Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a frontline command center to assess the progress of Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the visit took place on Sunday night, November 30, where Putin received detailed reports on the liberation efforts in Krasnoparmeisk in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Volchansk in the Kharkiv region. During the visit, Putin held a meeting with senior military officials, including Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Battle Group Center Commander Valery Solodchuk, and Battle Group East Commander Andrei Ivanayev. Gerasimov briefed the president on recent territorial gains and current offensive operations, while Solodchuk reported that Russian forces had gained control of the southern part of Dimitrov city. The high-level briefing is being viewed as a significant strategic assessment amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

South Korean police have arrested four individuals accused of hacking more than 120,000 home and business IP cameras to produce sexually exploitative videos. The suspects allegedly exploited weak passwords and security flaws in internet-connected cameras, commonly used for home security or monitoring children and pets. The hacked footage was used to create explicit content for a foreign website, which has since been blocked. One suspect reportedly controlled 63,000 cameras and made 545 videos, earning around $12,235 in virtual assets, while another accessed 70,000 cameras and sold 648 videos for 18 million won. Authorities said the suspects acted independently rather than as a coordinated group. Police are collaborating with international agencies to investigate the website operators and have also detained three viewers suspected of purchasing or watching the illegal content. Officials emphasized that both viewing and possessing such illicit recordings are serious crimes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2024, bringing the global total to 40.8 million living with the virus. Around 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes during the same period. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that global HIV prevention efforts are facing a critical moment due to declining international funding and stagnating prevention programs. The organization noted that stigma, discrimination, and legal barriers continue to prevent vulnerable groups from accessing essential services. WHO also highlighted the approval of lenacapavir, a new twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug, as a major breakthrough for those unable to take daily medication. However, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition warned that funding cuts could deprive 2.5 million people of PrEP access in 2024. WHO urged governments to integrate HIV services into primary healthcare, increase local investment, and protect the rights of at-risk populations to sustain progress toward ending AIDS.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss a potential framework for ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting follows leaked reports of a 28-point U.S. peace proposal that drew criticism from Ukraine and European allies for allegedly favoring Moscow’s demands, including territorial concessions and military restrictions on Kyiv. In response, European nations presented a counterproposal, while Washington and Kyiv jointly drafted a revised peace framework. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting but declined to disclose Russia’s negotiation ‘red lines.’ Putin has reiterated his willingness to negotiate but warned that if Ukraine rejects compromise, Russian forces will continue advancing. Russian troops currently control over 19 percent of Ukrainian territory, with recent gains in Pokrovsk and Vovchansk. The war has caused more than 1.2 million casualties, according to U.S. estimates.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central secretary general Maulana Abdul Halim has reiterated his party’s firm stance on banning the Jatiya Party, accusing it of enabling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year authoritarian rule. Speaking to reporters after inspecting the site of an eight-party divisional rally in Rangpur, Halim alleged that the Jatiya Party’s appeasement of the Awami League helped sustain Hasina’s power and undermined democratic elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024. He claimed that public sentiment has turned against the Jatiya Party, which he described as complicit in anti-democratic governance. Halim also discussed the government’s July Charter implementation order, emphasizing the necessity of a referendum to legitimize it. Although his coalition initially proposed holding separate referendums in November, they agreed to participate on a single day for national stability. He said the upcoming divisional rally aims to mobilize public support for a ‘yes’ vote, portraying the referendum as a milestone for preserving the nation’s new independence.

Following BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed’s statement that Tarique Rahman would soon return to Bangladesh, a video circulated on social media claiming to show Rahman at London’s Heathrow Airport preparing to travel home. However, fact-checking platform The Descent clarified that the video is not recent and has no connection to Rahman’s potential return. According to The Descent, the footage dates back to June this year, when Tarique Rahman welcomed his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, upon her arrival from Bangladesh at Heathrow Airport. The video resurfaced online after the political announcement, leading to widespread misinformation. The clarification underscores the growing challenge of misinformation and the importance of verifying viral political content before drawing conclusions.

The interim government of Bangladesh has declared BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia a Very Important Person (VVIP) due to her current health condition and political stature. The decision was made during a special meeting of the Advisory Council held at the State Guest House Jamuna, chaired by the Chief Adviser. The council prayed for Zia’s recovery and urged the nation to do the same. Officials stated that the VVIP status aims to ensure uninterrupted medical care, enhanced security, and logistical support for her treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. The government also mentioned the possibility of arranging advanced medical treatment abroad if necessary. Khaleda Zia’s family and party have been informed of the decision, which takes immediate effect. The move underscores her continued significance in Bangladesh’s political landscape despite her prolonged illness and limited political activity in recent years.

More than 70 secretaries from various ministries in Bangladesh have opposed proposals for a steep pay hike under the upcoming ninth pay scale, urging the Pay Commission to make realistic recommendations in line with the government’s financial capacity. The commission has so far held four rounds of consultations with secretaries and discussions with over 250 organizations, both online and in person. While some groups have demanded salary increases up to three or four times the current levels, a significant number of secretaries have cautioned against such moves, emphasizing fiscal sustainability. Commission officials said the process of gathering opinions was challenging due to scheduling constraints but noted that the feedback is being carefully reviewed. They expect to finalize and submit the recommendations within the stipulated timeframe, with special attention to minimum wage structures and grade reclassification.

In the latest Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction, all major Bangladeshi cricket stars found teams, though Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad initially went unsold. Later, Rajshahi Warriors picked Mushfiqur at his base price, while Rangpur Riders signed Mahmudullah. Rajshahi head coach Hannan Sarkar revealed that although Mushfiqur was not part of their initial plan, the team was prepared to spend up to Tk 1 crore to secure him if necessary. Sarkar explained that when their initial recruitment strategy did not go as planned, they saw an opportunity to bring in a player of Mushfiqur’s caliber and adjusted their approach accordingly. He added that no other available player matched Mushfiqur’s experience and leadership, and he had reserved funds specifically for the wicketkeeper-batsman. Ultimately, Rajshahi managed to sign Mushfiqur for less than the amount they were willing to pay, which Sarkar described as a fortunate outcome for the franchise.

Golam Mortoza, the Press Minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, has requested the Ministry of Information to clarify his entitlement to secretary-level allowances. In a letter dated November 25, 2024, he stated that although he was appointed on a two-year contractual basis as Minister (Press) with the rank of secretary and a basic salary of 78,000 taka, he continues to receive allowances at the joint secretary level. Mortoza argued that this discrepancy has deprived him of benefits corresponding to his official rank. He attached copies of his appointment contract and the Finance Division’s opinion, urging that the allowances be recalculated and disbursed from his joining date. The letter, once circulated on social media, quickly went viral, sparking public discussion about bureaucratic benefits and rank-based entitlements in foreign missions.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been allowed to join the appeal against the High Court verdict that declared several provisions of Bangladesh’s 15th Constitutional Amendment, including the abolition of the caretaker government system, as unconstitutional. The Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, granted his petition to be a party to the case. Earlier, the Supreme Court had permitted the appeal against the High Court’s ruling, which restored the referendum provision and invalidated certain clauses of the amendment for contradicting the Constitution’s basic structure of democracy. The High Court had observed that free and fair elections under a partisan government had failed to reflect the people’s will, emphasizing that democracy is a fundamental constitutional principle. The 15th Amendment, passed in 2011, abolished the caretaker government system, recognized Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation, and made several other constitutional changes. The ongoing appeal seeks to annul the entire amendment.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain stated that the Bangladesh government will take necessary steps to send BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia abroad for medical treatment if her party or family formally decides to do so. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, he clarified that the government has no objection to facilitating her treatment overseas once an official request is made. Hossain also mentioned that BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has not yet applied for a travel pass to return to Bangladesh, but one would be issued if he requests it. The adviser added that the government has not received any formal communication regarding Tarique Rahman’s return to Dhaka. The remarks come amid ongoing discussions about Khaleda Zia’s health condition and possible medical treatment abroad.

The interim government of Bangladesh has declared former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia as a Very Very Important Person (VVIP). The announcement was made on Tuesday, November 2, through a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing following a special meeting of the Advisory Council at the State Guest House Jamuna. The meeting, presided over by the Chief Adviser, included prayers for Khaleda Zia’s recovery and called upon the nation to pray for her health. The decision took into account her current medical condition, ensuring uninterrupted hospital treatment, and possible arrangements for advanced treatment abroad if necessary. It also emphasized her security, travel convenience, and high national stature. Relevant agencies have been instructed to implement the decision immediately, and her family and political party have been informed of the development.

The Bangladeshi government has postponed a high-level training workshop focused on maintaining law and order ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. The event, titled “Coordinated Role in Maintaining Law and Order for Fair Elections,” was scheduled to take place on December 3 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka. A notice issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, signed by Deputy Secretary Md. Shimul Akter, confirmed the cancellation. The workshop was expected to bring together top officials including divisional commissioners, police commissioners, DIGs, judges, district administrators, and election officers. Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed was to attend as chief guest, with Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul as special guest. The sudden postponement has raised uncertainty about coordination efforts for election-time law enforcement preparedness.

Bangladesh’s President has issued the 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance, 2025', introducing the death penalty and life imprisonment for those found guilty of enforced disappearances. The ordinance, gazetted by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division on December 1, establishes special tribunals at district and divisional levels to handle such cases. It classifies enforced disappearance as a non-bailable and non-compoundable offense. Government officials or law enforcement members who detain, abduct, or conceal a person’s whereabouts, resulting in deprivation of legal protection, will face severe penalties. If the victim dies or remains missing for over five years, the offender may face the death penalty or life imprisonment. The ordinance also prescribes punishment for destroying evidence or maintaining secret detention centers. Senior officers or commanders who order, permit, or fail to prevent such acts will be held equally accountable. Trials may proceed in absentia if the accused is a fugitive, and detainee information may be withheld temporarily for state security reasons.