The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to hold a hearing today on contempt of court charges against BNP leader Fazlur Rahman for his remarks regarding the court’s legitimacy while discussing a verdict involving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim filed the complaint last Wednesday, alleging that Rahman questioned the tribunal’s formation and impartiality during a television talk show. In a separate development, the tribunal may also receive an investigation report today in a crimes against humanity case involving former police officials Alep Uddin and Mashiur Rahman, accused of enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government. Additionally, in the Chandkharpul six-murder case, the defense for former Shahbagh police officer-in-charge Arshad Hossain is expected to present a witness statement. If no defense witness appears, the case will proceed to final arguments, according to the prosecution.

India has issued a red alert for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Puducherry as Cyclone Ditwa moves rapidly toward the southeastern coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the cyclone is expected to pass near the northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts on Sunday. Chennai airport authorities have canceled 54 flights as a precaution. Wind speeds are reaching 70–80 km/h, with gusts up to 90 km/h, and heavy rainfall has already affected the region. IMD officials warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas and advised residents to stay indoors. Fishermen have been instructed not to venture into the sea. While major damage is not anticipated, agricultural fields may suffer losses. The Tamil Nadu government stated that it is fully prepared to handle any emergency situation arising from the cyclone’s impact.

Ukraine’s navy launched drone attacks on two oil tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’ in the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian officials. Verified BBC footage showed high-speed drones striking the vessels, causing large explosions and fires. The attacks targeted the Gambian-flagged tankers MT Kairos and Virat near Turkey’s coast on November 28, with a second strike on Virat the following day. No casualties have been reported so far. Turkey’s coast guard rescued 25 crew members from MT Kairos, including four Bangladeshi sailors, all of whom are safe. Ukrainian security sources said the operation used ‘Sea Baby’ naval drones developed by the SBU, part of Kyiv’s strategy to weaken Russia’s oil-dependent war financing. Since the 2022 invasion, Moscow has built a ‘shadow fleet’ of older, obscurely owned ships to evade Western sanctions. Both tankers were reportedly under international sanctions, according to the London Stock Exchange.

Severe monsoon rains, floods, and landslides have killed more than 600 people across South and Southeast Asia, with hundreds still missing. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka are among the worst affected countries. Indonesia’s Sumatra island alone reported over 300 deaths after days of heavy rainfall, while Thailand’s southern provinces saw at least 160 fatalities in one of the worst floods in decades. Sri Lanka, battered by Cyclone Ditwahar, has declared a state of emergency after more than 130 deaths and 170 missing persons. Malaysia’s northern regions also reported casualties and mass evacuations. Meteorologists attribute the extreme weather to the combined effects of Typhoon Koto near the Philippines and the rare Cyclone Seniyar in the Malacca Strait. Millions have been displaced, infrastructure severely damaged, and rescue operations hampered by ongoing bad weather across the region.

Pakistan ended 2025 on a high note by defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final of the T20 tri-nation series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Batting first, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 114 runs in 19.1 overs, with Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz taking three wickets each. Kamil Mishara top-scored for Sri Lanka with 59 off 47 balls. In reply, Pakistan reached the target in 18.4 overs, led by former captain Babar Azam’s 37 off 34 balls and opener Saim Ayub’s 36 off 33. With this victory, Pakistan set a new record for the most T20I wins in a calendar year, securing 21 wins out of 34 matches in 2025. The previous record was 20 wins in 26 matches in 2021. The triumph highlights Pakistan’s consistent performance and growing dominance in the T20 format ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called on all airlines and related entities to consider Venezuelan airspace and its surrounding areas as 'completely closed.' Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump did not clarify the intent behind his statement. The appeal comes as the United States has recently deployed military assets, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean region, officially to combat drug trafficking. However, Venezuela accuses Washington of seeking to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The U.S. has conducted over 20 operations against alleged drug-carrying vessels since September, resulting in more than 80 deaths. Following U.S. aviation warnings about deteriorating security, several major airlines, including Iberia, TAP, Avianca, LATAM, GOL, and Turkish Airlines, have suspended flights to Venezuela. In response, Caracas banned these carriers, accusing them of participating in 'state-sponsored terrorism' under U.S. influence. The situation has significantly heightened regional tensions.

In Madaripur, Bangladesh, three toll collection workers were injured after a group of local youths attacked a toll office at the Seventh China Friendship Bridge over the Arial Khan River. The incident occurred on Saturday evening in Pokhira village of Sadar upazila when the attackers refused to pay the toll and subsequently stormed the office. Police from Madaripur Sadar Station visited the scene following the assault. According to Officer-in-Charge Adil Hossain, legal action will be taken once the toll authority files a written complaint. The injured workers were engaged in toll collection duties at the bridge, which connects key areas in the region. The motive behind the attack appears to be a dispute over toll payment, and authorities are investigating the matter to identify those responsible.

Voting for the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) election began on Sunday morning at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium in Dhaka. The polling started at 9 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m. The election involves professional journalists working in Dhaka, who are casting their votes in an orderly manner. The day before the election, the organization held its annual general meeting (AGM). A total of ten candidates are contesting for seven executive member positions, including Al-Amin Azad, Ali Azam, Mahfuz Sadi, Md. Abdul Alim, Md. Akhtar Hossain, Md. Majaharul Islam, Md. Rezaur Rahim, Mohammad Naimuddin, Suman Chowdhury, and Syed Akhtar Siraji. The election is expected to determine the new leadership of one of the most influential journalist organizations in Bangladesh.

Barrister Kaiser Kamal, BNP’s law affairs secretary and candidate for Netrakona-1 constituency, described the party’s 31-point program as a charter of people’s liberation rather than merely a political manifesto. Speaking at a farmers’ rally in Nazipur, Kalmakanda, he emphasized that the 27th point of the plan specifically addresses farmers’ issues, aiming to rebuild the state and secure the nation’s future. Kamal highlighted the historical significance of the nearby ‘Zia Canal,’ dug by late President Ziaur Rahman, and pledged that BNP would initiate new canal excavation projects if it returns to power. He also promised efforts to have Tarique Rahman oversee the re-excavation of the Zia Canal. Stressing his own background as a farmer’s son, Kamal urged the government to set fair prices for agricultural products based on farmers’ input. The rally, attended by hundreds of farmers, featured speeches from local BNP leaders and agricultural experts.

At a public meeting in Boda upazila of Panchagarh, National Citizen Committee (NCP) chief organizer Sarjis Alam declared that the party will stand by minorities and any individuals facing threats, harassment, or oppression from others, regardless of political affiliation. Addressing party workers, he urged them to support good initiatives from any political group and to oppose wrongdoing or injustice, even if committed by powerful figures. During the event, Alam announced the formation of NCP committees for ten unions and one municipality in Boda upazila. The program began with prayers for the recovery and long life of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Leaders and activists from all five upazilas of Panchagarh district attended the meeting, emphasizing unity and social responsibility across party lines.

A 27-year-old female member of the Highway Police, identified as Mimi Khatun, was found hanging in her room at the women’s police barrack in Mujgunni Housing Estate under Khalishpur Police Station in Khulna on Saturday afternoon. Colleagues discovered her body around 1:30 p.m., and authorities later sent it to Khulna Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Police said no suicide note was found in her room, and the preliminary report mentioned suicide as the cause of death. Mimi, daughter of Nabin Biswas from Mirpur in Kushtia and wife of Imran Hossain, was serving as a constable in the Highway Region. The cause behind the suspected suicide remains unclear, and police are investigating the incident by speaking with her family and colleagues. The barrack remains in mourning as the body awaits handover to the family after the post-mortem examination.

Around 30,000 tons of Indian onions are reportedly rotting at the Bangladesh border after Dhaka abruptly halted imports to protect local farmers. Exporters from West Bengal and Maharashtra, who had shipped onions to border points like Mahadipur, Petrapole, Ghojadanga, and Hili, are now facing heavy losses. The onions, purchased at around 16 rupees per kilogram and transported at a total cost of 22 rupees, are being sold for as little as 2 rupees per kilogram to avoid total spoilage. In Mahadipur alone, nearly 20,000 tons of onions are stuck, with traders employing workers daily to separate rotten stock. Exporters claim they acted on verbal assurances from Bangladeshi importers, making the sudden ban particularly damaging. Meanwhile, retail onion prices in Indian markets remain between 20 and 30 rupees per kilogram, and traders fear further price drops once stored stock reaches the market. Consumers and traders alike have criticized both state and central governments for mismanagement.

Authorities in Stockton, California, reported that four people were killed and ten others injured after gunfire erupted during a family celebration at a banquet hall on Saturday evening. The shooting occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue. San Joaquin County Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent said the victims included both children and adults, describing the incident as 'unfathomable' given that young children were harmed. Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee confirmed the event was a children’s birthday party. Investigators are still working to identify the suspect, and officials believe the attack may have been targeted. It remains unclear whether the shots were fired inside or outside the venue. The FBI and local law enforcement agencies are assisting in the investigation. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office stated that he has been briefed on the 'horrific shooting' and that the state’s emergency services are coordinating with local authorities as the situation continues to be monitored.

Several international media outlets have reported on the critical health condition of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is currently hospitalized in Dhaka. Al Jazeera, citing her personal physician Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, described her condition as 'very critical.' Gulf News, Dawn News, and NDTV also published similar reports, emphasizing the seriousness of her illness. Indian outlets such as The Times of India, The Hindu, and Hindustan Times have given the story significant coverage. According to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, quoted by Arab News, Khaleda Zia’s health remains in a critical state. Her medical team is considering sending her abroad for advanced treatment once the board approves. The former prime minister has been receiving care at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, while her family and supporters have urged the public to pray for her recovery.

Bangladeshi expatriates living in France have shown strong enthusiasm for the newly launched 'Postal Vote BD' app, which allows them to participate in Bangladesh’s upcoming national election through postal ballots for the first time. Registration began on November 26, and expatriates across French cities are signing up in groups. Despite initial technical issues with OTP verification and photo uploads, users report that the process has since become smoother. Refugees without passports can register using only their national ID numbers, expanding participation among the diaspora. Expatriate organizations have welcomed the initiative, calling it a milestone for inclusive democracy. The government will handle the entire postal process, ensuring voters incur no additional costs. Many expatriates describe the move as historic, fulfilling a decades-long demand for voting rights abroad. Observers see it as a significant step linking expatriates not only to the economy but also to Bangladesh’s democratic process, marking a new chapter in the nation’s electoral history.