Global crude oil production is projected to increase in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook. The report forecasts total global fuel production, including refined products, to average 106 million barrels per day, up by 100,000 barrels from earlier estimates. Global consumption is expected to reach 104.1 million barrels daily. Due to higher supply, global oil inventories are likely to continue rising through 2026, reaching 31.8 billion barrels by the end of that year. The EIA anticipates the average Brent crude price to fall to $68.76 per barrel in 2024, down from $80.56 last year, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) may average $65.15 per barrel. US crude output is forecast to reach a record 13.59 million barrels per day this year before slightly declining in 2025 and 2026. Analysts note that the EIA’s monthly forecasts show only minor adjustments but maintain expectations of a supply surplus through next year.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has returned 12 Bangladeshi nationals, including a child, through the Meherpur border following a flag meeting with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The meeting took place about 100 yards inside Bangladeshi territory at the Kazipur border outpost in Gangni upazila. According to BGB officials, the individuals, hailing from Khulna, Rajbari, Sirajganj, Bagerhat, and Kushtia districts, had entered India illegally through brokers at different times and were later detained by Indian police. BSF company commander Sabvinder Singh formally handed them over to BGB company commander Subedar Shahabuddin. After the handover, the returnees were taken to Gangni police station. Officer-in-Charge Bani Israel stated that the returnees would be handed over to their families after completion of legal procedures.

Petrobangla plans to expand Bangladesh’s gas exploration capacity by adding six contract-based rigs to operate alongside Bapex’s five existing rigs, bringing the total to eleven rigs working simultaneously across the country. The move aims to accelerate drilling and well workover operations amid rapidly declining domestic gas reserves. The Energy Division targets drilling and rehabilitating 100 wells between 2026 and 2028 to meet growing energy demand. Several rigs, including those from Chinese companies CNPC and Sinopec, will be deployed under turnkey contracts, covering all materials and services. Petrobangla expects these efforts to add approximately 143 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid once completed. The initiative also includes new drilling projects in Titas, Sylhet, and Bhola, where pipeline construction is underway to transport surplus gas to the mainland. Officials emphasize that increasing local production is vital to reduce dependence on costly imported LNG, which poses economic risks for Bangladesh.

Nine months after Mohammad Ejaz took charge as administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), his pledge to build a 'just city' rooted in metmodern municipal ideals remains largely unfulfilled. Despite promises of equitable urban services, citizen participation, and nature-centered planning, Dhaka continues to suffer from severe traffic congestion, encroached sidewalks, poor waste management, and worsening dengue outbreaks. Experts say Ejaz, once a vocal river researcher, has failed to translate his theoretical commitments into tangible reforms. Parks and playgrounds remain under elite control, drainage systems are clogged, and infrastructure projects have created more disruption than relief. Environmentalists criticize his short-lived air purifier plan as misguided, while urban planners accuse him of catering to privileged groups. Ejaz defends his record, citing recovered playgrounds, pink toilets for women, and initiatives for marginalized communities. However, residents and specialists argue that the DNCC’s governance still reflects bureaucratic inertia rather than the participatory, equitable, and ecological principles promised under the metmodern urbanism framework.

The Bangladesh government has introduced the 'Fertilizer Dealer Appointment and Distribution Policy 2025' to streamline fertilizer supply to farmers and ensure transparency in distribution. Under the new policy, each union and municipality will have three dealers, each required to maintain a warehouse with a minimum capacity of 50 tons and two additional sales centers with 5–10 ton capacity. The policy bans multiple dealerships within the same family, prohibits government employees and convicted individuals from applying, and mandates digital record-keeping for sales and inventory. The security deposit has been raised from 200,000 to 500,000 taka, and dealer registration must be renewed every two years. The policy merges the dual dealership structures of BCIC and BADC, allowing dealers to sell both urea and non-urea fertilizers under one system. Violations of government contracts will result in dealership cancellation and forfeiture of deposits. The new policy takes effect Sunday, replacing all previous fertilizer distribution regulations.

US President Donald Trump has called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a Department of Justice investigation into former President Bill Clinton’s ties with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump’s demand follows the release of thousands of emails that have reignited questions about his own relationship with Epstein. The newly surfaced correspondence, published by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, includes references suggesting Trump’s awareness of Epstein’s activities. Trump dismissed the revelations as a political distraction, labeling them a 'hoax' and accusing Democrats of weaponizing the Epstein case to divert attention from the government shutdown. Bondi confirmed she had assigned US Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the probe. The controversy adds to ongoing bipartisan pressure on Trump’s administration to release all Epstein-related documents. Both Clinton and Trump have faced scrutiny for their past associations with Epstein, whose death in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges continues to fuel conspiracy theories.

Alphabet’s Google announced a $40 billion investment to build three new data centers in Texas by 2027, marking its largest U.S. state-level investment to date. The move aims to expand the company’s artificial intelligence and cloud computing capacity amid intensifying competition with Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI. One facility will be located in Armstrong County and two in Haskell County, with additional investments planned for Google’s Midlothian campus and Dallas cloud region. CEO Sundar Pichai said the initiative will create thousands of jobs, provide technical training, and support energy affordability programs across Texas. Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the investment, highlighting its contribution to workforce development and energy efficiency. The announcement follows similar large-scale AI infrastructure commitments by other tech firms, including Anthropic’s $50 billion U.S. data center plan and Google’s €5.5 billion expansion in Germany, reflecting a global race to build AI-ready infrastructure despite concerns about overvaluation and uncertain demand growth.

Blue Origin’s second-ever launch of its New Glenn rocket, intended to send NASA’s Escapade mission toward Mars, was postponed on Sunday due to thick cloud cover over Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot rocket, designed to rival SpaceX’s Falcon series, was scheduled to lift off during an 88-minute window but was grounded for safety reasons. The company said it is assessing new launch opportunities, possibly on Monday, though forecasts remain uncertain. The Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary restrictions on commercial launches during a government shutdown could further complicate scheduling. Blue Origin also plans to attempt recovery of New Glenn’s first-stage booster on a barge named Jacklyn, after a failed landing attempt in January. The Escapade mission, led by the University of California, Berkeley and funded by NASA, aims to study Mars’ atmospheric loss and space weather effects once the twin spacecraft reach orbit in 2027. Successful booster recovery is key to Blue Origin’s reusable rocket strategy.

Munatsir Mahmud, an expelled leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has issued a public threat against the party’s member secretary, Akhtar Hossain, demanding an apology within an hour. The ultimatum expired on Friday night without any response from Akhtar. Shortly after, Mahmud posted on Facebook, asking followers whether he should leak information about Akhtar, using social media reactions as a poll. Earlier, Mahmud had warned that failure to apologize would lead to unspecified 'action.' His removal from all party positions followed allegations of violating party discipline. The incident has drawn attention to internal conflicts within the NCP and the growing trend of political disputes being aired on social media platforms in Bangladesh.

Senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, attended a dinner hosted by Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yousef S.Y. Ramadan, on Friday, November 14. According to BNP’s media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, the event was attended by several top party figures such as Dr. Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, and Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid. Sources described the gathering as informal, with discussions reportedly covering regional political developments, the ongoing crisis in Palestine, and strategies for garnering international support. The meeting reflects continued diplomatic engagement between the Palestinian mission and major political parties in Bangladesh amid heightened global attention to the Middle East situation.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new two-year, $24 billion flexible credit line for Mexico to serve as a precautionary buffer against external risks. The new arrangement replaces a previous $35 billion line, reflecting Mexico’s reduced reliance on IMF support and improved economic resilience. This marks the country’s eleventh such arrangement since 2009, with the credit line size shrinking from a peak of $88 billion in 2017. The IMF noted that the smaller amount underscores Mexico’s stronger financial position and increased buffers. Mexican authorities plan to treat the facility as precautionary, citing sound fiscal management and reduced vulnerability to capital flow volatility. However, IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke cautioned that economic activity remains subdued due to fiscal consolidation, tight monetary policy, and trade tensions. The IMF emphasized that the credit line will continue to support Mexico’s macroeconomic stability and bolster market confidence.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has determined that a wall constructed by the Israeli military crosses the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon. According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the concrete T-wall built by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has made over 4,000 square meters of Lebanese territory inaccessible to residents. Another section of the wall under construction near Yaroun also reportedly extends into Lebanese land. UNIFIL informed the Israeli military of its findings and requested the removal of the wall, calling the construction a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty. The Israeli military denied the allegation, stating the wall is part of a broader border reinforcement plan initiated in 2022 to strengthen defenses along the northern frontier. UNIFIL, which has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978, continues to monitor the situation with more than 10,000 troops from 50 countries.

The Awami League, once Bangladesh’s dominant political party, is facing renewed internal crisis following its collapse on August 5, 2024, after a mass uprising ended its 15-year rule. Despite being banned from political activities, exiled top leaders, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are reportedly urging supporters to engage in violent protests such as the recent 'Dhaka lockdown' and arson attacks. Analysts and senior party members warn that these actions are deepening the party’s isolation and alienating remaining grassroots activists. Many leaders express frustration over the lack of direction, arguing that only a return to peaceful, reformed politics and public apology for past mistakes can restore credibility. Political experts caution that continued reliance on threats and violence could permanently destroy the party’s chances of revival. Meanwhile, Hasina’s public statements from abroad and calls for confrontation have further divided the party and drawn public disapproval, leaving its future uncertain amid growing despair among loyalists.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has accused Israel of deliberately obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza, warning that millions of Palestinians face worsening conditions as winter approaches. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told the UN General Assembly that Israel’s restrictions and funding shortfalls threaten essential services, including health care and education. The agency, employing 12,000 people in Gaza, is struggling to maintain operations after the United States suspended funding following Israeli allegations—without evidence—that some UNRWA staff were involved in the October 2023 Hamas attack. Despite a ceasefire stipulating 600 aid trucks daily, only about 150 are entering Gaza, leaving displaced families without adequate shelter or food. The UN has warned of catastrophic hunger, particularly in northern Gaza, where famine was declared earlier this year. Meanwhile, Israel has reopened the Zikim crossing for limited aid deliveries, and exchanges of captives and bodies between Israel and Hamas continue under the truce. Gaza health officials report receiving 15 more Palestinian bodies, many of which remain unidentified due to severe decomposition.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has arrested five leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations on allegations of planning sabotage and preparing for flash processions in the capital. According to a DMP press release issued on Friday, November 14, the arrests were made during raids conducted in several areas of Dhaka over the past 24 hours by the Lalbagh division of the DB. The detainees include Shahidul Islam, president of the central committee of Trinamool Jatiya Sramik League; Ruhul Amin, former member of the Sramik League’s Telihati Union unit in Gazipur; Zahidul Islam, former member of the Mongla Upazila Chhatra League in Bagerhat; Sathi Akter, women affairs secretary of the Sramik League’s Sripur Upazila unit; and Kamal Hossain, vice president of Kalindi Union Ward No. 2 Awami League under Keraniganj Police Station. Police said legal action is being taken against them.