Newly elected New York Mayor Zohra Mamdani has called for a public boycott of Starbucks in solidarity with striking workers demanding a fair union contract. In a post on social media platform X on November 14, Mamdani stated that Starbucks employees are fighting for fair treatment and that he would refrain from purchasing from the chain until the dispute is resolved. The strike, dubbed the 'Red Cup Rebellion,' coincided with Starbucks’ busy Red Cup Day, when customers typically line up for free holiday cups. Organized by Starbucks Workers United, the walkout involved employees from over 25 U.S. cities. The union claims the company has refused to negotiate, warning that the strike could expand if talks stall. Starbucks, however, rejected the union’s demands, asserting that its workers already receive competitive pay and benefits, averaging $19 per hour and over $30 with additional perks.

The United States is reportedly preparing for a potential military strike against Venezuela, according to NPR. The Pentagon has announced a five-day naval exercise in Trinidad and Tobago, while the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, is set to arrive in the northern Caribbean Sea on November 16. Although President Donald Trump has not officially declared a direct attack, reports suggest that military preparations are nearly complete, involving 15,000 troops and 2,000 marines. Trump has hinted at having made a 'mental decision' regarding Venezuela but has not elaborated. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the U.S. exercises, accusing Washington of preparing for war. The Pentagon insists the operations are aimed at intercepting drug trafficking vessels, though officials have hinted at possible ground operations targeting Venezuela.

A Faridpur district Chhatra Dal leader, Khairul Islam Roman, has been expelled from his post after sharing an 11-second viral video showing BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir scolding a man. The central Chhatra Dal announced the decision in a press release on Sunday, citing a breach of organizational discipline. Roman, who served as joint general secretary of the district unit, said he shared the video on Facebook earlier that day but deleted it and apologized after realizing it might harm the party’s image. Despite this, the central leadership approved his expulsion, instructing all members to avoid organizational contact with him. Roman, a resident of Bhanga upazila, had previously contested a student union election in 2018 and recently gained attention for welcoming job candidates with flowers. He expressed disappointment over the decision, emphasizing the need for tolerance and mutual respect within politics.

Two crude bombs exploded outside the residence of Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, in Dhaka’s Central Road area on Sunday night. Witnesses reported that two unidentified assailants arrived quickly, threw the explosives, and fled the scene, causing panic among nearby residents. The incident occurred around 9 p.m., prompting an immediate police response. New Market Police Station Officer-in-Charge A.K.M. Mahfuzul Haque confirmed that law enforcement officials are reviewing CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. No injuries or major property damage were reported as of late Sunday. Authorities have increased security in the area and initiated an investigation to determine the motive behind the attack.

A 60-year-old woman named Jharna Chakma was killed and three others were injured after a herd of wild elephants attacked vehicles on the Asambasti-Kaptai connecting road in Rangamati’s Kamilachhari area on Sunday evening. The deceased was a resident of Chairman Para in Jibtali Union under Rangamati Sadar upazila. According to forest officials, two separate attacks occurred around 5:20 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., damaging two CNG-run auto-rickshaws and a motorcycle. Forest department teams, assisted by the army and fire service, rushed to the scene and evacuated travelers and tourists from the area by 7:00 p.m. The injured were taken to Rangamati General Hospital, where Jharna Chakma died on the way. Officials confirmed that two elephant herds, each consisting of six to seven elephants including calves, were involved in the incidents. Authorities have urged locals to remain cautious as elephant movement in the region has recently increased.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has identified combating misinformation and disinformation as the most critical challenge for the upcoming national election in Bangladesh. Speaking at a dialogue with registered political parties at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, he emphasized the need for political parties to cooperate in maintaining the electoral code of conduct. The CEC noted that misinformation has become a major concern that previous commissions did not face. Representatives from several political parties, including NAP, Khelafat Majlish, Islami Andolan, Bangladesh JASAD, and Ganofront, attended the dialogue. They raised issues such as the timing of consultations, the need for army deployment during elections, the importance of ensuring neutrality, and the separation of referendum and election dates. The CEC reiterated that the commission must remain impartial and cannot favor any party, urging all stakeholders to help ensure a fair and peaceful election process.

A fire broke out at the dumping yard of South Keraniganj Police Station in Dhaka around 10 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. According to Postagola Fire Service Senior Station Officer Sajedul Kabir Zowardar, the fire appeared to be an act of arson based on the condition of the blaze and eyewitness accounts. Two fire service units were deployed to control the flames, which destroyed a dumped laguna vehicle. A female witness reported seeing two unidentified men fleeing the scene as the fire started. However, Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Akhtar Hossain of South Keraniganj Police Station suggested that the fire might have originated from garbage combustion rather than deliberate arson. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident to determine whether it was accidental or intentional.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has requested the army headquarters to deploy troops to ensure security around the International Crimes Tribunal ahead of the November 17 verdict in a war crimes case involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others. Authorities fear potential unrest from banned Awami League activists during the announcement. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumdar, will deliver its ruling on charges of genocide linked to the July coup. The Ministry of Culture plans to broadcast the historic judgment live on large screens across Dhaka. Law enforcement agencies, including the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, have heightened alert levels and will deploy additional forces to prevent sabotage or violence. The Supreme Court administration confirmed that the letter seeking army assistance was sent on Sunday evening, underscoring the government’s concern over maintaining order during the high-profile verdict.

A liquor bar named Bangladesh Media Club Ltd., reportedly owned by fugitive journalist Nayeem Nizam, has sparked controversy over its licensing and operation. According to allegations by Aminur Rahman Khan from Purana Paltan, the bar received its license during the Awami League government under the direction of former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, allegedly bypassing regulations. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Nizam went into hiding, yet influential groups are reportedly trying to relocate and reopen the bar despite a Home Ministry order issued on April 15, 2024, prohibiting such transfers. Attempts to secure court approval also failed after the Attorney General’s Office opposed the move. However, reports suggest continued pressure on the Department of Narcotics Control to allow the bar’s operation. Observers have called for a thorough investigation, emphasizing that a fugitive cannot legally run a liquor business under existing laws.

Malaysian immigration authorities detained 123 migrant workers, including 45 Bangladeshi nationals, during an operation named 'Ops Mahir' at a plastic factory in Johor state. The raid, conducted on Saturday evening, followed weeks of surveillance and public complaints about illegal foreign labor employment. Johor Immigration Director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the detainees failed to produce valid work permits and were charged with violating the Immigration Act. The arrested workers include nationals from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, India, and Pakistan, aged between 20 and 48. One local human resources officer was also detained. During the operation, panic spread among workers, and several attempted to flee before officers sealed all exits. All detainees have been sent to the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further questioning, and authorities confirmed that legal proceedings are underway.

In Barguna’s Bamna upazila, leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and Chhatra League locked four local institutions, including Bamna Government College, late Saturday night in protest related to the verdict against Sheikh Hasina for alleged crimes against humanity. The other affected institutions were Bukabunia Union Parishad office, Bukabunia Land Office, and Bukabunia Adarsha Secondary School. Police reported that the locks were broken on Sunday morning and normal operations have resumed. Local Chhatra League leaders confirmed the incident through Facebook posts, claiming the action was part of their political program. The head teacher of Bukabunia Adarsha Secondary School said he found the school gate locked in the morning and informed the police, who then instructed reopening. Bamna Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Harun-or-Rashid Howlader stated that he visited the scene but found no visible evidence of the incident, though an investigation is ongoing.

Bus operations between Barishal and the rest of Bangladesh have been suspended following violent clashes and vandalism at the Nathullabad Central Bus Terminal on Saturday night. The unrest began after an argument over half fares between a BM College student and transport workers escalated, leading hundreds of students to attack the terminal, vandalizing over 150 buses and setting one on fire before firefighters intervened. Transport workers allege that large sums of money were looted and 20–25 workers injured, while students claim workers assaulted them first when they protested the harassment of a fellow student. Although no official strike was declared, bus owners and workers have stopped services citing safety concerns and heavy damage. The suspension has caused severe travel disruptions across the southern region, leaving passengers stranded. Bus owners estimate losses of several crores of taka, with most buses requiring extensive repairs before resuming service.

Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies are on maximum alert ahead of Monday’s verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others accused of crimes against humanity. The banned Awami League has announced a two-day nationwide shutdown starting Sunday, though its impact in Dhaka has been minimal so far. Authorities fear possible violence or sabotage by party activists around the verdict announcement. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has deployed additional forces across the capital and increased intelligence surveillance on roads, railways, and waterways to prevent unrest. Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury confirmed that the verdict will be delivered as scheduled on November 17 and assured that all necessary security measures are in place to maintain order. Police officials stated they are prepared to respond to any attempt at violence or disruption in the interest of public safety.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali has instructed officers to open fire on anyone attempting to set vehicles ablaze or hurl explosives such as cocktails. The directive, issued via radio communication on Sunday, November 16, comes amid heightened security concerns ahead of a tribunal verdict scheduled for Monday against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity. According to DMP officials, the commissioner emphasized that police have legal authority to use lethal force if lives or property are endangered. The order follows recent violent incidents in Chattogram, where the city’s police commissioner also authorized officers to shoot armed criminals. Authorities fear that banned pro-Awami League groups, including the Awami League itself and its student wing, may attempt to create unrest surrounding the verdict announcement. The directive underscores the government’s zero-tolerance stance toward potential violence and public disorder in the capital.

Bangladesh police have arrested 44 activists of a banned faction of the Chhatra League in Comilla for allegedly planning acts of sabotage reportedly financed by Suchana, daughter of former MP Bahuddin Bahar. The arrests took place between Saturday night and Sunday morning during raids across the city and district. According to police, the group was preparing for a flash procession and possible unrest in key city areas, including Tomchom Bridge, Badurtala, and Dhoromsagorpar. Officers recovered bamboo sticks, banners, and other materials believed to be intended for disruptive activities. Comilla’s Superintendent of Police Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan said the detainees face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit sabotage. Authorities are working to identify additional suspects, and security across the city has been tightened following the incident.