The United States is preparing to significantly expand its travel ban list, potentially adding more than 30 countries, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. In an interview with Fox News, Noem declined to specify the exact number but confirmed that President Donald Trump is assessing multiple nations. The move follows a recent incident in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard members were killed by an Afghan immigrant, prompting the administration to tighten immigration policies. Trump previously imposed full travel bans on 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns. The new expansion targets nations with unstable governments, weak identity verification systems, or limited cooperation with U.S. vetting processes. This initiative is part of a broader overhaul of immigration policy since Trump’s return to office, which includes stricter border enforcement, reassessment of asylum cases, and review of green card issuances for citizens of 19 countries.

Bangladesh’s export earnings have declined for four consecutive months since August of the 2025–26 fiscal year, reflecting persistent weakness in the country’s key apparel sector. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), November’s export income fell by 5.54% year-on-year to $3.89 billion, down from $4.12 billion in the same month last year. Despite this, total exports for July–November reached $20.02 billion, slightly higher than $19.90 billion a year earlier, marking a marginal 0.62% growth. The readymade garment industry remained the top export earner, contributing $3.14 billion in November, though 5% lower than last year. Exporters attribute the decline to aggressive competition from China and India in the EU market and higher tariffs in the US, which have reduced demand by about 30%. Analysts warn that achieving the government’s $63 billion annual export target will be difficult amid sluggish global demand, high interest rates, and domestic economic challenges.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced a 67-member convening committee for its Feni district unit. Zahidul Islam Saikat has been appointed as the convener, while Shah Wali Ullah Manik will serve as the member secretary. The committee was approved through an official statement signed by central member secretary Akhtar Hossain and chief organizer (southern region) Hasnat Abdullah on Thursday, December 4. Senior Joint Convener Advocate Abdullah Al Monsur and several joint conveners, including Professor Ferdous Anwar and Emdadul Haque Rajib, were also named. Mohaymin Tajim was appointed as Senior Joint Member Secretary. The committee includes various organizational secretaries and members representing different professional and social backgrounds. Party leaders hope the new committee will strengthen the NCP’s organizational activities in the Feni region and enhance its grassroots presence ahead of future political programs.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, Jamaat-e-Islami is reportedly set to drop between 80 and 100 candidates from its previously announced list. The move comes as part of seat-sharing arrangements with seven allied parties participating in a joint movement based on five-point demands. Reliable sources indicate that candidate reshuffling is being guided by field-level popularity assessments and professional representation. Jamaat leader Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zobayer stated that the main criterion for selection is the likelihood of victory rather than the number of candidates. The eight-party alliance, which includes Jamaat, Islami Andolon, Khelafat Andolon, Khelafat Majlis, Nezame Islam Party, JAGPA, and BDPO, is working toward finalizing single candidates per constituency. Jamaat’s top leaders, including Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, are expected to contest from Dhaka, while candidates from minority and indigenous communities are also under consideration. New candidates have already been finalized in constituencies such as Habiganj-4 and Kurigram.

The Pakistani government has suspended the visitation rights of former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, after she allegedly engaged in political discussions during a recent prison visit. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that any visitor who discusses politics with the jailed leader will lose visitation privileges, citing prison regulations that prohibit such conversations. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar emphasized that these restrictions have long existed under prison law and apply equally to all convicts. He added that Adiala Jail, where Khan is held, operates under Punjab’s jurisdiction, and that meetings must be supervised, limited to six visitors once a week, and free of political content. The ministers also warned that anyone violating prison rules or causing unrest outside the facility would face strict action. The government reiterated that Khan, as a convicted prisoner, cannot hold unsupervised meetings or communicate politically from jail.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has cancelled more than 550 flights nationwide for the fourth consecutive day, severely disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers. The cancellations affected major airports including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, and Goa. The disruption stems from newly implemented crew rostering and flight duty time limitation (FDTL) regulations, which have increased mandatory rest periods and reduced the number of permitted night landings. With a shortage of pilots and crew, IndiGo has struggled to maintain its schedule. The airline stated that it is taking all necessary measures to restore normal operations and expects the situation to stabilize within 48 hours. However, cancellations may continue for the next few days, and IndiGo plans to reduce flight operations from December 8. Passengers have faced severe inconvenience, with reports of thousands of unclaimed suitcases piling up at Delhi airport terminals.

A vessel carrying 60,950 metric tons of wheat from the United States has arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port, marking the fourth shipment under a government-to-government (G2G) purchase agreement between Bangladesh and the US. According to the Ministry of Food, the wheat was imported under cash purchase contract G2G-01, part of a memorandum of understanding signed between the two governments. The total agreement covers the import of 440,000 metric tons of wheat. Earlier shipments arrived on October 25, November 3, and November 15, totaling 239,586 metric tons so far. The ministry confirmed that sample testing of the newly arrived wheat has already begun, and unloading will proceed once quality verification is complete. The import aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s food security and stabilize the domestic grain supply amid global market fluctuations.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced that the party has completed all necessary preparations to participate in the upcoming national election, expected to be held in February before Ramadan, provided no major crisis arises. Speaking to journalists after Friday prayers in Kurigram, Rizvi emphasized that BNP is ready for the polls as per the government’s schedule. He also commented on the possible return of the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, saying he would come back at an appropriate time considering his mother Khaleda Zia’s illness and family matters. Addressing internal disputes over nominations, Rizvi assured that once the election process begins, all party members will unite under the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf. Earlier, BNP leaders and activists held a prayer session for the recovery of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The Qatari government is sending an air ambulance from Germany to Dhaka to transport former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London for advanced medical treatment. The aircraft, arranged under the direction of Qatar’s royal family, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka at 5 p.m. on Saturday. According to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, the initial Qatari air ambulance faced technical issues, prompting the Emir of Qatar to dispatch another one as promised. The replacement aircraft, also a Qatari air ambulance built by a German company, will handle the transfer. Meanwhile, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, has returned to Bangladesh and visited Evercare Hospital to assess Khaleda Zia’s condition. BNP sources stated that if the medical board deems her fit for travel, Khaleda Zia is expected to leave for London on Sunday, December 7, for further treatment.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, emphasized the importance of women's votes and their social empowerment during a rally and courtyard meeting in Cumilla’s Debidwar upazila. Speaking on December 5, he said that although women play a major role in building a prosperous and educated nation, they remain socially and culturally disadvantaged. Abdullah pledged to prioritize women’s education and social dignity if elected, promising scholarship programs to prevent girls from dropping out of school. He also called for societal and cultural recognition of women’s contributions and for strengthening moral values through religious awareness. Referring to past movements for change, Abdullah urged voters to support transformation in the upcoming election and warned against the resurgence of authoritarianism. The event included public interactions in several local areas, accompanied by local NCP leaders.

West Indies are chasing a record 531 runs to win against New Zealand after the hosts declared their second innings at 466 for 8 on the fourth day of the Test. New Zealand resumed the day at 417 for 4 and added 49 more runs before declaring, with Rachin Ravindra scoring 176 and Kemar Roach taking five wickets for 78 runs. In reply, West Indies stumbled early, losing four wickets for just 72 runs. However, Shai Hope and Justin Greaves steadied the innings with an unbroken 140-run partnership for the fifth wicket. At stumps on day four, West Indies reached 212 for 4, with Hope unbeaten on 116. They need 319 more runs on the final day to achieve what would be a world-record chase in Test cricket, a task considered extremely difficult but not impossible.

At least fifteen people, including several children, were burned in a devastating fire caused by a gas cylinder leak in Tukchanpur Charpara, under Aganagar Union of Bhairab upazila in Kishoreganj. The incident occurred on Thursday evening, December 4, when a shopkeeper accidentally left the gas regulator open before locking his shop. Gas accumulated inside the closed shop, leading to a sudden explosion and fire that spread quickly. Locals rescued the injured and took them to Bhairab Upazila Health Complex, from where twelve critically burned victims were transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. Three others received primary treatment and were released. Witnesses reported that several schoolchildren and pedestrians standing nearby were also caught in the flames. One victim, Harun Mia, sustained burns over 80 percent of his body and remains in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that most victims suffered burns ranging from 20 to 30 percent.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed medical technologists and pharmacists to withdraw their ongoing strike and return to work immediately. The ministry expressed concern that the work stoppage, initiated to demand implementation of the 10th grade pay scale, has disrupted essential healthcare services and caused suffering to patients. In a statement signed by Deputy Chief Information Officer Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, the ministry noted that relevant government bodies, including the Directorate General of Health Services and the Ministry of Public Administration, are already taking positive steps to address the workers’ demands. The ministry urged the strikers to allow time for the resolution process and warned that continuing the strike would be considered a public interest violation. It also cautioned that legal action could be taken against those who persist in halting critical services, emphasizing that patient care must not be compromised for any reason.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has reassigned four police inspectors to its Detective Branch as part of an internal reshuffle. The officers include Taslima Akter, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Airport Police Station; Rakib Ul Hossain, OC of Darussalam Police Station; Md. Sajjad Rumman, OC of Mirpur Model Police Station; and Md. Russel Sarwar, OC of Banani Police Station. According to an official order signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, NDC, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, all four officers will now serve in the Detective Branch. The move follows a series of recent transfers within the DMP, including the reassignment of 50 other OCs earlier this month, as part of ongoing administrative restructuring aimed at strengthening the city’s policing and intelligence operations.

Apple is expected to introduce a new budget-friendly model, the iPhone 17e, as part of its upcoming iPhone 17 series in early 2026, according to international media reports. The device will reportedly feature Apple’s next-generation A19 chip, promising improved gaming, image processing, and AI-driven performance. Analysts suggest that while CPU upgrades will be modest, GPU performance will see significant enhancement. The iPhone 17e is also expected to adopt the dynamic island design, replacing the older notch criticized in the iPhone 16e, giving it a more modern appearance and better notification handling. Camera improvements may include an 18-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support, automatically adjusting framing during video calls or selfies. Although Apple has not officially confirmed pricing or release dates, analysts predict a February 2026 launch, following the company’s usual schedule. In Bangladesh, the current iPhone 16e is priced around 75,000 taka.