After nearly two years of deadly conflict, Israel and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas have started indirect negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. The discussions, beginning at 6:30 p.m. local time, involve delegations from both sides, with Egypt and Qatar acting as mediators. Officials from the mediating countries are holding separate meetings with each party to facilitate dialogue. The talks focus on progressing the first phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which seeks conditions for the release of a set number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all Israeli captives. While Hamas has agreed to some elements of the proposal, key issues, especially concerning demilitarization, remain unresolved. Diplomats in the Middle East view the Sharm El-Sheikh talks as a critical step toward resolving the Gaza crisis.

The family of the late Khondkar Delwar Hossain, former BNP secretary-general, has alleged that four men claiming to be local Jubo Dal leaders forcibly demanded money from them while threatening their safety. The incident occurred on October 3 at Flat 4/B, House No. 653, Greenway, Noyatola, Hatirjheel. Fearing for their lives, the victims withdrew 80,000 taka from a nearby booth and were forced to sign a cheque for an additional 20,000 taka. The assailants reportedly confiscated mobile phones and intimidated children, returning the next day to threaten the family to vacate the flat. Hatirjheel Police have registered a case, are analyzing CCTV footage, and are investigating the suspects’ political affiliations. Khondkar Delwar Hossain was a five-time MP, former BNP chief whip, and recipient of the Ekushey Padak for his contributions to the Language Movement.

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed confidence in his party’s victory in the upcoming national elections, asserting that BNP is positioned to form the government independently. Speaking to the UK-based Financial Times, Rahman said he would soon return from London to contest in the elections, emphasizing that the student-led uprising will not be complete until Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule ends and a free, fair election is held. He welcomed young activists into politics, promising a diversified economy through initiatives such as making Bangladesh a supply hub for global e-commerce firms like Amazon and Alibaba. Rahman criticized Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule for corruption and suppression of dissent, including extrajudicial killings. He pledged that a BNP government would break the cycle of political vengeance and continue efforts to recover alleged misappropriated funds. The BNP leader also stressed a “Bangladesh first” foreign policy toward India.

Syria has officially released the results of its first parliamentary election since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The election commission announced on Monday that the outcomes for two-thirds of parliamentary seats are final and not subject to appeal. President Ahmad al-Shara will appoint members for the remaining one-third of seats, a process separate from the electoral body. On Sunday, Syrian voters cast ballots to elect representatives for 210 parliamentary seats, with 1,578 candidates competing, including 14 percent women. Authorities described the election as a key step in Syria’s political transition, marking the country’s first post-Assad electoral process. Officials emphasized the transparency and finality of the results, while noting that the appointment of remaining members by the president ensures a complete parliamentary body.

Iran has announced it will end its cooperation agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), claiming the deal is no longer relevant after Western nations reinstated UN sanctions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Britain, France, and Germany — signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal — have “diminished their role” by reimposing sanctions. Tehran also accused the IAEA of double standards for failing to condemn Israeli attacks on its nuclear sites. While some lawmakers urged withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to it. Araghchi hinted that a final decision on future cooperation with the IAEA would be announced soon but emphasized that “diplomacy still has room.” Talks with the U.S. to revive the broader nuclear deal collapsed after Israel’s June attacks on Iranian facilities.

In his first major media interview in almost twenty years, BNP acting chairman Tareq Rahman shared insights on his party’s strategy for the upcoming elections, the governance of the Awami League, and Bangladesh’s election-centric politics. The interview drew attention from political analyst Mirza Galib, who praised Rahman’s choice of words and the absence of a self-centered narrative, highlighting his repeated references to “the people” and “the country.” Galib also commended Rahman’s candid discussion of the Awami League’s oppressive past and his clear critique of its governance. However, he noted Rahman’s evasive stance on the question of banning the Awami League and his unclear position on internal BNP reforms. Galib suggested that without organizational strengthening, BNP may struggle to ensure good governance even if it comes to power.

Amid a prolonged drought in South Sudan, remote villages like Lohobohobo rely on traditional rainmakers to secure crops and livelihoods. Solomon Atur, a local rainmaker, was blamed for failing to bring rain and fled in fear, but was forcibly returned and buried alive by villagers. This tragic event underscores the deadly consequences of extreme superstition compounded by food insecurity and climate stress. Over the past four decades, several rainmakers in the disappearing mountain ranges have faced similar fates, including burial, burning, or exile. Experts say the climate crisis, recurring droughts, and rising frustration among agrarian communities are fueling violence against traditional practitioners, reflecting the dangerous intersection of environmental hardship and local beliefs. Al Jazeera confirmed the incident through multiple sources, including family members and local officials.

Elon Musk has unveiled plans to create Grokipedia, a new open-source digital encyclopedia designed as an alternative to Wikipedia. Built on XAI’s chatbot Grok, the platform aims to provide “more neutral, intelligent, and limitless” knowledge, according to Musk. He invited users on the X platform to contribute, promising a collaborative space where information is free from political bias. Musk has often criticized Wikipedia for left-leaning tendencies and even offered $1 billion to acquire it in 2023. The announcement comes amid renewed controversy around Wikipedia, as co-founder Larry Sanger called it “a propaganda machine” and accused administrators of censoring conservative and libertarian perspectives. With Grokipedia, Musk seeks to position his platform as a major competitor in the global knowledge and technology space, sparking curiosity and debate among tech enthusiasts and information seekers alike.

In Raipur, Laxmipur, a tragic accident occurred on Monday evening when 15-month-old Jannatul fell off her father’s motorcycle and suffered fatal head injuries. The incident took place around 7:00 PM on Haidarganj Road, Amtoli area. The child’s father, Shipon Hossain, who recently returned from abroad, and her mother were injured when the mother’s scarf got entangled in the motorcycle wheel, causing both to fall. Jannatul was seated in front on the motorcycle and hit her head in the accident. She was rushed to Raipur Government Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Following a written request from the family, the body was handed over without a post-mortem. The child was laid to rest in the family cemetery after the Asha prayer, leaving the family devastated by this unexpected tragedy.

During a large-scale operation conducted by the Malaysian Immigration Department, a total of 97 illegal immigrants were arrested in the busy areas of Klang and Kajang, Selangor, including 24 Bangladeshis. The operation, carried out by a special task force led by JIM Putrajaya on Sunday evening, involved around 90 officers and targeted areas long reported to harbor foreigners living under temporary work visas (PLKS) illegally. Officers checked the documents of 884 individuals, detaining 97 foreigners, including employers or local recruiters. The arrested individuals ranged in age from 18 to 62 and included citizens from Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. Investigations are ongoing under Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63. The detainees were taken to Beranang Immigration Depot in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur International Airport Depot for further legal proceedings.

Abul Kasem Rinku, a field assistant at Talatoli Upazila Fisheries Office and student leader, along with his father Jalil Fakir, Labour Affairs Secretary of the Upazila Awami League, has been accused of fishing hilsa illegally in the sea despite a government ban. The incident occurred late Sunday night at Fakirhat Fisheries Landing Center, Sonakata Union, Barguna. Local fishermen intercepted a large catch while it was being moved to Rinku’s fish market. Allegations suggest that Upazila Fisheries Officer Victor Bain may have colluded, allowing the father-son duo to violate regulations. Fishermen reported threats when they protested the illegal activity. Rinku denied involvement, claiming political harassment, while authorities promised a thorough investigation and legal action. The incident has drawn attention to misuse of political influence in fisheries and highlighted challenges in enforcing government fishing bans in coastal areas, sparking local unrest and media coverage.

Mirza Yasir Abbas, son of BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, has decided to gift approximately 31.3 million shares of Dhaka Bank PLC, valued at around 360 million Taka, to his mother Afroza Abbas. The shares will be transferred outside the stock exchange trading system as a gift. Afroza Abbas, a founder of Dhaka Bank but not a current board member, will now hold around three percent of the bank’s shares, exceeding the regulatory two percent requirement for a director set by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC). This strategic gift will make her eligible to join the bank’s board in the future. Sources indicate that the primary purpose of the gift is to facilitate her appointment as a director, strengthening her formal involvement in the bank’s management.

A Dhaka court has ordered the arrest of Jahangir Kabir, also known as Lipton, a member of the armed wing of the extremist group Gana Mukti Fouj, in connection with a high-profile kidnapping case. Lipton allegedly abducted businessman Alhaj Md. Belal Hossain in October 2016 from Kallyanpur bus stand, blindfolded and restrained him, and held him in a secret location for 31 days while demanding a ransom of 100 million taka for his release. Military forces had previously arrested him in Kushtia in June, and several cases were filed against him. During the court hearing on October 6, Lipton was remanded to jail following a request from CID Inspector Krishnadas Bairagi. The case also mentions threats against Belal Hossain’s family. Belal Hossain has called for justice, urging authorities to bring the accused under legal action.

Police have arrested three individuals, including Asaduzzaman Mintu Mallik, president of the Amtali Upazila Sramik League and chairman of Holdia Union Parishad, in connection with a case filed over an attack on a BNP rally in Barguna’s Amtali upazila. The other two arrestees are Arpangasia Union Awami League president Humayun Kabir and Amtali Municipality Jubo League joint general secretary Amit Rasul Apu. They were detained during a police operation on Sunday night and produced before the Amtali Senior Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday afternoon, where Judge Md. Ifti Hasan Imran ordered them to be sent to jail. The case, filed under the Explosives and Special Powers Acts, names 65 accused and 150 unidentified persons. The attack reportedly took place on October 22 last year, when BNP activists organized a procession that came under assault by Awami League members.

Three American scientists — John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis — have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering research on macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy quantization in electrical circuits. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced their names on Tuesday, noting that their discoveries have opened a new frontier in quantum physics by linking microscopic quantum behaviors to large-scale physical systems. Their experiments demonstrated that superconducting circuits can transition between energy states via quantum tunneling — a phenomenon resembling an object passing through a wall. They also proved that such systems absorb and emit energy in discrete quantities, perfectly aligning with quantum predictions. Each laureate will share the 11 million Swedish kronor prize equally. The Nobel season will continue with announcements for chemistry, literature, peace, and economics throughout the week.