza, particularly around eastern Khan Younis, where previously undamaged residential areas now appear destroyed.

The United States has imposed sanctions on five officials and three entities based in Myanmar and Thailand for their alleged involvement in online investment scams and forced labor operations. According to US government data, Americans lost at least $10 billion to Southeast Asia-based online fraud schemes in 2024, marking a 66% increase from the previous year. Washington said these criminal networks increasingly target US citizens online, posing a serious threat to the nation’s economic security. The sanctions reinforce efforts by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI, and the Secret Service’s Scam Center Strike Force to investigate and prosecute scam networks operating in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. The US reaffirmed its commitment to using all legal and diplomatic tools to protect its citizens from cyber fraud.

According to a recent UNHCR report, Bangladesh has received 136,000 new Rohingya refugees between December last year and October this year, bringing the total registered refugee population to 1.168 million as of October 31. The influx is linked to intensified violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where clashes between the junta forces and the Arakan Army have displaced thousands. The UNHCR noted that 78% of the new arrivals are women and children, and 12% are persons with disabilities. Refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, already overcrowded, are facing severe space shortages and environmental strain. Local authorities warn that continued arrivals and reduced aid could worsen conditions in the region, which hosts 34 camps including those in Ukhiya, Teknaf, and Bhasan Char.