Despite strict government warnings, edible oil prices in Bangladesh have surged again, with producers allegedly increasing prices without official approval. Bottled soybean oil is now selling at Tk 198 per liter, up Tk 9 from the previous rate. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association had twice sought permission from the Commerce Ministry to raise prices but received no response. Ignoring the ministry, producers raised prices and distributed oil with new labels, causing shortages in retail markets. Retailers claim they are being forced to sell at higher prices while facing potential fines. The Commerce Ministry later held an emergency meeting and proposed a Tk 5 increase instead of Tk 9, with a final decision expected Sunday. Consumer rights groups and government officials have warned of legal action against unauthorized price hikes and hoarding, emphasizing the need to stabilize essential commodity prices ahead of Ramadan.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has cancelled more than 550 flights in a single day, marking the worst air travel disruption in two decades. The airline attributed the cancellations to a combination of crew shortages, planning errors linked to new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) regulations, and technical issues. The new policy, effective since November 1, aims to reduce pilot fatigue and enhance safety but has increased the demand for pilots, especially for night operations. IndiGo’s on-time performance dropped sharply to 19.7 percent on Wednesday, down from 35 percent the previous day. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have held meetings with IndiGo executives to address the crisis. Major airports including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, and Goa were affected. IndiGo operates around 2,300 flights daily and is planning further cancellations over the next few days as it works to restore normal operations.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast multiple cold waves and possible hailstorms across the country between December and February. The long-range three-month outlook predicts three to eight mild to moderate cold spells, with two to three potentially becoming severe as temperatures drop to between 4°C and 6°C. Despite the cold, overall rainfall is expected to remain normal, and daytime and nighttime temperatures may stay slightly above average. Dense fog is likely to form over river basins and other areas from late night to morning, occasionally lasting until noon. The forecast also warns of one or two days of hailstorms and thunderstorms in late February. The lowest temperature has already dropped to 12°C, signaling the onset of winter across the country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a Russian-language translation of the Bhagavad Gita to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the latter’s visit to New Delhi on Thursday. This marks Putin’s first trip to India since the start of the Ukraine war. Modi shared the gesture on social media, describing the Gita as a source of inspiration for millions worldwide. Upon arrival at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Putin received a red-carpet welcome and was warmly embraced by Modi. The two leaders later shared a private dinner, reciprocating Putin’s earlier hospitality during Modi’s 2023 Moscow visit. On Friday, they are scheduled to hold formal talks, followed by an official reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and a luncheon at Hyderabad House. Putin will also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and inaugurate a new Russian state television channel operated from India before attending a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. He is expected to depart India on Friday night.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, emphasized the pivotal role of students in democratic transformation and global leadership during an interactive session at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Addressing international relations students, he reflected on Bangladesh’s recent political changes, describing the August uprising as a defining moment led by youth demanding democracy and accountability. Ansari underscored that human rights and dignity must remain central to leadership. He also outlined Bangladesh’s foreign policy priorities—peace, multilateralism, climate justice, and workers’ rights—while identifying Mexico as an emerging partner in trade, culture, and academic exchange. The session included presentations on Bangladesh’s development achievements, digital transformation, and climate resilience. Students engaged in discussions on Bangladesh’s role in UN peacekeeping, climate diplomacy, and international issues like Palestine and Rohingya crises. The event concluded with a Q&A session and a reception featuring cultural exchanges and gifts symbolizing Bangladesh’s heritage.

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, challenging new restrictions on media access. The suit, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., argues that the Pentagon’s new policy—requiring journalists to sign a 21-page agreement pledging not to collect unauthorized information—is unconstitutional and violates press freedom. The policy, implemented in October, also restricts journalists’ access to certain areas without official escorts. Several major U.S. outlets, including The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, Reuters, AP, and NPR, have refused to sign the agreement. The Times is seeking a court order to halt enforcement of the policy, asserting that it undermines transparency and the public’s right to know. The publication emphasized its long-standing commitment to defending press freedom through legal means.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will not compromise over Ukraine’s Donbas region, vowing to use force if necessary to secure full control. In an interview with India Today on December 4, Putin said that either Russian forces will liberate the remaining areas or Ukrainian troops must withdraw. Currently, Russia controls about 85 percent of Donbas. The warning comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration continues mediation efforts, with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff meeting both Russian and Ukrainian representatives. The United States recently proposed a 28-point peace plan, including a clause suggesting that remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donbas be ceded to Russia—a proposal strongly opposed by Kyiv and European nations. Putin acknowledged that Russia agrees with some U.S. proposals but rejects others, without specifying which. The statement underscores Moscow’s hardened stance following recent battlefield gains and complicates international efforts to end the ongoing war.

Yasser Abu Sabab, leader of the pro-Israel armed faction Popular Front in Gaza, has been reported dead, according to Israeli media. A Bedouin tribesman and former prisoner, Abu Sabab had aligned himself with Tel Aviv against Hamas after escaping jail during Israel’s 2023 Gaza offensive. He was accused of multiple crimes, including theft of relief supplies. Following the October ceasefire, Hamas reportedly ordered his capture or killing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously acknowledged that Israel had armed anti-Hamas groups in Gaza, including Abu Sabab’s faction. Despite the ceasefire, Rafah remains volatile, with frequent gunfire and ongoing clashes. Abu Sabab had recently directed his fighters to “free Rafah of terrorists,” referring to Hamas militants. Israeli Army Radio claimed he died at Soroka Hospital in southern Israel, though the hospital denied this. The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in Bangladesh has transferred more than 500 assistant teachers from government primary schools to different districts citing administrative reasons. Among the transferred are 42 teachers, including five key leaders of the ongoing teachers’ movement demanding implementation of a three-point charter. The official order, issued on Thursday night, stated that the transfers were approved following a directive from the Directorate of Primary Education. The affected teachers have been reassigned to neighboring districts, effectively removing them from their home districts. Leaders of the movement, including Khairun Nahar Lipi and Shamsuddin Masud, confirmed the transfers and alleged that the move targets those leading the protests. Since November 27, assistant teachers across 65,000 government primary schools have been on work stoppage to press for their demands, which include pay scale adjustments and improved service benefits.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its candidates for the two parliamentary constituencies in Sunamganj that were previously on hold. On Thursday afternoon, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir revealed the names as part of the party’s broader declaration for 36 out of 63 pending seats. Former MP Nasir Uddin Chowdhury has been nominated for Sunamganj-2 (Dirai-Shalla), while Advocate Nurul Islam Nurul, former district BNP general secretary and current convening committee member, has been nominated for Sunamganj-4 (Sadar and Bishwambharpur). Following the announcement, supporters of both candidates celebrated enthusiastically, visiting their homes with flowers and sweets and posting congratulatory messages on social media. Nurul Islam Nurul expressed gratitude to party leadership, calling his nomination a fulfillment of grassroots expectations, and prayed for the recovery of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

A major political controversy has erupted in Panchagarh after the National Citizen Party (NCP) included several leaders from the Jatiya Party in its newly approved district committee. The committee, approved by NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain and northern region chief organizer Sarjis Alam, lists Hafizabad Union Parishad chairman Md. Ismail Hossain as a joint coordinator, despite his active involvement with the Jatiya Party and previous election under its symbol. Two other joint coordinators, Abdul Latif and Matiar Rahman, also have known ties to the Jatiya Party. The inclusion has sparked widespread debate on social media, with Jatiya Party’s Panchagarh district general secretary Md. Abu Salek questioning the ethics of NCP’s actions, especially given its previous criticism of the Jatiya Party. Attempts to reach Ismail Hossain for comment were unsuccessful, while NCP representatives claimed they were unaware of the appointees’ prior political affiliations.

A US military strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean Sea has left four people dead, reigniting debate over Washington’s expanding anti-narcotics operations in international waters. The attack, reportedly ordered under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s direction, targeted a boat allegedly controlled by a terrorist-linked group transporting illegal drugs along the eastern narco-trafficking route. The Trump administration has conducted similar operations for months, killing over 80 suspected traffickers. Following the latest incident, congressional committees have launched investigations amid allegations of extrajudicial killings. Human rights organizations condemned the strike after footage showed survivors being hit by missiles. The White House stated that the order came from official channels but denied any directive to kill all onboard. A Colombian fisherman’s family has filed a complaint, claiming he was mistakenly killed. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro accused the US of using military pressure to destabilize his government as American naval presence near Venezuelan waters increases.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast multiple cold waves across the country during the upcoming winter months from December to February. According to the seasonal outlook, two to three severe cold waves are expected, with temperatures possibly dropping as low as 4°C in some regions. Additionally, three to eight mild to moderate cold waves are likely, with temperatures ranging between 6°C and 10°C. The forecast also warns of moderate to dense fog, particularly in river basins and surrounding areas during late night and early morning hours, which could intensify the feeling of cold. The department further predicts that in late February, some areas may experience one or two days of hailstorms accompanied by thunderstorms. Authorities have advised citizens to prepare for the cold and take necessary precautions to minimize health and agricultural impacts.

The Oxford Union has invited several young Bangladeshi leaders, including Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Sadiq Kayem, to participate as panel speakers at an international seminar titled 'Bangladesh’s July Revolution.' The event, jointly organized by the Oxford Union and the Oxford Bangla Society, is scheduled for the first week of January next year. Invitation letters signed by Oxford Union President Musa Hiraj were sent to Kayem and others, including National Citizens Party (NCP) South Region organizer Hasnat Abdullah, United Peoples Bangladesh convener Ali Ahsan Junaed, and DUCSU Assistant General Secretary Mohiuddin Khan. The letters cited their influential roles in Bangladesh’s 2024 quota reform movement and political transition. The invited participants will also engage with Oxford students and researchers on policy, politics, and contemporary issues during the visit.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has finalized its nominations for two highly discussed constituencies in Dhaka, ending weeks of speculation. Hamidur Rahman Hamid has been nominated for Dhaka-7, while Sheikh Robiul Alam Robi will contest from Dhaka-10. Both candidates are long-time grassroots leaders known for their active involvement and loyalty to the party. Following the announcement, BNP activists across Old Dhaka and other parts of the city celebrated with slogans, sweets, and gatherings. Local leaders expressed optimism about reclaiming the seats in the upcoming 13th national election, citing renewed enthusiasm among party workers. The decision comes after internal discussions and rumors that the BNP might leave these constituencies for alliance partners. The nominations are seen as a strategic move to strengthen the party’s urban presence and energize its base ahead of the polls.