The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party has warned that Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus may be compelled to resign if political parties fail to reach a national consensus before the next parliamentary elections. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, on Thursday, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju expressed concern over the growing uncertainty surrounding the electoral process.

Manju stated that the recommendations of the National Consensus Commission advise the interim government to issue an executive order and to consider holding a referendum either before or on the election day. According to the proposal, if the Constitution Reform Council fails to complete its reform work within the first nine months (270 days) of the new parliament, the proposed amendments would be automatically included in the constitution.

He further mentioned that the government has the authority to decide the date of the referendum, which may be held any time between the issuance of the National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order in July and the national election day. Several AB Party leaders, including Abdullah Al Mamun, Barrister Nasrin Sultana Mili, and others, were also present at the event.

Following a high-level summit in Busan, South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a one-year trade agreement with China, aimed at easing ongoing trade tensions. Under the deal, tariffs on Chinese goods will be reduced from 57 percent to 47 percent. Trump emphasized that the agreement will automatically renew and described the negotiations as a major diplomatic success, stating, “Our deal is done.” Analysts see the tariff reduction as a significant step toward stabilizing U.S.-China economic relations. As part of the agreement, complex issues related to rare minerals have also been addressed. Trump confirmed he will visit China in April, while a visit by President Xi Jinping to the U.S. is expected later. Both leaders highlighted ongoing communication and the natural differences in national priorities between the world’s two largest economies.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Germany of deliberately turning a blind eye to Israel’s “genocidal acts” and “starvation policies” in Gaza. Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, Erdoğan sharply criticized Germany’s silence on what he described as Israel’s ongoing crimes against Palestinians, even during the ceasefire period.

Erdoğan claimed that Israel possesses nuclear and advanced weapons that it has used to threaten and attack Gaza, while Hamas lacks such arms. He questioned, “Is Germany not seeing this?” stressing that ending the mass killings and famine in Gaza is a moral duty for all nations, including Germany and Turkey.

The Turkish leader urged Germany and Turkey—two influential global powers—to work together toward achieving peace in Gaza. Erdoğan also called on humanitarian organizations such as the German Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent to take immediate action to prevent further massacres and starvation.

According to reports, Israel’s renewed attacks since Tuesday evening have killed over a hundred Palestinians, including 46 children, in violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement signed earlier this month.

Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement, has strongly condemned Israel for violating the Gaza ceasefire, warning that it will not remain silent amid continued Israeli attacks. The group accused both Israel and the United States of responsibility for the ongoing violence. Hamas emphasized that recent assaults represent a serious breach of the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire agreement, signed under U.S. supervision. The resistance movement reaffirmed its commitment to unity and adherence to the truce but warned that Israel will not be allowed to alter the status quo through military force. Hamas also denied involvement in the Rafah incident and criticized U.S. support of Israel, describing it as encouragement for further aggression. The warning comes after reports that Israel has killed at least 100 Palestinians in violation of the ceasefire.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly killed over 1,500 civilians in El-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur previously held by the Sudanese army. The massacre occurred over just three days as RSF troops captured the city following a 17-month siege. According to the Sudanese Doctors Network and Al Jazeera, RSF fighters executed civilians attempting to flee, marking what observers describe as a “true genocide.” The group also claims that RSF attacks — including bombings, starvation tactics, and extrajudicial killings — have killed nearly 14,000 people in El-Fasher over the past 18 months. Since the outbreak of war between the RSF and the Sudanese army in 2023, thousands have died and over 12 million people have been displaced. The Sudanese government stated that about 2,000 people have been killed in El-Fasher since Sunday, underscoring the country’s deepening humanitarian catastrophe.

Israel has carried out fresh airstrikes on Gaza, killing two Palestinians, despite announcing that the ceasefire would remain in effect. The attack, which took place in Beit Lahia on Wednesday evening, comes just days after more than 100 people, mostly women and children, were killed in heavy bombardments ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the death of an Israeli soldier in Rafah. Israel claims the latest strike targeted a weapons storage site that posed an immediate threat to its forces. The renewed assault has cast doubt on Gaza’s already fragile truce. The United States has stated that the ceasefire remains “not at risk,” while Qatar, a key mediator, expressed disappointment but remains hopeful about progress. The United Nations condemned the attacks, with Secretary-General António Guterres voicing deep concern over civilian casualties, including many children.

Eight political parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Khelafat Majlis, have demanded that a national referendum be held by November. On Thursday (October 30), leaders and activists from these parties gathered in front of the Election Commission (EC) to submit a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal. The demonstration was part of their campaign for a five-point demand centered on implementing the “July National Charter” and organizing a referendum within November.

During a brief rally, the leaders urged the EC to ensure a fair and equal environment for all political parties in the upcoming national election. They warned that if the EC fails to meet their demands, it would face the same loss of credibility as the previous commissions. Later, a delegation of senior leaders entered the EC office at noon to formally submit the memorandum.

The parties’ five-point demand includes: implementing the July National Charter, holding a referendum by November, introducing proportional representation in parliament, ensuring a level playing field, prosecuting corruption and oppression under the current government, and banning activities of the ruling alliance and its associates.

In a dramatic policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992. Citing the need to keep pace with rival powers like Russia and China, Trump announced the decision on social media ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. He claimed the U.S. nuclear arsenal remains the largest and most advanced in the world, followed by Russia and then China, which he described as “far behind.”

The United States halted nuclear testing in 1992 under President George H. W. Bush, marking the symbolic end of the Cold War era. However, Trump emphasized that he had already modernized America’s nuclear stockpile during his first term, arguing that the decision to resume testing was unavoidable despite acknowledging the “immense destructive power” of such weapons.

Trump’s announcement came shortly after he criticized Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile, signaling a stark reversal from long-standing U.S. policy. Warning that China could achieve nuclear parity within five years, Trump said the testing process would begin “immediately,” though he provided no operational details. The Nevada Test Site, where the last U.S. test was conducted, remains under government control.

Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that the Chief Adviser will soon make a final decision on the proposed referendum as intense disagreement persists among political parties. Speaking at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Thursday (October 30), he described the ongoing discord as disappointing, especially after 270 days of dialogue among parties. Nazrul noted that the initial disputes were about the agenda, but now divisions over the referendum have intensified tensions. He revealed that the issue was discussed in the Advisory Council meeting. The law adviser also warned that if any political party tries to impose its stance unilaterally on the government, it would undermine the spirit of July’s unity. He reaffirmed that the national election will be held in the first half of February and emphasized that maintaining a peaceful environment is a shared responsibility of both the government and political parties.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has asserted that the current interim government lacks the constitutional authority to give legal status to the “July Charter.” Speaking at a press conference on Thursday (October 30) at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, Fakhrul said that any executive order must be signed by the President, and therefore the interim administration cannot provide legal legitimacy to such a document.

He described the year-long activities of the Reform Commission and the National Consensus Commission as meaningless, terming them a waste of time and an act of deception against the nation. Fakhrul alleged that the commission’s proposals and recommendations are one-sided and being imposed on the people without proper political consensus. He also claimed that some agreed-upon clauses were secretly altered.

The BNP leader further criticized the clause stating that the commission’s recommendations would automatically become part of the constitution within 270 days, calling it undemocratic. Senior BNP leaders, including Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Maj (Retd.) Hafizuddin Ahmed, were present at the press conference.

Israel’s government has approved the construction of 1,300 new homes in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, located south of occupied East Jerusalem, according to Israeli media outlet Channel 14. The decision was reportedly made unanimously by Israel’s Special Planning and Building Committee earlier this week. The new housing plan, centered in the Har Harushim area near Alon Shvut, includes residential buildings, schools, public facilities, parks, and a large commercial center meant to serve surrounding settlements.

The approval comes amid renewed international criticism of Israel’s settlement activities. U.S. President Donald Trump recently commented that Israel was “not taking any action” in the West Bank, despite ongoing developments that contradict his statement. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been accelerating settlement expansion ahead of next year’s Knesset elections, aiming to establish facts on the ground that hinder the creation of a future Palestinian state.

Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government took office in late 2022, approximately 48,000 settlement units have been advanced in the West Bank, averaging about 17,000 units annually. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories as illegal under international law and a serious threat to the two-state solution.

The Ministry of Social Welfare has launched a technology-driven initiative to update the list of senior citizens receiving allowances under its social safety programs, describing it as a milestone for the caretaker government. Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid emphasized that for the first time, an accurate and transparent database will identify genuine beneficiaries through verification, biometric registration, and the Proxy Means Test (PMT) score. The project, currently piloted in eight upazilas including Mehendiganj, Shyamnagar, Tahirpur, Gouripur, Taraganj, Niamatpur, Ramgarh, and Kapasia, aims to eliminate irregularities and ensure that only eligible elderly citizens receive the allowances. The exercise will gradually expand nationwide, allowing the government to strengthen administrative capacity, maintain financial transparency, and provide timely social safety benefits to millions of senior citizens. Officials, beneficiaries, and local administrators participated in discussions via Zoom.

Hurricane Melissa, described by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the most powerful and slow-moving storm of the century, has left a trail of destruction across Jamaica and is now heading toward Cuba. The Category 5-equivalent hurricane made landfall near New Hope in southwestern Jamaica with wind speeds reaching 185 miles (295 km) per hour. Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed severe damage to hospitals, homes, and infrastructure, especially in the St. Elizabeth region, where widespread flooding has submerged entire communities. Over 500,000 people remain without electricity. The WMO reported that rainfall could reach up to 700 millimeters in some areas, raising the risk of catastrophic floods and landslides. So far, at least seven deaths have been confirmed across the Caribbean—three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Melissa maintains Category 4 intensity as it approaches southern Cuba, bringing threats of life-threatening winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall. Cuban authorities have begun mass evacuations and placed disaster response teams on maximum alert.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category-5 storm packing winds up to 250 km/h, has battered the Caribbean, leaving at least seven people dead—three in , three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned of catastrophic flooding, landslides, and storm surges that have submerged coastal regions and disrupted communication networks. More than 1.5 million people have been directly affected, according to the Red Cross. Jamaica has suffered severe power and communication outages, prompting the government to launch emergency operations and an online aid portal. Cuba has begun evacuating coastal residents as Melissa approaches its shores, expected to make landfall early Wednesday. Meteorologists attribute the storm’s extreme intensity to rising sea temperatures driven by climate change, signaling a deepening humanitarian crisis for the entire Caribbean region.

The Parents’ Unity Forum has called on the government to introduce a fully lottery-based admission system for all classes in private educational institutions, especially at the school level, for the 2026 academic year. In a joint statement, the organization’s president, valiant freedom fighter Md. Ziaul Kabir Dulu, and general secretary Md. Selim Mia said that implementing lottery-based admissions would make the process transparent, accountable, and free from irregularities, discrimination, and corruption. They emphasized that it would also protect young students from the stress and financial burden of admission coaching. The leaders warned that reinstating admission tests would revive the coaching business and increase pressure on parents. They further demanded the cancellation of all quotas, including those under the Education Ministry, to ensure fairness and remove controversy from the admission process. The Forum also urged authorities not to impose excessive admission fees on students.