At least 35 passengers were injured in a road accident in Kalukhali upazila of Rajbari district when one bus hit another, causing one of them to plunge into a roadside ditch. The incident occurred on the Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway on Monday afternoon. Police from Pangsha Highway Station, led by Sub-Inspector Sajjad Hossain, visited the scene and confirmed that no fatalities were reported. The injured passengers were rescued and taken to Rajbari and Kalukhali hospitals for treatment. Several of the victims sustained serious injuries and were referred to other medical facilities for advanced care. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Bangladesh’s inflation will remain elevated in the current fiscal year, reaching an average of 8.8% in 2025–26 before easing to 5.5% in 2026–27. Following a 13-day review mission in Dhaka, IMF mission chief Chris Papageorgiou praised Bangladesh’s progress in maintaining macroeconomic stability but warned that weak tax revenue, financial sector vulnerabilities, and persistent inflation continue to pose challenges. The IMF recommended maintaining tight monetary policy until inflation falls to the 5–6% target range, strengthening tax administration, rationalizing subsidies, and expanding social safety nets. It also called for credible strategies to address banking sector weaknesses and accelerate climate financing efforts. The IMF noted that if reforms continue, GDP growth could reach about 5% by 2026–27, but delays could slow recovery and heighten inflation risks.

Bangladesh now ranks second in South Asia for diabetes prevalence, with 13.2% of adults aged 20–79 affected, according to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) 2024 report. Only Pakistan has a higher rate at 31.4%. Experts attribute the rise to rapid urbanization, unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, and stress. They warn that without lifestyle changes, the disease could lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and blindness. The IDF estimates that 43.5% of Bangladeshi diabetics remain undiagnosed, and the number of patients could reach 22.3 million by 2045. Health specialists urge nationwide screening, awareness programs, and workplace initiatives promoting exercise and healthy eating. This year’s World Diabetes Day theme, “Build awareness at the workplace,” highlights the need for supportive work environments to reduce diabetes risks.

A college student named Saiyaf, 18, died after jumping into the Turag River while fleeing from locals who chased him following an arson attack on a stationary bus in Dhaka’s Shah Ali area on Thursday night. Police said Saiyaf and two other students agreed to set the bus on fire as part of a deal to earn money for a party. Another student, Nahian Amir Sani, 18, was caught by locals and handed over to police, while a third suspect managed to escape. The fire was started by pouring kerosene on the bus and filming the act on a mobile phone. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the fugitive and are taking legal action against the detained suspect. The incident has raised concerns about youth involvement in reckless and criminal activities.

Jagannath University has announced that its 2025–26 academic year undergraduate and BBA first-year admission tests will be conducted solely through multiple-choice questions (MCQs), replacing the previous written format. The decision aims to ensure fairness in evaluation and reduce travel and safety concerns for students. The exams will be held simultaneously in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Cumilla using identical question sets. Each test will carry 100 marks, with 72 for MCQs and the rest based on SSC and HSC GPA scores. Subject combinations will vary by faculty, covering areas such as English, mathematics, general knowledge, and science. Online applications will open on November 20 and close on December 3, with unit-based fees ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 taka. The admission tests are scheduled between December 13 and January 23 across different faculties.

Dr. Mirza Galib, former president of the Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir and now an assistant professor at Howard University in the United States, shared his perspective on public understanding of the upcoming referendum. In a verified Facebook post, he said that if citizens believe reform proposals are best handled by 'intelligent' representatives in parliament, they will likely vote 'no'. Conversely, if they think ordinary people and lawmakers have similar judgment or trust the reform initiatives and the government of Dr. Yunus, they may vote 'yes'. Galib added that parties like Jamaat, NCP, and AB Party fully support the reforms, and voters who trust these groups may also favor 'yes'. He emphasized that the issue should not be overcomplicated.

Bangladesh’s interim government press secretary Shafiqul Alam has questioned why the nation needs validation from a 'genocidal figure' to understand its own political history. Referring to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent statement denying US involvement in the July Revolution, Alam argued that such claims undermine the spontaneous nature of the movement. He described Hasina’s long political career as deeply influenced by personal trauma and post-traumatic stress, noting her frequent references to her family’s assassination. Alam also criticized her tendency to frame political setbacks as foreign conspiracies, citing past claims involving US interests. He further remarked that Hasina’s supporters, including sections of the media and civil society, had elevated her to a quasi-spiritual status during her final years in power, a phenomenon he linked to lingering loyalty among some educated citizens.

A US proposal to establish a UN-mandated international stabilization force (ISF) in Gaza has encountered opposition from Russia, China, and several Arab nations. The draft resolution, part of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, includes a 'Board of Peace' mechanism that Moscow and Beijing want removed. Arab countries have also expressed concerns about the lack of a clear role for the Palestinian Authority and an uncertain timeline for Israeli withdrawal. In response, Washington added language on Palestinian self-determination to the revised text. Despite US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call for swift passage, divisions within the UN Security Council persist. The UAE and others say the framework for the ISF remains unclear, while some warn the US might act outside the UN if talks fail. The debate underscores deep geopolitical rifts over Gaza’s post-war governance and statehood prospects.

The Ministry of Education of Bangladesh has finalized and published the admission policy for government schools from grades one to nine for the 2026 academic year. The policy, signed by Secretary Rehena Parveen, sets strict age limits, requiring students to be at least five and at most seven years old as of 2026, with a five-year relaxation for special needs students. Each class section will have a maximum of 55 students, and online birth registration verification will be mandatory. Applications and lotteries will be managed digitally by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), allowing up to five school preferences per student. The catchment area system in Dhaka remains unchanged, reserving 40% of seats for local students. Other quotas include 5% for freedom fighters’ children, 2% for special needs, and 3% for siblings. The digital lottery will be held on December 14, with admissions from December 17–21.

The BBC has apologised to former US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode that misleadingly edited parts of his 6 January 2021 speech, creating the impression he directly called for violence. The broadcaster admitted the error and said it would not re-air the 2024 programme but refused Trump’s $1bn compensation demand, arguing there was no defamation case. The controversy prompted the resignations of BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. The BBC said the edit was unintentional and aimed to shorten the speech, not mislead viewers. Trump’s lawyers have threatened legal action unless the BBC issues a full retraction and compensation. The corporation maintains that the programme did not cause harm and that political speech enjoys strong legal protection. A similar editing issue in a 2022 Newsnight broadcast has also come under scrutiny, adding to the BBC’s editorial challenges.

Abdul Mannan, a 40-year-old senior vice president of the Sorfovhata Union unit of the Labour Party, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Rangunia, Chattogram, late Thursday night. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. in the Bulinna Bari Tek area of the union’s 6th ward. Locals discovered Mannan’s body beside a road near his motorcycle, with four bullet wounds on his body. Police confirmed the recovery of the body and said his mobile phone was missing. Mannan, originally from Sorfovhata, lived in a rented house in Chandraghona with his wife and two daughters. He had recently returned from abroad and was involved in several business ventures. Law enforcement authorities have begun an investigation to determine the motive and identify the perpetrators behind the killing.

Ukraine’s Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk resigned on November 12 following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for their departure amid a major corruption scandal involving the state nuclear power company Energoatom. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is investigating alleged kickback schemes linked to Energoatom and several senior officials, including Halushchenko, though no formal charges have been filed against him. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed submitting their resignation requests to parliament and announced the suspension of Energoatom’s vice president. Zelensky emphasized that the resignations were necessary to restore public trust and pledged sanctions against others implicated. The government also dismissed Energoatom’s supervisory board and ordered a new audit to strengthen oversight. The scandal has intensified scrutiny of corruption within Ukraine’s energy sector as the country continues to face wartime challenges and infrastructure strain.

Bangladesh’s interim government National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman will travel to New Delhi on November 19 to attend the Colombo Security Conclave meeting of Indian Ocean region national security advisers, hosted by India on November 20. The visit comes at the invitation of Indian NSA Ajit Doval. While Dhaka has not confirmed whether Rahman will hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart, diplomatic sources suggest a possible meeting amid Bangladesh’s evolving political situation. This will be the second visit to India by an adviser from Bangladesh’s interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus. The Colombo Security Conclave, comprising India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Bangladesh, focuses on regional cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism, cyber defense, and disaster response. Bangladesh became a full member in 2024, marking a step toward deeper regional security collaboration.

Russia launched a large-scale combined air assault on Kyiv early Friday, injuring at least 11 people and igniting fires across multiple districts, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Emergency crews battled blazes and cleared debris as officials urged residents to remain in shelters during the ongoing attack. Several residential and nonresidential buildings, as well as medical and educational facilities, were damaged in districts including Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Podilskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi. In the wider Kyiv region, strikes damaged critical infrastructure and private homes, injuring at least one civilian. The assault came amid renewed European Union calls for Ukraine to intensify anti-corruption efforts following a recent graft scandal, while reaffirming continued financial and military support for the country’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

Abu Dhabi-based company LOOD has launched 'Heli,' the UAE’s first hybrid autonomous cargo aircraft, marking a major milestone in the nation’s aviation and logistics innovation. Witnessed by Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the maiden flight took place during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week. Designed, developed, and manufactured entirely by Emirati engineers, Heli is built for medium-range heavy cargo operations with a 700-kilometre range and a 250-kilogram payload capacity. The aircraft uses a hybrid propulsion system that combines electric motors for vertical takeoff and an internal combustion engine for horizontal flight, optimizing efficiency and range. LOOD CEO Rashid Matar Al Mannaei described Heli as a step toward sustainable and autonomous air logistics, capable of connecting ports and industrial zones without traditional airports. The project underscores the UAE’s ambition to become a global leader in intelligent air mobility solutions.