National Citizens Party (NCP) South Region chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah has declared that his campaign will continue until extortionists are eradicated from society. Speaking at a courtyard meeting titled 'Politics in the Yard' in Padmakut Bazar, Debidwar, Comilla, on Sunday night, Hasnat said extortion today leads to tender manipulation tomorrow, warning that such practices threaten ordinary citizens’ livelihoods. He pledged to resist criminal influence in politics even if it costs him votes.

Hasnat emphasized his reliance on working-class supporters, saying that masons and laborers who were friends of his late father will serve as his election agents. He also expressed confidence in support from students, women, and expatriate Bangladeshis. Criticizing elitism in leadership, he stated that leaders who demand special treatment can no longer represent ordinary people.

The meeting, chaired by Debidwar NCP coordinator Jahangir Alam, was attended by youth organizers Nazmul Hasan Nahid, Md. Mujibur Rahman, Osman Gani Molla, and Shamim Kawser, reflecting growing grassroots mobilization within the party.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 of Bangladesh is scheduled to hold a hearing today regarding a contempt of court allegation against Advocate Fazlur Rahman, the BNP-nominated candidate for Kishoreganj-4 constituency. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder along with two other members, will review the case and may issue an order following the hearing. Rahman was earlier summoned to appear in person and explain his alleged derogatory remarks about the tribunal.

The contempt proceedings were initiated after a prosecution petition filed on November 26. Following the tribunal’s order on November 30, Rahman was instructed to bring his academic and professional credentials, including his Bar Council certificate. In response, he submitted a written apology to the tribunal’s registrar office on December 3, expressing unconditional regret. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam confirmed the submission.

The outcome of today’s hearing could determine whether formal legal action will proceed against Rahman. The case underscores the tribunal’s strict stance on maintaining judicial dignity and accountability in politically sensitive contexts.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) announced that 249,338 expatriates have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to cast ballots in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Of these, 228,147 are men and 21,191 are women. The EC will send ballot papers by mail to the registered expatriates’ addresses, marking the first time the country is using an IT-supported postal voting system.

The registration process began on November 19 and will continue until December 23. Eligible groups include expatriates, individuals in legal custody, and election officials on duty. Registration is open in more than 30 countries, including South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Australia. According to EC data updated on December 8, the initiative aims to ensure broader participation among overseas Bangladeshis.

The EC is targeting five million expatriate voters as part of its broader effort to expand electoral inclusion. The 13th national election is expected to be held in the first half of February 2025, with postal voting seen as a key test of digital election management.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has publicly revisited the 2013 Shapla Chattar killings, alleging that the Awami League government repeatedly used its affiliated youth and student wings to suppress political opposition through intimidation and violence. In a detailed Facebook post on December 8, Alam described the night of May 5, 2013, when clashes between security forces and Hefazat-e-Islam supporters in Dhaka’s Motijheel area led to numerous deaths.

Alam recounted his experience as a journalist at the time, verifying reports of gunshot victims in multiple hospitals and describing the government’s denial of casualties. He cited human rights groups that later estimated around 60 deaths, contradicting official figures. Alam also named individuals allegedly involved in the violence and linked subsequent killings to intra-party rivalries.

His statement has reignited debate over state accountability and political violence in Bangladesh. Analysts suggest the remarks could intensify scrutiny of past government actions and influence ongoing discussions about justice and political reform.

Ukraine’s armed forces now include more than 70,000 women, marking a 20% increase since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Over 5,500 of them are deployed directly on the front lines, while many others serve in technical and operational roles supported by modern warfare technologies, particularly drones.

Officials and soldiers say the rise in female participation reflects how technology has reshaped combat. Drones allow women to contribute effectively without traditional front-line exposure. Female drone pilots and technicians, such as those in the 9th Brigade and Khartia Corps, describe their missions as both challenging and transformative. President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier disclosed that around 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and nearly 390,000 injured since the invasion began.

Military recruiters have launched new campaigns targeting women, with female membership in some units up 20% since early 2024. As drone warfare evolves, it is redefining gender roles in Ukraine’s defense forces and signaling a broader shift toward technology-driven participation in modern conflict.

Seventeen former ministers, state ministers, and senior officials from Sheikh Hasina’s administration were produced before Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Monday in connection with alleged killings and crimes against humanity during the July–August 2024 unrest. The accused, including former law minister Anisul Huq, former education minister Dipu Moni, and former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, were brought under tight security from Keraniganj and Kashimpur prisons. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, is scheduled to review case progress and hear formal charges.

Prosecutors have filed separate formal charges against several high-profile figures, including Salman F Rahman, Hasanul Haq Inu, and Palak. The tribunal has also accepted charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Sheikh Hasina, issuing an arrest warrant for him. Allegations include curfew-related killings and suppression of protests during the 2024 movement. Security was heightened around the tribunal premises, with law enforcement conducting strict checks on all entrants.

The proceedings mark a significant escalation in post-Hasina accountability efforts, signaling a broader judicial push into alleged state actions during the 2024 crisis.

Thailand’s defense forces conducted airstrikes on Cambodian territory early Monday, December 8, following renewed border clashes. The strikes targeted Cambodian military depots in the Chong En Ma Pass area, which Thai officials claimed stored artillery and mortars used against Thai troops and civilians. Major General Winthai Suvari, head of the Thai military’s public affairs office, confirmed the operation, describing it as a response to a Cambodian attack that killed one Thai soldier and injured two others the previous day.

Cambodia’s military confirmed the airstrikes, stating they occurred around 5:04 a.m. local time and hit army installations. Cambodian officials accused Thailand of ongoing provocations along the border. No immediate reports of casualties or damage were released. The clashes prompted Thailand to evacuate thousands of residents from four border provinces—Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani—with CNN reporting that up to 70% of border communities have been relocated.

The renewed hostilities raise fears of a wider conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbors, who have a long history of territorial disputes near ancient temple zones.

Thailand and Cambodia have once again clashed along their shared border, breaking months of uneasy calm. On Sunday, troops from both sides exchanged gunfire in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province, leaving at least two Thai soldiers injured. The Thai military reported that Cambodian forces opened fire around 2:15 p.m. local time, prompting a retaliatory response that lasted roughly 35 minutes. Thousands of residents from four Thai border provinces were evacuated to safety following the incident.

The skirmish occurred shortly after Thailand lodged a formal complaint at the United Nations, accusing Cambodia of secretly planting landmines inside Thai territory. Bangkok claimed that several Thai and Chinese nationals had been injured by the explosions and urged the UN to investigate. Phnom Penh has not yet issued an official response.

This latest confrontation threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire brokered last July after a five-day conflict that killed 32 people. Regional observers warn that renewed hostilities could destabilize the broader Southeast Asian border region unless diplomatic channels reopen quickly.

England head coach Brendon McCullum admitted that his team’s heavy defeat to Australia in the Brisbane pink-ball Test was partly due to overtraining. Following the eight-wicket loss, McCullum said the players may have practiced too much instead of focusing on mental freshness. England had skipped a warm-up match before the Test, a decision that drew criticism, but McCullum argued the real issue was excessive preparation.

He explained that the game is played as much in the mind as on the field, emphasizing the need to stay physically ready yet mentally fresh to make sound decisions under pressure. England’s batting faltered despite a 96-run stand between Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, and the team was bowled out for 241 in the second innings. Australia chased 65 runs in just 10 overs to secure a 2–0 series lead.

Critics, including former captain Michael Vaughan, had earlier questioned England’s preparation strategy. The team’s poor record in pink-ball Tests—two wins in eight matches—adds to the scrutiny over their training and planning approach.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that he will not retire from politics even if he receives a presidential pardon in his ongoing corruption trial. Speaking to reporters on December 7, Netanyahu firmly rejected the idea of stepping down, emphasizing his intention to continue leading despite legal challenges.

Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog last month, arguing through his lawyers that frequent court appearances hinder his ability to govern effectively. His legal team contends that a pardon would serve the national interest. However, Israeli legal tradition allows pardons only after a verdict is delivered, making Netanyahu’s request highly unusual. The prime minister faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all of which he denies.

Opposition leaders have criticized the pardon request, insisting that Netanyahu should resign or admit guilt before any clemency is considered. Some have also called for early elections before the scheduled 2026 vote. The debate underscores deep political divisions as Netanyahu continues to lead amid mounting legal and political pressure.

An air ambulance carrying medical support for former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9. The aircraft will later depart for London around 9 p.m. the same day, pending final medical evaluations and logistical preparations by Zia’s medical team.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the flight has been granted landing permission and will operate as a special medical evacuation mission. The air ambulance is a Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet, a model widely used for long-distance medical transfers due to its range and onboard medical facilities.

Zia’s planned transfer follows weeks of concern over her deteriorating health. Her medical team and party officials have been pressing for advanced treatment abroad. Any change in her condition or readiness could alter the flight schedule, officials said.

At least 23 Afghan Taliban soldiers were killed in cross-border attacks by Pakistani forces over the past two days, according to a report by Pakistan’s The News on Sunday, December 7. The clashes occurred near the Chaman border in Balochistan, where Pakistani troops reportedly responded to gunfire from Afghan forces who allegedly violated a ceasefire late Friday night in the Zaman sector.

Sources cited by the report said the exchange began with small arms fire and escalated to heavy weaponry, including rockets and artillery, lasting around 45 minutes. Three Afghan border posts were reportedly destroyed. Pakistani sources claimed precision weapons were used to avoid civilian casualties, though Afghan troops later moved into populated areas, prompting further retaliatory fire.

The incident underscores the fragile security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, where tensions have grown since the Taliban’s return to power. Both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations, raising concerns about potential escalation and civilian safety in border communities.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has urged party members and the public to stay alert against fake Facebook accounts operating under his name. In an official statement, he clarified that he has never opened a Facebook account and that any posts or comments attributed to him on such pages are entirely fabricated.

Rizvi stated that unidentified groups have been spreading false statements through these accounts, misleading the public and tarnishing his reputation. He mentioned that he had previously filed a general diary with the police and informed the media about the issue. The BNP leader also requested the authorities and Facebook to take immediate action to close the fake accounts.

He further appealed to his party colleagues and citizens not to be misled by any content shared from these fraudulent profiles, emphasizing the need for vigilance against misinformation on social media platforms.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has released a new ‘Private Educational Institutions (School and College) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy 2025’, introducing major changes for non-government schools and colleges. The policy, published Sunday by the Secondary and Higher Education Division, allows inclusion of honors and master’s level teachers under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme and revises institutional eligibility indicators. Each class must now have at least 55 students for MPO consideration.

Deputy Secretary Syed A.Z. Morshed Ali said the policy updates BEd scale eligibility, permitting teachers with degrees from private institutions affiliated with the National University or University Grants Commission to receive the benefit. The policy also formally abolishes the senior lecturer post and consolidates earlier amendments. Clause 24 emphasizes professional ethics, prohibiting coaching business and notebook dependency among MPO teachers.

Education stakeholders view the reforms as a step toward standardizing teacher qualifications and institutional accountability. Implementation is expected in 2025, with monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance and quality improvement across private education institutions.

Japan and Australia have announced a new 'Strategic Defense Coordination Framework' following a high-level meeting in Tokyo, aiming to deepen defense and security cooperation in response to China's growing military activities in the region. The initiative comes just a day after Japan accused Chinese fighter jets of targeting its aircraft with fire-control radar near Okinawa, prompting an official protest from Tokyo.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles said the framework will institutionalize annual meetings among defense, military, and intelligence officials. Cooperation will extend across cyber defense, space, logistics, and supply-chain management. Both ministers emphasized a 'firm but restrained' approach to maintaining regional stability amid China's assertive posture.

Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated sharply, particularly after remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan’s security implications. Analysts say the new Japan-Australia alignment signals a broader regional effort to counterbalance Beijing’s influence and ensure freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.