A five-member team of Chinese medical specialists has arrived at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka to assist in the treatment of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. According to hospital sources, the team entered the facility around 2:50 p.m. on Monday. Khaleda Zia’s personal physician, Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, stated that the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, is closely monitoring her treatment process. Her medical care is being coordinated among doctors from Bangladesh, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and China. Dr. Zahid added that a decision on taking Khaleda Zia abroad for further treatment will be made if her condition improves and the medical board recommends it. He also urged BNP leaders and supporters to avoid crowding the hospital premises to maintain a calm environment for all patients.

Thousands of Israelis gathered outside the Portuguese embassy in Tel Aviv on Saturday to apply for Portuguese citizenship, following overwhelming demand for appointments. The embassy organized a special in-person interview day to handle the surge, with lines stretching from the entrance to the underground parking area. Portugal’s 2015 law allows descendants of Sephardic Jews, expelled during the 16th-century Inquisition, to apply for citizenship. However, due to a flood of applications, the government tightened eligibility requirements in 2023. Many Israelis are seeking Portuguese passports for visa-free travel within the EU, lower living costs, and easier access to European universities. The demand for second passports has risen sharply since Israel’s military operations in Gaza began in October 2023, with tens of thousands reportedly leaving the country. Interest in Portuguese citizenship continues to grow steadily among Israelis seeking greater mobility and security.

European Union Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said Israel refused her request to enter Gaza through the Rafah border during her visit to Egypt. She described Gaza as a 'graveyard for thousands' and highlighted that 347 Palestinians, including 67 children, have been killed since the recent ceasefire began. Lahbib also noted that around 600 humanitarian workers have lost their lives in the conflict. Warning that the approaching winter will worsen conditions, she urged full respect for the ceasefire, adherence to international law, and unhindered access for NGOs to deliver aid. Despite ongoing relief efforts, she said the assistance reaching Gaza remains far below actual needs. During her trip, Lahbib visited aid warehouses in Egypt’s El Arish and hospitals treating wounded Palestinians evacuated from Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a presidential pardon from President Isaac Herzog to end ongoing corruption trials against him. Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, face allegations of receiving luxury gifts worth over $260,000 from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors, as well as seeking favorable media coverage in separate cases. Netanyahu argued that the prolonged legal proceedings are harming both him and the country, citing the burden of frequent court appearances. Herzog’s office confirmed receipt of the pardon request, calling it an extraordinary appeal that will be reviewed carefully. Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly sent a letter urging Herzog to grant Netanyahu clemency. The 76-year-old leader, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has faced criticism for his controversial judicial reform proposals, which triggered mass protests before subsiding amid the Gaza conflict in late 2023.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman is not yet registered as a voter. Speaking to reporters at the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka, Ahmed clarified that Rahman could still be eligible to vote and contest in the upcoming national elections if he applies and the commission approves his eligibility. When asked under what legal provisions such a decision could be made, the secretary referred journalists to the Voter List Registration Act, noting he did not recall the specific section. The statement comes amid ongoing political discussions about the participation of BNP leaders in the next parliamentary polls and the overall electoral environment in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has urged caution in disseminating information about the health condition of its chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. In an official statement, the party said that all verified updates regarding her medical status will be provided by Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and Khaleda Zia’s personal physician. The BNP requested the media to refrain from publishing unverified or misleading information and to rely only on statements from Dr. Zahid or senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The appeal follows public concern sparked by remarks from a BNP vice-chairman describing Khaleda Zia’s condition as critical. The party emphasized that medical professionals are solely responsible for her treatment decisions and urged the public and media to avoid speculation or politically motivated interpretations of her illness.

Bangladesh’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a third revision of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 project, extending its completion deadline by three years to December 2028. The project, which originally aimed to finish by the end of 2025, will now cost Tk 32,718 crore—Tk 755 crore less than previously estimated. The cost reduction comes mainly from the cancellation of four planned station plazas at Uttara North, Uttara Center, Agargaon, and Motijheel, as well as savings in land acquisition, civil works, and consultancy services. The extension is needed to complete the 1.16-kilometer Motijheel–Kamalapur section. MRT Line-6, Bangladesh’s first metro rail system, currently operates from Uttara to Motijheel. The revised plan also includes increased expenses for salaries, consultancy, and foreign loan interest payments, which rose by Tk 270 crore.

A wave of identical interviews with former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina across eight major Indian media outlets has sparked intense debate over journalistic ethics and political messaging. Published within 12 days before Hasina’s death sentence in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, the interviews featured nearly identical questions and answers, prompting journalist SNM Abdi to describe them as a coordinated public relations campaign rather than independent journalism. The Bangladesh government summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka, accusing India of aiding a convicted fugitive, while India’s Press Club demanded an apology after being called ‘bootlickers’ by a Bangladeshi official. Analysts suggest the episode reflects deeper geopolitical tensions, with Hasina’s political fate tied to regional power dynamics involving India, China, and the United States. Abdi argues that the interviews failed to uphold journalism’s democratic role, serving instead as a vehicle for narrative management amid Bangladesh’s volatile political climate.

Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected head of the Catholic Church following Pope Francis’s death in May, has reaffirmed the Vatican’s support for a two-state solution as the only viable path to resolving the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict. Speaking during an in-flight press conference on his first foreign trip from Turkey to Lebanon, the Pope said that while Israel currently rejects this approach, the Vatican continues to view the establishment of a Palestinian state as essential for lasting peace. His visit comes amid ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, adding significance to his remarks. During his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and discussed both the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, emphasizing Turkey’s potential role in promoting peace. He also condemned rising global violence in the name of religion and praised Turkey as an example of peaceful coexistence among different faiths.

A newly submitted report by the National Independent Investigation Commission has revealed that the 2009 Pilkhana massacre, carried out under the guise of a BDR mutiny, was a premeditated act involving direct foreign influence and complicity of the then ruling Awami League. The report, handed to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus by commission head Maj. Gen. (Retd.) A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman, accuses several political and military figures, including former MP and later Dhaka South Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, of coordinating the attack with the alleged approval of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The commission also cited failures by the army, police, and intelligence agencies to act during the crisis. Many involved reportedly fled abroad, and key evidence was destroyed. The findings aim to answer long-standing national questions about the tragedy, which claimed 57 army officers’ lives. The commission recommended measures to prevent similar incidents and ensure justice for victims.

Bangladeshi taxpayers can legally reduce their payable taxes by investing in specific sectors recognized for tax rebate eligibility. According to the National Board of Revenue guidelines, five major investment areas qualify for such benefits: life insurance, provident fund, savings certificates, deposit pension schemes (DPS), and treasury bonds or shares. Life insurance premiums paid under the policyholder’s name are considered eligible investments, while provident fund contributions by both employer and employee also qualify. Savings certificates, issued by the government, offer both high returns and maximum tax rebate opportunities. DPS accounts allow regular monthly deposits that accumulate into a lump sum, which is treated as an investment for tax purposes. Additionally, investments in government treasury bonds and listed company shares are eligible for tax rebates, with treasury bonds capped at BDT 500,000 and no upper limit for share investments. These options provide both financial security and tax-saving opportunities for individuals.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director Md. Faruk Ahmed confirmed that no physical displacement occurred in Dhaka’s metro rail infrastructure following the recent earthquake. Speaking at a press conference in Uttara on December 1, he said that passenger safety remains the top priority and that operations were temporarily halted for thorough inspections. Engineers physically examined all metro structures for four to five hours after the tremor, including bearing pads at Farmgate and Bijoy Sarani. Two test runs were conducted before resuming public service, causing a 27-minute delay. Ahmed also addressed misinformation circulating on social media, dismissing claims that metro structures had collapsed. He clarified that only minor cracks appeared on a wall, two tiles fell, and a few ceiling pads loosened, none of which indicated structural damage. The DMTCL reassured commuters that the metro system remains safe and fully operational.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain expressed optimism that working relations between Bangladesh and India will soon return to normal following the political changes brought by the July uprising. Speaking at a Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) event in Dhaka, he noted that India is still adjusting to the new political situation in Bangladesh. Hossain also commented that the government has no official information about BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s status in London, and that it would be unusual for another country to prevent his return. Regarding former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Hossain said Delhi has not provided any official information about his stay in India. He added that Sheikh Hasina’s issue would not hinder Dhaka-Delhi relations, though Bangladesh expects her return as a convicted person. Hossain further criticized the previous government’s ‘warm’ ties with India, saying they benefited governments rather than citizens, and lamented the lack of progress on Teesta water sharing and border killings.

The Israeli military is reportedly facing the worst manpower crisis in its history, according to reserve general and military analyst Itzhak Brik. Writing in the daily Maariv, Brik stated that thousands of officers and non-commissioned officers have refused to respond to call-ups or renew their service contracts in recent months. The ongoing Gaza conflict, which has lasted nearly two years, has resulted in 923 Israeli soldiers killed and around 6,500 wounded, with about 20,000 troops suffering from post-traumatic stress. Brik warned that the shortage of personnel is now affecting equipment maintenance and operational readiness, potentially rendering the army 'paralyzed.' He blamed previous chiefs of staff for reducing manpower and shortening service terms, which pushed experienced soldiers out and left unqualified personnel in critical roles. Brik also criticized the army’s human resources management and outdated information systems, describing the situation as one of 'information blindness.'

Four people, including a child, were reportedly abducted from a shop near the hills adjacent to the Baharchhara South Shilkhali BGB checkpoint in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday evening. Witnesses said a group of 20–25 armed men descended from the hills around 7:30 p.m. and forced the victims away at gunpoint. The abducted individuals were identified as Mamun Zia’s son Achiur Rahman (20), Mohammad Islam’s son Giyas Uddin (17), Kasim Baidya’s son Putikkya (13), and Hasan’s son Abu Siddiq (10). Locals attempted to rescue them after news of the abduction spread. Shah Imran Khan, a resident of Shilkhali, confirmed the incident. However, police said that no formal complaint had yet been filed by the victims’ families. Baharchhara police outpost in-charge Durjoy Biswas stated that officers visited the scene and are investigating whether it was a kidnapping or another issue.