United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for significant reforms in the UN Security Council, highlighting its lack of representation for Africa, Latin America, and several Asian countries. Speaking at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, he emphasized the need to review the veto powers of permanent members, noting proposals from the UK and France to limit their use. Guterres also addressed global financial inequalities, advocating a more inclusive and fair governance structure and urging multilateral development banks to triple their lending capacity for developing nations. On climate change, he stressed that G20 countries, responsible for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions, must lead initiatives, while all nations contribute according to their capacity. He called for concrete agreements at the upcoming Brazil conference to limit warming to 1.5°C and ensure $1.3 trillion in annual climate funding for developing countries by 2035.

Malaysia has confirmed its readiness to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Gaza, with Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasizing the country’s willingness to work alongside the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other like-minded nations. The announcement followed a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Anwar reiterated Malaysia’s firm support for Palestine and welcomed international legal positions condemning Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The discussion also covered Malaysia’s support for UN reforms, including the “Pact for the Future” and “UN80 Initiative,” ASEAN peace efforts in Thailand and Cambodia, inclusive dialogue in Myanmar, and global climate action, including Malaysia’s submission of its NDC 3.0 ahead of COP30. Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable development and ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

The Ministry of Food has refuted recent claims in a national daily suggesting that Bangladesh is buying U.S. wheat at inflated prices due to government contracts. The ministry emphasized that wheat imports are conducted under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement between Bangladesh and the United States, ensuring full transparency and adherence to international standards. In the first phase, 220,000 metric tons of wheat were imported at $302.75 per ton, followed by the second phase at $308 per ton. Comparisons made with Russian wheat prices in the media were misleading, as U.S. wheat costs include transportation, insurance, and port handling, whereas Russian prices reflect only delivery to the port. U.S. wheat is also nutritionally superior, containing 13.5% protein compared to Russia’s 11%. Considering quality, protein content, and transport costs, the slightly higher price is reasonable. The ministry affirmed that the entire import process remains competitive and fully government-approved.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has officially named Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh as his temporary successor should he be unable to carry out his duties. The announcement, published by the official WAFA news agency, clarifies that Al-Sheikh will oversee the organization of elections according to Palestinian law and hand over power to the elected government. Abbas’s decision effectively cancels Decree No. 1 of the Palestinian constitution, which previously designated the chairman or speaker of the Palestinian National Council as interim president in such cases. Abbas emphasized that the move aims to protect the political system, national security, and constitutional institutions of Palestine. Having led Palestine for over 20 years, Abbas first assumed office in January 2005 after the passing of Yasser Arafat in 2004.

Cyclone ‘Motha’, developing in the Bay of Bengal, is expected to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh, India, between Tuesday evening and night. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued warnings and updated signals for coastal ports including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra, lowering distant signal 1 and displaying distant warning signal 2. Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal have been advised to navigate cautiously near the coast until further notice. While the cyclone is unlikely to bring strong winds to Bangladesh, light to moderate rainfall is expected across the country for up to five days starting Monday evening. Meteorologists assure that the country will largely remain safe from storm surges and severe wind impacts, though coastal monitoring will continue.

Rajshahi University’s Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Professor Abdullah Al Mamun has drawn intense criticism following a controversial Facebook post about hijab and personal freedom. On October 27, he shared a photo of newly elected female hall council members wearing hijab and wrote, “I endorse this personal freedom. Tomorrow I’ll go to class wearing three-quarters and carrying a bottle of wine. Wine isn’t a drug! I even have a license to drink! Shibir and journalists, you’re welcome to come!” The post, perceived as mocking religious attire, was deleted soon after, but screenshots quickly went viral. Students gathered at Zoha Square that night, protesting and demanding disciplinary action. The Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) later submitted a five-point memorandum to the vice-chancellor. On October 28, Professor Mamun apologized publicly, saying the post was written in frustration and not meant to insult anyone. Campus tensions and debates continue.

The National Consensus Commission is set to formally submit its recommendations to the government today (October 28) regarding the implementation of the July National Charter. The final meeting of the commission took place on Monday at the chief adviser’s residence, chaired by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Commission Vice-Chair Ali Riaz, six members, and Special Assistant Monir Haidar were present. Members urged the government to also act on other reform commissions’ reports. Dr. Yunus emphasized the preservation of all documents, recordings, and visuals related to the commission’s work. The National July Charter, signed on October 17 by 24 political parties including the BNP-Jamaat alliance, aims to build a permanent culture of accountability and good governance. Gano Forum joined later, while NCP and some left parties are yet to sign. The commission’s recommendations are based on extensive consultations with political leaders, legal experts, and civil society representatives.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved filing a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary and journalist Nayeemul Islam Khan and his wife Nasima Khan Monty for failing to submit their wealth statements within the required deadline. ACC spokesperson and Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam confirmed the decision on Tuesday, October 28. Under Section 26(2) of the ACC Act, legal proceedings have been authorized, and the case may be filed today. Earlier, on January 7, the ACC began investigating alleged corruption and illegal assets belonging to Khan and his family. Financial intelligence reports revealed that the family maintained 163 bank accounts with transactions totaling over Tk 386 crore, of which Tk 379.52 crore was withdrawn. The report also found that Khan’s companies held 46 additional accounts involving Tk 127.64 crore. Khan went into hiding after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024.

Amazon is reportedly preparing to lay off nearly 30,000 employees as part of a major cost-cutting and restructuring initiative. According to three reliable sources, the process could begin as early as Tuesday, October 28. The move aims to align workforce levels with current business needs and reduce operational overhead. With approximately 1.55 million employees worldwide—about 350,000 of them in corporate roles—Amazon could cut up to 10% of its corporate workforce, marking its largest layoff since 2022, when 27,000 workers were dismissed. The upcoming layoffs may affect departments such as Human Resources, Devices, Services, and Operations. Team managers reportedly received training on how to notify affected employees via email. CEO Andy Jassy has been working to eliminate internal bureaucracy and streamline company processes, implementing over 450 changes based on employee feedback. The final number of layoffs may vary depending on Amazon’s financial priorities and evolving business strategy.

Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken warned that if Russia were to launch a missile strike on Brussels — the centre of NATO — the alliance would respond decisively, bluntly saying that “if Moscow fires a missile at Brussels, we will wipe Moscow off the map.” In an interview with Flemish daily De Morgen, reported by international outlets, Francken dismissed European doubts about United States commitment to Article 5, citing President Donald Trump’s pledge of full backing for NATO allies. He announced about 600 F-35 jets would be deployed across Europe, arguing those aircraft pose detection challenges for Russian forces. Francken cautioned against underestimating Russia’s military-industrial capacity and said Moscow has increased munitions production. He warned a potential Russia–China alignment could challenge the West and stressed the need for unity and stronger European defence coordination. His remarks underscore rising tensions, NATO deterrence postures and political debates over defence preparedness in Europe.

Israeli Army Chief Lieutenant General Yaal Zamir has declared that the war in Gaza will continue until Hamas returns the bodies of all Israeli hostages killed during the conflict. Speaking at a conference of IDF lieutenant commanders in Jerusalem on October 27, Zamir emphasized that the mission remains “sacred,” with two key goals — recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages and sustaining the campaign against Hamas. He stressed that the Israel Defense Forces are committed to fulfilling their moral and professional duty with courage and determination. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths. Although a ceasefire brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump began on October 10, the issue of returning the bodies of deceased hostages continues to hinder lasting peace.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 will today (Tuesday, October 28) hear defense arguments regarding the formation of formal charges against former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, and three others in two separate cases of crimes against humanity. The charges relate to killings of six people in Kushtia during the July-August Movement. The hearing will be conducted by a three-member bench headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. On Monday, the prosecution completed its presentation of three specific allegations—incitement, conspiracy, and murder—and sought to proceed with trial. The tribunal appointed state defense lawyers for absconding accused. Inu faces eight charges, while Hanif and others are accused in related cases. Inu was arrested in 2024 and remains in custody. The proceedings mark a major step in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to try crimes against humanity committed during periods of political unrest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially annulled the long-suspended plutonium disposal agreement with the United States by signing a new law on October 27. The agreement, originally signed in 2000, required both nations to eliminate 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium each — enough to make about 17,000 nuclear warheads — in a way that made it unusable for military purposes. Russia had already suspended the deal in 2016, accusing Washington of violating the terms by adopting an alternative plutonium disposal method. Moscow also cited U.S. “hostile actions” and NATO’s expansion as reasons for the final withdrawal. Analysts warn that the move marks another blow to the fragile framework of nuclear disarmament and may escalate tensions between Moscow and Washington, especially as the New START treaty approaches its 2026 expiry, raising concerns over renewed nuclear arms competition and global security instability.

Teachers from across Bangladesh continued their sit-in protests in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday (August 27), pressing for two major demands — MPO (Monthly Pay Order) inclusion for disabled schools and nationalization of Ebtedayee madrasas. Representatives of teachers from schools for students with disabilities said they have been living in dire conditions without regular salaries or allowances, despite the Ministry of Social Welfare announcing a list of nearly two thousand institutions eligible for MPO inclusion. They declared that they would not end their protest until their demands are met. Meanwhile, Ebtedayee madrasa teachers, also staging a continuous demonstration at the same venue, attempted to march toward the Chief Adviser’s Office but were stopped by police at Bailey Road. Following assurances from the Education Ministry’s secretary, they returned to the Press Club and resumed their peaceful sit-in.

Normal trade operations have resumed at the Benapole land port after the customs authority withdrew its temporary restriction that limited import and export activities beyond 6 PM. The decision came following strong objections from traders and reports of commercial stagnation along the Bangladesh–India border. Last week’s unannounced directive by the Customs Commissioner had caused severe traffic congestion at the border, disrupting the flow of perishable goods and reducing the number of trucks entering the port from 400–450 to only 160–180 daily. Business leaders from both countries expressed relief at the withdrawal, saying the earlier decision had increased costs, delayed shipments, and strained cross-border trade relations. Benapole Port officials confirmed that operations are returning to normal, and coordination with customs and related agencies is ongoing to ensure smooth trade.