Global gold prices fell sharply on Friday, November 14, following hawkish remarks from U.S. Federal Reserve officials that dampened expectations for an interest rate cut in December. Spot gold dropped 1.9% to $4,092.72 per ounce after falling more than 3% earlier in the session, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery declined 2.4% to $4,094.20. Analysts said the reduced likelihood of a rate cut increased pressure on gold and silver markets, triggering widespread selling across global equities. The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has also created a data vacuum, leaving both the Fed and traders uncertain ahead of next month’s policy meeting. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut in December has slipped from 50% to 46%. Meanwhile, physical gold demand in major Asian markets remained weak, and other precious metals such as silver, platinum, and palladium also saw declines despite maintaining weekly gains.

A violent clash broke out between students of Barishal Government Brojomohun (BM) College and transport workers at the Nathullabad bus terminal in Barishal on Saturday evening, following a dispute over the half fare policy. According to reports, students allegedly vandalized more than fifty buses after a student was physically assaulted by bus workers for demanding half fare. The incident escalated into a large-scale confrontation, leaving around fifty people, including students and workers, injured. Transport workers denied initiating any attack, claiming that students carried out the vandalism and assaulted several workers. Police have been deployed to the scene to bring the situation under control. The clash highlights ongoing tensions over student demands for discounted fares, a recurring issue in several parts of Bangladesh.

The president of the BNP’s Porsha upazila unit in Naogaon, Mozammel Shah Chowdhury, has been temporarily expelled from his position and the party over allegations of spreading false propaganda against a senior leader and violating party discipline. The decision was announced on Saturday, November 15, through a letter signed by district BNP general secretary Mamunur Rahman Ripon. The letter instructed all party members and affiliated organizations to refrain from maintaining any political contact with Chowdhury. In response, Chowdhury denied the allegations, claiming he never engaged in false propaganda or breached party discipline. He also criticized the expulsion process, saying he was not given any prior notice or opportunity to explain himself before the decision was made. The incident highlights ongoing internal tensions within the BNP’s local leadership in Naogaon.

Debate is intensifying in Bangladesh over how to regulate tobacco and safer nicotine alternatives amid rising concerns about illegal trade and public health. Experts and policymakers are divided: one group advocates for a balanced, evidence-based policy that protects health while recognizing market realities and offering smokers safer, regulated alternatives; another group calls for a total ban on all alternatives, a stance critics say ignores global evidence and could harm both health and the economy. National Board of Revenue Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan warned that illegal trade in tobacco and substitutes is causing major revenue losses and argued that regulation is more effective than prohibition. International examples from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States show that controlled harm-reduction strategies, such as nicotine pouches, can reduce smoking-related diseases and support cessation. Advocates say Bangladesh should follow a similar evidence-based approach to strengthen its tobacco control strategy and advance its goal of becoming tobacco-free.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has temporarily suspended senior leader and former Union Minister R.K. Singh, along with party member Ashok Agarwal, following the party’s strong performance in the Bihar Assembly elections, where it won 89 seats as the single largest party. According to official letters, both leaders were suspended for engaging in anti-party activities. The Bihar BJP unit has given them one week to provide a written explanation regarding their conduct. Party insiders told the Hindustan Times that Singh’s suspension was primarily due to his alleged criticism of fellow BJP leaders and his actions during the recent state elections. The move signals the party’s effort to maintain internal discipline and unity after a significant electoral victory.

A 24-year-old Indian Muslim man, Shibu Syed Jafri from Lucknow, has told a Dhaka court that Indian officials blindfolded and handcuffed him before forcing him onto a flight to Kolkata and later pushing him across the Bangladesh border at gunpoint. Shibu was detained in Dhaka on July 15 after locals reported a man who could not speak Bengali. He claimed he was abducted from a Delhi slum and had no intention of entering Bangladesh. The court has ordered an investigation into how he crossed the border, with a police report due by November 24. Human rights groups have long criticized India’s alleged practice of “push-ins,” where people are forcibly sent across the border into Bangladesh. Over 2,000 individuals, including Rohingya refugees, have reportedly been subjected to such actions this year. Shibu remains in custody in Dhaka, awaiting further hearings, while efforts continue to reunite him with his family in India.

Bangladesh’s total government debt has exceeded Tk 21 trillion for the first time, driven by weak revenue performance and ambitious development spending. According to the Finance Division’s debt bulletin released Thursday, total debt stood at Tk 21.44 trillion at the end of June, up 14% from Tk 18.89 trillion a year earlier. External debt reached Tk 9.49 trillion, accounting for 44.27% of total debt, compared to Tk 4.20 trillion in 2021. Domestic debt also rose by 11% year-on-year to Tk 11.95 trillion. Officials attribute the surge to increased borrowing for major infrastructure projects such as the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Dhaka Metro Rail, and Matarbari coal-based power plant, as well as post-pandemic budget support from development partners. The data indicates that external debt has grown more than twice as fast as domestic debt over the past five years.

Four police officers in Rajshahi have been temporarily suspended following the murder of Judge Mohammad Abdur Rahman’s son, Tawseef Rahman Tousif, and an attempted murder of the judge’s wife, Tasmin Nahar Lusi. The suspension came after a video of the accused, Limon Mia, recorded while in police custody, was leaked on social media, causing widespread embarrassment for the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP). The court has taken suo motu notice of the incident and ordered RMP Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian to appear in person on November 19 to explain the matter. Preliminary investigation found negligence of duty by the four officers assigned to guard Limon at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. They have been closed to the police lines, and a committee has been formed for further investigation. Authorities reiterated that publishing or broadcasting statements of detainees without authorization is illegal and can influence ongoing investigations.

Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that law enforcement agencies have completed all necessary preparations to prevent any untoward incidents surrounding the upcoming verdict against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, scheduled for November 17. Speaking to journalists in Patuakhali, he said a special nine-day security operation will be enforced nationwide around the forthcoming national election, covering five days before, election day, and three days after. Approximately 100,000 army personnel will be deployed, alongside 150,000 police, 35,000 Border Guard Bangladesh members, 5,000 navy, 4,000 coast guard, 8,000 Rapid Action Battalion officers, and around 550,000 Ansar members, who will be equipped with weapons and body cameras. Chowdhury assured that the election will be peaceful and that the security forces are fully prepared. He added that the election is expected to take place in early February before Ramadan, with administrative reshuffles to follow the official schedule announcement.

Munatashir Mahmud, a recently expelled central organizer of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), has alleged that his dismissal was orchestrated under pressure from Mahbub Alam, the brother of the party’s information adviser Mahfuz Alam. In a lengthy Facebook post on Saturday, Mahmud claimed that Mahbub used his influence to force NCP convener Nahid Islam to expel him. He further accused Mahbub of having him wrongfully terminated from his job and of threatening him in front of other party members. Mahmud also said he faced character assassination, including false claims about his sexuality, and that police attacked him and his supporters at Mahbub’s direction. He alleged that the party ignored his repeated complaints about corruption and internal injustice. Mahmud warned that he could release call recordings with adviser Mahfuz Alam to expose alleged corruption cover-ups. The NCP leadership has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.

Powerful explosions rocked an industrial complex in Ezeiza, near Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday night, injuring at least 15 people and triggering a massive fire that firefighters struggled to contain. The blasts, which occurred across several factories including a chemical and a plastics plant, sent thick smoke billowing into the air, severely reducing visibility in the area. As a result, flights at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Argentina’s main international gateway located nearby, were delayed or diverted. Local authorities deployed multiple fire engines and ambulances to the site, while hospitals in the Buenos Aires region activated emergency protocols to treat the injured. Most victims reportedly suffered burns and injuries from shattered glass caused by the shock wave. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the explosions, but the fire was described as complex and expected to take a long time to extinguish. Civil defense and health agencies continue to coordinate response efforts.

Bangladesh’s century-old paddle steamer PS Mahsud has been relaunched as a luxury river cruise vessel to promote the nation’s riverine heritage and boost tourism. The vessel was inaugurated at Dhaka’s Sadarghat by Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, with senior government officials in attendance. The steamer will begin regular tourist service on the Dhaka-Barishal route from November 21, offering passengers scenic daytime journeys. The restoration preserved its historic design while upgrading engines, safety systems, and navigation with modern technology, including low-emission engines to reduce river pollution. The cruise will feature traditional Bangladeshi cuisine, live music, and cultural performances to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. Officials also announced plans to renovate other historic steamers such as PS Ostrich, PS Lepcha, and PS Turn to further develop river tourism and preserve Bangladesh’s maritime legacy.

Major Chinese carriers—Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern—announced free refunds and itinerary changes for passengers with tickets to Japan purchased before noon on Saturday, following a travel advisory from Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry issued the warning late Friday, urging citizens to avoid travel to Japan, citing worsening safety conditions and a series of targeted attacks against Chinese nationals. The ministry also accused Japan’s leadership of making provocative statements on Taiwan, which it said had damaged the environment for Sino-Japanese relations and increased risks for Chinese travelers. The airlines’ refund policies will remain in effect for flights scheduled between Saturday and December 31. The move underscores heightened diplomatic tensions between China and Japan amid ongoing disputes over Taiwan and regional security issues.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s recent address announcing that Bangladesh’s national election and referendum will be held on the same day has eased long-standing political tensions among major parties. Despite initial reservations, the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) have largely accepted the decision. Analysts say Yunus’s speech successfully balanced the interests of the three parties, clearing obstacles to the February election. The BNP’s demand for a same-day referendum was met, Jamaat’s call for proportional representation in the upper house was acknowledged, and the NCP’s push for a constitutional reform council was accepted. Other parties, including Ganosamhati Andolon and Amar Bangladesh Party, also welcomed the move as a pragmatic solution. Observers believe the announcement has temporarily resolved the political impasse, enabling parties to focus on election preparations. However, they caution that implementing the July Charter, which underpins the referendum, may still face complexities in the coming months.

On Thursday, South Korea temporarily suspended all domestic and international flights for 35 minutes to ensure silence during the English listening section of the country’s highly competitive college entrance exam, known as the Suneung. Over 550,000 students took part in the nine-hour test, which plays a decisive role in determining university admission, career prospects, and social standing. Flights were grounded from 1:05 p.m. to 1:40 p.m., affecting about 140 flights, including 65 international ones. During this period, only emergency aircraft were allowed to operate. Authorities deployed police to help late students reach exam centers quickly, sometimes using motorcycles. Financial markets and offices opened an hour late to ease traffic congestion. The Suneung is a national event marked by strict discipline and cultural rituals, with many parents praying at churches or temples for their children’s success.