Former US President Donald Trump said he is considering a deal to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, to Saudi Arabia. The announcement comes ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s planned visit to the White House, where economic and defense agreements are expected to be discussed. Trump described the upcoming meeting as an occasion to 'honor' Saudi Arabia and expressed hope that Riyadh would eventually join the Abraham Accords. However, a Pentagon intelligence report has reportedly raised concerns that such a sale could risk sensitive technology being accessed by China. The potential deal is part of broader US-Saudi defense talks, with Riyadh seeking security guarantees and access to advanced weaponry. The two nations have long maintained a strategic partnership centered on oil and defense cooperation.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that a certain group is trying to create division within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for its own benefit. Speaking at a gathering in Godagari, Rajshahi, after visiting the grave of late BNP leader Barrister Aminul Haque, Fakhrul urged party leaders and activists to remain vigilant and united. He introduced retired Major General Sharif Uddin, who received BNP’s preliminary nomination for the Rajshahi-1 constituency, and called on members to support him. Fakhrul also criticized another political group that he claimed seeks power but lacks the capacity to restore order or bring meaningful change to the country. He praised Aminul Haque’s contributions to the region and emphasized the importance of unity under the leadership of acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Senior BNP leaders, including Mizanur Rahman Minu and former Rajshahi mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, were present at the event.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused India of exercising undue dominance over Bangladesh in water-sharing agreements, particularly concerning the Ganges and other transboundary rivers. Speaking during a visit to the Mahananda River in Chapainawabganj ahead of a BNP rally themed 'Save the Padma,' Fakhrul said Bangladesh continues to suffer from water scarcity and river erosion due to India’s control of upstream flows. He criticized the Awami League government for failing to secure equitable water distribution and vowed that a future BNP government would prioritize fair water-sharing, revive the Ganges Barrage project, and strengthen the Joint Rivers Commission. Fakhrul also linked river protection to climate resilience, warning that environmental degradation threatens Bangladesh’s ecological balance. He emphasized that only an elected government can effectively defend national interests and pledged to pressure India to stop what he termed 'hegemonic behavior' while maintaining respectful bilateral relations.

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has claimed that Russia intends to manufacture up to 120,000 glide bombs in 2025, including 500 new long-range models capable of reaching targets up to 200 kilometers away. Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, said Russia is currently firing 200–250 glide bombs daily, a sharp increase from previous months. The weapons, cheaper and more abundant than missiles, have caused widespread destruction in Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv and Kherson. Skibitskyi also estimated that Russia will produce about 70,000 long-range drones this year, including 30,000 Shahed models used to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He warned that these developments pose a growing threat, allowing Russia to strike deep into Ukrainian territory without crossing front lines. Skibitskyi further noted that North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells since 2023 but that deliveries have recently declined as Pyongyang’s stockpiles dwindle. North Korea has also begun producing its own battlefield drones, reportedly learning from the conflict.

Hamas is reasserting its control over Gaza following last month’s ceasefire, despite international calls for it to step aside under a U.S.-backed post-war transition plan. Residents report that Hamas has resumed administrative functions such as regulating prices, levying fees on goods like fuel and cigarettes, and punishing alleged collaborators. While Hamas denies imposing new taxes, it claims to be maintaining order and preparing for a smooth transition to a technocratic administration. The U.S. plan, initiated under President Donald Trump, envisions a multinational security force, Hamas’ disarmament, and reconstruction efforts. However, with Israeli forces still occupying parts of Gaza and no consensus on who will govern, the process has stalled. Analysts say Hamas is using the delay to entrench its authority further. The U.S. State Department insists Hamas “cannot and will not govern” Gaza, while the Palestinian Authority seeks a role in any new administration. Meanwhile, Gazans continue to face severe economic hardship and uncertainty over their political future.

The US military has confirmed that four people were killed in a strike on a boat in international waters in the Caribbean, marking the 20th such attack on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in recent months. The strike, authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was part of what has been named 'Operation Southern Spear,' which now involves around 12,000 US sailors and Marines in the region. Human rights experts have condemned the attacks as extrajudicial killings. Meanwhile, reports indicate that senior Trump administration officials have held multiple White House meetings to discuss potential military action against Venezuela. The military buildup, including the deployment of F-35s, warships, and the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, has drawn criticism from Latin American leaders who argue it violates the 2014 'Zone of Peace' agreement. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found limited US public support for the strikes or intervention in Venezuela, with only 21 percent backing military involvement.

Bangladesh’s education system faces a growing disparity between government and MPO (Monthly Pay Order) teachers, despite both groups performing the same duties with similar qualifications. Government teachers enjoy higher salaries, housing and medical allowances, full festival bonuses, and pension benefits, ensuring financial stability and social respect. In contrast, MPO-listed teachers receive limited allowances, partial bonuses, and no full pension, with deductions made for welfare and retirement funds that are often delayed in disbursement. This economic and social inequality has created frustration among MPO teachers, many of whom have long demanded nationalization of their jobs or parity in benefits. The divide not only affects teachers’ morale but also threatens the overall quality of education. Observers argue that ensuring equal dignity and fair treatment for all teachers is essential for improving the nation’s education system and restoring respect to the teaching profession.

Leaders from several Bangladeshi political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, attended the International Khatme Nabuwwat Grand Conference held at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday. The religious gathering, organized by the Combined Khatme Nabuwwat Council, began at 9 a.m. and continued until 2 p.m. Thousands of participants from across Bangladesh arrived by foot, private vehicles, buses, and metro to join the event, which called for declaring the Ahmadiyya community as non-Muslim. Prominent clerics and scholars from Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, and Egypt participated, including Maulana Fazlur Rahman of Pakistan, Maulana Mahmood Madani of India, and Sheikh Musab Nabil Ibrahim of Al-Azhar University. Senior Bangladeshi religious figures such as Mufti Rezaul Karim, Maulana Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, and Mufti Abdul Malek were also present. The conference was presided over by Maulana Abdul Hamid, convener of the Combined Khatme Nabuwwat Council and Amir of the Khatme Nabuwwat Protection Committee Bangladesh.

A Rajshahi court has issued a show-cause notice to Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian for allowing a murder suspect to speak to the media while in police custody. The notice follows the killing of Tawsif Rahman, son of a district judge, at an apartment in Terkhadia, Rajshahi. The accused, Limon Mia, allegedly stabbed Tawsif to death and injured his mother, Tasmin Nahar Lusi, before being arrested and hospitalized. Media reports later showed Limon making statements blaming the victim, which the court said violated Supreme Court directives prohibiting accused persons from making public statements while under police custody. The Metropolitan Magistrate Court issued the notice on November 15, directing the commissioner to appear in person and explain his actions by November 19.

Jasim Uddin, the BNP-nominated candidate for Cumilla-5 (Burichang–Brahmanpara) and former member secretary of Cumilla South District BNP, has alleged that a rival political party is exploiting religion to deceive voters ahead of the national election. Speaking at a local cricket tournament event in Burichang, he claimed that the group is going door-to-door selling so-called 'tickets to heaven' and misleading women with promises of paradise. Jasim described these actions as religious fraud and manipulation. He further alleged that the same party has begun conspiracies to disrupt the upcoming national election. Urging supporters to remain vigilant under the direction of BNP leader Tarique Rahman, he reaffirmed his long-standing political commitment to the region. Jasim also pledged to implement a 'zero tolerance' policy against drugs if elected as a Member of Parliament. The event was attended by several BNP leaders and activists from different levels of the Cumilla district.

For the first time, Bangladeshi expatriates will be able to vote in the upcoming national election through a new mobile application called 'Postal Vote BD'. The Election Commission (EC) will officially launch the app on November 18, allowing expatriates to register using their international SIM cards and national ID verification with facial recognition. Once registered, ballots will be mailed to their foreign addresses, including all approved party symbols and a 'no' vote option. Voters will mark their preferred candidate and return the ballot through the postal system, managed entirely by the Bangladesh Post Office. Each vote will cost the EC about 700 taka. Ballots must reach returning officers by 4 p.m. on election day to be counted. The EC estimates the process, from ballot dispatch to return, will take 15–30 days. The system includes a tracking feature for transparency. The initiative marks a historic step in extending voting rights to millions of Bangladeshis living abroad.

Pakistan’s parliament has approved the 27th constitutional amendment, granting Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir lifetime immunity from arrest and prosecution, along with broader authority over the navy and air force. The amendment also restructures the judiciary by creating a new Federal Constitutional Court whose judges will be appointed by the president, raising concerns about judicial independence. Supporters argue the changes will streamline governance and reduce case backlogs, while critics warn they entrench military dominance and erode civilian oversight. Two Supreme Court judges resigned in protest, citing the amendment’s threat to constitutional integrity. Analysts say the move marks a shift from Pakistan’s long-standing ‘hybrid’ civil-military system toward a more overtly military-dominated order. The government defends the reform as part of a modernization agenda aimed at strengthening national defense and administrative efficiency, but observers fear it signals deepening authoritarianism and further imbalance between civilian institutions and the armed forces.

Former State Minister for Home Affairs Sohel Taj stated that the people of Bangladesh will never accept any attempt to distort or rewrite the nation’s history by omitting key elements such as the Liberation War, national anthem, and flag. In a Facebook post on November 14, he emphasized that rewriting history in this way undermines the country’s identity and future. His remarks came shortly after his departure from Dhaka for the United States via Qatar Airways. Sohel Taj, who has been vocal on social media about national issues, shared his travel updates and reflections on the development of Doha’s Hamad International Airport, noting its transformation over the past 15 years. His statement has drawn attention amid ongoing discussions about preserving the authenticity of Bangladesh’s historical narrative.

Following a crushing defeat for the Congress-led Mahagathbandhan alliance in the Bihar state assembly elections, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi expressed surprise at the results and questioned the fairness of the electoral process. Without directly alleging vote rigging, Gandhi stated on social media that the election was not fair from the beginning and reiterated his gratitude to millions of voters who supported the alliance. He emphasized that the Congress and the INDIA bloc would review the outcome thoroughly to strengthen their fight for democracy and the Constitution. The two-phase election saw over 67 percent voter turnout, with the ruling NDA alliance led by the BJP and JD(U) winning 202 out of 242 declared seats. The BJP secured 89 seats, JD(U) 85, while the opposition RJD and Congress managed only 25 and 10 seats respectively, marking a significant setback for the opposition in Bihar.

In Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency, NCP’s chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah faces a significant challenge as the opposition BNP shows signs of unity ahead of the upcoming national election. After receiving his party’s nomination, Hasnat has drawn attention for his community engagement and development initiatives. However, recent reconciliation efforts between BNP leaders Engineer Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, the party’s nominated candidate, and district BNP member secretary AFM Tarek Munshi have raised speculation that a united BNP could pose a serious threat to Hasnat’s campaign. The BNP, historically strong in the area, had long been divided by internal conflicts among local leaders. Analysts note that if the BNP successfully resolves its internal disputes, it could consolidate its voter base and make the race highly competitive. Local BNP leaders have expressed commitment to supporting whoever ultimately receives the party’s final nomination, while Hasnat remains confident in his popularity and promises to work for Debidwar’s development.