Farmers in Saltha upazila of Faridpur district have achieved remarkable success in their first attempt at cultivating jute seeds, marking a significant step toward self-sufficiency in seed production. On 10 acres of land, 93 farmers cultivated local jute seed varieties such as JRO-524 and Sabujsona under the guidance of the Department of Jute. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on imported seeds, most of which currently come from India. Farmers reported earning nearly five times their production costs, with some, like Moktar Molya, earning over 20,000 taka from selling jute leaves alone. Officials noted that favorable weather conditions could further boost yields. Farmers expressed optimism that with additional government incentives for fertilizers and pesticides, they could meet local demand and even export surplus seeds. Faridpur, already the top jute-producing district in Bangladesh, may now emerge as a key source of quality jute seeds if the program expands successfully.

Heavy rainfall has triggered widespread flooding and landslides across central Vietnam, leaving at least six people dead and thousands stranded. In Khanh Hoa Province, a major landslide on National Highway 27C at Khanh Le Pass buried a sleeper bus carrying 32 passengers, killing six and blocking the key route between Nha Trang and Da Lat. Several other landslide points have emerged, halting traffic as rescue teams work to clear debris. In Quang Ngai Province, torrential rains measuring up to 235 mm caused a bridge collapse over the Nuoc Bao Stream, cutting off access between two hamlets in Son Ha Commune and isolating more than 1,200 residents. Authorities have erected barricades to prevent entry into dangerous zones, while locals constructed a temporary bamboo bridge for essential movement. In Tay Nha Trang Ward, floodwaters rose over a meter, submerging homes and forcing residents like Minh Tri to evacuate their belongings and pets. Officials continue to monitor conditions as water levels show no sign of receding.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced plans to increase Saudi Arabia’s investment in the United States from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. The announcement came during a joint appearance with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington. The Crown Prince said the expanded investment would cover multiple sectors, including technology and artificial intelligence, and would create significant new business opportunities between the two nations. President Trump expressed surprise and appreciation for the scale of the investment, calling it a sign of strong Saudi-U.S. relations. Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, described the meeting as a landmark moment for bilateral relations, noting that several major agreements had been signed, though details were not disclosed.

The Port Protection Council in Chittagong has staged a torch procession and road blockade demanding that no part of the Chittagong port, including the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), be handed over to foreign entities. The protest took place on Tuesday evening at the Port Connecting Road in the city’s Bara Pol area. Speakers at the rally, including Hasan Maruf Rumi of the Ganosamhati Andolon, alleged that the government was conspiring to lease out profitable port facilities to foreign companies under the guise of development. They claimed the port’s revenue had already increased by 21 percent, proving its efficiency. The council gave the authorities 40 hours to withdraw any such decision, warning that otherwise, they would announce tougher programs at a press conference on November 20. Protesters emphasized that while they support foreign investment in new projects like the Bay Terminal, they strongly oppose foreign control over existing profitable terminals like NCT and CCT.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Europe to strengthen its digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on technology from the United States and China. Speaking at the European Summit on Digital Sovereignty in Berlin, Macron said Europe must avoid becoming a 'vassal' to foreign tech powers and instead develop its own technological solutions. He emphasized the need for a 'European preference' in public procurement and policy, mirroring how China and the US prioritize their domestic industries. Macron’s remarks were made alongside other European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as part of a broader effort to promote homegrown innovation and ensure Europe’s competitiveness in the global digital economy. The French leader also urged a shift in the EU’s legislative approach to better support European tech companies and reduce external dependencies.

In Nilphamari’s Saidpur, Bangladesh, potato farmers and traders are facing severe financial losses as market prices have plummeted far below production costs. Despite storing around 90,000 tons of potatoes in 11 cold storages with hopes of earning fair prices, demand has sharply declined, forcing many to sell at Tk 10–12 per kilogram, while production and storage costs reach Tk 20–25. Some farmers, unable to recover expenses, are feeding potatoes to cattle. Compared to last year, prices have dropped by more than half, leaving both farmers and cold storage owners struggling. Many traders have yet to release their stock due to the low market rate. Farmers are urging the government to increase market monitoring, offer incentives, and explore export options to stabilize prices. Agricultural officials report that 9,300 hectares have been planted with potatoes this season, and new crops are expected soon, which may provide some relief if prices improve.

A wild elephant was found dead after being electrocuted by an illegal electric trap in a paddy field near Rahmaniapara, West Khayrati, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, late Monday night. Forest officials recovered the carcass on Tuesday morning following reports from locals. According to Ukhiya Range Officer Md Abdul Mannan, the elephant, estimated to be 40–45 years old, bore burn marks consistent with electrocution. Locals said elephants increasingly enter villages due to food shortages in nearby hills, leading residents to install electric fences for protection. This practice has resulted in several elephant deaths. Forest officials confirmed that the carcass was buried after a post-mortem examination, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of death. According to the Forest Department, five wild elephants have died in the Ukhiya-Teknaf region since January 2024, highlighting the growing tension between human settlements and wildlife in the area.

After a 22-day suspension, the Barapukuria coal-based thermal power plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, resumed electricity production on Tuesday afternoon by restarting its first unit. The plant, which has a total capacity of 525 megawatts across three units, is currently generating only 50 megawatts per day. Operations had been halted due to mechanical failures that rendered all three units inactive, cutting off power supply to the national grid. The second unit, with a capacity of 125 megawatts, has been permanently out of service since 2020, while the third 275-megawatt unit remains offline. Authorities expect that full restoration of operations may take until January, as discussions with Chinese technical experts continue to resolve the mechanical issues. The partial resumption offers some relief amid ongoing power shortages in the region.

In Peru’s Ucayali region, members of the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard are patrolling deep Amazon forests to protect their ancestral lands from illegal coca cultivation, which fuels cocaine production and threatens their environment and lives. Armed with traditional weapons and a few old firearms, they cross rivers and dense jungles to locate hidden coca fields. Similarly, in northern Peru, the Wampis Indigenous people have formed a volunteer patrol group called Charip in 2024 to stop illegal gold mining and deforestation. Despite limited government support, Charip has achieved early success by detaining corrupt police officers and destroying illegal dredging machines. However, the group now faces manpower shortages as members receive no pay and risk their lives to defend their territory. Peru, the world’s second-largest cocaine producer, has seen coca cultivation nearly double since 2013, driving deforestation, corruption, and violence that have claimed the lives of at least 20 Indigenous leaders.

The Government of Bangladesh has approved the purchase of 220,000 metric tons of fertilizer from China, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Kafco at a total cost of approximately Tk 1,579 crore. The procurement includes 70,000 tons of urea, 120,000 tons of DAP, and 30,000 tons of TSP fertilizer. Additionally, the government will construct 34 buffer warehouses across the country at a cost of Tk 55.25 crore to improve fertilizer storage and distribution. The decisions were approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed. The imports will be made for the 2025–26 fiscal year, with specific agreements including 40,000 tons of urea from Saudi Arabia’s SABIC Agro Nutrients Company and 30,000 tons from Bangladesh-based Kafco. The move aims to ensure adequate fertilizer supply for the upcoming agricultural seasons.

A major technical issue at Cloudflare caused widespread disruptions across numerous popular websites globally, including social media platform X and film review site Letterboxd. Users attempting to access affected sites encountered error messages stating that pages could not be loaded due to Cloudflare’s network problems. Cloudflare, a key internet infrastructure provider known for protecting against cyberattacks and managing heavy traffic, confirmed awareness of the issue and said investigations were underway. The outage also impacted Down Detector, a platform that tracks website disruptions, which later reported a sharp rise in outage reports worldwide. Although the exact number of affected websites remains unknown, this incident highlights the vulnerability of the internet ecosystem to single-point failures in essential infrastructure providers like Cloudflare.

A World Bank delegation led by Jean Denis Pesme, Director of the bank’s Dhaka Regional Office, held a meeting with Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on Tuesday, November 18. The meeting took place at the Jamaat chief’s office and included World Bank officials Mehrin A. Mahbub, Economic Adviser, and Gaelle Martin, Operations Manager. On the Jamaat side, economist Dr. Mizanur Rahman, former senior secretary Muhammad Safiullah, and foreign affairs adviser Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan were present. Discussions focused on Bangladesh’s financial sector reforms, sustainable economic growth, taxation systems, and social sector development. The meeting reflected an exchange of views on the country’s ongoing economic challenges and potential areas for structural improvement, though no specific agreements or commitments were publicly disclosed.

The Bangladesh government has approved the purchase of one cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Singapore at a cost of approximately Tk 490 crore. The decision was made during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed. Petrobangla invited bids from 24 companies with existing Master Sale and Purchase Agreements (MSPA), and four firms submitted offers. BP Singapore Private Limited emerged as the lowest bidder, offering LNG at a rate of USD 11.64 per MMBtu. The cargo, totaling about 3.36 million MMBtu, will be imported through the international spot market. Officials said the procurement aims to ensure adequate energy supply amid rising domestic demand and global fuel price fluctuations. The approval reflects Bangladesh’s continued reliance on imported LNG to meet its growing energy needs.

The eastern Chinese city of Ningbo has introduced a new incentive program to counter the country’s declining marriage rate. According to the city’s Civil Affairs Department, newly married couples will receive eight cash vouchers worth a total of 1,000 yuan (about $141 or £107). These vouchers can be used for wedding photography, ceremonies, celebrations, hotels, shopping, and other marriage-related services. The vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Similar initiatives have been launched in other eastern cities such as Hangzhou and Pinghu, running through the end of the year. Official data show that over 6.1 million couples registered marriages last year, down nearly 20% from 7.68 million in 2023. Analysts attribute the decline to high child-rearing and education costs. In response, Chinese authorities have promoted policies encouraging marriage and childbirth, including “love education” programs at universities and local government support for marriage at an “appropriate age.”

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the legality of the government-approved merger plan involving five Shariah-based private banks in Bangladesh—First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, EXIM Bank, and Social Islami Bank. The petition, submitted on behalf of investor Shahidul Islam by Barrister Mahsib Hossain, names the Bangladesh Bank governor and the finance secretary among the respondents. The merger proposal, approved on October 9 by an advisory council, aims to form a new Shariah-compliant entity tentatively named either United Islamic Bank or Sammilito Islamic Bank. The new bank would assume all assets and liabilities of the merged institutions, with an authorized capital of Tk 40,000 crore, including Tk 20,000 crore from the government. Bangladesh Bank recently appointed administrators to manage the financially weak banks, assuring depositors that their funds remain secure and that no employees will be dismissed during the restructuring process.