The United States Treasury Department has announced sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his wife, and his son, accusing the administration of supporting drug traffickers. According to the statement, cocaine production in Colombia has surged since Petro took office, leading to an influx of the drug into the United States. Treasury officials warned that instead of combating drug networks, the Colombian leadership is allegedly enabling them, prompting Washington to take strong punitive action. In response, President Petro denied the accusations, calling them false and claiming that cocaine production has actually decreased under his government. He emphasized that Colombia has seized record amounts of cocaine during his administration and concluded with a defiant slogan used by leftist movements in Latin America: “We will not take a single step back and will never kneel.”

The government is preparing to implement a new pay scale for its employees within the tenure of the current interim administration, without waiting for the next political government. The Finance Division acknowledges the additional financial burden but believes higher salaries will boost revenue through income tax and increased housing rent collections. The minimum salary is expected to rise from BDT 8,250 to over BDT 16,000, bringing more employees under the tax net. The Pay Commission is actively reviewing public and employee feedback to finalize recommendations. Officials note that competitive salaries are essential to attract skilled personnel, maintain professional efficiency, and ensure good governance, especially as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the least developed country category in 2026. Budget allocation for the revised pay scale will be included in the fiscal year 2025-26 revised budget.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have claimed responsibility for killing Abbas Hassan Karki, Hezbollah’s southern front logistics chief, in a drone strike near the town of Toul in southern Lebanon on October 24. According to the IDF, Karki had led efforts to rebuild Hezbollah’s combat capabilities, assisted in reconstructing damaged infrastructure, and oversaw weapons transfers and storage in the region. The IDF described his actions as a violation of the understanding between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that two people were killed and two injured in the strike but did not comment on Israel’s claim regarding Karki. The attack comes amid ongoing tensions, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, following a conflict that killed over 4,000 people, injured 17,000+, and displaced roughly 1.4 million Lebanese.

Bangladesh has secured the second position among countries successfully exporting value-added products to the U.S., trailing Cambodia and outpacing Vietnam, according to the latest IMF report. Cambodia leads with a 21% growth in value-added exports, while Bangladesh recorded a 20% increase, primarily driven by ready-made garments, leather goods, and handicrafts. The IMF highlights that Asian countries heavily depend on markets in Europe and the U.S. for foreign currency through exports and remittances. Strengthening value addition in products enables higher export opportunities, fostering competition among exporters. While Sri Lanka maintained steady exports, other nations saw a decline. Countries like Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and Thailand lagged in boosting value-added export growth. The report also kept Bangladesh’s GDP growth forecast at 4.9% for the current fiscal year.

Although the construction of a 250-bed modern hospital in Bandarban was completed six years ago, it has not yet been inaugurated due to administrative delays and the absence of staff recruitment. The old 100-bed hospital, established in 2005, now struggles to accommodate the growing number of patients from both urban and remote hill areas. Many patients are forced to lie on the floor due to a severe shortage of beds. The new facility—built at a cost of Tk 36 crore—includes advanced medical infrastructure such as ICU, CCU, isolation wards, and surgical units. However, without approval and manpower, it remains unused, depriving thousands of residents of better healthcare. Locals believe that opening the hospital would significantly reduce patient suffering and improve medical services. The civil surgeon has confirmed that the infrastructure is ready and the hospital will open soon after administrative approval.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia will never yield to U.S. pressure, following sanctions imposed on state-owned oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, along with their affiliates. The sanctions, introduced by the Trump administration, aim to cut funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine and could raise global oil prices by up to 5%. While Putin admitted the measures may cause “some damage” to Russia’s economy, he dismissed them as a failed attempt to coerce the country. He warned that any attacks on Russia using U.S.-supplied weapons to Ukraine would trigger a strong, though limited, response. Meanwhile, China and India, Russia’s largest oil buyers, are reportedly reducing imports in reaction to the sanctions. The planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest may also be canceled, though Putin stressed he remains open to dialogue.

Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Adviser on Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, has called for an ordinance to prevent controversy over the neutrality of interim government advisers. Political parties recently raised concerns about the impartiality of some advisers, including Fawzul himself. In a Facebook post on October 24, he shared that questions regarding advisers’ neutrality emerged during a meeting between the Chief Adviser and representatives of three political parties. Fawzul clarified that he has always made decisions without bias and has never allowed personal preferences to influence his work. To resolve the issue, he proposed that the ordinance explicitly bar the Chief Adviser, advisers, special assistants, and all contract-based interim government officials from taking any profitable positions in the next elected government, regardless of the ruling party. He added that this rule would not apply to those resigning before the election schedule is announced.

China’s state-owned oil companies, including PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, and Zhenhua Oil, have temporarily suspended purchases of Russian oil shipped by sea in response to U.S. sanctions on Russia’s top energy firms, Rosneft and Lukoil. The move comes amid concerns about potential legal and financial risks. India, the largest buyer of Russian seaborne oil, is also reducing imports for similar reasons, which could significantly impact Russia’s oil export revenues and pressure global crude markets. China imports roughly 1.4 million barrels of Russian oil by sea daily, mostly purchased by independent “teapot” refineries, while state-owned companies account for smaller volumes. Pipeline imports of nearly 900,000 barrels daily, managed solely by PetroChina, are expected to remain largely unaffected. Traders predict that India and China will now seek alternative oil sources from the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, potentially driving up global oil prices further.

Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP) has fully prepared for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, deploying around 600,000 members as the first line of defense at polling centers. The force will work closely with other law enforcement agencies to maintain security and ensure public confidence. For the first time, a digital monitoring system will track members’ performance, location, and conduct in real time using their National ID, QR code, and service records. Extensive training, including leadership, advanced, and youth leadership programs, has been conducted, with refresher courses planned just before the elections. Recruitment policies have been updated to include younger members aged 18–25, with women constituting nearly 50% of the force. Both armed and unarmed Ansar members will receive new uniforms, jackets, and security equipment. The force will operate on a system-based model, ensuring accountability and professionalism.

U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly canceled all ongoing and future trade talks with Canada, citing a recent advertisement that featured former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Trump announced the decision on Truth Social, calling Canada’s actions “disgraceful.” The move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the two nations, which are major trading partners. During his previous term, Trump had imposed a 35% tariff on Canadian imports, with exemptions for products under the USMCA—his landmark free trade deal with Mexico and Canada. He also levied 50% tariffs on metals and 25% on automobiles imported from Canada. This latest decision threatens to destabilize North American trade relations and could have significant economic repercussions for both sides if maintained in the long term.

Two weeks after the ceasefire in Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that hunger and malnutrition remain at catastrophic levels. The agency said that Israeli restrictions are preventing sufficient humanitarian aid, including food, from reaching the besieged population. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) revealed it can deliver only 750 tons of food daily—far below its 2,000-ton goal—due to limited entry points. A UN report noted that a quarter of Gaza’s population, including 11,500 pregnant women, faces hunger, while 70% of newborns are premature or underweight. Aid groups, including Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council, accused Israel of indiscriminately blocking relief shipments. Local NGOs report rising food prices and shortages of nutritious items like seeds and olives. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the situation remains dire as aid entering Gaza is far below what’s needed.

World Bank President Ajay Banga has warned that 1.2 billion young people will enter the global workforce over the next 25 years, but current economic growth is failing to create sufficient job opportunities. Speaking at the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, Banga emphasized that the world must prepare now to avoid a massive generational failure. He noted that by 2050, 85% of the world’s population will live in developing countries, where lack of education, skills, and employment could trigger inequality and instability. Banga stressed the importance of job creation in five key sectors—infrastructure and energy, agriculture and agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and mineral production and processing—and urged developing countries to modernize these sectors to attract private investment. He also called for global unity and compassion, reminding that employment, climate change, and governance are shared global challenges.

The interim government is considering advanced surveillance measures for the upcoming national parliamentary elections, including the use of drones, installation of CCTV cameras at polling centers, and equipping police officers with body cameras. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced the plans during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. He said legal aspects are under review to ensure the measures comply with regulations. The proposals were discussed earlier in the day during an advisory council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In another announcement, the government decided to open a new Bangladeshi consulate in Detroit, Michigan, to expand diplomatic and consular services. The Chief Adviser directed that all operations be managed online, ensuring full digital capability from the consulate’s inception.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has officially announced the schedule for the 2025-26 academic year cluster admission tests. The examinations will begin on March 27, 2025, with the ‘C’ Unit test, followed by the ‘B’ Unit on April 3 and the ‘A’ Unit on April 10, allowing a one-week interval between each test. The meeting deciding the schedule was held on Thursday afternoon in the UGC conference room at Agargaon, Dhaka. Professor Dr. Tanzim Uddin Khan, UGC member in charge of public universities, delivered the welcome speech, while Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam and vice-chancellors of the cluster universities attended the meeting. The date for opening applications has not yet been announced and will be finalized in a subsequent meeting. Students across the country are now preparing to apply and sit for these highly competitive admission tests.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 of Bangladesh has set November 13 as the date for announcing the verdict in a war crimes case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and one other accused. The charges stem from alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July–August 2024 movement. The three-member bench, headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumdar, confirmed the date after concluding hearings on October 23. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman presented final arguments on behalf of the prosecution, while state-appointed defense counsel Md. Amir Hossain argued for the absconding accused, seeking acquittal. The defense challenged witness testimonies, claiming bias and coercion. The prosecution insisted the evidence proved command responsibility and direct involvement. The verdict is expected to have significant political and legal ramifications in Bangladesh’s ongoing accountability process.